日本減低自殺率

Recently the Asahi News reported the following:
２０１０年の全国の自殺者は３万１５６０人で、１３年連続で３万人を超えたことが７日、警察庁の速報値で分かった。ただ、前年比では３．９％、１２８５人減っており、０１年以来９年ぶりに３万１千人台に下がった。政府が自殺予防の啓発キャンペーンを始めたり、自治体や民間団体がカウンセリング活動を強めたりした効果が徐々に出ているとの見方もある。
　警察庁のまとめによると、自殺者の性別は男性が２万２１７８人（前年比１２９４人減）、女性は９３８２人（９人増）。依然として男性が７割を占める。
　都道府県別では、（１）東京２９３８人（前年比５１人減）（２）大阪２０３１人（８人減）（３）神奈川１８１０人（２５人減）（４）埼玉１７１７人（７９人減）（５）愛知１５７３人（５０人減）の順で多かった。
　全体数が減るなか、地域別では３６都道府県で減少。減少率が最も高かったのは三重で、２４．６％、１１７人減の３５９人。青森（１７．３％、９４人減の４４９人）、秋田（１６．０％、７０人減の３６８人）、島根（１５．４％、３７人減の２０４人）、高知（１４．５％、３８人減の２２４人）がそれに次ぐ。
　国の自殺対策にかかわっているＮＰＯ法人・ライフリンクの清水康之代表は「自殺者は、国や自治体が自殺対策を強化した直後や、自殺相談の啓発活動が進んでいる地域で大幅に減っている」と指摘する。
　自殺者は年度替わりの３、４月に多くなる傾向があり、昨年は内閣府が中心になって３月にうつ病の早期診断などを呼びかける街頭キャンペーンを各地で実施。今回の警察庁の速報値では、３月の自殺者は前年比５．０％減、４月は１５．９％減だった。清水代表は「生きるための支援を充実させれば自殺者を減らせることを示している。時期や地域を問わず、取り組みを進めるべきだ」と話す。
The number of suicides in the whole country in 2010 was 31,560 people, exceeding 30,000 people for 13 years in a row, this was understood from the preliminary figure of the National Police Agency on the 7th of January. However, it was 3.9% or 1285 people less compared with the previous year, and it fell on 31,000 person level after an interval of nine years since the year 2001. There was a view that the enlightenment campaigns on suicide prevention started by the government, together with the strengthening of counseling activities held by the municipality and civilian organizations were taking effect gradually.
According to the summary of the National Police Agency, 22,178 men committed suicide (a decrease of 1294 people compared with last year); women was 9382 people (an increase of nine people). Men still accounted for 70 percent.
Administrative divisions in descending order was (1) Tokyo 2938 (51 people less than previous year) (2) Osaka 2031 (decrease 8 people) (3) Kanagawa 1810 (decrease 25) (4) Saitama 1717(decrease 79)(5) Aichi 1673 (decrease 50).
While the total was a decrease, by region there was a decrease in 36 administrative divisions. In running order, the highest rate of decrease was in Mie, 24.6% at 359 people, decreased by 117 people, Aomori (17.3% at 449 people decreased by 94 people), Akita (16.0% at 368 people decreased by 70 people), Shimane (15.4% at 204 people decreased by 37 people), and Kochi (14.5% at 224 people decreased by 38 people).
Yasuyuki Shimizu, the representative of the incorporated non-profit organization- the Life Link that was related to suicide measures in the country, pointed out that "The number of suicide has decreased greatly immediately in regions where the country and the municipality's suicide policy had been strengthened, and suicide consultations related enlightening activities had been advanced".
Suicides tended to increase in March and April in the span of a year, and last year with the Cabinet Office at the center, street campaigns to call for the early diagnosis of depression were carried out in various locations in March. In the preliminary figure of the National Police Agency, the number of suicide in March was a 5.0% decrease compared with the previous year, and 15.9% decrease in April. Representative Shimizu said ｢It shows that suicides would decrease if the support to live on is enhanced, it is necessary to advance the approach regardless of time or the region｣.

It is nice to note that Japan is doing something to help those people in distress in order to reduce suicide.

2010年到日本觀光遊客達不到一千萬目標

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
立行政法人・日本政府観光局が２６日発表した２０１０年の訪日外国人数は約８６１万人にとどまり、目標の１０００万人を大きく割り込んだ。
　政府が昨年、成長戦略の中で打ち出した観光立国構想は、出だしからつまずいた格好だが、観光庁は１１年に１１００万人という新たな目標を打ち出し、巻き返しを図る考えだ。ただ、１１年度の観光庁の予算は１０年度当初比で２割減となる見通しで、目標達成には課題も多い。
　観光庁は、１０年の目標を下回った約１３９万人のうち、約５０万人が中国漁船衝突事件の影響や円高などの外的要因だったと分析している。一方で、残る約９０万人は宣伝活動不足や国内の受け入れ環境の整備遅れなど、観光庁の取り組みが不十分だったことを認めた。
　政府は訪日外国人数を２０年までに２５００万人とし、将来的に３０００万人に増やす方針を示している。

The corporation of Japan National Tourist Organization announced on the 26th that the number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2010 was about 8.61 million people, it was a great discount to 10 million people target.
Last year the government while working on the growth strategy, put forward the idea of using sightseeing to prop up the country, from the start it stumbled, the sightseeing agency put forward a new target target of 11 million people for 2011 for the purpose of recovering the lost grounds. However, when the 2011 sightseeing agency estimate was compared to the beginning of 2010, a 20% below the target could be expected, there were lots of difficulties in accomplishing the goal.
The sightseeing agency was analysing that, among the 1.39 million people that fell below the target of 2010, about 500,000 people were due to influences of the Chinese fishing boat collision event, together with the external factors such as yen appreciation etc. On the other hand, it was admitted that the remaining about 900,000 people were due to insufficient propaganda and the delay in maintaining the tourists receiving environment, due to the inadequate effort of the sightseeing agency.
The government showed the policy that assumed that the number of foreigners to visit Japan up to 2020 would be 25 million people, and would increase to 30 million in future.

Tourism would be a key industry for Japan in the coming decades.

日本增加與印度的經濟聯繫

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
高い経済成長が続くインドで、日本とインドの州政府が共同でインフラの整備計画を立てることになり、官民連携によるインドでの大型インフラ獲得に向けた動きが加速することになりそうです。
インフラの整備計画を日本と共同で立てることになったのは、インド南部のタミルナド州で、大規模な港があることから、インドに進出している日本企業の３分の１に当たる２７０社余りが進出しています。２２日は、州都のチェンナイで、日本から経済産業省の担当者らが出席して式典が行われ、今後州政府と日本政府が定期的に会合を開いてインフラの整備計画を立てていくことを決めました。続いて初めての会合が開かれ、港に通じる道路や橋を改修することや、日本の新幹線などを候補に挙げ、鉄道網や道路の整備計画を立てることなどを申し合わせました。インド政府は、今後５年ほどで総額で１兆ドルに上るインフラ整備を計画しており、各国の企業の契約の獲得に向けた競争が激しくなっています。式典に出席した岡田秀一経済産業審議官は「インド南部に日本企業が進出しやすい環境を整備することにつながるし、今後、さらに進出を加速させてほしい」と話していました。
In India where there was a continuous high economic growth, the government of Japan and India seemed to be accelerating jointly the movement for the large-scale infrastructure upgrading by infrastructure acquisition through government and private cooperation.
In Tamil Nadu state in the southern part of India, the infra-structure maintenance plan that had the cooperation from Japan was a large-scale port, 1/3 of total Japanese firms that had advanced into India was there, that was an equivalent of over 270 companies. On the 22nd, in the state capital Chennai, the person who was in charge of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan attended the ceremony, it was decided that for the state government and Japanese Government there would be scheduled regular sessions in the future to decide on the upgrading of infrastructure. What followed would be to hold opening meetings to negotiate the modification of roads and bridges that were connected to the port, and Shinkansen etc. of Japan was cited as the candidate to schedule the infrastructure plan for the rail systems and roads. The Indian government had planned that in future in total the infrastructure maintenance would amount to over one trillion dollars in about five years, competition in getting the contracts among the enterprises from all countries would be intense. Shuichi Okada the Economic Industrial Councillor who had attended the ceremony was saying that "It is connected to the maintenance of an environment that Japanese firms could advance easily into the southern part of India, and in addition want to accelerate the advancement in the future".

It is obvious that Japan is shifting its investment focus to India. The political and economic implications of this move can be far reaching.

坂本龍馬在長崎的商業社團「亀山社中」有記念館

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
幕末の志士、坂本龍馬が長崎で作った商社「亀山社中」の記念館の名誉館長に、大河ドラマ「龍馬伝」で勝海舟役を演じた武田鉄矢さんが就任しました。
「亀山社中」は、坂本龍馬が幕末の長崎で作った日本で初めての商社で、長崎市は建物を記念館として整備し、観光の拠点としています。この「長崎市亀山社中記念館」の名誉館長に、大河ドラマ「龍馬伝」で勝海舟役を演じ、フォークソンググループ「海援隊」のリーダーでもある武田鉄矢さんが就任し、２２日に就任証書が手渡されました。武田さんからは「龍馬ファンが集まる場所に飾ってほしい」と、二十数年前に高知で手に入れ、自宅に保管していたという龍馬の肖像画が寄贈されました。名誉館長になった武田さんは「龍馬が、ここで同じ景色や同じ空を眺めていたのは間違いありません。ぜひ、この場所に龍馬に会いにきてほしい」と話していました。亀山社中記念館には去年１年間、大河ドラマの影響もあって、予想を大幅に上回る２８万人が訪れましたが、長崎市では、大の龍馬ファンとして知られる武田さんに、その魅力を全国に発信してもらいたいとしています。
Tetsuya Takeda who had performed Kaumifuneyaku in the Taiga Drama "Biography of Ryoma" assumed the position of the honored superintendent of the memorial museum of the trading company "Kameyama Shachu" that patriot Ryoma Sakamoto established in Nagasaki at the end of shogunate period.
"Kameyama Shachu" was the first trading company in Japan and it was established by Ryoma Sakamoto in Nagasaki at the end of the shogunate period, Nagasaki City maintained the building as memorial museum and assumed it as a base for sightseeing. Tetsuya Takeda, who performed Kaumifuneyaku in the Taiga Drama "Biography of Ryoma" and himself the leader of a folk song group "Sea Rescue Corps", had assumed the position of the honored superintendent. The certificate of appointment was handed over to him on the 22nd. Mr. Takeda donated a portrait of Ryoma obtained in Kochi 20 or more years ago and kept at home afterwards, saying that "I want to decorate the place where Ryoma fans gather". Mr. Takeda who became the honored superintendent said ｢There is no mistake that Ryoma had viewed the same scenery and the same sky from here. By all means want to come to this place to meet Ryoma｣. In the past year the influence of the Taiga Drama on the Kameyama Shachu Memorial Museum was felt, the number of people who visited was 280,000 and that had far exceeded expectations. In Nagasaki City Mr Takeda who was known as a big fan of Ryoma, wanted to have such attraction spread out to the whole country.

The TV series Taiga Drama about Ryoma Sakamoto has helped adding one more tourist attraction to the city of Nagasaki.

日本經濟面對艱難時刻

Recently the Excite News reported the following:
2010年12月30日、「日本はなぜどんどん貧しくなっていくのか？」と題した記事が中国のブログサイト・鳳凰博報に掲載された。以下はその内容。

九州大学が長崎県の高校3年生を対象に調査した結果、家計の困窮から約3％が進学を断念する可能性があることが判明した。同大の丸野俊一副学長は「大学入試センター試験にこの割合を当てはめると、約1万6000人が経済的な理由で大学に行けないことになる。救済のための措置が必要だ」と指摘した。

日本人の1人当たりの名目GDP（国内総生産）は世界16位、中国人の約10倍にあたる。GDP総量ではわずかに中国に抜かされた日本だが、いまだに世界有数の先進国であることは間違いない。だが、日本は確実に貧しくなっている。

12月24日、2011年度政府予算案が閣議決定した。一般会計総額は約92兆4000億円と過去最高を記録したが、国の債務残高も973兆円余りとGDPの2倍以上に膨らんだ。生まれたばかりの赤ちゃんを含む日本人1人当たりの借金額は674万円。先進国の中で最も多い。

注目すべきは、日本の国家予算の半分は借金返済に充てられていることだ。日本メディアによると、国債の償還・利払いに充てる国債費は22兆円に上る。これに年金の国庫負担分21兆円が加わる。合わせて43兆円だ。日本政府は重い負担を背負っている。

これでは内需拡大など見込めないだろう。しかも、日本は少子高齢化時代を迎え、年金を納める若者は減り、年金を受け取る高齢者は今後ますます増えていく。借金は雪だるま式に膨れ上がるだけだ。1990年には62兆円もあった税収が2009年度はわずか37兆円。この20年で日本の税収は40％も減少した。

日本は手元の金が大幅に減り、景気を刺激する手段やパワーも衰えている。日本が経済を復興するためには現状を変える必要があるのではないか。それには周辺国との協力強化が不可欠になるだろう。
An article entitled "Why does Japan become poor so fast?" was published in the blog site of the Chinese Phoenix in China on December 30, 2010. The content is as follows:
According to the result of an investigation done by the Kyushu University on the third grade of high-school students in Nagasaki Prefecture, there was the possibility that about 3% of them had to abandon schooling due to the poverty of the household. Toshikazu Maruno the vice-president of this university pointed out that ｢When this ratio is applied to National Center for University Entrance Examination, about 16,000 people cannot go to the university for economic reasons. It is necessary to take relief measures｣.

Nominal GDP (gross domestic product) per person in Japan was at the 16th place in the world, about ten times that of China. In the world at the moment, Japan for sure still was one of the advanced countries in GDP total although it was slightly over taken by China. Yet, for sure Japan was poor.

The Cabinet Council on December 24 decided on the government budget draft for the fiscal year 2011. Although the total in general account recorded a new height of about 92.4 trillion yen, the outstanding debts in the country was 973 trillion yen, swelled to twice more then the GDP. The amount of the debt per person in Japan including new-born child would be 6.74 million yen. It would be the highest among advanced countries.

