2011年12月31日 星期六

賈慶林評論台灣總統選舉

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
中国共産党ナンバー4の賈慶林・政治局常務委員(人民政治協商会議主席)は16日、来年1月の台湾総統選を前に談話を発表した。
 談話は、中台が「一つの中国」原則で歩み寄ったとされる1992年の「92年合意」を否定すれば「中台双方の利益が損なわれる」として、合意を否定する野党・民進党候補の蔡英文主席をけん制する内容で、国民党の馬英九総統再選の支持を中国指導部として初めて示すものとなった。
 総統選への介入とも言える談話発表に踏み切ったのは、独立志向の強い蔡氏が当選する可能性が排除できない現状への焦りから「中台交流停滞の可能性をちらつかせて台湾世論に揺さぶりをかける」(台湾メディア関係者)狙いだったとの見方が出ている。

(試譯文)
On the 16th Jia Qinglin, the number 4 man in the Chinese Communist Party's politburo standing committee (also as the President of the People's Political Consultative Conference) had released his comments ahead of the Taiwan presidential election scheduled for January next year.

He commented that while compromising the "one China principle", "the benefits of both China and Taiwan would be affected" if the "92-year agreement" reached in 1992 between China and Taiwan was rejected. The content of these comments would check Ms. Cai Yingwen, the Chairman of the opposition party - the Democratic Progressive Party candidate who denied the agreement. It became the first occasion for the China Guidance Department to show support for the re-election of the National Party's President Ma Yingjeou.
The decision to release the discussion content was said to be an intervention in the presidential election, and could be seen as out of the worry over the fact that the possibility for the strongly independent-oriented Ms. Cai to be elected could be not be ruled out; it had the aim "to stir up Taiwan public opinion (people that had media connection in Taiwan) noting the looming possibility of a stagnation in the China-Taiwan exchange".

I think it is wise for Mainland China not to be seen interfering the presidential election in Taiwan.

2011年12月29日 星期四

日本設定奶類等食物幅射安全標準

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
食品に含まれる放射性セシウムの新たな規制値について、厚生労働省は20日、新設する粉ミルクなどの「乳児用食品」は1キロあたり50ベクレル、子供がよく飲む「牛乳」も同50ベクレルなどとする案をまとめた。全世代で摂取量が多い「飲料水」は最も厳しい同10ベクレル、現行の「野菜類」「穀類」「肉・卵・魚・その他」の3区分を一つにまとめた「一般食品」は同100ベクレルとした。
 厚労省は10月、規制値の算定根拠となる被ばく線量の上限を、年間5ミリシーベルトから1ミリシーベルトへ引き下げることを決めた。これに伴い、食品の規制値も現行の1キロあたり200~500ベクレルより厳しくする。
 具体的には、子供は放射性物質の感受性が高く影響を受けやすいため、「乳児用食品」と「牛乳」は一般食品の半分の同50ベクレル。「飲料水」はWHO(世界保健機関)の指針に基づき同10ベクレルとした。22日に開かれる薬事・食品衛生審議会の放射性物質対策部会に提案。了承されれば文部科学省の放射線審議会に諮問し、国民からの意見募集も行って来年4月の施行を目指す。

(試譯文)
The new regulations on the amount of radioactive cesium that could be allowed in food had come into shape; on the 20th the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare regarding the newly established "the food for babies" such as powdered milk proposed to be at 50 Bq per km, and "milk" such as powdered milk that children often drank should also be at the 50 Bq. The "drinking water", with its many general intakes had the most severe control and it was set at 10Bq; the present "green stuff", "cereals", and "meat, egg, and fish and others" 3 categories were lumped into one category called "common food" and was set at 100 Bq.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in October based on the maximum dose of radioactivity in calculating the regulated value, decided to reduce the amount from the 5-mm sievert per year to a 1-mm sievert. In connection with this, the regulated value on food was 200 to 500 Bq per km stricter than the regulated value now in force.

Specifically, since children were highly susceptible to radioactive materials, "the food for babies" and "milk" were the set at 50 Bq, being half the amount for common food. "Drinking water" was set at 10 Bq based on the indicator of WHO (World Health Organization). All proposals would be sent to the radioactive material measure committee of the Council on Drugs and Food Sanitation held on the 22nd. If accepted, the Radiation Council of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology would do enquiry, performing opinion collection from people, and aimed at their enforcement in April next year.

Probably these new safety standards could ease the worry of some people in Japan. I am wondering whether the milk powder for babies sold overseas would be subjected to the same standard.

2011年12月26日 星期一

日清食品會推出新杯麵產品

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
 日清食品は12日、水を入れて電子レンジで加熱する即席カップライスの新商品「日清焼そばU・F・O・そばめし」を来年1月3日から近畿2府4県で先行発売すると発表した。今年7月に全国発売し、売れ行きが好調な「日清カップヌードルごはん」と「同シーフード」に続くシリーズ第3弾。新ブランド商品の投入でさらなる市場拡大を目指す。
 人気カップ焼きそば「U・F・O・」のめんを細かく刻み、熱風で乾燥させた米と混ぜ合わせた。焼きそばの風味を出すため、ソースにもフライめんの香ばしさを加えた。焼きそばとご飯を炒めた「そばめし」は神戸市長田区発祥とされ、味になじんでいる消費者が多いことから、近畿での先行発売を決めた。希望小売価格は1個250円(税別)。来春をめどに全国に発売を広げ、年間売り上げ目標は20億円。
 10年8月に近畿で先行発売したカップヌードルごはんは、11年7月までの1年間の売り上げが当初目標の5倍強に達した。11年7月からの全国発売で年間売り上げ50億円を目指す。日清は今後も新商品を開発し、カップライスシリーズで年間100億円の売り上げ目標を掲げる。
(試譯文)
On the 12th the Nissin Food Products announced that it would carry out pilot sales of their new product "Nissin fried-noodle U-F-O sobameshi", a cup noodle which would be ready to eat if water was added and heated by a microwave oven, starting from January 3 next year in 2 Kinki Fu and 4 prefectures. This was the 3rd phase, following a series of sales carried out nationwide in July this year: the popular "Nissin cup noodle rice" and "the seafood".
This injection of a new brand-name product aimed at the further expansion of market. The popular cup noodle "U-F-O-" was made with finely minced noodle dried by hot wind, and then mixed with the dried rice. In order to give out the flavor of fried noodles, the fragrance of flied noodle was added to the sauce also. "Sobameshi" was the stir-fried noodle together with the boiled rice; it was considered having an origin in the Nagata district of Kobe city. Since there were many consumers who had got used to it, Kinki was opted for the pilot sales. A manufacturer's suggested price was 250 yen (excluding tax) per piece. There would be extensive sales all over the country next spring, the targeted annual sales was 2 billion yen.
As for the boiled rice cup noodle which had its pilot sales carried out in Kinki in August 2010, the sales in the year ending July 2011 amounted to over 5 times of the original target. Regarding the nationwide sales starting from July 2011, the aim was an annual sales of 5 billion yen . Nissin continued to develop new products and held up a 10 billion yen sales target per year in cup rice series.

Without any doubt, Japan is number one in the invention and production of cup noodles.

2011年12月25日 星期日

岩手、宮城、福島縣失業率高企

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
東日本大震災は11日、発生から9か月となる。
 岩手、宮城、福島3県では失業手当受給者が昨年より6割増えており、雇用情勢は依然として厳しい。来年1月以降は、給付期限が切れる人が出始める見通しで、雇用の創出が課題になりそうだ。警察庁の9日現在のまとめでは、死者1万5841人。行方不明者3493人。避難者は約33万人に上っている。
 厚生労働省によると、10月に失業手当(延長給付を除く)を受給したのは、3県で計4万9848人。昨年同月と比べて59・7%の増加で、震災による勤務先の廃業などが影響しているとみられる。通常の給付期限は最短90日だが、特例で最大210日間延長されている。
 一方、津波被害を受けた沿岸部や東京電力福島第一原発周辺にある3県の42市町村のうち、約8割の33市町村が復興計画を策定済みか、年内に策定することが各自治体への取材でわかった。32市町村が高台や内陸への集団移転を盛り込むか、検討中としている。
(試譯文)
On the 11th, the East Japan great earthquake would be nine months old since the event had happened.
The number of people on the dole had increased by 60 percent compared to last year, and the employment situation was still severe in the 3 prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.
In January next year and thereafter, people with their grants expired were expected to begin to appear, and the creation of employment would likely become a subject. In a summary done by the National Police Agency as up to the 9th, there were 15,841 people dead, 3,493 people missing. The number of people seeking refuge went up to about 330,000.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the total number of people who received the unemployment allowance (except for extended grant) in October was 49,848 in the three prefectures. It was a 59.7% increase compared with the same month last year, being seen as due to the discontinuance of business of office as a result of the earthquake disaster, etc. Although the usual shortest grant term was 90 days, it would be extended to a maximum of 210 days as an exception.
On the other hand, it was understood that among the 42 cities, towns and villages in these three prefectures which were at the area along the shore that had suffered from the tsunami damage, and from the first nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima, 33 of them or about 80 percent had already formulated a recovery program. For those that had not done so they would made their recovery plan before the year end, as learned from the media coverage. There were 32 cities, towns and villages that were still considering whether to move to heights or inland in group.

The areas that have suffered most from the 3.11 disaster are trying to cope with the situation.

2011年12月24日 星期六

日本檢討電力政策

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
エネルギー政策の見直しに伴って、発電方式ごとのコストを検証している政府の委員会が開かれ、原子力発電のコストは、事故の際の賠償費用などを含めると、これまでの試算よりも5割程度高くなるなどとした、報告書の素案をまとめました。
報告書の素案では、原子力発電のコストについて、1キロワットアワー当たり、最低でも8.9円としており、これまでの試算の5.9円に比べると、5割程度高くなっています。これは、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故でこれまでに明らかになった賠償費用や、使用済み核燃料の処分に必要な費用などを加味した結果だということです。一方、素案では、石炭と液化天然ガスを燃料とする火力発電のコストについては、1キロワットアワー当たり10円前後と試算し、コスト面で原子力発電と競争できると指摘しています。また、住宅向けの太陽光発電は、今後の量産効果などによって、2030年には、最低で1キロワットアワー当たり9.9円までコストが下がる可能性があるとしています。委員会は、こうした試算について、13日の議論を踏まえて、一部修正を加えたうえで、19日にも報告書をまとめ、新しいエネルギー政策の全体像を決める関係閣僚会議に提出することにしています。
(試譯文)
While also doing the re-examination of the energy policy at the same time, the government's committee which checked the cost for all power generation methods was held; in a draft report the cost of nuclear power generation calculated so far presupposed that it would be about 50 percent higher than the old trial calculation when compensatory expenses in case of an accident etc. were included.
By a draft report, it was considered that the cost of nuclear power generation was at least 8.9 yen per kilowatt-hour, which was about 50 percent higher compared with 5.9 yen of old trial calculation done so far. It was the result of after taking into account the compensatory expenses which had become clear now regarding the accident at the number one nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima, and also expenses required to dispose the used nuclear fuel etc. On the other hand, by the draft, regarding the cost of thermal power generation which used coal and liquefied natural gas as fuel, the trial calculation was around 10 yen per kilowatt-hour, indicating that it could compete with nuclear power generation in respect of cost. Moreover, regarding housing-oriented photovoltaic, the cost might decline to as low as 9.9 yen per kilowatt-hour in 2030 because of volume efficiency etc. in the future. On the 13th, based on such a trial calculation the committee would hold discussion and add partial correction; it also would compile a report on the 19th and present it to the ministerial conference which would determine the overall picture of the new energy policy.

It seems that Japan would be reviewing their reliance on nuclear energy.

2011年12月23日 星期五

鈴木充電單車明年初發售

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
スズキは9日、同社初の電動バイク「e―レッツ」を来年1月9日から発売すると発表した。
 家庭用100ボルト電源で充電でき、4時間の充電で30キロ・メートル走る。座席下に予備の電池を積むこともできる。原付き免許で運転でき、価格は31万2900円。予備用電池付きは39万6900円。年間1000台の販売を見込む。
 電動バイクはヤマハ発動機が昨年9月に発売。ホンダも企業向けにリース販売している。
(試譯文)
Suzuki announced on the 9th that the electric motorcycle "e-rettsu", the first of their company, would be on the market starting from January 9 next year.
It could be charged with the home-use 100 volt power supply, and could run 30 km with a 4-hour charging. A spare battery could also be stacked under the seat. It was able to be operated using a motorized license and the price of the motocycle was 312,900 yen. It would be 396,900 yen with the reserve battery. Yearly sales of 1000 sets was expected.
Yamaha Motor electric motorcycle had entered the market in September last year. Honda was also doing lease-sale for companies.


It seems that the sales price is quite high.

2011年12月22日 星期四

中國汽車銷售量下跌

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
中国の先月の新車の販売台数は、165万台余りで、前の年の同じ月に比べ、2.4パーセント減少して、2か月連続のマイナスとなり、経済成長をけん引してきた自動車産業が低迷し、景気が落ち込むのではないかという懸念が広がっています。
中国自動車工業協会は9日、先月の新車の販売台数が165万6000台となり、前の年の同じ月に比べ、2.4パーセント減少したと発表しました。中国の新車販売が、前の年の同じ月に比べ、マイナスとなったのは2か月連続です。これは、中国政府による燃費のよい車の購入に対する補助金の支給基準が、ことし10月から厳しくなったことに加え、ヨーロッパの信用不安の影響への懸念から、高額の消費を控える動きが広がったためとみられています。中国の新車販売は、去年、おととしと比べて32パーセント多い1806万台に達し、2年連続でアメリカを抑えて世界一となりました。しかし、ことしは先月までの累計が1681万台余りにとどまっており、最終的な販売台数は去年を上回るものの、増加率は大幅に下がり、数パーセントになるとみられています。中国経済をけん引してきた自動車産業は、鉄鋼などの原材料から電子部品まで幅広い産業と関連しており、低迷によって景気が落ち込むのではないかという懸念が広がっています。
(試譯文)
The number of new cars sold in Chinese last month was a little more than 1,650,000 vehicles, a decrease of 2.4% compared with the same month of the previous year and was a minus for two continuing months; the auto industry which had been driving the economic growth had slowed down and there was spreading concern whether its a downward trend from good business.
The China auto industry association announced on the 9th that the number of new cars sales last month was 1,656,000, and that was a decrease by 2.4% when compared with the same month of the previous year. It was a two-month continuation that Chinese new car registration was a minus compared with the same month of the previous year. This was regarded as due to a growth in a movement which refrained from large consumption because of the concern over the influence of European credit insecurity, coupled with the stringent conditions eligible for the subsidy provision from the Chinese government for the purchase of cars that had efficient fuel consumption, effective from October this year. Chinese new car registration last year amounted to 18,060,000 vehicles and was a 32% increase compared with the year before last, superseding the United States for two consecutive years and became the world's No.1. However, although the 16,810,000 total last month remained huge and the final volume of sales this year might exceed last year, but the rate of increase had fallen sharply and it was expected to be a few percent. The auto industry which had been driving the Chinese economy was extensively connected to raw materials industry from steel etc to electronic components, and concern had been spreading on whether this decrease was a downturn in business.


So some parts of the Chinese economy are begining to cool down as intended.

2011年12月21日 星期三

日本人對美國的好感增加

Recently the Mainichi News on-live reported the following:
内閣府が3日発表した「外交に関する世論調査」で、米国に「親しみを感じる」とする回答が昨年の前回調査より2.1ポイント増の82.0%に上り、1978年の調査開始以来、最高となった。「親しみを感じない」は2.9ポイント減の15.5%で過去最低だった。
 調査は9~10月に実施した。外務省は「東日本大震災で米軍が展開した『トモダチ作戦』など献身的な支援に対して国民が好意を持ったのではないか」と指摘。未曽有の大災害が日米両国の結び付きを強固にしたと分析している。
 調査は全国の成人男女3千人が対象で、回収率は63.7%だった.
(試譯文)
Based on the "opinion poll on diplomacy" which the Cabinet Office released on the 3rd, there was a 2.1 points increase in the reply which supposed that there was a "feeling an affinity" with the US compared to the previous investigation last year, and had reached 82.0%. It was being the highest since the investigation was started in 1978. "Not feeling an affinity" was at 15.5% which was the lowest ever, with a 2.9 points decrease.
The survey was conducted from September to October. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted "Didn't people have good will to the self-sacrificing support, such as "Operation Tomodachi" etc. which the U.S. Forces had carried out in response to the East Japan great earthquake?" It was analyzed that the unprecedented catastrophic disaster had strengthened the connection between Japan and the U.S.
3000 adult men and women all over the country were objects of this survey, and the recovery rate was 63.7%.

I see it as a public relation success for the US.

2011年12月19日 星期一

日元升值影響日本本土製造業

Recently the Yomiuri News on-live reported the following:
「読売ビジネス・フォーラム2011」の第4回会合が1日、札幌市内のホテルで開かれ、経団連副会長の西田厚聡・東芝会長が講演した。
 西田氏は、東芝が円高による生産体制の見直しで、半導体を製造する北九州工場(北九州市)など3工場の閉鎖と生産の一部を海外企業に委託することを決めたことについて言及。「半導体製造には高度な技術を要する『前工程』とパッケージ化する『後工程』があり、前工程は今後も可能な限り日本で持ちこたえ、最先端技術を海外に流出させないようにしていく」と強調した。
 西田氏はまた、韓国政府が半導体メーカーの電気料金を国策で割安にしていることも紹介。「半導体の製造では電力を大量消費する。再生可能エネルギーが増えて原子力発電所が動かずに電気料金が上がると、(工場を)国内にとどめることは微妙になる」と語った。
(試譯文)
The 4th meeting of the "Yomiuri Business Forum 2011" was held in a hotel in Sapporo on the 1st, and Toshiba's chairman Atsutoshi Nishida, as the vice president of the Federation of Economic Organization, gave a speech.
Mr. Nishida made reference to Toshiba's having made the decision of closing three factories such as the Kitakyushu factory (Kitakyushu City) which manufactured semi-conductors and that a part of the production had to be entrusted to overseas firms, after re-examination the production system because of the strong yen. It was emphasized that in the manufacturing of semi-conductors "there are 'initial manufacturing stage' that required advanced technology, and package-ized 'finishing manufacturing stage'. The initial process would be done as much as possible in Japan to avoid the leading-edge technology to continue to flow into the overseas."
Mr. Nishida also introduced that the South Korean government, by its national policy, had made chip makers' electricity bill relatively cheap. And it was said that "the manufacturing of semiconductors needs to consume electric power excessively. If the electricity bill goes up because of an increase in renewable energy and the stoppage of a nuclear power plant, the closure (of factories) at home would become a delicate issue ".


Obviously, the strong yen has a negative impact on the production of high-tech products in Japan.

2011年12月17日 星期六

福島縣捕漁業暫時停止

Last month on 28.11.2011 the NHK News on-line reported the following:
東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故の影響で、漁を見合わせている福島県内の各漁協は、沿岸の魚の一部から国の暫定基準値を超える放射性物質の検出が、依然、続いているとして、年内の操業再開を断念することを決めました。
福島県内の漁業を巡っては、一部の魚から依然として放射性物質が検出されていることから、県外で行われているサンマ漁やマグロ漁などを除いて、原発事故から8か月余りたった今も、すべての漁を見合わせています。28日、福島県内の6つの漁協がいわき市で会合を開き、漁の再開の時期について話し合いました。この中で、県の担当者から、今月の調査でも、沿岸部でとれたヒラメやシロメバルなど5種類の魚から、国の暫定基準値を超える放射性物質が検出されていることが報告されました。これに対し、各漁協からは、放射性物質の検出が、依然、続いているとして、「漁を自粛すべきだ」という意見が相次ぎ、年内の操業再開を断念することを決めました。また、一部の漁協からは、放射性物質が検出されない魚も多いとして、一部の漁を来年1月にも再開したいという意見が出され、改めて協議することになりました。28日の決定について、福島県漁業協同組合連合会の野崎哲会長は「来年には、なんとか試験的な漁でも再開をしたい。再開後に消費者に安心して購入してもらうための対策も進めたい」と話しています。

年内の操業再開を断念することが決まったことについて、30年以上、漁師を続けてきたという福島県いわき市の60代の男性は「長期間、漁ができず、将来の生活が不安だ。別の仕事に就こうと思っても高齢のため見つからない。仮に漁を再開できたとしても、消費者に安心して購入してもらえるのか心配だ」と話していました。また、50代の漁師の男性は「再開がいつになるのか全く見通しが立っておらず、国と東京電力には、一日も早く安全宣言を出してもらいたい」と話していました。
(試譯文)
Individual fisherman's cooperative association in Fukushima which had postponed the fishery under the influence of the accident of the number one nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power in Fukushima decided that, because radioactive materials that exceeded the interim standard value of the country continued to be detected from some coastal fish, they gave up the resumption of fishing operation before-the-year-end.

Related to fishing in Fukushima, since radioactive materials were still detected from some fish, except for the saury fishing and the tuna fishing etc. which were performed outside the prefecture, for eight months since the nuclear power plant disaster up to now all fisheries had remained postponed. On the 28th six fisherman's cooperative associations in Fukushima held a meeting and discussed the time for the resumption of fishery in Iwaki city. In this connection, based on an investigation done in this month, it was reported by the prefecture people in charge that radioactive materials exceeding the interim standard value of a country had been detected from five kinds of fish, such as flounder, shiromebaru etc. caught in the area along the shore. On the other hand, one after another, individual fisherman's cooperative association expressed the opinion that "self-control should be exercised in fishery", and it was decided to give up operation resumption before-the-year-end after noting that radioactive materials still continued to be detected. Also, some fisherman's cooperative associations offered the opinion of resuming fishing in January next year, noting that there were also some fish from which radioactive materials were not detected, and decided to renew the discussion. About the decision on the 28th, Fukushima Prefecture Federation of Fisheries Co-Operative Association Chairman Satoshi Nozaki said "somehow hoping to resume experimental fishery next year. Also after resumption I would like to advance some measure to get consumers confidence to purchase."
Having decided to give up resumption of operation before the year end, a male in his 60's from Iwaki-shi, Fukushima who had been a fisherman for over 30 years said "as fishery is impossible for a long period of time, the future life is worrying. Even if to consider taking up another job, he could not found one because of the advanced age. Even if it is able to resume fishing, he was anxious about whether he could get consumers' confidence to purchase." Moreover, a male fisherman in his 50's was saying, "there is no clear prospect at all on when the resumption would come, but I want the country and the Tokyo Electric Power to issue a safety declaration as soon as possible."

Obviously the fishery industry in Fukushima is seriously affected by the disaster.

2011年12月15日 星期四

美國國務卿探訪緬甸

On 30.11.2011 the NHK News on-line reported the following:
アメリカのクリントン国務長官は30日、国務長官として56年ぶりとなるミャンマー訪問を開始し、テイン・セイン大統領や民主化運動のリーダー、アウン・サン・スー・チーさんと会談して、民主化の進み具合を直接確かめることにしています。
アメリカのクリントン国務長官は30日午後4時半(日本時間の7時ごろ)、専用機でミャンマーの首都、ネピドーの空港に到着しました。クリントン国務長官のミャンマー訪問は、今月中旬にインドネシアで開かれた東アジアサミットに合わせてオバマ大統領が発表したもので、アメリカの国務長官がミャンマーを訪問したのは56年ぶりです。アメリカは、ミャンマーの前の軍事政権による民主化勢力への弾圧を受け、経済制裁など厳しい対応をとってきました。クリントン国務長官は来月1日、テイン・セイン大統領らと会談し、すべての政治犯の釈放などさらなる民主化政策を推し進めるよう求めるものとみられます。2日には最大の都市ヤンゴンでアウン・サン・スー・チーさんとも会談し、現在の政権への評価を直接聞くなどして、今後の関係改善が可能かどうか探りたい考えとみられます。アメリカの対応はミャンマーに対し今も経済制裁を続けているほかの国々の動きにも影響を与えるとみられ、一連の会談の結果が注目されます。
(試譯文)
On the 30th (November) the US Secretary of State Clinton started the visit to Myanmar which would become the first time in 56 years for a Secretary of State; she would confer with President Thein Sein and the leader of the democracy movement Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, so as to confirm directly the progress on the condition of democratization.
US Secretary of State Clinton arrived at the the airport in Naypyidaw, the capital in Myanmar at half past four in the afternoon (around the 7:00 JST time) on the 30th in a special flight. Secretary of State Clinton's visit to Myanmar was in accordance with what President Obama had announced in the East Asia summit meeting opened in the middle of this month in Indonesia, and it was the first time in 56 years that an American Secretary of State to visit Myanmar. The United States noted the suppression of the pro-democracy movement by the previous military regime in Myanmar, and had taken severe response, such as economic sanctions. The Secretary of State Clinton would confer with President Thein Sein and others who were expected to be asked to promote further democratization policies, such as the release of all the political criminals, on the 1st of the next month. She would also confer with Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi in the biggest city Yangon on the 2nd, evaluating the present political power that she would enquire directly. It was seen as having the idea of wishing to explore the possibility of relationship improvement in the future. It was expected that U.S.'s response to Myanmar would affect movement in other countries which were still subjecting to continuing economic sanctions. The result of a series of talks would attract attention.

