日本生活保護制度新法案可能使社會安全網倒退

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

　厚生労働省が２８日公表した生活保護制度の見直し素案は、就労意欲を促すための加算金創設など「アメ」の部分と、審査の厳格化という「ムチ」の両面で従来より踏み込んだ。ただ、就労促進の実を上げるにはきめ細かい支援が不可欠だ。この前提が崩れれば厳格化だけが強調され、「最後のセーフティーネット」としての機能が後退しかねない。

　働く意欲がある人への加算、賃金を得れば保護費が減額される仕組みの緩和−−。受給者に働くことを強く促す素案に対し、実務を担う自治体側の委員は２８日の社会保障審議会の部会で方向性に賛意を示した。ただ、実効性には疑問も残る。

　例えば今回の目玉、加算金創設も、何をもって「働く意欲がある」と評価するかは示していない。厚労省は採用面接を受けた回数などを想定しているが、あるケースワーカーは「外形的なアリバイはいくらでも作れる」と打ち明ける。

(試譯文)

The re-examined draft on the social assistance system which was released on the 28th by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had stepped deeper than ever on both sides: on the so called "candies" portion, such as additional amount of funding to urge for working volition, and the "whip" portion to urge for tightening on the checking. However, minute support was indispensable to raise the fruit of promoting working. If this premise collapsed, only tightening would be emphasized and the function of "the last safety net" might retreat.

Towards people with the volition to work, the mechanism was relaxed in which conservation expense would be reduced if wages were received --. Regarding the draft which strongly urged recipients to work, the committee from the side of the self-governing body which was responsible for actual operations expressed its approval on this direction in the sectional meeting of Social Security Council on the 28^th. However, questions on their effectiveness remained there.

For example, there was one item criticized: while additional amount of funding was set aside, the assessment of "There is the volition to work" was not shown. Although the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had been taking into the calculation that job interviews etc. would be held on several occasions, a caseworker had revealed that "superficial alibi can be made without limit."

Because of financial difficulties, there is always a chance that social welfare benefits could be reduced by the government.

全日空:往返中國遊客數目減少

全日空:中国旅客数、９月は３％減に

毎日新聞　2012年09月26日　20時31分

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

　全日本空輸は２６日、９月の中国路線の旅客数が前年同月比３％減に落ち込むとの見通しを明らかにした。８月は同２２％増と好調な実績を上げており、日中関係の悪化が旅客需要を急速に悪化させている。９〜１１月の団体客の予約のキャンセルは２５日までに、日本発で１万２０００席、中国発で２万８０００席と計４万件に上った。キャンセル数は予想需要の４％程度に過ぎないが、回復の兆しもないという。

　記者会見した伊東信一郎社長は「中国線は落ちたり、回復したりしながら、トレンド的には右肩上がり。ただ今回は日本企業に対するデモの問題もあり、ビジネス需要に従来と違う影響が出ている。観光もしばらくは厳しいだろう」と述べた。

　一方、海運各社で作る日本船主協会の芦田昭充会長（商船三井会長）は２６日、記者会見し「海運には今のところ大きな影響はないが、経済に影響が出ないよう早期に正常化してほしい」と述べた。物流用の船舶は現在、供給過剰状態で運賃競争が激化。日本企業は値下げ競争についていけず、日中間を結ぶ船舶の９割を中国船が占める。このため影響は軽微となった形だ。

(試譯文)

All Nippon Airways on the 26^th made clear the prospect that the passenger traffic in the China route in September had dropped with a 3% decrease compared with the corresponding month last year. While in August there was an increase of 22% which was an improved good track record, the aggravation of Japan-China relations had worsened passenger demand quickly. Up to the 25th, the cancellation of reservation of group tourists in September to November was 12,000 seats from Japan, and was 28,000 seats from China, with a total of over 40,000. While the number of cancellation was about only 4% of the expected demand, it was also said that there was no sign of recovery.

President Shin-ichiro Ito who gave a press interview had said that "It is an ever increasing trend to see China routes fell and recovered. Now, this time there is also the problem of demonstration against Japanese companies; it is different from before, the influence on business demand has come out of it. Probably sightseeing will also become severe for the time being."

On the other hand, Chairman Akimitsu Ashida (also the Chairman of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines) of the Japanese Ship-owners' Association which made up of individual shipping company had given an interview and said on the 26^th that "Although there is no big influence in marine business for the moment, I hope that normalization could come early so that the economy would not be affected". Currently goods-transportation ship was in at state of supply exceeding demand; the freight rate competition had intensified. As the China ships represented 90 percent of the vessels that were connecting Japan and China, Japanese companies could not enter into a price war. For that reason, the influence was minimal.

I hope that the Sino-Japanese relationship could be normalized as soon as possible so that the economic situation in both countries may not be affected

中國海關嚴格檢查日本航空貨物通関

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

尖閣:北京市が通関厳格化　日本からの航空貨物

毎日新聞　2012年09月24日　22時42分

　北京市の税関当局が、複数の日本企業に対して、日本から北京国際空港に到着する航空貨物の通関検査を厳格化すると通告していたことが２４日、分かった。税関当局による通関検査厳格化の通告は、天津に次いで２例目。理由は不明だが、日本政府による沖縄県・尖閣諸島（中国名・釣魚島）国有化への対抗措置とみられる。

　関係者によると、先週末、北京市の税関当局から複数の日本企業に「２４日から通関検査を強化する」と通告があった。荷物をすべて開封して調べる「全量検査」を行うと通告された企業もある。ただ、通告を受けていない企業も多く、税関担当者によって対応が異なる可能性もある。

　通関検査の厳格化が通告された天津では、今のところ実際に検査が厳格化された事例は確認されていない。ただ、上海では一部の日本企業が全量検査を受けるなど通関業務に遅れが生じている。

(試譯文)

On the 24^th it was understood that the custom services in Beijing had announced that the custom clearance inspections on air cargoes arrived at the Beijing international airport from Japan would be tightened towards Japanese companies. This announcement of tightening custom clearance inspection by the custom authorities was following that at Tianjin and was the 2nd example. Although the reason was unknown, it was seen as the counter-measures to the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands (China named it Diaoyu Island) at Okinawa by the Japanese government.

According to the related people, many Japanese companies last weekend had received the announcement from the custom house authorities in Beijing that "there will be tightening up of customs clearance inspections starting from the 24th". There was company which was informed that "whole-quantity inspection" would be conducted that would open and investigate all loads. However, there were many companies which had not received the announcement, and the response could differ with individual custom service people in charge.

In Tianjin the tightening of the customs clearance inspection was announced, yet for the moment example where inspection was actually tightened was not confirmed. However, in Shanghai, delay in customs clearance had occurred for some Japanese companies in that they were asked to undergo the whole-quantity inspection.

It is unfortunate that the political dispute has spilled over to the normal Sino-Japanese business activities. I think if the dispute continues, in the long run both countries would become the losers.

澳門賭場持有人投資法國葡萄酒生產區

高級ワイン:中国人がブルゴーニュに進出、地元は反発

毎日新聞　2012年08月23日　22時30分（最終更新　08月23日　23時18分）

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

　世界的な高級ワインの生産地フランス中部ブルゴーニュのジュブレシャンベルタン村のブドウ畑を、中国人が８００万ユーロ（約７億９０００万円）で買収し、地元のワイン生産者団体などが「文化遺産の喪失だ」と反発している。フランスメディアが２３日、報じた。

　フィガロ紙によると、中国人によるブルゴーニュ地方のワインへの投資は初めて。今回の買収者は、マカオのカジノオーナー。年間約１万２０００本を生産するブドウ畑２ヘクタールと１２世紀ごろ建てられた城館を合わせて買った。

　これに対し、地元のワイン生産者団体の代表は「外国人投資家が乱入してくる」と反発。

(試譯文)

Regarding some Chinese people, at 8 million euros (about 790 million yen), were buying the vineyards located in the Gevrey-Chambertin village in Burgundy of central France that produced world’s high-class wine, the local wine producer organizations etc. were rejecting it, saying that "It is a loss of the cultural heritage". The France media reported this on the 23^rd (August).

According to the Le Figaro newspaper, it was the first time for the Chinese people to make investment in the wine at the Burgundy district. This buyer was a casino owner from Macao. He in total bought 2 ha of vineyards which could produce about 12,000 bottles every year, together with a tower house built in around the 12th century.

In response to this, the representatives of the local wine producer organizations opposed to it, saying that it was "an intrusion by a foreign investor".

I am interested to know who this Chinese Macao casino owner is.

日本新大學畢業生23% 沒有固定工作

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

毎日新聞　2012年08月27日　23時44分（最終更新　08月27日　23時59分）

　今春の大学卒業者約５６万人のうち、ほぼ４人に１人にあたる１２万８０００人余り（約２３％）が安定した仕事に就いていないことが、文部科学省が２７日公表した学校基本調査で分かった。正社員など安定した職を得たのは６０％で、同省は「リーマン・ショックで落ちこんだ就職率は回復傾向にあるが、本人が望まぬ雇用形態で就職せざるをえない状況は課題」としている。また、東京電力福島第１原発事故の影響を受ける福島県で、小学生が大幅に減少したことも分かった。

　調査は５月１日現在の幼稚園から大学院までの全校を対象に実施した。全国の大学を今春卒業したのは５５万９０３０人。文科省は、契約社員などになる大学生の数を把握するため、今年初めて、雇用期間に１年以上の定めのある「非正規雇用」の項目を追加して調査したところ、２万１９９０人が該当。これに▽アルバイトなどの「一時的な仕事」に就いた１万９５９６人▽「進学も就職もしていない」８万６６３８人を加えた１２万８２２４人（２２．９％）が安定した仕事に就いていないことが分かった。

(試譯文)

According to the School Basic Survey which was released by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on the 27^th (August), it turned out that out of the about 560,000 people who had graduated from the universities of this spring, there were a little more than 128,000 people (about 23%) who had not taken up a stable job, it was equal to one out of four people. There was 60% of the people in stable jobs such as becoming a full-time employee; the ministry supposed that "the rate of employment which fell in the Lehman shock is in a recovery tendency, yet against the background that people does not desire to have a job, cannot help but getting a job has become a situation". Moreover, it also turned out that the number of school children had decreased sharply in Fukushima Prefecture because of the influence of the Tokyo Electric Power’s number one nuclear power plant disaster at Fukushima.

The investigation was conducted on all schools from the kindergartens to graduate schools as of May first. There was 559,030 people found graduated from universities all over the country this spring. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, in order that it might grasp the number of the college students who had become a contracted employee etc., for the first time this year, added the item of "non-regular employment" for investigation which included those who had an employment contract for one year or more; 21,990 people fitted this category. To this adding 19, 596 people which took up "temporary work" of part-time job etc.; and to this also adding 86,638 people who "neither making entrance into a school nor entering an employment", it turned out that 128,224 people (22.9%) were not taking up a stable job.

I think many factors could affect the employment rate of a country. Poor economic situation could be one factor.

東京都下面可能有長７公里断層

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

東京都心部に長さ７キロ・メートルの断層が存在する可能性が高いことが、専門家らによる地質調査でわかった。

　地震を起こす活断層かどうかは、さらに精密な調査が必要としている。埼玉県熊谷市で２０日開かれた日本第四紀学会で発表した。

　断層の存在が指摘されたのは、新宿区四谷付近から北区田端付近までほぼ南北に延びる区間。豊蔵勇・元日本活断層学会副会長らのグループが、建設工事や土木工事の際に行われた地質調査のデータ約１３００点を分析した結果、四谷―田端間の東側と西側で、同じ年代の地層の深さが大きくずれていることが判明した。

　豊蔵さんは「古い年代の地層ほどずれが大きくなっており、２０万年間に断層が繰り返し動いたとみられる。地下深部で地震を起こす断層とつながっている可能性もある」と指摘する。

（2012年8月20日22時09分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

It turned out in the geological survey by specialists that there was a high possibility that a fault of 7 km in length existing in the center of Tokyo.

Whether there could be an active fault which could cause an earthquake still needed more precise investigation. The Japan Association for Quaternary Research that was held in Kumagaya-shi, Saitama announced this on the 20th (August).

The fault that was pointed out to exist was the section which mostly extending from north to south from near Yotsuya of Shinjuku-ku to near Tabata of Kita-ku. The group was formed by the former Japanese Active Fault Society vice president, Isamu Toyokura; as a result of analyzing about 1300 data of the geological surveys on the occasions of construction works or a public works, it was made clear that the depth of the stratum had greatly shifted on the east side and the west side between Yotsuya and Tabata, compared to other stratum of the same age.

Mr. Toyokura pointed out that "up to the old age stratum the gap is large and it is seen as that the fault had moved repeatedly in 200,000 years. There is a possibility that it is connected to the fault which causes the deep underground earthquake."

It is an interesting discovery. More research should be done on this observation.

中国可能使用財政資金保経済

Recently the NHK news on-line reported the following:

中国の温家宝首相は、中国経済がヨーロッパの信用不安の影響を受けて大きな打撃を受けているという認識を示したうえで、中国の財政には１２兆円余りの余裕があるとして、必要に応じてこうした資金を投じ、景気のてこ入れを図る考えを示しました。

中国の温家宝首相は、１１日、天津で開かれている経済フォーラムに出席し、中国経済の現状について、ヨーロッパの信用不安の影響を受け世界経済が低迷するなか、輸出企業を中心に大きな打撃を受けているという認識を示しました。
そのうえで、「中国政府の財政には１兆元（日本円で１２兆円余り）の余裕がある。われわれは状況に応じて、この資金を経済政策に充て、安定した成長につなげていく」と述べ、必要に応じてこうした資金を投じて、景気のてこ入れを図る考えを示しました。
中国政府は、先週、地下鉄や高速道路の整備など全国で５５の公共事業を実施する方針を承認しており、こうした事業に資金を投じて、景気の回復を図るものとみられます。
中国政府としては、秋の共産党大会を前に景気が悪化する事態を避けるため、豊富な財政資金を投じて、景気の下支えを図る姿勢を鮮明に打ち出したものとみられます。

(試譯文)

While showing recognition that Chinese economy had received a big blow due to the influence of the credit insecurity in Europe, because there was over 12 trillion yen readily available in Chinese finances, China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would invest such a fund if needed, and he showed the idea that aimed at business reinforcement.

China's Prime Minister Chinese Wen Jiabao attended the economic forum opened in Tianjin on the 11^th. Noting that China’s present economic condition was subject to the influence of the credit insecurity of Europe that made the world economy to hang low, Wen showed recognition that China had received the big blow mainly in exporting enterprises.

Also, it was said that "there is a 1 trillion yuan (a little more than 12 trillion yen in the Japanese yen) readily available in the finances of the Chinese government. We appropriate this fund for an economic policy, and tie it to the stable growth according to the situation", such a fund would be invested if needed, and the idea which aiming at business reinforcement was shown.

Last week the Chinese government had recognized plans which carried out 55 public works in the whole country, such as on the maintenance of subways and highways, investing funds into these enterprises that aimed at the recovery of business activities.

In order to avoid the situation that business activities turning downward before the autumn Communist Party convention was held, in was concluded that the Chinese government had adopted a clear posture of aiming at supporting the business by investing huge amount of treasury funds.

It is good news that China will try to keep up its economy.

