Latest news with #MitsubishiHeavyIndustriesLtd.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Science
- The Mainichi
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-yr career
TANEGASHIMA, Kagoshima (Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japan island on Sunday, drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development program. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1:33 a.m., placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometers near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA. "I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 percent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch. At a park near the Tanegashima Space Center, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness. "I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time. Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX of the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023 but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after liftoff due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful.
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Science
- Kyodo News
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-yr career
KYODO NEWS - 16 minutes ago - 08:45 | All, Japan Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japan island on Sunday, drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development program. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket blasted off from Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, and placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space. It has raised its reliability over time, with its success rate improving to around 98 percent. Its long career has been rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX of the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023 but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after liftoff due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful. Related coverage: Japan ispace fails in bid for 1st Moon landing by Asian private firm Astronaut Onishi blasts off on mission as 3rd Japanese to lead ISS Japan firm's rover ends mission on Moon, gives up surface exploration
Hans India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
South Korean court orders Mitsubishi to compensate 107-year-old
Seoul: South Korean appeals court has ruled in favour of a 107-year-old South Korean victim of Japan's wartime forced labour in a damages suit filed against Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., sources said on Saturday. The civil appeals division of the Seoul Central District Court overturned a lower court's ruling handed down in 2022 that rejected Kim Han-soo's suit seeking compensation from the Japanese company on the grounds that the case's statute of limitations had expired. In May, the appeals court ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay 100 million won ($73,400) in compensation to Kim in a ruling that came about 80 years after he was conscripted into Japan's wartime forced labour. Despite the court's ruling, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is not likely to pay the compensation. Kim said he was forced to work in a shipyard run by the Japanese firm in 1944 during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. In previous damages suits related to forced labor, courts largely ruled that the statute of limitations expired in May 2015, three years after the Supreme Court acknowledged the legal right to claim damages by Korean victims of Japan's forced labour for the first time, Yonhap news agency reported. South Korean civil law stipulates that the legal right to claim damages expires three years after the victim discovers the harm and identifies the offender. But the appeals court ruled in favour of Kim, judging that the statute of limitations related to forced labour-related damages suits should be calculated based on a separate 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court, effectively pushing back the expiration of the statute of limitation. Kim's damages suit against Mitsubishi was filed in 2019. In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of Tokyo's forced labour in a landmark ruling. But Japan has claimed all such reparation issues were settled under a 1965 treaty to normalise bilateral relations.
Japan Today
05-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Over half of major Japanese firms not using AI in hiring: survey
More than half of major Japanese companies do not use artificial intelligence in recruiting fresh graduates, a recent Kyodo News survey showed, highlighting a cautious stance toward relying on AI for hiring despite its growing use in the workplace. Of the 117 companies surveyed across various industries, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., 64 said they do not use AI in recruitment, while 36 reported using it in some form, with 19 citing application form analysis as the most common use. Seven companies said they use the technology to analyze online interviews, while others employ it in supplementary roles such as transcribing interviews or responding to applicant inquiries. No companies said they used AI to assess in-person interviews. The survey, to which companies responded between mid-March and early April, also found concerns about potential biases in AI-based assessments and doubts over the technology's ability to accurately evaluate student abilities. Some also said relying on AI that is trained on a company's own hiring data could "undermine diversity," while others placed importance on direct communication between recruiters and candidates. Among companies proactive in using AI, many said the technology can enhance fairness in the screening process by reducing reliance on individual decisions, starkly contrasting to firms concerned that AI could introduce its own biases. Overreliance on AI has been identified as a risk in guidelines presented by the Japanese government in March, which stated that entrusting it with important decisions, such as recruitment, was "inappropriate." Of the 36 companies using AI in their screening process, 32 said they were mindful of these guidelines, suggesting a careful approach to using the technology in their final decision. Meanwhile, 17 companies did not provide a clear response on their AI usage in hiring. © KYODO
The Mainichi
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Over half of major Japanese firms not using AI in hiring: survey
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- More than half of major Japanese companies do not use artificial intelligence in recruiting fresh graduates, a recent Kyodo News survey showed, highlighting a cautious stance toward relying on AI for hiring despite its growing use in the workplace. Of the 117 companies surveyed across various industries, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., 64 said they do not use AI in recruitment, while 36 reported using it in some form, with 19 citing application form analysis as the most common use. Seven companies said they use the technology to analyze online interviews, while others employ it in supplementary roles such as transcribing interviews or responding to applicant inquiries. No companies said they used AI to assess in-person interviews. The survey, to which companies responded between mid-March and early April, also found concerns about potential biases in AI-based assessments and doubts over the technology's ability to accurately evaluate student abilities. Some also said relying on AI that is trained on a company's own hiring data could "undermine diversity," while others placed importance on direct communication between recruiters and candidates. Among companies proactive in using AI, many said the technology can enhance fairness in the screening process by reducing reliance on individual decisions, starkly contrasting to firms concerned that AI could introduce its own biases. Overreliance on AI has been identified as a risk in guidelines presented by the Japanese government in March, which stated that entrusting it with important decisions, such as recruitment, was "inappropriate." Of the 36 companies using AI in their screening process, 32 said they were mindful of these guidelines, suggesting a careful approach to using the technology in their final decision. Meanwhile, 17 companies did not provide a clear response on their AI usage in hiring.
