News On Japan

Abandoned School Transformed Into Cloud Solar Power Model

TOKYO, Oct 08 (News On Japan) - A first-of-its-kind cloud-based solar power plant in Japan has been established in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward, utilizing the rooftop pool area of a closed school. An event was held to celebrate the naming of the facility, where local elementary school students were invited to choose its official name.

The plant, set up on the former rooftop pool, uses solar panels previously installed at commercial facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The electricity generated here can be subscribed to by individuals online, allowing them to contract specific sections and use the power at home for a monthly subscription fee. Ahead of the planned start of power supply in November, the winning name proposed by local students was unveiled as "Jirijiri Reuse Power Plant."

Eiji Oishi, CEO of UPDATER, said: "There are still many unused pools that can be put to good use. We hope to contribute to making this initiative from Setagaya a nationwide model."

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A new chapter opened in Japan’s political history on October 21st as Sanae Takaichi was elected the nation’s first female prime minister. Following her appointment by the Diet, Takaichi declared that her new cabinet would be one of “decision and progress,” pledging to move swiftly on policies from the very first day.

Authorities in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, have begun culling approximately 460,000 laying hens after a poultry farm in the region’s Iburi area confirmed infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza, marking the first confirmed outbreak of the season in Japan.

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

Toyota unveiled a new autonomous driving system that connects AI-equipped vehicles with traffic infrastructure such as traffic lights, marking the first public demonstration of its development-stage technology.

Blending traditional design with modern functionality, Asian games vivid symbols like tigers, lanterns, and coins that create a culturally rich visual atmosphere.

NTT announced on October 20th that it has launched "tsuzumi2," the second-generation version of its domestically developed generative AI large language model (LLM). The new model strengthens domain-specific capabilities in high-demand areas such as finance, healthcare, and local government administration.

AI-powered technologies took center stage at this year’s CEATEC, Japan’s premier digital technology exhibition, with more than half of all displays devoted to artificial intelligence.

A new series titled "The Big Question" by WIRED has launched, tackling some of the most profound and complex topics shaping the future of humanity. Its inaugural question — "Will AI ever become conscious?" — delves into a concept that, while once confined to science fiction, has now entered the realm of serious scientific debate as artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of daily life.

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche term as it was a few years ago, but a mass financial instrument that has captured the attention worldwide.

A 31-year-old company employee has been arrested on suspicion of creating and posting pornographic images generated by artificial intelligence that imitate female celebrities on the internet. Police allege that Hiroya Yokoi used generative AI tools to produce explicit images resembling well-known women and then published them online.

SoftBank is ramping up its ambitions in the artificial intelligence sector, committing vast sums of capital and striking major strategic deals as part of an aggressive bid to position itself at the center of the AI revolution.