The number of birth is the lowest so far while fatality is at the highest since post-war - population decrease accelerates

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

出生数が過去最少 死亡者は戦後最多 人口減が加速

12月22日 15時38分

１年間に生まれた子どもの数の「出生数」は、ことし全国で９４万人余りと、これまでで最も少なくなる見通しとなったことが厚生労働省の調査でわかりました。一方、死亡した人は戦後最多の１３４万人余りとなる見通しで、人口の減少がさらに加速していることが浮き彫りになりました。

厚生労働省は毎年１月から１０月までの数値を基に、その年に生まれる子どもの数、いわゆる出生数を推計しています。

それによりますと、ことしの出生数は９４万１０００人と、初めて１００万人を下回った去年よりさらに３万６０００人少なくなり、明治３２年に統計を取り始めて以降、最も少なくなる見通しです。

一方、国内の死亡者数は１３４万４０００人と去年より３万６０００人多くなり、戦後では最多となる見通しです。出生数から死亡者数を差し引いた人口の減少数は４０万３０００人と、戦後初めて４０万人を超える見通しです。

日本の人口が減少するのは１１年連続で、そのペースがさらに加速していることが浮き彫りになりました。

厚生労働省は「保育所の整備など現在の子育て世帯への支援を強化するとともに、若者世代が将来安心して子どもを産めるよう就労支援などにも取り組み、少子化に歯止めをかけていきたい」としています。

My translation

An investigation of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed that the "birth rate” this year nationwide was slightly over 940,000 people, showing the perspective of being the lowest so far. On the other hand, about 1,340,000 people had died and became the highest in the post- war, clearly showed a perspective that the decrease in population was accelerating.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was estimating the number of children born this year, the so called birth rate, based on the numerical value from January to October every year.

Base on this, the birth rate of 941,000 people this year when compared with last year was for the first time lower than 1,000,000 people, it was a decrease of 36,000 people; there was a perspective that it became the lowest since the beginning of keeping statistics since 1899.

On the other hand, domestic death toll was 1,344,000 people and was 36,000 people higher than that of last year, and the perspective was that it would become the highest in the postwar. When the number of population decrease due to death was deducted from the number of birth, it would be 403,000 people; there was a perspective that for the first time in post-war it was over 400,000 people.

The population of Japan had been decreasing for 11 years continuously, the accelerating decreasing pace clearly stood out.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare supposed that it would “together with the strengthening of the present maintenance in a day care centers etc. in giving support to child rearing household, will make an effort on working support so that the younger generation can bear children with confidence in the future, and would like to put a brake on the low birthrate."

   It seems that the Japanese government is working hard to put a brake on the low birthrate.

China’s import from North Korea showed a continuously decrease of about 60 % in two months

中国 北朝鮮からの輸入額 ２か月連続で60％余減少

12月27日 5時34分北朝鮮情勢

中国の税関当局は、先月の北朝鮮からの輸入額が２か月連続して、去年の同じ月に比べて６０％余り下回ったと公表し、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議を厳格に履行している姿勢を示した形です。

中国の税関当局が公表した貿易統計によりますと、中国と北朝鮮との輸出入の総額は、先月、３億８０００万ドル（４３０億円）で、去年の同じ月に比べて３６％少なくなっています。

このうち、輸入額は去年の同じ月に比べ、６１％少ない１億ドル（１１３億円）で、２か月連続して去年の月を６０％余り下回りました。

北朝鮮との貿易をめぐっては、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議で輸出入が禁止されている品目があり、このうち海産物は３か月、石炭と鉄鉱石は２か月、それぞれ連続して中国の輸入額はゼロとなっています。

また、輸出量に上限が定められている石油精製品のガソリンについては、２か月連続して取り引き額がゼロで、中国が制裁を厳格に履行している姿勢を示した形です。

ただ、アメリカ政府が北朝鮮籍の船舶が、国籍不明の船から物資を移し替える様子を写した写真を先月公開し、積み荷が石油の可能性があると指摘しているほか、中朝の貿易関係者は、制裁対象の海産物が海上や中朝国境で今も密輸されていると話しています。

こうした制裁逃れの実態もうかがえる中、中国当局が取締りの徹底をどの程度図るのか各国が注視しています。

My translation

A Chinese customs authority announced that last month’s record of import from North Korea was a continuously decrease of about 60% when compared with the same month last year, indicating a serious posture in discharging the sanction resolution of the U.N. Security Council.

According to the trade statistics published by the Chinese customs authority the total amount of the import and export between China and North Korea was 380 million dollars (43,000 million yen) and was a decrease of 36 % compared with the same month last year.

Among these, import record was 100 million dollars (11,300 million yen) being 61 % less than the same month of last year, in terms of month it was a continuous fall of  about 60% .

There was a list of items by which import and export were prohibited by a sanction resolution of U.N. Security Council concerning trading with North Korea, and among these the Chinese import record was a zero for 2 months continuously for coal and iron ore, and three months for marine produces respectively.

About gas as a petroleum refinery item which an export volume upper limit was set, the transaction amount was a zero for 2 continuous months and China showed a posture of discharging the sanction strictly.

But last month the American government released a picture which showed that a ship of unknown nationality was transferring goods to a North Korea ship and pointed out that there was a possibility that the shipment was petroleum. A person related to China and North Korea trade said that marine produce which was a sanction target was also smuggled at the sea and at the border of China and North Korea now.

Watching at the reality of sanction avoidance, all countries were gazing at the degree of thoroughness by which the Chinese authority was aiming at in applying its controls.

     I hope the sanction could yield the effect as intended so that the crisis could be resolved through diplomatic negotiations.

To protest against the Philippines in disclosing His Majesty the Emperor's interview contents - Diplomatic documents released

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

天皇陛下の会見内容明かした比に抗議 外交文書公開

12月20日 13時37分

１９８６年に来日したフィリピンのアキノ大統領が天皇陛下と会見した際の内容を、フィリピン政府が外国の報道機関に明かしたことに対し、外務省が、合意の場合を除き非公表にしているとして抗議していたことが、２０日に公開された外交文書でわかりました。

外務省は、１９８６年１１月に来日したフィリピンの当時のアキノ大統領が天皇陛下と会見した際の記録などを２０日に公開しました。

この会見をめぐっては、フィリピン政府の報道官が会見の内容を外国の報道機関に明かし、天皇陛下が太平洋戦争での日本の侵略行為について、大統領に謝罪したなどと報じられました。

公開された外交文書では、外務省は、報道を受けてフィリピン政府の関係者と面会し、「御会見は私的な会話なので、あらかじめ合意された場合を除き一切外部には出さないこととなっている」としたうえで、「陛下との御会見の模様が報じられたことに困惑している」と不快感をあらわにしています。

そして、これ以上のコメントを差し控えるようフィリピン側に強く抗議したとしています。

日本とフィリピンの外交史に詳しい一橋大学の中野聡教授は「天皇陛下の発言の中でも、特に太平洋戦争をめぐる発言には、政府が神経をとがらせていた時代背景の中で、日本の外交当局がぴりぴりしていた当時の雰囲気が伝わってくる」と話しています。

My translation

On the 20^th a diplomatic document was released which showed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was protesting against the Philippine government in disclosing an interview contents with His Majesty the Emperor when the Philippine’s Aquino president visited Japan in 1986, it was wrong to disclose it unless a consent had been given.

On the 20th the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the record etc. of an interview between His Majesty the Emperor and President Aquino of the Philippines who visited Japan in November 1986.

Centering on this interview, a press attaché of the Philippine government disclosed the contents of the interview to foreign news media in saying that His Majesty the Emperor had apologized to the president about Japanese invasion in the Pacific War.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an open document said that they had met with the person concerned from the Philippine government who had received the diplomatic document. Based on that "the interview was a private conversation and should not be revealed to the outside except in the case an agreement has been sought beforehand" it made bare their unpleasant feeling that it "is perplexed that the framework of meeting with the Majesty was being reported".

Then, to refrain from further comments, a hard protested against the Philippines side was made.

Prof. Akira Nakano of the Hitotsubashi University who was conversant with diplomatic history in Japan and Philippines said that  "in the talks of the Emperor, in particular those talks related to the Pacific War, when in the background and during a time the nerves of the government was sharp, the contemporary tense atmosphere would be transmitted by the diplomatic authorities of Japan.”

   So, it is clear that Japan in 1986 had apologized to an Asian country for the Pacific War.

"The country where a Chinese would like to visit” - Japan came first in the JETRO investigation

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

「中国人が行きたい国」日本が初の１位に ＪＥＴＲＯ調査

12月18日 5時08分

日本を訪れる外国人観光客のいわゆるインバウンド消費が景気を引っ張る役割を担う中、「中国人が行きたい国」の１位に日本が初めて選ばれました。調査を行ったＪＥＴＲＯ＝日本貿易振興機構では、日中関係の改善が進み、中国人観光客によるさらなる消費の増加が期待されるとしています。

ＪＥＴＲＯでは毎年、北京や上海など６つの大都市で比較的所得が高い２０代から４０代までのアンケート調査を行っていて、今回は１２００人余りから回答を得ました。

この中で今後行きたい国・地域を聞いたところ、日本が４０．２％となり、前回トップのアメリカを抜いて２０１３年の調査開始以来初めて１位となりました。

さらに、日本に行きたいと答えた人に日本で何がしたいか聞くと、「遊園地やテーマパークなどで遊ぶ」が６０．８％と最も多く、２位が「食事」で５１．７％、３位が「買い物」で５０．６％、「桜の観賞」が４２．３％で４位となり、いわゆる爆買いに象徴されるショッピングにとどまらず、日本でのさまざまな体験を重視していることがうかがえます。

一方、日本で買いたいものとしては、トップが化粧品で２７．６％、次いで衣料・日用品が２０．８％、デジタル製品が１６．２％、食品が１３．７％などとなっています。

また、ネット通販を利用して中国にいながら日本の商品を買ったことがある人はおよそ７割に達していて、特に日本を旅行した時に購入して気に入ったことを理由に挙げた割合が、前回の２倍近い４０％に増えたということです。

ＪＥＴＲＯ中国北アジア課の箱崎大課長は「日本のイメージの向上を追い風にでき、日本を訪れる旅行者の数もまだまだ増えると予想されるので、伸びしろがある」と述べ、日中関係の改善が進む中、中国人観光客によるさらなる消費の増加が期待されるとしています。

My   translation

Amidst the  role of  the so-called inbound consumption by foreigner tourists who visited  Japan that was playing a part in popping up  the business, Japan was chosen as the number one " country where the Chinese would like to visit" for the first time. JETRO= Japan trade promotion organization that did the investigation believed that due to the progress in the improvement of Japan-China relations, an increase in further consumption by Chinese tourists could be expected.

Every year JETRO did an income questionnaire survey at 6 big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai that had relatively high income among people aged twenties and forties, this time got a response from about 1200 people.

Among them, when asked about the country and the area where they would like to visit from now on, Japan was 40.2% replacing the United States that was at the top last time, and it was the first time for Japan since the investigation started in 2013.

Furthermore among those who would like to visit Japan, when asked what they would like to do, "to play at an amusement park and a theme park" was 60.8% at the top, second was  “to have a meal" at 51.7% , and third was  "shopping" at 50.6 %, 4th place was “enjoying cherry trees" by 42.3%. While not limited to shopping which was symbolized by the so-called “baku buying”, they said that they gave importance to feeling the various experiences in Japan.

On the other hand, about the items they would like to buy in Japan, cosmetic  was 27.6 % at the top, second was clothes and daily necessities at 20.8%; digital products at 16.2% and  food at 13.7%.

Those people who while in China had already used to buying Japanese goods through the net catalog had reached approximately 70 percent, those who gave preferring to go to japan to buy as the reason for the visit had increased to 40% and was close to doubling the figure of last time.

Hakozaki the senior section chief of JETRO’s China Northern Asian department said that “It can improve the positive image of Japan, and the number of tourists visiting Japan is expected to increase, there is rooms for growth." As improvement in Japan-China relations was advancing, an increase in further consumption by Chinese tourists was expected.

     The hope the diplomatic conflicts at the governmental level between China and Japan will not affect the cultural flow among the people of these two countries.

UNICEF report : "PM2.5 is feared to have influences on a baby's brain"

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

“ＰＭ2.5 乳児の脳に影響のおそれ” ユニセフ報告書

12月7日 4時37分

ユニセフ＝国連児童基金は、大気汚染物質ＰＭ２．５が幼い子どもの脳の発達を損ない、生涯にわたって影響が残るおそれがあるとする報告書をまとめ、中でも、汚染がひどく危険にさらされる子どもの数が多いインドなど、南アジア地域に対し早急な対策を呼びかけました。

ユニセフは６日、大気汚染が子どもの脳の発達に及ぼす影響について、報告書を発表しました。

それによりますと、大気汚染物質のＰＭ２．５は、粒子が極めて小さいため、血管を通って脳に到達し、脳細胞の炎症を引き起こしたり神経細胞の伝達に関わる部分を破壊したりして、学習や脳の発達の基礎となる部分を損なうおそれがあるということです。

特に脳が発達段階にある１歳未満の乳児など幼い子どもは影響を受けやすく、ＰＭ２．５の影響が生涯にわたって残るおそれがあると指摘しています。

報告書は、ＷＨＯ＝世界保健機関が定めた基準値の６倍以上にのぼる汚染レベルの地域に、現在、世界でおよそ１７００万人の乳児が暮らしていると推計していて、このうち７割にあたる１２２０万人が経済発展が著しいインドなど南アジア地域に集中しているとしています。

ユニセフはこうした地域の国々に対し、汚染濃度が低い時間帯での通学や、機能性の高いマスクの提供、それに学校や病院の近くに汚染源が存在しないよう都市計画を推進することなど、対策を早急に実行するよう呼びかけています。

My translation

UNICEF = United Nations Children's Fund was gathering a report which assumed that there was a fear that while the atmospheric pollutant PM2.5 could damage the cerebral development of a young child, its influence left behind was for a lifetime; it appealed for immediate measures to be taken for the many children who were exposed to the risk of this terrible pollution in India and other parts of South Asia.

On the 6^th UNICEF released a report about the influence of air pollution on a child's cerebral development.

According to the report there was a fear that because PM2.5 was an atmospheric pollutant of very small particle that could reach the brain through the blood vessels; and it could cause an inflammation of  brain cells and destroy a part of the communication of nerve cells. There was a fear that this would destroy the brain’s foundation for future learning and cerebral development.

It pointed that a young child of less than 1-year-old who was having a brain in the development stage was particularly tended to be affected, and the fear that the influence of PM2.5  left behind could be for a lifetime.

The report was estimating that about 17 million babies in the world at present were living in areas that had the contamination level 6 times above the standard set by the WHO= the World Health Organization, and assumed that among these 12.2 million people representing 70 percent were concentrating in India etc. in South Asia where economic developments were clearly noted.

Towards the countries in these areas, the UNICEF was calling for an early implementation of policies in notifying the timing for going to school when pollution density was low and offering high performance masks; and to promote urban planning so that pollutant sources would not exist near schools and hospitals.

   It is obvious that high economic growth carries a price.

Young eel catches in Taiwan were extremely poor so the price was likely to soar in Japan

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

台湾 ウナギ稚魚が極端な不漁 日本で価格高騰のおそれも

12月17日 4時09分

ウナギの稚魚の今シーズンの漁が解禁された台湾では、これまでのところ極端な不漁となり、専門家からは、シーズン全体の漁獲量が過去最低となる可能性もあるという指摘が出ていて、今後、日本国内で取り引きされるウナギの価格高騰につながるおそれも出ています。

台湾では、毎年１１月からよくとしの２月にかけて、ウナギの稚魚のシラスウナギの漁が解禁され、今シーズンも先月から東部・宜蘭などの海岸で漁が行われています。

しかし、今シーズンはこれまでのところ極端な不漁となっていて、台湾の専門家は、このままのペースで推移すれば、シーズン全体の漁獲量は４トン余りだった前のシーズンの１０分の１から２０分の１程度にまで落ち込み、過去最低となる可能性もあると指摘しています。

不漁の詳しい原因はわかっていませんが、専門家は、海流の変化などが原因になっている可能性もあると推測しています。

台湾では、シラスウナギを養殖して、そのほとんどを日本に輸出しており、今後、日本国内で取り引きされるウナギの価格高騰につながるおそれも出ています。

My translation

In Taiwan where this season's fishing band on young eel was lifted, up to now the catches were extreme poor, specialists had pointed that there was a possibility that the catches for the whole season could be the lowest compared with the past. This would lead to a price hike in eel trading in Japan from now on.

In Taiwan the fishing of white sandbar young eel was often permitted annually from November to February the next year, since last month this season’s fishing had been carried out in Yílán etc. located at the east coast.

But in this season the catches up to now were extremely poor, according to Taiwanese specialists who based on the pace up to now pointed out that the best estimate would be about 4 tons for the whole season, fell to about 1/10 to 1/20 of the previous seasons, and that there was also a possibility it would become the lowest ever.

While the detailed cause of poor catches was not known, the specialists were inferring that there was also a possibility that it was due to changes in ocean currents.

In Taiwan white sandbar eel was cultivated and mostly exported to Japan; from now on there was a fear that it would lead to a rise in the price of eels when traded in Japan.

   The poor eel catches show that changes in ocean currents could affect the food supply of human.

A Chinese noodle chain expanding in China is using Japanese rice in its new menu

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

中国で展開のラーメンチェーン 日本米で新メニュー

12月16日 17時40分

政府が中心になって日本産のコメの輸出促進をはかる中、中国で展開する大手ラーメンチェーンが富山県産のコメ、７２トンを購入し、中国全土で１６日から新たなメニューとして提供することになり、今後の輸出拡大につながると期待されています。

中国で展開する大手ラーメンチェーン「味千拉麺」は１６日から、上海など中国国内のおよそ６００店舗で、富山県産のコシヒカリを使った焼き魚やとんかつ定食など新たなメニューの提供を始めました。定食の価格は、日本円でおよそ６５０円から８２０円で、店頭でのコメの販売も行います。

今回、購入した富山県産のコメは７２トンに上り、去年、日本から中国に輸出したコメの２０％の量にあたるということで、まずは２か月間、提供することにしています。

上海市内の店舗では、１６日、大勢の人たちが、早速日本のコメを味わっていました。このうち１３歳の男子中学生は、「日本の料理が好きですが、このコメは、これまで食べたなかでもいちばんおいしいものの一つです」と話していました。また、男性客は、「もっと多くの場所で、多くの種類の日本のコメが食べられると、さらによいと思います」と話していました。

日本米の輸出を進めているＪＥＴＲＯ＝日本貿易振興機構、上海事務所の小栗道明所長は、「これをきっかけに、今後、日本の安心、安全、おいしい日本産の食材がより広がっていくことを期待しています」と話していました。

My translation

 With the government at the center in promoting the exportation of rice grown in Japan and when a major Chinese noodle chain developing in China bought 72 tons of rice grown in Toyama-ken and offered it in its a new menu starting from the 16th in China across the board, it led to an expectation in export expansion in the future.

The "Michi Chinese Noodle”, a  major Chinese noodle chain now developing in China had begun to offer a new menu by using Koshihikari from Toyama-ken in its set menu that  had grilled fish and pork cutlet at its approximately 600 branches in China that included Shanghai city starting from the 16th. The price of the set menu was from approximately 650 yen to 820 yen in Japanese currency. Rice would also be sold at the shop-front.

It was said that the rice grown in Toyama-ken bought this time went up to 72 tons was equal to an amount of the 20% of the rice which was exported from Japan to China last year, and it was the supply of the first 2 months.

On the 16th, many people tasted Japanese rice right away at a branch shop in Shanghai. Among them a 13-year-old male junior high school student said "I like Japanese dish, in terms of rice, it is the best among those I have eaten up to now." A male visitor was also saying that “I think it is better to have more kinds of Japanese rice and more places to them."

Oguri Michiaki the general manager of the Shanghai branch office of the JETRO= Japanese Trade Promotion Organization that was handling the export of Japanese rice said that " taking this as a start I hold the expectation in spreading the reliability, safety and good taste of food that is made in Japan."

        I think China has become a rice importing country when its modernization programs started in the 1980s. I suppose that many of its paddy fields have been turned into industrial areas or urban areas.

The new-style interception missile Aegis Ashore " costs almost 100,000 million yen per set"

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

新型迎撃ミサイル イージス・アショア “１基1000億円弱”

12月12日 11時12分

防衛省は自民党の国防関係の会合で、新たに導入する地上配備型の新型迎撃ミサイルシステム「イージス・アショア」の価格について、１基当たり１０００億円弱になるという見通しを示しました。

今月２２日に予定されている来年度予算案の決定を前に、１２日、自民党の国防関係の合同会議が開かれ、小野寺防衛大臣は新たに地上配備型の新型迎撃ミサイルシステム「イージス・アショア」を２基導入するため、今年度の補正予算案と来年度予算案に関係する経費を盛り込む方針を説明しました。

そして防衛省の担当者が、導入予定の「イージス・アショア」の価格について「装備やレーダーの種類などによって変わってくる」としたうえで、１基当たり１０００億円弱になるという見通しを示しました。

また、防衛省が新たに戦闘機に搭載する長距離巡航ミサイルを導入することについて、出席者から「いわゆる敵基地攻撃を意図したものではないことをはっきり示すべきだ」という意見や「専守防衛の範囲内であることを国会で丁寧に説明してほしい」といった要望が出されました。

My   translation: 

At a meeting between the Defense Ministry and LDP’s national defense relation unit, it was indicated that the price of "Aegis Ashore", the new-style interception missile system for ground deployment to be introduced would cost slightly less than 100,000 million yen per set.

Before a decision on next year’s budget scheduled to be made on the 22nd this month, a joint session meeting of the national defense relation unit of the LDP was held on the 12^th for the purpose of introducing 2 units of the ground deployment type "Aegis Ashore" new-style interception missile systems; Onodera the Secretary of State for Defense explained this fiscal year's supplementary budget plan and the policy in which related expenses would be incorporated into next year’s budget.

The person in charge of the Defense Ministry then explained that regarding the price of "Aegis Ashore" to be introduced, "it was changing with the kind of equipment and radar", indicating the perspective that it would be a little less than 100,000 million yen per set.

About the Defense Ministry’s new introduction of a long-distance cruise missile loaded into a fighter , the people attending the meeting held the opinion that "it should be shown clearly that there is no intention to attack the so-called enemy base" and hoped that " matters centering on things about the non-aggressive defense would be explained carefully in the Diet.”

    I did not expect the price of the missile is so expensive.

"Pola" apologized for a poster in its shop that declined Chinese customers

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

「ポーラ」の店舗が中国人お断りの貼り紙で謝罪

11月25日 23時34分

化粧品メーカーの「ポーラ」の 店舗が「中国の方出入り禁止」と書かれた貼り紙をしていたことがわかり、会社側は不適切だとして撤去させたうえでホームページに謝罪のコメントを掲載しました。

ポーラによりますと、貼り紙をしていたのは会社から委託を受けてポーラの化粧品を専門に販売している店舗で、ドアの部分に「中国の方出入り禁止」と書かれた紙を貼っていたということです。

２４日に中国のＳＮＳ＝ソーシャル・ネットワーキング・サービスで店舗の画像が公開されたことを受けて、会社側は不適切な貼り紙だとして撤去させたということです。

ポーラは「多くの皆様にご不快な思いとご迷惑をおかけし、誠に申し訳なく遺憾に思っております」とする謝罪のコメントをホームページ上に掲載しました。

ポーラは貼り紙をしていた店舗の場所や詳しいいきさつについて明らかにしていませんが、事実確認ができしだい、店舗を営業停止にするとともに厳正な処分を行うとしています。

My translation

It was found out that a shop of "Pola", a cosmetics manufacturer, had posted a notice that had written that "No entry for the Chinese people"; the company assumed that it was improper and after removing it, a statement of apology was posted in the home page of Pola.

According to Pola, it was its authorized company that had posted up the bill on part of a door of a store that mainly sold the cosmetics of Pola;  the bill that was posted up had "No entry for the Chinese people" written on it.

It was said that the company after noting that a picture of this store was carried by the Chinese SNS= social networking service on the 24th, the company believed that it was an improper poster and ordered it to be removed.

Pola carried a statement of apology in its home page which stated that "it was truly regretted and was sorry for causing trouble to many of you with the unpleasant idea".

Pola had not made clear about the location of the store that posted up the bill, but as soon as the facts were confirmed, it closed the shop and took severe disciplinary action.

        I am interested to know the reasons behind the shop in declining the Chinese customers. Shops are open for business and it is common sense that all customers would be welcome.

"The article is true" - Tokyo high court- The amount of compensation by Bungeishunju was sharply reduced

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

「記事は真実」 東京高裁 週刊文春の賠償額を大幅減

11月22日 17時36分

流通大手「イオン」が、週刊文春に掲載された食品に関する記事や広告の見出しで名誉を傷つけられたと訴えた裁判で、２審の東京高等裁判所は、見出し以外は真実だと認め、賠償の額を１審の２４００万円から１１０万円に減らす判決を言い渡しました。

４年前、三重県の卸売会社が産地を偽装していたコメがイオンで販売された弁当などに使われていたことをめぐり、週刊文春は「『中国猛毒米』偽装イオンの大罪を暴く」という見出しで広告を出し、記事を掲載しました。

イオンは１億６５００万円の賠償などを求める訴えを起こし、１審の東京地方裁判所は見出しや記事の一部が真実とは認められないとして文藝春秋に２４９０万円余りの賠償を命じました。

２２日の２審の判決で東京高等裁判所の野山宏裁判長は、記事の内容は真実だとして１審の判決を変更したうえで「食品の安全に関して問題を提起する良質の言論で、裁判を起こすことで萎縮させるのではなく、言論の場で論争を深めていくことが望まれる」と指摘しました。

一方で、広告の見出しを見た人にコメに猛毒が含まれていたという誤った印象を抱かせるとして、文藝春秋に対して１１０万円の賠償などを命じました。

判決について文藝春秋は「１審判決の大部分が否定され、記事の正当性がほぼ認められたものと受け止めている」とコメントしています。

一方、イオンは「名誉毀損が一部認められた判決と理解しているが、判決文を精査して対応を検討する」とコメントしています。

My translation

In a trial in which the major distributor "Aeon" argued that it had been defamed by the headline of an article on food which appeared in Bungeishunju, the Tokyo high court in the second trial ruled that except for its headline the article was true, and gave the decision to reduce the amount of the compensation to 1.1 million yen from 24 million yen in the first trial.

Four years ago an article in Bungeishunju gave a notice in its headline by saying that " ‘Chinese deadly poisonous rice’ - a great sin in camouflage by Aeon was exposed" regarding the lunch box sold in Aeon that used the rice from a wholesale company in Mie-ken that had camouflaged the place of production of the rice.

Aeon initiated a lawsuit for a compensation of 165 million yen, and the Tokyo district court in the first trial refused to admit that the headline and part of the article were true and commanded Bungeishunju  to pay a compensation of about 24.9 million yen.

On the 22^nd in the second trial, Hiroshi Noyama the presiding judge of the Tokyo high court changed the judgment of the first trial because the contents of the article were true. In addition he pointed out that “it is a good discussion in which it draws attention to the problem on food safety, the trial instead of causing it to shrink, it is hoped that it could deepen arguments through discussions". 

On the other hand,  as it was supposed that the headline of advertisement had made people who saw it to hold a wrong impression that deadly poison was included in rice, Bungeishunju was ordered to made a compensation of 1.1million yen.

Regarding the court decision, Bungeishunju commented that "most of the court decisions in the first trial have been denied and that most of the justification for the article has been accepted”.

On the other hand Aeon commented that “the judgment could be understood as that it partially recognized there was defamation, yet the judgment sentence will be reviewed to consider a response".

   It is an interesting legal case. I think the lawyers from Bungeishunju had done a very good job.

Chinese noodle chain Kourakuen was going to close over 50 stores due to profit deterioration

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

ラーメンチェーン幸楽苑 採算悪化で５０店舗余 閉鎖へ

11月10日 21時50分

低価格のラーメンチェーン、「幸楽苑」を運営する会社は、人手不足で人件費が上昇し採算が悪化しているとして、全体のおよそ１割に当たる５０店舗余りを今年度中に閉鎖することになりました。

発表によりますと、「幸楽苑ホールディングス」は、５６０のラーメン店のうち、およそ１割に当たる５１店舗を来年３月までに閉鎖することを決めました。

これにより、北海道、福井県、滋賀県、京都府、岡山県からは撤退することになります。

幸楽苑は、デフレの中、低価格なラーメンの販売で店舗数を急速に拡大しましたが、人手不足を背景とした人件費の上昇や原材料価格の値上がりを受けて、一部の店舗で採算が悪化していることから、今回の閉鎖を決めたということです。

また、店舗の閉鎖に伴っておよそ５億円の特別損失を計上するため、今年度の最終損益が当初の黒字の予想から一転して６億７４００万円の赤字になると発表しました。

幸楽苑は、ステーキ店の「いきなり！ステーキ」を展開するペッパーフードサービスと先日フランチャイズ契約を結んだばかりで、今後は首都圏や東北地方を中心に、単価が高く利益が見込めるステーキ店の出店を進めるなどして業績の改善を目指すことにしています。

My translation

The firm that managed "Kourakuen” which was a low-price chain of Chinese noodle would close about 50 shops in this fiscal year which was about one-tenths of all stores due to wage expenses increase arising from a shortage of labor, and it was assumed that their profit was aggravated.