This visit by the United States's Secretary of State could be seen as another indication that the American is returning back to Asian. Probably China would respond to this visit shortly.

2011年12月13日 星期二

今年紅白歌唱大賽有新和舊面孔

Last month on 30.11.2011 the Mainichi News on-live reported the following:

NHKは30日、大みそかの「第62回紅白歌合戦」に出場する歌手55組を発表した。初出場は7組で、人気子役の芦田愛菜ちゃんと鈴木福君も選ばれた。ともに7歳で紅白史上最年少となる。
 テーマは「あしたを歌おう。」。東日本大震災からの復興の思いも込め、被災地出身の歌手も選ばれた。福島県出身のミュージシャンらでつくる「猪苗代湖ズ」が初出場となるほか、岩手県陸前高田市出身の千昌夫さんが22年ぶり、福島県郡山市出身の西田敏行さんも出場が決まった。「猪苗代湖ズ」のメンバーは「被災して福島にいる人も、県外に避難している人もみんなが一つになってほしい」。
 初出場はほかに、韓国女性グループの少女時代とKARAなど。10年ぶりに復帰の松田聖子さんは、娘の神田沙也加さんと共演する。 
 NHKは同日、暴力団排除条例施行を受け、出場歌手全員に暴力団と関係がないことを確約する書面を配布。違反した場合は契約を解除する内容で歌手側の署名を求めている。
(試譯文)
On 30th (of November) the NHK announced the 55 teams of singers who would participate in the "62nd New Year's Eve song shows" in the New Year's Eve. The first seven participating teams chosen would include Ashida Mana, a popular child actor, and Suzuki Fuku. Both at the age of seven, they became the youngest in the history of the Red-and-White.
The theme would be "to sing for tomorrow". With the thought of recovering from the East Japan great earthquake, singers that came from the stricken area were also chosen. Participation for the first time was confirmed by the "Iwashirokozu", formed by the musicians from Fukushima; also for the first time was Mr. Toshiyuki Nishida a native of the Koriyama-shi, Fukushima; also participating after 22 years was confirmed by Mr. Sen Masao from Rikuzen-Takata-shi, Iwate. Members of the Inawashirokozu "want those people who are still in Fukushima and also those who have escaped out of the Fukushima prefecture who had suffered from the great disaster to get together as one".
Others who would participate for the first time would be the South Korean female group "Girlhood", and the KARA etc. Ms. Matsuda Seiko, participated for the first time after ten years would co-star with her daughter, Ms. Kanda Sayaka. NHK was subject to gang exclusion ordinance and would enforce it on the same day. It had distributed the documents to all participating singers to assure that there would be no relationship with a gang. It asked for the singer's signature by the side of the contents. When it was broken the contract would be canceled.

So at least two familiar and old faces will appear in the coming Red and White Song Contest.

2011年12月12日 星期一

日本演歌(Enka)(下)

In the prewar Showa period, the invention of the radio and the phonograph had led to a major change in enka. The “father of modern enka” was the composer Koga Masao, whose major influence on the genre was reflected in the codified style known as “Koga merodii” (Koga melody) as commonly noted in the musical and textual patterning of enka in the 1960s.6

In the 1970s, the proliferation of youth-oriented popular music genres had served as the background that helped the emergence of modern enka. It was called new music, a term coined to describe young adult-oriented as opposed to teen-oriented western-influenced popular music.7 Before the mid-1960s, all “popular” music were called kayokyoku. The increasing variety of the kayokyoku meant that the definition of this term had become confusing. People needed new names to identify songs, and one kind of song was thus called enka. Enka became a popular name in the latter half of the 1960s, with a root that could be traced back to the late 19th century political movements. The emergence of enka in the 1960s was probably a reaction to the unmistakable strong presence of the western influence in Japan’s popular culture.8

In the post WWII years some Japanese regarded enka as timelessly old because its sentiment, even many of the songs were written quite recently. Usually enka was about the hometown that was left behind, or about the parted lover, or about remembering the mother for her sacrifices.9 What was new about anka in the post war period was that some audience found it represented the “heart/soul of Japan”. Enka began to earn credibility as a traditional genre because it had a history dating back to the Meiji period. Enka was regarded as a genre that had a progressive evolution that tied to the social and political changes in Japan.10

Notes
6. Christine R. Yano. Tears of Longing: Nostalgia and the Nation in Japanese Popular Song. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center: Distributed by Harvard University Press, 2002, p.37
7. Ibid., p. 42
8 Carolyn S. Stevens. Japanese Popular Music: Culture, Authenticity, and Power. London; NY: Routledge, 2008, p.45.
9. Christine R. Yano. Tears of Longing: Nostalgia and the Nation in Japanese Popular Song. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center: Distributed by Harvard University Press, 2002, p.3.
10. Ibid., p. 29.

2011年12月11日 星期日

日本演歌(Enka)(上)

“Enka” becomes a popular word in Japan’s music world starting from the 1960s. Until the 1950s Kayokyoku (folk music) in the post WWII Japan were predominantly written in pentatonic scale, then in the 1960s the diatonic scale was adopted rapidly due to the influence of Western popular music. It was in response to this trend that some love songs called enka slowly emerged as a kind of Japanese popular music. It imitated an older Japanese style and had the same nomenclature of the political songs sung in the early Meiji era.1

Enka has a long history in Japan that could be traced back to the 1880s. During the early Meiji period enka were anti-government songs sung in the streets in support of the “freedom of the people’s rights movement” when the Meiji government imposed controls on public expression. Enka was used to avoid government restrictions and was used to spread the new ideas to the public. Enka was half sung and half spoken by the enka singers (enkashi) who were regarded by many as the “singing street guerillas”. Gradually the role of enka singers shifted into entertainers. They formed groups to write songs and distribute lyrics.2 The popularity of enka declined after Japanese’s victory in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-5. Its revival was seen in the early 1900s. In 1907 violin was introduced into enka performance and enka’s content was mostly about news of the time.3

The popular music in the Taisho period was considered by some scholars as the most closely linked to the present day enka.4 During the Taisho era many rural people migrated to the cities for work. The popular music of the time often sang about personal experience of lost love, and about separation and loneliness of leaving home. One favorite theme was about rural hometown (furusato). These themes were similar to those seen in the post WWII enka.5 (to be continued)

Notes:
1. Junko Kitagawa. “Music Culture” in The Cambridge Companion to Modern Japanese Culture. Yoshio Sugimoto ed. Cambridge University Press, 2009, p.265.
2. Christine R. Yano. Tears of Longing: Nostalgia and the Nation in Japanese Popular Song. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center: Distributed by Harvard University Press, 2002, p.31
3. Ibid., p. 31
4. Ibid., p. 33
5. Ibid., p. 33

