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The Mainichi
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Demonstration flights of 'flying cars' to resume after safety confirmed at Osaka Expo
OSAKA -- Demonstration flights of "flying cars," touted as one of the highlights of the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, will resume shortly following their suspension due to a mechanical issue, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced July 8. The demonstration flights had been suspended since April 26, when a vehicle operated by Marubeni Corp. was damaged midair. At the time, a protective cover detached as the craft was approaching landing. According to Marubeni, the strength of a connecting component between the motor and the battery was weaker than design specifications, leading to the motor's displacement and the subsequent fall of the cover. The company has since replaced the part with one matching required specifications, and Japan's transport ministry has approved the resumption of flights after evaluating the vehicle's safety. The association explained that demonstration flights will resume with the "Hexa" aircraft manufactured by U.S.-based Lift Aircraft Inc. If no safety issues are identified in test flights, demonstration flights will continue in the designated takeoff and landing area within the venue until July 21. Meanwhile, Marubeni's planned demonstration flights using a vehicle from U.K.-based Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. between the Expo site in Osaka's Konohana Ward and the Hyogo Prefecture city of Amagasaki have been canceled.
Asahi Shimbun
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Ministry issues top evacuation advisory for Japanese in Iran
Tokyo has issued its highest-level evacuation advisory for Japanese nationals in Iran and is coordinating ways to get them out of harm's way, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said June 17. There have been no reports of Japanese casualties in areas of Iran hit by Israeli missile strikes as of 5 p.m. on June 17, the Foreign Ministry said. But there are global fears the conflict could escalate and expand. 'The situation is becoming increasingly tense, and we will work with the utmost sense of urgency to protect Japanese nationals,' Iwaya said at a news conference. Around 280 Japanese nationals are currently in Iran, according to the ministry. Iwaya said the Japanese government is coordinating a means of relocating Japanese outside of Iran and may seek cooperation with third countries. Since Iran's airports are now closed, evacuation by land to neighboring countries is being considered, a senior ministry official said. The ministry said the Israeli military on June 16 announced via social media and other means that it would attack certain areas of Tehran, the capital of Iran. It advised civilians to evacuate from those places. In response, Japanese Embassy staff in Tehran contacted Japanese residents in the target areas by phone and email, urging them to flee. According to Iwaya, the ministry provided assistance in bringing the Japanese to a safe location on June 16. The following day, it issued the Level 4 evacuation advisory. BUSES TO JORDAN FROM ISRAEL The ministry has also issued a Level 3 travel advisory for most parts of Israel. It said on June 17 that it plans to use chartered buses to take Japanese from the Jewish state to neighboring Jordan. The bus operation is expected to start on June 19. JAPAN CALLS FOR CALM Iwaya said he is 'deeply concerned about the exchange of aggression' between Iran and Israel. 'Japan urges all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and calm the situation down,' he said. Iwaya said he conveyed Japan's concerns in a June 16 telephone talk with Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's minister of foreign affairs. Iwaya also said Japan will continue to ask Israel to exercise 'maximum restraint.' CORPORATE ACTION Japanese companies are working to ensure the safety of their employees in Israel and Iran and are also considering evacuation measures. Some have told their employees to refrain from taking business trips to the Middle East. Marubeni Corp., a general trading company, has confirmed the safety of its lone employee in Tehran, who could soon be instructed to leave the country. Another general trading company, Mitsui & Co., also has one employee stationed in Tehran. The company is on standby in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Tehran and plans to evacuate the employee from Iran as soon as the airport reopens. JGC Holdings Corp., a major engineering company, is building factories in countries neighboring Iran, such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Construction has continued in these countries, a JGC Holdings representative said, but the company is calling on group members to 'refrain from making unnecessary business trips from Japan.' According to Teikoku Databank Ltd., 95 Japanese companies were operating in Israel and 26 in Iran as of August 2024. (This article was compiled from reports written by Shiki Iwasawa, Takehiro Tomoda and Azusa Kato.)
The Mainichi
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: What happened to the 'flying cars' at Expo 2025 in Osaka?