What should have attracted attention was that Japan had to allot half of its national budget for debt repayments. According to Japanese media, the bond related expenditure allotted for the redemption of national bonds and payment of interest went up to 22 trillion yen. Add on this was the government contribution of 21 trillion yen pension. In total it was 43 trillion yen. Japanese Government was shouldering a heavy burden.

With this, the home demand expansion etc. could not be expected. Moreover, Japan was entering an era of birthrate declining and population aging; the number of young people who would pay the pension was decreasing, and the number of senior citizens who could receive the pension would increase gradually in the future. Debts would only swell up like a snowball. Revenue collected in the fiscal year 1990 was as much as 62 trillion yen, but in 2009 it was only 37 trillion yen. The revenue in Japan decreased by as much as 40% in these 20 years.

In Japan, the money in hand had decreased greatly, the means and power to stimulate the economy had failed. For Japan in order to revive its economy, it had to change prevailing conditions. To strengthen the cooperation with the surrounding countries would become indispensable.

It is surprising to note that the amount of revenue collected in Japan has declined so much in the past 20 years. And that one reason for the declining economy in Japan is the decline in birth rate.

探訪台灣中國遊客持續增加

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
去年１年間に中国本土から台湾を訪れた旅行客は１６０万人を超え、過去４３年間、台湾を訪れる外国人としては最も多かった日本からの旅行客を上回り、中国と台湾の関係改善を反映する形となりました。
台湾の観光局によりますと、中国本土から台湾を訪れる旅行客は、２年半前に団体旅行が解禁されて以来、増え続けており、去年はおととしと比べて７０％近く増え、１６３万人を超えました。過去４３年間、台湾を訪れる外国人としては最も多かった日本からの旅行客も、円高などの影響で８％近く増え、１０８万人に上りましたが、中国本土からの旅行客が初めて、それを上回りました。３年前、台湾に国民党の馬英九政権が誕生して以来、中国と台湾の関係改善が進んでおり、中国本土から台湾への旅行客の急増は、そうした流れを反映したものです。台湾当局は、ことし、中国本土の富裕層を対象に個人旅行を解禁することも検討しており、今後双方の交流が一層活発になるものとみられます。
Last year for the whole year, the number of tourists from mainland China to visit Taiwan exceeded 1.6 million, more than the number of tourists from Japan that had been the number one in the past 43 years, and this became a reflection of the improvement in relationship between China and Taiwan.
According to the Sightseeing Bureau in Taiwan, the number of tourists who visited Taiwan from mainland China kept increasing after the ban on package-tour was lifted two and a half years ago; and last year it increased by about 70% when compared with the year before last, with a total exceeding 1.63 million people. In the past 43 years, the greatest number of tourists was from Japan, although due to the influence of yen appreciation etc, the number had increased by about 8% up to 1.08 million people, the number of tourists from mainland China exceeded it for the first time. In Taiwan three years ago after Ma Yingjiu's political National Party came to power, relations between China and Taiwan had shown improvement, and it was reflected in the rapid increase in tourists from mainland China to Taiwan. This year, Taiwanese authorities were considering the opening up of independent-tour for the well-to-do people in mainland China, and it was expected that exchanges between the two parties would become more active in the future.

More tourists from mainland China will mean more business for Taiwan. Should the KMT fail in the election next year, I hope exchanges between people in China and Taiwan could continue without interruption.

東盟希望加速與中國定出南亞海島主權指引

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
ＡＳＥＡＮ＝東南アジア諸国連合は、南シナ海の島々の領有権を巡って中国と対立している問題について、平和的な解決を目指すガイドラインづくりに向けた中国側との話し合いを加速させることで一致しました。
ＡＳＥＡＮと中国は去年１０月、南シナ海の島々の領有権問題について、平和的な解決を目指すガイドラインづくりに向けて協力していくことで合意しましたが、先月行われた各国の外務省の局長級による作業部会では、中国側が消極的な姿勢を崩さず、実質的な進展は得られていません。これについて、１７日までの２日間、インドネシアのロンボク島で開かれたＡＳＥＡＮの非公式外相会議が終了したあと記者会見したインドネシアのナタレガワ外相は、このまま事態を放置すれば、不必要な混乱を招くおそれがあるとして、懸念を示しました。そのうえでナタレガワ外相は「ＡＳＥＡＮ各国は、南シナ海の問題が緊急の課題であり、ガイドラインづくりの作業を加速させるために、新たな行動が必要だという認識で一致した」と述べました。「新たな行動」が具体的に何を指すのかは、明らかにしませんでしたが、ＡＳＥＡＮの外交筋は「局長級よりハイレベルの話し合いも検討すべきだ」と述べ、今後、ＡＳＥＡＮと中国の外相会議などでも南シナ海のガイドラインを巡る議論が行われる可能性を示唆しました。
ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations had generally agreed to accelerate the discussion with China for guideline-making that aimed at peacefully solving the conflict with China over the ownership problem regarding the islands in the South China Sea.
As China had not set aside its passive attitude, substantial progress could not be made in the Working Group held last month by the bureau chief-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in all the countries, although ASEAN and China had in last October agreed to be cooperative in the guideline-making that aimed at a peaceful solution to the ownership problem of the islands in the South China Sea. In this respect, on the 17th Indonesia's Foreign Minister Nataregawa expressed his concern in a press conference held after the end of a 2-day informal ASEAN foreign ministers meeting that took place on the Lombok island in Indonesia, and worried that needless confusion might be caused if the situation was left as it was. Foreign Minister Nataregawa described that "ASEAN countries generally recognized that because the problem of the South China Sea was an urgent problem, new action was necessary to accelerate the work of the guideline-making". Although what was "New Action" was not known in concrete terms, in the diplomatic source of ASEAN, it was described that "There should be bureau chief-level discussions to examine the issue", and suggested the possibility that ASEAN would have foreign minister meetings with China to discuss issues related to the guideline for the South China Sea.

Obviously China is unwilling to talk about the sovereignty of the small islands in the South China Sea.

北京舉行中日大學生文化交流聚會

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
１０日の成人の日を前に、中国の北京では８日、日本人留学生の新成人と中国の大学生が交流する催しが開かれました。主催した日本人留学生の団体は「日本の文化をもっと中国の人に知ってもらうためにも、こうした催しを続けていきたい」としています。
この催しは、北京の日本人留学生の団体が、日本大使館の協力を得てことし初めて行ったものです。北京市内の会場には、日本人留学生の新成人や、日本の文化や習慣に関心のある中国人の大学生などおよそ２００人が参加しました。催しでは、日中の参加者が互いの文化を紹介しあい、日本人留学生はソーラン節に合わせた踊りを、中国の若者は太極拳を披露していました。中国では法律上、成人となるのは１８歳ですが、日本の「成人式」のような特別な行事は一般には行われていません。参加した中国人の大学生は「同じ年代の日中の若者どうしが交流するのは非常に意味のあることだと思います。とても楽しいです」と話していました。

On the 8th, before the the Coming-of-Age Day on the 10th when Japanese international students in Beijing China would turn into new adults, an exchange meeting with university students of China was held. The group of international students from Japan who sponsored it said "I want to continue such meetings so that the people in China may learn more about the culture of Japan".
This meeting was organized by a group of international students from Japan staying in Beijing, and it had the cooperation from the Japanese embassy and this year was the first time. In a hall in Beijing city about 200 people had participated, such as those Chinese university students who were interested in the culture and the custom of Japan, and in the new adult Japanese international students. In the meeting, the Chinese and Japanese participants respectively introduced a culture to each other, international students from Japan performed a dancing that matched Soran Bushi, and the young people in China demonstrated the t'ai chi chuan. In general, in China, a special event like "Coming of Age ceremony" of Japan was not held, although legally Chinese people would become an adult when they were 18 years old. One participating Chinese university student said ｢I think it is very significant for the same age young people from China and Japan to do exchange. It is full of fun｣.

This type of cultural exchange is important for the the mutual understanding of the people. It is beneficial for both China and Japan.

秋葉原動漫文化中心閂門

Recently the NHK News reported the following;
５年間にわたり、日本のアニメーション文化の発信拠点となってきた東京・秋葉原の「東京アニメセンター」が、閉館することになり、活躍したキャラクターなどに感謝の賞が贈られました。
東京アニメセンターは、アニメ制作会社でつくる団体が、日本のアニメの魅力を紹介する拠点として、平成１８年にＪＲ秋葉原駅前の再開発ビルに設けました。これまでに海外からの観光客１０万人などあわせて１２８万人が訪れましたが、一定の役割を果たしたとして、いったん閉館することになりました。１０日の閉館イベントにはアニメファンらおよそ１００人が集まり、鳥取県の観光大使を務める「ゲゲゲの鬼太郎」の着ぐるみや、秋葉原を訪れる海外の人たちにメイド姿で観光案内をしているＮＰＯのグループ、それに数々のアニメで声優を務める羽多野渉さんらに感謝のトロフィーが贈られました。５０回近く訪れたという千葉県の２０歳の男性は「声優さんを身近に感じられ、多くの友人とも知り合える場所だっただけに、閉館は残念です。規模を大きくして復活してほしいです」と話していました。東京アニメセンターにあった設備は、日本動画協会に移され、動画協会では、リニューアルしたうえで、再開することを検討しているということです。
After the passage of five years the "Tokyo Animated Cartoon Center" at Akihabara of Tokyo that had been the disseminating center of Japnanese animation culture would be closed, and the prize of thanks was awarded to active characters etc.
The Center was made up of a group of animated cartoon production companies that in 2006 set up the Tokyo animated cartoon center in a redevelopment building located in front of the JR Akihabara Station, and used it as a base to introduce the charm of animated cartoons of Japan. Upon closing, it would be noted that it had performed a definite role, 1.28 million people had visited it, including 100,000 tourists from foreign countries. On the 10th, about 100 animated cartoon fans gathered for the closing event of the center, and trophy of thanks were presented to sightseeing ambassador in Tottori Prefecture that had dressed up in "Gegego no Kitaro" cartoon costume, and to the NPO group that dressed up as housemaid and worked as sightseeing guides for overseas people who visited Akihabara, and to Mr. Haneda who had served as the radio actor in a lot of animated cartoons. A 20-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture who had visited almost 50 times said ｢Because it was a place where the radio actor can be felt close-by, and a place that could get acquainted with a lot of friends, the closing of the center is regrettable. I wish it could be revived and in a bigger size｣. Equipment at the Tokyo animated cartoon center would be moved to the Japanese Animation Society, and they would examine whether to restart again after renewing the equipment.

Animated cartoon industry is important to Japan in many respects. I hope a new animated carton center could be open in the future.

四川成都十五公尺高機動戦士模型要改做

Recently the Excite News reported the following:

中国四川省成都市の遊園地「国色天郷楽園」が人気アニメの「機動戦士ガンダム」にそっくりな巨大立像を造った問題で、同園は８日までに像を撤去した。「著作権侵害」との批判を受けての対応とみられるが、同園は「担当者がおらずコメントできない」としている。像の存在は昨年末に発覚。クリスマスに合わせて建設したもので、高さ約１５メートルでガンダムに酷似していたが、同園は「自分たちでデザインを考えた」と主張。その後、「イメージと違う仕上がりになったため、修理する」として顔の部分を布で覆い隠していた。

On the 8th, China's amusement park the "Country Paradise" in Chengdu City of Sichuan removed the huge statue which looked like the popular animated cartoon "Mobile Soldier Gundam" because of the problems it had generated. This garden said that "It is not possible to comment because the person in charge not here" although it was thought that this was a response to the criticism on "Copyright infringement" that the garden had received. It was said that the drawing of the image came to light at the end of last year. It was constructed in Christmas, about 15 meters in height; although it resembled the Gundam closely, the garden insisted that "The design was thought out by themselves". Afterwards, part of the face was covered and hidden under the cloth as "it was under repair for the purpose of making it into a different image".

This "Made in China" Gundam statue has been a topic of discussion in some Japanese media in recently weeks. Finally China has decided to do something about it.

日本大學發現治療胃癌新方法

Recently the Asahi News reported the following:

胃がんの増殖を助ける遺伝子を、東京大や横浜市立大などのグループが見つけた。この遺伝子を働かなくしたマウスは胃がんができにくくなった。胃がんの新しい治療薬の開発に役立つと期待される。
　横浜市立大の前田愼教授らが６６人の胃がん患者のがん組織を調べたところ、ＡＳＫ１という遺伝子が活発に働いていた。この遺伝子はもともと、侵入してきた細菌やウイルスに対抗するために炎症を起こしたり、傷ついた細胞をがん化する前に殺したりする働きがある。しかし、胃がんでは細胞分裂を促して増殖を助けていることがわかった。
　ＡＳＫ１を働かなくしたマウスに胃がんになる薬を飲ませたところ、正常なマウスに比べて、できた胃がんの数が３分の１ほどに減り、胃がんの大きさも半分以下に抑えられたという。前田教授は「ＡＳＫ１の働きを抑える薬ができれば、胃がんの新しい治療薬になりそうだ」と話す。成果は米科学アカデミー紀要に掲載された。
Some groups in the Tokyo University and Yokohama City University had found the gene that helped the proliferation of the stomach cancer. Without the gene at work, it would became difficult for the mouse to develop stomach cancer. It was expected that it would be useful for the development of some new treatment for stomach cancer.
When professors Maeta and others of the Yokohama City University examined the cancer tissue of 66 stomach cancer patients, the gene named ASK1 was found to be working actively. Originally, these gene worked to oppose the bacillus and the virus that has invaded, and killed the damaged cell before it became cancerous. However, it had been understood that stomach caner assisted proliferation by helping cell division.
When stomach cancer causing medicine was fed to the mouse whose ASK1 was not working, the number of stomach cancers that had developed decreased to about 1/3 when compared with normal mouses, and the stomach cancer size was said to have been suppressed to below half. Prof. Maeta said "If the medicine that suppresses the working of ASK1 can be made available, it seems that a new treatment for stomach caner would become available". The result was published in the U.S. Science Academy Bulletin.

This medical discovery is a good news for many stomach cancer patients.

