New residence requirement was established to expand the acceptance of foreign human resources

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

外国人の人材受け入れ拡大へ 新たな在留資格創設へ

5月30日 5時09分

外国人の人材受け入れ拡大に向けて、政府はことしの「骨太の方針」に日本で働きながら学ぶ今の「技能実習制度」を修了した人が事実上、在留期間を最長で５年延長できる新たな在留資格の創設を盛り込む方針を固めました。

経済財政運営と改革の基本方針、いわゆる「骨太の方針」を来月、閣議決定するため、政府・与党内では取りまとめの最終調整が進められています。

こうした中、政府は少子高齢化で労働力人口の減少が見込まれることから、外国人の人材受け入れ拡大に向けて介護や農業など業種を限定し、最長で５年の在留を可能とする新たな在留資格の創設を明記する方針を固めました。

資格の付与にあたって政府は、知識や技能、それに日本語の能力を試験で確かめるとする一方、日本で働きながら学ぶ今の「外国人技能実習制度」を修了した人は試験を免除するとしています。

「技能実習制度」では最長で５年の在留が可能なことから、新たな制度が導入された場合、実習制度を修了したあとに１度帰国すれば、通算で１０年在留することも可能になります。

一方で、この制度は「移民政策とは異なる」として、原則、家族の帯同を認めないものの、滞在中に試験などで高い専門性が確認されれば帯同を認めるとしています。

政府は来週の経済財政諮問会議でこうした内容が盛り込まれた「骨太の方針」の素案を示すことにしています。

Translation

In working towards expanding the acceptance of foreign human resources, the government in this year's "policy framework" would made a policy to incorporate the establishment of new residence qualifications in which people who had finished the current "Skill training system", i.e. to learn while working in Japan, could extend their residence period for 5 years as a matter of fact.

The basic policy in financial operation and reform, i.e. the so-called "large-bone policy", would be endorsed by the Cabinet next month; final adjustment in coordination was advanced in the government and the ruling party.

Because a decrease in the workforce population was expected due to declining birthrate and growing elderly people, the government limited the business category to nursing and agriculture for the expansion of human resources in accepting foreigners and made a policy which set the requirement for new residence up to 5 years at the maximum to enable residence.

In case of giving out the requirement the government would through a test ensure the knowledge ability, skills and Japanese language ability, but also it was assumed that the government would exempt a test on people currently who had finished the "Foreigner skill training system" while working in Japan.

Because in the "Skill training system" it was possible to have residence up to a maximum of 5 years, when the new system was introduced, if one had returned home once after having finished a training system, a total sum of up to 10 years in residence would become possible.

On the other hand for this system, "It's different from an immigration policy". As a principle the accompanying of the family was not allowed, but it was assumed that accompanying would be allowed when a highly specialized skill was confirmed by a test during the stay.

The government would use the next week's Council of Economic and Fiscal Policy to show a rough draft on the "large-bone policy" which incorporated such contents.

So, more technical people will be admitted into Japan in the near future.

Malaysian passenger plane shot down: The Netherlands had a lot of victims and might consider filing a law suit against Russia

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

マレーシア旅客機撃墜 多数犠牲のオランダなど ロシア提訴検討
5月26日 5時39分

４年前、ウクライナで撃墜されたマレーシア航空の旅客機は、ロシア軍から持ち込まれたミサイルにより撃墜されたと国際的な合同捜査チームが結論づけたことを受け、多数の犠牲者が出たオランダ政府などは国際的な司法の場に提訴する可能性を示しました。

４年前、オランダ発のマレーシア航空の旅客機がウクライナ東部の上空で撃墜されオランダ人やオーストラリア人など乗客乗員２９８人全員が死亡しました。

オランダやウクライナなど５か国で作る合同捜査チームは２４日、「旅客機を撃墜したミサイルはロシア軍から持ち込まれた」と結論づけました。

これを受けてオランダ政府とオーストラリアの政府は２５日、「ロシアに責任があることを確信している」とする声明を出しました。

そのうえで「進めうる次のステップは国際的な法廷か組織に提訴することだ」として、国際的な司法の場に提訴する可能性に言及しました。

ＥＵ＝ヨーロッパ連合のモゲリーニ上級代表や、ＮＡＴＯ＝北大西洋条約機構のストルテンベルグ事務総長も２５日、「ロシアに対し、責任を受け入れ説明責任を果たすよう求める」とする声明を発表しました。

プーチン大統領「捜査結果を受け入れず」

ロシアのプーチン大統領はサンクトペテルブルクで「われわれは残念ながら合同捜査に参加することが認められず、捜査結果には信頼に値する根拠もない。適切な捜査が行われていないのであれば、われわれは結果を受け入れることはしないだろう」と述べ、不当な捜査に基づくものだと批判しました。

また司会者から「ミサイルはロシアのものなのか」と問われ、プーチン大統領は「もちろん違う」と答え、改めてロシアの関与を否定しました。


Translation

About a Malaysia Airlines' passenger plane being shot down in Ukraine 4 years ago, an international joint criminal investigation team accepted a conclusion that the plane had been shot down by a missile from the Russian troops, and indicated a possibility that the Dutch government which had a lot of victims might together with others file a law suit to an international judicial organization.


This passenger plane of Malaysia Airlines departed from the Netherlands was shot down in the sky of east Ukraine 4 years ago; Dutch and Australian passengers together with the crew members totalling 298 people had died.

On the 24th, a joint criminal investigation team which made up of 5 countries including the Netherlands and Ukraine concluded that "The missile which had shot down the passenger plane was brought in from the Russian troops."

The Dutch government together with the Australian government accepted this, and on the 25th, issued a statement which assumed "we are convinced that it was a matter that Russia had a responsibility."

On this, it was supposed that  "The next step which can be advanced is to file a law suit to an international court or organization", referring to a possibility of pushing forward a law suit to the international judicial level.

On the 25th, Mogerini the high level representation of EU = European Union together with Sutorutenberugu the secretary general of NATO = Nato announced a statement in which they "asked Russia to accept the responsibility and fulfill the accountability."

President Putin: "The investigation result is not accepted."

Russian Putin president at St. Peterburg stated that "Unfortunately we were not admitted to participate in joint criminal investigations, and there were also no bases to claim trust in this investigation result. When it is not investigated appropriately, we wouldn't accept the result" , and criticized it as something based on unfair investigation.

Also when asked by a moderator "Is the missile a Russian one?", President Putin answered "It's different of course" and denied Russian participation once more.

    I hope some international court or organization would look into this matter.

Japan’s net external asset continued to be the highest in the world for 27 years: about 328,000,000 million yen

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

日本の対外純資産は328兆円余 27年連続世界一

5月25日 10時20分

日本の企業や個人が海外に持っている資産から外国企業が持つ日本の資産などを差し引いた対外純資産は３２８兆円余りで、前の年より２％減りましたが２７年連続で世界一になりました。

対外純資産は、日本の政府や企業、個人が海外に持っている会社や工場、証券などの資産額から外国企業が日本に持っている資産などを差し引いたものです。

財務省によりますと、日本が海外に持っている資産額は去年１２月末の時点で１０１２兆４３１０億円で、前の年より２．７％増えました。

一方、海外の企業などが日本に持っている資産などの額は、日本企業の株価が上昇したり債券への投資を増やしたりしたため６８３兆９８４０億円で、前の年より５．２％増加しました。

この結果、対外純資産は３２８兆４４７０億円となり、前の年より２．３％減って３年連続で減少しました。

ただ、日本の対外純資産は、２７年連続で世界一になっています。

財務省によりますと、２位はドイツの２６１兆円余り、３位は中国がおよそ２０５兆円で続き、アメリカは逆に、世界最大のおよそ８８６兆円の対外純債務を抱えています。

Translation

The net external asset of Japan calculated by deducting properties held by foreign companies in Japan from property held by Japanese enterprises and individuals in foreign countries was about 328,000,000 million yen; it was 2 % less than the previous year but still was continuously the highest in the world for 27 years.

Net external asset was the amount of companies, factories and securities owned by the Japanese government, enterprises or individuals in foreign countries deducted by the properties held by foreign companies in Japan.

According to the Department of the Treasury, the amount of Japanese properties held in foreign countries as of the end of December last year was 1,012,431,000 million yen and was an increase of 2.7 % from the previous year.

On the other hand, the amount of asset held by overseas enterprises in Japan was 683,984,000 million yen and was an increase of 5.2 % from the previous year because the stock prices of Japanese companies rose and there was an increased in bond investment.

As a result, the amount of net external asset was 328,447,000 million yen which was 2.3 % less than the previous year and was a continuous decrease for 3 years.

However, Japanese net external asset continued to be the highest in the world for 27 years.

According to the Department of the Treasury, in the 2nd place was German with about 261,000,000 million yen; China had approximately 205,000,000 million yen in the 3^rd place. Conversely, the United States had the highest net foreign debt in the world at approximately 886,000,000 million yen.

     No wonder Japanese yen is popular among investors and is welcome during world-wide financial turbulence. Also, there is a good reason why the US is eager to address its trade imbalance.

Industrial innovation organizations etc. invested on making "meat and bread from alga"

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

“藻から肉やパン” 産業革新機構などが出資

5月23日 4時04分

植物の藻から取り出したたんぱく質で、肉やパンなどの原料を作ることを目指すベンチャー企業に、国が主導するファンドと大手商社が出資しました。世界的な人口増加による食料不足が懸念される中、新たな食品を生み出すビジネスとして期待が高まっています。

国が主導するファンドの産業革新機構と大手商社の三菱商事は、藻を培養した食品を製造している川崎市のベンチャー企業に合わせて１７億円を出資しました。

この会社が扱う「スピルリナ」という藻はビタミンなどが豊富で、ジュースに混ぜて飲むなどの需要が増えているということで、今回、調達した資金で東南アジアのブルネイに工場を建設し欧米などに販売を拡大する計画です。また、将来的には藻から取り出したたんぱく質で、肉やパンなどの原料を作ることを目指すということです。

産業革新機構と三菱商事は、世界的な人口増加や経済成長による食料の不足が懸念される中、新たな食品を生み出すビジネスとしての期待から出資を決めました。

ベンチャー企業の佐々木俊弥社長は「パンやめん、最終的にはハンバーグのような加工肉などさまざまな製品を作ることで、食品のベースにして幅広く活用してもらえるようにしたい」と話していました。

Translation

A major trading firm together with a fund that was directed by the country had invested into a business venture which aimed at producing raw materials to make meat and bread from the protein of vegetable alga. While there was a fear of insufficient food due to worldwide population growth, there was a high expectation in this business in that it would produce new food.

A country directed industrial innovation organizational fund together with Mitsubishi Corporation which was a major trading firm had invested 1,700 million yen into a business venture in Kawasaki-shi to cultivate alga, and from it to produce food.

The alga handled by this company was called "Spirulina" which was rich in Vitamin; its demand was increasing for adding it into juice to drink. It was said that the funding supplied this time was to construct a factory in Brunei in Southeast Asia and there were plans to expand sales in Europe and America etc. Also it was said that in future the aim was to turn it into the raw material for making meat and bread by using the protein taken out from alga.

Amidst the fears of worldwide population growth and lack of food due to economic growth, this industrial innovation organization together with Mitsubishi decided to invest in the expectation that this business would produce new food.

President Shunya Sasaki of the business venture was saying that "By making bread and noodles, and finally the various processed meat products such as hamburger I would like to make sure it could be utilized widely as a food base."

It is an interesting and innovative new business. I look forward to trying the products.

“To arrest a suspect among 20,000 audience" the Chinese face recognition system became a discussion topic

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

”観客２万人から容疑者拘束” 中国の顔認識システムが話題

5月22日 6時34分

中国で、コンサート会場に設置された監視カメラがおよそ２万人の観客の中から顔を識別して犯罪の容疑者の拘束に結びつけ、中国の画像認識システムの技術の高さを示すものだなどとして話題となっています。

警察の発表によりますと、２０日夜、浙江省嘉興で開かれた香港の有名歌手のコンサート会場で、詐欺の容疑で指名手配されていた男が警察に拘束されました。

この男は、コンサート会場を訪れたところを監視カメラに捉えられ画像認識システムで手配中の容疑者の顔と特定されたあと、警察に通報されたということです。

当時、コンサート会場には、およそ２万人の観客がいたということで、今回の容疑者拘束は、中国の画像認識システムの技術力の高さを示すものだなどとしてインターネット上で、話題となっています。

中国では、国をあげてＡＩ＝人工知能による画像認識技術の開発を進めていて、警察などが捜査に積極的に活用しています。

Translation

It was the security camera installed in a concert venue that distinguished a face from among approximately 20,000 audiences and linked to the arrest of a criminal suspect; it showed the high technology of the Chinese image recognition system and become a topic of discussion.

According to a police announcement, a man who was placed on the wanted list due to suspicion of cheating was put into custody by the police at a concert venue of a famous singer from Hong Kong held in Jiaxing of Zhejiang Province in the evening of the 20^th.

The man while was visiting the concert venue was caught by a security camera operated by an image recognition system. After being identified as a face of an wanted suspect, it was said that the police was notified.

At that time there were approximately 20,000 audience in the concert venue, the arrest of a suspect at this time indicated the high technical power of the Chinese image recognition system, it became a topic of discussion on the internet.

In China as a country, the development of image recognition technology by AI= artificial intelligence was being advanced, and the police was utilizing it for investigation aggressively.

So, you will have more safety in China, or will not you?

The blue crab catches increased rapidly in Miyagi-ken, was it the influence of a tidal wave by an earthquake disaster?

Recently the NHK On-line reported the following:

ワタリガニ漁獲量 宮城県内で急増 震災の津波が影響か

5月18日 9時05分

みそ汁などの具材に使われる小型のカニ「ワタリガニ」の漁獲量が東日本大震災以降、宮城県内で増え続けていることがわかり、専門家は「震災の津波によって宮城県沿岸の海底に泥が流れ込み、カニが生息しやすい環境になったことが要因の１つではないか」と分析しています。

ワタリガニは「ガザミ」とも呼ばれる体長が１５センチほどの小型のカニで、みそ汁やパスタに入れたり、そのままゆでたりして食べられます。

宮城県内の漁獲量は、震災前は年間１０トンを下回る程度でしたが、震災の翌年に３０トン余りに増え、３年前には５００トンを超えて全国１位となりました。

さらに、おととしには６６０トン余りと、全国のおよそ３割を占めるまでになっていて、石巻市などでは、ワタリガニ漁に参入する漁業者も目立ち始めています。

こうした状況を受けて、宮城県は今年度からワタリガニの生態などの詳しい調査を行うことになりました。

宮城県水産技術総合センターの山崎千登勢技師は「ワタリガニの急増には驚いている。海水温が上昇したことに加え、震災の津波の影響で沿岸部の海底に泥が流れ込み、冬眠するカニにとって生息しやすい環境になったことも要因の１つではないか」と話しています。

Translation

  

It was understood that the catches of small crabs, the "Blue crab" which was used in miso soup as ingredient material, was increasing in Miyagi-ken after the Eastern Japan Great Earthquake. A specialist analyzed that "may be one reason is that mud had flowed in at the bottom of the sea to Miyagi-ken coast due to a tidal wave of an earthquake disaster; and the environment was easy for crabs to live."

The "Blue crab", also called the "swimming crab", was a small crab that had a body length of about 15 centimeters; it could be added to miso soup and pasta, or it could be boiled just as it was and be eaten.

Before an earthquake disaster the catch in Miyagi-ken was to the extent of below 10 tons a year, but it was increased to about 30 tons in the year after earthquake disaster; 3 years ago it was at the 1st place in the whole country reaching over 500 tons. Furthermore, two years ago it was about 660 tons and was approximately 30 percent of the whole country. In Ishinomaki-shi etc. fisherman who joined the catching of blue crabs had begun to be noted.

Miyagi-ken in view of such a situation conducted a detailed investigation on the ecology of blue crabs from this fiscal year.

Yamasaki Chitose the engineer in Miyagi-ken marine technological integrated center said that "A rapid increase of blue crab is astonishing. Beside the rising seawater temperature, it is the influence of a tidal wave of an earthquake disaster that made the mud flow into the bottom of the sea in coastal areas; one factor is that for those crabs that do hibernation, the place becomes an environment easy to live.”

I am wondering whether or not the water in the region could have been contaminated by some radio-active water.

Suntory: due to its popularity whisky sale was partly suspended, there was insufficient unblended malt

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

ウイスキー人気で原酒不足 一部販売休止に サントリー

5月15日 14時49分

国産ウイスキーの人気が予想以上に高まり、作るのに長い時間がかかる原酒が不足しているとして、大手メーカーのサントリーは、一部の商品の販売を休止することになりました。

サントリーホールディングスによりますと、販売が休止されるのは国産ウイスキーのうち、白州１２年と響１７年の２種類です。

早ければ来月からことし９月ごろにかけて在庫がなくなり、そのまま販売が休止される見通しです。

ウイスキーは、国産の銘柄が世界的な賞を獲得したことや、サントリーなどの主要メーカーが炭酸水で割るハイボールの販売に力を入れたことでブームとなり、国内の出荷量はこの１０年で２倍以上に増えています。

今回、休止となる商品は原酒の熟成期間が少なくとも１２年ないし１７年必要になりますが、その当時はブームになる前で原酒の生産量が少なく、特に不足しているということです。

サントリーはここ数年の需要の増加に対応し、原酒をつくる蒸留釜を増設するなどして生産量を増やしてきましたが、それでも需要を賄いきれなくなった形です。

サントリーでは「販売の再開には需要に見合った量の原酒を確保しなければならないが、現時点では見通しはたっていない」と話しています。

Translation

The popularity of domestic whiskey was higher than expected; as the unblended malt whisky took a long time to make and there was insufficient stock, Suntory as a major maker suspended its sale of certain goods.

According to Suntory Holdings among the domestic whiskey 2 kinds of sale were being suspended, they were Hakushu 12 and Kyou 17.  

As early as from next month to around September this year stock would run out, and in this way the sale would be suspended.

Whiskey sale became a boom as the domestic brands had won worldwide prize; also it was put on sale by key manufacturers such as Suntory that emphasized the making of highball by mixing whisky with carbonated water. The domestic total shipment had increased more than 2 times in 10 years.

It was said that the goods suspended this time needed a ripening period of at least 12 to 17 years ahead; at that time it was before the boom of and there was little production of the unblended malt whisky, it meant that it was particularly inadequate.

Suntory, in response to the increases in demand in the past few years, had added the distillation iron pots that made the unblended malt whisky and the production was being increased, but still it was in a situation that demand could not be fully met.

Suntory was saying that “for sales resumption, I have to ensure that the amount of unblended malt whisky could meet the demand; but there is no such a prospect at present."

     It seems that in Japan the Japanese whisky is more popular then the Scottish whisky.