A perfume that recreates the scent of a baby's head is drawing attention for its ability to evoke feelings of happiness. (News On Japan)

Japan experienced its hottest July on record, with the nationwide average temperature exceeding the standard by 2.89°C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. This marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking July temperatures, and the second straight month of record highs following June. (News On Japan)

A demonstration flight of a "flying car" developed by SkyDrive was held on Thursday at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, ascending to a height of about four meters and hovered for approximately three minutes. (News On Japan)

The startup scene in Japan has grown significantly in the last ten years. Specifically, it has been drawing more and more funding, technological advancement, and, as a result, global attention. (News On Japan)

JR Central has unveiled its latest test vehicle for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, introducing the newly developed M10 train designed to reduce environmental impact and operating costs. (News On Japan)

Three drones were spotted flying over the premises of Kyushu Electric Power’s Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture, prompting an alert to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on the night of July 26th. (News On Japan)

A self-driving bus operating at the Osaka-Kansai Expo made contact with a curb on July 22nd, prompting a temporary halt to autonomous operations. No injuries were reported. (News On Japan)

Marking the 30th anniversary of Marine Day as a national holiday, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines opened a massive automobile carrier to the public in Tokyo on July 21st. Measuring roughly 200 meters in length, the vessel runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and can transport about 7,000 vehicles. (News On Japan)

Rapidus, the company leading Japan's drive to domestically produce next-generation semiconductors, announced on July 18th that it has successfully confirmed the operation of a prototype 2-nanometer chip. (News On Japan)

A massive amount of seaweed has washed ashore on a popular beach in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, turning the shoreline into a green carpet and causing concern just days before the summer swimming season begins. (News On Japan)

Japan’s first new luxury cruise ship in 34 years, the Asuka III, operated by the NYK Group, is 230 meters long and can accommodate up to 744 passengers, and made its inaugural port call at Hakata Port on Monday morning. (News On Japan)

A pod of sperm whales was observed sleeping in an upright position near Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, with their heads pointing toward the surface in what appeared to be vertical rest. The sighting was made on June 23rd by Amami Marine Life Research Group chairman Katsuki Okoshi, who captured the rare moment about 15 kilometers west of the island. (News On Japan)

Aiming to revive Japan's status as a semiconductor powerhouse, Hoshikawa Naohisa, CEO of Okuma Diamond Devices, is leading the development of what is being called the "ultimate semiconductor"—a diamond-based device capable of withstanding extreme heat and radiation. (News On Japan)

A flying car demonstration at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which had been suspended due to a mid-flight incident, is expected to resume soon. (News On Japan)

A next-generation neutrino observation facility, the Hyper-Kamiokande, was unveiled to the media on June 28th in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture. Located 600 meters underground in the Kamioka area, it is a new experimental facility of the University of Tokyo's Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, designed to detect neutrinos emitted from a research center 295 kilometers away in Ibaraki Prefecture. (News On Japan)

H2A Rocket No. 50, the final unit of Japan’s long-running flagship launch vehicle series, was successfully launched in the early hours of June 29th from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. (News On Japan)

SoftBank announced on June 26th that it will begin pre-commercial services next year for its airborne mobile base station known as HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station), with plans to expand the service nationwide by 2026. (News On Japan)

A fossil on permanent display at a museum in Shinonsen, Hyogo Prefecture, has been identified as a new species and confirmed to be the world’s largest butterfly fossil. (News On Japan)

A state-of-the-art IBM quantum computer, one of the world’s most advanced models and the first of its kind installed outside the United States, has begun operation at RIKEN in Kobe, where it will be integrated with Japan's Fugaku supercomputer to advance hybrid computing research. (News On Japan)

In Fukushima Town, located in southern Hokkaido, a massive surge in rodent populations is causing widespread damage to rice and other crops. The situation has become so severe that home centers are struggling to keep up with demand for rodent traps, with shelves completely emptied and supply chains unable to restock in time. (News On Japan)