2011年12月10日 星期六

日本發明極薄堅硬透明原材料

Last month on 22.11.2011 the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
 カニやエビの殻から、折ったり丸めたり自在にできる透明で極めて薄い膜状の素材を作ることに、京都大生存圏研究所の矢野浩之教授らが成功した。
 極薄のディスプレーの表面材料を実現できる技術で、近く英国の材料専門誌に発表する。
 カニなど甲殻類の殻は、高分子繊維・キチンが塊のように集まり、それをたんぱく質と炭酸カルシウムががっちり固めているため、強いのが特長だ。
 矢野教授は、ズワイガニの甲羅から、化学処理でたんぱく質などを除去し、キチンだけに加工。この後、たんぱく質が抜けた隙間に透明樹脂を浸透させると、ガラス細工のように透明な甲羅ができた。
 この甲羅の粉末から、厚さ100~200マイクロ・メートルの透明膜を作製。紙のように軟らかいうえ、熱にも強く、約200度まで透明のままという。
 矢野教授は「ガラスに代わる素材が簡単にできた。生物が何億年もかけてつくった仕組みを借り、新材料の開発に応用できることを示せた」と話している。
(試譯文)
Professor Hiroyuki Yano and others of the Kyoto University Survival Circle Research Institute had succeeded, from the shell of crabs or shrimps, in making a transparent and very thin membrane material which could be freely cruved and folded.
This technology, that could enable the realization of an ultra-thin surface material, would be announced to a British material technical magazine soon.
In the shell of the crustacean such as a crab, Chitin polymer fibre gathered like a sheet, when it was hardened firmly with protein and calcium carbonate, hardness became the feature.
From the shell of a snow crab, Professor Yano removed protein etc. by a chemical treatment, only the Chitin was processed. Then the space where protein had been removed was filled up with transparent resin that would permeate the crevice. A glass like transparent shell was made. From the powder of this shell, a 100-200-micrometer thick transparent film was produced.
It was soft like paper, and also it was said that even with a strong heat of up to about 200 degrees the material was still transparent.
Professor Yano said that "the material that could replace glass was made easily. The structure of the living thing which had come to this form after hundreds of millions of years was borrowed, and it was able to show that the development of new materials could have practical use."

This new material probably will revolutionize the production of TV display screen and computer monitor etc.

2011年12月8日 星期四

美國科學家發現比太陽重97億倍黑洞

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
観測史上最大のブラックホールを米カリフォルニア大などの研究チームが発見した。
 太陽の約100億倍の重さがあり、銀河がどのように形作られてきたかを解明する手がかりになる成果という。8日付の英科学誌ネイチャーに発表される。
 研究チームは、ハッブル望遠鏡や米ハワイ・ジェミニ天文台などで観測し、地球から3億2000万光年離れた銀河に、太陽の97億倍の重さを持つブラックホールを発見した。3億4000万光年先の銀河にも、同程度か、それ以上の重さのブラックホールがあった。
 これまでに見つかった最大のブラックホールは太陽の63億倍の重さ。非常に明るい天体であるクエーサーは、太陽の100億倍以上の重さの超巨大ブラックホールからエネルギーを得て光を放っていると考えられており、そのようなブラックホールの探索が続けられていた。
(試譯文)
Research teams from the U.S. University of California and others had discovered the greatest black hole in the history of observation.
This one was about 10 billion times the weight of the sun, and it was said that the result could become a key to solve how the Galaxy had been formed.
This was announced by the English science journal Nature dated the 8th. The research team did the observation using both the Hubble telescope and the U.S. Gemini astronomical observatory etc. in Hawaii and discovered a black hole which was 9,700 million times the weight of the sun, in a Galaxy 320 million light year away from the earth. In the Galaxy beyond 340 million-light year, or about the same, there was a black hole that weighted more than that.
The greatest black hole found so far was the one 6,300 million times the weight of the sun.
It was thought that the Quasar which had a very bright heavenly body, emitted light by obtaining energy from a overly huge black hole with the weight of 10 billion times or more than the sun. The search for such a black hole was continuing.


So it is quite an interesting discovery by the American scientists.

2011年12月5日 星期一

日本女性皇室成員結婚後可逗留在皇室

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
女性の皇族が結婚後も皇室にとどまれる「女性宮家」の創設も視野に入れて、新たに関係者による勉強会が設けられ、対象となる女性皇族の範囲を、皇太子ご夫妻の長女の愛子さまなど、天皇の子や孫の内親王とする考え方について、検討が始められていることが分かりました。
宮内庁の羽毛田長官は、ことし10月、野田総理大臣と面会した際、女性の皇族が結婚によって皇室を離れる今の制度が、皇室の活動を維持していくうえで緊急性の高い課題となっているという認識を示しました。これを受けて政府は、女性の皇族が結婚後も皇室にとどまれる「女性宮家」の創設も視野に入れて検討していく方針を示しています。こうしたなか、先月、宮内庁関係者なども参加する勉強会が新たに設けられ、対象となる女性皇族の範囲を、皇太子ご夫妻の長女の愛子さまなど、天皇の子や孫の内親王とする考え方について、検討が始められていることが分かりました。内親王とする理由については、将来的に必要とされる皇族の数や、それに伴う国民の負担、そして、天皇陛下の系統の女性皇族であることなどが考慮されているものとみられます。この考え方に基づいて皇室典範が改正された場合には、皇太子ご夫妻の長女の愛子さまと、秋篠宮ご夫妻の長女の眞子さま、次女の佳子さまの3人が、結婚後も皇室にとどまられることになります。
(試譯文)
The foundation was laid to give consideration for female imperial Family members to remain a member of the Imperial Household in the capacity of "Joseimiyaka" even after she get married; it turned out that a study meeting held by the people concerned was newly prepared, and examination had begun on the range of the target female Imperial Family that would include such as the Crown Prince and Princess' eldest daughter, Aiko etc., and inner Imperial prince of the child and grandchild of the Emperor.
In October this year when the Imperial Household Agency Director Haketa met with Prime Minister Noda, he indicated that the system in which the female Imperial Family member leaving the Imperial Household after marriage had been a subject, and the urgency was high in order to maintain the Imperial Household's activity. In response, the government showed the plan which had put in as a base for consideration the idea of "Joseimiyaka" in which a female imperial family member could remain as the Imperial Household member, even after that female get married. Meanwhile, it turned out that last month a study meeting was newly prepared in which Imperial Household Agency staffs etc. had participated, and the examination has begun, the range of the target on female Imperial Family member had been on the Crown Prince and Princess' eldest daughter, Aiko etc., and the inner Imperial princes of the child or grandchild of the Emperor. About the conditions to become the inner Imperial prince, it was expected that consideration had to be taken into account on the number of the Imperial Families needed in the future, the national burden accompanying it, and how female family members etc would relate to the system of His Majesty the Emperor. When the Imperial House Act was to be revised based on this view, the three Imperial female members who would stay even after marriage would be the Crown Prince and Princess' eldest daughter Aiko, Prince and Princess Akishino's eldest daughter Masako, and the second daughter Yoshiko.

It is quite a new idea for the Japanese imperial family to consider such a change.

2011年12月2日 星期五

中國東航在日本關西機場違反航空法

A few days ago Mainichi News On-line reported the following
28日午後1時45分ごろ、関西空港で待機を指示されていた上海行きの中国東方航空516便エアバスA330が、管制官の離陸許可がないまま離陸した。国土交通省によると、前後の航空機とは十分な間隔があり、安全上の問題は起きなかったが、航空法違反の可能性があるとみて経緯を調べている。
 同機は誘導路を走行中、管制官から滑走路内で待機するように指示を受けた。その後、管制官が到着予定のヘリコプターと交信している間に、滑走を開始。管制官が止まるように指示したが、そのまま離陸した。
 先行機は2分前に出発済みで、ヘリコプターは約24キロ南西の離れた場所を飛行。同じ滑走路への到着予定機も周辺にはいなかった。同機には乗客乗員245人が乗っていた。
(試譯文)
On the 28th, a China Eastern Airline Flight 516 airbus A330 leaving for Shanghai which was directed to standby in the Kansai Airport took off at around 1:45 p.m. without the clearance from a controller.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, because there was enough time interval between airplanes, safety problem had not occurred, but concluded that probably there was a violation of the Aviation Act, and was investigating the circumstances. The plane while moving on the taxiing way received direction from a controller to standby at the runway and wait. Then, while the controller was communicating with a helicopter that was going to arrive, the plane started the take-off run. Although the controller gave out the signal to stop, the plane took off ignoring the order.
The previous plane had finished taking off 2 minutes ago, and the helicopter flied at a location which about 24-km southwest away. Nearby, there was no plane that was scheduled to arrive using the same runway. Passengers and crew members together the plane had 245 people.

I am interested to know what was in the mind of this Chinese pilot when he took off without the permission from the airport controller.

