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The Mainichi
3 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
2 Hiroshima A-bomb survivors share experiences with 15 students in London, urge action
LONDON (Mainichi) -- Two survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing held a dialogue with a group of 15 university students here on June 15, sharing their experiences from the 1945 blast and urging them to spread their wishes for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Teruko Yahata, 87, and Kunihiko Iida, 82, were both exposed to the U.S. atomic bombing in the city of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel, which is said to be a nuclear state, and Iran, which has been promoting its nuclear development program, both Yahata and Iida warned that an escalation of the use of force could lead to nuclear warfare and urged the students to share their wishes for nuclear weapons abolition and convey them to their government. Yahata was 8 years old when the atomic bomb was detonated above Hiroshima. She and her eight family members were at their home about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Yahata was blown about 5 meters away by the blast, and when she regathered, her face was covered with blood. "My happy childhood was completely changed by the atomic bomb. I was so starving that I had to eat frogs and locusts," she revealed to the students. "If a nuclear weapon is used, we will no longer be able to live on Earth," she repeatedly emphasized. "I hope you, young people, will take the imminent crisis as your own problem, and build peace," she said, as if trying to wring out her voice. Iida was 3 years old when he was exposed to the atomic bomb alongside his family. His family members died after the bombing, leaving him orphaned. He has since suffered from various aftereffects. "The world has not understood the realities of the damage wrought by the atomic bombing," Iida pointed out. "Near the hypocenter, in particular, most things were turned into white ash, and not even human remains nor their belongings were left," he explained. "It is most important to pass down the misery of the atomic bombing and continue to seek peace," he stressed. The students in attendance appreciated the importance of "peace without nuclear weapons" and actively asked questions to the hibakusha, or A-bomb survivors, about the power of the atomic bombs and what non-nuclear nations can do to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons. George Beveridge, 24, said after the dialogue that he could well understand the horrors of nuclear weapons, and that though it may be difficult for Britain alone to abandon nuclear arms, he wanted to tell his government to promote nuclear abolition by encouraging other nuclear powers to do so, too. Yahata and Iida have been continuing to share their stories about their bombing experiences in various parts of Japan and abroad. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the two held a speech in Paris on June 13 and in London on June 16.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
In Photos: Japan's remaining WWII aircraft bunkers blend in with modern landscape
Image 1 of 12 The Joi No. 1 entaigo bunker, which once stored military aircraft to protect them from enemy air raids, is seen in Usa, Oita Prefecture, on May 18, 2025. A Zero fighter engine and propeller recovered from the waters off Kunisaki are currently displayed at the center of the facility. (Mainichi/Kaho Kitayama)
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Nearly 1/2 of nat'l universities in Japan blame job rules for weaker research capabilities
The rule allowing fixed-term academic employees to switch to indefinite employment after 10 years is a serious factor in Japan's declining research capabilities, nearly half of national universities told a recent Mainichi Shimbun survey. Universities reported that this rule -- originally intended to promote job stability -- often instead results in employment terminations just before a worker reaches 10 years under contract, leaving many academics unable to build stable, sustained research careers. Coupled with declining government funding for university operational expenses, these institutions have struggled to move away from fixed-term employment, highlighting structural problems within academia and challenging Japan's strength in research. Introduced by an amendment to the Labor Contracts Act implemented in 2013, the rule allowed regular workers who had been employed for five years on fixed-term contracts to obtain the right to convert to permanent positions. But a special exemption extended this period to 10 years for researchers whose ongoing projects often span longer timeframes. According to the education ministry, as of April 2023, some 101,602 researchers at universities and research institutions qualified for the rule's 10-year exception. At least 15,838 researchers had become eligible to switch from fixed-term employment to permanent contracts after surpassing the 10-year period, but only 982 had actually exercised their rights. It is suspected that some declined to do so after being presented with changes in employment conditions, including worse terms. Between January and February this year, the Mainichi conducted a questionnaire targeting 86 national universities (including the former Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, which have integrated into the Institute of Science Tokyo) on the potential effects of the revised Labor Contracts Act on Japan's research capabilities. Responses were received from 74 universities (86%), with 12 institutions -- including major ones like the University of Tokyo, Hokkaido University and the University of Osaka -- opting not to answer. When asked if the revised contractual rules contributed to a decline in research strength, five universities responded they had a "significant impact," and 31 answered "some impact," totaling about half (49%) of respondents. The former Tokyo Institute of Technology, which reported a "significant impact," noted, "It has become an obstacle in researchers' career paths, raising concerns about a decline in research performance in Japan as a whole." Wakayama University, which responded "some impact," explained, "In addition to creating difficulties in developing researchers, it could lead to problems such as decreased motivation and narrowing of research areas." Meanwhile, 38 universities said there was "no impact." The backdrop driving these employment terminations is a decline in national universities' operational subsidies, which fund personnel costs. Since national universities became independent administrative entities in 2004, their operational subsidies have been gradually reduced, with total cuts amounting to over 160 billion yen (approximately $1.1 billion) across two decades. This budget squeeze has pushed universities to significantly boost fixed-term contract employment. Indeed, 21 universities (around 30%) responding to the Mainichi's survey explicitly identified "the decrease in government operational subsidies due to incorporation of national universities" as one reason making the switch to permanent staff positions difficult. The number of frequently cited scientific papers -- a major indicator of international research strength -- shows Japan's sharp decline, falling from fourth to 13th place globally over the past 20 years. Professor Masashi Yanagisawa of the University of Tsukuba, a globally renowned neuroscientist specializing in sleep studies, warned, "Currently, outstanding younger researchers with strong track records and essential technical staff who support research infrastructure on-site are facing critical situations and employment insecurity due to the effects of the Labor Contracts Act. Rather than granting autonomy, national universities have experienced intensified government oversight since incorporation, and with decreased operational funding, universities now lack resources to provide permanent positions. Their hands are largely tied. If Japan wishes to continue producing Nobel laureates, we must urgently correct these structural problems."
