Hojoki

中國在非洲支出大額經濟援助

2012-02-09T07:56:00.001-08:00

Late last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
中国政府が総工費２億ドル（約１５３億円）を拠出したアフリカ連合（ＡＵ）の新本部施設がエチオピアの首都アディスアベバに完成し、２８日に落成式が開かれた。中国メディアが２９日、伝えた。
　新施設は２５００人収容の会議場と２０階建てのビルから成り、建築面積は約５万平方メートルと東京ドームがすっぽり入る。落成式には中国共産党ナンバー４の賈慶林全国政治協商会議主席が出席し、「（施設は）中国からアフリカへの贈り物」とあいさつした。
　賈主席は、ジャン・ピンＡＵ委員長と会談した際、今後３年間でＡＵに６億元（約７３億円）の無償援助を提供することも表明した。
　中国のアフリカとの関係強化は資源確保が目的との見方が強い。だが、中国外務省は「資源協力はアフリカ政策の出発点というわけではなく、関係国の自主発展に向けた支援をしている」（劉為民報道局参事官）と強調している。
　巨額のアフリカ支援に対し、中国のインターネット上では「自国内の貧困問題を解決する方が先」と批判する書き込みが多いが「アフリカは経済、軍事、外交のいずれの分野でも戦略的意義が大きい」といった肯定的な意見もある。
(試譯文)
The new headquarters of the African Union (AU) which the Chinese government had paid for a total construction cost of 200 million dollars (about 15,300 million yen) was completed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia; the inauguration ceremony was held on the 28th. The China media reported that on the 29th.
The new facilities consisted of a conference hall that could accommodate 2500 people, and a 20 stories building with a total building area of about 50,000 square meters that could take in the TOKYO DOME entirely.
Jia Qinglin the president of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who was the number four man of the Chinese Communist Party of China attended the inauguration ceremony; and when he greeted with the AU's Chair Jean Ping, he said "it was (the facilities) a present from China to Africa".
When Chairman Jia conferred with Chair Jean Pin of the AU, he expressed that AU would be provided with 600 million yuan (about 7,300 million yen) free grants-in-aid in the coming three years.

It was strongly viewed that China was having the purpose of strengthening ties with Africa in order to ensure the supply of resources. Liu Weimin, China's secretary of the press bureau said that their Ministry of Foreign Affairs had emphasized that "their policy in Africa to offer support is not necessarily out of resource cooperation, it aims at supporting the independence development of countries concerned".

In the Internet in China, regarding this large amount of African support, there were many writings that criticized that "the priority should be to solve poverty problems in the country"; but there was also affirmative opinion saying that "in Africa, the fields in economy, military affairs, and diplomacy are all have strategic significance".

As China has the ability to use money to buy influence in Africa, it seems that there is no reason for China to feel too unhappy about the presence of the US in Asia.

日本大丸松坂屋回收發霉情人節朱古力

2012-02-07T07:57:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
大丸松坂屋百貨店は７日、大丸札幌店（札幌市）で販売したバレンタインチョコレート１粒からカビが見つかり、同種の商品をすべて自主回収すると発表した。

　カビが見つかったのはベルギーから輸入し、日本国内で詰め合わせた「トロア　アーティザン」（９粒入り、１８９０円）で、大丸の心斎橋店（大阪市中央区）や梅田店（同北区）などで同種の商品が計１０４７個販売された。健康被害の報告はないという。問い合わせは０１２０・０７３・１６３。
(試譯文)
On the 7th the Daimaru Matsuzakaya department store announced that mould was found in one of the Valentine chocolate sold in the Daimaru Sapporo store (Sapporo), and announced that voluntary recall was carried out for all the same kind of goods.
The mould was found in the "Troyes Artisan" imported from Belgium and packed in Japan (nine numbers for 1890 yen), and a total of 1047 packs of the same kind were sold in Daimaru at the Shinsaibashi store (Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi) and the Umeda store (the Kita-ku), etc. It was said that no report of health impairment was received. For inquiry: 0120-073-163.

If so happen you have just bought this chocolate, be careful not to give it to your friend.

不速之客

2012-02-05T08:06:00.001-08:00

最近大女兒受朋友所托, 接收一隻大約七歲深灰色的小狗在屋企暫時照料. 大約逗留了一星期. 這小狗甚懂人性. 比想像中容易照顧. 它對於簡單英語例如 sit, come, go, good boy, bad boy, 和Henry (它的名字) 都有反應. 賢內助一向是十分怕狗的, 但今次也不時和它接觸. 隨著日子過去, 我們由生梳變成稔熟. 當我們坐在沙發看電視的時候, 它會親熱地坐在我們隔離陪伴. 一星期過去, 臨別有些依依不捨之感.

日本7-ELEVEN去年營業額因地震而上升

2012-02-03T08:08:00.011-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
セブン―イレブン・ジャパンは３０日、２０１２年２月期の国内全店売上高が、３兆円を突破したと発表した。
　国内の小売業界で単一のチェーンが３兆円を超えるのは初めて。１月２８日に３兆円に達し、２月期の全店売上高は前期比で約１０％伸びて３兆２４９０億円に達する見通しだ。
　東日本大震災などを背景に、コンビニで日用品や総菜などを買う消費者が増え、客層が主婦や高齢者にも広がった。
　１１年３～１１月期決算によると、国内のセブン―イレブン１店舗の１日あたり平均売上高は、前年同期に比べ４万５０００円高い６７万５０００円、平均来店客数は３０人増の１０８１人だった。売り上げが伸びているため、１２年度は、過去最高の１３５０店を新たに出店する計画だ。
(試譯文)
7-Eleven Japan announced on the 30th (January) that their nation wide domestic store sales by end of February, 2012 would break through 3 trillion yen.
This was the first time for a single chain-store to exceed 3 trillion yen in the domestic retail industry. It amounted to 3 trillion yen on January 28, and all the store sales in the period ending February was expected to extend by about 10% compared with the preceding period to reach 3,249 billion yen.
Against the background of the East Japan great earthquake etc., the consumers who bought daily necessaries and the daily dish etc. at a convenience store had increased in number; also by customer stratum, there was a spreading among housewives and elderly people.
According to the account settlement for the period from March to November 2011, Japan domestic average sales for one 7-Eleven store in one day was 675,000 yen, which was 45,000 yen higher when compared with the corresponding period last year; also there was an increase of 30 people each day, making the average number of customers to stand at 1081. Because there was a sales increase, new ones were scheduled to open in the 2012 fiscal year to a new height of 1350 shops.

I think convenient stores should be among the few business that have been favourably affected by the earthquake.

江崎餅乾由於地震銷路急升

2012-02-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
　江崎グリコは３１日、発売８０年目を迎えた主力商品のクリームサンドビスケット「ビスコ」の出荷額が、２０１１年度に前年度比４０％増の４５億円と過去最高になる見通しだと発表した。
　ビスコは１９３３年２月に発売したロングセラー商品。健康を意識した小麦胚芽入りや食べきりミニパックを販売するなど、子どもに加えて若い女性やお年寄りにファンを広げてきた成果が出た。
　数年ぶりに流したテレビＣＭの効果や、防災意識の高まりで長期保存できる「ビスコ保存缶」の出荷額が１０年度の７倍以上で推移していることも好調の要因。これまでの最高は０８年度の約３８億円だった。
(試譯文)
Ezaki Glico on the 31st (January) announced that the shipment value of their cream sand biscuit "Visco", being their key item and was greeting its 80-year sales, was expected to stand at 4,500 million yen, being the highest ever and was a 40% increase compared with last fiscal year of 2011.
Visco had been a long selling item that was put on the market in February, 1933. Out of health consciousness wheat germ was added for eating and it was cut into mini-packs for sales etc.; starting form children adding young women and old people, the fans expanded as a result.
A factor for the good outcome was the positive effect of the TV commercial released for the first time in many years. Also a factor was an increase in disaster prevention awareness; the "Visco preservation can" which could be saved for a long period of time had over 7 times changes in shipment value in the year 2010. The highest amount up to now was about 3,800 million yen in the fiscal year 2008.

It is interesting to note that the Japanese choose the Visco biscuit to prepare for the earthquake.

通用汽車取代豐田再次成為世界銷量冠軍

2012-01-28T07:55:00.001-08:00

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
アメリカの自動車メーカー、ＧＭ＝ゼネラル・モーターズは、１９日、去年の世界全体の販売台数が前の年より７．６％増えて９０２万５９００台余りになったと発表し、４年ぶりに販売台数が世界一となるのが確実になりました。これまでトップだったトヨタ自動車は、去年の販売台数について７９０万台との見通しを示していることから、ドイツのフォルクスワーゲンの８１６万台にも抜かれて、３位以下に転落する見通しです。
(試譯文)
On the 19th, the American automaker the GM: General Motors announced that their sales in the entire world last year was 9,025,900, an increase of 7.6% compared with last year; and it became certain that the volume of sales was the world's No. one, for GM for the first time in four years.
Toyota Motor, which was at the top up to now had indicated that it would have a sales volume of 7,900,000 cars last year, it would be displaced by Volkswagen of Germany that had 8,160,000 cars and was expected to fall below the 3rd place.

This outcome is not surprising to the Japanese. A few months ago Toyota already expected that GM would be the world leader in the car production industry again. Would this also prove that the US economy is gradually recovering?

山手線品川―田町車站之間周邊土地再發展

2012-01-26T16:49:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
ＪＲ東日本が新駅建設を計画している山手線品川―田町駅間（東京・港区）周辺の再開発エリアについて、政府は２０日、国際競争力強化のために重点開発を行う「特定都市再生緊急整備地域」に指定した。
　再開発事業者らへの税制支援などが行われることになり、関係者からは「新駅を含む再開発が加速する」と歓迎の声が上がっている。
　指定されたのは、品川、田町駅周辺の１８４ヘクタールの再開発エリア。羽田空港の国際化やリニア中央新幹線の整備が進んでいることから、「東京と国内外を結ぶ新拠点」として、緊急整備が必要とされた。
　国土交通省などによると、指定により既存の道路をまたぐ形でビルを建設できるといった規制緩和を行うほか、固定資産税や不動産取得税の半額を控除するなどの税制支援も行い、再開発を後押しする。
(試譯文)
On the 20th the government, with regard to the new station construction development plan, had specified the redevelopment area surrounding the Yamanote Line between Shinagawa - Tamachi Station (Minato district Tokyo) of JR East Japan as a "specific urban redevelopment emergency development area" which would receive special development due to its important role in strengthening Japan's global competitiveness.
Taxation system support etc would be offered to redevelopment project companies, and the welcoming voice of "accelerating the redevelopment which include the new station" was heard from the people who had connection with this project.
Having been specified was the 184-hectare redevelopment area around Shinagawa and the Tamachi Station. Because of the internationalization of the Haneda Airport and the maintenance of the linear central Shinkansen were progressing, urgent maintenance was needed for "a new base which connects to Tokyo internally and also to overseas countries".
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism etc., deregulation was allowed over a building that could be built over the existing roads in a form specified; also taxation system support was provided by offering deducting of half the sum of a fixed property tax, or the real estate acquisition tax, so as to back up the redevelopment.

Japan is spending money on improving its infrastructure in public transport, despite its weak economy.

美國放棄二正面戰略

2012-01-23T16:37:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
米国のオバマ大統領とパネッタ国防長官は５日、国防総省で記者会見し、国防費削減に伴う国防戦略の見直し結果を発表する。
　米紙によると、地上戦力の縮小により、「二正面戦略」の展開能力を維持しないと明示する一方、中国の脅威などをにらんで、アジア重視の戦力配置を打ち出す見通しだ。
　財政赤字の膨張を受け、大統領は昨年夏、向こう１０年間で総額４５００億ドル（約３４兆５０００億円）規模の国防費を削減する方針を表明。議会からは一層の削減要求が出ており、大統領は国防総省に対し、米国と同盟国の安全保障を維持しながら、米軍の効率的運用を図るよう国防戦略の抜本的見直しを指示していた。
　ニューヨーク・タイムズ紙などによると、大統領は「二正面戦略」放棄の代わりに、一つの大規模紛争に対処し勝利する一方、「第二の敵」が戦争を起こさないように封じ込めを図るという新方針を表明する。イラク戦争終結とアフガニスタン駐留米軍の撤収などを受けて、今後、陸軍と海兵隊の人員が大幅削減されるのに伴う措置だ。
(試譯文)
US President Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta gave an interview in the Department of Defense on the 5th, and they would release the re-examination result of the national-defense strategy that accompanied a cut in national defense expenditure.
According to a US newspaper, while it showed the US did not have the deployment capability to maintain the "Two Frontal Strategy" due the reduction of ground military power, it was expected to glare at a Chinese threat etc. and to hammer out the military power arrangement that focused on Asia.
In last year's summer the President announced a plan that would reduce the national defense expenditure at scale up to a total of 450 billion-dollar (about 34,500 billion yen) in the next ten years in response to an increase in budget deficit. Further reduction demand was received from the Congress, and in order to maintain the security of the U.S. and its ally, the President, aiming at the Department of Defense, pointed to radical re-examination of the national-defense strategy to look for more efficient employment of the U.S. Forces.
According to the New York Times, while the President abandoned the "Two Frontal Strategy" and coped with winning one large-scale conflict instead, he announced a new plan that aimed at containment so that "the second enemy" might not cause a war. It was a measure that accompanied with a sizable cut in the army and the marine corps's staff now being carried out, and also in response to the conclusion of the Iraq war and the recovery of U.S. Forces stationed in Afghanistan etc.

It seems that the new plan is a policy of containment in Asia. In a sense the US is returning to Asia.

