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Category: Technology
The city of the future: what a metropolis several kilometers underground would look like
Building a city several kilometers underground is an unprecedented architectural and urban challenge. Unlike the construction of buildings and communities on the surface, the underground city would require very specific planning and design to ensure the safety, livability, and sustainability of the city. First, structural safety would be a key concern. At great depths, the… Read more
How to apply the Japanese public transport model in other countries: a detailed look
Japan’s public transportation system is one of the most efficient in the world, leading many to wonder if it could be replicated in other countries. The answer is yes, although it requires a very specific approach and significant investment by the government. Japanese public transportation is based on a network of trains, subways, buses, and… Read more
Challenges of urban planning and architecture in space: how to design a habitable space station?
Let’s imagine for a moment that humanity has managed to build a habitable space station and that now it needs to be planned and designed for the well-being of its inhabitants. What challenges and considerations must be taken into account for urban planning and architecture in such a unique and challenging environment? First, the lack… Read more
Wooden buildings become fashionable in the trend towards decarbonization
Turning heads in a commercial district in downtown Yokohama, the Port Plus building is constructed solely of neat wooden columns and beams instead of the standard steel and concrete. The 44-meter, 11-story Port Plus, located near the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office, is the tallest fire-retardant architecture made entirely of wood in Japan. It was completed in… Read more
Tama 1947: Nissan’s first electric car
Electric vehicles are not a new idea. In postwar Japan, where oil was scarce but hydropower was relatively abundant, the government promoted research and development in this area. Nissan engineers rose to the challenge with the Tama electric vehicle. Launched in 1947, the Tama was Nissan’s first electric car. Mainly used by taxi companies, it… Read more
Ninja Sword or Shinobi Gatana How unique are they?
Also known as Ninjato (忍者刀). The length of a normal Japanese sword is about 70 cm, but a Ninja sword is about 40 cm, which makes it very compact. Also, Ninja swords do not have the curvature of the blade, which is unique to Japanese swords. The short, flat shape of the ninja sword was created to… Read more
Controversial plan to dump wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant
Twelve years after a nuclear catastrophe caused by a major earthquake and tsunami, workers at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeast Japan prepare to dump treated wastewater into the sea. The operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) says the water has been filtered to remove most radioactive elements and considers the… Read more
NTT Docomo develops haptic sharing technology in Japan
Japanese researchers have developed a new technology that allows users to share their sense of touch. The strongest telecommunication company in Japan, NTT Docomo and Keio University along with Nagoya Institute of Technology are working on this project and claim it is the first system of its kind in the world. This system uses sensors… Read more
Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells will soon be an everyday reality
The Yokohama city government and a local university have agreed to work towards real-world use of flexible, film-like perovskite solar cells that could even be used in clothing, amid global competition to put the technology in practice. The thin and light cells were developed by Yokohama Toin University and are being hailed both in Japan… Read more
ANA, JAL Airlines and 3 others chosen to operate flying taxis for the Universal Expo 2025
ANA Holdings Inc., Japan Airlines Co. and three other companies have been selected to operate air taxi services during the 2025 World Expo to be held in Osaka, western Japan, the event organizer said on Tuesday. Japan wants “flying cars” to be one of the main attractions at the expo, and next-generation mobility is expected… Read more