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Science
- The Mainichi
Is there a massively powerful supercomputer being developed in Japan?
The Mainichi answers common questions readers may have about a new supercomputer being developed in Japan. Question: I heard a new supercomputer is being developed, right? Answer: Yes, it will be the successor to the "Fugaku" supercomputer run by Riken, Japan's national research and development agency, in Kobe. Fugaku has a computing power of about 440 quadrillion calculations per second, but its successor is expected to surpass this by 5 to 10 times when it enters service around 2030. Q: What's so special about Fugaku? A: Fugaku was jointly developed by Riken and Fujitsu Ltd. as a national project and began full-scale operation in March 2021. Its main feature is that it can perform calculations at ultrahigh speed compared to ordinary computers, allowing for analysis using large amounts of data. It has higher computing power than its predecessor, "K," which ceased operation in August 2019, and offers a wide range of industrial uses. Fugaku previously topped the worldwide supercomputer performance rankings. Q: How has it been useful? A: It achieved the world's first real-time prediction of sudden heavy rain, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it simulated how droplets spread through coughing and conversation, suggesting ways to reduce infection risk. Research results in a wide range of fields using Fugaku have had an impact on society. Q: What can we expected from Fugaku's successor? A: It will be equipped with graphics processing units (GPUs), which are considered optimal for artificial intelligence (AI) learning, allowing it to be used for rapidly advancing research utilizing AI. It is expected to be utilized in cutting-edge research that integrates AI more than ever before. It will be possible to use it in a wider range of fields than the current version of Fugaku, including studying whether extreme weather intensifying due to climate change can be controlled, researching autonomous driving technology, and developing new medicines. The global race to develop supercomputers is accelerating, but a Riken representative stated, "We aim to create a next-generation supercomputer that can be widely used by society, without being fixated on rankings."
Mint
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Japan urges US to drop auto tariffs as trade talks progress ahead of G7 Summit
Japan and the US held another round of trade talks in Washington as officials try to reach an agreement ahead of a Group of Seven summit in Canada and a meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for 70 minutes and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for 45 minutes on Friday. The talks took place a few hours after Ishiba said Japan is continuing to ask the US to withdraw the tariffs following a call with the US president. 'To achieve an agreement that is mutually beneficial, we engaged in very in-depth discussions with the two ministers and explored the possibility of reaching an agreement,' Akazawa told reporters after the sixth round of trade negotiations. 'We further deepened discussions on issues such as expanding bilateral trade, non-tariff measures and cooperation on economic security.' Akazawa declined to say if a path toward a deal is in sight or comment on whether Ishiba and Trump may announce a deal on the sidelines of the G-7 gathering in Canada starting Sunday. Akazawa said he may join the premier in Canada. Following the earlier call with Trump, Ishiba said both sides had agreed to accelerate talks toward reaching a mutually beneficial deal and to meet in Canada. Japan is seeking a written agreement from the US, saying that the Asian country will be exempt from additional tariff hikes on certain sectors like autos, the Mainichi newspaper reported late Friday. Japan is among the world's major exporters most at risk from Trump's wave of trade tariffs as its economy teeters on the brink of a technical recession ahead of a national election. The US administration has imposed a 25% tariff on imported cars and auto parts and a 50% levy on steel and aluminum. A 10% across-the-board duty on other goods from Japan will rise to 24% on July 9 barring a deal. The auto-related tariff is likely to hit Japan's economy hardest given that cars and auto parts make up a third of the nation's exports to the US and the industry is one of its biggest employers. Earlier this week, Trump floated the idea of raising auto tariffs even more, a move that would further ramp up the pressure on Japan's top automakers and a widespread ecosystem of suppliers and related businesses. Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and other Japanese car manufacturers are already bracing for a collective profit hit of more than $19 billion this fiscal year alone from the existing levy. Akazawa said Japan is trying to avoid the auto tariffs going even higher via its bilateral talks with the US. He didn't reveal any further specifics of the latest negotiations and said Japan is continuing to aim for a single package of trade agreements. Akazawa said he already briefed Ishiba on the latest negotiations while declining to comment on what specifically he told the prime minister. In a separate development linked to another potential talking point between the two leaders, Trump formally opened the door to approving Nippon Steel Corp.'s purchase of United States Steel Corp. The Trump administration submitted a proposed national security agreement to the companies on Friday that clears the sale so long as the companies comply with the government's terms. 'The Japanese government believes that this investment will strengthen the ability of the Japanese and US steel industries to generate new innovation and lead to the strengthening of the close partnership between Japan and the US,' Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto said following the announcement from the White House. Progress toward accepting the deal is potentially a positive sign of how Trump will welcome Japanese efforts to invest in production in the US that secures or creates jobs for Americans. Japan has highlighted its track record as the leading overseas investor in the US as it seeks to reach a deal with the Trump administration. As for the timing of a US-Japan trade deal, Bessent didn't bring up the possibility of a deadline extension in the latest round of talks, Akazawa said. The Treasury chief hinted this week that the July 9 deadline for imposing suspended across-the-board reciprocal tariffs could be extended for those countries negotiating on trade in good faith. Akazawa deflected a question over whether Ishiba and Trump will announce a deal at the G-7. 'Negotiations can sometimes reach an agreement suddenly, or they can unexpectedly drag on for a long time,' Akazawa said. 'It's like being caught in fog. Sometimes the fog suddenly lifts in the morning. Sometimes it never seems to clear up no matter how much time passes. For that reason, I would prefer to refrain from making any premature statements.'
