Robots for lemon harvesting

Robots for lemon harvesting

A four-legged robot grabs a lemon and places it into a basket carried by another robot as Chinese-developed machines are tested for lemon harvesting in Asakuchi in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 14, 2025.

Japan's 1st segmented mirror telescope near completion

Japan's 1st segmented mirror telescope near completion

Kyoto University associate professor Daisaku Nogami talks about an optical infrared telescope, employing Japan's first segmented mirror design, at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan's Okayama Astrophysical Observatory in Asakuchi, Okayama Prefecture, on March 7, 2015. The 3.8-meter telescope with new technology, which is an academia-industry collaboration and led by a team of experts from Kyoto University, is due to be completed by the end of March. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

High school baseball manager shows bat, glove handmade in Africa

High school baseball manager shows bat, glove handmade in Africa

Naohiko Tsutsumi, manager of the baseball team at Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, holds a handmade bat and glove on Aug. 6, 2015, which he has brought from Africa where many children play baseball using handmade equipment. The team has been sending used baseball equipment to children in developing countries since 2011. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

High school baseball team sends used gloves to developing countries

High school baseball team sends used gloves to developing countries

Baseball players of Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, repair used gloves on Aug. 6, 2015, before sending them to children in developing countries. Team manager Naohiko Tsutsumi taught baseball in Africa about 20 years ago. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo