Agreement Signed for Linear Chuo Shinkansen Shizuoka Section, Progress Toward Construction Start

JR Tokai and Shizuoka Prefecture signed an agreement on the 18th for the Shizuoka section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, paving the way for construction to begin on the only section that had yet to be started. In the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly, Chairman Kurauchi denied allegations of cash exchange, but former vice chairmen and others have given testimony. In Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, a house collapsed in a landslide caused by heavy rain, and a woman was found, but a married couple remains missing.

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JR Tokai and Shizuoka Prefecture Sign Agreement for Linear Shizuoka Section, Construction Requirements Met On the 18th, JR Tokai concluded an agreement with Shizuoka Prefecture based on the prefectural natural environment conservation ordinance necessary for the start of construction of the Shizuoka section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen. The Shizuoka section, the only section between Tokyo's Shinagawa and Nagoya that had yet to be started, has now fulfilled the requirements for construction to begin, with the focus on starting work within the year. 1

Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Chairman Denies Cash Exchange: 'Absolutely None' Isao Kurauchi, chairman of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly, denied allegations of money changing hands over the chairmanship, saying 'There is absolutely none.' Former vice chairmen and others have given testimony that they gave him 5 million yen in cash, and demands for his resignation are intensifying. 2

House Collapses in Landslide in Ashikaga, Tochigi; Woman Found, but Couple Missing In Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, a landslide caused by record heavy rain collapsed a house. One woman was found at the scene, but contact has not been made with a couple believed to be in their 60s or 70s. Flood damage is also occurring in the surrounding area. 3

Flag Desecration Punishment Law Enacted; Concerns Over Unconstitutionality and Impact on Artists Raised A law punishing the desecration of the national flag in a grossly offensive manner was enacted on the 17th. Constitutional scholars have pointed out that it is unconstitutional, and overseas art figures have also expressed concern that it threatens freedom of expression. 4 5 6

Japanese Government to Invest Up to 1 Trillion Yen in Physical AI; Establish NVIDIA-Based AI Factory The government has designated a computing cluster for physical AI that recognizes and acts in the physical world as national infrastructure and will provide up to 1 trillion yen in support over five years. It aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the robot industry by establishing a new AI factory equipped with NVIDIA's latest GPUs. 7