This Week in Japan

The Justice Ministry announced that it is studying the possibility of introducing joint custody for children of divorced parents. The concept of joint custody is becoming increasingly popular in however oppositional views state that having kids be in the middle of feuding parents may be detrimental to the child's well being. The panel set up by the Ministry will spend more than a year compiling a report about child welfare after divorce that will include other topics aside from joint custody. 

To read more here are some useful links: The Japan Times    The Mainichi

At a conference in Japan, ministers and delegates pledged to introduce 10 million fuel cell powered vehicles, trucks, and buses as well as 10,000 hydrogen refueling stations  globally over the next 10 years. The goal is challenging but the next 10 years will be crucial for sthe shifting economies of the world away from fossil fuels. Japan is taking the initiative to increase hydrogen usage and is developing the world’s first demonstration project to liquefy hydrogen from brown coal. Carbon capture and storage technology will also be used for this  project.

To read more here are some useful links: The Japan Times   Nikkei Asian Review

The electronic system for customs declaration that was introduced to Narita Airport this year will be expanded to 5 other Airports in Japan. Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, and Fukuoka Airports will all get the new system next spring ahead of the 2020 Olympics. To use the electronic declaration system passengers have to download the app and at the e-Gate they scan their chip-equipped passport and the QR code generated by the app. The system is designed to better increase the flow of passengers at customs where labor shortages are prevalent. 

To read more, here are some useful links: The Japan Times  Kyodo News

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan, or NEDO led by Toyota and Sharp have developed a car with the most powerful solar panels and energy efficient battery in order to revolutionize green cars and make charging stations obsolete. In theory, this is a car that can run forever. Toyota and Sharp argue that even if electric cars do take over from gasoline powered cars, the infrastructure for charging  the cars still needs to be developed and installed globally. But developing a car that is energy self-sufficient can revolutionize this thought process. 

To read more, here are some useful links: The Japan Times   CNBC News