According to an announcement, "Kourakuen Holdings" had decided to close 51 Chinese noodles shops by March next year out of the total 560, representing approximately 10 percent of all shops.

By that it would retreat from Hokkaido, Fukui-ken, Shiga-ken, Kyoto-fu and Okayama-ken.

Kourakuen expanded rapidly its number of stores with the sales of low-price Chinese noodles during a deflation, but due to a rise of personnel expenses against the background of labor shortage and a rise in price of raw material, the profit at certain shops was aggravated, it was said that for these reasons they decided the closing.

Together with the closing of shops, it appropriated an extraordinary loss of about 500 million yen; the expectation to stay in black as announced at the beginning of this fiscal year was reversed to become 674 million yen in red.

Kourakuen had just made a franchise contract the other day with the pepper food service which developed the steak house "Suddenly! Steak"; from now on, centering on the metropolitan area and Tohoku-district it would advance the branches of steak stores where high profit could be expected from the unit price while aiming at the improvement of business performance.

       It is normal for the company management to down size their business in face of adverse situations. I think some customers will miss the Chinese noodle of Kourakuen.

Did ancestors of mammals and insects that were using the same brain exist?

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

哺乳類と昆虫 共通の脳を持つ祖先が存在か

11月4日 5時21分

ものを触ったときに感じる感覚、「触覚」が脳に伝わる神経回路の構造は、ヒトを含む哺乳類と昆虫とで共通しているとする研究成果を東京大学のグループが発表しました。聴覚や視覚など五感のうち４つではすでに共通の構造があることが判明していて、グループでは、今から６億年ほど前には、哺乳類と昆虫には、共通の脳を持つ祖先が存在していた可能性が高いとしています。

東京大学分子細胞生物学研究所の伊藤啓准教授らのグループは、大きさ２ミリほどのショウジョウバエを使ってものを触ったときに感じる「触覚」の情報が脳にどう伝わるのか調べました。

その結果、皮膚が押されたり、関節が曲がったりするのを感知する複数の神経がそれぞれ脳の違った場所に情報を伝えるなど哺乳類と昆虫とで神経回路の構造が共通していることがわかったということです。

視覚、嗅覚、味覚、聴覚、触覚の五感のうち、触覚を除く４つの感覚では、すでに哺乳類と昆虫とで神経回路の構造が共通しているとわかっていて今回の研究で五感すべてで共通点が見つかったことになります。

研究グループの伊藤准教授は、「およそ６億年前には、哺乳類と昆虫の共通の祖先がいて、五感を感じる脳を持っていた可能性が高い」と話しています。

My translation

A group from the University of Tokyo announced their study results which suggested that the sense to feel when touching a thing, and the structure of the neural circuit by which the "sense of touch" was transmitted to a brain in insect was common to mammals including human. It revealed that a common structure had already been confirmed in the four senses out of the five senses that included hearing and seeing; this group suggested that there was a high possibility for an ancestor with a brain common to both mammals and insects had existed about 600 million years ago.

A group consisting of Professor Ito Kei and others from the University of Tokyo molecule cellular biology research center used a drosophila of about 2 millimeters in size to examine how the signal of feeling on "sense of touch" was transmitted to a brain when touching a thing.

As a result, in sensing the feeling by pushing the skin and bending a joint, more than one nerve would hand down signals respectively to the different places in the brain in mammals and insects, and it was said that they found out that the structure of the neural circuit was the same.

In the five senses of sight, smell, palate, hearing and touching, with the exception for the sense of touching, all four senses had already showed that the structure of the neural circuit was the same in mammals and insects, and by this study a common point was found for all five senses.

Associate professor Ito of the study group said that “approximately 600 million years ago mammals and insects had a common ancestor, and the possibility that it had the brain that felt the five senses is high."

         This is an interesting observation. Thank you for the hard work of Professor Ito.