前囚犯分析廣島逃獄事件

2012-01-20T17:16:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
広島刑務所の受刑者脱走事件について、同刑務所で服役経験がある元受刑者の男性（７８）も「監視カメラの発達などで、刑務官たちに『脱走なんてできない』という慢心があったのではないか」と指摘する。
　男性は「長期受刑者の中には『脱走したい』と思う者も多いし、私も何度か考えた。実行するかどうかだけの違いだ」と明かす。
　広島刑務所の運動場では、近くの建物の陰が監視している刑務官からは死角になると気付いていたといい、実際、李容疑者もそこを起点に逃げたとみられている。
　「（補修で）外塀の内側に足場が組まれていたり、（容疑者が逃げる姿が）監視カメラ１台にしか映っていなかったりと、驚くことばかりだ」と男性は言う。
　「私がいた頃の刑務官は、受刑者が何を考えているかを察し、心情を把握していた。今は癒着を避けるため、受刑者との間に一線を引く傾向にあるようで、受刑者の心情がつかみにくくなっているのでは」と話した。
(試譯文)
About the convict escape incident at the Hiroshima prison, a male (78) as the former prisoner who had experienced the penal servitude in the prison indicated that "with so many surveillance cameras watching etc, towards the prison officers, there could be a fanciful thought of asking whether was it really that 'there is no way to escape'?"
This male said "among those who had been in prison for a long time, there were many 'Who want to escape', and I had also thought of it several times. The difference was whether you do it or not."
In the playground of the Hiroshima prison, it was said that the shade of a nearby building had become a dead angle for the supervising prison officers; and it was being noticed and in fact it was concluded that Li the suspect also escaped from there, using it as the starting point.
The male also said "at repair site, while scaffolding were being constructed inside the outside wall, and at the same time there was only one surveillance camera to monitor (for signs of any suspected escape activities), that was unbelievable".
It was also said that "The prison officers at the time I was in prison had to guess what the convicts were thinking, and to grasp their feeling. Now, in order to avoid any collaboration, there was a tendency to draw a line with convicts, it was difficult to get hold of convicts' feeling".

I think to challenge the prison security system could be a reason to try to escape.

日本警察重組廣島中國犯逃獄經過

2012-01-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
広島刑務所（広島市中区）から中国籍の李国林容疑者（４０）＝逃走容疑で逮捕＝が脱走した事件で、広島県警は１７日、李容疑者が侵入した会社事務所の電話に中国へ二十数回の発信履歴があったことを明らかにした。空き巣に入った民家でも十数回中国に電話し、少なくとも１回は数分間の通話記録があった。中国の親族に執拗（しつよう）に連絡しようとした可能性がある。事件は１８日で発生から１週間となるが、李容疑者は取り調べに対して動機や逃走経路などを語らず、黙秘しているという。
　県警によると、１２日から１３日にかけ、同市西区の民家と会社事務所に侵入し、逃走用の衣類を盗んだり飲食したりしたとみられる。逮捕時に所持していた果物ナイフは、会社事務所から盗んだものだった。
　県警が民家と事務所の電話を調べたところ、国内の接続ポイントにかけて海外につなぐシステムを使った履歴が計約４０回確認された。李容疑者が収監されていた単独室からは、親族からとみられる手紙２通がなくなっていたが、逮捕時には手紙や連絡先を記したメモ類は所持していなかった。
　県警はまた、刑務所の北東約３００メートルにある防犯カメラが、１１日午前１０時４２分と同４３分の映像に李容疑者とみられる人物を捉えていたことを明らかにした。同１０時半ごろの刑務所内の監視カメラの映像には、内塀を乗り越える李容疑者の姿があり、同４０分の点呼で李容疑者の不在が確認された。逃走はこの約１０分間に行われたとみられ、県警は詳しい足取りを調べている。
(試譯文)
In respect of the incident about the arrest of the prison escape suspect Li Guolin (40) who had escaped from the Hiroshima prison (Naka-ku, Hiroshima city), it was understood that the Hiroshima Prefecture Police on the 17th had a record of about twenty times of sending telephone message to China using the telephone in the corporate office which Li the suspect had trespassed. Telephone calls up to about ten times were also made in the private house that had been broken in, and there was at least one telephone record which lasted for several minutes. It might be an attempt to contact the Chinese relatives obstinately. Although by the 18th, this incident would be one week one since its happening, it was said that Li the suspect was telling neither the motive nor the escape route; and he was keeping silent to the investigation.
According to Prefecture Police, from the 12th to the 13th, he trespassed upon a private house and a corporate office at the west district of the same city, and it was concluded that he ate and drank, and stole clothing for the escape. The fruit knife he possessed at the time of arrest was stolen from the corporate office.
When Prefecture Police investigated the telephone of that private house and the office, they checked the using history of the system that connected with overseas by way of a domestic connection point, and confirmed a total of about 40 times of usage. From the independent room where suspect Li was imprisoned, although two letters seen to have been sent from relatives were gone, at the time of his arrest, he was in possession of no letter nor memos which recorded the contact address.
It was understood from the Prefecture Police that prison security camera which was about 300 meters northeast of the prison had, on the 11th at 10.42 am, and then at 43 minutes, captured the image of a person believed to be Li the suspect. The image that Li the suspect had overcome an inner wall was seen in the prison surveillance camera at 10:30, and Li's absence was checked by the roll call conducted at the same hour at 40 minutes. It was concluded that the escape was performed roughly within that 10 minutes, and the Prefecture Police was investigating the detailed steps.

The successful closure of this incident shows that the Japanese police is an effective force.

朝日啤酒新產品包裝惹爭議

2012-01-14T08:42:00.001-08:00

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:
アサヒビールが２月に発売するビール風ノンアルコール飲料「ドライゼロ」をめぐり、業界で波紋が広がっている。キリンビールの松沢幸一社長が１１日の記者会見で「（アサヒの主力ビールの）スーパードライと外見が似ており、誤飲につながりかねない」と指摘、サントリー酒類の相場康則社長も同様の懸念を表明した。シェア拡大を狙うアサヒをけん制するとともに、市場が拡大するノンアルコール飲料への批判を避けたい思惑があるようだ。
　アサヒは１０日、ドライゼロの発売を発表した。誤飲を防ぐため、外見に「ノンアルコール」と大きく表示しているが、銀色の缶の中央にアサヒのロゴマークがレイアウトされ、スーパードライを連想しそうなデザイン。キリンの松沢社長は「未成年の飲酒や、誤飲による飲酒運転を招きかねない」とアサヒをけん制した。サントリー酒類の相場社長も１１日、「（誤飲などのトラブルが）ビール業界に対する規制強化を招かなければよいが」と懸念を示した。
(試譯文)
Regarding the Kaze non-alcoholic drink "dry zero" beer which the Asahi Breweries would put on the market in February, ripples had been spreading in the industry. KIRIN BREWERY President Koichi Matsuzawa at a press conference of the 11th expressed the concern that as it looked like the "Super Dry" (the prime beer of Asahi), it might lead to drinking by mistake, and the same was also indicated by President Yasunori Aiba of the Suntory liquor. It seemed that there was an expectation of wanting to avoid criticizing market expansion of the non-alcoholic drink while at the same time checking Asahi that was aiming at market share expansion.

Asahi announced the sales of dry zero on the 10th. Its appearance had conspicuously displayed the sign "non-alcoholic drink" in order to prevent intake by mistake, but the logo marking of Asahi was arranged in the center of the silver can, and was likely to be associated with Super Dry. KIRIN President Matsuzawa checked Asahi, saying that "Drinking by a minor and drunken driving may be caused by drinking it by mistake". President Aiba of Suntory liquor on the 11th also indicated his concern that "it will be good if it (the trouble such as drinking by mistake) would not cause the toughening of regulations on the beer industry ".

Some people have seen this accusation as part of a war to fight for the market share of beer in Japan.

廣島有中國籍男子逃獄

2012-01-12T17:11:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
広島刑務所（広島市中区吉島町）から中国籍の李国林受刑者（４０）（逃走容疑で特別手配）が脱走した事件で、広島県警は１３日、刑務所から約１・５キロ離れた民家に李容疑者が空き巣に入ったと発表した。

　現場にあった缶ビールから李容疑者の唾液が見つかった。

　発表によると、盗まれたのは、黒色ダウンジャケット１着（ＸＬサイズ、ノースフェイス製）、黒色トレーニングズボン１着（ＸＬサイズ、ユニクロ製）、黒色で白い星形模様入りのぼんぼん付きニット帽、白色マスク数枚。１階台所で缶ビールやご飯を飲食していたという。

　県警は、まだ周辺に潜伏している可能性もあるとみて、李容疑者が空き巣に入った周辺地区に約５００人の捜査員を投入して調べている。
(試譯文)
Regarding the incident which the Chinese convict Li Guolin (40)(a suspect wanted for escape from prison) had escaped from the Hiroshima prison (Yoshijima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima city), the Hiroshima Prefecture Police announced on the 13th that the suspect Li had broken into a private house which was about 1.5 km away from the prison.
Suspect Li's saliva was found from the canned beer which was on the spot.
According to the announcement, the items that had been stolen were: black down jacket one suit (XL size, product made by North Face), black training trousers one suit (XL size, product made by UNIQLO), a black knit cap containing white star-shaped pattern with bonbon, and several white masks. The canned beer and boiled rice found had suggested there were drinking and eating on the first floor kitchen.
Prefecture Police concluded that there was a possibility that he was still hiding at the outskirts, and had sent in about 500 investigators to the surrounding area where Li the suspect had broken in.

It is an interesting case to test the ability of the Japanese police. I hope no one would get hurt before Li the suspect is captured.

福岡市君悅酒店內有食肆食物中毒事件

2012-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
　福岡市は８日、同市博多区住吉１のホテル「グランドハイアット福岡」内のレストラン「アロマーズ」で食事をした団体客が食中毒を発症したとして、同店を同日午後６時から１日間の営業停止処分とした。
　市によると、４日にバイキング料理を食べた男女約１３０人のうち数十人が下痢や腹痛などの症状を訴え、検査した１６人のすべての便から食中毒を引き起こすウェルシュ菌が検出された。全員が快方に向かっているという。
(試譯文)
On the 8th in Fukuoka city a group of tourists who had meals at the restaurant "Aromazu" inside the "Grand Hyatt Fukuoka" hotel in Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku 1 had showed symptoms of food poisoning. As the penalty the said store's business was suspended for one day starting from 6:00 p.m. on the same day
According to the city, on the 4th, out of about 130 men and women who ate smorgasbord, a few dozens of them complained about symptoms such as diarrhea and stomachache; and Clostridium welchii which caused the food poisoning was detected from the excrement of all the 16 people who were examined. It was said that all them were getting better.

I am disappointed by this food poisoning incident.

活化石腔棘魚有動物和魚類兩種遺傳基因

2012-01-06T07:28:00.001-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
　「生きた化石」として知られるシーラカンスの全遺伝情報（ゲノム）の解読に、東工大と東大、国立遺伝学研究所の共同研究グループが成功した。
　シーラカンスのゲノムの量は通常の魚よりはるかに多く、魚類と陸上動物の両方の遺伝子を持っていた。魚類が陸上へ進出した進化の謎を解く手がかりとして注目される。
　研究グループは、アフリカのタンザニアで捕獲された稚魚のゲノムを解析した。その結果、ゲノムを構成する「塩基対」の数は２７億あった。マグロやメダカなど平均的な魚類の約３倍あり、人（約３０億塩基対）を含めた哺乳(ほにゅう)類とほぼ同じであることが判明した。また、個体同士の情報伝達に関係する遺伝子群を調べたところ、魚類と陸上動物に特有の遺伝子を両方とも持っていることがわかった。
(試譯文)
The joint research group of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo, together with the National Institute of Genetics succeeded in decoding all the genetic codes (genome) of the coelacanth which was known as a "living fossil."
The amount of genome of coelacanth was more than the ordinary fish, and it had a gene of both fish and land animal. Fish attract attention as a key to solve the mystery in the evolution of marching out from water to land.
The research consortium analyzed the genome of the fish fry caught in Tanzania of Africa. The result was that the number of the "base pairs" was 2,700 million and it constituted a genom of about 3 times that of the average fish such as tuna and killifish. It became clear that it had almost the same number as the mammals including human (about 3 billion base pairs).Moreover, in the investigation in the gene cluster related to the communication of information of the individual, it turned out that it had both the gene peculiar to fish and to land animal.

Such a finding would help us know more about the evolution of land animals.

美國支持塔利班在中東成立辦事處

2012-01-03T09:00:00.001-08:00

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
アフガニスタンの反政府武装勢力タリバンは、アフガニスタンの和平に向けてアメリカと交渉を行う事務所を中東のカタールに開設することで、アメリカ・カタール両政府と基本合意したと発表しました。
アフガニスタンでは、反政府武装勢力タリバンがテロや攻撃を続けていますが、アメリカのオバマ政権は、アメリカ軍の撤退を進めるためにはタリバンとの間で政治的な解決が重要だとして、水面下で対話を進めてきました。こうしたなか、タリバンは３日「アメリカと協議した結果、国際社会と交渉をするための政治事務所を開設することで、アメリカやカタールの政府と基本合意した」とする声明を発表しました。事務所の開設は、タリバンとの和平交渉を進めたいアフガニスタンのカルザイ政権もすでに了承しており、実際に開設されれば、これまで停滞していたタリバンとの対話が進み、和平交渉につながる可能性もあります。しかし、タリバンは今回の声明で、アメリカに対してグアンタナモ収容所に収容しているタリバンのメンバーの釈放を強く求めているほか、「アフガニスタンで続く戦闘の当事者は自分たちとアメリカだ」と主張して、アフガニスタン政府が主導する和平交渉には応じない構えも示しています。タリバンの声明を受けて、カブールのアメリカ大使館は「アメリカ政府は、アフガニスタン政府が主導する和平交渉プロセスを支援する」という声明を発表し、アフガニスタン政府を交渉の相手としない構えを見せるタリバンをけん制しました。
(試譯文)
It was announced that Taliban the anti-government armed group in Afghanistan was establishing an office in Qatar in the Middle East in order to negotiate with the United States for peace in Afghanistan; a basic agreement had been reached between the governments of the U.S. and Qatar.
Although Taliban the anti-government armed group was continuing with terrorism and attacks in Afghanistan, the US went ahead with a behind the scene dialog with the Taliban, noting that a political solution was important for the U.S. in order that the Obama Administration could proceed with the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces. Amidst these developing situations, on the 3rd the Taliban issued a statement to announce that "As a result of discussions with the the US, it is establishing a political office to be used for holding negotiations with the international communities, and it has reached a basic agreement with the governments of the United States and Qatar." The establishment of this office had the agreement from the Karzai Administration of the Afghanistan that wanted to push forward a peace negotiation with the Taliban. With the actual establishment of an office, the now stagnant peace negotiation might continue to proceed, and it was possible to lead to a peaceful negotiation. However, by the statement, the Taliban asked strongly the US to release members of Taliban who had been kept in the Guantanamo detention center. It also claimed that "it is a matter between the US and the people who are related to the battles in Afghanistan now", a posture which showed that the Taliban would not respond to any peace negotiations led by the Afghan government. In response to this declaration of the Taliban, the American Embassy in Kabul issued a statement saying that "the American government supports the peace-negotiation process which the Afghan government takes the lead", thus checked the Taliban which showed an intention not to make the Afghan government a partner of the negotiation.

To allow the Taliban to set up an office in Qatar is a break through politically. It has increased the chance in getting peace in Afghanistan. I always think that politics is about negotiation and compromise.

美國把網絡攻擊視作戰爭行為

2012-01-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:　
政府がサイバー攻撃に対する自衛権発動の検討に入った背景には、同盟国の米国が中国への懸念を深めていることがある。

　中国政府は否定するが、多くの例で中国の関与が指摘される。

　こうした攻撃に自衛権を発動した場合、実力行使の手段をどのように取り、どんな手続きを取るのか。「専守防衛」を掲げる日本は、報復の攻撃力を米軍に依存している。政府は、米国との共同対処を念頭に、外務・防衛当局の日米協議を１１年９月から始めた。

　米国防総省は同年７月に発表した初の「サイバー軍事戦略」で、外国からのサイバー攻撃を「戦争行為」とみなし、軍事報復を辞さない方針を打ち出した。さらに９月、オーストラリアとの間で、サイバー攻撃の際の共同対処方針を決定。

　日本にも「豪州同様のアプローチを構築する機会がほしい」（１０月、パネッタ米国防長官）としており、今後、日米共同対処の枠組み作りが進む見通しだ。ただ、サイバー攻撃を戦争行為とみなすことは、「国際的合意を得ているわけではない」（外務省筋）のが実情だ。欧米諸国では、サイバー空間での行動規範や交戦規則の策定を目指す動きが始まっており、日本政府も関与していく方針だ。
(試譯文)
Against the background that the governments were examining the right of self-defense towards cyber attacks, the U.S. and its ally had deepened their concern over China.

Although the Chinese government denied it, Chinese involvement was pointed out in many examples.
The question was at which moment the right of self-defense could be invoked towards such an attack, and how and what means of force should be used, and what kind of procedure should be taken.
Japan which advocated "exclusively defensive defense" was depending on the US in its offensive retaliation strength. The Japanese government, believing in a joint management with the US, had a US-Japan agreement signed by its foreign affairs and defense authorities that would be effective starting from September 2011.
In its first "Cyber Command strategy" announced in July of the same year, the U.S. Department of Defense considered that the cyber assault from a foreign country an "act of war", and set forth a plan which did not rule out a military retaliation. Furthermore, in September a policy was set up for a joint management plan with Australia in the case of a cyber attack.
Supposedly Japan also " want an opportunity to build the same approach as Australia has" (October, Panetta the U.S. Secretary of Defense), and from now on a framework development for the Japan-U.S. joint management was expected to proceed.
However, in considering that a cyber attack was an act of war, the reality was that "an international agreement has not necessarily been reached" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources). In the Western countries, a motion was started that aimed at making a policy over the code of conduct in the cyberspace and over the rules of engagement; the Japanese government was also planning to get involved.

Cyber space is a new frontier for international competition. I hope it will not lead to a war because of conflicts.

賈慶林評論台灣總統選舉

2011-12-31T19:49:00.001-08:00

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.

日本設定奶類等食物幅射安全標準

2011-12-29T20:03:00.001-08:00

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.

日清食品會推出新杯麵產品

2011-12-26T08:40:00.001-08:00

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.

岩手、宮城、福島縣失業率高企

2011-12-25T09:08:00.001-08:00

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.

日本檢討電力政策

2011-12-24T08:45:00.001-08:00

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.

鈴木充電單車明年初發售

2011-12-23T17:25:00.001-08:00

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.

中國汽車銷售量下跌

2011-12-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

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.

日本人對美國的好感增加

2011-12-21T08:25:00.001-08:00

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.

日元升值影響日本本土製造業

2011-12-19T08:45:00.001-08:00

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.

福島縣捕漁業暫時停止

2011-12-17T09:12:00.001-08:00

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.

美國國務卿探訪緬甸

2011-12-15T08:40:00.001-08:00

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.

今年紅白歌唱大賽有新和舊面孔

2011-12-13T08:39:00.001-08:00

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.

日本演歌(Enka)(下)

2011-12-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

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.

日本演歌(Enka)(上)

2011-12-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

“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

日本發明極薄堅硬透明原材料

2011-12-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

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.

美國科學家發現比太陽重97億倍黑洞

2011-12-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

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.

日本女性皇室成員結婚後可逗留在皇室

2011-12-05T08:30:00.001-08:00

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.

中國東航在日本關西機場違反航空法

2011-12-02T08:54:00.001-08:00

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.

大西洋鮪類保育委員會商討捕魚配額

2011-11-30T08:08:00.001-08:00

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.

日本紅白歌唱大賽隊長

2011-11-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

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.

美國成功試射音速五倍飛行裝置

2011-11-24T08:00:00.001-08:00

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.

東京電力明年有巨大赤字

2011-11-21T08:17:00.001-08:00

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.

太平洋戰略經濟夥伴關係協議(TPP)

2011-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

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.

日本觀光廳向國外遊客派免費機票

2011-11-15T08:02:00.001-08:00

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.

日本食品製造商參加韓國食品展

2011-11-12T08:16:00.001-08:00

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.

日本公司進軍電子書籍市場

2011-11-10T07:58:00.001-08:00

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.

日本超級市場自動檢查食品放射性物質含量

2011-11-08T08:50:00.001-08:00

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.

長崎市和上海市明年有固定海上航班

2011-11-06T10:56:00.001-08:00

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.

第二代日藉美軍獲得美國獎章

2011-11-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

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.

宮城県白石市加強檢查新米放射量

2011-10-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
宮城県白石市で収穫されたコメの「ぬか」から、放射性セシウムが国の暫定基準値を超える１キログラム当たり６６８ベクレル検出され、宮城県では食品などに使わないよう指導することにしています。
宮城県は、原発事故を受けて行った新米の検査で、玄米から国の暫定基準値以下だったものの一定量以上の放射性物質が検出された白石市の旧越河村と気仙沼市の旧津谷町の２か所で、国の指導に基づいて、玄米を精米したときに出る「米ぬか」の放射性物質の調査を行いました。その結果、今月７日に旧越河村で採取した米ぬかから、放射性セシウムが国の暫定基準値の１キログラム当たり５００ベクレルを超える６６８ベクレル検出されました。県では旧越河村の米ぬかについては、食品に使わないよう農家や精米業者などに指導することにしています。また、旧津谷町の米ぬかからは１キログラム当たり３７０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されました。飼料に使える暫定基準値の３００ベクレルを超えたため、県では飼料として使わないよう指導することにしています。宮城県は「米ぬかは玄米の表面にあることから、放射性物質が付きやすかったのではないか」と話しています。宮城県では、２つの地域の玄米はできるだけ地域内で精米するよう要請することにしていて、「県産米の安全性は確保されており、問題ない」と話しています。
(試譯文)
From the "nuka" of the rice harvested in Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi, radioactive cesium at 668 Bq per kg was detected and it exceeded the country's interim standard value; and as a guide for Miyagi prefecture, it could not be used as food etc.
Miyagi Prefecture in response to the nuclear power plant disaster had conducted inspection on new rice; when radioactive material below the country's provisional safety standard was detected in two places: Old Kosugo Village in Shiroishi city and old Tsuya town in Kesennuma, inspection was conducted using the country's guiding standard on the rice bran that came out when brown rice was milled. As a result, in the rice bran extracted from old Kosugo village on the 7th this month, 668 Bq was detected: a radioactive cesium that exceeded the 500 Bq per kg interim standard value of the country. In this prefecture, regarding the rice bran of the old Kosugo village, it was pointed out to farmers and rice-milling contractors etc. that it might not be used as food. Moreover, 370 Bq per kg radioactive cesium was detected in the rice bran of the old Tsuya city. Because it exceeded 300 Bq of the interim standard value which could be used for feed, it was directed that in the prefecture it might not be used as feed. In Miyagi Prefecture there was the saying that "Since rice bran was on the surface of brown rice, wasn't that the radioactive material could attach to it easily?". In Miyagi Prefecture, there was the request that the brown rice of two areas should be milled as far as possible in the area; and it was said that "The safety of the rice in the prefecture is secured and there is no more problems".

It seems that the prefecture is doing what they could so as to regain the confidence of the consumers.

今月初東京世田谷區一些位置有高放射量(下)

2011-10-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:

東京・世田谷区で検出された１時間当たり２．７マイクロシーベルトという放射線量は、文部科学省が積算の放射線量を計算する際に用いている、１日のうち、屋外で８時間、屋内で１６時間過ごすという条件で計算すると、１日の被ばく量が３８．８８マイクロシーベルト、１年間にすると１４．２ミリシーベルトになります。これは国が避難の目安としている年間の放射線量の２０ミリシーベルトを下回っています。計画的避難区域に指定されている福島県の飯舘村役場では、１２日、移動式のモニタリングポストを使って計測された放射線量が１時間当たり２．１マイクロシーベルトで、世田谷区の値はこれよりもやや高くなっています。首都圏では、比較的高い茨城県の北茨城市で、１２日、０．１４マイクロシーベルトが計測されています。放射線影響研究所の長瀧重信元理事長は「文部科学省などによる上空からの測定では、世田谷区では放射線量の高い場所は確認されなかったので、このような値が出たことに驚いている。ただ、地形や天候の関係で局地的に高い線量になることはあり得ると思う。周辺の土壌や草木などから放射性物質の種類を調べたり、どこから放射線が出ているのか調べて原因を突きとめるとともに、ほかにもこうした場所がないか調査する必要がある」と話しています。
(試譯文)
Based on the radiation dosage of of 2.7-micro sievert per hour detected in the Setagaya-district of Tokyo, if it was used to calculate the condition of spending 8 hours outdoor, 16 hours indoor in one day as adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, it was calculated that the radiation dosage of total exposure for one day would be 38.88-micro sievert, and in one year would become a 14.2-mm sievert. This was less than the 20-mm sievert of the annual dose of radiation which the country set in the refuge standard. In the Iitate village office in Fukushima Prefecture that had been specified as the planned refuge zone, the radiation dosage measured using the portable monitoring post on the 12th was 2.1-micro sievert per hour, in comparation Setagya-district had a little higher dosage. In the metropolitan area, on the 12th, 0.14-micro sievert was measured in the comparatively high location of Kita-Ibaraki in Ibaraki Prefecture. Nagataki Shigenobu the former chairman of the board of directors of Radiation Effects Research Foundation said "based on the measurement collected from the sky by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology etc., the high radio-active value came out of Setagaya-district could not be checked. The high radiation dosage that came out was surprising. However, I think that there can be high dosages in certain locations due to the relationship between geographical feature and the weather. While investigating the kind of radioactive material from surrounding soil, plants, etc., or investigating where radiation has come from and tracing the cause, it is also necessary to investigate whether there is any other such place."

So, it is true that some locations in Tokyo are emitting radiation with a dosage higher than expected. For public safety reasons, I hope the local authorities could handle the matter urgently.

今月初東京世田谷區一些位置有高放射量

2011-10-25T08:24:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
今月初め、東京・世田谷区の区道で１時間当たり最大で２．７マイクロシーベルトという高い放射線量が検出され、世田谷区は、この場所に立ち入らないよう呼びかけるとともに今後の除染を検討しています。
高い放射線量が検出されたのは、世田谷区弦巻の区道の歩道の長さおよそ１０メートル、幅およそ１メートルの部分です。世田谷区によりますと、今月３日、区民から「放射線量が高い場所がある」という情報が寄せられたため、区が測定したところ、１時間当たり最大でおよそ２．８マイクロシーベルトと周辺に比べて特に高い放射線が検出されたということです。このため高圧の洗浄器を使って歩道部分の洗浄を行いましたが、放射線量はあまり下がらず、１時間当たり最大で２．７０７マイクロシーベルトが検出されたということです。原因について世田谷区が専門家に聞いたところ、問題の場所は雨水が集まって放射線量が高くなったことが考えられるということです。ただ、今回の測定では地表より高い場所でより高い数値が出るなど、通常あまり見られない結果が出ていることから、世田谷区では原因を詳しく調べることにしています。この区道は小学校の通学路にもなっていることから、区は、１２日朝からこの場所をコーンで囲って立ち入らないよう呼びかけるとともに今後の除染を検討しています。世田谷区は、ことし７月から８月にかけて区内の小中学校や保育園、それに幼稚園で放射線量を測定しており、その際、高い放射線量は検出されていませんでした。世田谷区は、子どもへの影響を重視し、今月下旬から区内の砂場がある２５８か所の公園について調査することにしています。世田谷区環境総合対策室の斉藤洋子室長は「現場は小学校の通学路で、近くには幼稚園や保育園もある。心配する保護者の方がいると思うので、専門家とも相談してできるだけ速やかに除染などの対応をとりたい」と話していました。
(試譯文)
At the beginning of this month, radiation with a dosage as high as up to 2.7-micro sievert per hour was detected at the district roads of Setagaya-district, Tokyo; and while considering future decontamination, appeal was made to stop coming into this location.

