Nipponica

The Hokkaido Spaceport in the town of Taiki, located on Japan's northern main island, has rocketed to global prominence after it hosted the first launch of a foreign vessel earlier this summer.

The port has now received inquiries about possible launches from 13 or 14 companies from around the world.

"Until recently, our main challenge was to raise awareness," said Yoshinori Odagiri, CEO of Space Cotan, which operates Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO). "Now we've reached the stage where people are coming to us to collaborate."

When you have the major infrastructure like a launch site already built, industry will build around it. Should be bright days ahead for south Hokkaido.

Japan will seek to establish international rules for the removal of human-made objects in space that could pose collision risks to satellites and the International Space Station if left in orbit, according to officials.

By the end of March, the Cabinet Office, in cooperation with experts, aims to identify legal and procedural issues involved in clearing space debris, such as fragments of rockets and satellites.

The government aims to use input from an expert panel to lead global discussions on rules for disposing of space debris, timed to coincide with a 2026 meeting of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the officials said.

All power to them but if we can't agree on cleaning up the debris and pollution on the Earth's surface then there is no chance to reach some kind of consensus for the junk flying above our heads, out of sight.