Flying cars are popular at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. But there was an accident on April 26 during a demonstration flight. Here are simple questions and answers about flying cars at the event. Q: What are flying cars? A: Flying cars are special vehicles that can fly. They usually carry between one and five people. Some look like drones, and some look like airplanes. These cars cost less money to make than airplanes. They are also quieter than helicopters. Many companies around the world and in Japan are working hard to make them. People think flying cars will be very useful in the future. Q: Can visitors at the Expo ride in flying cars? A: No. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura wanted visitors to ride in flying cars and pay money for it. But preparing everything safely was too difficult to do before the Expo started. Instead, Japanese companies SkyDrive Inc., Marubeni Corp. and ANA Holdings Inc. planned demonstration flights. The last two are working together with companies from other countries. Q: How do flying cars fly? A: The companies showed how these flying cars fly at Yumeshima island. Yumeshima is a man-made island in Osaka. On April 14, a flying car flew slowly about 10 meters above ground for about six minutes with one pilot. But on April 26, the flying car from Marubeni Corp. broke during its flight. It damaged one part of its body and one motor. Q: Will there still be flying car shows at the Expo? A: More flights were planned for Japan's Golden Week holidays in early May and on later weekends. But after the accident on April 26, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition decided to stop the flights for now. They will check safety again before they start the flights once more. The organizers of the Expo think safety is the most important thing. (Japanese original by Takumi Fujikawa, Osaka City News Department) Vocabulary Expo: A big event where many countries or companies show new ideas and technology. demonstration flights: Test flights to show people how something works. artificial island: An island made by people, not by nature. motor: A machine that gives power to move or fly. organizers: People or groups who plan and run an event.
The Mainichi
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
What's the status of the 'flying cars' at ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo after incident?
The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the "flying cars" being demonstrated at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, after an incident during a test flight on April 26. Question: I've heard that "flying cars" are one of the major attractions at the ongoing Osaka Expo. What exactly are they? Answer: These flying vehicles typically carry about one to five passengers and are attracting attention as convenient means of future travel. They include rotary-wing types similar to drones, and fixed-wing types that resemble airplanes. Compared to planes, flying cars feature lower production costs, and they are less noisy than helicopters. Often referred to as an "air mobility revolution," companies both in Japan and abroad are competing to develop them. Q: Can visitors actually take a ride on one at the Expo? A: Originally, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura was eager about offering commercial flying-car rides with fares paid by passengers, connecting locations inside and outside the Expo venue. However, general visitors are not permitted onboard during the Expo. Completing the necessary regulatory and technical procedures by opening day proved too challenging. Instead, demonstration flights were planned by Japanese drone developer SkyDrive Inc., along with trading giant Marubeni Corp. and All Nippon Airways parent ANA Holdings Inc., both of which have partnered with overseas manufacturers. Q: How exactly do these cars fly? A: Demonstration flights were conducted at the Expo site on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka's Konohana Ward, where visitors could watch them in action. On April 14, the second day of the Expo, a flight took place with one pilot onboard, hovering slowly about 10 meters above ground for approximately six minutes. However, on April 26 the Marubeni aircraft, made by U.S.-based Lift Aircraft Inc., broke in mid-flight, suffering damage to its frame and one of its 18 propeller motors. Q: Will we still be able to see flying-car demonstrations at the Expo? A: Additional demo flights were planned during Japan's Golden Week holidays in early May, plus on weekends afterward. However, the day after the April 26 incident, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced that flights have been suspended for now, pending safety checks. The association said it will announce a date for flight resumptions in due course. Expo organizers must prioritize public safety while continuing to showcase cutting-edge technology.
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo: Flying Car Grounded After Components Detach in Mid-Flight
The Yomiuri Shimbun A flying car during a demonstration flight at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo OSAKA – Demonstrations of the highly anticipated 'flying car' at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo have been suspended following an incident on Saturday in which components of the aircraft detached during flight. Marubeni Corp., the operator of the flights, announced the cancellation of Sunday's scheduled demonstration and said that operations would remain halted until safety can be assured. According to Marubeni and the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Saturday at the vertiport within the Expo site in Osaka City. During a demonstration of the Hexa, a single-seat vehicle manufactured by U.S.-based LIFT Aircraft Inc., parts of the vehicle broke off and fell to the landing area. Specifically, one of the 18 propeller motors located on the upper part of the 4.5-meter-long, 2.4-meter-high vehicle malfunctioned, resulting in the detachment of two of its covers. The vehicle landed safely, and the pilot was not injured. The demonstration was conducted within an area inaccessible to visitors.