築地市場新高價售出藍鰭吞拿

Recently the NHK News reported the following:

水産物の取り扱い量が日本一の東京の築地市場で、５日朝、初競りが行われ、近海でとれた高級なクロマグロが築地市場の過去最高値で落札されました。
築地市場では、仲卸業者などおよそ３００人が、ことし１年の商売繁盛を祈る手締めを行ったあと、午前５時に初競りが始まりました。このうちマグロは、全国の港に水揚げされた近海ものや海外から空輸されたものなど、あわせて５００本近くが並び、競りにかけられました。特に近海でとれた高級なクロマグロは、ここ数年、中国でも人気が高まり、日本のすし店などとの間で落札競争が激しくなっていて、５日の初競りでも値段がどんどん上がり、仲卸業者によりますと、北海道の戸井港に水揚げされた重さ３４２キロのマグロが３２４９万円で競り落とされました。東京都によりますと、マグロ１本の値段としては、築地市場に記録が残る平成１１年以降、最高値となっています。このマグロは、中国などですしのチェーン店を営む香港の業者と東京・銀座の高級すし店が共同で購入して、半分ずつ分け合いました。マグロを購入した香港の業者、リッキー・チェンさんは「日本のマグロは非常にレベルが高く、どうしても欲しかった。思った以上に高値になったが、競り落とせてうれしい」と話していました。また、同じマグロを共同で購入した銀座のすし店の今田洋輔さんは「予想以上の値段だったが、予想以上にいいマグロで、お客さんに楽しんでもらえると思う」と話していました。
Tsukiji Shijo in Tokyo, as the the number one in Japan in the amount of handling marine catches, in the morning on the fifth successfully held its first auction, the high-end blue-fin tuna that could be caught in the neighboring waters was auctioned at a highest ever price in Tsukiji Shijo.
About 300 people in Tsukiji Shijo including middle-traders started the first auction at 5.00 am after performing the ceremony with hands tighten to pray for a year of prosperous business. As for the tuna, those landed in the ports in the whole country from inshore, together with those airlifted from overseas were lined up totalling about 500, and were put up for competition. Especially in the past few years the high-end blue-fin tuna caught near shore was popular in China, and competition among sushi shops in Japan was tense, the price went up fast during the first auction held on the 5th. According to middle-traders the tuna that weighted 342 kilos and landed at the Toi port in Hokkaido was successfully bidden at 32.49 million yen. According to Tokyo, it was the highest price since 1999 when records on the price of one tuna was available in Tsukiji Shijo. This tuna was bought jointly by a trader in Hong Kong who managed multiple sushi shops in China etc.. together with some high-class sushi shops in Tokyo and Ginza; they shared it equally. Trader Ricky Cheng in Hong Kong who had bought the tuna said ｢Tuna in Japan was very high level, and wanted the tuna by all means. I am glad to have bidden it in the auction although it came at a price higher than I thought｣. Moreover, Yosuke Imada of a sushi shop in Ginza which had jointly bought the same tuna was saying that "It is thought that the guests could enjoy a good tuna that will exceed their expectation, although at a price that could be higher than their expectation too".

It is obvious that the high class tuna from Japan continues to be a favorite dish for many Chinese and Japanese who are willing to pay for the delicacy.

三星集團大規模投資顯示屏幕生產

Recently the NHK News reported the following:

韓国最大の財閥、サムスングループは、ことし設備投資と研究開発に過去最高となる３兆円余りを投じる計画を発表し、特に主力産業の携帯電話やテレビのディスプレイなどの分野でシェア拡大を図るため、大規模な投資で先手を打つ姿勢を示しました。
大手電機メーカー、サムスン電子を中核とするサムスングループが５日に発表したところによりますと、ことしグループ全体の設備投資と研究開発に４３兆ウォン余り（日本円でおよそ３兆１６００億円）を投じる計画だということです。これは去年よりも２０％近く増加し、過去最高となる見通しです。このうち設備投資では、「スマートフォン」と呼ばれる携帯端末や、薄型テレビに使われ、次世代のディスプレイとして期待されている「有機ＥＬ」の分野に、去年の４倍近いおよそ５兆ウォン（日本円で３９００億円余り）を投じる計画だということで、生産拠点の大幅な強化が図られるものとみられます。サムスングループでは、今回の投資について「将来の成長に向けた原動力となるものだ」としており、主力産業である携帯電話やテレビのディスプレイなど、世界的に成長が見込まれる分野に先手を打って大規模な投資を行うことで、シェア拡大を図る姿勢を示しています。
The largest financial syndicate in South Korea the Samsung group announced the plan to throw in three trillion yen, the highest ever capital investment for research and development this year; it was an attempt to expand its share in the field of cellular phone and television displays etc. where its main industrial strength lay, and showed a posture in taking the lead by the way of a large-scale investment.
According to what was announced on the 5th, the Samsung group, with Samsung Electronics at its core, scheduled to throw in 43 trillion won (about 3.16 trillion Japanese yen) capital investment to do research and development for the entire group this year. This was expected to be a nearly 20% increase compared with last year, and was the highest ever. In these investments, about five trillion won (more than 390 billion yen in Japanese yen), nearly 4 times of last year would be thrown into the field of "Organic EL", being the expected next generation displays to be used for the portable terminal called "Smart phone" and the thin-screen TV. The intention for greatly strengthening the production foothold could be seen. For the Samsung group, doing this large-scale investment was a posture of an attempt to secure an expanded share, noting that "It is the one that becomes a mainspring for the growth in the future", and it was a forestalling move in the field of displays for use in cellular phones and televisions. And it was a field that the company had the industrial strength and where a worldwide growth was expected.

