Japan news stories on Newser

Scientists Set Record for Ultra-Fast WiFi

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:25:05 CDT

Japanese scientists have set a whopping record for wireless data speeds—20 times faster than typical WiFi—by using an unconventional part of the electromagnetic spectrum known as the "T-ray" band. The researchers were able to transmit data at 3 gigabytes per second. "T-ray" technology could eventually lighten the load...

Faultline Could Doom Mt. Fuji

John Johnson — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:23:04 CDT

Because Japan apparently didn't have enough to worry about in the natural-disaster department: Seismologists have discovered a faultline underneath iconic Mt. Fuji near Tokyo, and one bad shift could send parts of the mountain tumbling toward the sea, reports AFP . Tests from a three-year study suggest the fault could trigger...

Japan Getting Harry Potter Park

Rob Quinn — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:24:00 CDT

Hogwarts is coming to Honshu. Universal Studios is planning to open a Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Osaka by late 2014, reports the Guardian . The park, like the one in Orlando and the one under construction in Hollywood, will feature rides, a Hogwarts castle, and a Hogsmeade...

1 Dead, Dozens Hurt in Tornado Close to Tokyo

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:51:16 CDT

A tornado tore through a city northeast of Japan's capital today, killing one person, injuring dozens of others, and destroying scores of houses. Firefighters and medical teams rushed to the area after the tornado struck Tsukuba city, 40 miles from Tokyo. The city is a science center, with dozens of...

Lost Parakeet Tells Cops His Address

John Johnson — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:01:14 CDT

Police near Tokyo were stumped about how to go about finding the home of a lost parakeet—until the bird opened his mouth and told them his address, reports AFP . Turns out the owner had lost a previous parakeet because it flew away, so she made a point to teach...

Japan: No Nuclear Power for First Time in 40 Years

John Johnson — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:35:10 CDT

Japan shut down the nation's last operating nuclear reactor today, and it's not clear when another one might be fired back up. The move means that the nation is without atomic power for the first time in more than 40 years, reports the New York Times . The government isn't happy...

US Yanks Almost Half of Okinawa Marines

Kevin Spak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:43:44 CDT

The US military has worn out its welcome in Japan, so the two countries today announced an agreement to pull about 9,000 Marines from the Okinawa base, redeploying them in other places in the Asia-Pacific region, like Hawaii and the US territory of Guam. Japan has grown increasingly restless...

S. Korea Stores Yank US Beef Over Mad Cow

Kevin Spak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:37:05 CDT

Two of South Korea's biggest grocery chains have temporarily halted the sale of US beef in response to the latest mad cow scare . "Not that there were any quality issues in the meat," a spokesman for the country's third-largest chain tells the AP , "but because consumers were worried." Like many...

Alaskans Find Prized Soccer Ball Lost in Tsunami

Rob Quinn — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:28:34 CDT

A 16-year-old Japanese boy is getting one of his most prized possessions back more than a year after the tsunami destroyed his home and much of his hometown. Misaki Murakami's soccer ball, inscribed with his name and messages of support from his classmates, washed up on an Alaskan island where...