News On Japan

Toyota to Enter Racing Kart Business

AICHI, Jun 02 (News On Japan) - Toyota Motor has announced plans to enter the racing kart business, positioning the move as a strategic step toward preparing the next generation for the future of the automobile industry.

At the endurance race held at Fuji Speedway, Toyota once again fielded a vehicle powered by a hydrogen engine, with Chairman Akio Toyoda himself taking part as a driver. "Hydrogen engine vehicles have finally caught up with regular cars," Toyoda said, underscoring the company’s continued push for carbon-neutral mobility.

This year's event also saw several manufacturers using low-carbon gasoline in their race cars, highlighting the industry's accelerating shift toward decarbonization. At the venue, attendees were invited to test ride go-karts powered by carbon-neutral fuels.

The go-karts, designed as entry-level vehicles suitable even for children, are part of Toyota’s long-term initiative to inspire interest in cars and mobility from a young age.

"We want children to discover the joy of driving early on," said Naoaki Ito, the lead developer of Toyota’s new 'GR Kart' project. "That experience could shape their future—whether as mechanics, car dealers, or other roles in the automotive world."

Although the launch date has yet to be finalized, Toyota aims to offer the new kart at roughly a quarter of the price of existing models.

Source: TBS

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A special heavy rain warning was issued for Hachijo Town on October 9 as Typhoon No. 22, classified as a very strong system, brought record-breaking rainfall and violent winds to the Izu Islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has also issued special warnings for storm-force winds and high waves across the region, urging residents to remain on maximum alert. Footage captured shortly before 6:30 a.m. by a camera installed in Hachijo Town showed a utility pole tilting and eventually collapsing under the severe conditions. Authorities said a linear rainband has been repeatedly forming over the area since early morning.

As of 9 a.m. on October 9, Typhoon No. 23 (Nakri) was moving quickly northwest over waters south of Japan and is expected to influence weather conditions over the upcoming three-day holiday weekend. The typhoon is forecast to strengthen slightly as it approaches the Okinawa and Amami regions between October 10 and 11. Afterward, it is expected to curve northward, moving off the coast of Kyushu on October 12 and reaching waters south of Japan’s main islands by October 13.

Elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan still work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.

Beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack, causing shortages that have already begun to affect izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to “only one left” as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.

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