Railway companies are exploring innovative ways to attract more passengers to ride Shinkansen bullet trains by drawing on lessons learned from the decline in passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) has introduced a chartered train service that allows passengers to rent a single train car on the Nozomi Shinkansen running between Tokyo and Shin Osaka. This service enables passengers to personalize the car's interior and even rent crew member uniforms. Additionally, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) has launched a train car designed for passengers to hold phone conversations and online meetings while commuting. JR Tokai's chartered train service, offered in collaboration with major travel agency JTB Corp. and others, allows passengers to rent a train car for various purposes. These packages were conceived by a group of young employees during an in-house competition for new projects. The proposal, titled "We'll make your hopes ...

A historic event took place at the Fuji International Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Sunday, as a hydrogen-powered Toyota Corolla participated in a 24-hour endurance race. This marked the first time that a car running on liquid hydrogen had ever competed in a race anywhere in the world. Toyota Motor Corp., the renowned automaker, sees racing as an opportunity to push the limits of their technology and identify any issues that may arise in real-world conditions, beyond the controlled environment of the research stage. The company aims to accelerate the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles for commercial sales.   One of the key advantages of vehicles with hydrogen-powered engines is their significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Toyota had previously entered races using Corollas equipped with engines fueled by hydrogen gas since May 2021. However, by switching to liquid hydrogen fuel, the energy density in the same volume of the fuel tank doubles, resulti...

Japan's major mobile phone carriers are diving headfirst into the realm of the "metaverse" virtual world services, but there's a catch—they're struggling to turn a profit from these ventures. In their quest to attract and retain customers, these carriers are striving to distinguish their metaverse services by enabling a whopping 10,000 avatars to connect simultaneously. It's an ambitious goal that requires innovation and creativity. One player in the metaverse game is NTT Docomo Inc., which established NTT Qonoq Inc., a subsidiary dedicated to metaverse-related businesses. Unlike other platforms, NTT Qonoq's metaverse space doesn't require users to download a separate app. Instead, it allows them to easily and freely connect via their smartphones and computers. It's all about convenience and accessibility.   Inside this metaverse space, users can immerse themselves in various scenes, like witnessing Godzilla engaged in a fierce battle against...

Cosmetics manufacturers in Japan are ramping up their efforts to reduce plastic usage, responding to growing consumer concerns about plastic waste. Kao Corp., a major household goods maker, initiated a demonstration experiment in February to collect used containers of skincare products like toners and lotions for recycling into bottles. The trial, scheduled to run until the end of July, involves 36 sales outlets, including those operated by Aeon Co. in the Kanto region of eastern Japan. The collected containers, from brands like Twany and other Kao cosmetics, will be converted into materials for producing recycled bottles using Jeplan Inc.'s innovative recycling technology. Kao aims to expand the collection program to more outlets in the future. Fancl Corp., another cosmetics manufacturer, has also increased the number of stores that collect used containers for recycling. Currently, 61 stores, including those in the Tokyo metropolitan area, accept used containers to be repurposed...

Honda Motor Co. has announced its re-entry into the Formula One World Championship in 2026 through a partnership with Aston Martin. The move is aimed at strengthening Honda's development of greener vehicles in response to tightening environmental regulations in motor racing. As part of the partnership, Honda will supply power units consisting of engines and motors to Aston Martin. The company hopes that the knowledge and expertise gained through its involvement in Formula One will contribute to the development of all-electric vehicles and other innovative mobility products, including flying cars.   Honda's decision to return to Formula One is driven by the sport's increasing focus on environmental sustainability. New regulations effective from 2026 require power units to generate equal output from engines and motors, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Participants are also mandated to use carbon-neutral fuel.   Honda's President, Toshihiro Mibe, ...

A Tokyo-based toy company has introduced an innovative AI device called the "coemo" storytelling speaker, which goes beyond being a mere toy and is capable of evoking emotions from its users. The coemo is one of the latest AI products that can learn and replicate human voices and thoughts, allowing family members or friends to interact with a representation of their deceased loved ones. Tomy Co., the company behind the coemo, released this speaker last year, and it has garnered significant attention for its unique capabilities. By using the coemo, individuals can listen to children's stories spoken in the exact voice of their family members or friends. To achieve this, users need to teach the coemo their loved one's voice by utilizing an accompanying app. Through the app, the person must read out sample sentences, such as "The bill is $350 per person," for approximately 15 minutes. This process enables the coemo to reproduce the characteristics of their lo...

From the mesmerizing sway of her hair to the subtle blinking of her eyes, the girl on the screen looks so incredibly lifelike that it's almost impossible to believe she's not a real person. But in a world where artificial intelligence continues to break boundaries, the line between what's real and what's not may become increasingly blurry, and that's where Saya comes in. Saya is what experts call a multimodal agent, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and AI technology that can analyze various types of input data like images, voice, and movement. This cutting-edge system allows Saya to understand people's intentions and respond accordingly. It's all part of Japan's grand vision of Society 5.0, a concept that blurs the boundaries between cyberspace and the physical world, where everything that can run itself does.   You see, Society 5.0 builds upon the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a term coined by Germany to describe the integration of advanced ...

A thrilling new era of transportation is taking flight as a startup soars to success with its groundbreaking flying vehicle! SkyDrive Inc., the ingenious mastermind behind the SD-05 model, has just received its very first orders from both individuals and corporate clients. With a staggering price tag of $1.5 million (200 million yen), this cutting-edge flying marvel is set to revolutionize the way we travel through the skies. Picture this: a compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, powered by electricity and equipped with a range of 6.2 miles. With a maximum speed of 62 mph, it's not just fast, it's furiously fast! It's important to note that the price tag of this awe-inspiring flying vehicle doesn't encompass the realm of running costs.   "We're not just building a flying vehicle; we're paving the way for a new era of air taxis," exclaims a SkyDrive representative. With the SD-05, their dream of making air travel accessib...