台灣国家安全局被中国黑客攻撃增加

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

台湾:中国からのハッカー攻撃　上半期１０３万回

　台湾の情報機関「国家安全局」が９月下旬開会の立法院（国会）に提出した来年１月からの１３年度予算計画書によると、国家安全局に対する中国からのハッカー攻撃が昨年の９８万６４９回に対し、今年上半期だけで１０３万６２２６回に急増した。台湾メディアが報じた。侵入は防いでいるという。台湾の国防予算は緊縮方向にあるが、情報戦部門は拡充させる方針で、対中国情報戦の能力向上を図る。

　また、台湾メディアは、国防省の中国軍事力報告書によると、中国が台湾に向けて配備したミサイルは一昨年の約１４００発から今年は約１６００発に増加。一方、台湾側が配備しているミサイルは使用期限に達したものが多く、「延長のため外国から部品を購入しなければならない」といい、軍事的には脆弱（ぜいじゃく）だと伝えた。

(試譯文)

According to the budget plan for fiscal year 13 (staring from January next year) which the intelligence service: the "National Security Office" in Taiwan would present to the legislative organ (the Parliament) meeting scheduled for late September, the hacker attacks from China on the national security office, merely in the first half of this year, had increased rapidly to 1,036,226 times from the 980,649 times last year . The Taiwan media reported this. It was said that these invasions were prevented. Although the direction for the national defense budget of Taiwan was aiming at reduction, it planned to expand the information warfare section, and it aimed at improvement in the capability in information warfare with China.

Moreover, the Taiwan media said that according to the China military strength report prepared by the Department of Defense, China missiles aiming at Taiwan had increased from about 1400 shots of last year to about 1600 shots this year. On the other hand, it was said that many of the missiles which the Taiwan side being equipped had reached the usage expiry date; and "in order to extend them, parts had to purchase from a foreign country",  it was said that this was vulnerable militarily.

It is an interesting war game; both sides are pumping money and other resources into it.

日本和蘇聯合作發展天自然氣生產

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

ロシア極東の天然ガス関連プロジェクトへの日本企業の参入が活発化している。

今年のアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）閣僚会議と首脳会議の開催地となったウラジオストクでは、ロシア産液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）の生産基地を伊藤忠商事などがロシア国営ガスプロムと共同で建設する計画が進む。川崎重工はウラジオストクに初めてガスタービン発電設備を納入し、ロシア極東でのコージェネレーションシステムの商機を探る。ロシア側も極東開発を推進し経済成長の拡大につなげたい考えで、日露協力の発展が期待されている。

　ウラジオストクでのＬＮＧ基地建設プロジェクトは、１８〜２０年ごろから年間１０００万トンの生産開始を目指すのが柱。日本などへの輸出を計画しており、福島第１原発事故を受けて脱原発依存を進める日本にとっては、エネルギーの安定確保の面からも期待が高い。８日にウラジオストクで行われる日露首脳会談で、ガスプロムが年内に投資の適正さを判断し、計画を進める内容の覚書を交わす予定だ。

(試譯文)

Japanese companies’ entry into the natural gas related projects in Far East Russia was being activated.

In Vladivostok which was used as the venue of this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cabinet meeting and the summit meeting, the plan for Itochu Corporation etc. to collaborate with Russia national Gazprom to build the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production base was in progress. For the first time the Kawasaki Heavy Industry supplied Vladivostok with gas-turbine-power-generation equipment, and explored the business opportunity for the cogeneration system in Russian Far East. With expanding the economic growth in mind, the Russia side also wanted to promote the Far East development; development in Japan-Russia cooperation was expected.

Regarding the LNG base construction project in Vladivostok, the aim of having a 10 million-ton production per year starting from around 2018 to 2020 year was the pillar. There were plans to export it to Japan etc. Japan, in response to the First Nuclear Power plant disaster at Fukushima, was fading out its dependence on nuclear power; the expectation was also high in aspects of ensuring the stability of energy. In the Japan-Russia summit meeting held in Vladivostok on the 8th, making investment to Gazprom before the year end was judged to be a good assessment; a decision was made to exchange memos with contents showing the carrying out future plans.