It was a portion about 10 meters in length of the sidewalk of district roads of Tsurumaki, Setagaya-district, and it was about 1 meter in width that a high dose of radiation was detected. According to Setagaya-district on the 3rd of this month, information was received from the district residents that "there is a place where the radiation dosage is high", when the district measured it, the high radiation detected was as high as around 2.8-micro sievert per hour and was particularly higher than the surrounding. Although the sidewalk portion was washed using the high-pressure syringe, the dose of radiation barely fell and was as high as 2.707-micro sievert per hour. When Setagaya-district asked a specialist about the cause, it was considered that the place in question had rain water gathered and the dosage of radiation became high. However, as the numerical value measurement came out higher at a place, and higher than surface of the earth etc.; as a rarely seen result had come out, it was said that Setagaya-district would investigate the cause in details. Since this district road was also a school zone of the elementary school, while the district was considering future decontamination, it appealed to enclose this place with cones and denied entry starting from the morning of the 12th.
Setagaya-district had measured the dosage of radiation from July to August this year from the kindergarten to the elementary and junior high schools, and nursery school in the district; at that time a high dose of radiation was not detected. Setagaya-district thought that its influence on children was important, so from the end of this month it would carry out investigation on 258 parks in the district which had a sandy ground. Section Head Yoko Saito of the Setagaya-district environmental comprehensive policy section said that "the spot is a school zone of an elementary school, and nearby there is also a kindergarten and a nursery school. In view of the worrying parents, I would like to consult as soon as possible with a specialist and to action to respond to decontamination etc.
(to be continued)

三洋電機

2011-10-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
三洋電機の洗濯機などの事業を買収する中国の大手家電メーカー「ハイアール」は、三洋電機の商品ブランドを使った製品を来年１月から日本で販売することになりました。
中国の大手家電メーカー「ハイアール」は、パナソニックから子会社の三洋電機が手がける洗濯機と冷蔵庫の事業のうち、日本と東南アジアの拠点を買収することで１８日にも最終合意する見通しです。これを受けてハイアールは、現在三洋電機が製造している洗濯機と冷蔵庫については、三洋電機の「アクア」という商品ブランドをそのまま使って、来年１月から日本で販売することにしたものです。また、東南アジアでは「ＳＡＮＹＯ」のブランドを使って冷蔵庫などの家電製品を販売することにしていて、中国メーカーが日本メーカーのブランドを使って事業の拡大を図る動きとして注目されます。
(試譯文)
The Chinese major home electronics maker "Haier" which had purchased the enterprise of the washing machine etc from SANYO Electric would sell the product using the goods brand of SANYO Electric as from January next year in Japan.
The Chinese major home electronics maker "Haier" was expected to complete the final agreement on the 18th with Sanyo Electric, the subsidiary of Panasonic, in purchasing the bases in Japan and Southeast Asia regarding the enterprise producing washing machines and refrigerators. As a result, Haier would from January next year sell in Japan the washing machines and refrigerators which SANYO Electric was manufacturing now, using the goods brand "Aqua" of SANYO Electric as it had been. Moreover, in Southeast Asia, home electronics such as refrigerators would be sold using the brand name "SANYO"; and it was observed as a move that the China maker was aiming at enterprise expansion using a Japanese maker's brand.

So in future the brand name Sanyo could have reduced connection with Japan.

日本退休金和福利金將會減少

2011-10-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
　厚生労働省の社会保障審議会（厚労相の諮問機関）の年金部会は１１日、厚生年金の支給開始年齢を将来的に６８～７０歳に引き上げるための議論を本格的にスタートさせ、三つの案を提示した。
　同省は、年内の改革案取りまとめを目指す。
　厚生年金の支給は、男性は２０２５年度まで、女性は３０年度までに、それぞれ６０歳から段階的に６５歳まで引き上げ、基礎年金と合わせることがすでに決まっている。
　だが、厚労省は、少子高齢化の急速な進展や、国民の平均寿命の伸びを念頭に、年金財政の安定化のためには年金支給開始年齢の一層の引き上げの検討に入る必要があると判断した。
(試譯文)
On the 11th, the pension department's meeting of the Social Security Council (a consultative body of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare) of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare formally started the discussion on increasing the eligibility age for payments of welfare pension to 68 - 70 years old in the future, and presented three proposals.
The said ministry aimed at the finalization of the reform bill before the year end.
Regarding the provision of the welfare pension, it would be pulled up to 65 years old. For the men it would be pulled up till the 2025 fiscal year, for the women it would be pulled up gradually until 2030 fiscal year, respectively; and it was already decided to unite it with the basic pension.
But, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, bearing in mind the low birth rate and growth of national life expectancy, further judged that it was necessary to raise the pensionable age so as to stabilize the financing scheme.

It seems that the welfare payment in Japan would be shrinking gradually in the coming years.

三十萬多福島居民會受終身甲状腺檢查追蹤

2011-10-21T07:54:00.001-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
福島県は９日、東京電力福島第１原発事故に伴う県民健康管理調査の一環として、今年４月１日時点で１８歳以下の子供全員の甲状腺検査を福島市の県立医大病院で始めた。約３６万人を対象に生涯にわたって甲状腺をチェックする世界でも類を見ない調査となる。
　検査は１人５分程度で超音波を使い、複数の医師で診断し、結果は約１カ月後に通知。病変の恐れがあれば後日、採血や尿検査、細胞を採取する詳細検査を行う。初日は飯舘村と浪江町、川俣町山木屋地区の１４４人が検査を受け、２２人は県外の避難先から。１４年３月までに県内を一巡、その後は２年ごと、２０歳を超えると５年ごとに検査する。
　飯舘村から川俣町に避難している主婦、荒ちどりさん（４３）は５～１１歳の男の子４人を連れ来院。検査後、無邪気にはしゃぎ回る姿を見つめながら「なぜこんなことに」とやり切れない様子。マスク姿の高校１年の女子生徒（１６）も飯舘村から川俣町に避難。不満そうに「もっと早く検査してほしかった」。将来子供を産むことなどを考えて一人で思い悩むこともあるという。
　浪江町の主婦、小松きく江さん（３８）は小学生の一人息子（７）を連れ避難先の前橋市から訪れた。「４、５年先が心配。心は福島にあるけど、線量が高いので帰ろうとは思えない」と複雑な表情。１１カ月の男の子を抱き来院した主婦、高橋美幸さん（３４）は「少し安心した」と笑顔を見せながら「できる限りいろいろな検査をしてほしい」と訴えた。
(試譯文)
On the 9th, Fukushima Prefecture began the thyroid inspection on all children aged 18 and below as of April l this year in the prefecture medical college hospital in Fukushima; this was part of the people-of-the-prefecture health-care-administration investigation connected to the Number One nuclear power plant disaster of Tokyo Electric Power in Fukushima. It became an unprecedented investigation in the world which would check the thyroid gland covering the whole life for about 360,000 people.

The inspection would use ultrasonic wave for about 5 minutes, and diagnose it by two or more doctors, and notify the result in about one month. If there was a fear of pathological changes, blood collection, urinalysis, and detailed inspection that extracted cells would be conducted later. As for the first day, 144 people in Iitate-mura, Namie-cho, and the Yamakiya of Kawamatamachi area underwent the checking, 22 people were from refuge centers outside the prefecture. A full round would be completed within the prefecture by March 2014; thereafter inspection would be conducted every two years, and for those exceeding 20 years old, they would be checked once every five years.
A housewife Ms. Arichidori (43) from Iitate-maru taking up refuge in Kawamatamachi was accompanied by four boys aged 5 - 11-year-old when visited the hospital. After the inspection, it appeared that she could not help but pondering “why this has happened” while she was looking at the romping innocent children. Wearing a mask, a female student (16) at the tenth grade who took refuge in Kawamatamachi from Iitate-mura said in a dis-satisfied manner that "I hoped to have the inspection earlier". And it was said that to consider bearing a child in the future etc. would be privately a worrying matter.
A housewife Ms. Kikue Komatsu (38) of Namie-cho, accompanied by her son (7) who was in the primary school, made the visit from Maebashi where she took refuge. Showing complicated emotion she said that "Four to five years into the future is worrying. Although my heart is with Fukushima, I cannot think of returning because the radiation dosage is high."
A housewife Ms. Miyuki Takahashi (34) who was holding a 11-month-old boy when she visited the hospital, showed a smiling face as if "feeling a little bit easier", and insisted that "I want to receive different kinds of checking if possible".

To follow up on the condition of 360,000 people is a huge medical project. As the only country that has suffered from the atomic bombing twice, Japan should have the experience in dealing with the challenges ahead.

馬英九考慮未來十年與大陸達成和平協議

2011-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
来年１月の台湾総統選挙で再選を目指す馬英九総統は「今後１０年の間に、台湾海峡両岸の平和協定の締結交渉を行うかどうか考慮する」と述べて、中国との平和協定に前向きになったともとれる姿勢を示し、選挙戦への影響が注目されます。
これは１７日、馬英九総統が、向こう１０年間の政策ビジョンを発表する記者会見で言及したものです。この中で馬総統は、対中国政策について「政治より経済を優先するが、将来の政治対話を排除するわけではなく、平和協定も当然その中に含まれる」と述べました。そのうえで「台湾海峡両岸の関係が、順序を踏んで徐々に前進していくなかで、今後１０年の間に平和協定の締結交渉を行うかどうか慎重に考慮していく」と述べ、中国との平和協定に前向きになったともとれる姿勢を示しました。馬総統は、交渉入りには、あくまで住民が強く支持することや、国会に当たる立法院の監督を受けることなど、３つの条件が必要だと強調しましたが、一方で「１０年ビジョンの中に入れなければ、あたかも１０年間はやりたくないみたいになり、よくない気がする」とも述べました。来年１月の総統選挙では、中国との距離の取り方が最大の争点になるとみられ、今回の馬総統の発言が選挙戦にどう影響するか注目されます。
(試譯文)
President Ma Yinjiu who was aiming at the re-election in the Taiwan presidential election in January next year said that "He will take into consideration in the coming ten years to negotiate for the conclusion of a peace agreement for both sides of the Taiwan strait ", it was a posture which could be taken as showing positive direction towards a peace agreement with China, and attracted attention regarding its influence on the election campaign.

The declaration was make on the 17th at the press conference as President Ma Yingjiu announced the direction of his next ten-years' policy vision. In it, President Ma, regarding the policy towards China, said that "Although priority is given to economy over politics, it is not necessary that a future political dialogue would be eliminated, and naturally a peace agreement is also included". It was further said that "on the relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan strait, orderly steps would be taken to move it forward gradually; and in the coming 10 years consideration would be taken carefully on whether to carry out negotiation to conclude a peace agreement", taking a posture which could be regarded as having positive effects towards a peace agreement with China.
Although it was emphasized that President Ma needed three conditions, such as that the strong and lasting support from the residents, and receiving the supervision of the legislative organization which was the equivalent of the Parliament in order to enter negotiations. On the other hand, it was stated that "If it is not put in the 10-year vision, it will look like that I will not do it within 10 years, I feel it is not right". In the presidential election in January next year, it was expected that how to keep a distance with China could become the greatest point at issue. How President Ma's remark would influence the electoral campaign would attract attention.

As always, Taiwan's relationship with China has been a hot topic in the presidential election in Taiwan.

日本消費税率會超過10%

2011-10-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
五十嵐文彦財務副大臣は１１日、ＣＳ放送の日経ＣＮＢＣの番組で、消費税率について自身の試算を紹介し、中長期的には「１７％くらい必要になるのではないか」と述べた。
　政府・与党は２０１０年代半ばまでに１０％に引き上げる案をまとめたが、五十嵐氏は「経済成長も同時に考え、色々な手段を取らないといけない」として一段の引き上げが必要だとの認識を示した。
　政府・与党は、１０％への引き上げで社会保障費の増大に備える構えだが、五十嵐氏は、国と地方の基礎的財政収支（プライマリーバランス）の黒字化には１０％では不可能だと強調した。
(試譯文)
In a program about Japanese economy on CNBC of CS broadcasting, Fumihiko Igarashi the financial deputy minister introduced his own trial calculation about the consumption tax rate, and said on the 11th that on a mid- and long-term basis, "Isn't it that about 17% would be needed?"
Although the government and the ruling parties had gotten into consensus to pull up to 10% by the middle of the 2010, Mr. Igarashi showed his recognition on the needs to further raise it "as one of the various necessary means to be taken, having considered the economic growth simultaneously."
Although the government and the ruling parties showed an intention to prepare for the increase of social security fee by raising it to 10%, Mr. Igarashi emphasized that 10% was impossible to achieve surplus in balancing the basic finance in the country and the rural areas.

Obviously the consumption tax rate in Japan would be increased gradually beyond 10%.

國際原子能組織到達福島視察除輻射工作

2011-10-14T08:20:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
放射性物質を取り除く「除染」について助言するため、９日から福島県を訪れているＩＡＥＡ＝国際原子力機関の調査団は１０日、村全域が計画的避難区域に指定されている飯舘村で、国が行う農地の除染実験などを視察しました。
原子力などの専門家１２人からなるＩＡＥＡの調査団は、放射性物質の効果的な除染方法などについて助言するため来日し、９日から福島県を訪れています。１０日は、自治体が独自に除染作業を行った小学校などを視察したあと、村全域が計画的避難区域に指定され、国が実験を行っている飯舘村を視察しました。このうち水田の実験現場では、国側は表面の土を４センチ取り除いた結果、土壌に含まれる放射性物質の濃度が１キロ当たりおよそ１万ベクレルから４分の１ほどに減ったことや、栽培したコメからは、玄米の状態で土壌の１０００分の１程度にとどまったと説明しました。これに対し、調査団のメンバーは「問題のない低いレベルだ」と答えていました。また、調査団は、放射性物質が含まれる植物を「熱分解」という比較的低い４００度で処理する現場を視察しました。調査団は１１日まで福島県に滞在し、１１日は、福島県の佐藤知事と会談する予定です。

現地を視察したあと、調査団のレンティッホ団長は、「除染は最適な方法で行わなければならず、そのためにはできるかぎり多くのデータが必要だ。視察して非常に興味深い情報を得ることができたので、今後、さまざまな関係者と専門的な議論を深め、調査団の目的を達成したい」と話していました。
(試譯文)
In order to give advice on the "decontamination" work of removing radioactive material, the investigating commission of the IAEA= International Atomic Energy Agency which visited Fukushima Prefecture starting from the 9th, on the 10th at Iitate-mura where the village had the whole region specified as the planned refuge zone, the Agency inspected the decontamination experiment of farmland etc. conducted by the country.
The investigating commission of IAEA which consisted of 12 specialists, such as atomic power, arrived at Japan in order to advise on the effective method to decontaminate the radioactive material etc. visited Fukushima Prefecture from the 9th.
On the 10th after inspecting self-governing bodies, an elementary school etc. which did decontamination work independently, they inspected Iitate-mura, the village with whole region specified as the planned refuge zone and where the country was doing the experiment.
Among these, at the experimental spot of the paddy field, as a result of removing 4 cm of the surface soil by the country, the concentration of radioactive material decreased from about 10,000 Bq per km to about 1/4; and regarding the rice cultivation, it showed that the soil condition of brown rice stabilized at about 1 in 1000 in the concentration.
On the other hand, the investigating commission's member had replied that "It is a satisfactory low level." Moreover, the investigating commission inspected the spot which processed the plant that contained radioactive material using "thermal decomposition" at a comparatively low 400 degrees.The investigating commission would stay in Fukushima Prefecture till the 11th, and would confer with Governor Sato of Fukushima Prefecture on the 11th.
After inspecting the area, the investigating commission chief Rentitsuho said " there is no other ways but to carry out the decontamination by the most suitable method, and for that purpose, many data are required. Because after the inspection, it is able to acquire very interesting information, from now on, I would like to deepen professional discussion with different people concerned, and hope to achieve the goal of the investigating commission".

