# AI News 180m Report｜2026-05-20 03:00–06:00 JST

One place for news and notices from 2 countries/regions: Japan, 8 items from 1 source; Taiwan, 4 items from 1 source.One edition every 180 minutes: every item from every source received in the period, with the original link.

## Hikari JS Mirai launches new webinar series

- Published: 2026-05-20T05:27:48+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000049.000109918.html
- anchor: #n437349
- Companies mentioned: 筑波大学、茨城県教育委員会

General Incorporated Association Hikari JS Mirai has launched a new webinar series on Japanese-language learning for children with foreign roots. The 1st session will be held on May 23.

## Cirque du Soleil's Japan engagement opens in Tokyo in February 2027

- Published: 2026-05-20T05:00:02+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000032.000018172.html
- anchor: #n437351
- Companies mentioned: シルク・ドゥ・ソレイユ・エンターテインメント・グループ

Fuji TV announced that Cirque du Soleil's first Japan engagement in 4 years will be held in Tokyo starting in February 2027. The two companies have attracted 15.25 million people across 14 productions since 1992.

## One person gets free admission to the popular athletic attraction! Nasu Kogen TOWA Pure Cottage begins sales of its “Prefectural Residents' Day Appreciation Plan” for Tochigi, Chiba and Miyagi residents only, available in June only!

- Published: 2026-05-20T05:00:02+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000597.000005736.html
- anchor: #n437350
- Companies mentioned: 日本テーマパーク開発株式会社、日本駐車場開発株式会社、藤和那須リゾート株式会社

Nasu Kogen TOWA Pure Cottage is offering a special accommodation plan for residents of Tochigi, Chiba and Miyagi in June only. Guests staying in a vacation rental will receive a free ticket for 1 person to the athletic attraction NOZARU.

## [Leave work mode behind on Friday night] Immerse yourself in the world of SIRDAVIS, the whiskey created by Beyoncé, at a tasting event at BAR 東京バーボンクラブ on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 19:00.

- Published: 2026-05-20T04:36:45+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000100.000145570.html
- anchor: #n437347
- Companies mentioned: 株式会社ロイヤルマイル、モエ ヘネシー ディアジオ株式会社

BAR 東京バーボンクラブ will hold an event on May 29, 2026, offering an experience of SIRDAVIS, the whiskey co-developed by Beyoncé. It will provide a premium brand experience as the weekend approaches.

## New Japanese social network miraipage adds support for manga (comic) posting format

- Published: 2026-05-20T04:34:34+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000007.000175055.html
- anchor: #n437348
- Companies mentioned: 一般社団法人健全AI推進協会（HAiiA）、株式会社ウォーカー、株式会社ACシステムコンサルティング、次世代AI教育株式会社

The new Japanese social network miraipage now supports manga posting. Users can upload images spanning up to 200 pages and publish digital comics for full-screen viewing, with monetization handled on the platform.

## “My new chapter begins.”

- Published: 2026-05-20T04:00:02+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000644.000017718.html
- anchor: #n437345
- Companies mentioned: 株式会社ネイチャーラボ

NatureLab has appointed Fuka Koshiba as brand ambassador for Diane Perfect Beauty and is airing 2 new commercials. On June 1, it will launch Silky Shine, a new hair-care series featuring new technology.

## “Enhanced purchasing of drum-style washing machines” begins in Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City; 出張買取はなまる expands its purchasing system by establishing a joint sales route

- Published: 2026-05-20T03:03:36+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000069.000171804.html
- anchor: #n437343
- Companies mentioned: Panasonic（パナソニック）、HITACHI（日立）、SHARP（シャープ）、TOSHIBA（東芝）

出張買取はなまる Sendai branch is strengthening its purchasing service for drum-style washing machines starting in May 2026. Against a backdrop of the difficulty of moving the heavy machines and rising prices for new models, it is offering a purchase guarantee of at least 50,000 yen for eligible models.

## ERPC adds support for 16 languages across its platform — Solana RPC's official site and dashboard can now be used seamlessly in users' native languages

- Published: 2026-05-20T02:42:07+09:00
- Source: Japan | PR TIMES
- Original: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000461.000105962.html
- anchor: #n437340
- Companies mentioned: Validators DAO

ERPC, operated by ELSOUL LABO B.V., has added support for 16 languages to its Solana RPC platform. It provides developers with an environment for intuitively managing infrastructure in their native languages.

## Trump delays attack on Iran, says he was just 1 hour away from the scheduled order to send in troops

- Published: 2026-05-20T04:27:39+09:00
- Source: Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
- Original: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202605200006.aspx
- anchor: #n437346
- Companies mentioned: 路透社、伊朗通訊社（IRNA）

U.S. President Trump said he had postponed a planned military strike on Tehran because Iran proposed a new peace plan, but warned that an attack could still happen if no agreement is reached within a few days. Iranian officials said Trump backed down out of fear of military retaliation.

## Thailand cancels 60-day visa exemption; Thai media: Taiwan travelers return to 30-day stay limit

- Published: 2026-05-20T03:49:36+09:00
- Source: Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
- Original: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202605200005.aspx
- anchor: #n437344
- Companies mentioned: 泰國外交部、泰國外交部領事事務局、曼谷郵報（Bangkok Post）、王室公報（Royal Gazette）

泰國外交部 announced the cancellation of the 60-day visa exemption policy for 93 countries and regions, restoring the stay limit to 30 days. The new policy will take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. According to an unofficial list reported by Thai media, Taiwan remains among the countries eligible for 30-day visa-free entry.

## Google's personal AI agent Spark can analyze bills and write work logs

- Published: 2026-05-20T02:56:15+09:00
- Source: Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
- Original: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ait/202605200003.aspx
- anchor: #n437342
- Companies mentioned: Google

Google unveiled its personal AI agent, Gemini Spark, at its I/O developer conference. It can proactively carry out tasks across apps for users, such as analyzing bills and writing work reports. The service runs in the cloud, is fully controlled by users, and will launch in beta for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.

## Google unveils Gemini 3.5 model, enhanced for AI agents

- Published: 2026-05-20T02:53:33+09:00
- Source: Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
- Original: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ait/202605200004.aspx
- anchor: #n437341
- Companies mentioned: Google、OpenAI、Anthropic、YouTube

Google unveiled its new Gemini 3.5 series of AI models at its I/O conference, optimized specifically for AI agent tasks. The first model, 3.5 Flash, launches today, touting high speed and low cost as it takes on rivals such as OpenAI.