中國凍結北韓在華可疑資金

Yesterday the FNN on-line reported the following:

中国政府が、国内の銀行にある北朝鮮の不正口座を摘発し、日本円で1,130億円以上の資金を凍結したことが新たにわかった。
中朝関係筋によると、中国政府は、上海を中心とした中国国内の銀行にある北朝鮮の口座のうち、架空名義のものや、不正取引に関与している疑いのある28の口座を摘発、総額で75億元(およそ1,137億円)の資金を凍結したという。
これらの口座と資金は、金正恩(キム・ジョンウン)第1書記直属の「39号室」と呼ばれる外貨獲得機関が、管理していたものとみられている。
中国はこれまで、国内にある北朝鮮の不正口座を黙認してきたが、国連の経済制裁を受けて、今回初めて、金融規制を強化した。
中国の北朝鮮への対応の変化を示したものとして、注目される。

(03/29 12:16)

(試譯文)

It was newly known that the Chinese government had exposed the improper accounts of North Korea opened at a domestic bank in China, and had frozen a fund of over 113 billion yen in Japanese yen.

According to the China-North Korea related source it was said that the Chinese government, among the accounts opened by North Korea at a bank in China centering on Shanghai, had exposed 28 accounts that had fictitious names and suspected to have participated in unfair dealings, and in total a fund of 7,500 million Yuan (about 113,700 million yen) was frozen.

Regarding the accounts and the funds, it was concluded that they were managed by a foreign-currency acquisition organization called "Room 39” which was under the direct control of the First secretary Kim Jong Eun.

Although China had so far tolerated the improper accounts opened by North Korea in China, this time for the first time it tightened up financial regulation in response to the economic sanctions of the United Nations.

It was observed that China had shown a change in its response towards North Korea.

It is an interesting development. May be the situation in Korea is reaching a turning point.

蘋果多機能端末操作系統市場佔有率下跌

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:　

米調査会社ＩＤＣは１２日、米アップルのタブレット型多機能情報端末「ｉＰａｄ（アイパッド）」の出荷台数が今年初めて、米グーグルの基本ソフト（ＯＳ）「アンドロイド」搭載端末に逆転されて２位になるとの見通しを発表した。

　タブレット型端末向けＯＳの世界シェア（市場占有率）で、「ｉＰａｄ」のＯＳ「ｉＯＳ（アイオーエス）」は２０１２年の５１・３％から１３年に４６・０％に低下する一方、アンドロイドは４６・３％から４８・８％へ上昇するという。

　１３年のタブレット端末の出荷台数見通しは、低価格商品の販売増が見込まれるとして、前回予想の１億７２４０万台から約１億９０９０万台へ上方修正した。

（2013年3月13日21時00分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 12^th the U.S. rating firm IDC announced their forecast. For the first time this year the shipment number of the tablet type multifunctional information terminals "iPad" of Apple of the U.S. would rank second. It was reversed by the U.S. Google "Android" operating system (OS) loading terminal.

It was said that by the world share (market share) regarding the OS for tablet type terminals, while the OS of "iPad" - the "iOS" would fall from 51.3% in 2012 to 46.0% in 2013, the share of Android would go up from 46.3% to 48.8%.

The prospect of the shipment volume of tablet terminals for 2013 was revised upward from the previous anticipation of 172,400,000 sets to about 190,900,000 sets, noting that there could be an increase in the sales of the low end products.

It seems that the peak period of Apple is passing.

中国国営中央電視台報導失準?

Yesterday the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following two events within two hours:

【北京＝竹内誠一郎】中国国営中央テレビは２５日、中国がロシアから、ラーダ級潜水艦４隻とスホイ３５戦闘機２４機を購入する契約を結んだと伝えた。

　両国は、２２～２４日の習近平(シージンピン)国家主席によるロシア訪問で軍の連携を強化することでも一致していた。今後、日米への対抗も視野に軍事協力を進めるとみられる。

　中国がロシアから重要軍装備を購入するのは十数年ぶり。ラーダ級は優れた静音性が特徴で、４隻のうち２隻はロシアで、残り２隻は中国で建造されるという。今後、地対空ミサイル「Ｓ４００」や空中給油機などの売買についても契約を結ぶ見通しという。

　新華社通信によると、中国の常万全国防相とロシアのショイグ国防相は２４日にモスクワで会談し、合同演習や人事交流など実務的な協力について話し合った。

（2013年3月25日22時12分 読売新聞）

【モスクワ＝緒方賢一】タス通信によると、ロシアで外国との軍事技術協力を担当する部門の消息筋は２５日、中国がロシアと潜水艦や戦闘機の購入契約を結んだとする中国中央テレビの報道を否定した。

　この消息筋は「軍事技術協力の問題は、習近平国家主席のモスクワ訪問中、全く取り上げられなかった」と述べた。

（2013年3月25日23時58分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

[Beijing = Seiichiro Takeuchi] On the 25th the China national central television reported that China had reached a contract with Russia to purchase four Lada class submarines and 24 Sukhoi 35 fighters from Russia.

Both countries had agreed to strengthen army cooperation through this visit to Russia by PRC President Xi Jinping between 22nd and 24th. It was expected that from now on military cooperation would be advanced with a view to confront Japan and the U.S.

It would be the first time in over a decade that China purchased important army equipment from Russia. Lada class’s feature was its excellent in silence. It was said that two of the 4 boats would be from Russia and the remaining 2 boats to be built in China. From now on, there was the prospect of making contracts that would deal with the surface-to-air missile "S400", and the air refueling tanker, etc.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, China’s Secretary of State for Defense Chang Manquan and Russia’s Secretary of State for Defense Shoigu talked together in Moscow on the 24^th. They discussed practical cooperation such as a joint exercise and on personnel exchanges.

(22:12 on March 25, 2013   Yomiuri Shimbun)

[Moscow = Ken-ichi Ogata] According to Tass, in Russia the well-informed source of the department that took charge of  military technology cooperations with foreign countries on the 25th denied the report made by the China central television which supposed that China had signed a purchasing contract with Russia for submarines and fighters.

This well-informed source said, "The question on military technology cooperation was not taken up at all during PRC President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow."

(23:58 on March 25, 2013   Yomiuri Shimbun)

It is an interesting situation. Who is at fault?

四成消費者注意食物產地來源避免放射性物質

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

放射性物質:食品産地気にする人の４割が意識　消費者庁

毎日新聞　2013年03月11日　22時42分（最終更新　03月11日　23時06分）

　食品を買う時に産地を気にする人のうち、４割が「放射性物質が含まれていない食品を買いたいから」と考えていることが１１日、消費者庁が実施した意識調査で分かった。

　２月１４、１５日に被災県（岩手、宮城、福島、茨城）と主な消費地（さいたま市、千葉市、東京２３区、横浜市、名古屋市、大阪市、神戸市）の２０〜６０代の男女にインターネットでアンケートし、５１７６人が回答した。

　食品を買う時に産地を「気にする」「どちらかと言えば気にする」と答えた人は３５３１人。理由を尋ねたところ、４０．９％が「放射性物質が含まれていない食品を買いたいから」と答えた。この人たちに「特に産地を気にする食品」を挙げてもらったところ、野菜が８６．１％、米６７．３％、魚介類６３．４％だった。さらにどの地域の食品なら買うのをためらうか聞いたところ、福島産６９．５％、被災地を中心とした東北（福島・岩手・宮城）産は５３．３％だった。

　食品中の放射性物質の基準についての質問では「生涯食べ続けても安全なレベル」と考える人は２８．２％しかいなかった。

　放射性物質の基準は食品安全委員会の調査に基づき厚生労働省が定めている。消費者庁は「消費者にさらにリスク情報を正しく伝えたい」としている。

(試譯文)

In an opinion poll carried out by the Consumer Affairs Agency, it turned out on the 11th that when someone bought the food, for those who care about the place of production, 40 percent was out of the consideration of "would like to buy the food which contains no radioactive material".

A questionnaire survey was conducted on the Internet on February 14 and 15 to the men and women in their 20-60's living in the disaster stricken prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki) and the other main consumer locations (Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo's 23 Ward, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe); 5176 people had answered.

About the place of production, 3531 people answered that they “care”, "rather care" when he bought the food. When the reason was asked, 40.9% answered "since he would like to buy the food in which no radioactive material is contained". When these people were asked to mention "the food which he especially cares regarding the place of production", vegetables were 63.4%, fish and shellfishes 86.1% and rice 67.3%. Furthermore, about the area where the food was from, and whether they would hesitate to buy when they heard it, 69.5% would hesitate for the products from Fukushima, 53.3% for those from the northeast (Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi) centering on a stricken area.

On the question about the radioactive material standard in food, only 28.2% considered that "it is a safe level in eating for the whole life continuously".

Based on the investigation of the Food Safety Committee, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had established the standard of the radioactive material. The Consumer Affairs Agency supposed that they "would like to give consumers additional risk-related information correctly".

Obviously the Japanese consumers are cautious about the food source having regard to the radioactive matters.

中村雅俊在宮城縣慰問學生

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

俳優で歌手の中村雅俊さん(62)が被災地・宮城県に、歌と笑顔をプレゼントした。
中村さんが、東日本大震災で被災した宮城県で、4月に開校する東松島市の鳴瀬桜華小学校のために校歌「花になろう」を作曲し、子どもたちに披露した。
中村さんは、宮城県の出身で、親戚や友人らが被災しており、何度も被災地を訪れ、慰問を行っている。
中村さんは「どういう曲を作ろうかと、すごく悩んだんですけど、子どもたちが厳しい環境のことを忘れて、この歌を歌っている瞬間だけでも、楽しいな、うれしいなという時間を持てたらいい」と語った。
故郷の四季をテーマにした校歌「花になろう」には、震災で傷ついた子どもたちが歌うことで笑顔になれるようにという思いが込められているという。
児童は、「これからも大切に歌いたいです」、「みんなで頑張っていきたいなと思いました」などと語った。
中村さんは「子どもたちのストレートなピュアな歌い方にすごく心を打たれて、歌ってもらって、本当にありがとうという感じでしたね」と話した。

(試譯文)

Actor and singer Mr. Masatoshi Nakamura (62) presented a song and a smiling face to the disaster stricken area in Miyagi Prefecture.

In Miyagi Prefecture which had been stricken by the Great East Japan Earthquake Mr. Nakamura announced to the children that he had composed a school song "To become a flower" for the Naruseouka elementary school in Higashimatsushima city which would be opened in April.

Mr. Nakamura was from the Miyagi Prefecture. While his relatives and friends had suffered a lot due to the damages, he was consoled by visiting the stricken area repeatedly.

Mr. Nakamura said "with regard to what song to write, although the children were very worried, they could forget the tough environment because of it. It would be great even if they only momentarily feel pleasant and happy while they sing this song".
The school song "To become a flower" had the theme about the four seasons of a hometown. It was said that when singing the song, the children who had suffered from the damages of the earthquake disaster would be put into a mental situation of wearing a smiling face.
Some children said "from now on I would like to sing seriously", "we would like to do our best", etc.
Mr. Nakamura said, "Children’s straight and pure way of singing has touched my heart. The song was sung, thank you very much".

It is nice to know that children living in the disaster stricken area are not forgotten. Thank you, Mr. Masatoshi Nakamura.

新美日共同作戦計画

Yesterday the Yomiuri News reported the following:

小野寺防衛相は２２日の記者会見で、日米両政府が進めている日米防衛協力のための指針（ガイドライン）の見直しにあわせて、有事の際の自衛隊と米軍の共同対処要領などを定める新たな「日米共同作戦計画」策定を検討していることを明らかにした。

　計画には、尖閣諸島（沖縄県石垣市）を巡って中国との緊張関係が高まっていることを踏まえ、尖閣有事への対応も盛り込まれる見通しだ。

　小野寺氏は計画策定に関して、「日本に対する武力攻撃に、整合性の取れた行動を円滑かつ効果的に実施することができるよう、平素から共同作戦の検討を行っている」と説明した。

　共同作戦計画は、日本への武力攻撃や朝鮮半島有事などの周辺事態を想定したものが策定され、必要に応じて見直されてきた。いずれの計画も最高度の防衛機密とされ、公表されていない。

（2013年3月22日22時51分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

At a press conference held on the 22nd Defense Minister Onodera showed clearly that while the Japanese and U.S. governments were reviewing the guiding directives used for the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation (the guidelines), together they would re-examine a new "Japan-U.S. bilateral-defense-plan" which would define the points needed for a joint management of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Forces in case of an emergency etc.

   A plan was expected to incorporate the response to the Senkaku emergency based on the increasing tense relationship with China over the Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa).