It seems that the Samsung group is investing heavily in the display production and is hoping that the company can take a leading role in the production.

新力收購東芝在長崎県生產設備

Recently the NHK News reported the following:

大手電機メーカーの「東芝」は、想定どおりに需要が拡大しなかったゲーム機向けの高性能の半導体生産から撤退し、現在保有する長崎県の生産設備を「ソニー」に売却する方向で交渉を進めていることが明らかになりました。
東芝は、長崎県諌早市の工場で、家庭用ゲーム機「プレイステーション３」向けに高性能の半導体を生産しています。この半導体は、もともとソニーが東芝やＩＢＭと共同開発したもので、情報の処理能力が高いことから、一時は「夢の半導体」とも呼ばれ、おととし、東芝がソニーから生産設備をおよそ９００億円で買収していました。しかし、関係者によりますと、この半導体はゲーム機以外の家電などへの利用が想定したとおりには拡大しなかったことから、東芝はこの半導体の生産からは撤退する方針を固め、生産設備をソニーに売却する方向で交渉を進めているということです。一方、ソニーは、この生産設備を買い戻したうえで、需要が急拡大している高画質のデジタルカメラやスマートフォン向けの半導体の生産に切り替えて、国内での生産体制の増強にあてることにしており、近く双方が合意に達する見通しです。
It was understood that "Toshiba" the major electric appliance manufacturer had withdrawn from high efficiency semi-conductor production for game machines as the demand had not expanded as expected, and it moved towards the direction of a negotiation in which the present production facility at Nagasaki Prefecture would be sold off to "Sony".
Toshiba was producing high efficiency semi-conductors in the factory at Nagasaki Prefecture Isahaya City for family-use game machines "PlayStation 3", at one moment it was called "Dream semi-conductor" for its high ability to process information in which Sony originally jointly developed with Toshiba and IBM. Toshiba had purchased the production facility from Sony for this semi-conductor for about 90 billion yen in the year before last. But according to people who had connection, because the expected expansion into home electrical appliances related production besides for the semi-conductors for game machine was not possible, Toshiba confirmed the policy of withdrawing from the production of semi-conductors, and it was said that this negotiation was in the direction of selling the production facility to Sony. On the other hand, after this production facility was bought back, Sony would switch to the production of semi-conductors for digital cameras and a smart phones of the high-resolution in which demand had rapidly expanded, thus appropriately reinforced the system of production in the country. And it was expected both parties would reach an agreement soon.

It shows that Sony is confident about the future market and will continue invest in the production of high end digital cameras and smart phones.

日本出生人口持續下降

Recently the Asahi News reported the following:

総務省は１月１日現在の人口推計をまとめた。この１年で新たに成人に達した２０１１年の新成人は１２４万人（男性６３万人、女性６１万人）で、総人口１億２７３６万人に占める割合は０．９７％。総務省が新成人の人口推計を始めた１９６８年以降、初めて１％を割り込んだ。
　これまで新成人が最も多かったのは人口、比率とも７０年の２４６万人（２．４０％）。第１次ベビーブーム世代の４９年生まれの人が成人に達した時だった。
　その後は減少。第２次ベビーブームの人たちが成人となった９４年には２０７万人まで盛り返したが、９５年以降は再び減少傾向が続いている。１１年の新成人はピーク時のほぼ半数となっている。人口推計では、新成人は３０年に９５万人、５０年には７１万人まで減る見込み。
　一方、うさぎ年生まれの人は１００８万人で、男性４９０万人、女性５１７万人。

On January 1 the Ministry for Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications consolidated an estimate on the population. New adults in 2011 who had newly attained adulthood this year were 1.24 million people (630,000 men and 610,000 females), and this ratio represented 0.97% of the total 127.36 million population. It was the first time since 1968 when the Ministry started the new adult population estimate that the figure was reduced to below the 1% mark. Up to now, the highest new adult ratio was 2.46 million (2.4%) of the 1970. It was the time when the first wave of baby boomers born in 1949 had attained adulthood themselves. Afterwards there was a decrease. The decreasing tendency continued until 1994 when it recovered to 2.07 million people, it was a time when people of the second wave baby boomers became adults. After 1995 the decreasing tendency continued. New adult in 2011 was almost half of the number at the peak. According to the population estimate, new adult in 2030 was expected to be 950,000 people, and would decrease down to 710,000 people in 2050. On the other hand, people born in the year of the rabbit was expected to be 10.08 million, 4.9 million men and 5.17 million women.

Probably Japan could consider taking up more immigrants from overseas.