2013年6月29日 星期六

富士山試行收登山費1000円

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

富士山:入山料1000円で試行 7月下旬から10日間

毎日新聞 20130614日 2146分(最終更新 0615日 0009分)

 世界文化遺産への登録が確実となった富士山(山梨、静岡県)で今夏に試験導入する入山料について、両県でつくる有識者委員会(委員長、安田喜憲・東北大大学院教授)は14日、7月下旬〜8月上旬の10日間、1000円を目安に任意の協力金として集める提言をまとめた。今月末に県や自治体、業者らによる「富士山世界文化遺産協議会作業部会」で承認される見通し。富士山は7、8月の2カ月間が夏山シーズン。

 両県が管理する吉田、須走、富士宮、御殿場の4登山道の5〜6合目で、委託を受けた係員が協力を求める。対象は山頂を目指す登山者で、制度上は両県への寄付となり、領収書と記念バッジを渡すことを想定している。集まった入山料を、安全対策や環境保全に使う方針。

 来年の本格導入に向け、入山料への賛否や妥当な金額、希望する使い道を尋ねるアンケートも実施する。

 昨年は約32万人が訪れ、両県は入山規制や環境保全策として入山料の導入で合意。今夏の試行は山梨県側の観光業者を中心に慎重論が根強かったが、横内正明知事と地元6市町村の首長らが12日、静岡県側と足並みをそろえて実施する方針を決めた。【樋口淳也】

(試譯文)

     About introducing a trial this summer to carry out a charge at Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi, Shizuoka Prefectures) which was certain to be registered as a World Cultural Heritage, on the 14th, an expert committee (chairperson: the professor of the Tohoku University graduate school, Yoshinori Yasuda) set up by both prefectures had summarized a proposal which would bring in a standard 1000 yen charge as a free-will cooperation money for ten days: from the end of July to early August. It was expected that at the end of this month the committee would be recognized as the "Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage Conference Task Force" by prefectures, self-governing bodies, and contractors. At Mt. Fuji the two months of July and August were summer’s mountaineering season.

   The officer-in-charge who had accepted the trust asked for cooperation on the fifth and sixth stages of the four mountain trails: Yoshida, Subashiri, Fujinomiya, and Gotemba Yoshida which both prefectures were managing. The target was those mountaineers who aimed at the mountain summit. This would rely on the two provincial institutions to assume the task of giving out a receipt and a commemoration badge. The plan was to use the mountain charges gathered to do safety measure and environmental preservation.

Aiming at carrying out a formal introduction next year, questionnaires would be used to ask the pros and cons to have the mountain charges, the appropriate amount of money to be charged, and the wish on how to use them.

Last year about 320,000 people were asked and both prefectures agreed on introducing the mountain charges as a policy on mountain regulation and environmental preservation. Regarding the trial this summer, centering on the tourist agent from Yamanashi, there was a deep-rooted cautious view. On the 12th, Governor Masaaki Yokouchi and the heads of 6 local cities, towns and villages determined to keep pace with the Shizuoka side to carry it out.

I am interested to know whether the 1,000 yen charges would dampen the mood of the mountain climbers.

2013年6月27日 星期四

東京迪士尼樂園內餐廳菜牌失實

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

東京ディズニーリゾート 表示と違う食材

64 1231

千葉県浦安市の東京ディズニーリゾートにある3つのホテルのレストランなどで、メニューに表示された高級な食材とは違う食材が使われていたことが分かり、報告を受けた千葉県が詳しい経緯を調べています。

東京ディズニーリゾートでホテルを運営する「ミリアルリゾートホテルズ」によりますと、このうち「東京ディズニーシー・ホテルミラコスタ」のレストランでは、先月、「車エビ」と表示しながら、実際には「ブラックタイガー」を使った料理およそ300食を提供するなどしていたほか、運営するほかの2つのホテルでも、去年7月から先月にかけてルームサービスで、地鶏とは表示できない国産の鳥を「地鶏」と表示して、およそ1200食を提供していたということです。
先月、東京ディズニーランドの別のレストランで同じような問題が発覚したため、内部調査をして分かったということで、メニューの開発担当者は問題ないと判断していたということです。
運営会社はこの調査結果を公表し、料理を食べたと確認できた人にはおわびとして1000円を支払うということで、報告を受けた千葉県も詳しい経緯を調べています。東京ディズニーシー・ホテルミラコスタの金子務総支配人は「スタッフの管理を徹底して、再発防止に努めたい」と話しています。

(試譯文)

It turned out that the food material used by the restaurants in three hotels etc. inside the Tokyo Disney resort at Urayasu city of Chiba were different from the high-class food displayed on the menu; the Chiba Prefecture which had received the report was investigating the circumstances in detail.

According to the "Miriaru Resort Hotel" which managed hotels in the Tokyo Disney resort, at the restaurant of the "Tokyo Disney Sea hotel Mirakosuta", last month about 300 dishes that were offered actually used the "black tiger" as the food material while displaying it as the "prawn". Also at least in two other hotels they managed, from July last year up to last month, it was said that the domestic chicken which could not be displayed as native chicken was displayed as "native chicken". About 1200 meals were offered.

Because the same problem was revealed in another restaurant in Tokyo Disneyland last month, internal investigations were carried out to get an understanding. It was said that the people from the development section had judged that the menu was satisfactory.

The management company released the results of the investigation. It was said that 1000 yen, as an apology, was paid to the people who had been confirmed eaten the cooking. The Chiba Prefecture which had received the report was investigating the circumstances in detail. Tsutomu Kaneko, the general manager of the Tokyo Disney Sea Hotel Mirakosuta was saying the "I would like to effectively manage the staff and try hard to prevent its future occurrence".

I hope this matter would not affect the reputation of the Tokyo Disneyland.

2013年6月24日 星期一

中国發現比「始祖鳥」更早鳥化石

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following

「始祖鳥」よりも原始的な鳥中国で化石発見

鳥の祖先とされる「始祖鳥」よりも原始的な特徴を持つ新種の鳥の化石を発見したと、ベルギーや中国などの研究チームが30日付の英科学誌ネイチャーに発表する。

 中国遼寧省の1億6500万~1億5300万年前(ジュラ紀中期~後期)の地層から見つかった。研究チームは、「あけぼのの鳥」を意味する「アウロルニス」と名付けた。

 ほぼ全身の化石が見つかり、羽毛の痕跡も確認できた。全長は51センチ。骨格を分析した結果、始祖鳥よりも恐竜に近く、これまでの鳥の化石のなかで最も原始的であることがわかった。

 鳥は恐竜から進化したと考えられている。ここ数年で羽毛を持つ恐竜が多数見つかったことから、鳥と恐竜の境界があいまいになり、始祖鳥を恐竜と位置づける考え方も出てきた。しかし、始祖鳥よりも原始的な鳥がいたという今回の結果で、「始祖鳥は鳥」という説が改めて有力になった。

20135300901分 読売新聞)

(試譯文)

The Belgium and China Research teams etc announced to the English science journal ‘Nature’ dated 30th about discovering the fossil of a new species of bird with the feature more primitive than the "archaeopteryx" which so far had been regarded as the ancestor of the bird.

   It was found in China’s Liaoning province at the stratum between165 million and 153 million years ago (the second half of Middle Jurassic). The research teams named it "AURORUNISU" which meant "the bird of dawn."

   Almost the whole body of the fossil was found and the trace of feathers had also been confirmed. The full length was 51 cm. As a result of analyzing the frame, it turned out that it was close to a dinosaur. It was the most primitive bird fossil so far, older than the archaeopteryx.

   It was thought that the bird was evolved from the dinosaur. Since many dinosaurs with feathers were found in the past several years, the boundary of the bird and dinosaur became ambiguous and the view to regard the archaeopteryx as a dinosaur also came out. However, this time because there was a bird more primitive than the archaeopteryx. The theory of "bird Archaeopteryx" has become dominant again

This is an interesting scientific finding. Our understanding of birds could be updated.

2013年6月21日 星期五

有些蟑螂知道避免食進有毒藥的餌


Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following

「甘くないぞ」ゴキブリ、味覚変化でワナ回避

【ワシントン=中島達雄】甘い物が好きなはずのチャバネゴキブリに、甘みを苦いと感じて食べないタイプがいると、米ノースカロライナ州立大の勝又綾子主任研究員らが米科学誌サイエンスに発表した。

 駆除剤による絶滅を逃れるための生存戦略とみられ、こうしたゴキブリの対策には、駆除剤を改良しなければならないかもしれない。

 ゴキブリ駆除剤の多くは、食い付きを良くするため、ブドウ糖で包んでいる。しかし、約20年前から効果が落ちたと指摘されていた。

 ゴキブリは物を食べる前に、口の周りにあるヒゲのような器官で触って味を確かめる。甘みを感じた時と苦みを感じた時で、神経回路の反応が異なり、苦みを感じた場合は食べない。

 勝又さんらは、7000匹以上のゴキブリに、ブドウ糖や塩などを与えて神経回路の反応を調べた。通常のゴキブリはブドウ糖に甘みだけを感じるが、一部のゴキブリは苦みの神経回路が働くことがわかった。

20135262233分 読売新聞)

 (試譯文)

While German cockroach should like sweet things, there was a type which did not eat them when it felt  the sweet taste as bitter taste; U.S. North Carolina State University Senior Research Scientist Ayako Katsumata and others published this in a U.S. science journal: the Science.
 
   It might be regarded as a survival strategy for escaping extinction by an extermination agent. An extermination agent might need improvement as a measure to deal with this cockroach.

   There were many cockroach extermination agents. In order that cockroaches might eat them, agents were improved to entice cockroaches into eating; agents were wrapped in grape sugar. However, it was indicated that this effect fell since about 20 years ago.

   Before a cockroach ate a thing, it would touch with an organ like the mustache surroundings the mouth to confirm the taste. The reactions of its neural circuit would differ when feeling sweetness and bitterness. It would not eat when bitterness was felt.

   Mr. Katsumata and others gave grape sugar and salt etc. to 7000 or more cockroaches, and he investigated the reaction of the neural circuit. Although the ordinary cockroach felt only sweet taste in grape sugar, it was found out that in some cockroaches the neural circuit felt bitterness.

It is an interesting scientific finding. The response of the cockroaches may be regarded as their survival strategy in order to avoid extinction

2013年6月19日 星期三

外国醫生可以在日本執業?

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

外国人医師の解禁検討など提言へ

530 83

大胆な規制緩和などを講じる「国家戦略特区」の創設に向けて、内閣府の有識者会議は、最先端の医療拠点を国内に作り、外国からも患者を呼び込むため、外国人医師による日本での医療行為の解禁を検討するなどとした提言を取りまとめました。

政府は、経済の再生に向けて、世界一ビジネスのしやすい環境を作ろうと、大胆な規制緩和や税制の優遇措置を講じる「国家戦略特区」を創設する方針で、内閣府の有識者会議が今夜の会合で提言を取りまとめました。
それによりますと、最先端の医療拠点を国内に作り、外国からも患者を呼び込むため、外国人医師による日本での医療行為の解禁を検討するとしています。
また、優れた外国企業や外国人を日本に呼び込むため、魅力的なインターナショナルスクールの誘致や創設を実現するほか、公立学校の管理や運営を民間に委託して教育サービスの向上を目指すなどとしています。
さらに羽田空港の国際化を一層進めるため、同じ航空会社であれば、成田空港の国際線の発着枠を羽田空港の発着枠と交換できるようにし、海外から地方空港に向かう際の乗り継ぎをよくするとしています。
有識者会議は、政府が来月決定する経済の成長戦略にできるだけ提言を反映させたいとしています。

(試譯文)

Related to "The Special National Strategy Zone" which was designed to suggest bold deregulation etc., in the experts meeting of the Cabinet Office there was a suggestion to make the country the most advanced medical base: to call in patients from foreign countries; the proposal presupposed to consider the removal of the ban over medical practice by foreign doctors etc. in Japan.

The government turned to economic revival and to make Japan into the world's No.1 in having an environment where business could be carried out. It planned to establish a "Special National Strategy Zone" which could make bold deregulation or preferential treatment in taxation systems. The experts meeting of the Cabinet Office would collate the proposal at a meeting tonight.

Accordingly, in order to make the country into the most advanced medical base, patients would be called in from foreign countries; supposedly it would consider the removal of the ban over medical practices by a foreign doctor in Japan.

Moreover, in order to call in great foreign companies and foreigners to Japan, it was necessary to attract them and to establish an attractive international school. Also, the management of the public school would be entrusted to the private sector. It would be carried out aiming at improvements in teaching service etc.

Furthermore, in order to further advance the internationalization of Haneda Airport, the same airline would be allowed to exchange its international airline landing slot at Narita Airport for the landing slot in Haneda Airport. It was supposed that the transit time for those coming from overseas to a district airport could be improved.
The experts meeting would make recommendation as far as possible on the economic growth strategy of the government who would make its decision next month.

It seems that Japan may be trying to open up its medical service market.

2013年6月17日 星期一

福島核電事故對居民健康無影響?

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following: 

原発事故「住民に健康影響表れない」国連科学委                                            

【ウィーン=石黒穣】東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故による住民への被曝(ひばく)影響について、「原子放射線の影響に関する国連科学委員会」(UNSCEAR)の報告書案をまとめたウォルフガング・ワイス博士が31日、ウィーンで記者会見し、「(被曝による住民への)健康影響はこれまでなく、将来的にも表れないだろう」と述べた。

 また、事故直後、同原発から20キロ・メートル以内の住民を避難させるなどの政府の判断が功を奏して「被曝量を最大10分の1に抑えられた」と評価した。

 同委員会は27~31日、総会を開き、放射線医学の専門家ら約80人のグループが2年かけて被曝の影響を評価した報告書案について協議した。ワイス博士は、グループの議長を務めた。

20135312235分 読売新聞)

 (試譯文)

About the contamination influence on the residents because of the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, Dr. Wolfgang Weiss who collated the proposed report: the "United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation" (UNSCEAR) gave an interview in Vienna; he said on the 31st (May) that "for that, there is no health effect (on residents due to the contamination), and it will not appear in the future, either."

Moreover, immediately after the accident, the judgment of the government to evacuate residents within less than 20-km from the nuclear power plant was effective, and it estimated that "this contained the exposure dosage to 1/10 of the maximum".

The committee held a general meeting, about a group of 80 people (specialists in radiology) discussed from 27th to the 31st about the proposed report which evaluated the influence of contamination in two years. Dr. Weiss served as the chairperson of the group.

So, according to this report, the Japanese government has handled the accident well.

2013年6月14日 星期五

三重県廢物処理中心發現一公斤切碎日元

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

1万円札:三重の産廃施設で1キロ分発見

毎日新聞 20130524日 2217分(最終更新 0524日 2252分)

 23日午前8時半ごろ、三重県四日市市の産業廃棄物処理施設で、裁断された1万円札が約1キロ見つかった。県警四日市北署は遺失物として保管している。

 同署によると、施設の男性従業員が収集したごみを裁断中、1万円札の紙片が交じっているのを見つけた。最大で紙幣の4分の1の大きさで、最初から裁断されていたかは不明という。

 紙片は今週、東海3県の事業所から集めた可燃、不燃ごみに交じっていた。1万円札の重さは1枚約1グラムという。【岡正勝】

(試譯文)

   On the 23rd at around 8:30 am about 1 kg cut-out ten thousand yen bill was found in the industrial waste disposal facility in Yokkaichi city, Mie. The Prefecture Police’s Yokkaichi north office was keeping it as a lost article.

    According to the police station, while the male employee of the facility collected the cut-out trash, it was found out that paper pieces were mixed with ten thousand yen bills. It was said that at the beginning it was unnoticed; it was judged that the maximum size was in 1/4 of the bill.

   The paper pieces were mixed with the inflammable and the incombustible trash which were collected this week from the business locations at the three Tokai prefectures. It was said that the weight of a ten thousand yen bill was about 1 gram per sheet.

I think the discovery of these shredded bills could make a good start of a detective story. One kg is equal to one thousand grams; the amount of money involved should be around ten million yen.

2013年6月11日 星期二

巴基斯坦要求中國核電支援

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

シャリフ氏 中国に原発など支援要請
523 2317

パキスタンの次期首相となる見通しのシャリフ元首相が、23日、中国の李克強首相と会談し、国内の深刻な電力不足の解消に向けて、原子力発電所の増設などで中国の支援を求めました。

パキスタンの国民議会選挙で勝利し、3度目の首相就任が確実視されているシャリフ元首相は、パキスタンを訪れている中国の李克強首相と首都イスラマバードで会談しました。
パキスタンの各メディアによりますと、会談で、シャリフ元首相は、国内で停電が慢性化する深刻な電力不足を改善するためには中国の協力が重要だと強調しました。
そして、原子力発電所と水力発電所の増設、それに太陽光発電の導入などで中国の支援を求めたということです。
これに対して、李克強首相は両国の経済協力を強化していくことを約束したということです。
パキスタンは、電力不足の解消に向けて原子力発電所を増設する計画ですが、NPT=核拡散防止条約に加盟せず、核技術を北朝鮮などに拡散させた過去があるため、欧米諸国からは協力がえられない状況です。
シャリフ元首相としては、選挙の公約に掲げた電力不足の解消に向けて、中国からさらなる協力を引き出すため、首相就任後、早期に中国を訪問したいとしています。

(試譯文)

On the 23rd former Prime Minister Sharif who was expected to turn into the prime minister designate of Pakistan talked with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and asked for Chinese support in adding the nuclear power plant etc. towards solving the serious domestic electric power shortage.

Wining the National Assembly election of Pakistan, former Prime Minister Sharif, for the 3rd time assumed the prime minister office, would talk with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang who was visiting Pakistan, at Islamabad the capital.

According to various media of Pakistan, at the talk, former Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that Chinese cooperation was important in order to improve the serious electric power shortage in which power failure became chronic at home.

Also it was said that Chinese supports were asked in extending the nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power stations and introducing the solar electricity etc.

In response it was said that Prime Minister Li Keqiang promised to strengthen the economic cooperation of both countries.

Although Pakistan was scheduled to expand nuclear power plants towards solving the electric power shortage problem, since it did not join the NPT= Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and in the past it had spread nuclear technology to North Korea etc., it was in the situation that it could not obtain cooperation from Western countries.

In order to start further cooperation with China, and because former Prime Minister Sharif had touched on solving the electric power shortage in the campaign election pledges, it was supposed that after the prime minister had assumed the office he would visit China at an early stage.

I notice that politically Pakistan is in an interesting position. All along it has maintained a working relationship with both China and the US etc.

2013年6月8日 星期六

日本指望七年後放送“8K”超高清電視節目

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

“8K” 7年後の本放送を目指す

531 2054

放送サービスの高度化を議論する総務省の検討会は、今のハイビジョンより画質が鮮明なテレビ放送の実施に向けた工程表をまとめ、NHKが中心となって開発した8K=スーパーハイビジョンは、7年後の2020年の本放送を目指すことになりました。

検討会には、放送局や電機メーカーの幹部らが参加し、今のハイビジョンより画質が鮮明な4Kと8Kのテレビ放送を行う推進組織が今月設立されたことを踏まえ、放送の実施に向けた工程表をまとめました。
工程表では、今のハイビジョンの4倍の画素数を持つ4Kの試験放送を、ブラジルでサッカーのワールドカップが開かれる来年、世界に先駆けて衛星放送で開始することを目指すとしています。
そして、NHKが中心となって開発した画素数が16倍の8K=スーパーハイビジョンは、リオ・オリンピックが開かれる2016年に試験放送を開始したうえで、東京オリンピックの実現を念頭に、2020年の本放送を目指すとしています。

検討会に出席した柴山総務副大臣は、「今回の成果は、世界のマーケットを先導していくという皆さんの意欲の表れであり、政府の情報通信技術戦略にもきちんと反映させたい」と述べました。

(試譯文)

At the investigation commission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications which discussed about advancing the broadcast service, a work schedule was summarized aiming at the enforcement of television broadcasting with image quality much clearer than the present Hi-Vision; regarding the 8K- super Hi-Vision which NHK took the lead in its development, the aim was to have a full-service broadcasting in 2020 that would be seven years from now.

In the investigation commission, the broadcasting station management office together with the participating electrical equipment manufacturers, on the basis established by a promoting organization which was formed this month, had summarized a work schedule which aimed at the implementation of broadcasting at 4K and 8K in which the image quality would be clearer than the present Hi-Vision.

In the work schedule there was the aim to test broadcasting the 4K which had 4 times the pixel count of the present Hi-Vision; and as a pioneer, to start satellite broadcasting next year in the world when the World Cup soccer would be opened in Brazil

Then about the 8K- super Hi-Vision which had 16 times pixel count which NHK took the lead in its development, its test broadcast would be started in 2016 after the opening of the Rio Olympic Games, and the aim was to have a full-service broadcasting in 2020, with the realization of Tokyo Olympic Games in mind.

Shibayama the General-Affairs Deputy Minister who attended the investigation commission said "The result this time is the manifestation of the volition in trying to lead the world market; it also properly reflects the governmental information and communication technology strategy".

I look forward to seeing the 8K- super Hi-Vision TV programs.

2013年6月6日 星期四

日本小学英語由4年班開始

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

小学校の英語「4年生ぐらいから」文科相

政府の教育再生実行会議(座長・鎌田薫早稲田大総長)は22日、首相官邸で会合を開き、グローバル化への対応や大学改革などについての最終的な提言案をまとめた

 。月内に安倍首相に提出し、来月策定される政府の成長戦略に盛り込まれる。具体的な制度設計は、文部科学相の諮問機関、中央教育審議会に委ねられる。

 提言案の柱は、小学校英語の拡充。海外で活躍できる人材を育成するのがねらいで、小学5、6年生で必修化されている週1回の「外国語活動」について、正式な教科にして専任教員を確保することや、実施学年の引き下げ、指導時間の拡大などの検討を求めた。

 同日記者会見した下村文科相は、海外の事例も参考にしながら、小学校英語の教科化などに向け学習指導要領改定を検討する考えを表明。小学校の英語教育開始の目安については、「4年生ぐらい」と述べた。実行会議の委員からは「3、4年生から」という意見も出ている。

20135222201分 読売新聞)

(試譯文)

The government’s Education Rebuilding Execution Meeting (Chairman Kaoru Kamata, the president of Waseda University) held a meeting in the Prime Minister's official residence on the 22nd ; in response to the globalization and aiming at university reforms etc. it had come to the final proposal.

   Prime Minister Abe would be presented with the proposal within this month (May) and it would be incorporated into the governmental growth strategy which would be decided next month (June). The concrete design of the institutional arrangements would be left to a consultative body of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: the Central Council for Education.

   The pillar of the proposal was the expansion of the elementary school English. Aiming at raising talented people who could play an active part overseas, about one "foreign language activity" per week in elementary school fifth and sixth graders would be made compulsory. It would be regarded as a formal subject and a full-time teacher would be secured. It would be asked to review reducing the number of implementation year and expanding the instruction time etc.

   Shimomura the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology who gave a press interview on the same day, referring to overseas example, expressed the idea which considered amending the government guidelines on teaching, aiming at making the elementary school English a subject etc. It was stated that the goal was to start the English education in the elementary school at "around the fourth grader". The opinion "to start from the third or fourth grader" had also come out from the committee members of the execution meeting.

It seems that Japan is paying more attention to increase the English ability of the students.

2013年6月4日 星期二

地球CO2濃度進入危険領域

Last month the Yomuri News on-line reported the following:
「新たな危険領域に入った」CO2濃度で声明

米ハワイ島の観測所で、二酸化炭素(CO2)の平均濃度が400ppm(1000ppmが0・1%)を超えたのを受け、国連気候変動枠組み条約事務局のフィゲレス事務局長は13日、「我々は歴史的な境界を越え、新たな危険領域に入った」との声明を発表した。

 声明では「世界は目を覚まし、これが人類の安全保障や福祉、経済発展にどのような影響を及ぼすか気づかねばならない」と警告している。

 米海洋大気局(NOAA)によると今月9日、大気中のCO2濃度が1日平均で初めて400ppmを超えた。

20135132243分 読売新聞)


(試譯文)

    On the 13th (May) at the observatory on the Hawaii Island of the U.S., it was noted that the average density of carbon dioxide (CO2) had exceeded 400 ppm (1000 ppm is 0.1%), Executive Director Figueres of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Office issued a statement that "we have crossed the historical boundary and gone into a new dangerous region".

In the declaration it warned that "The world must wake up and notice what kind of influence this has on human beings' security, welfare, and economic development".

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), CO2 concentration in the atmosphere had exceeded 400 ppm for the first time on average on the 9th of this month (May).

It is a dangerous signal, probably climate change on earth would continue.

2013年6月3日 星期一

糖尿病與癌症有關連

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

がん発症リスク、糖尿病で高まる学会の合同委

日本糖尿病学会と日本(がん)学会は14日、糖尿病が、がんの発症リスクを高める要因になると発表した。

 両学会は、野菜不足や過剰な飲酒、運動不足、喫煙は、糖尿病とがんに共通する危険因子だとし、適切な生活習慣を身につけるよう、呼び掛けている。

 両学会は合同委員会を設立し、2011年から糖尿病とがん発症との関係について検討を続けてきた。

 全国各地で実施された男性約15万人、女性約18万人分の健康状態の追跡調査のデータを解析。男性約2万人、女性約1万3000人が、がんになったが、糖尿病の人は、そうでない人に比べ、がんになるリスクが男女とも1・2倍高かった。

 中でも、大腸がんは1・4倍、肝臓がんと膵臓(すいぞう)がんは、それぞれ約2倍、高かった。子宮がんや膀胱(ぼうこう)がんも、糖尿病になるとがんのリスクが高まる傾向がみられた。一方、乳がん、前立腺がんは糖尿病との関連はみられなかった。

20135141943分 読売新聞)


(試譯文)

The Japan Diabetes Society and the Japanese Cancer (gan) Society announced on the 14th (May) that diabetes had become a factor which could raise the risk of cancer development symptoms.

    According to both societies, it was supposed that the shortage of vegetables, superfluous drinking and the lack of exercise, together with smoking were risk factors common to diabetes and cancer. They were appealing to learn to lead a suitable lifestyle.

Both societies established a joint committee, from 2011 they had continued the examination on the relation between diabetes and the onset of the cancer.