   Mr. Onodera explained that the plan was "to review the combined combat operation starting from the normal days so that appropriate coordinated action could be taken smoothly and effectively in response to an armed attack towards Japan".

   With regard to the bilateral defense plan, it was worked out aiming at events that could happen in the surrounding. It would include an armed attack towards Japan or the occurrence of an emergency at the Korean Peninsula, and a response to it was deemed necessary. All plans were treated as top defense secret and would not be released to the public.

I am interested in knowing how China would response to this bilateral defense plan.

從皮膚培植視網膜細胞

Last month the FNN on-line reported the following:

理化学研究所は、さまざまな細胞に成長する「iPS細胞」を、目の網膜の再生に応用する、世界初の臨床研究を国に申請した。
理化学研究所の高橋政代プロジェクトリーダーは、「(臨床研究を)やってほしいという切実な方が、日本全国から来られるので、非常につらい病気であると、また実感した」と話した。
iPS細胞は、京都大学の山中伸弥教授が開発し、再生医療への応用が期待されている。
理化学研究所の研究グループは、「滲出(しんしゅつ)型加齢黄斑変性」という、失明につながる目の病気の患者の皮膚からiPS細胞を作り、網膜の細胞に成長させて移植する治療法の実用化を目指している。
国の了承を得られれば、世界で初めて、iPS細胞が人体に移植されることになり、研究グループは、人工的に作った細胞が、体内で異常を起こさないかの確認などを行い、1例目の手術は、早ければ2014年に行われるという。

(試譯文)

The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research had applied to the country for the world's first clinical study that would use the "iPS cell", a cell which could grow into various cells, to reproduce the retina of eyes.

Masayo Takahashi, the project leader of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research said that "It is compelling and I want to do it (the clinical study) because it is a very painful sickness, it comes from the whole country of Japan and I actually feel it ".

The iPS cell was developed by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of the Kyoto University, and its application in the field of regenerative medicine was expected.

The research consortium of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research aimed at its utilization by way of making an iPS cell from the skin of the patient and grew it into the cell of the retina and transplanted. In this way it could cure the sick patient who was suffering from the "exuded type age-related macular degeneration" in the eye and suffered from the loss of eyesight.

It was said that if the consent of the country was obtained, for the first time in the world the iPS cell would be transplanted into a human body. A research consortium would perform checking to know whether the cell made artificially could start some abnormalities in the body. The first operation example would be performed in 2014 at the earliest.

It is good news to those who have retinal problems in the eye.

日本發明超薄透明紙

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

王子ホールディングス（ＨＤ）は１８日、極めて細くした植物繊維を原料に使って「透明な紙」を作るのに成功したと発表した。

　タブレット型多機能端末の画面に活用することができて、「電子新聞を丸めてポケットに入れる」（同社幹部）ことも可能になるという。通常の紙と同様、軽量で、何重にも折りたたむこともできる。

　髪の毛の２万分の１程度に細くした植物繊維「セルロースナノファイバー」を、特殊な技術を使ってシート状にした。ガラス繊維などで作る同様の商品に比べて割れにくく、再利用できるなどのメリットがある。３年後をめどに商品化を目指している。

（2013年3月18日21時15分 読売新聞）

 

(試譯文)

Prince Holdings (HD) announced on the 18th that they had succeeded in using very fine vegetable fiber materials to make "transparent paper".

It was possible that it could be flexibly used for the screen of the multifunction terminal type tablets, (the company's management) made reference to it as creating a possibility that "an electronic newspaper is wrapped into a pocket". Like the ordinary paper, it was lightweight and could also be folded many times.

The vegetable fiber "cellulose nanofiber" was as small as up to about 1/20,000 of a hair and was made into the shape of a sheet, using some special technology. Compared with the goods similarly made from glass fiber etc. it had the merit of being difficult to break and able to be reused. Its commercialization was aimed at within the limit of three-year from now.

It is a new invention. In future the manufacturing of i-pad and i-phone etc. would probably be benefited from this new technology.

北朝鮮警告日本是先制攻撃目標

Yesterday the NHK News on-line reported the following;

北朝鮮 日本も核攻撃の例外でない

3月17日 18時40分

北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党の機関紙は、「日本も、わが軍の核兵器による先制攻撃の例外ではない」として、３回目の核実験を強行した北朝鮮に対する独自の制裁措置を強化している日本政府をけん制しました。

北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党の機関紙「労働新聞」は１７日、北朝鮮による３回目の核実験に対する日本政府の姿勢について論評を掲載し、「安倍総理大臣は、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議に関連して、『各国が義務を順守することが重要だ』と言い散らしている」などと非難しました。
そのうえで、「わが軍は、アメリカが核戦争の導火線に火をつけるなら、侵略者たちの本拠地に対して核兵器で先制攻撃する権利を行使することになる。日本も決して例外ではない」と警告しました。先月の核実験によって原子爆弾の小型化や軽量化に成功したと主張している北朝鮮は、日本のほぼ全域を射程に収める中距離弾道ミサイル「ノドン」を、およそ２００基、実戦配備しているとみられています。
日本政府がアメリカなどと連携して北朝鮮に対する独自の制裁措置を強化していることに、北朝鮮は強く反発しており、１７日の論評も核ミサイルによる先制攻撃も辞さない姿勢を示すことで、日本側をけん制するねらいがあるとみられます。

(試譯文)

The bulletin of the “Korean Workers Party of North Korea” gave a warning to the Japanese government which had strengthened the original sanction against North Korea when the latter stubbornly carried out  the 3rd nuclear test, saying that "Japan also is not an exception to the pre-emptive strike by the nuclear weapon of my army".

The bulletin "Rodong Shinmun" of the Korean Workers Party of North Korea published the comment on the 17th about the posture of the Japanese government towards the 3rd nuclear test by North Korea. It blamed "Prime Minister Abe, in relation to the sanction resolution of the U.N. Security Council, spread the words that ‘It is important that each country should observe the duty’ etc."

Moreover it gave the warning that "if the American lights up the fuse of a nuclear war, my army will exercise the right against it and carries out a pre-emptive strike with nuclear weapons to aggressors' headquarters, and also warns that Japan is no exception to the strike". North Korea was claiming its success in the miniaturization and weight saving of the atomic bomb through the nuclear test carried out last month. It was expected that about 200 intermediate range ballistic missiles "No Dong" were put into battle disposition which would put almost the whole region of Japan within the range.

Regarding the matter that the Japanese government cooperated with the United States and others in strengthening the original sanction against North Korea, North Korea reacted strongly. The comments on the 17th showed the posture of not hesitated in carrying a pre-emptive strike by nuclear missiles, and it was expected that the aim was to check Japan.

I am wondering which country would be on the Korea’ exception list, China? Russia?

日本音楽著作権協会希望檢討著作権保護期

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

日本音楽著作権協会（ＪＡＳＲＡＣ）の都倉俊一会長らは２５日、外務省を訪れ、海外１５か国の音楽作品などの著作権保護期間を、主として約１０年間延長している現行ルールの見直しを各国に働きかけるよう、岸田外相に要請した。

　著作権法は、著作権保護期間を作者の死後５０年間と定め、その間は著作権料が発生する。これに対し、英米仏やブラジル、オランダなど第２次世界大戦の戦勝国の作品については、日本が戦後の独立を回復した１９５２年のサンフランシスコ講和条約により、交戦状態にあった期間の分、著作権を長く保護する「戦時加算」が義務づけられている。戦時加算の期間は国や著作権取得時期によって異なる。

　日本の映画などでもしばしば使用される「星に願いを」の場合、米国の作曲家のレイ・ハーラインは１９６９年に死亡しており、著作権法に従えば２０１９年中に著作権保護期間は終了する。しかし、戦時加算により約１０年（３７９４日）延長され、終了時期は３０年５月まで延びる。

（2013年2月26日00時28分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 25th (February) Chairman Toshikazu Tokura of the Japanese Society of Rights of Authors and Composers (JASRAC) together with others visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; they requested Foreign Minister Kishida to re-examine the present rule in 15 overseas countries on musical composition etc. regarding the extended copyright protection period, mainly about the ten-year extension; and to encourage a review of this rule in these countries.

   The Copyright Act fixed the copyright protection period at 50 years after the author's death, and a royalty was levied in that period. In respect of the work generated in the World War II victorious countries such as the British, American, France, Brazil, and the Netherlands, according to the Peace Treaty signed in San Francisco in 1952 through which Japan regained its postwar independence, a "war addition" responsibility was imposed on Japan which would extend the copyright protection period to compensate for the time when the state of war existed. The time period of this “war addition” and the acquisition time of the copyright varied among these countries.

   In the case of "When You Make a Wish upon a Star" which often used in Japanese movies etc, the American composer Leigh Harline had died in 1969. If the Copyright Act was to be followed, the copyright protection period would be ended by the end of 2019. However, it would be extended by “war addition” for about ten years (3794 days), and the ending time would be extended to May, 2030.

It is a legacy of the WWII. It is also an interesting copyright topic between Japan and the Allied countries.

中国本土人口比前年増加６６９万

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

中国各紙は２３日、国家統計局が公表した２０１２年の「国民経済と社会発展統計」で、昨年末の中国本土（香港、マカオを除く）の人口が前年比６６９万人増の１３億５４０４万人であることがわかったと報じた。

　労働人口（１５～５９歳）は前年比３４５万人減の９億３７２７万人、６０歳以上の高齢者は総人口比１４・３％の１億９３９０万人に達し、一人っ子政策の影響による少子高齢化の進行を裏付けた。

（2013年2月23日20時27分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

  The Chinese newspapers on 23rd (February), regarding "the national economy and social development statistics" of 2012 which the Office for National Statistics had released, reported that the population in mainland China at the end of last year (except for Hong Kong and Macao) was 1,354,040,000 people, being an increase of 6,690,000 people compared with last year.

  Labor force (15 to 59 years old) amounted to 937,270,000 people, being a decrease of 3,450,000 people compared with last year; the number of elderly people aged 60 and over was 193,900,000, amounted to14.3% of the overall population. It confirmed the continuation of low birthrate and aging in the country under the influence of the one-child policy.

The labor force in China is shrinking gradually. Perhaps it is time for China to review its one-child policy.

日本探索新一代能源

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

次世代のエネルギーとして注目されている、海底の「メタンハイドレート」から、ガスを生産する実験が愛知県の沖合で始まり、生産が確認された。
愛知県の渥美半島沖では、12日午前5時40分ごろ、メタンハイドレートからガスを生産する実験が始まり、午前9時半ごろ生産が確認された。
海底のメタンハイドレートからのガス生産実験は、世界でも初めてで、資源エネルギー庁は、今後2週間にわたって生産実験を行い、実用化に向けて検討することにしている。
メタンハイドレートは、メタンガスと水が結晶化した物質で、日本近海には、国内の天然ガス消費量のおよそ100年分に相当する量が埋蔵されているとみられている。

(03/12 14:03)

(試譯文)

Production was confirmed with regard to the experiment to produce "methane hydrate" gas from under the ocean in the offing near the Aichi Prefecture; it had attracted attention as the next-generation energy.

In the offing of the Atsumi peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, at around 5:40 a.m. on the 12th, the experiment to produce gas from methane hydrate had begun, and production was confirmed at around 9:30 a.m.

It was the first time in the world to do experiments to produce gas from methane hydrate at the ocean floor. The Agency of Natural Resources and Energy would conduct a production experiment within two weeks from now, and it would inquire into the practical aspects.

Methane hydrate was the substance produced when methane and water crystallized, and it was expected that in Japanese waters’ underground there was a quantity equivalent to about 100 years of domestic natural gas consumption.

If the production is successful, the energy problem in Japan would be solved.

日本加速向国際提升文化形像

Recently the FNN News on-line reported the following:

日本の国際展開の加速へ、クールジャパン推進会議初会合

 政府は、日本のアニメやゲームなどのコンテンツや、ファッション、文化などの国際展開を加速するため、4日、首相官邸でクールジャパン推進会議の初会合を開いた。
安倍首相は「日本は、まさに潜在力は極めて大きなものがある。3年、5年の間に、ずいぶん日本は、あの戦略によって、世界にたくさん、ものが進出したな、世界からたくさん人が来たなという、結果を出していけるように、ぜひともよろしくお願いしたい」と述べた。
推進会議は、稲田クールジャパン戦略担当相を議長に、作詞家の秋元 康さん、デザイナーのコシノジュンコさん、茶道・裏専科家元の千 宗室さんらが参加している。
出席者からは、「クールジャパンという言葉は、定着していないのではないか」、「韓国のコンテンツのように、日本も初めから海外に輸出することを念頭に、コンテンツを作るべきでないか」などの意見が出された。
秋元 康さんは「日本はすごい国なんだっていう、日本のものを自信を持って出すこと。つまり一番大事なので、自信だと思うんですよ」と話した。
コシノジュンコさんは「日本のチームという良さを、もとは何って、お祭り精神だと思うんですよ」と語った。
推進会議は、4月に提言をまとめる予定。

(試譯文)

On the 4th at the Prime Minister's official residence the government held the first promotional meeting on “Cool Japan” in order to accelerate internationalization in regard to the contents of Japan’s cartoons, games, and also in fashion and culture, etc.

