News

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided to maintain its current interest rate policy due to uncertainties surrounding U.S. economic policies under the Trump administration and will closely monitor their impact on the U.S. and Japanese economies before making any further policy decisions. The BOJ also plans additional rate hikes in the future, believing that developments in economic activity and prices are in line with its outlook.

Shigeru Iwasaki, former chief of staff of the Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces, has been appointed as a political affairs consultant to Taiwan's Cabinet, a move seen as strengthening security ties between the two countries. This is a rare instance of a former high-ranking SDF official taking a position in the Taiwanese administration.

A sociable ocean sunfish at the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Japan showed signs of distress and weight loss during renovations, but perked up after staff set up human cutouts to simulate visitors. The story highlights the importance of human interaction for social animals, even in unexpected settings like aquariums.

Japan Airlines has implemented a riblet-shaped coating on a Boeing 787-9, inspired by shark skin, to reduce air resistance and carbon emissions. This innovative technology, developed by O-Well Corp., is expected to cut fuel consumption by 119 tons and CO2 emissions by 381 tons annually, marking a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality in the aviation industry.

Astroscale Japan Inc. successfully approached a piece of space debris at high speed, marking a crucial step towards their goal of removing "space junk" from orbit by the end of March 2028. This achievement paves the way for their ambitious vision of providing a "space road service" that includes satellite refueling capabilities.