Analysis was done on the data of a follow-up survey carried out all over the country on the health condition of about 150,000 men and about 180,000 women. While about 20,000 men and about 13,000 women had developed a cancer, a diabetic person had 1.2 times higher risk of getting cancer compared to men and women who were not diabetic.

Especially, colorectal cancer 1.4 times; liver cancer and pancreatic cancer were about twice as high. When there was the uterine cancer or the bladder (baukou) cancer, an increase in the risk tendency to become diabetes was seen. On the other hand, as for the breast cancer and the prostate cancer, the relation with diabetes was not found.

This is a useful medical founding. Situation in other societies may be similar.

2013年6月1日 星期六

手塚治虫未発表原稿公開

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

手塚治虫さん「メトロポリス」など未発表原稿公開へ
517 2320

日本を代表する漫画家、手塚治虫さんがデビューから3年後に書き下ろした漫画「メトロポリス」などの未発表の原稿が新たに見つかり、来月、東京で一般公開されることになりました。

公開されるのは、B6サイズの9枚の原稿で、手塚治虫さんと交流のあった漫画家の松本零士さんが自宅で保管していました。
このうち3枚は、手塚さんがデビュー3年後の昭和24年に発表し、初期の金字塔的作品と呼ばれた漫画「メトロポリス」の原稿です。
近未来の地球を舞台にした人造人間の物語で、主人公が野球をする姿や爆弾のようなものを投げる一場面が描かれていますが、出版された単行本にはこの場面が一切、登場しません。
このほか、手塚さんの初期の作品「有尾人」や「一千年后の世界」の未発表の原稿もあります。
さらに、タイトルが不明の原稿も1枚見つかり、セリフなどから、手塚さんの創作ノートに残されている構想段階の作品の一場面ではないかとみられています。
これらの原稿が出版の際に使われなかった理由は不明ですが、手塚プロダクションでは、初期の作品作りの過程を知る貴重な資料だとして、来月29日から東京・江東区の東京都現代美術館で開かれる特別展で一般公開することにしました。
松本零士さんの自宅には、このほかにも手塚さんの原稿が6枚あるということです。
松本さんは「生原稿の温かみや迫力が伝わってくる。偉大な作家の若き日の貴重な遺産だ」と話しています。

(試譯文)

The unpublished manuscripts such as the comic the "Metropolis" which cartoonist Mr. Osamu Tezuka drew three years after his debut was newly found; he was a representation of Japan,  a general public presentation would be carried out in Tokyo next month.

Mr. Reiji Matsumoto was the cartoonist who opened to the public the nine sheets of B6 size manuscripts and who had communicated with Mr. Osamu Tezuka and kept the manuscripts at his house.

Among them, three sheets were the manuscripts of the comic "Metropolis" which Mr. Tezuka released three years after his debut in Showa 24th year, and were called the early monumental work.

In the story about the man-made world stage in the near future earth, while the main figure’s posture of playing baseball and throwing the bomb was described in one scene, this scene had not appeared in the published book at all.

In addition, there was also the unpublished manuscript of Mr. Tezuka’s early stage works: "People from Ario" and "The World 1000 Years Later"

Furthermore, one sheet of the manuscript with unknown title was also found. From the words etc. it was expected to be the creation notes at the conceptual phase of one scene of the work left behind by Mr. Tezuka.

Although the reason was unknown on why these manuscripts were not used on the occasion of publication, these were precious data in the Tezuka production to know the process of creating the work at the first stage. It was decided to carry out a general public presentation by a special exhibition opened from the 29th the next month in the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art at Koto District, Tokyo

It was said that there were six more manuscripts of Mr. Tezuka being kept in Mr. Reiji Matsumoto's house.

Mr. Matsumoto said that "the warmth and the force of the raw manuscripts are transmitted. It is a precious inheritance of the great creator’s young days".

Cartoonist Mr. Osamu Tezuka is a cultural icon of Japanese cartoon. The exhibition is a good opportunity to understand Mr. Osamu Tesuka when he was young.