"Convenience store owners needed": lack of suitable people, explanatory meeting for students

Recently the NHK New On-line reported the following:

「求む！コンビニオーナー」なり手不足で学生に説明会

4月14日 17時28分

人手不足の影響でコンビニの店舗を運営する人材が足りなくなってきていることから、「ローソン」はオーナーを目指す学生を対象にした採用説明会を開きました。

人手不足が深刻化する中、コンビニ業界では店員にとどまらず、店舗を運営するオーナーのなり手も足りなくなり始めています。

このためコンビニ大手のローソンは、店舗のオーナーになることを前提に新卒の学生を契約社員として採用する制度を来年春から導入することになり、１４日、都内で説明会を開きました。

５人の学生が参加し、契約社員として給料をもらいながら経営のノウハウを学んだあと、１年以内にオーナーとして独立するという新たな制度を真剣に聞いていました。

参加した学生は「会社を運営する力を若いうちから学べるのは魅力があると感じました。就職活動するうえで選択肢の一つだと思う」と話していました。

会社は、オーナーとして独立する際、店舗の開店資金を支援することにしていて、採用の担当者は「若いかたは５０年は店舗を運営でき、多くの店舗を経営してもらうチャンスが多いと思うので期待しています」と話しています。

契約社員として採用しオーナーのなり手に育てる制度は「モスバーガー」を展開する会社もこの春から導入し、フランチャイズ方式で店舗を拡大してきたコンビニや外食業界ではオーナー人材をみずから育成する動きがさらに広がりそうです。

Translation

Because of the shortage of labor, there was a lack of human resources in managing convenience stores; "Lawson" held an appointment explanatory meeting with the subject of making students to become owners.

Shortage of labor was getting intensified, it was not limited to shop assistants in the convenience store industry but also people who were willing to become manages of  stores had begun to run out too.

Therefore on the presumption of making new graduate students to become an owner of a store, Lawson as a major convenience store company introduced a system to employ newly graduated students from spring next year, and on the 14th held an explanatory meeting in the Metropolitan area.

Five students had participated. As newly graduated employees, after learning the know-how of management and with payment they would turn independent and become a store owner within 1 year in the new system. It was learned that these were done in earnest.

A student who had participated said that "the charm was felt when one can learn company management while in youth, I think it's one of the choices when going about to get a job."

As a person in charge and then become an independent owner, the company would support this store with opening funds. Those who were elected said “there is the expectation that a young people can manage a store for 50 years, and there are lots of chances to manage more than one store."

About the system to pick new graduates as employees and to train them into shop owners,  the company which developed "MOS Burger" would also introduce this from this spring, and more movements to train up ownership human resources under a franchise system seemed to be spreading among the convenience stores and the eating-out industry.

   It seems that it is a new kind of business pattern.

The labor productivity of Japanese service industry “reached half of the US standard"

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

日本のサービス業 労働生産性「米の半分ほどの水準」

4月9日 5時01分

どれだけ効率的に働いたかを示す労働生産性が、日本のサービス業はアメリカの半分ほどの水準だとする調査結果がまとまりました。

労働生産性は、１人の従業員が１時間にどのくらいのモノやサービスを生み出したかという指標です。

公益財団法人の日本生産性本部が、小売業や飲食業などのサービス業について、２０１５年時点の労働時間などをもとに、日本、アメリカ、ドイツ、イギリス、フランスの５か国で比較しました。

その結果、日本の労働生産性は５か国の中で最低で、最も高かったアメリカの半分程度の水準となりました。

２４時間営業のような長時間労働が行われていることや、高品質なサービスが安い価格で提供されていることなどが理由だということです。

調査をした東洋大学経済学部の滝澤美帆教授は「日本はおもてなしの精神で手厚いサービスが提供され、消費者の立場からすると幸せな国だが、労働生産性としては低くなり、ＩＴなどによる効率化が必要だ」と話し、働き方改革を進めることが重要だと指摘しています。

My translation

A survey result on the labor productivity that aimed at finding out the efficiency of the Japanese service industry was gathered, it indicated that it was half of the American standard.

Labor productivity was an index to show how much goods and service one employee could generated in 1 hour.

Regarding the retail trade and service industry of the restaurant business, the Japan productivity head office which was a foundation of public interests, based on the working hours etc. compared the 5 countries of Japan, United States, Germany, United Kingdom and France as of 2015.

As a result, the labor productivity of Japan was the lowest in the 5 countries; reaching half the standard of the United States which was at the highest.

It was said that the reasons were due to the practice of the long our laboring such as opening 24 hours, and that high-quality service was offered at a low price.

Prof. Miho Takizawa of Toyo University department of economics who did the investigation said that “Japan can provide warm service in the spirit of hospitality and from the viewpoint of consumers Japan is a wonderful country; but as labor productivity is low, it needs IT etc. for efficiency", pointing out that it was important to advance some reform.

     I believe that Japanese shops are providing a warm service to its customers in the spirit of hospitality, and from the viewpoint of consumers Japan is a wonderful country.

Black and white film sales came to an end- Fuji film

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

白黒フィルム 販売終了へ 富士フイルム

4月7日 5時26分

富士フイルムは、白黒写真用のフィルムの販売を終了すると発表し、発売から８０年を超える歴史に幕を下ろすことになりました。

富士フイルムは、昭和１１年に白黒写真用の白黒フィルムの生産と販売を始め、会社の主力製品に成長させました。

しかし、カラー写真の普及で白黒写真を使う人が減り、会社によりますと、白黒フィルムの国内市場は、昭和４０年ごろをピークに年々縮小していきました。

さらに、最近はデジタルカメラの普及で需要が一段と減少し、会社は事業を継続するのは困難だとして、ことし１０月の出荷を最後に販売を終了することを決めました。

これに伴って、白黒写真用の印画紙の出荷も停止し、８０年を超える歴史に幕を下ろすことになりました。富士フイルムの販売子会社は「誠に勝手ですが、ご容赦賜りますようお願いします」とコメントしています

My   translation

Fuji film had announced that it would wind-up the selling of films for black and white photos and end the sales history of over 80 years.

Fuji film produced and sold black and white film for black and white photos in 1936 and developed it as a core product of the company.

But due to the spread of a color picture, people who used black and white photos decreased, and according to the company, the domestic market of black and white film decreased every year from the peak in around 1965.

Furthermore due to the recent spread of a digital camera, demand decreased even further, as it was difficult for the company to continue carrying on the business, it was decided that sales should come to an end with shipment in October this year being the last sale.

Together with this, photographic paper for black and white pictures would be suspended, ending a history of over 80 years. A sales subsidiary company of Fuji film was commenting that “Although really selfish, I hope you could give us your pardon”.

    I am wondering whether color films will have the same fate in the near future.

Japanese high school students had tendency on low self-esteem: an investigation in Japan, the U.S., China and South Korea

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

日本の高校生 自己肯定感低い傾向 日米中韓で調査

4月3日 4時34分

日本の高校生はアメリカや中国、韓国の高校生と比べて自己肯定感が低い傾向にあるという調査結果がまとまりました。

この調査は、国立青少年教育振興機構がほかの３か国の研究機関と協力して実施し、各国の高校生合わせて８４８０人から回答を得ました。

この中で、自分が「価値のある人間だと思う」と答えた高校生の割合は日本が４４．９％で、ほかの３か国は８０％以上でした。

また、「自分に満足している」、「つらいことがあっても乗り越えられる」という質問に、「そう思う」と解答した日本の高校生の割合は４か国で最も低く、自己肯定感が低い傾向にあることがわかりました。

さらに、日本の女子高校生は自分の体型を「太っている」「少し太っている」と考える割合が５１.９％で、アメリカの高校生より３０ポイント以上高くなっていました。

高校２年の女子生徒は「人より得意なこともないし自信がないことばかりです。夜になるといつも落ち込みます」と話していました。

国立青少年教育振興機構は「集団生活の体験が減って、他人の評価を気にする若者が多くなっていることが原因ではないか」と話しています。

Translation

A survey result gathered had showed that Japanese high school students’ own self-esteem tended to be low compared with high school students in the United States, China and Korea.

