Fukuchiyama City in Kyoto Prefecture will from this month switch to renewable energy for all of the electricity used in Fukuchiyama Castle.

The move is designed to help disseminate the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to expand the use of renewable energy in the city and promote local production of energy for local consumption.

The electricity consumption of Fukuchiyama Castle is 50,000 kilowatts per year, according to the city.

Renewable energy has not previously been used but it will be from this month following the purchase of electricity from the new regional electric power company Tantan Energy.

 

The city estimates that electricity charges from April to August in 2021 will drop by about 30,000 yen compared with the same period this year.
Fukuchiyama Castle is said to be the first castle in Japan to have a castle tower that uses 100% renewable energy full time.

The city is gradually switching to renewable energy for electricity for use in public facilities. It has been in place at 32 facilities such as the city hall and elementary and junior high schools since April, and will be introduced at a total of seven facilities, including Fukuchiyama Castle and Sato Taisei Memorial Art Museum from October.

Even so, the introduction of renewable energy is limited to 25% of facilities. The plan is to put it in place at all of them in the future, with the City Industrial Tourism Division saying it "would like to accelerate our efforts in the future."

The Kyoto Shimbun

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A team of researchers, including from Japan, will begin a clinical study later this month to study whether transmitting vibration to the skin through a facial mask device can improve one's mental health.

Researchers from Nagoya University and London Trusted Therapy, an education and research company aim to eventually establish a drug-free, noninvasive approach to mental health care.

Their joint clinical study at a medical institution in London will involve around 30 people suffering from such conditions as ADHD, PTSD and depression.

Photo shows a person wearing a plastic facial mask device that transmits vibrations to the skin. (Photo courtesy of Yasuhiro Suzuki, a Nagoya University associate professor)(Kyodo)

The participants will wear the plastic facial equipment twice a day for 10 to 20 minutes each time and record any changes in their symptoms and sleep quality.

Inaudible low-frequency sounds from natural environments, such as forest and beach, as well as classical music, will be transmitted to the brain as vibrations in the study.

The researchers also plan to use the facial equipment in Ukraine next year on 15 to 20 civilians and soldiers with symptoms like PTSD due to the war with Russia.

"I would like to explore the possibility of (health) care that poses minimal burden on patients in a conflict area where rendering medical support is difficult," said Yasuhiro Suzuki, an associate professor at Nagoya University.

Research jointly conducted by Nagoya University and Akita University found that 35 elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia showed improved cognitive functions, such as memory, after a month of treatment with low-frequency sounds combined with micro-vibrations.

Another experiment, using mice, also showed enhanced metabolism, muscle strength and cognitive functions.

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women's free program at the NHK Trophy figure skating competition at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo on Nov. 9, 2024. (Kyodo)

 

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Britain remains on board next-gen fighter jet plan with Japan, Italy

LONDON - The British government has decided to remain on board a joint fighter jet development program with Japan and Italy following a review of defense expenditure, amid speculation the plan could be axed, a source close to the matter said Saturday.

The Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer now deems the plan an important defense project, significant for diplomatic relations with Japan and Italy and for creating many new jobs, the source said.

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Land minister Tetsuo Saito takes helm of Japan coalition partner Komeito

TOKYO - Komeito, the junior partner of Japan's ruling coalition, formally endorsed land minister Tetsuo Saito as party leader on Saturday and pledged to restore its strength after setbacks in last month's general election.

Saito, 72, succeeds Keiichi Ishii, who decided to step down just a month after becoming party chief after losing a seat in the Oct. 27 general election. The ruling coalition of Komeito and its senior partner, the Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, lost its majority in the powerful House of Representatives in the election.

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Baseball: Lotte to post flamethrower Roki Sasaki for MLB move

CHIBA, Japan - The Lotte Marines said Saturday they have decided to post Roki Sasaki, the hardest-throwing pitcher in Japan, for a move to Major League Baseball this offseason.

Many clubs are expected to join the sweepstakes for the talented but injury-prone 23-year-old right-hander, who threw a perfect game in April 2022 against the Orix Buffaloes.

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China's Xi willing to cooperate with Indonesia under new leader

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping, in talks Saturday with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, expressed willingness to promote cooperation between the two countries, saying that their bilateral relationship has "great strategic significance and global influence," according to state-run media.

In his meeting with Prabowo, who took office on Oct. 20, Xi said the two Asian countries are both key members of the "Global South" of emerging and developing economies and that their traditional friendship has grown stronger over time, China Central Television reported.

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Figure skating: Kagiyama, Sakamoto ease to NHK Trophy titles

TOKYO - Japan's Yuma Kagiyama defended his ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating's NHK Trophy men's title on Saturday, while compatriot Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, won the women's competition.

Kagiyama finished with a total of 300.09 points, finishing way ahead of Italian Daniel Grassl's 264.85 in second.

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24 killed in Pakistan railway station suicide bombing

ISLAMABAD - At least 24 people were killed and 53 others injured in a suicide bombing at the Quetta Railway Station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, according to police and rescue officials.

Army personnel from the Infantry School were among the targets of the attack, which occurred shortly before the scheduled departure of a Peshawar-bound train, said Mouzzam Jah Ansari, inspector general of police for Balochistan province.

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Football: Machida overpower FC Tokyo to keep J1 title hopes alive

TOKYO - Third-placed Machida Zelvia kept their slim title hopes alive after easing to a 3-0 derby win over FC Tokyo in the J-League first division on Saturday, ending their five-game winless run in the process.

Ryohei Shirasaki struck in the 15th minute and Oh Se Hun four minutes into the second half before Yuki Soma completed the scoring with 11 minutes left at National Stadium as Machida moved up to 63 points, four behind leaders Vissel Kobe, who play Sunday.

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Japan to boost defense capabilities amid security concerns: Ishiba

TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday vowed to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities in the face of a severe security environment amid the growing military activity of China, Russia and North Korea.

Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, said a recent violation of Japanese airspace by China and Russia was "utterly unacceptable," adding the two countries along with repeated ballistic missile tests by North Korea pose complex security challenges.

Video: Mao Asada-inspired Mao Rink skating venue to open in Tokyo's Tachikawa on Nov. 11  

The British government has decided to remain on board a joint fighter jet development program with Japan and Italy following a review of defense expenditure, amid speculation the plan could be axed, a source close to the matter said Saturday.

The Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer now deems the plan an important defense project, significant for diplomatic relations with Japan and Italy and for creating many new jobs, the source said.

Photo taken in July 2024 in Farnborough, southern Britain, shows a model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy. (Kyodo)

The British government will review its defense strategy through the first half of 2025. While it is also involved in developing nuclear submarines for the AUKUS project with the United States and Australia, concerns have emerged over the substantial costs associated with next-generation jet development.

From next year, the fighter program will enter a new phase, starting with the full-scale design of the aircraft.

The plane is expected to be deployed by 2035 and will be equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced stealth technology.

Masami Oka, a former Japanese vice minister of defense for international affairs, has been appointed to lead the international organization that will manage the project, called the Global Combat Air Program.

The organization called GCAP International Government Organization, dubbed GIGO, is expected to be established in Britain later this year.

Related coverage:

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