2011年11月30日 星期三

大西洋鮪類保育委員會商討捕魚配額

Some ten days ago the Yomiuri On-line News reported the following:
大西洋・地中海のクロマグロなどの資源管理機関「大西洋まぐろ類保存国際委員会(ICCAT)」は、トルコ・イスタンブールで開かれていた年次会合で、2012~15年のメバチマグロの漁獲枠を、10~11年と同じ年8・5万トンとすることで合意した。
 また、水産庁の宮原正典次長を、13年の年次会合までの2年間の議長に選出した。
 今回、初めてキハダマグロについての漁獲枠を12年度の1年間で年11万トンに設定した。一方、日本が世界の供給量の8割を消費し、高級品として人気が高いクロマグロについては昨年の年次会合で、11~13年の漁獲枠を10年の1万3500トンから4%削減し、年1万2900トンと決めている。
(試譯文)
The resource control organization, the "International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)" that controlled the blue fin tuna etc. in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, was currently holding the annual meetings in Istanbul, Turkey; it had agreed to set the fish catch quota on the big-eyed tuna for the years 2012-15 at 85,000 tons per year, same as 2010-11 years.
Moreover, Assistant General Manager Masanori Miyahara of the Ministry for Fisheries was elected as the chairperson of annual meetings for two years up to the year 2013.
This time, for the first time, the fish catching quota for yellow fin tuna was set at 110,000 tons per year for the 2012 fiscal year. On the other hand, regarding the blue fin tuna which was popular in Japan and being view as a quality item, 80 percent of the total world supply was consumed by the Japanese. In the annual meeting last year, the fish catching quota for 2011-13 years was reduced by 4% based on 13,500 tons for the year 2010; the decision was 12,900 tons per year.


It seems that in the near future the amount of tuna allowed to be caught in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean would not be reduced very much.

2011年11月27日 星期日

日本紅白歌唱大賽隊長

Recently NHK News reported the following:
井上真央さん、白組は去年に続いて5人組の人気グループ「嵐」が務めることになりました。
ことしで62回目となるNHK紅白歌合戦は、19日、東京・渋谷のNHK放送センターで司会者が発表されました。紅組の司会を務める井上真央さんはテレビドラマや映画などで活躍する人気女優で、ことし放送された連続テレビ小説「おひさま」のヒロイン役でも人気を集めました。記者会見で井上さんは「ドラマで応援していただいた全国の人たちに少しでも喜んでもらえればと思います。ことしは災害が多く不安に感じた人も多いと思いますが、未来に希望が持てる、1年の締めくくりにできればと思います」と抱負を述べました。一方、5人組の人気グループの嵐は、去年に続いて司会を務めることになりました。メンバーの櫻井翔さんは「この1年、歌のちからを感じることがありましたし、嵐も歌のちからを信じながら活動してきました。司会という立場でその思いを伝えていきたいです」と話しました。また、メンバーの松本潤さんは「ことしはたくさんの人が辛い思いをしましたが、来年の一日一日が楽しい日になるように明るく楽しい紅白にしたいです」と話していました。ことしの紅白歌合戦は、東日本大震災や相次いだ台風災害からの復興の意味も込めて「あしたを歌おう。」をテーマに、大みそかの午後7時15分から総合テレビとラジオ第1で放送されます。
(試譯文)
Ms. Mao Inoue with the white group, the popular five-member team "Arashi" would continue, following last year.
For the NHK Kohaku Song Contest it would be the 62nd time by the end of this year, the contest chairmen were announced in the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo on the 19th. It was Ms. Mao Inoue who had acted as the chairperson of the Red Team, and who was a popular actress that had played an active part in the teleplay and in the movie etc., and who had earned popularity for the role as a heroine in the drama series "Mr. Hi" broadcasted this year. In the press conference Ms Mao Inoue said about her ambitious hope in that "I think of seeing if it can help by the drama to get the people all over the country to be happier; because of the disaster I think this year more people are feeling uneasy but are still holding hope in the future, and to hold hope up to the end of the year." On the other hand, Arashi the popular five-member group would continue to act as the chairman following last year. As a member Mr. Sho Sakurai said "In the previous one year, I sometimes felt the power of singing, and Arashi has been active with believing the power of singing, I would like to tell the thought in the position of a chairman."
Moreover, a member Mr. Jun Matsumoto was saying "Although many people felt this year was tough, I would like to use the bright, pleasant red and white so that every day next year may turn into a pleasant day." The New Year's Eve song show this year would also add in the "sing for tomorrow" theme that would carry the meaning of recovering from the East Japan great earthquake and from the typhoon disasters which succeeded one after another. It would be broadcasted in all television together with the number one radio from 7:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

The Red and White Singing Contest is a big event in Japan. This year, besides for entertainment, the event would have additional meaning: to promote the country's unity in face of the natural disasters and the continuing sluggish economy.

2011年11月24日 星期四

美國成功試射音速五倍飛行裝置

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
米国防総省は17日、地球上のあらゆる場所を1時間以内に攻撃できる米陸軍の極超音速兵器「AHW」の試験飛行を初めて実施、成功したと発表した。
 発表によると、AHWはハワイ・カウアイ島のミサイル施設から発射され、大気圏を飛行し、約4000キロ・メートル離れたマーシャル諸島の目標地点に命中した。最高速度は公表されていないが、極超音速は音速の5倍以上を指す。
 オバマ政権は、核弾頭を搭載しない「通常即応型地球規模攻撃兵器(CPGS)」による抑止力維持を図る戦略を進めており、新型兵器の開発に力を入れている。
(試譯文)
On the 17th the U.S. Department of Defense announced that their test flight of the hypersonic arms "AHW" of the US Army which could attack all the locations on earth within 1 hour was carried out for the first time, and it was a success.
According to the announcement, it was discharged from the missile installation in Hawaii Kauai Island and flew in the atmosphere, and the AHW hit the target point in the Marshall Islands about 4000 km away. Although the maximum speed was not disclosed, it pointed at a hypersonic speed 5 or more of sound.
The Obama Administration was advancing the strategy that aimed at maintaining the deterrent power through the "Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS)" that would not carry a nuclear warhead, and was putting a lot of energy into the development of new weapons.

This is a new weapon, obviously it could increase the striking power of the US globally.

2011年11月21日 星期一

東京電力明年有巨大赤字

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
東京電力は、福島第一原子力発電所の事故の処理費用や火力発電所の燃料がかさむことなどから、来年3月期の決算は最終的な損益が6000億円の赤字になるという見通しを発表しました。
発表によりますと、東京電力の来年3月期は、電力不足に伴う節電の取り組みで、電力の販売量が去年よりも9%程度減ることから、売り上げ高も1%落ち込む見込みです。さらに、福島第一原発の事故の処理にかかる費用を追加で計上するほか、停止した原発の代わりとなる火力発電所の燃料費が大幅に増えることから、最終的な損益は6000億円の赤字となる見通しです。これは原発の事故処理のための損失を計上して、過去最大の赤字となった、ことし3月期に続いて2期連続の赤字となります。また、当面の原発事故の賠償にかかる費用として東京電力は1兆円余りを計上しますが、これについては、原子力損害賠償支援機構による9000億円の公的資金の拠出などによって全額が賄われます。これによって、東京電力は来年3月期末での債務超過は回避される見込みですが、経営は一層厳しくなる見通しです。巨額の赤字になる見通しとなったことについて、東京電力の西澤俊夫社長は記者会見で、「もし原子力損害賠償支援機構の支援がなければ、正直言って経営が厳しい状況に陥ったのは間違いない。今後、われわれとしても経営再建のために徹底的な合理化を進めなければならない」と述べました。
(試譯文)
Since there was an increase in the need for the fuel for use in the thermal power plant and in the need for the expense to process the settlement of the accident at the number one nuclear power plant of Fukushima, the Tokyo Electric Power announced that there was a prospect that the final profit and loss account ending March next year would be in red for 600 billion yen.
According to the announcement, for the period ending March next year the Tokyo Electric Power, due to the power saving measures accompanying with electric power shortage, the volume of electric power sold became about 9% less compared to that of last year, and the amount of sales was also likely to fall by 1%. Furthermore, the final profit and loss was expected to add on the expense in connection with the processing of the accident of the number one nuclear power plant of Fukushima, and also from the sharply increased fuel cost of the thermal power plant that had been put into use due to the stoppage of the nuclear power plant. It was expected that the final profit and loss figure would record a loss of 600 billion yen. The loss was the calculation due to the nuclear power plant accident processing, it became the greatest ever in red and from March this year for two consecutive terms it was at a loss. Moreover, while the Tokyo Electric Power's compensation expense was a slightly over 1 trillion yen at present regarding nuclear power plant disaster, the total amount would be paid out, because it would be provided by a donation of 900 billion yen public fund from the nuclear damage compensatory support mechanism etc. Although the Tokyo Electric Power would likely avoid liabilities exceeding assets on March 31 next year at the fiscal year closure, it was expected that the management would become more severe because of this. Regarding the expectation to go into a huge red, the Tokyo Electric Power President Toshio Nishizawa at a press conference said that "if there is no support from the nuclear damage compensatory support mechanism, honestly it is certain that the management would fall into a severe situation. From now on, we have to advance rationalization thoroughly for corporate restructuring."

