Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

TOKYO, Japan - Setsuo Imazu of the Kyushu National Museum looks at an almost completed ceramic replica of a seated wooden statue of Kukai, founder of the Shingon (True Word) school of Buddhism, at Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co. in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, in this file photo taken on July 22, 2014.

(5)Abduction investigation group releases list of 44 people

(5)Abduction investigation group releases list of 44 people

TOKYO, Japan - Photos of some of the 44 missing people disclosed Feb. 10 by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea (COMJAN), a group formed to look into cases of possible abductions of Japanese by North Korea. (From L to R, top) Kumiko Kato, Toshiko Sonoda, Sachiko Hatano, Toshiaki Tamai, (from L to R, bottom) Toshiyuki Adachi, Junko Imazu, Yoshinori Kimoto and Koji Wada.

Demonstration experiment of walking guidance by a cane-type robot with wheels at Osaka City University

Demonstration experiment of walking guidance by a cane-type robot with wheels at Osaka City University

When the user walks holding the staff part, the robot automatically steers the wheels and guides the user to the destination. A feature of the robot is that it does not have an autonomous movement function, so that users can feel as if they are walking by themselves. This time, a function has been added that allows users to set their destinations by holding up their cards. However, as it was found to be difficult to use during the verification experiment, Mr. Imazu intends to improve this function, saying, "We would like to consider other methods, including voice recognition technology. A crowdfunding campaign is currently underway until the evening of the 26th in order to put the system into practical use as soon as possible. The target amount is set at 2 million yen. The funds raised will be used to develop charging facilities and waterproof exteriors. On December 12, 2019, at the Sugimoto Campus of Osaka City University in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

(5)Abduction investigation group releases list of 44 people

(5)Abduction investigation group releases list of 44 people

TOKYO, Japan - Photos of some of the 44 missing people disclosed Feb. 10 by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea (COMJAN), a group formed to look into cases of possible abductions of Japanese by North Korea. (From L to R, top) Kumiko Kato, Toshiko Sonoda, Sachiko Hatano, Toshiaki Tamai, (from L to R, bottom) Toshiyuki Adachi, Junko Imazu, Yoshinori Kimoto and Koji Wada. (Kyodo)

Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

Replica of famous monk's wooden statute almost completed

TOKYO, Japan - Setsuo Imazu of the Kyushu National Museum looks at an almost completed ceramic replica of a seated wooden statue of Kukai, founder of the Shingon (True Word) school of Buddhism, at Otsuka Ohmi Ceramics Co. in Koga, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, in this file photo taken on July 22, 2014. (Kyodo)

Panel on abduction issue holds meeting

Panel on abduction issue holds meeting

Hiroshi Imazu (3rd from R), chief of the lower house panel on the issue of abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, addresses a meeting with local officials of the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima at the prefectural office on Sept. 8, 2016. The brother of an abductee who had been kidnapped in the prefecture in 1978 also attended the meeting to seek further government efforts to solve the issue. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo