日本釋放向神戸韓国総領事館放火疑犯

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

在神戸韓国総領事館（神戸市中央区）に向けて発煙筒を投げたなどとして、非現住建造物等放火未遂容疑で兵庫県警に逮捕された同県三木市の無職男性（４０）について、神戸地検が処分保留で釈放していたことがわかった。

　２５日付。地検は釈放の理由を明らかにしていない。

　県警は１月４日、男性を軽犯罪法違反容疑で現行犯逮捕。その後、発煙筒に火を付けて投げたことを認めたとして、同６日に容疑を同放火未遂に切り替えて再逮捕した。

（2013年1月29日00時13分 読売新聞）

(試譯文

Regarding the employed male (40) at Miki city of the Hyogo prefecture who was arrested by the prefecture police on suspicion of an attempted arson to an uninhabited structure: throwing a smoke pot towards the South Korean consulate general (Central district, Kobe city) in Kobe, the Kobe District Prosecutor's Office had released him with charges suspended

By the 25^th, the district prosecutor's office had not made clear the reason for the release.

On January 4 the prefecture police arrested this male on suspicion of misdemeanor. Then, because he admitted to throwing a smoke pot with a fire ignited by him, the suspicion was changed to an attempted arson and he was re-arrested on the 6^th.

I hope this suspect was released not for political reasons.

南韓拒絕交出靖国神社放火疑犯到日本

Early this month the NHK News reported the following:

去年、ソウルの日本大使館に火炎瓶を投げつけた罪で、韓国で服役していた中国人の男が、おととし、東京の靖国神社に放火したとして日本政府が身柄の引き渡しを求めていた問題で、韓国の裁判所は３日、この中国人を政治犯と認定して、日本への引き渡しを拒否する決定を出しました。

日本政府は、去年１月にソウルの日本大使館に火炎瓶４本を投げつけた罪で、韓国の刑務所に服役した中国人の劉強容疑者について、おととし１２月に、東京の靖国神社で門の一部に放火した疑いがあるとして、韓国政府に対して身柄の引き渡しを要請し、ソウルの高等裁判所で審理が行われていました。
その結果、裁判所は３日、「靖国神社を単なる宗教施設でなく、過去の侵略戦争を正当化する政治秩序の象徴とみなした犯行で、政治的大義を実現するために行われた」と指摘して、劉容疑者を政治犯と認定し、日韓の条約による引き渡しの対象から除外されるとして、日本側の要請を拒否する決定を出しました。
劉容疑者の弁護士はＮＨＫの取材に対して、「非常に敏感な問題であることを考慮したうえで総合的に判断したもので、われわれの主張が十分受け入れられた」と話していました。
決定を受けて劉容疑者は近く中国に帰国することになり、日本と中国との間には容疑者の引き渡しを定めた条約がないことから、事件の全容解明は事実上難しくなりました。

(試譯文)

For the reason that he had previously set fire to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo the year before last year, the Japanese government was asking for the handing over of a Chinese male who had served his prison term in South Korea for the crime of throwing Molotov cocktails at the Japanese Embassy last year in Soul. On the matter the South Korean court regarded this Chinese as a political criminal, and on the 3rd took the decision of refusing to deliver him to Japan.

About this Chinese suspect Liu Qiang who had served in the South Korean prison for the crime of throwing four Molotov cocktails at the Japanese Embassy in Soul in January last year, the Japanese government suspected him of setting fire to a part of the gate at Yasukuni Shine in Tokyo in December the year before last and thus requested his delivery. The South Korean government in response to this delivery request held a trial in the High Court of Soul to decide the matter.

As for the outcome, the court on the 3^rd pointed out that "Yasukuni Shine is not merely a religion institution, it is the symbol of a political order that tries to rationalize the aggression war in the past that is regarded as a crime; the act was being carried out in order to realize political righteousness". As for Liu Qiang the suspect he was regarded as a political criminal, it was justified as an exception to the object of the delivery as covered in the Japan-South Korea treaty. The decision to refuse the request from Japan was made.

In an interview with the NHK suspect Liu's lawyer was saying that “it is a very sensitive issue to be judged, the judgment was made after taking all into consideration, and our opinion was very much accepted."

As a result of this court decision, suspect Liu would be going back to China soon, and since there was no treaty that would provide for the delivery of suspects between Japan and China, a full-scale investigation on the facts of the incident would become difficult.

I think politics is a sensitive matter for the court to judge; there is a danger that the decision may set a controversial precedent.

也說也斯(梁秉鈞)(1949-2013)

在2011年尾我在溫哥華卑斯大學(UBC)參加一個由也斯主持的講座, 與他有一面之緣. 講座主題是與香港電影有關, 他當時精神不錯, 健康無大問題, 只是見他不時需要抹鼻水. 現在回看當時的片段, 別有一番感想.

 

 

沖縄成為最受歡迎旅遊點

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

観光庁がまとめた「国内旅行の満足度調査」によると、沖縄を訪れて「大変満足」と感じた人の割合が２９・５％と、地域別で最も多かった。

　次いで関東の２１・５％、近畿が２１・３％、北海道の２０・２％が続いた。逆に、四国は１０・５％と「大変満足」の割合が最も低かった。

　一方、「１年以内に再来訪したい」との項目では、沖縄は「そうは思わない」と考える人の割合が２７・７％で最も高かった。観光庁は「沖縄は旅行先として魅力は大きいが、遠距離や高い費用が『行きやすさ』の障害になっている」と分析している。

　調査は昨年７月までに、無作為に選んだ全国の２万５０００人を対象に、「過去６か月に行った旅行」に関して実施し、このほど結果をまとめた。

（2013年1月4日19時11分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

According to the "Investigation on the degree-of-satisfaction in domestic tour" summarized by the Japan Tourism Agency, among the people who had visited Okinawa 29.5% thought that "it is very satisfying"; and by area it had the highest percentage

Following that, it was Kanto at 21.5%, continued by Kinki at 21.3% and Hokkaido at 20.2%. On the contrary, for Shikoku the rate for receiving "very satisfying" was 10.5%, being the lowest.

On the other hand, with regard to Okinawa, the percentage on the suggestion of "would like to re-visit it within one year”, the people who picked "Does not think so" was 27.7%, being the highest. The analysis of the Japan Tourism Agency was that "Although the charm of Okinawa was high as a traveling destination, the long distance and the high expense have hindered "the easiness in going"."

By July last year, 25,000 people of the whole country were selected at random to carry out the investigation about "Traveling in the past six months", and the result was summarized recently.

Okinawa is warm even during the winter season, probably it is one of the reasons that domestic tourists are attracted.

日本本土唱片市場有新動力

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

音楽市場ではＣＤや音楽配信が主流となっていますが、ことし国内販売用に出荷されたレコードが、先月までにおよそ４２万枚と去年１年間のほぼ２倍に拡大しており、レコードブームの再来として注目されています。

日本レコード協会のまとめによりますと、ことし、国内の販売用に出荷されたレコードは、海外からの輸入も含めて１１か月間で４１万８０００枚、金額で６億円余りと、枚数、金額ともに去年１年間のおよそ２倍となりました。
このうち「洋盤」と呼ばれる海外のレコード会社に所属するロックやジャズのレコードは、イギリスのロックバンド「ビートルズ」のアルバムの復刻版などが相次いで発売され、去年のおよそ３倍に当たる２４万２０００枚に上っています。
ＣＤや音楽配信が主流の国内の音楽市場は、平成１０年の６０７４億円をピークに減少傾向が続き、今はその半分程度となっています。全体に占めるレコードの市場規模は小さいものの、根強いファンを中心に手堅い市場として注目されています。
レコード業界に詳しい塙耕記さんは、「温かみのあるレコードらしい音に魅力を感じた人が、再びレコードに戻ってきているのではないか」と話しています。

(試譯文)　　

In the music market although CD and music distribution were used in the mainstream, by end of last month (November), the record shipped for home sales this year was about 420,000 sheets which had expanded twice that of last year’s yearly sales, and this had attracted attention as a record boom reincarnation.

According to the conclusion of the Japan Phonograph Record Association, the amount of record shipped for domestic sale including import from overseas was 418,000 sheets in 11 months, in terms of money amount it was a little more than 600 million yen. Both the number of sheets and the amount of money were about twice the yearly value of last year.

Among these, the so called "youban" which was the overseas Rock or Jazz that belonged to overseas record companies, the reprinted edition of the album of the British Rock band the "Beatles" etc. were put on the market successively; the sale was going up to 242,000 sheets which amounted to about 3 times that of last year.

As for the domestic music market where CD and music distribution were the mainstream, the downward tendency from the peak of 607,400 million yen recorded in the 10^th year of Heisei was continuing and now it had become approximately one half of it. Although the market size of the record was small within the entire business, it was regarded as a safe market that was centering around the deep-rooted fans.

Mr. Koki Hanawa who knew well about the record industry was saying that "may be people who felt the charm from the sound like the record that has warmth in it is returning to the records again".　　

I think it is quite normal that for nostalgic reasons, some music fans would prefer buying records instead of CDs.  　　　　　　

日本可能增加在柬埔寨投資

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

経済成長が続くカンボジアで、日本の流通大手イオンが国内最大規模のショッピングセンターの建設を始め、すでに進出を加速させている中国や韓国に対し、日本勢が巻き返しを図ることができるか注目されています。

このショッピングセンターは、イオンが、首都プノンペンの中心部に建設するもので、４階建てで売り場面積がおよそ６万３０００平方メートルとカンボジアでは最大規模です。
１０日、現地で両国の政府やイオンの関係者などおよそ４０００人が参加して起工式が行われ、カンボジアのフン・セン首相が、「今回の進出は、国内政治が安定し、投資環境が整ったことを証明している」と述べ、カンボジアがアジアの中でも有望な投資先になっていると強調しました。
また、カンボジア駐在の日本の黒木雅文大使は、「カンボジア国民の所得の増加を見据え、日本からの投資がさまざまな分野で増えて欲しい」と述べ、日本企業のさらなる進出に期待を示しました。
このショッピングセンターには、食料品や衣料品などおよそ１５０店舗が入るほか、映画館などの娯楽施設も設けられ、再来年（２０１４年）春の完成を予定しています。
カンボジアでは、中国や韓国からの投資が急増し、特にこの５年間の外国からの投資額のおよそ半分は中国企業で占められていて、今後日本勢が巻き返しを図ることができるか注目されています。

(試譯文)

In Cambodia where economic growth was continuing, Ion, a major circulating company in Japan began to build the country’s biggest shopping center; Japanese was showing it presence and attention had been drawn on the possibility whether Japan was aiming at making a coming back that target at China and South Korea who were already in Cambodia and accelerating their advance.

Ion built this shopping center in the central part of the capital: Phnom Penh, and the shopping space in the 4 stories was about 63,000 square meters and would be the largest in scale in Cambodia.

On the tenth (December), about 4000 people such as those from the government of both countries and also people involved in Ion had participated at a location where the ground-breaking ceremony was held. Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia said "the present activity is proving that domestic politics are stabilized and the investment environment is ready" and emphasized that Cambodia was also a promising investment location in Asia.

Moreover, Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki of Japan stationed at Cambodia stated that “looking at the increases in the income of the Cambodia people, I hope that investment from Japan would increase in various fields", and he showed expectation to see the arrival of more Japanese companies.

About 150 stores, such as food and clothing, would go into this shopping center; amusement facilities, such as a movie theater, were also designated; all were scheduled for completion in spring next year (2014).

In Cambodia, the investment from China and South Korea had increased rapidly especially in the last five years, out of the total amount of investment from foreign countries, about half was from Chinese companies. Whether Japan’s presence was aiming at making a coming back had attracted attention.

So, it seems that Indo-China has become an economic new world in Asia.

日本進軍越南零售業

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

外資系の小売業の出店に規制を設けているベトナムと、その撤廃を求める日本との間の初めての政府間協議が２１日、ハノイで開かれ、ベトナム側は規制の撤廃には応じないとしながらも、出店手続きの簡素化などで協力する姿勢を示し、今後も協議を続けることになりました。

およそ９０００万人の人口を抱えるベトナムは、アジアでも有望な消費市場として日本のスーパーやコンビニチェーンなども関心を高めていますが、ベトナム政府は地元の業者を保護するためとして、外資系の小売業の出店に規制を設けています。
日本政府は、この規制の撤廃を求めており、経済産業省の審議官らが２１日、ハノイを訪問し、ベトナム商工省との間で、初めての局長級の協議を行いました。
この中で日本側は、外資系スーパーなどの２店目以降の出店にあたって、予定地周辺の既存の小売店の数や人口密度などから地元経済への影響を割り出し、許可するかどうかを決めるとしているベトナム政府の審査基準について、根拠となる数値などが不明確だと指摘しました。
これに対し、ベトナム側は規制の撤廃には応じないとしながらも、基準の明確化や手続きの簡素化などの点で、可能なかぎり日本の要望に応えていきたいと回答したということです。
そのうえで、双方は今後も年１回のペースで協議を続けることになりました。

(試譯文)

On the 21^st (December) the first Intergovernmental Conference was opened in Hanoi between Vietnam which was setting regulations over the opening of shops in foreign-affiliated retail trade, and Japan which was asking for the abolition; although giving no reply to regulation abolition, the Vietnam’s side showed a cooperating posture in simplifying the opening-a-shop procedure etc. and to continue with the negotiation.

Vietnam had a population of about 90 million and was being a promising consumer market in Asia, as such Japan’s supermarkets and convenience chain stores etc were expressing their concern. Vietnam government was prepared to regulate the opening of shops in foreign-affiliated retail trade in order to protect local traders.

The Japanese government was asking for the abolition of the regulation, the commissioners from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had visited Hanoi on the 21st to discuss, for the first time, with Vietnam’s commerce-and-industry ministry at the bureau chief level.

In this, the Japan side was pointing out that there was an unclear definition on how the screening criterion was used. For the opening of a shop such as a foreign-affiliated company supermarket after the 2nd shop had opened, the Vietnam government used the numerical value etc to form the base of an indicator: such as the number of existing retail shops and the population density around the planned site to deduce the influence on the local economy, then it would decide whether to give the permission.

Although giving no response to the abolition of regulation, on the other hand, it was said that on the points such as clarification of the standard and the simplification of procedures, Vietnam had replied that it would like to meet Japan's request as far as possible.

Furthermore, both sides would continue their deliberations at a pace of once a year.

It seems that Japan is eager to expand its overseas trading markets in South-east Asian countries.

安倍首相発表外交五個新原則

 

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

1月19日 0時29分

安倍総理大臣は、法の支配と自由で開かれた海洋の重視などを掲げた「日本外交の新たな５原則」を発表し、アジア太平洋重視の姿勢を打ち出しているアメリカのオバマ政権と連携して、海洋進出の動きを活発化させている中国をけん制していく考えを示しています。

この中で、安倍総理大臣は、まず日米同盟が日本外交の基軸だとして、「世界最大の海洋勢力であり、経済大国であるアメリカと、アジア最大の海洋民主主義、自由資本主義国で、アメリカに次ぐ経済を擁する日本が、パートナーをなすのは、理の当然だ」としています。そして、外交の新たな５原則として、自由、民主主義、基本的人権などの普遍的価値の定着と拡大や、法の支配と自由で開かれた海洋の重視、それに貿易や投資など、自由でオープンな経済や文化のつながりの充実、未来を担う世代の交流を掲げています。
このうち、海洋を巡って、安倍総理大臣は「最も大切な公共財である海は、力によってではなく、法とルールの支配するところでなくてはならない」と指摘したうえで、「アジアと太平洋に重心を移しつつあるアメリカを、大いに歓迎したい」として、アメリカのオバマ政権と連携して、海洋進出の動きを活発化させている中国を、けん制していく考えを示しています。
安倍総理大臣は、当初、今回の外交原則を訪問先のインドネシアで発表する予定でしたが、北アフリカのアルジェリアで起きた事件を受けて、帰国を早めたため、取りやめになりました。

(試譯文)

Prime Minister Abe announced his "5 new principles on Japanese diplomacy" which would seriously uphold considerations that were based on the rule of law and the freedom to open up the ocean; he would cooperate with the Obama Administration of the United States which had set forth the posture of focusing on the Asia-Pacific, and he showed the idea of checking China which was initiating actions for advancing towards the sea.

Within this premise, Prime Minister Abe first supposed that the Japan-U.S. alliance would be the axis for Japan’s diplomacy, and that "the United States is the world's largest sea power and is also an economic big power, while Japan has the economy which ranks second to the United States and is the biggest sea democracy and a free capitalistic country in Asia, it is something natural for the two to form a partnership." Then, about the five diplomatic principles: freedom, democracy, confirming and expanding universal value on fundamental human rights, stressing on a free and open ocean based on the rule of law, in this way regarding trade and investment etc. free and open economic and cultural ties to be enhanced, and upholding the responsibility for exchange for future generations.

On top of that and in relation to the ocean, Prime Minister Abe pointed out that “the sea is the most important public asset, that it must be going to be governed by the rule of law, not based on power”, and supposed that "highly want to welcome the United States which is moving the center of gravity to Asia and the Pacific Ocean", and he showed cooperation with the U.S. Obama Administration and the idea to check China which was initiating actions for advancement towards the sea.

At the beginning Prime Minister Abe was scheduled to announce these diplomatic principles in Indonesia which was his visiting destination, but in order to have an early home coming in response to the incident occurred in Algeria of North Africa, the announcement was canceled.

It is an interesting announcement; we can see Japan’s logics regarding its diplomacy.

東京生活費持續世界最高

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

世界の生活費:１位東京、日本４都市が１０位内に…円高で

毎日新聞　2012年12月12日　21時44分

　香港などに拠点を置く国際人材コンサルティング会社「ＥＣＡインターナショナル」が１２日発表した世界の生活費ランキングで、日本からは昨年に続き１位の東京以下、名古屋（２位）、横浜（５位）、神戸（６位）の４都市が１０位内に入った。

　円高が要因とみられ、ＥＣＡは「日本では物価は低下しているが、東京が世界で最も高額な都市の座を守っている」とした。世界の４００以上の都市で、食品、衣料など駐在員が使う物品、サービスの価格を比較した。

　経済成長に伴い生活費が高騰するアジアの都市は軒並みランクを上げた。

(試譯文)

An international human resource consulting company the "ECA International" which had established a base in Hong Kong etc. announced on the 12th (last month) that in the living-expenses world ranking, in total four Japanese cities were within the top 10; Japan’s Tokyo continuously to be in the 1st place, Nagoya (the 2nd place), Yokohama (the 5th place), and Kobe (the 6th place).

The strong yen was regarded as a factor and ECA assumed that "In Japan, although prices are falling, Tokyo is occupying the seat as the highest amount city in the world." In over 400 cities in the world the price of goods and service on items such as food and clothing which stationing employees would use was compared.

With economic growth and soaring living expenses, cities in Asia had their ranking raised across the board.

So, international companies should think twice before sending their staff to work in Japan.

中国:支持「南方週末」作家被毆打

Recently the Mainichi New on-line reported the following:

中国:「南方週末」支持の作家殴られる

毎日新聞　2013年01月15日　20時53分（最終更新　01月15日　23時43分）

　中国広東省の週刊紙「南方週末」の記事が地元当局の指示で改ざんされた問題で、同紙への支持を表明した中国の人気作家、李承鵬氏（４４）が１５日、北京市内のサイン会で男に「売国奴」とののしられて顔を殴られたことを自らのブログで明らかにした。インターネット上では南方週末や李氏を支持する意見が多いが、当局批判を暴力で封じ込めようとした行為を称賛する声もあり、中国社会の根深い対立を示している。

　サイン会は１３日に行われ、殴った男は警備員に取り押さえられた。その後、別の男が包丁を取り出して脅す騒ぎも起きた。李氏はまた、四川省成都で１２日に開いたサイン会で当局から「会場での発言や読者からの質問を許さない」と言われたことも明かした。

　李氏はブログで「禁止されたり襲われたりするのは私が本当の話をしたからだ」とつづり、「今後も書き続ける」と強調した。

　南方週末問題をめぐり、李氏は中国版ツイッター「微博」で「高層ビルや空母艦隊はなくてもいいが、本当の話をする新聞は必要だ」と書き込んだ。書き込みは削除されたが、改革派の知識人や学生らの支持を受けた。一方、改革に批判的な保守派サイトでは、名指しで批判されている。

(試譯文)

Chinese popular writer Mr. Li Chengpeng (44), who had announced his support for the "South Weekend" regarding the problem centering around the story about a report written by this weekly paper of Guangdong Province in China had altered under the direction of the local authorities, clarified in his blog on the 15^th that a man who spoke ill of him as a "traitor" had hit him on his face during the autograph session held in Beijing. Although in the Internet there were many opinions which supported the South Weekend, there were also voices which admired the act of the authority to restrict criticism using violence; a deep-rooted confrontation inside the Chinese society was shown.

The autograph session was held on the 13th and the man who did the hitting was arrested by the guard. Then, a commotion broke out when another man took out a kitchen knife to make a threat.  Mr. Lee also revealed that regarding the autograph session held in Sichuan of Chengdu on the 12^th, the authorities had said: "In the hall all utterance and questions from readers were not allowed".

Mr. Lee spelled out in his blog that "being forbidden to talk and being attacked were due to the fact that I tell the truth", and emphasized that "He would continue to write."

Centering on the South Weekend problem Mr. Lee wrote in the China version of the twitter, the "small blog" to say that "while we can afford to have neither skyscrapers nor an aircraft carrier fleet, we need to have newspapers that tell the truth." Although the writing was deleted, it gained popularity among intellectuals and students who support reforms. On the other hand, at the conservative sites that were critical of the reforms, it was criticized by name.

While it shows that some people in China are suspicious of reforms, it also seems that patriotic education is a huge success inside China.

ＮＨＫ海外電視廣播在中國被干擾

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国国内で、ＮＨＫの海外向けテレビ放送「ワールドプレミアム」が、日本時間の１２日午後７時すぎに「南方週末」の記事が地元当局に書き換えられたとされる問題を伝えたところ、映像と音声がおよそ５分間にわたって中断されました。

放送が中断されたのは、抗議活動を抑え込むため「南方週末」の本社前で大勢の警察官が警戒に当たった様子や、「南方週末」を支援する動きが水面下で広がっていることなどに触れた部分です。
この問題を巡って、ＮＨＫのニュースの放送が中断されたのは、これで３日連続となります。
今回の問題が波紋を広げていることについて、中国当局は、外部の人間があおっていることも原因の１つだと主張していて、中国国内で事態がこれ以上拡大しないよう神経をとがらせていることがうかがえます。

(試譯文)

On the 12th at slightly after 7:00 p.m. [Japan Standard Time] the NHK broadcasted the "World Premium" which was a television program for overseas; when it sent a report about the problem of the "South Weekend" :about an article had been rewritten by the local authorities in China, TV image and sound were interrupted for about 5 minutes.

The broadcast that was interrupted was the portion of the screen images showing many policemen were deployed in front of the South Weekend’s head office in order to control and monitor the protest activities, and also the report that the movement to support the "South Weekend" had spread out below the surface etc.

 Relating to this problem, it was a continuous three-day NHK news broadcasting interruption.

About the report that the problem's ripples were spreading out, the China authorities claimed that one of the causes was the instigating from outside bodies; China was showing a sharp reaction so that the situation might not expand any further  regarding the matter.

My feeling is that as a tradition, China often explains problems that happened in the country as the result of the instigation from outside. I am interested to know whether Hong Kong and Taiwan would be classified as outside or not.

新京報與南方週末

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

中国:他メディアが見出しで支援…週刊紙記事改ざん問題

毎日新聞　2013年01月09日　20時15分（最終更新　01月09日　20時57分）

中国広東省の週刊紙、南方週末の記事が地元当局者に改ざんされた問題で、他の中国メディアがコラムや記事の見出しを通じて南方週末に対する支持を暗示し、インターネット上で話題となっている。

  日付の北京紙「新京報」はグルメ欄のコラムで「南方の粥（かゆ）」を取り上げた。「粥」と「週」はどちらも発音が「ジョウ」で、南方週末を容易に連想させる。
  大手ポータルサイト「新浪網」などでは、複数の記事の見出しにある先頭の文字を縦に読むと「頂南方周末」（南方週末を支持する）、「南方周末加油」（南方週末がんばれ）、「南周前進」（南方週末、前に進め）といった「暗号」として読める画面が登場した。

　こうした動きは、メディア関係者が南方週末を支持するものとして受け止められ、ネット上で次々と転載されている。あるネット利用者は「材料を変えられていない南方の粥がほしい。この暗くて寒い夜に光と暖をもたらしてくれるだろう」と書き込んだ。
(試譯文)

Regarding the problem of altering the report of the South Weekend, a weekly paper in Guangdong Province of China, by the local authorities, other China media hinted their support for the South Weekend through the title of their columns or reports; this had become the center of attention in the Internet.

 A Beijing paper the "Xin Jingbao" dated the 9th took up "south rice porridge" in its gourmet column. The pronunciation “rice porridge” and "week" is "Jou", it thus easily associated with the South Weekend.

In a major portal site the "New Wave Network" for two or more reports that appeared, when the character in the title of was read perpendicularly, it could be read as "codes", such as "ding nan fang zhou mo" (support the South Weekend),  "nan fan zhou mo jia you" (do your best South Weekend), and “nan zhou qian jin” (move forward South Weekend).

To the media people concerned, such a move could be perceived as giving support to the South Weekend, and this was reproduced one after another in the Internet.  A certain Internet user wrote "I want the south rice porridge with no change in the material inside. In this dark and cold night, probably light and warmth were brought about."

It is interesting to note the ingenious way to convey a message using codes.

日本東芝等公司在歐洲違反競争法被罰

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

欧州連合（ＥＵ）の執行機関、欧州委員会は５日、テレビなどのブラウン管販売を巡る国際カルテルを結び、ＥＵ競争法（独占禁止法）に違反したとして、パナソニックと東芝を含む日韓欧のメーカー７社に総額計約１４億７０００万ユーロ（約１５７０億円）の制裁金を科した。

　欧州委がカルテル事件に科した制裁額としては過去最高になる。

　日本企業への制裁金は、パナソニックが約１億５７００万ユーロ（約１６８億円）、東芝が約２８００万ユーロ（約３０億円）。両社には、子会社がカルテルに関与したとして、これとは別に制裁金を科されている。

　これに対し、パナソニックは「事実認定や法令の適用に疑義があるため、内容を精査したうえで、欧州裁判所への提訴も視野に入れて対応を検討する」とのコメントを発表した。

（2012年12月6日00時00分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 5th (December) the executive organ of the European Union (EU), the European Commission noted there was an international cartel that involved television cathode-ray tube sales etc. and thus breaking the EU competition law (Anti-Monopoly Law); seven companies in Japan, South Korea and Europe including Panasonic and Toshiba were charged with a find totaling about 1,470 million euros (about 157 billion yen).

  This became the highest amount of sanction ever imposed in a cartel incident by the European Commission.

  As for the fine imposed on the Japanese companies, Panasonic was about 157 million euros (about 16,800 million yen) and Toshiba was about 28 million euros (about 3 billion yen). Aside from this, fines were imposed on the subsidiaries of both companies noting their participations in the cartel.

  On the other hand, Panasonic announced the comment that "since there is a doubt on the application of the fact finding and the statute, the contents would be scrutinized;  a response would be considered with a view to making a legal challenge to the European Court of Justice."

So, a legal battle will drag on for some time before being settled.

攀登富士山可能需要收費

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

静岡県の川勝平太知事は４日の記者会見で、富士山の入山料の徴収について、「可能性は排除すべきでない」と述べ、導入を検討する方針を示した。

　今年６月に富士山の世界文化遺産登録の可否が正式決定するのを前に、環境保全策の一つとしたい考えだ。

　昨年７、８月の登山者数は静岡、山梨側を合わせて約３２万人。世界文化遺産に登録されれば、従来以上に登山者の増加が予想されるため、入山料徴収によって登山者数を抑制するとともに、環境保全の財源を確保するのがねらい。今後、山梨県や国と協議するとしている。

　川勝知事は「世界自然遺産を保存するため、規制を厳しくしているところもある」と理解を求める一方、「入山料は金額を含めて相当練らなければいけない。山開きする（今年）７月の導入は厳しい」との認識も示した。

（2013年1月4日19時38分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

At the press conference held on the 4th, Governor Heita Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture said that "the possibility should not be eliminated " concerning the collection of charges in entering Mt. Fuji, and he showed the plan which considered the introduction.

  It was expected to be one of the environmental preservation policies to be considered before the World Cultural Heritage would determine the registration of Mt. Fuji as one of the heritage proprieties in June this year.

 The number of mountaineers in July and August last year was about 320,000 people in total from the side of Shizuoka and Yamanashi. If it was registered with a World Cultural Heritage, the number of mountaineers was expected to increase to a new level. Aiming at securing the source of revenue for environmental preservation while at the same time controlling the number of mountaineers, fees would be collected for entering the mountain. From now on, it was supposed that there would be talks between Yamanashi Prefecture and the country.

  Governor Kawakatsu while seeking the understanding that "there are areas which regulations are severe in order to save a World Natural Heritage Site", also showed the appreciation that "you have to knead the charge of entering the mountain fairly including the amount of money. The introduction in July (this year) when the climbing season opens is serious".

I am interested in knowing the amount of money that will be charged on the visitors.

沢田研二會有新演唱會

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

元「ザ・タイガース」のボーカルで歌手の沢田研二さん（６４）が６日夜、東京・渋谷公会堂で開いた自身のコンサートの中で、同グループ結成時の５人で１２月に再結成コンサートを行うことを明らかにした。

　解散後に５人が勢ぞろいして公演するのは初めてという。

　タイガースは沢田さんと、岸部一徳さん（ベース）、森本太郎さん（ギター）、瞳みのるさん（ドラム）、加橋かつみさん（ギター、ボーカル）の５人組で１９６７年にデビュー。グループサウンズブームを先導する人気を誇り、７１年に解散した。再結成コンサートは１２月に東京ドームなど全国で行う予定。

（2013年1月6日23時23分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the night of the 6^th, originally the vocal of "The Tigers" Mr. Kenji Sawada the signer (64) made known clearly at the Shibuya Public Hall in Tokyo that, in his own concert to be held in December, a reunion concert would be held by the five members: the same group that had assembled at the time when it was first formed.

It was said that this would be first time for these 5 people to perform after their breaking up.

“The Tigers” with its first appearance in 1967 was a five people group with Mr. Sawada, and Mr. Kazunori Kishibe (base), Mr. Taro Morimoto (guitar), Mr. Hitominoru (drum), and Mr.Kahashikatsumi (a guitar, vocal). They were proud of getting their popularity in leading the group-sounds boom, and were dispersed in 1971. A reunion concert would be held in the whole country, such as at the Tokyo Dome, in December.

