theTokyoBill Japan news brief

theTokyoBill Japan news brief, November 8 2024

In this episode: Maglev tunnel on hold due to local environmental concerns; Princess Akiko off to the UK & France; Book Week closes, record number of non-readers revealed (survey); Joint Japan-Taiwan satellite now in space; Australia considering Mogami-class frigates to replace fleet

Duration:: 5m
Broadcast on:: 08 Nov 2024
Audio Format:: other

A short (3-5 min.) English language news brief; stories from in and around Japan.

Music is Motivate by Wavecont, care of Pixabay.com.

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[Music] Welcome to the Tokyo Bill, a short news brief on recent events in and around Japan. [Music] Central Japan Railway has paused construction on a new high-speed maglev train line between Tokyo and Nagoya after water and bubbles emerged near a tunnel site in western Tokyo. A machuda resident noticed the water, which was later confirmed by the railway company. The tunneling process involves a filming agent to ease soil digging with tested water meeting safety standards. The linear Chuo Shinkansen will connect to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, with the Tokyo Tunnel segment being 37km long. Shizuoka's government has approved a survey for the alliance construction with concerns about the impact on local water flow. Princess Akiko of Japan, daughter of the late Prince Tomahito, has embarked on a trip to Britain and France. She left Tokyo on Thursday and will attend a conference organized by the Sainsbury Institute in London to present her research on Japanese art. She will also attend a rugby match between Japan and France near Paris as the honorary president of the Japan Rugby Football Union. Additionally, she plans to visit the University of Oxford to deliver a lecture on cultural exchanges between Japan and Britain before returning to Japan on November 15th. Japan's annual book week is coming to an end November 9th, highlighting the importance of books in our lives. However, a recent survey found that many people in Japan are reading less with 63% of respondents not reading a single book in a month. Factors such as digital distractions, such as smartphones, are contributing to this decline in reading habits. The Agency for Cultural Affairs also found that 60% of respondents preferred physically handling books when considering a purchase, suggesting online sources may go overlooked. This preference for physical access may not be easily satisfied in future, given that the Japan Publishing Organization for Information Infrastructure Development reports ongoing closures of bookstores nearly one every day. Taiwan and Japan successfully launched the Oglai satellite into space aboard a SpaceX rocket this past Tuesday. The QubeSat will be deployed into a low Earth orbit to conduct a six-month test mission, validating key technologies of a remote sensing system. The satellite, developed in collaboration with the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute and the University of Tokyo, will achieve a ground image resolution of 2.8 meters. Named Oglai, the "Hoklo" word for prosperity, and pineapple, the satellite signifies enduring friendship and collaboration between Taiwan and Japan, inspired by Japan's support for Taiwan during a pineapple export ban by China. Australia has narrowed down the designs for its new general-purpose frigates to either Germany or Japan for their next fleet of warships. The contract is worth $11 billion over the next decade. Up to 11 more frigates will be built to replace the aging Hanzak-class fleet. The final two designs chosen are Japan's Mogami-class 30-FFM-M and Germany's Meiko A200. Japan's design is highly regarded internationally, but there are concerns about their lack of naval export experience. Australia is also considering purchasing naval strike missiles from Japan. The first overseas-built general-purpose frigate is expected to be delivered in 2029. This has been the Tokyo Bill. These stories and more you can read at thetokobill.com. I've been, and remain, Tokyo Bill. Thank you for listening, and take care. [Music] [Music] (gentle music)