The Tokyo Electric Power is paying out a huge amount of money in order to deal with the consequence of the disaster.

2011年11月18日 星期五

太平洋戰略經濟夥伴關係協議(TPP)

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
TPP=環太平洋パートナーシップ協定について、中国政府高官は「排他的であってはならない」と述べ、アメリカ主導による貿易の枠組みに対する警戒感を示しました。
これは、中国商務省の兪建華次官補が、7日、北京で開かれた記者会見で述べたものです。この中で兪次官補は、アメリカのオバマ政権が参加を呼びかけているTPPについて「TPPに参加する国と、参加しない国の関係をしっかり調整しなければならない。TPPは開放的で、包容性のあるものでなければならず、排他的な貿易の枠組みであってはならない」と述べ、アメリカ主導による貿易の枠組みが、アジア・太平洋地域での経済活動において、中国の排除につながることへの警戒感を示しました。また、兪次官補は、中国が将来的にTPP交渉に参加するかどうかの質問に対し、「これまでのところ、いかなる国や組織も中国に対し、TPPへの参加を呼びかけていない」と述べ、参加に否定的な考えを示しました。中国政府としては、TPP参加を巡る日本などの議論の行方を見極めながらアメリカが呼びかけるTPPがみずからの経済成長にマイナスの影響を与えないよう神経をとがらせているとみられます。
(試譯文)
A senior Chinese government official said that the TPP: the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement "must not be exclusive", and showed the wariness toward this trade framework being led by the United States.
This was said by Yu Jianhua the assistant secretary of the China Department of Commerce at the press conference held in Beijing on the 7th. During the conference, regarding the U.S. Obama Administration's appealing for participation in the TPP, Yu Jianhua said that "you have to adjust firmly the relation between the countries which participate in the TPP, and those countries which do not participate. TPP must be open, and must have a tolerance nature and it must not be a framework for exclusive trading". It showed wariness towards this trade framework when led by the United States would link to the exclusion of China in the economic activity in the Asia-Pacific region. Also, to the question of whether China would participate in TPP negotiation in the future, Yu Jianhua the under secretary said, "up to this moment there are no countries or organizations appealing for China's participation in the TPP", showing a negative idea to the participation. For the Chinese government, it was expected that there would be feeling of nervous while calculating on the outcome of the discussion in countries such as Japan on TPP participation, and on whether China would be affected by the negative economic growth as the US was appealing for the TPP participation.

It is understandable that China is sensitive about the participation of the US in the TPP. It seems that the US in making a return to Asia.

2011年11月15日 星期二

日本觀光廳向國外遊客派免費機票

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
 観光庁は、東日本大震災後に激減している外国人観光客の回復を狙い、2012年度に全世界から、旅費無料で1万人の一般観光客を日本に招待する方針を固めた。
 募集は主にインターネットを通じて行い、応募者の旅行計画などが審査に合格すれば、日本への往復航空券を提供する。
 こうして来日する旅行者には、日本滞在中にインターネットで世界へ情報発信してもらう方針だ。日本国内の滞在が安全・安心であることを口コミで世界的に広げる効果を見込んでいる。旅行者にはこのほか、震災後の日本旅行についてアンケート調査をしたり、新たな日本旅行のモデルとなるような旅行プランを提案してもらったりする。事業費として、観光庁は12年度予算の概算要求に11億円を盛り込んだ。
(試譯文)
The Japan Tourism Agency was aiming at the return of overseas tourists that had decreased sharply after the East Japan great earthquake; and had made the policy of inviting 10,000 ordinary tourists from around the world to visit Japan free in the 2012 fiscal year.

The recruitment exercise would be mainly performed through the Internet, and if an applicant's travel planning etc. passed the examination, a round-trip airline ticket to Japan would be offered. In this way, it was planned to get the travelers who visited Japan to do information dissemination to the world on the Internet during their stay in Japan. It was expected to have the effect of extending globally the message that staying in Japan would be safe, and by word of month putting people's heart at ease.
Regarding these tourists, questionnaire survey would be done on them asking about traveling in Japan after the earthquake, and to get from them traveling plan proposals which could serve as the model of new traveling plans. The Japan Tourism Agency had incorporated 1,100 million yen in their budgetary request in the fiscal 2012 budget as the working expenses.

Obviously, the Japanese government wants to have more tourists from the overseas.

2011年11月12日 星期六

日本食品製造商參加韓國食品展

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
日本の食品メーカーも参加して、9日から韓国の首都ソウルで食品の見本市が始まり、東日本大震災以降落ち込んでいる韓国への輸出を伸ばそうと、品質のよさや安全性をアピールしました。
ソウルで毎年開かれる国際食品見本市には、ことしは日本から、日本酒や水産加工品、菓子などおよそ20のメーカーや自治体が参加しています。日本からの参加は、東日本大震災の影響もあって去年の半分にとどまりましたが、韓国での居酒屋ブームをねらって、被災地を含む東北各県の日本酒メーカーが数多くの銘柄の酒を出品し、飲み比べする一般客でにぎわいました。また、福島第一原子力発電所の事故などの影響で輸出量が大きく減っている水産加工品では、大分県のメーカーが、ぶりやさばの真空パックの商品を出し、韓国の業者と早速商談を進めていました。商談に訪れた韓国の水産業者は「韓国側も放射線量の検査をしているので、それほど心配していない。日本の水産物は、いちばんよく管理されているので、輸入する計画だ」と話していました。韓国政府によりますと、日本産の食品の韓国への輸出は、震災後、9月までの半年間で、去年の同じ時期と比べ、商品の種類が30%余り減少しています。出品した日本のメーカーは、韓国の人たちに安全性と品質のよさを実感してもらい、商機につなげたいとしています。
(試譯文)
The Japanese food producers had also participated in the food trade fair that was started on the 9th in the South Korean metropolitan Seoul; they used safety and high quality as the appeal to extend its export to South Korea which had fallen after the East Japan great earthquake.

The international food trade fair that was open in Seoul every year was participated by about 20 makers and self-governing bodies from Japan this year on items such as wine, processed marine product, and confectionery. Although the participation from Japan was influenced by the East Japan great earthquake and stood at only half of last year, wine makers of individual prefecture in northeast including those in the stricken area, aiming at the tavern boom in South Korea, had participated and they were crowded with ordinary visitors who drank the wine to compare the different brands. Moreover, even though the export volume of processed marine product had decreased greatly due to the influence of the accident at the number one nuclear power plant of Fukushima etc., when a maker from Oita Prefecture took out the goods of the vacuum packed yellow-tail and mackerel, he could instantly go ahead with business talks with a South Korean contractor. The fishery traders of South Korea who visited to do business said "since the South Korea side is also checking the radiation dosage, there is not much worries. Since the Japanese was managing the marine product extremely well, importation was scheduled." According to the South Korean government, regarding the export of Japanese food to South Korea in the half year from immediately after the earthquake disaster up to September, the variety of goods had decreased by about 30% when compared with the same time last year. The manufacturers of Japan were impressing the South Korean people to realize the merit of safety and quality, and would like to connect to the business opportunity.

Japanese manufacturers are trying to regain their food market in South Korea.