This investigation was done by the national youth education promotion organization and was carried out in cooperation with 3 other research institutes on a high school student of their respective countries; it had a response from 8,480 people in total.

On the percentage of the high school student who had replied that "I think I have a value as a human being", it was 44.9% in Japan while it was over 80% in the other 3 countries.

Also on the questions "I am satisfied with myself" and "Even if it was hard, it could be overcome",  those who replied "I think so" among the 4 countries, the percentage of the Japanese high school student was the lowest, it was understood as having a tendency on low self-esteem.

Furthermore,  the Japanese female high school students who thought themselves as "I'm overweight", "I am a little bit overweight" was 51.9%; and was more than 30 points higher than the American high school students.

A schoolgirl of a high school second years said that “I am not as good as others, I just have no confidence. I always feel depressed at night."

The national youth education promotion organization said "there is less experience on group life, and may be it is because more young people become worry about the comments of others."

     It is an interesting survey and the outcome in Japan is surprising to me.

President Trump criticized Amazon hard

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

トランプ大統領 アマゾンを強く批判

3月30日 5時22分

アメリカのトランプ大統領は、ネット通販大手のアマゾン・ドット・コムについて税金を払わず、多くの小売業者を倒産に追い込んでいると主張し強く批判するなど、攻撃を強めています。

トランプ大統領は２９日、ツイッターにネット通販大手のアマゾン・ドット・コムについて「私は選挙の前から懸念を表明してきた」と書き込みました。そのうえで「彼らはほかの企業と違って税金をほとんどか、全く払っておらず、アメリカにばく大な損害を与え、何千もの小売業者を倒産に追い込んでいる」と主張し、強く批判しました。

この前日、アメリカのメディアはトランプ大統領がアマゾンに対して課税を強化することを検討していると報じ、ホワイトハウスのサンダース報道官は「現時点ではいかなる措置も検討されていない」と否定しましたが、株価が一時、大幅に下落しました。

これまでもトランプ大統領は、みずからに批判的な有力紙ワシントン・ポストを買収したアマゾンのＣＥＯをツイッターで非難していて、アマゾンへの攻撃を強めています。

米メディア「事実誤認と妬みか」

アマゾン・ドット・コムは、トランプ大統領の批判についてコメントしていませんが、アマゾンの資料によりますと、２０１６年に４億１２００万ドル（およそ４３７億円）の税金を政府に納めています。

また、去年４月以降、売上税のある４５の州でネット通販の商品に売上税を上乗せして、それを州政府に納めているということです。

アマゾンのジェフ・ベゾスＣＥＯは、２０１３年に個人として、ワシントン・ポストを買収するなど、アメリカを代表する資産家です。

世界の長者番付を発表している経済誌フォーブスは、今月、ベゾスＣＥＯの資産総額が１１２０億ドル（およそ１１兆９０００億円）で、マイクロソフトの創業者のビル・ゲイツ氏を抜いて初めて世界で首位になったと発表しました。

これに対してトランプ大統領は３１億ドル（およそ３３００億円）で、順位を落として７６６番目でした。

アメリカのメディアは、トランプ大統領の事実誤認と、自分よりも裕福なベゾスＣＥＯに対する妬みが批判の根底にあるのではないかなどと皮肉交じりに報じています。

My translation

American president Trump was insisting that Amazon.com was not paying tax etc. and as a major net mail-order company it drove many retailers into bankruptcy, he was criticizing hard and strengthening the attack.

On the 29th, president Trump in Twitter wrote "I express anxiety before the election" about Amazon.com as a major net mail-order company; he insisted that "They're different from other enterprises in that they are not paying tax and cause a huge damage to the United States, and as many as thousands of retailers were being driven into bankruptcy" and criticized hard.

One day earlier the American media reported that president Trump was considering strengthening the taxation on Amazon. Saunders the press attaché of the White House denied: "No measures were being considered in the present", but the stock price fell substantially for a moment.

President Trump in the Twitter was accusing the CEO of Amazon who had acquired a leading newspaper,  the Washingtonian Post which was critical of him; and was strengthening an offensive towards Amazon.

American media "Mistaken facts and jealousy?”

Amazon.com did not make comments about the criticism of president Trump, but according to data in Amazon, it paid a tax of 412 million dollars in 2016 (approximately 43,700 million yen) to the government.

Since April last year, in the 45 states with sales tax, the sales tax was added to on-line mail products, and it was said that they were paid to state government.

Jeff Bezos the CEO of Amazon in 2013 acquired the Washington Post as an individual and as a man of means who represented the United States.

The economic magazine Forbes this month released a billionaire's list of the world and announced that the asset total amount of Bezos the CEO was 112,000 million dollars (approximately 11,900,000 million yen) and had replaced Mr. Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft to become the first in the world for the first time.

On the other hand president Trump had 3,100 million dollars (approximately 330,000 million yen) and was at the low ranking of 766^th.

For the American media, they reported ironically that president Trump had actually mistaken the facts; at the root of criticism might be the jealousy towards CEO Bezos who was richer than Trump himself.

    It is not uncommon to see Trump making criticism all the time.

2,560,000 foreigner residents: the highest number so far, illegal staying also increased

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

在留外国人 過去最高の256万人 不法残留も増加

3月28日 4時55分

日本に在留する外国人の数は、去年末の時点で２５６万人余りと、前の年に続いて過去最高を更新した一方、滞在期限をすぎても不法に残留している外国人の数も４年連続の増加となりました。

法務省入国管理局によりますと、日本に在留する外国人の数は、去年末の時点で２５６万１８４８人と、前の年より１７万９０２６人、率にして７．５％増え、統計を取り始めた昭和３４年以降、過去最高を更新しました。

国・地域別では、中国が最も多く７３万８９０人で、次いで韓国が４５万６６３人、ベトナムが、前の年より３１．２％増え２６万２４０５人などとなっています。

一方、滞在期限をすぎても日本に不法に残留している外国人の数は、ことし１月１日の時点で６万６４９８人と、去年より１２２８人増え、４年連続の増加となっています。

法務省は、観光などを目的とした「短期滞在」などの在留資格で入国したあと、滞在期限をすぎても日本で働いているケースが多いと指摘していて、摘発を強化するとともに、みずから出頭すれば簡易な手続きで帰国できる「出頭申告」の活用を促すなどして、不法に残留する外国人を減らしていきたいとしています。

My translation

The number of foreigners who resided in Japan was about 2,560,000 as at the end of last year; it continued to break the previous yearly record on the highest number, also by staying beyond the time limits, the number of the foreigners who stayed behind illegally also continued to increase for four consecutive years.

According to the Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau, as of the end of last year the number of the foreigners residing in Japan was 2,561,848, being an increase of 179,026 people and at a rate of 7.5 %; it renewed the past highest record since 1959 when statistics keeping began.

Categorized by countries and area, China was the highest with 730,890 people, next were followed by Korea with 450,663 people, and Vietnam with 262,405 people that was an increase of 31.2 % from the previous year.

On the other hand, it was pointed out that foreigners staying behind illegally in Japan by exceeding the stay time limits was 66,498 people as of January first this year; it was 1,228 people more than last year and was a continuous increase for 4 years.

The Ministry of Justice pointed out that there were many cases that people after fulfilling the requirement on entering by obtaining permits for short term stay on grounds of sight-seeing etc. had stayed behind illegally and took up employment. Moving towards reducing the number of foreigners who were illegally staying, it was supposed that in addition to strengthening their exposure, to utilize the “Declaration of appearance" in which one could return home by a simple procedure.

   It is surprising to note that there are over half a million Chinese staying in Japan.