It seems that the International Atomic Energy Agency is working hard in helping Japan's farmers to recover from the disaster.

横濱舉行一年一度大型爵士音樂會

2011-10-11T09:01:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
戦後多くのジャズバンドが生まれ育った横浜で、３０００人近いミュージシャンが参加して街角やクラブなどさまざまな場所で演奏を披露する「横濱ジャズプロムナード」が開幕しました。
「横濱ジャズプロムナード」は、まち全体でジャズを楽しもうと１８年前から毎年横浜市で開かれている国内最大級のジャズの催しです。ことしは、広場やホール、ジャズクラブなど４８会場で演奏が行われ、このうち横浜市西区みなとみらいの広場では、大勢の市民や観光客が集まるなか、小学生から社会人までの６つのアマチュアのバンドが登場しました。会場ではなじみのある有名な楽曲がかわるがわる演奏され、観客たちは演奏に合わせて足でリズムを取ったり手拍子をしたりして、ステージを楽しんでいました。家族連れで訪れた３０代の女性は「街角でジャズが聞ける雰囲気が大好きで来ました。演奏も上手で私もあんな風に弾けたらなと思います」と話していました。横濱ジャズプロムナードは９日まで開催され、東日本大震災で被災した宮城県気仙沼市の小中学生も参加して、２日間で３０００人近いミュージシャンが演奏を披露することになっています。
(試譯文)
In Yokohama where many jazz bands were born and grew up in the postwar period, the "Yokohama jazz promenade" which announced the performances by nearly 3000 participating musicians at various places, such as a street corner and in a club was declared opened.
The "Yokohama jazz promenade" was an event that had the greatest jazz domestically and was opened every year in Yokohama since 18 years ago in order thal all could enjoy jazz. This year performances were held at 48 venues, such as open areas, halls, jazz clubs; among them, many citizens and tourists gathered in the open space in Minatomirai, Nishi district, Yokohama city where six amateur bands with membership from schoolchildren to members of society showed up. At the hall, famous and familiar musical pieces were performed in turn, and spectators took the rhythm on foot according to the performance, or did the hand clapping, and were enjoying the performances. A woman in her 30s who visited with the company of her family members said "it is a lovely atmosphere that one can hear jazz at the street corners. By looking at someone whose performance is also good, I wish I could play the musical instrument as good". The Yokohama jazz promenade was held till the 9th, and it announced the performances in the two days done by the nearly 3000 musicians. The elementary and junior high school students of Kesennuma city, Miyagi which had been stricken by the East Japan great earthquake would also participate.

This jazz carnival must have attracted a lot of visitors, both from the local communities and from abroad.

俄國積極發展北方四島

2011-10-08T08:29:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
ロシア政府で北方四島の開発を担当している地域発展省の高官は、２０１５年までの北方四島などの開発費用を大幅に増額する考えを表明し、来年の大統領選挙のあとも引き続き、北方四島をロシアの領土として積極的に開発していく姿勢を示したものとみられます。
これはロシア地域発展省のパノフ次官が、４日、ロシア極東のハバロフスクで発言したものです。この中で、パノフ次官は北方四島などのインフラ整備の予算として、２０１５年までに１０５億ルーブル（日本円で２４０億円余り）を追加拠出する考えを表明しました。ロシア政府は、２００７年から２０１５年までの８年間で北方四島などの港湾施設や空港、それに道路といったインフラを集中的に開発する事業を進めており、今回の追加拠出が実現すれば、開発予算の総額は７００億円を超えることになります。ロシアでは、来年３月の大統領選挙に向けてプーチン首相が立候補する考えを表明し、当選が確実との見方が広がっていて、今回のパノフ次官の発言は政権が変わってもロシア政府が引き続き、北方四島の開発に積極的に取り組んでいく姿勢を示したものとみられます。
(試譯文)
Inside the Russia government, the senior official of the ministry that was responsible for the local development of the four islands off Hokkaido had expressed the idea of increasing sharply the exploration expenditure up to 2015 for the four islands off Hokkaido etc; and would continue it after the presidential election next year, showing a positive posture regarding the development of four islands off Hokkaido as a territory of Russia.

This was what had been said on the 4th in Khabarovsk of Russian Far East by the Russia's Vice-Minister Panoff of the ministry responsible for area development. In this, Vice-Minister Panoff expressed the idea to assign an additional amount of 10,500 million rubles (it would be a little more than 24 billion yen in the Japanese yen) by 2015 as the budget for infrastructure construction, for example in the four islands off Hokkaido. The Russia government for eight years from 2007 to 2015 had been advancing the enterprise in the four island off Hokkaido etc. of developing harbor facilities and airports, and in it, the collective development of road and infrastructure linkage; if this additional provision was realized, the total amount of development budget would exceed 70 billion yen. In Russia, the expressed idea was that Prime Minister Putin would stand as a candidate for the presidential election in March next year; the view that believing in his success in the election was wide spread. The remarks by Vice-Minister Panoff this time was regarded as to show the posture that the Russia government would positively continue to tackle the development of the four islands off Hokkaido, even if there were changes in the political power.

Like it or not, Japan has to face the reality that Russia is controlling and developing the four islands.

台灣加強宣傳保釣意識

2011-10-06T07:48:00.001-07:00

Recently the Mainich News reported the following:
台湾総統府直属の国家安全会議が６月、尖閣諸島（沖縄県）に対する台湾の領有権意識を高める教育・宣伝活動を強化するため、台湾の民間団体「中華保釣（尖閣防衛）協会」に補助金６０万台湾ドル（約１５０万円）の提供を承諾したことが分かった。中華保釣協会は尖閣諸島への上陸を目指して出航を繰り返し、昨年も日本の排他的経済水域に入るなど挑発行為を続けており、台湾当局に対する日本側の不信感が高まりそうだ。
　野党・民進党の立法委員（国会議員）が９月２６日に公表した国家安全会議の資料によると、補助金は「正確な」台湾と尖閣諸島の関係を宣伝するためのもの。中華保釣協会の「長期支援制度」を創設することも規定した。協会のほか、教育部（教育省）や大学などに計３１５万台湾ドル（約８００万円）を提供することも決めた。
　国家安全会議が承諾した時期は、尖閣諸島が沖縄県の一部とされた日米の沖縄返還協定調印から４０年の記念日（６月１７日）で、中華保釣協会などが活動を活発化させるとみられていた。
(試譯文)
It was understood that in June during a national security meeting which was directly under the control of the Taiwan Presidential Office, in order to strengthen campaigns that aimed at raising the sovereignty consciousness of the Taiwanese toward the Senkaku Islands (Okinawa Prefecture) , it had agreed to offer 600,000 Taiwan dollar (about 1,500,000 yen) as subsidy to a private enterprise the "Chinese Bao Diao (Defense Senkaku) Association" of Taiwan. The Chinese Bao Diao Association had repeatedly making trips aiming at landing on the Senkaku Islands, and also continued the provocative action such as going into the exclusive economic zone of Japan last year; the distrust of Japan towards the Taiwan authorities was likely to increase.

According to the data of the national security meeting which the legislative official (Diet member) of the opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party released on September 26, the subsidy was a means to promote the "correct" relationship of Taiwan towards the Senkaku Islands. The meeting also decided on setting up a "long-term support system" within the Chinese Bao Diao Association. It also decided to provide the Ministry of Education (Department of Education) and universities etc. a total of 3,150,000 Taiwan dollars (about 8 million yen).
The timing of this national security meeting during which the promise was made was the 40th years of memorial day (June 17) that Japan and the US signed the Agreement for the Return of Okinawa, with the Senkaku Islands as part of the Okinawa Prefecture; it was expected to activate the activities of Chinese Bao Diao Association etc.

It seems that the current Taiwan government is taking a more active stance over the Senkaku Islands disputes.

民進党蔡英文主席訪問日本

2011-10-03T07:55:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:

２０１２年１月の台湾総統選挙に野党・民進党候補として出馬する蔡英文主席が３日から３日間の日程で日本を訪問する。
　蔡氏は訪日を前に台北市内の党本部で日本メディアと会見し、「国際社会の枠組み」を重視しつつ、「中国との交流を図りたい」との考えを強調した。その上で、「日米安保がその枠組みの一つ」と述べ、日米との関係強化を重視する立場を示した。
　蔡氏は日本滞在中、国会議員らと面会するほか、記者会見も行う。今回の訪日には、馬英九総統の対中融和策が国際的評価を受ける中、対中交流に積極的な姿勢を内外にアピールするとともに、安定した対日関係を構築し、親日感情の強い本省人（台湾出身者）の支持を固める狙いがある。
　会見で蔡氏は、日本の尖閣諸島に対して中台が領有権を主張していることについて、「平和的かつ理性的な手段で処理する。最も重要なのは、台湾と日本の意思疎通と相互信頼だ」と語った。これは、馬政権が０８年、尖閣諸島を目指した台湾の抗議船に巡視船を同行させ、日台関係がギクシャクしたことを意識したものだ。蔡氏は、尖閣の領有権主張で「中国とは連携しない」と明言した。
(試譯文)
Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Cai Yingwen who would run for the Taiwan presidential election in January 2012, as the opposition party candidate visited Japan for three days starting from the 3rd.
In the party headquarerts in Taipei, Cai had an interview with Japanese media before visiting Japan, and she emphasized the thought of "wishing to aim at exchanging with China" while at the same time regarded "the international society networks" as important. Furthermore it was said that "Japan-U.S. security is one of the networks", and showed the viewpoint of thinking that to strengthen ties with Japan was important.
During her stay in Japan, Cai would meet with Diet members, and would also hold a press conference. While President Ma Ying-jeou's reconciliation policy was receiving international evaluation, in this visit, on top of appealing to insiders and people abroad for a positive posture of exchanging with China, there was the aim to build a stable relationship with Japan, and to harden the support of the native Chinese of Taiwan (Taiwan native people) who all along had a strong pro-Japanese feeling.
At the interview, regarding Japan's Senkau Island which both China and Taiwan had asserted sovereignty, Cai said "would process it by peaceful and reasonable means. The communication and mutual trust between Taiwan and Japan are the most important."
Accompanying the patrol vessel sent by the Ma administration in 2008 that expressed Taiwan's protest aiming at the Senkaku Islands, she noted the souring relationship with Japan. Cai declared that she "would not cooperate with China" on matters regarding the territorial claim over Senkaku.

Cai is building up her international image through this trip to Japan.

日本與菲律賓加強海上安全合作

2011-09-30T08:06:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
野田総理大臣は、日本を訪れているフィリピンのアキノ大統領と会談し、中国の海洋進出を念頭に、両国が連携を強化して海上防衛に当たっていくことで一致しました。
野田総理大臣とフィリピンのアキノ大統領は、２７日夜、総理大臣官邸で会談し、そのあと、そろって記者会見に臨みました。この中で、野田総理大臣は「フィリピンと日本は、基本的な価値観や戦略的利益を共有している。両国の関係を戦略的パートナーシップと位置づけられたことは、大きな成果だ」と述べました。また、アキノ大統領は「双方は、海洋国家として、海上の安全保障について協力していくことを確認した」と述べ、両国が連携を強化して海上防衛に当たっていくことで一致したことを明らかにしました。両首脳が署名した「戦略的パートナーシップ」の共同声明では、海上保安庁の巡視船をフィリピンに派遣するなど両国の海上保安機関が協力することや、海上自衛隊の幕僚長とフィリピンの海軍司令官が相互に訪問するなど防衛当局間の連携の強化が盛り込まれています。日本が海上防衛の連携強化の共同声明をまとめたのはアジア諸国の中ではフィリピンが初めてで、背景には南シナ海や東シナ海で海洋活動を活発化させている中国の動きをけん制するねらいがあるものとみられます。
(試譯文)
Prime Minister Noda conferred with President Aquino of the Philippines who was visiting Japan, bearing in mind China's sea advancement, both countries were in agreement to focus on strengthening their cooperation in marine defense.
Prime Minister Noda and President Aquino of the Philippines talked together in the Prime Minister official residence on the night of 27th, and they held the press conference together after their discussion. In this, Prime Minister Noda said that "The Philippines and Japan are sharing a fundamental sense of values and strategic interest. It is a big success to regard the relation of both countries as strategic partnership." Moreover, President Aquino said "Both sides would cooperate over marine security as both are maritime states", it was clearly shown that both countries would strengthen cooperation and were in agreement to focus on marine defense. In the "strategic partnership" join statement which both leaders had signed, reinforcement of cooperation between the defense authorities was included. It covered cooperation of the marine security organizations of both countries, such as dispatching Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel to the Philippines, and the mutual visit of chief of staff of the Maritime Self Defense Force and the naval commander of the Philippines etc.
It was the Philippines that Japan made a start to tie itself to the joint cooperation statement with Asian nations to strengthen marine defense. As for its background, it could be seen as having the aim of checking the movement of China, who had activated its sea activity in South China Sea and the East China Sea.

It seems that the Philippines is looking for military co-operation with other countries in Asia so as to withstand the pressure from China.

