Archive for Hokkaido
June 17, 2008 at 2:25 pm · Filed under Environment, Hokkaido, Robot, Transportation, Household, Energy
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has released a few details about the “Zero Emission House,” a state-of-the-art green home under construction at the site of the upcoming Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, where environmental issues will be high on the agenda.
Incorporating the latest in sustainable building technology, the 280-square-meter (3,000 sq ft) Japanese-style home is designed to have a small carbon footprint. A 14.5-kilowatt solar array and a small 1-kilowatt wind generator provide power to the home, which is equipped with next-generation energy-saving appliances, thermal insulation glass, vacuum insulated panels and a green roof. The interior is illuminated by a system of light ducts and OLED lamps.
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Original post by Edo
May 27, 2008 at 1:51 pm · Filed under Hiroshima, Anomaly, Hokkaido, Animal, Biota, Attraction, Paranormal, Kyushu
Bigfoot. The Loch Ness Monster. The Abominable Snowman. Tales of unidentified mysterious animals have long intrigued and captured the imagination of people around the world — and Japan is no exception. Here is a brief introduction to 7 of the island nation’s most notorious cryptids, complete with grainy photographs where available. Whether you regard these tales as fact or fiction, their impact on the culture where they were encountered is undeniable.
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- Hibagon
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Original post by Edo
February 26, 2008 at 6:11 pm · Filed under Anomaly, Hokkaido, Video, Meteorology
This video — a follow-up to a previous post about strange cloud formations seen over the Sea of Okhotsk last summer — provides a rare close-up bird’s-eye view of cloud streets, which are created when convection currents cut low-lying cumulus into long, clean strips. According to the video narration, these clouds floated just over the sea surface, stood 300 meters tall and stretched for over 100 kilometers.
(69 words, 1 image)
Original post by Edo
June 20, 2007 at 10:12 am · Filed under Environment, Anomaly, Hokkaido, Meteorology
This photograph, taken June 18 from a Japan Coast Guard aircraft off the northeastern coast of Hokkaido, shows a bird’s-eye view of cloud streets over the Sea of Okhotsk. According to the Sapporo Meteorological Observatory, these low-altitude stratocumulus clouds were rolled into long, distinctive ribbons after becoming trapped in air currents. While it is not uncommon for wind to form such patterns in stratocumulus clouds, photos that clearly show the clouds rolled into strips are rare, says the observatory.
[Source: Mainichi]
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Original post by Edo
June 6, 2007 at 7:18 am · Filed under Giant, Hokkaido, Transportation, Space
Next time you float past Hokkaido, look down upon the town of Urahoro. There in a field you will see a giant geoglyph that spells out the words “Smart Loop.”
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Original post by Edo
March 12, 2007 at 1:22 pm · Filed under Hokkaido, Health, Material
Researchers from Hokkaido University have succeeded in creating artificial blood vessels using collagen derived from the skin of salmon. The researchers, who successfully replaced the aortas of rats with the artificial blood vessels, claim to be the first to create and successfully test artificial blood vessels made using collagen derived from marine animals.
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Original post by Edo
November 27, 2006 at 12:44 pm · Filed under , JR, Hokkaido
A dual-mode vehicle (DMV) that looks like a minibus and runs both on conventional railway tracks and paved roads was tested on the Gakunan railway in Fuji city (Shizuoka prefecture) on the night of November 24. The 28-passenger test vehicle was developed by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in a project that began in 2000.
Technicians aboard the DMV evaluated the safety and ride quality during the series of tests on rail and road. After the 3-km railway portion of the test course, the vehicle stopped at a railroad crossing, retracted the railroad wheels and switched to street mode in a mere 10 seconds.
A number of local governments around Japan have shown interest in introducing DMVs because they are inexpensive to manufacture and run. In addition, DMVs conveniently allow passengers to travel from train stations to their final destinations without having to transfer vehicles. DMVs appear to be particularly attractive in rural areas with limited public transportation because they allow railways to offer more versatile and efficient services.
In April 2007, JR Hokkaido will begin operating DMVs along part of the Kushiro line in eastern Hokkaido.
[Source: Nikkei Net]
Original post by Edo