I have heard the songs sung by Kenji Sawada many years ago. So, his return to the stage should be good news for some of the old-timers.

日本東面太平洋及近海地區迅速酸性化

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

気象庁:日本近海が急速に酸性化…温暖化に拍車の恐れ

毎日新聞　2012年11月20日　21時45分（最終更新　11月21日　00時34分）

　気象庁は２０日、日本近海を含む北西太平洋で海洋が急速に酸性化し、８４年以降は過去２５０年間と比べて約５倍のペースで進行していると発表した。大気中の二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）が増加して海に溶け込んでいる影響とみられ、このまま酸性化が進むと海がＣＯ２を吸収しにくくなり、地球温暖化に拍車がかかる恐れがあるとしている。

　気象庁は紀伊半島南方の海域で、水素イオン濃度指数（ｐＨ）を定期的に観測。今年は北緯１０〜３０度でｐＨ８．０７〜８．１２の弱アルカリ性だった。１０年当たり約０．０２の割合で低下し、産業革命以前から２０世紀末の全海洋の酸性化のペースより大幅に早くなっていた。

　酸性化が進むと貝類や甲殻類の小型化、サンゴ礁の発達阻害などの影響が出るとみられている。

　また、気象庁は同日、昨年の世界の大気中ＣＯ２濃度が平均３９０．９ｐｐｍ（１ｐｐｍは１００万分の１）で過去最高を記録したと明らかにした。８２年の統計開始以来、３０年連続の記録更新となる。

(試譯文)

 According to the Meteorological Agency on the 20^th (November), at the northwestern Pacific Ocean which included the Japanese waters the ocean had acidified quickly, and it was announced that since 1984 it was going on at a pace that was about 5 times  quicker compared to the past 250 years. It was regarded as due to the influence of the increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and its melting into the sea. If the acidification process proceeded as it was, the sea would become difficult to absorb CO2, and it was supposed that there was a possibility that it would spur global warming.

 The Meteorological Agency had been observing the hydrogen-ion density index (pH) of the ocean at the Kii Peninsula’s southern region periodically. This year at north latitude 10 to 30 degrees the alkalinity was weak, ranging from pH 8.07 to 8.12. It fell at a rate of about 0.02 every ten years, compared to the level of acidification of all the oceans at the end of the 20th century before the Industrial Revolution, the pace of acidification process came early and sharply.

 It was expected that the influences that could come out were the miniaturization of shellfish or the crustaceans, and the development prevention of coral reef etc.

 Moreover, the Meteorological Agency on the same day clarified that the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in the world last year was the highest record ever; with an average of 390.9 ppm (1 ppm is 1 out of 1 million). This record was being renewed continuously for 30 years since 1982 when the statistics was started.

So, acidification of the ocean water is one of the consequences of an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

札幌市名牌壽司店因衛生問題暫時休業

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

札幌市内に７店舗を構え、ミシュランガイド北海道版にも掲載されている高級すし店「すし善」で複数の従業員がノロウイルスに感染し、２７日から札幌市内の全店舗で自主休業していることが３１日、分かった。

　予約を受けていたおせち料理約３００軒分も全てキャンセルとなった。

　札幌市保健所やすし善によると、２５日に大丸店の従業員が体調不良を訴え、医療機関で受診したところ、便からノロウイルスが検出された。その後、３０日までに他の６店でも複数の従業員からノロウイルスが検出されたが、いずれも快方に向かっているという。同保健所などで原因を調べている。３１日現在で利用客からの被害報告は寄せられていないという。

　すし善では安全性が確認されるまでは、道内の全店舗を休業するとしている。

(試譯文)

It turned out on the 31st (December) that the high class sushi store that had seven stores established in Sapporo: the "Sushi Good", which had been mentioned in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido version, had two or more employees infected by Noro virus, and a voluntary closure was carried out from the 27th at all the stores in Sapporo.

 Also about the New Year dishes totalling around 300 which reservation had been received, all were canceled.

 According to the Sapporo health center and the “Sushi Good” some employees of the Daimaru store reported sick on the 25th and received consultation in the medical institution, Noro virus was detected from the stool. In the other six stores Noro viruses were detected at least from two or more employees by the 30^th, all were referred to as getting better though. The health center etc was investigating the cause. It was said that as of 31st no sickness reports were received from customers so far.

 In the “Sushi Good”, it was supposed that all the stores would be closed until safety was confirmed.

So, some tourists in Sapporo would be disappointed to find out that they could not enjoy the sushi made by the Sushi Good during the New Year holidays.