Latest news with #AsahiShimbun
Asahi Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Science
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Fukushima debris removal is a task that will likely take eons
Decommissioning work continues around the No. 3 reactor at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. (Tsubasa Setoguchi) Buddhism uses its own unique units to express vast spans of time and numbers. Imagine a colossal castle, seven kilometers long, wide, and tall, its interior completely filled with poppy seeds. Once every hundred years, a single seed is removed. The time it would take to empty the castle—removing one seed every century until none remain—would still be shorter than what Buddhism calls a kalpa, or 'ko' in Japanese. Often translated as an eon, a ko represents an unfathomably long stretch of time, used to convey the sense of an almost inconceivable duration. The term also appears in the expression 'mirai eigo,' meaning 'an eternal future' or 'for all eternity,' evoking something that continues without end. How long, then, will it take to remove the fuel debris from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which suffered triple meltdowns in the 2011 disaster? The debris—which was once nuclear fuel that overheated, melted and fused with structural materials inside the reactors—was originally scheduled for removal beginning in 2021. Yet immense technical challenges delayed the start until last year. Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant's operator, recently announced that full-scale debris removal for reactor No. 3 will begin in fiscal 2037 or later. For reactors No. 1 and No. 2, no timeline has even been set. Of an estimated 880 tons of debris, only 0.9 gram has been recovered to date. A simple calculation based on the time since the accident suggests the removal process could take another 13.6 billion years to complete. Critics rightly argue that such an estimate is absurdly simplistic and misleading. But then, what would a realistic projection look like? Despite knowing full well the near impossibility of the task, authorities and TEPCO continue to uphold the goal of 'completing reactor decommissioning by 2051'—a timeline that seems more like sleight of hand than sincere policy, meant to lull the public into a false sense of reassurance. Even as Japan struggles to dismantle the legacy of Fukushima, the nation has pivoted boldly toward the 'maximum use' of nuclear energy. Kansai Electric Power Co. is now preparing to construct an entirely new plant. Has the landscape really shifted so dramatically—can a country's stance reverse so completely—in just the 14 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake? There's a word for something that defies belief: 'fukashigi.' Bizarre, inconceivable. Fittingly, this term too originated as a unit of measure in Buddhist cosmology—used to signify numbers so vast they dwell beyond comprehension. —The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 1 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Asahi Shimbun
Toyota resumes ads on Fuji TV after scandal fallout subsides
Fuji Television Network Inc.'s poor handling of sexual abuse allegations against a celebrity involving its newscaster triggered a mass exodus of corporate sponsors from the broadcaster. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Toyota Motor Corp. has resumed airing commercials on Fuji Television Network Inc. for the first time since suspending them in January, following a sex scandal involving a celebrity associated with the broadcaster. The automaker confirmed on July 29 that its commercials began airing again in late July during Fuji TV's late-night news program "FNN Live News Alfa." Toyota stated that advertisements would be placed in ways approved by its customers and stakeholders. The company did not clarify whether ads would return to other time slots or programs. The withdrawal of major advertisers from Fuji TV began earlier this year following allegations that renowned talk show host Masahiro Nakai sexually abused a Fuji TV news presenter. The scandal sparked a widespread public backlash directed not only at Nakai but also at Fuji TV employees and executives involved, raising questions about the network's governance and crisis management. Consumer goods giant Kao Corp. also announced plans to resume commercials on Fuji TV beginning Oct. 1. Ads are scheduled to return to programs including "Sun! Shine" and "Nep League," as well as the network's Monday 9 p.m. drama slot. Kao explained that its decision was based on sufficient progress made by the broadcaster in addressing the issue, including compensation to the victim, measures to prevent a recurrence, governance reforms and increased transparency. Major food company Meiji Co. will also return to Fuji's commercial lineup, starting Aug. 1 across two programs. The company cited notable corporate reforms and leadership changes as the reason for its renewed confidence in the network. With the industry leaders resuming advertising, momentum may build for other companies to follow suit. (This article was written by Kaname Ohira, Masaki Hashida and Kenro Kuroda.)
Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Children's lives hang by a thread in Gaza's man-made famine
A Palestinian reacts as he waits to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City on July 28. (REUTERS) International medical aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, uses a simple yet lifesaving tool to assess whether a child is at risk of starvation—calling it the 'bracelet of life.' The device is a color-coded measuring band deployed in conflict zones and disaster-stricken areas to quickly detect acute malnutrition in infants and young children. Wrapped around the mid-upper arm, the band provides an immediate visual assessment: yellow signals a warning of malnutrition, while red indicates severe malnutrition and a life-threatening risk. I discovered on the nongovernmental organization's website that the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape can be printed at actual size. Using the downloadable file with all the markings, I printed the band and cut it out. The red zone begins at a circumference of just 11.5 centimeters, narrower than the circle I can form with my thumb and forefinger. I was struck by the thought that a human arm could be so thin and fragile that it could seemingly just snap. I recently came across an Asahi Shimbun report about a 7-month-old girl in northern Gaza suffering from severe malnutrition, whose MUAC measurement fell squarely in the red zone. Her mother said, 'She was a healthy baby who smiled a lot' when she was born. The words are quietly devastating. In Gaza, famine is spreading rapidly, compounding the toll of the ongoing conflict. Between July 22 and 26 alone, at least 39 people reportedly died of starvation. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the despair gripping the enclave, saying many children speak of 'wanting to go to heaven'—'because at least,' they say, 'there is food there.' The children of Gaza are, in other words, harboring a quiet wish to escape from a world filled with agony. The U.N. chief's words underscored the heart-rending reality facing Gaza's youngest victims. Even U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged the real starvation unfolding in Gaza and signaled plans to open new food distribution centers in the blockaded territory. All this feels like a stark reminder that the lives of Gaza's people hang on the decisions of an often unpredictable U.S. leader, and it remains uncertain whether the situation will truly improve. Famine must be addressed at its root. This is not a natural disaster—it is a man-made famine, the result of Israel's actions. —The Asahi Shimbun, July 30 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
U.S-Japan trade deal guarantees lowest tariff rates for chips, pharma, Japanese official says
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief trade negotiator, explains the agreement reached with the United States on tariffs in Washington on July 22. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Japan's leading trade negotiator said on Tuesday that the trade deal Tokyo agreed with the United States last week guarantees Japan will always receive the lowest tariff rate on chips and pharmaceuticals of all the pacts negotiated by Washington. "If a third country agrees with the United States on lower rates on chips and pharmaceuticals, those lower rates would apply to Japan," Ryosei Akazawa told a news conference. The European Union secured a 15% baseline tariff as part of a framework trade deal with the U.S. this week, averting looming new tariffs on chips and pharmaceuticals. Japan last week struck a trade deal with the U.S. that lowers tariffs on cars and other goods to 15% in exchange for a U.S.-bound $550 billion Japanese investment package including equity, loans and guarantees. Asked why there has been no joint statement on the agreement, Akazawa said Japan is prioritizing having President Donald Trump sign an executive order to bring the agreed 15% tariff rate into effect. "We want to concentrate our efforts on getting the tariffs lowered first, and then we can consider whether an official document on the agreement is necessary," he said.
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan to deploy long-range anti-ship missiles in Kumamoto
A transporter and launch vehicle for the enhanced Type 12 anti-ship missile is seen at the Higashi-Fuji training area, Shizuoka Prefecture, on June 8. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) The Defense Ministry is finalizing a plan to deploy long‑range anti-ship missiles at a site in Kumamoto Prefecture as a deterrence to China, several government sources said. The domestically produced Type 12 missiles will be installed at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture during this fiscal year, at a time of stepped-up Chinese military maneuvers around the Nansei islands, the sources said. Japan's fiscal year runs through March 31. The government plans to operate the upgraded version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles as a standoff capability, operating outside the enemy's range. The enhanced Type 12 missile has a range of 1,000 kilometers, greater than its predecessor. It can reach China's coastline. Government sources said the missile will be deployed to GSDF Camp Yufuin in the future, although the date has not been decided. It could come next fiscal year or later. Deployment to the GSDF's Vice Camp Katsuren in Okinawa Prefecture is also under consideration. Mass production of the upgraded Type 12 missile began in fiscal 2023. The weapon was test-fired last year on Niijima island south of Tokyo. The government named a standoff missile capability in its three revised security-related documents in 2022. However, the possession of these missiles has raised concerns from some quarters. One concern is that it increases the likelihood of the bases being targeted during hostilities. Another concern is that possessing standoff missiles is in conflict with Japan's Constitution, which limits the Self-Defense Forces to protecting the country. (This story was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)
