2019年1月28日 星期一

"Don't shut out Huawei" in 5G - Chinese ambassador to Canada


Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:
5Gで「ファーウェイ排除するな」 カナダ駐在中国大使
2019118 1124

カナダに駐在する中国大使は、次世代の通信規格「5G」の整備で、カナダ政府がアメリカなどと足並みをそろえて中国のファーウェイの通信機器を締め出せば、反発は免れないという考えを示しました。

高速、大容量で通信できる次世代の通信規格「5G」の分野で、中国のファーウェイは、先進的な技術を持つ代表的な企業の1つとして世界各国の通信会社と提携し実用化の準備を進めています。

この5Gを使った情報通信インフラの整備をめぐり、カナダ政府は現在、安全保障上のリスクがあるかどうか検証を続けています。
これについて首都オタワに駐在する中国の盧沙野大使は17日会見し、「カナダがファーウェイを締め出せば反発は免れない。賢明な判断を促す」と述べました。

カナダ当局がアメリカ政府の要請によって先月、ファーウェイの副会長を逮捕して以降、中国当局がカナダ人を相次いで拘束するなど、両国の関係は急速に冷え込んでいます。

アメリカはサイバー攻撃の脅威にさらされるとしてファーウェイなどの製品を政府内で使うことを禁止することを決め、オーストラリアやニュージーランドも足並みをそろえていて、カナダ政府の対応が注目されています。

Translation

January 18, 2019  11:24

The Chinese ambassador stationed in Canada, regarding the preparation on the communication standard of the next generation "5G”, indicated the idea that repercussion could not be avoided if the Canadian government kept pace with the United States and others to shut out China’s Huawei communication equipment.

In the field of the communication standard of the next generation, "5G"in which one could communicate in large volume and high speed, Huawei of China as one of the typical enterprises with forward technology was cooperating with communication companies of all the countries and was advancing preparations of its practical use.

Concerning the maintenance of infrastructure of information and communication in using 5G, the Canadian government at present was checking whether there was a risk in security.

Lú Shāyě the Chinese ambassador, who was residing in metropolitan Ottawa and was interviewed on 17th, had stated that "if Canada shut out Huawei, repercussion could not be avoided. A wise judgement was suggested."
After the Canadian authorities arrested Vice Chairman of Huawei last month at the request of the US government, relations between the two countries were rapidly getting cold, for example the Chinese authorities had detained Canadians one after another.

The United States had decided to prohibit the use of products such as Huawei in the government for being exposed to the threat of cyber attacks; Australia and New Zealand had also aligned and the response of the Canadian government was drawing attention.

My Comments

       All things in mainland China are under the total control of the Communist Party. The Party is honoring a cultural standard different from the free world in many areas such in ethic, moral and human rights. I think the danger of Hauwei lies in the fact that all Chinese companies in China are vulnerable to the control and pressure of the Chinese Communist Party all the time: in the past, now and in the future. In the summer of 2014 Xi Jinping Administration asked the country to uphold the "socialist core values outlook" which consisted of 12 keywords in total, including the ideas on "patriotism" and "rich and strong", and using them as moral slogans to withstand and counteract the European and American thoughts on moral and human rights etc. On the media side, in the same year the Party’s newspaper advertised that their shared value outlook "was born by Chinese traditional culture and in agreement with the conditions of the country". In July the Party Central’s organization bureau notified the management staff to regard the talking about European and American thought as "noise", and "not to become a yes-man of the European and American moral value". Under such circumstance, there is always a chance for Hauwei (by extension all overseas Chinese companies) under pressure to scarify their business interest and integrity etc. in yielding to the political needs of the Party out of the fact that a shared value outlook "was born by Chinese traditional culture and in agreement with the conditions of the country".

2019年1月25日 星期五

Bankruptcy procedures started in 9 stores operated by "Subway" in the metropolitan area


Recently the NHK News Online reported the following :
「サブウェイ」首都圏で9店舗運営の会社 破産手続き開始
2019117 2328

サンドイッチチェーン「サブウェイ」のフランチャイズとして、首都圏で9店舗を手がける会社が経営に行き詰まり、裁判所から破産手続きの開始決定を受けました。

経営が行き詰まったのは、東京 品川区にある「エージ-・コーポレーション」です。

この会社は、「サブウェイ」のフランチャイズとして、東京・南青山の店など首都圏を中心に9店舗を手がけていたほか、別の飲食店などを運営していましたが、破産管財人の弁護士によりますと、業績が振るわず、今月16日に東京地方裁判所から破産手続きを開始する決定を受けました。

負債総額は約11億円に上るということです。

サブウェイはアメリカ発のサンドイッチチェーンで、国内法人の「日本サブウェイ」によりますと、破綻した会社の9店舗については現在、営業を休止しているということです。

サブウェイは4年余り前のピーク時には、全国で約480店舗を展開していましたが、地方での知名度が不足していたことなどから、現在の店舗数は280余りになっています。

Translation

As a franchised sandwich chain company "Subway", which managed 9 stores at the metropolitan area, came to a management deadlock and accepted the decision from a court house to start bankruptcy procedures.

