Japan’s space agency says a Japanese probe completed an extremely close flyby of a near-Earth asteroid this month, passing about 400 meters (1,312 feet) from the target. The agencies involved describe the encounter as the closest-ever approach for a mission of this type, based on reported records for near-Earth asteroid flybys. The sources agree that the flyby distance is the key milestone, emphasizing that the probe reaches a substantially tighter pass than previous comparable missions. Both outlets report the same figure and timing, citing the space agency’s statement as the basis for the record claim. The articles do not provide additional details about the asteroid’s name, the probe’s mission objectives, or what measurements were taken during the encounter. Overall, the reports focus on the flyby distance and the record-setting nature of the approach, presenting the event as a significant navigation and operational achievement for a Japanese planetary science mission.