2011年11月10日 星期四

日本公司進軍電子書籍市場

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
インターネット通販大手の「楽天」は、カナダの電子書籍の販売会社を買収し、専用の端末の販売も含め、このビジネスに本格的に参入することを明らかにしました。
「楽天」は、カナダに本社がある電子書籍の販売会社「コボ」を3億ドル余り(日本円でおよそ240億円)で買収することで合意したと発表しました。「コボ」は、アメリカやイギリスなど100か国以上で、電子書籍のコンテンツや専用の端末を販売しており、コンテンツは、この会社の専用端末だけでなく、ほかの会社の端末にも広く対応しているのが特徴です。「楽天」は、海外で電子書籍や端末の販売で実績がある会社を傘下に収めることで、国内外で電子書籍のビジネスに本格的に参入する方針です。電子書籍を巡っては、アメリカのネット販売大手「アマゾン・ドット・コム」が、日本への参入を目指して出版社との交渉を進めるなど、今後、日本でも市場の拡大が期待されています。楽天の三木谷浩史社長は「アマゾン・ドット・コムとは、互いに刺激しあって、日本の電子書籍市場を拡大していきたい。勝算がないのであれば、事業を始めない」と述べ、意欲を示しました。
(試譯文)
"Rakuten" the major Internet mail ordering company purchased Canada's digital book sales company, and formally showed clearly that it would enter into the business that included the sales of terminals exclusively for using these digital books.
"Rakuten" announced that it had agreed to purchase the digital book sales company "Kobo" which had the head office in Canada for a little more than 300 million dollars (it was about 24 billion yen in the Japanese yen). "Kobo" was selling the contents of digital books together with the terminals exclusively for their use in over 100 countries such as the United States, Britain, etc.; and about the content there was one special feature, it was not only dealing with the terminal of this company exclusively, but with the terminals of other companies in general. "Rokuten" was acquiring and controlling companies which had a track record in the sales of digital books and terminals overseas, and was planning to enter into the business of digital books inside and outside the country. Centering around digital books, with negotiation in progress with a major U.S. online-sales company "Amazon.com": a publishing company aiming at entering into Japan, it was expected that the market would expand. Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani showed the volition and said that "it would create mutual stimulation, and I would like to expand the digital book market in Japan with Amazon.com. As there is no chance of a victory, the enterprise has not begun".

It seems that the digital book market in Japan will develop and expand further.

2011年11月8日 星期二

日本超級市場自動檢查食品放射性物質含量

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
大手スーパーの「イオン」は、肉や魚などの食品に含まれる放射性物質への消費者の不安を解消しようと自主的に行った検査の結果を店頭で公表することになりました。
イオンは、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故を受けて、国産牛肉やコメ、野菜などを対象に放射線を測定する機器を使って自主的な検査を行い、国の定める暫定基準値の10分の1に当たる50ベクレル以上が検出された場合、販売を取り止めています。しかし、消費者の放射性物質に対する不安感が根強いことから、放射性物質の検査結果を9日から全国1000の店舗の店頭とホームページ上で公表することになりました。このうち、店舗では放射性物質が検出された場合の数値や産地が記載された検査結果のリストを売り場近くに置いて、自由に見ることができるようにします。ただ、検査結果は商品の販売から数日後に分かるケースもあることから、仮に放射性物質が検出された商品があった場合は取り扱うのを止め、あとからの返品にも応じるということです。記者会見したイオンの近澤靖英執行役は「消費者から検査結果を公表してほしいという声が多く、安心して買い物をしてもらうには情報開示が必要と判断した」と話しています。
(試譯文)
"Aeon" the major supermarket would announce officially the result of the inspection conducted independently in the shops regarding the radioactive material contained in their food, such as meat and fish, saying that it would remove the uneasiness of the consumers.

In response to the accident of the number one nuclear power plant of the Tokyo Electric Power at Fukushima, Aeon conducted an independent inspection using the apparatus which measured the radiation in domestic beef, rice, vegetables, etc. and would cancel their sales when they were detected exceeding 50 Bq or the equivalent to 1/10 of the interim standard value of the country. However, since the fear of insecurity in the consumers over radioactive material was deep-rooted, starting from the 9th, the test results on radioactive material would be released at the shop front of 1000 stores in the whole country, and also at the homepage. Among these arrangement, a list of test results in which the numerical value and the place of production in the event radioactive material was detected would be indicated; and the list would be placed near the counter to enable it to be seen freely at the store.
However, there might be cases that the test result was known after the goods was sold for several days; when there were goods in which the radioactive material was detected, they would temporarily stop carrying the goods, and also would respond to returning the goods.
Yasuhide Chikazawa the official of the Aeon who gave the interview said that "there is much voice from the consumers that want the release the test results; in order to have confidence in shopping, it is judged that the disclosure of information is necessary".

It is nice to know that Aeon is taking further steps in regaining the consumers' confidence.

2011年11月6日 星期日

長崎市和上海市明年有固定海上航班

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
長崎市と中国・上海市を結ぶ国際航路が3日、14年ぶりに復活し、長崎県関係者ら約200人を乗せた貨客船「オーシャン・ローズ」(3万412トン)が長崎港を出発した。
 運航するのは、同県佐世保市の大型リゾート施設ハウステンボス(HTB)の子会社・HTBクルーズ。今回は1往復の試験運航で、2012年1月下旬から週2往復の定期便化を目指す。片道22時間以上かかる予定で、最も安い運賃は食費込みで1万円程度になる見通し。
 船は3日午前10時15分頃出港し、4日午後1時(現地時間)に到着予定。出港に先立ち長崎港で行われたセレモニーで、HTBの沢田秀雄社長は「定期便化する来年は日中国交正常化40周年に当たる。友好の船にしてもらえればありがたい」とあいさつした。
(試譯文)
The international route connecting Nagasaki and Shanghai in China was revived for the first time in 14 years, and the cargo-passenger ship "Ocean Rose" (30,412 tons) which carried about 200 people who were related to Nagasaki left the Nagasaki harbor on the 3rd.
In operation was the HTB Cruise, the subsidiary of the large-size resort facility Huis Ten Bosch (HTB) in Sasebo of the same prefecture. It was a test operation for a return trip, and would aim at regular service of 2 round trips a week starting from the end of January, 2012. It was expected that it needed 22 hours or more for one way, and the cheapest fare was expected to be about 10,000 yen including food expenses.
The ship would depart at around 10:15 a.m. on the 3rd, and arrive at 1:00 p.m. on the 4th (local time). In the ceremony performed before the departure in the Nagasaki harbor, President Hideo Sawada of HTB greeted "the regularization of service that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and China next year using a ship of friendship with thanks".

Obviously, this sea route could generate more economic ties between the countries. I think more Chinese tourists would visit Japan from Shanghai by sea in future.

2011年11月3日 星期四

第二代日藉美軍獲得美國獎章

Recently the Yormiuri News reported the following:
第2次世界大戦の欧州戦線で数々の武勲を挙げた米軍日系米国人部隊の元兵士に対し、米国民最高の栄誉とされる「議会黄金勲章」が授与され、2日に連邦議会議事堂で伝達式が行われた。
 勲章を授与されたのは陸軍第100歩兵大隊、同第442連隊戦闘団、軍情報局に所属していた日系米国人の元兵士。日本軍による1941年12月の真珠湾攻撃で日米が開戦し、米国の反日感情が高まる中、日系米国人で編成された同連隊は「ゴー・フォー・ブローク(当たって砕けろ)」を合言葉に、果敢な戦いで愛国心を示したとされる。
 伝達式では、同連隊出身でハーバード大名誉教授のススム・イトウさん(92)が代表して勲章を受け取った。日系2世のイトウさんは、車両技師だった43年、同連隊に志願した。
(試譯文)
To the many former Japanese American soldiers of the U.S. Forces units who had fought in the European battle line in WWII and given military medals, the "Congressional Gold Medal" was the highest honor of the U.S. to be given out, and one such presentation ceremony was held in the US Capitol on the 2nd.
The medal was granted to a former soldier of the 442nd regimental battle team of the 100th Infantry Battalion, and he was a Japanese American that belonged to the army Information Board. When Japan and the U.S. were at war because of the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese army in December 1941; amidst the increasing anti-Japan sentiment in the US, a regiment composed of the Japanese American was formed using the watchword "Goh Fau Blok (give it a shot)" to show battle bravery and patriotism.
In the presentation ceremony, it was the former member of the regiment Mr. Susumuitou (92) the Emeritus Professor of the Harvard University who acted as a representative to receive the decoration. Mr. Susumuitou was the 2nd generation Japanese volunteered for the regiment in 1943 as a vehicle engineer.

I think the 2nd generation Japanese in the US had contributed much to the American army during WWII.