Prime Minister Abe said "Japan is a country that has very great potential power. Definitely in three to five years through this policy strategy, it could put forward a lot to the world, and a lot of people would come to Japan. In order to able to get this outcome I very much need your help".

In the promotion meeting, Inada as the minister of the Cool Japan strategy became the chairperson. Akimoto Yasushi the songwriter; Koshino Junko the designer and Iemoto no Sen Soshutsu the tea ceremony master had participated.

The people who had attended the meeting offered the opinion that "whether the term ‘Cool Japan’ is established", or "just like South Korean’s contents, whether Japan should make the content from the start bearing in mind it’s for exporting to overseas" etc.

Mr. Yasushi Akimoto said that "Japan is a great country, Japan needs to take out the things it is possessing with confidence. I think confidence is the most important thing".

Mr. Koshino Junko said that "the merit of the so called Japanese team, in essence, was its festive spirit."

The promotion meeting would summarize a proposal in April.

So, the Japan government is actively trying to promotion its culture to the world with a specific goal.

岩手県及宮城県等大学向中國學生招生

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

被災地の大学 中国で留学をアピール

3月9日 23時10分

東日本大震災の影響で外国人留学生の数が伸び悩むなか、被災地の岩手県や宮城県などの大学が、北京で開かれている国際留学フェアに参加し、大学の魅力を中国人の学生にアピールしました。

この留学フェアは中国教育省傘下の団体の主催で、９日と１０日の２日間、北京市内で開かれているもので、およそ３０か国から４００以上の大学が参加しています。
日本からは被災地の岩手県や宮城県を含む３８の大学などが、日本への留学や各大学の魅力を紹介するコーナーを設けました。
このうち岩手大学の担当者は、東日本大震災からの復興を目指して農林水産業関係や防災の教育に力を入れていることなどを説明し、訪れた中国人の学生たちに資料を手渡していました。
独立行政法人の「日本学生支援機構」によりますと、去年の外国人留学生の数は１３万７７５６人で、東日本大震災の影響で最も多かった３年前と比べて３％減っているということです。
参加した中国人の女子高校生は、「地震の影響はもう感じません。大事なことは、留学で知識や文化を学ぶことだと思います」と話していました。
岩手大学の岩渕明副学長は「留学生の力を被災地の復興につなげられるよう、多くの留学生を呼び込みたい」と話していました。

(試譯文)

While the number of foreign students had little increase due to the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, universities in the stricken area such as the Iwate Prefecture and the Miyagi Prefecture etc. had participated in the international studying-abroad fair that was opened in Beijing, and they advertised the charm of the universities to the Chinese students.

This studying-abroad fair had the sponsorship of an organization affiliated to the China Department of Education, it was open for two days on the 9^th and the 10^th in Beijing and 400 or more universities from about 30 nations had participated.

From Japan there were 38 universities including those from the Iwate Prefecture and the Miyagi Prefecture in the stricken area etc., they set up a corner to introduce the charm of studying abroad in Japan, and the charm of the individual university.

Among these, the person in charge of the Iwate University explained that man power was put into the education on agriculture-and-forestry fisheries relations and on disaster prevention that aimed at the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake etc.; data were handed over to the Chinese students who visited the counter.

According to the "Japan Student Services Organization", an independent administrative agency, it was said that under the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake the number of the foreign students last year was 137,756 people, it was a decrease of 3% compared with the peak three years ago.

A Chinese high school girl who had participated said that "the influence of the earthquake is not felt any longer. I think that the important thing is to learn knowledge and culture through studying abroad".

Iwate University Vice-President Akira Iwabuchi was saying that "I would like to call in more foreign students so that the foreign student's energy may be connected to the recovery of the stricken area".

It seems that cultural flow between China and Japan is gradually recovering.