IMF: The growth rate of Japan and Europe was revised downward - "possibly reaching a global economy corner"

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

ＩＭＦ 日欧の成長率を下方修正 ”世界経済曲がり角の可能性”

2018年7月17日 15時26分

ＩＭＦ＝国際通貨基金は、世界経済に関する最新の報告で、日本とヨーロッパのことしの経済成長率の見通しを下方修正し、世界経済が曲がり角を迎える可能性があると指摘しました。さらにアメリカと各国の貿易摩擦が世界経済のブレーキになりかねないと慎重な見方を示しました。

ＩＭＦは、最新の世界経済の見通しを発表し、ことしの日本のＧＤＰ＝国内総生産の成長率は消費が弱含んでいるため１％にとどまると分析し、３か月前の予測から0.2ポイント下方修正しました。

また、ユーロ圏も0.2ポイント下げて2.2％に、アメリカは、大規模な減税の効果を見て2.9％で据え置きました。

さらに日本とヨーロッパについて、ＩＭＦは成長のペースがすでにピークに達したようだと分析して、拡大してきた世界経済が曲がり角を迎える可能性があると指摘しました。

また、アメリカのトランプ政権と各国との貿易摩擦がエスカレートしていくことがこの先、世界経済のブレーキになりかねないとも指摘して、これまでより慎重な見方を示しました。

さらにＩＭＦは、貿易摩擦の行方次第で、突然、金融市場の安定が損なわれて為替相場などが大きく変動する可能性があるとしています。

ＩＭＦは市場の影響を受けやすい新興国は財政や金融、為替政策を組み合わせ、為替の急激な変動などに備えるよう求めています。

Translation

On global economy IMF, the International Monetary Fund revised downwards the economic growth rate of European and Japan this year in its latest report, and pointed out that there was a possibility that global economy was at a turning point. Furthermore, the United States trade frictions with other countries could become a brake on the global economy, and showed a conservative view point.

IMF announced a forecast on the latest global economy, and analyzed that the the growth rate of this year's Japanese GDP= gross domestic product would stop at 1% because of weak consumption, and revised downward 0.2 points from a prediction 3 months ago.

Also Euro area was lowered by 0.2 points to 2.2%, and the United States with the effect of a large-scale tax reduction would stand at 2.9% without changes.

Furthermore, about Japan and Europe, after doing some analyses IMF pointed out that there was a possibility that the grow-up pacing seemed to have reached a peak already and that the expanded global economy was facing a turning point.

It also pointed out that American Trump government’s trade friction with other countries from now on could escalate and became a brake on global economy, a more careful than before point of view was indicated.

Furthermore, IMF assumed that following the trade friction there was a possibility that suddenly the exchange rate would fluctuate seriously and damaged the stability of the financial market.

IMF was asking the developing countries which tended to be influenced by the market to combine their fiscal policy, finance and exchange policy to prepare for any sudden fluctuation in exchange.

だから、世界的な財政状況が悪化する方向に向かっているかもしれない。

"To leave the curry in cooking pot”- half of the people had the right knowledge on food poisoning measure

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

「カレーを鍋のまま保存」が半数 正しい知識で食中毒対策を

2018年7月13日 11時57分

暑い季節は食中毒の発生が懸念されますが、東京都が行ったアンケート調査によるとカレーを鍋のまま保存する人が半数近くに上るなど、食中毒対策への理解不足が明らかになり、専門家は正しい知識をもとに対策を講じるよう呼びかけています。

東京都が週に１回以上、自宅で料理する都内の成人男女を対象に、ことしはじめ実施したウェブアンケートによりますと、回答した1000人のうち、カレーを一晩寝かせる際に、鍋のまま、常温または冷蔵庫で保存する人が46.2％に上ったということです。

都健康安全研究センターの実験によりますと、調理したカレーに１グラムあたり1000個の食中毒菌が残っていると、室温のまま冷ました場合は、５時間後に100万個以上に菌が増えた一方、２時間で急速に温度を下げた場合は、５時間後も食中毒菌は増殖しなかったということです。

これについて栄養学が専門で東京 渋谷にある服部栄養専門学校助教授の安保有利子さんは「カレーのようにとろみがあって冷めにくい食品の場合は、容器に小分けにすると早く冷やすことができる」と指摘しています。