日本將會檢查酒類有否放射性物質

2011-09-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

Recently the Mainich News reported the following:
国税庁は２６日、１０月から酒類の放射性物質に関する調査を実施すると発表した。震災後に収穫された農作物を使った酒造りが秋以降に始まるのを機に、安全性を確認するのが狙い。
　調査は地域をＡ、Ｂ、Ｃの三つに分けて行い、Ａは福島第１原発から１５０キロ以内の全製造場が対象。ＢはＡに含まれない１７都県（福島、茨城、栃木、群馬、千葉、神奈川、宮城、岩手、青森、秋田、山形、新潟、長野、埼玉、東京、山梨、静岡）の製造場の約４割、Ｃはその他の道府県の製造場の約２割を、それぞれ無作為に抽出する。全国約３０００の製造免許を持つ製造場のうち、約３分の１が対象になる見込み。
　また、品目によって製造される時期が異なることを考慮し、１０月は果実酒、１１月～来年１月は清酒、来年２月はビールなど果実酒・清酒以外の酒類を調査する。
　調査結果は国税庁のホームページで定期的に公表するほか、国内流通食品の指導機関である地方公共団体にも提供する。
(試譯文)
The National Tax Agency announced on the 26th that it would conduct investigation on the radioactive material in liquor starting from October.
It used the beginning of autumn as the opportunity. It was the time to brew using the agricultural products harvested after the earthquake disaster; the aim was to ensure safety.
The area that investigation would be performed was divided into three: A, B, and C; as for A, all the producing area that was less than 150-km from the number one nuclear power plant of the Fukushima plant would be the target. B was about 40 percent of the producing locations in the 17 cities and prefectures (Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gumma, Chiba, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Shizuoka) which were not covered in A. As for C, about twenty percent of the producing locations in all the remaining prefectures would be picked at random. It was foreseen that of the some 3000 licenced manufacturing locations in the whole country, about 1/3 would be the target.
Moreover, in consideration of the fact that the manufacturing time for individual item would differ, in October fruit wine would be investigated, from November to January next year it would be Japanese sake; starting from February next year it would be beer etc, excluding fruit wine and Japanese sake.
The results of the investigation would be periodically released in the homepage of the National Tax Agency; it would also be provided to the local municipal units that had domestic circulation food guiding organization.

Japan is trying to ensure that their wine product is safe. This is a necessary step to take in order to revive consumer's confidence both at home and abroad.

日本酒店業生意下降

2011-09-24T08:37:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
　旅館やホテルなど宿泊業の倒産件数が、東日本大震災後に倍増したことが、東京商工リサーチが１５日に発表した調査結果で分かった。

　震災後の４～８月の倒産件数は７４件で、前年同期の３５件の２倍を超えた。震災後の自粛ムードや訪日外国人の急減で、宿泊客が減ったことが響いた。
　今年１～８月の累計も、前年同期比６３％増の１０３件に達し、前年の年間倒産件数と並んだ。同社は「平成時代になって以降、最多だった２００８年の１４５件に迫る勢い」とみている。
　１～８月の負債総額は、同９６％増の８６０億２０００万円となった。
　都道府県別では、長野（１２件）が最も多く、北海道（７件）、東京、静岡（ともに６件）と続いた。
(試譯文)
The result of an investigation done by the Tokyo Shoko Research released on the 15th showed that the number of bankruptcy in the lodging industry, such as inn and hotel, had doubled after the East Japan great earthquake.
The bankruptcy number in April to August after the earthquake disaster was 74 cases, and it had twice exceeded the 35 cases of the corresponding period last year.
The decrease in the number of visitors was due to the self-discipline mood after the earthquake disaster, and the rapid decrease in foreigner visitors to Japan, all had the effect in reducing the number of visitors.
The total this year from January to August amounted to 103 cases, it was an increase of 63% compared with the corresponding period last year; and it was the same as the annual total bankruptcy number in the previous year.
The companies regarded it as "having a situation which approaches 145 cases in 2008 which is the highest number after the coming of the Heisei age." The total liabilities from January to August reached 86,020 million yen, an increase of 96%. In all prefectures separately, the highest was in Nagano (12 cases), followed by Hokkaido (seven cases), Tokyo, and Shizuoka (both six cases).

In view of the poor economic situation in Japan, a drop in hotel business in within the expectation.

福島農地除去放射性物質實驗有結果

2011-09-21T08:15:00.001-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
　農林水産省は１４日、福島県飯舘村などで５月から行っていた農地の放射性物質を除去する実証実験結果を発表した。農地の表面を３～４センチ削った場合はセシウムを７～９割減らせることが確認された。一方、放射性物質を取り込みやすいとされるヒマワリを植えてセシウムを吸収させる実験は効果が小さく、同省は「現時点での実用化は困難」とした。
　同省によると、５月に飯舘村で植えたヒマワリが吸収していたセシウムは１キロ当たり５２ベクレル程度。１平方メートル当たりで１０キロのヒマワリが育つとすると、現地の土壌中にあるセシウムのうち約２０００分の１しか吸収できていない計算になるという。
　一方で、表面４センチを削った農地では１キロ当たり１万３７０ベクレルから２５９９ベクレルまで減少。薬剤で土を固めてから表面（３センチ）をはぎ取ったり、芝や牧草がある農地で網目状に張った根ごと表面（同）をはぎ取るなど工夫すると８２～９７％も減った。
　ただし、これらの方式では１０アール当たり３０～４０トンの廃棄土砂が出る見込み。１キロ当たり５０００ベクレルを超える農地は福島県内に約８３００ヘクタールあると推計され、土砂は単純計算で約３５０万トン（東京ドーム２個分）に上り、処理方法が大きな課題となる。
(試譯文)
On the 14th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries released the actual proof of the experimental result on the removal of the radioactive material from the farmland, it was being performed since May in Iitate-mura of Fukushima and other locations.
When 3 to 4 cm of the surface of the farmland was removed, it was confirmed that the cesium could be reduced by 70-90 percent. On the other hand, the experiment on planting the sunflower which supposedly could easily taking in radioactive material and absorbing cesium, it had little effect, and the ministry supposedly said that "at this time it is difficult to have practical use."
According to the said ministry, the amount of cesium which the sunflower planted in Iitate-mura in May was absorbing was about 52 Bq per kilo. Supposed 10 kilo of sunflower were grown per square meter, it was said that the calculation showed that it could absorb only about 1/2000 of cesium existing inside the soil. On the other hand, in the farmland with 4 cm of surface removed, it decreases from 10,370 Bq per kilo to 2599 Bq. While stripping off the surface (3 cm) after hardening the ground with medicine, at the same time did the preparation work of removing the whole root that stretched in the shape of net meshes as seen in farmland that had pasture or grass, cesium decreased by no less than 82 to 97%.
However, by this method, for each 10 ares 30-40 tons of wasted earth would come out. If to estimate that in Fukushima there was about 8300 ha. of farmland with over 5000 Bq per km, then by simple calculation, the earth would go up to about 3,500,000 tons (two TOKYO DOME), and the method to dispose it would become a big subject.

It seems that to remove the top soil is the only way out.

日本希望中國持續出口稀土

2011-09-18T17:50:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
日中経済協会訪中団の張富士夫団長（トヨタ自動車会長）と最高顧問の米倉弘昌経団連会長らは６日、中国の李克強筆頭副首相と会談した。
　張団長はハイテク製品に不可欠なレアアース（希土類）の中国側の供給削減に懸念を示し、「適切な解決を期待する」と改善を求めた。李副首相は「レアアースの利用で両国企業の協力を期待する」と述べ、日本側に技術協力を要請した。
　李副首相は「日本はレアアースの開発と利用で優れた技術を持っている」とも指摘した。中国側は安定供給の見返りとして、レアアースを使う製品の現地生産も求めており、日本側にとってはレアアースを確保できる代わりに技術流出の懸念もあるため、難しい判断を迫られそうだ。
(試譯文)
Group leader Fujio Cho (Chairman of the Toyota Motor) of the China visiting group of the Japan-China Association of Economy and Trade, together with the supreme advisor, the chairman of the Federation of Economic Organization Hiromasa Yonekura and others conferred with Li Keqiang, China's chief deputy prime minister on the 6th.
Group leader Cho expressed concern over the reduction in China's supply in reaa-su (rare earth) which was indispensable to the high-tech production, and he "expects suitable solution"and asked for improvement. Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "He expects cooperation in both country's companies on the use of the rare earth", and he requested technical cooperation from the Japan side.
Deputy Prime Minister Lee pointed out that "Japan has the excellent technology in the development and use of the rare earth." In return for the stable supply, China side was asking for local production of products that used rare earth. For the Japan side, in return for the guarantee of a steady supply of the rare earth there would be a risk of technical outflow; it was facing a decision likely to be difficult.

Obviously, it is a tough decision for the Japanese companies to make.

七十年代釣魚台歸還日本有關美國文件曝光

2011-09-15T08:31:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
沖縄県の尖閣諸島沖で起きた中国漁船の衝突事件から１年がたちました。その尖閣諸島が、４０年近く前、アメリカの統治下にあった当時、アメリカ政府内で日本への返還に反対する意見が一部で出ていたものの、最終的にニクソン大統領自身の決断で返還が決まった経緯が、アメリカの外交文書から明らかになりました。
尖閣諸島は、第２次世界大戦後、沖縄の一部としてアメリカの統治下に入り、１９７２年の沖縄返還で日本に施政権が返還されました。返還を前に、当時、アメリカと国交があった台湾が、日本への返還に強く反対してアメリカ政府に働きかけ、アメリカ政府内でも、台湾への配慮に加えて、日米間で懸案だった繊維交渉で日本に譲歩を促す際の交渉材料にするためにも、直ちに日本に返還すべきでないという意見が一部で出されていました。これに対し、駐日大使を務め、知日派として知られていた当時のジョンソン国務次官が、日本への返還を強く主張していたことを示す機密文書がアメリカで見つかりました。ジョンソン氏は１９７１年に尖閣諸島に関する年表をまとめ、「台湾もかつては尖閣諸島が沖縄に含まれていたことを認めていた」と指摘したうえで、「台湾は天然資源確保のために領有権の主張を強めている」との見方を示しています。そして、この年表をもとに当時のニクソン大統領とキッシンジャー国家安全保障担当補佐官が協議した結果、大統領自身が日本への返還を決断したということです。これについて、外交文書を調査した、名古屋大学特任教授で日米関係が専門の春名幹男氏は「尖閣諸島を巡る問題に、アメリカが深く絡んでいるということが明確に示されたエピソードだ」と話しています。
(試譯文)
One year had passed since the China fishing boat collision incident which occurred in the offing of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. About the Senkaku Islands, some 40 years ago while was still under the American rule, there were some opinion that opposed to their returning to Japan; they were made known within the American government, the circumstances in which that these islands were finally returned as confirmed by President Nixon based on his personal decision had been made clear in the U.S. diplomatic documents.
The Senkaku Islands came under the U.S. rule as a part of Okinawa after World War II, and the administrative power was returned to Japan under the Restoration of Okinawa in 1972. Before the returning, Taiwan, having diplomatic relationship with the United States, strongly opposed to its returning to Japan, and had worked on influencing the American government of the day. Also added to the worry of Taiwan, it was the time when the fiber negotiation was a pending question between Japan and the US; this issue was used to demand concession from Japan within the American government, and there was opinion that the islands should not be immediately returned to Japan. In face of that, the ambassador to Japan then the Under Secretary of State Johnson who was known as a pro-Japanese was found to have strongly asserted the returning to Japan, as shown in the confidential documents in the United States. Mr. Johnson, based on a chronology summary, showed that "Taiwan has at one time admitted that the Senkaku Islands were part of Okinawa", and he held the view that "Taiwan is strengthening the opinion over their sovereignty for reasons of the natural resources there". Based on this chronology, the president of the day President Nixon had discussions with Kissinger the National Security Adviser, and the result was that the President himself decided to return the Islands to Japan. About this, the Japan-U.S. relationship specialist Mr. Mikio Haruna, a specially-appointed professor of the Nagoya University, upon investigating the diplomatic documents said "This episode shows clearly that the United States is deeply involved in the problems involving the Senkaku Islands".

So, it is the American who had decided to return the Senkaku Islands to Japan in the 1970s.

香港人出書介紹日本災後新情況

2011-09-12T16:06:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
東日本大震災から半年となる１１日、日本との経済的な結びつきの強い香港では、日本の風評被害をなくし、支援の輪を広げようと、震災後の日本の状況を紹介する本が出版されました。
「日本・再出発」という題名の本は、震災発生時に日本に滞在していた人を中心に２０人以上の香港の人たちが、文書を寄せたエッセー集です。本では、震災後の市民生活の様子やボランティアとして訪れた被災地の様子など、みずからの体験をもとに、この半年間の日本の状況を記しています。日本にとって香港は、食品をはじめとする農林水産物の最大の輸出先です。一方、観光面では日本を訪れる人も多い地域です。しかし、震災後は原発事故への不安や風評被害もあって、日本からの食品の輸入や日本への観光客はいずれも去年に比べ大幅に減少しています。１１日は本の出版にあわせて作者による記者会見が行われ、震災発生当時、東京にいて、その後も何度か日本を訪れている沈碧芬さんは「私たちが日本に滞在して、大丈夫だったということを多くの人に知ってもらい、これまでのように日本へ旅行したり、日本の食品を食べたりしてほしい」と話していました。この本は、当面、香港と台湾で販売され、震災復興のため売り上げの一部が被災地に寄付されるということです。
(試譯文)
On the 11th it would be half a year since the East Japan great earthquake; in Hong Kong where the economic tie with Japan was strong, as the damage caused by rumors about Japan had died out, a book which introduced the situation of Japan after the earthquake disaster was published in order to broaden the circle of support.

The book entitled "Japan: a fresh start" was an essay collection focused over 20 Hong Kong people who were staying in Japan at the time of the occurrence of the earthquake disaster, and the book brought together the writings done by them. In this book, the condition of the civic life of the people after the earthquake, the situation of the stricken area as seen by visiting volunteers, and the situation of Japan in this half year were described based on the first hand experience. For Japan, Hong Kong was the largest export destination for agriculture-and-forestry and marine products including food. On the other hand, it was also an area where many people visited Japan for sightseeing. However, after the earthquake disaster there were the uneasiness over the nuclear power plant disaster and the damages caused by rumors, the import of the food from Japan and the amount of tourist to Japan both decreased sharply compared with last year. On the 11st, a press conference with the authors together in connection with book's publication was held; Ms. Sum Bick-fun who was in Tokyo at the time when the earthquake disaster occurred, and also had visited Japan several times afterwards said "We have stayed in Japan, we would like to let more people know that it is fine there, and we hope that people would travel to Japan or eat Japanese food just like before." It was said that at this moment, this book was sold in Hong Kong and Taiwan; and some sales proceeds would be donated to the earthquake stricken area for disaster recovery.

Probably Hong Kong people's confidence in Japan may need time to build up.

第６２回紅白歌合戦堤早到七時十五分開始

2011-09-10T08:31:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
ＮＨＫは８日、大みそかに行われる第６２回紅白歌合戦の放送を、午後７時１５分から始めると発表した。同１１時４５分までの４時間半（ニュースのため５分間の中断あり）で、第６０回記念大会（０９年）と並び歴代最長となる。
　東日本大震災の被災者から、歌番組を要望する声が多く寄せられたことなどが理由。松本正之会長は「２０１２年に向け、明るい明日への希望を歌い上げる番組にしたい」と述べた。出場歌手や曲目などは未定。
　紅白の放送開始時間は、戦後６０年にあたる０５年の第５６回から、５９回（０８年）までが午後７時２０分で、６１回（１０年）でそれ以前の同７時半に戻っていた。
(試翻譯)
On the 8th the NHK announced that the broadcasting of the 62nd New Year's Eve song show to be performed on New Year's Eve would begin at 7:15 p.m. The 4 hours and a half broadcasting(with a discontinuation of 5 minutes because of the news reporting) up to 11:45 would, along with the 60th Commemoration convention (2009) became the longest broadcasting.
The reason was that many voices that demanded a pop music show etc. were sent out from the disaster victims of the East Japan great earthquake. Chairman Masayuki Matsumoto said, "Facing towards 2012, I would like to make it a program that sings about the hope for a bright tomorrow." Singer's participation and music items etc. were not yet decided.
Regarding the broadcasting starting time of this Red and White Singing Contest, it was set at 7.20 pm staring from the 56th Round in 2005, which was the 60th Anniversary of the War ending, until the 59th Round (2008); the 61st Round (2010) returned to the 7:30 as before.

It is understandable that many Japanese are wishing for a better to-morrow in 2012.

炭燒秋刀魚籌款支援大地震復元

2011-09-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
「サンマは目黒に限る」のオチで知られる古典落語の演目にちなんだ恒例の「目黒のさんま祭り」が４日、東京都品川区の目黒駅前商店街で開かれた。毎年サンマを提供してきた岩手県宮古市が東日本大震災に見舞われ、一時は開催が危ぶまれたが、山本正徳市長が「宮古にとっても大切な祭り。（復興支援の）恩返しのためにも必ずお届けする」と申し出て、旬のサンマ約７０００匹が無事届けられた。
　例年は無料で炭火焼きのサンマがふるまわれるが、震災の復興支援をテーマに掲げる今年は「お代は募金箱へ」と義援金を募った。ＪＲ目黒駅そばの会場は最大約１キロの大行列ができる大人気で、同商店街振興組合専務理事の池田周さん（６４）は「祭りが少しでも復興の後押しになれば」と話した.
(試譯文)
The "Pacific saury festival of Meguro", a traditional festival named after the classical rakugo performance's known punch line of "restricting a Pacific saury to Meguro" was opened on the 4th in the shopping center in front of Meguro Station in Shinagawa District, Tokyo. Iwate which had offered the Pacific saury every year was hit by the East Japan great earthquake; and although at one time there was the worry of whether to hold it, Mayor Masanori Yamamoto said "the festival is important for Miyako, it was also for requital of a favor (reconstruction assistance), we certainly send them to you", and about 7000 seasonal Pacific sauries were sent safely.

Although the char-broiled Pacific saury was served every year for free, this year a contribution was collected by "Making donation to the collection box" as it was linked up with the theme of assisting the earthquake disaster reconstruction. The gathering place, located next to the JR Meguro Station, was extremely popular with the largest line-up of up to about 1-km; noting that the shopping center promotion union representative director Mr. Shu Ikeda (64) said " if the festival can be of a small help to the recovery".

In Japan many activities are held with a theme that is related to helping the earthquake recovery.

講談社在中國開展漫畫業務

2011-09-04T19:19:00.001-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
講談社は２日、中国の出版グループ「広西出版伝媒集団有限公司」と合弁会社を現地に設立し、１２年３月に中国で月刊漫画雑誌を創刊すると発表した。講談社は「長年にわたり培ってきた漫画事業のノウハウを最大限活用し、中国漫画市場に確固たる地位を築くことを目指す」としている。
　同社によると、新雑誌は１０～１５歳の少年がターゲット。中国国内の一流漫画作家を結集し、漫画メディアのトップクラスのプラットホームへと成長させることを目標とする。
(試譯文)
Kodansha announced on the second that they joined a publishing group in China, the "Guangxi Publishing Media Group Company Limited" to establish a joint venture company there, and would start a monthly comic magazine in China in March 2012. Kodansha would "Aim at maximize the usage of its know how in the cartoon business that has been cultivated over the years, and to build a firm position in the Chinese cartoon market".
According to the company, boys at the age 10 to 15 years old would be the target of the new magazine. The company aimed at grouping together the first class cartoonists in China, and to develop into a top class cartoon media platform.

To publish cartoon magazines in China with Japanese production know how is something new. It will help promote Japanese popular culture in China.

中國魚政船長駐西沙周圍海域

2011-09-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Recently the Mainich News reported the following:
中国国営新華社通信は２日、領有権を巡りベトナムなどと対立している南シナ海の西沙（パラセル）諸島周辺海域に、農業省所属の大型漁業監視船「漁政３０６」（４００トン級）を初めて常駐させると伝えた。既に広東省広州の港を出港したという。中国の監視船常駐は、周辺諸国の懸念を招きそうだ。
　報道によると、これまで西沙諸島周辺ではいずれも１００トン級以下の「漁政３０８」と「漁政３０９」の２隻が随時、監視業務を行ってきた。しかし漁船監視などの業務が増えたため、新たに「漁政３０６」を監視活動のため常駐させることに決めた。これまでの２隻とともに「中国の海洋主権と漁業権益を守り、漁師の安全を保障する」としている。
　中国で外交を統括する戴秉国（たい・へいこく）国務委員（副首相級）は５～９日にベトナム訪問を予定しており、今回の常駐が両国の協議の新たな火種となる可能性もある。
(試譯文)
On the 2nd, the Chinese official Xinhua news agency said that a large-scale fishery patrol boat the "Fishing politics 306" (400-ton class) of the agricultural ministry was made to station for the first time in the sea around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea where it had conflict with Vietnam etc. concerning the sovereignty. It was said that the boat had already departed from a sea port in Guangdong province. It looked likely that the stationing of a patrol boat by China would cause worry to the surrounding countries.
According to a report, "Fishing politics 308" and "Fishing politics 309" both less then 100-ton had been doing round-the-clock watching service up to now around Paracel Islands. However, it was a new decision to make "Fishing politics 306" to station to do monitoring activities because the business to watch the the fishing boats etc. had increased. It was assumed that up to now the two boats were together "Defending China's oceanic sovereignty and the fishing rights, and securing the fisherman's safety".
In China the State Councilor (vice premier level) Dai Bingguo whose duties included diplomacy had scheduled to visit Vietnam on the 5th to 9th , and there was a possibility that this stationing might become a new cause for the two countries to have discussion.

To station such a big fishery patrol boat in this sensitive region would likely cause alarm in the neighbouring countries such a Vietnam and the Philippines.

東京等大城市和周邊地區地價有回落趨勢

2011-08-31T17:36:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
国土交通省がまとめた、先月の全国の主な都市の地価は、東日本大震災の影響で不動産の取り引きを控える傾向が続いていて、東京やその周辺では地価の下落する地区が増えています。
国土交通省は、全国の主な都市の合わせて１５０の地区を対象に、３か月ごとに地価の動きを調べています。今回は、被災した仙台市と千葉県浦安市の合わせて４地区を除き、先月１日の時点で調査が行われました。それによりますと、東京都と周辺の４県では、横ばいが１８の地区だったのに対し、下落は前回より３地区増えて４５地区でした。一方、大阪府と周辺の３府県では、横ばいが８地区増えて１９地区、愛知県では、横ばいが１地区増えて８地区で、いずれも横ばいのところが前回より増えました。国土交通省は「震災後、全国的に不動産の取り引きが控えられ、東京などでは地価の下落傾向が続いているが、西日本はマンション用地を取得する動きもあり、地価の下落に歯止めがかかるところも出始めている」と話しています。
(試譯文)
According to the collation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, last month, the land price in major cities of the whole country, because of the continuing tendency to refrain from real estate transaction due to the East Japan great earthquake, in Tokyo and the surrounding area, the number of district that had a falling land price had increased.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in every three months examined the movement of land price in major cities in the whole country and in total 150 districts became the target. This time, the investigation was done on the first of last month, excluding in total four districts that included the Sendai City and Chiba Prefecture Urayasu City that had been struck by disaster. According to it, in the four prefectures surrounding Tokyo, while there was a price level-off in 18 districts, districts that had a fall increased by 3 when compared to the last time to become 45 districts. On the other hand, in the three prefectures/counties surrounding the Osaka prefecture, the level-off increased by eight districts to become 19; in Aichi prefecture, the level-off increased by one district to become 8; both had an increase in level-offs. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said " After the earthquake, real estate on a nationwide scale refrains from dealing, the tendency for falling land price continues in Tokyo and other cities; in west Japan there is a movement to acquire apartment house sites, and it appears that it is beginning to put a brake on land price falling".

If the land price continues to slip, it may be harmful to the economy in Japan.

民進黨總統競選政綱對大陸政策轉趨務實

2011-08-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
来年１月に総統選挙が行われる台湾で、最大野党の民進党が対中国政策を発表し、独立志向が強かった従来の政策を転換し、経済的な結びつきが強まっている中国との交流を重視する現実路線を取る考えを示しました。
これは台湾の民進党のトップで、総統選挙の公認候補の蔡英文主席が、２２日、記者会見で発表したものです。この中で蔡主席は、対中国政策について「中国と対じする姿勢を変え、さまざまなレベルの交流を通して、安定した両岸関係を築いていく」と述べ、独立志向が強かった従来の政策を転換し、中国との交流を進めていく考えを示しました。台湾と中国の間では、ことし１月に貿易自由化を柱とした「経済協力枠組み協定」が発効するなど、経済的な結びつきが強まっていることから、民進党としては経済界も含めた幅広い層の支持を得るためにも現実的な路線を示し、政権奪回を図るねらいがあるものとみられます。一方で蔡主席は、自由や民主主義、人権といった普遍的な価値を共有するアジア太平洋地域の国々との関係強化を目指すとして、中国に依存しすぎていると一部で批判が出ている与党・国民党の馬英九政権とは一線を画す姿勢を強調しました。民進党では、２８日に党の全国代表大会を開き、選挙に向けた運動を本格化させることにしています。
(試譯文)
In Taiwan where the presidential election would be held next January, the main opposition party (the Democratic Progressive Party) announced its policy toward China that showed the intention of changing its past policy of having a strong intention for independence, and had the idea of taking a realistic path that would treasure exchanges with China with which economic connection had become strong.

This was what had been said in the press interview on the 22nd, by the head of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, president Cai Yingwen, the endorsed candidate for the presidential election. During the interview, president Cai, regarding the policy towards China, said that "The posture to confront China has changed, now it is to build steady cross-strait relations through exchanges at various levels", it changed its past policy that had a strong intention for independence, and showed the idea of advancing exchanges with China. As the "Economic cooperation framework agreement" between Taiwan and China that centering on the deregulation of trade came into effect in January this year, the Democratic Progressive Party, because the economic tie was becoming strong, was expected to show a realistic direction so as to win a broader base support, including from the economic sector; and there was the aim of attempting to recapture the political power. On the other hand, president Cai aimed at strengthening the relation with countries in the Asia Pacific region that were sharing the same universal value like freedom, democracy, and human rights etc., she emphasized her position and made a clear distinction from Ma Yingjiu's political regime the ruling KMT party, and partially criticizing him for depending on China too much. Democratic Progressive Party would hold a nationwide party representative rally on the 28th, and carried out the election campaign in earnest.

In the past few years, the Democratic Progressive Party has been modifying its policy in response to the political reality. I think it is a sign of maturity.

東京國際展示場漫畫展人數減少

2011-08-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
　東京都江東区の東京ビッグサイトで開かれた日本最大の同人誌即売会「コミックマーケット（コミケ）８０」が１４日、閉幕した。最終日は１日としては過去最高タイの２０万人が来場し、３日間で計５４万人となったが、０９年と１０年に記録した５６万人には届かなかった。夏のコミケの来場者が減ったのは、前年比５万人減の４３万人だった０６年の「コミケ７０」以来５年ぶり。主催の準備会は「東日本大震災の影響と見ている。もっと減ると思っていたが、思いのほか楽しみにしてくれた人が多かった」と話していてる。
　次回の「コミケ８１」は１１年１２月２９～３１日の３日間、東京ビッグサイトで開かれる予定.
(試譯文)
The 'Comic Market 80', the biggest comic association sales fair in Japan held in the Tokyo Big Sight at Koto Ward of Tokyo came to a close on the 14th. While on the closing day 200,000 people had come, being the same as the past highest record; in the three-day period in total the number of people was 540,000, and it had not reached 560,000 that was recorded in 2009 and in 2010. It was five years ago that the number of people came in the summer was a decrease when compared with the previous year: 430,000 people in the year 2006 in 'Comic 70', being a decrease of 50,000 people compared with the previous year. The sponsoring preparation association said that ｢It is thought it was due to the influence of the East Japan great earthquake. There are still a lot of people looking forward to it, although it is thought that the total would decrease further｣.

The next 'Comic 81' was scheduled to be opened for three days between 29 - 31 in December 2011 in Tokyo Big Sight.

Perhaps the decrease in the number of people is related to the weak economy in Japan.