It seems that economic needs have tied the two countries together. In politics, co-operation is always better than confrontation.

日本中部電力因為轉用火力發電令赤字增加

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中部電力は、今年度の業績見通しについて、運転を停止している浜岡原子力発電所の代わりに、稼働を増やしている火力発電所の燃料費の負担が重くなることなどから、経常損益の赤字幅が昨年度より１２０億円拡大し、８００億円の赤字となることを明らかにしました。

中部電力はことし７月の決算発表で、夏の電力需給が見極められないことを理由に今年度の業績見通しを公表していませんでしたが、夏の需給が固まったとして、４日、公表しました。
それによりますと売上高は２兆６４００億円で、石油や天然ガスの値上がりで電気料金が上昇することなどから昨年度より１９００億円程度、増える見通しです。
しかし、浜岡原発の代わりに火力発電所の稼働が増えて、燃料の調達コストが重くなることなどから、経常損益の赤字幅が１２０億円余り拡大して８００億円の赤字となり、２年連続の経常赤字を見込んでいるということです。
(試譯文)

About the earnings prospect for Chubu Electric Power in the current fiscal year, it showed clearly that the current account deficit of the ordinary profit and loss would expand from the 12 billion yen of last fiscal year; and it would record a loss of 80 billion yen because the heavy burden of the fuel cost for the thermal power plant which had increased operation in order to replace the Hamaoka nuclear power plant which had stopped operation.

While Chubu Electric Power had not released the earnings prospect for the current fiscal year in the financial statements announcement in July this year on grounds that the electric power supply and demand for the summer was not clearly known, now noting that the supply and demand in the summer were solidified, the details were announced officially on the 4th.

According to it, the sales amount was 2,640 billion yen; and since electricity bills had gone up due to rises in price of oil and natural gas, an increase of about 190 billion yen was expected compared to the last fiscal year.

I was said that, however, since the operation of the thermal power plant had to be increased to replace the Hamaoka nuclear power plant, the funding cost of fuel became huge; the deficit in the current account of the ordinary profit and loss was expanded by 12 billion yen, recording a loss of 80 billion yen. A continuous 2-year deficit in the current account was expected.

It is common knowledge that thermal power plants are more costly to operate. I am wondering who will pay for the deficit at the end of the day: the future user, the Government or the entrepreneur. 

日本國內新肺結核個案持續減少

Recently the Yomiuri New on-line reported the following:

昨年中に国内で新たに結核と診断された患者は２万２６８１人で、前年より５８０人減ったものの、減少ペースは依然として鈍いことが、厚生労働省の集計で分かった。

　前年比で１０００～４０００人だった減少ペースは２００８年から減速。今回の集計でも、前年の患者数と比較した減少率は２・５％にとどまり、その前の３・８％を下回った。

　新規の患者を年齢別でみると、免疫力が低下する７０歳以上の高齢者が５３・８％を占めた。人口１０万人当たりの患者数は大阪（２８・０人）、徳島（２３・６人）、和歌山（２３・５人）、東京（２２・９人）の順に多かった。

（2012年8月3日00時02分 読売新聞）

Although the number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in the country last year was 22,681 people, being a decrease of 580 from the previous year, it turned out by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare that the reduction pace was still slow.

The reduction pace had slowed down compared to the previous year of 2008 that had the number standing between 1,000 and 4,000. The pace of decrease in comparison with the patient load of the previous year stood at 2.5%, and this total was lower than the 3.8% before that.

When the new patient was looked at according to age, the elderly people aged 70 and over whose immune strength had fell occupied 53.8%. The number of patient load per 100,000 population in ranking order was: Osaka (28.0 people), Tokushima (23.6 people), Wakayama (23.5 people), and Tokyo (22.9 people).

It seems that the situation in Tokyo is the best.