そのうえで、いわゆる「一晩寝かせたカレー」で増えやすい食中毒菌のウエルシュ菌は空気を嫌うため、温め直す場合には、電子レンジではなく、鍋でしっかり混ぜ、空気中の酸素を加えながら、むらがないように加熱することが大切だとしています。

一方、東京都のアンケートでは、大半の人が、梅干しに食中毒の予防効果があるとしていますが、実際に抗菌作用が生じるのは梅干しの周りに限られることから、安保さんは弁当などでは梅干しをご飯全体に混ぜることを勧めていました。

安保さんは「正しい知識を身につけて効果的な対策を講じることで、食中毒のリスクを回避してほしい」と呼びかけています。

Translation

While there was a fear on the occurrence of food poisoning in hot seasons, according to a questionnaire survey done in Tokyo-to, the number of people who left the curry in the cooking pot as it was after cooking went up to near half; it became clear that there was a lack of understanding in measures on food poisoning, there was a call for specialists to talk about the basic correct measures.

According to a web questionnaires conducted this year targeting at adult men and women in the Metropolitan area who did cooking at home more than once a week, among the 1000 people, it was said that the number of people who kept curry in the cooking pot overnight, keeping it in the pot at room temperature, or at a refrigerator went up to 46.2%.

According to an experiment in a healthy safe research center in the capital, for 1 gram of cooked curry there were 1000 food poisoning bacteria. To leave it in the room temperature to let it cool, 5 hours later, the bacteria would increase to more than 1,000,000, when lowering the temperature rapidly within 2 hours, it was said that food poisoning bacteria would not multiply within 5 hours.

About this, Anpo Yūrishi as a nutrition expert and the assistant professor of Hattori nutritional college in Tokyo Shibuya pointed out that "When there is something thick like curry which was difficult to cool down, it could be subdivided and thus can cool down early."

On top of that, in the so-called "curry stayed overnight", Welsh fungus food poisoning bacteria which disliked air were easy to increase. When heating it up again, not to use the microwave, but to mix it well in a cooking pot so as to let air's oxygen go into it. It was important to heat it evenly.

On the other hand, while over half of the people asked by the Tokyo-to questionnaire had supposed pickled plum's preventive measures over the food poisoning, but because actually the antibacterial effect was limited to around the pickled plum, Ms. Anbo was recommending that pickled plum be mixed with all the rice in a box lunch etc.

Ms. Anbo was calling that "I want you to avoid food poisoning risk by keeping  the right knowledge to yourself and taking effective measures."

          私はカレーが大好きです。 このエッセーは食中毒を避ける方法を教えてくれました。

For the first time Japan and EU would institutionalize that one could also have an academic degree from a university in the overseas studying location

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

留学先の大学からも学位もらえます 日本とＥＵ 初の制度化へ

2018年7月4日 20時42分

日本とＥＵの間で、留学した学生に対し、自国だけでなく、留学先の大学からも学位を授与できるようにする制度の新設に向けた最終調整が行われていることがわかりました。

林文部科学大臣は、ＥＵとの人材交流の促進を図るため、現地時間の６日、ハンガリーを訪れ、ＥＵで教育を担当するナブラチチ委員と会談しますが、このほど会談後に発表される共同プレス声明案が明らかになりました。

それによりますと、日本とＥＵに加盟する28か国との間で、留学した学生に対し、自国だけでなく、留学先の大学からも学位を授与できるようにする制度を新設するとしています。

また、双方の国の大学が共同で学位を授与できるようにする制度も新設するとしています。

具体的には、宇宙や医療などの幅広い分野で、日本とＥＵの大学に「共同プログラム」を開発するよう募り、このプログラムに参加した学生が新たな制度の対象になるということで、現在、日本とＥＵの間で合意に向けて最終的な調整を行っています。

留学先の大学からも学位が授与される仕組みは、大学どうしで個別に行っているケースはありますが、日本政府として制度化するのは今回が初めてで、ＥＵが域外の国と行うのも初めてだということです。

Translation

It was found out that a system that an academic degree could also be given from a university in the overseas location of studying, on top of the one from one’s own country, was established between Japan and the EU for students who studied abroad; and final adjustments were being made.

Hayashi the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in order to plan for promoting an exchange of human resources with the EU, visited Hungary on the 6th local time to talk with the Nabula Chi Chi the commissioner who took charge of education in the EU, this was made clear from a mutual press statement plan announced after the meeting.

According to that, between Japan and the 28 countries which joined EU, regarding the student who studied abroad it was supposed that a new system would be established that one could also receive an academic degree from a university in the studying abroad location on top of one’s own country.

It also supposed to establish a system to make sure that both national universities could give the academic degree jointly.

Specifically in the wide field of the universe and the medical treatment etc., "common programs" might be developed with recruitment in universities in Japan and the EU. It was said that the students who participated in this program would be the target of the new system, and now final agreements were being adjusted between Japan and the EU.

While there were cases in which an academic degree was also be given by a university in the overseas studying location, it was being performed independently between universities. This was the  first time that such arrangement was institutionalized by the Japanese Government, and it was said that it was also the first time that EU did this with a country outside its area.

   So, the academic connection between Japan and EU would be further enhanced.

Tax exemption for foreigners visiting Japan was expanded from today

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

訪日外国人向け免税 きょうから拡充

2018年7月1日 22時01分

日本を訪れる外国人旅行者の消費税の免税制度が１日から拡充されます。これまであった対象商品の区分をなくし、購入額が合わせて5000円以上になれば免税の対象となるもので、政府は外国人旅行者の消費拡大につなげたい考えです。

これまでの消費税の免税制度では、対象商品が家電や洋服といった「一般物品」と、化粧品や食品といった「消耗品」の２つに区分され、外国人旅行者が１回の買い物につき、それぞれ5000円以上購入しなければ免税されませんでした。

これについて、外国人旅行者から「わかりにくい」との声が相次いでいたことから、政府は１日から、２つの区分をなくし、どの品目でも合わせて5000円以上購入すれば免税することにしました。

制度の拡充に合わせて、東京 銀座にある免税店では、先週から日本語や中国語で新しい制度を知らせるポスターを張り出すなどして周知を図っていました。

免税店の担当者は「今までは会計の際に免税の対象にならないとわかると購入をやめる客もいたが、新しい制度では買い物がしやすくなると期待している」と話していました。

観光庁によりますと、外国人旅行者１人当たりの平均消費額は２年連続で減少していて、政府は新しい免税制度によって消費拡大につなげたいとしています。

Translation

 Starting from the 1^st, tax-free system in consumption tax for foreign travelers visiting Japan was expanded. The division of targeted goods enforced up to now would be lifted, and when the amount of purchase was more than 5000 yen in total, it would be the eligible for duty-free; the government had the idea of linking it to increasing the foreign traveler's consumption.

Up to now under the tax-free system in taxation, the targeted goods were divided into two types, the home electronics and clothes were "general items” while cosmetics and food were etc. were “consumables items”; when a foreign traveler didn't buy more than 5000 yen respectively in each shopping, it would not be eligible to tax exemption.

Regarding this, because there was successive voice from foreign travelers saying that the system "is incomprehensible", from the 1^st of this month the government discarded the 2 divisions; when buying more than 5000 yen, whichever list of articles you had bought would be eligible for a taxation exemption.

According to this institutional expansion, at the duty-free shop in Tokyo Ginza, since last week, aiming at making publicity, among other things posters in Japanese and Chinese were put up which talked about the new system.

The people in charge in a duty-free shop said that “so far there are cases that when visitors come to the billing, they would stop buying when they found out that they were not duty-free targeted items; it's expected that shopping would become easy in the new system."

According to a sightseeing agency, the average expenditure per foreign traveler had decreased continuously for 2 years and it was assumed that the government would like to expand consumption through a new tax-free system.

              So, the new taxation arrangement would attract more purchases by foreign travelers.

The overall unemployment rate was 2.2% in May – a new low in 25 years and 7 months

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

５月の完全失業率2.2％ 25年７か月ぶりの低水準

2018年6月30日 0時35分

５月の全国の完全失業率は2.2％で、前の月と比べて、0.3ポイント改善し、平成４年10月以来、25年７か月ぶりの低い水準となりました。

総務省によりますと、先月の就業者数は6698万人で、前の年の同じ月と比べて151万人増え、65か月連続で増加しました。

このうち、パートや派遣社員、アルバイトなどの非正規労働者は、前の年の同じ月と比べて76万人増加し、2079万人でした。

一方、完全失業者数は158万人で、前の年の同じ月と比べて52万人減り、96か月連続で減少しました。季節による変動要因を除いた全国の完全失業率は2.2％で、前の月と比べて、0.3ポイント改善しました。

これは、平成４年10月以来、25年７か月ぶりの低い水準となりました。

総務省は、「人手不足により有効求人倍率が高くなっていて特に男性が、製造業や情報通信業など幅広い分野で仕事に就いたことが主な要因だ。雇用情勢は着実に改善してきている」としています.

Translation

The overall unemployment rate of the whole country in May was 2.2%, being an improvement of 0.3 points compared with the previous month, and was the lowest level in 25 years 7 months since October 1992.

According to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, the number of employees last month was 66,980,000 people, compared with the same month in previous year, it was an increase of 1,510,000 people, being a continuous increase for 65 months.

Among them, non-regular laborers such as part-timers, temporary and side-job workers had an increase of 760,000 compared with the same month the previous year, and the total was 20,790,000.

On the other hand, the number of totally-unemployed people was 1,580,000, being a decrease of 520,000 people compared with the same month the previous year, and was a continuous decrease for 96 months. The overall unemployment rate of the whole country excluding the seasonal fluctuation factor was 2.2%, being an improvement of 0.3 point compared with the previous month.

This was a new low in 25 years and 7 months since October 1992.

The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications supposed that "The ratio of job offers to job seekers becomes high due to a shortage of labor, in particular for men. The main factor is that jobs are available as the manufacturing industry and an information and communication industry are wide fields; the employment situation is improving steadily."

              So, Japan’s economic outlook is good.

The development of Honda Ashimo was canceled; research and development team was also dismissed

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

ホンダ アシモの開発をとりやめ 研究開発チームも解散

2018年6月28日 17時35分

大手自動車メーカーのホンダは、開発を続けていた２足歩行の人型ロボット「アシモ」の開発をとりやめていたことがわかりました。今後は介護支援などより実用的なロボット技術の開発に力を入れる方針です。

アシモはホンダが開発した人型ロボットで、平成12年に発表された１号機は当時は高い技術が求められていた本格的な２足歩行をするとして注目されました。

その後、平成23年まで７代にわたって改良型が発表されましたが、関係者によりますと、ホンダは開発をすでにとりやめていて、研究開発のチームも解散したということです。

２足歩行の人型ロボットをめぐっては、ソフトバンクグループが買収したアメリカの「ボストン・ダイナミクス」が高い運動性能を持つロボットを発表するなど参入が相次ぎ、競争が激しくなっています。

ホンダとしては、より実用的なロボット技術の開発に力を入れる方針で、今後は、アシモの開発で培った高度なバランス性能や、運動を制御する技術を応用し、転倒を防止する機能をもつバイクや、介護を支援する装着型のロボットの開発を進めていくとしています。

Translation

It was found out that Honda the major automobile company that had been developing the "Ashimo", a humanoid robot that could walk with two legs, had canceled the latter’s further development. From now on the policy would focus on nursing support which put emphasis on the development of more practical robotics.

Ashimo was the humanoid robot developed by Honda, its real walking with two legs then was supposed to demand advanced technology, and the release of its number one machine had drawn attention in 2000.

After that, 7 generations of improvement type were announced up to 2011, but according to people connected to Honda its development was already canceled, and it was said that the research and development team was also dismissed.

Concerning humanoid robots that walked with two legs, the American "Boston dynamics" that was bought by Softbank group had announced robots with high movement performance etc. and had made successive market entries; the competition became tense.

For Honda, from now on it would adopt the policy of putting emphasis on the development of more practical robotics. Using the high balance performance together with the technology on movement controls acquired during the development of Ashimo, Honda was advancing the development of motorcycles that had fall prevention function, in addition to attachment type robots that could be used in nursing support.

     I was amazed at the performance of Ashimo when it was released in 2000.