巴基斯坦被懷疑將隱形戰機技術交給中國

2011-08-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
アメリカ軍が、国際テロ組織アルカイダの指導者オサマ・ビンラディン容疑者をパキスタンで殺害した際に、現場に不時着した特殊なヘリコプターについて、アメリカの主要メディアは、中国側に機体に関する機密情報が漏れたとみられると伝えました。
アメリカ軍は、ことし５月にパキスタンでアルカイダのオサマ・ビンラディン容疑者を殺害した際、レーダーに映りにくい高度なステルス性能を持ったヘリコプターを使いましたが、１機が故障して不時着しました。アメリカ軍の特殊部隊は機体を爆破したものの、後部の一部が現場に残されたことが分かっていて、ニューヨーク・タイムズなどアメリカの主要メディアは、１４日、アメリカ政府当局者の話として、この機体に関する機密情報がパキスタンから中国側に漏れたとみられると伝えました。それによりますと、中国の当局者が、残された機体の一部の写真を撮影するとともに、ステルス性能の鍵となる機体の表面の一部を持ち帰ったとみられるということです。情報漏洩が事実ならば、アメリカが強く反発するのは確実で、アメリカの対テロ作戦の鍵を握るパキスタンとの関係が、さらに冷え込むことが予想されます。これについて、パキスタン軍の広報担当者はＮＨＫの取材に対して「根拠のない話だ。パキスタンのイメージを悪化させようとする人たちの作り話にすぎない」と述べ、パキスタンが中国にアメリカのヘリコプターに関する機密情報を提供した可能性が高いという報道を否定しました。
(試譯文)
When the U.S. Army in Pakistan killed Osama bin Laden the suspected leader of the international terrorism organization Al Qaeda, some major media in the United States told the idea that the sensitive information on the body of the special helicopter that made an emergency landing on the site had been leaked to China.
The U.S. Army, when in Pakistan in May killed Osama bin Laden as an Al Qaeda suspect, used helicopters that had an advanced Stealth performance in that it could reduce reflection in radar. One plane broke down and made an emergency landing. Although the special force of the U.S. Army blasted apart the plane body, it was understood that the rear part was left behind on the site. Major media in the United States such as New York Times on the 14th told the idea that the sensitive information on this plane's frame had been leaked from Pakistan to China; it was a story being circulated among American government officials. According to the story, it was thought that Chinese officials took photographs of the body parts of the plane left behind, and a part of the surface of the plane body that held the key to the Stealth performance was taken home. If the information leakage was true, with a strong repulsion from the United States, the relation with Pakistan that was holding the key to the US's anti-terrorist operation was expected to get cold further. Someone in the Pakistani army who had the information told NHK that was doing the reporting that ｢It is a baseless story. They are only fictions of the people who are trying to corrupt the image of Pakistan｣, and denied the report that there was a high possibility for Pakistan to offer China sensitive information on the US's helicopter.

To spy for technological secret is a fact of life among countries, I think the responsibility to guard the secret rests with the country that has the technology.

日本國民繼續向政府要求二次大戰賠償

2011-08-25T14:46:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
太平洋戦争中の空襲や、沖縄戦などの戦争被害者とその遺族でつくる全国組織の初めての交流集会が沖縄県で開かれ、参加者が被害の多くが救済されないまま放置されていると訴えました。
４年前、東京大空襲の犠牲者の遺族らが空襲による被害について国に賠償を求める訴えを起こしたのをきっかけに、全国各地で戦争による被害の救済を求める動きが強まり、去年８月に戦争被害者の全国組織が発足しています。１１日は、この全国組織の初めての交流集会が国内で唯一、住民を巻き込んだ地上戦が行われた沖縄で開かれ、県内をはじめ関東や九州から合わせて９０人が参加しました。集会では、はじめに太平洋戦争の犠牲者と東日本大震災の犠牲者に黙とうをささげました。そして、沖縄戦の被害者の会を立ち上げた瑞慶山茂弁護士が「沖縄戦では、住民だけで９万４０００人が亡くなったとされるが、軍に積極的に協力したとみなされなければ救済されず、国からの謝罪や補償を受けられない人が多数いる」と指摘しました。そのうえで「戦闘に参加したかどうかではなく、犠牲者すべてを救済の対象とすべきだ」と訴えました。
(試譯文)
The first nationwide exchange meeting, consisting of the bereaved family members of war victims of the Okinawa war etc. and the air raid in the Pacific War, was held in Okinawa Prefecture; the participants made appeal over the many damages done but not being relieved.

Four years ago bereaved families of the victims of the Tokyo air raid had requested compensation for damages from the country because of the raid, this was a chance that strengthened a nationwide movement to request for the war damage relief in various places, and led to the forming in last August of a nationwide war victim organization for appeal.
On the 11th, the first exchange meeting of this nationwide body was held in Okinawa where domestically it was the only place that had ground battles involving residents, and in total of 90 people had participated, including those from Kanto and Kyushu prefectures. At the start of the meeting, silent prayers were offered to victims of the Pacific War and victims of the East Japan great earthquake. Lawyer Shigeru who started the victim's association of the Okinawa war pointed out that " In the Okinawa war it was assumed that merely for the residents 94,000 people had died; one did not get relieve if he was not considered as being an active collaborator with the army. There are lots of people who were not relieved, and the apology and amends from the country were not received". On top of that it appealed that "All are victim, whether had taken part in the battle or not, and should be assumed as the target of a relief case".

Even the war has been over for more than 60 years, the Japanese government is still haunted by the issue over compensation.

七十年代日本靚仔小生竹脇無我病逝

2011-08-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

Recently the Mainichi News reported the following:
テレビドラマ「だいこんの花」など、数多くの映画、ドラマに出演した二枚目俳優の竹脇無我（たけわき・むが）さんが２１日午後２時５分、小脳出血のため死去した。６７歳。葬儀は２２日に済ませた。喪主は長女友加（ゆか）さん。
　千葉県我孫子市出身。高校在学中の１９６０年、映画「しかも彼等（かれら）は行く」でデビュー。映画「アンコ椿は恋の花」（６５年）で初主演。端正な顔立ちと安定した演技で人気を博した。「姿三四郎」「大岡越前」などのテレビドラマや、舞台でも活躍した。
　９０年代にうつ病を患い、闘病生活を続けていたが、０１年に舞台復帰。
(試譯文)
Takewaki Muga the handsome actor who had performed in a lot of movies and dramas such as TV drama "Radish Flower " died of cerebellum hemorrhage at 2:05PM on the 21st at the age of 67 years old. The funeral was completed on the 22nd. The chief mourner was the eldest daughter Yuka.
Coming from Chiba Prefecture Abiko City, in 1960 while attending the high school he made his debuts in the movie "Moreover They Go". In the movie "The Anko Camellia is a Flower of Love" (in the year 65) he took the leading role for the first time. The simple features and the steady acting made the film popular. He also took an active part in the TV drama and stages such as "Sanshiro Sugata" and "Ooka Echizen".
In the 1990s, although suffered from depression, he struggled against the disease to live on, and returned to stage in 2001.

"Sanshiro Sugata" was my favourite TV drama and I was thrilled by the music in the opening song, in particular the trumpet.

中國與日本關係有民意調查

2011-08-20T17:21:00.001-07:00

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
尖閣諸島沖の漁船衝突事件や、福島第一原子力発電所の事故などの影響で、中国によくない印象を持つ日本人は８割近く、日本によくない印象を持つ中国人は３分の２近くと、いずれも２００５年以降で最悪になったことが、両国で行われた世論調査で分かりました。
この世論調査は、日本のＮＰＯ法人と中国の政府系の新聞社が、ことし６月から先月にかけて行い、日本で１０００人、中国で１５４０人が回答しました。日本人の中国に対する印象は「よくない」と「どちらかといえばよくない」を合わせて７８％、中国人の日本に対する印象は「よくない」と「どちらかといえばよくない」を合わせて６６％で、いずれも調査を始めた２００５年以降で最悪になりました。日本人が中国によくない印象を持つ理由を複数回答で聞いたところ、「去年９月に、尖閣諸島沖で起きた漁船衝突事件を巡る中国政府の対応」が６５％で最も多かったほか、「資源などの確保を巡る行動が自己中心的」が５２％で３番目に多くなっています。中国人が日本によくない印象を持つ理由は「かつて中国を侵略したから」など歴史認識が依然として多くを占めているほか、４１％が「福島第一原発の事故に対する日本政府の対応」を挙げました。一方、日本によい印象を持つ中国人の４９％が「東日本大震災のときにみられた日本人の連帯感に感動した」と答えています。
(試譯文)
Under the influence of events such as the fishing boat collision off the coast of Senkaku Islands and the accidents at the number one nuclear plant in Fukushima, it was understood from the public opinion poll done in the two countries that the number of Japanese who did no have a good impression of China was about 80%, while the Chinese who had a bad impression of Japan was about 2/3, both were the worst since 2005 .

The public opinion poll was done this year from June to last month in China by a government newspaper, and in Japan by an incorporated nonprofit organization; it was answered by 1000 people in Japan and by 1540 people in China. The impression of the Japanese on China was that "It was not good" and "If anything, it is not good" was up to 78%; the impression of the Chinese on Japan was "It was not good" and "If anything, it is not good" was up to 66%; both were the worst since the starting of this inquire in 2005. There were several reasons for the Japanese to have a bad impression of China, the most popular one was that the "Response of a Chinese government last September over the fishing boat collision event that occurred off the coast of Senkaku Islands" and it was 65%; the 3rd popular reason was that "The action over securing such as the resources is egocentric" and that had 52%. The reason why the Chinese did not have good impression of Japan was due to the perception of history such as that "China was invaded before"and it still was the major reason; while 41% was over the "Response of Japanese Government towards the number one nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima". On the other hand, 49% of Chinese who had a good impression of Japan answered that "Being impressed by the Japanese solidarity as seen in the East Japan great earthquake".

I hope both governments could do something to improve the situation.

長崎縣佐世保市發展医療観光事業

2011-08-18T14:18:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
長崎県佐世保市のハウステンボス（ＨＴＢ）は１０日、体質改善やダイエットによる予防医療と観光を組み合わせた「医療観光事業」を１１月中旬から開始すると発表した。
　来春、長崎と中国・上海を結ぶフェリーが定期便化されるのをにらみ、健康への関心が高いアジアの富裕層の集客を図る。
　西洋医学と東洋医学を融合した「統合医学」に基づき、園内の温泉施設を改装してカウンセリング室などを設置する。医師が利用者の体質診断をしたうえでプログラムを作成。温浴による体温管理で免疫力を高める健康機器のほか、近くの寺院や大村湾の無人島でのヨガ、座禅、園内散策、陶芸体験などを通して体質改善を促す。
　期間中、利用者はホテルヨーロッパに宿泊し、無農薬野菜を使った菜食で食事も管理する。希望すると、提携している佐世保中央病院などで人間ドックも受けられる。
(試譯文)
On the 10th it was announced that Huis Ten Bosch (HTB) in Nagasaki Prefecture Sasebo City would begin by the middle of November the "Medical treatment sightseeing business" that combined sightseeing with preventive medical care through improving one's physical condition and dieting.
Noting that the ferry that connected Nagasaki with Shanghai in China would become regular flights next spring, it aimed at attracting the well-to-do populations in Asia that had a high concern for health.
Based on "Integrated medicine" that combined Western medicine with the Oriental medicine, hot spring facilities in the garden were redecorated and counseling room etc. were set up. After the doctor diagnosed user's body conditions a program would be drawn up. Apart from bathing, a health equipment which improved the immunity by temperature management, through the doing of yoga, Zen meditations, strolling in the garden, and experiencing ceramic arts etc. in the near by Buddhist temple and the uninhabited island the Oomurawan, one's physical condition would be encouraged to improve.
During that period, users would stay in European hotels, and vegetarian meals that used the chemical-free vegetable would be managed. The hope was that the complete medical checkup would take place in the central hospital in Sasebo etc. that had been working in cooperation.

In order to generate more business, it is a nice idea to combine sight-seeing with medical check up for those who can afford.

'後現代'與'大話'

2011-08-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

最近讀了 “感情的實踐:香港流行歌詞研究”一書, 有一些得著. 例如以前我對兩個詞彙不甚瞭解: 一個是 ‘grand narrative’ 另一個是 ‘post-modern’. 在這本書陳倩君在文章引用李歐塔(Jean-Francois Lyotard)加以說明這兩詞. 亦引用陳清僑指出post-modern (後現代)帶來的衝擊可簡化為三要點: 敘事解體,意義崩裂和主體分離. 至於‘grand narrative’(大話)一詞, 文章引用李歐塔指出,近代社會的一大特色是 ‘大話’ 的存在. 所有近代文明都會編做造一些理想, 說一個充滿意義的偉大故事來聯繫人心, 以保社會文化秩序的合理性和合法性.

註: 陳清僑編.“感情的實踐:香港流行歌詞研究. 牛津大學出版社, 1997. 這本書是由網友Alex郵寄送來.在此僅表謝意. 參考: http://blog.hoiking.org/2011/07/15/2571/

韓國對日本海名字有爭議

2011-08-14T13:28:00.001-07:00

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
　米国務省が「東海(トンヘ)」の併記を退けたことに対し、韓国メディアは「政府の外交努力の欠如を示した」として一斉に反発、韓国政府は複雑な反応を見せている。
　韓国は、独立後の１９５７年、国際水路局（現・国際水路機関＝ＩＨＯ）に加盟したが、「東海」の英文表記を国際的に主張し始めたのは、９２年以降だ。韓国内で朝鮮半島の東側を「東海」と呼び習わしてきたことを根拠に「公海を一つの国の名称とするのは不合理で、日本海と東海を併記すべきだ」と主張してきた。
　韓国内では、「日本海の呼称が世界で一般化したのは、日本の植民地支配を受けた２０世紀前半だ」との認識がある。日韓両国が領有権を主張する竹島（島根県）問題と同様に、韓国側は歴史問題と捉えている。
(試譯文)
South Korea media were unanimously repulsive as "The government had shown a lack of diplomatic effort" regarding US State Department's repelling the use of parallel description of "Tokai (Donghae)"; the South Korea government was showing a mixed reaction.

South Korea after obtaining independence in 1957 joined the International Hydrographic Bureau (at present the International Hydrographic Organization = IHO); since 1992 it began to insist that the English marking of "Tokai" be used internationally. It insisted that in South Korea on grounds that it was on the east side of the Korean peninsula "Tokai" was called as a custom, and "it is irrational to assume the high seas with a name of a country, and should describe the Sea of Japan with Tokai in parallel".
In South Korea, there was an understanding that "It was in the first half of the 20th century that the name of the Sea of Japan was popular in the world, when they were under the colonial rule of Japan". South Korea linked it to the history question, same as the Takeshima (Shimane Prefecture) problem that both Japan and South Korea were insisting on the sovereignty right.

I hope the argument in using the name " East Sea" or "Sea of Japan" would not hurt the relationship of these two countries.