The company that came to a management deadlock was the Easy Corporation in Tokyo Shinagawa-ward.

This firm as a franchise of "Subway" which managed Minami-Aoyama etc. 9 stores that centering around the metropolitan area in Tokyo was also managing other different restaurants etc. According to the bankruptcy administrator's lawyer, because the business was no good, on the 16th this month it began a decision on bankruptcy procedure as received from the Tokyo district court.

It was said that the total debt went up to about 1,100 million yen.

Subway was a sandwich chain from the United States; according to "Japan Subway" as a domestic legal corporation it was said that business was suspended at present in the 9 stores of the bankrupted company.

Subway at the time of its peak about 4 years ago had developed about 480 stores nationwide, but as they lacked publicity in the local area, at present the number of stores was about 280.

        Due to stiff competition, it is normal to see business and company come and go in the commercial world.

2019年1月24日 星期四

Huawei announces 5G smartphone based on own technology


Recently Yahoo News carried a news report on Huawei’s announcement on its 5G smartphone. I find this report worth noting as China"s 5G technology development is a hot topic globally recently. As such it is attached below for sharing.
Yahoo Finance
Huawei announces 5G smartphone based on own technology
The Canadian Press, the Canadian Press 11 hours ago
Huawei announces 5G smartphone based on own technology
BEIJING — Chinese tech giant Huawei announced plans Wednesday for a next-generation smartphone that will use its own technology instead of U.S. components, manoeuvring to gain a competitive edge and sidestep complaints it is a security risk.
The leading supplier of network switching gear for phone companies, Huawei Technologies Ltd. is spending heavily to develop its own chips, an area where the U.S. dominates. That can reduce Huawei's multibillion-dollar annual components bill and help insulate it against possible supply disruptions when U.S.-Chinese relations are strained.
The handset, billed by Huawei as the first foldable fifth-generation smartphone, will be unveiled next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the industry's biggest annual event, said Richard Yu, CEO of the company's consumer unit.
The phone is based on Huawei's own Kirin 980 chipset and Balong 5000 modem. The company says the Kirin 980, released in August, performs on a par with Qualcomm Inc.'s widely used Snapdragon 845.
Sales of Huawei smartphones and other consumer products rose more than 50 per cent last year over 2017, showing "no influence" from Western security warnings, Yu told reporters. He said the consumer unit's sales topped $52 billion, or more than half of the $100 billion in annual revenue the company has forecast. Huawei has yet to release 2018 results for the whole company.
"In this complicated political environment, we still maintain strong growth," Yu said.
Chinese companies are trying to develop technology to better compete with Western suppliers in telecoms, solar power, electric cars, biotechnology and other fields.
The ruling Communist Party's plans for state-led development of such industries, along with robotics and artificial intelligence, helped trigger a trade war with President Donald Trump.
Both sides have raised tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of each other's goods in the dispute over American complaints Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. Washington also says Chinese technology plans violate Beijing's market-opening obligations.
Huawei surpassed Apple as the No. 2 global smartphone brand behind Samsung in mid-2018. It uses Qualcomm in its high-end fourth-generation smartphones and earlier Kirin versions in lower-end models. The company, based in the southern city of Shenzhen near Hong Kong, also has developed chips for servers and mobile devices.
Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Ltd. already make their own chips.
Qualcomm has far more smartphone chip technology but Huawei is catching up, said Xi Wang of IDC.
"Generally speaking, Huawei's chips are equal to Qualcomm chips in performance," Wang said. "Not only at the mid-level but at the high end, Huawei can compete with Qualcomm."
Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, has rejected accusations it is controlled by the ruling Communist Party or modifies its equipment to allow eavesdropping.
Its U.S. market evaporated after a congressional panel labeled Huawei and its smaller Chinese rival ZTE Corp. security risks in 2012 and told phone companies to avoid dealing with them.
ZTE was nearly driven into bankruptcy last year after the Washington cut off access to U.S. technology over its exports to Iran and North Korea. President Donald Trump restored access after ZTE paid a $1 billion fine and agreed to replace its executive team and install U.S.-chosen compliance officers.
Australia, Japan and some other governments also have imposed curbs on use of Huawei technology.
The company has stepped up efforts to mollify security fears after its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada on Dec. 1 on U.S. charges she lied to banks about trade with Iran.
Huawei's founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, is Meng's father. In a rare public appearance, he told foreign reporters in a 2 1/2 -hour interview on Jan. 15 that he would reject requests from Chinese authorities for confidential information about its customers.
Yu said that despite "political noise" in some countries, Huawei sales outside the United States haven't suffered due to security concerns. The company says it serves 45 of the 50 biggest global phone companies and has signed contracts with 30 carriers to test 5G technology.
"Worldwide, all the carriers love us," said Yu.
Yu repeated Ren's assurances that Huawei has never received an official request for confidential information about customers.
"At Huawei, we never do these kinds of things," he said. "We always protect our customer."

Joe McDonald, The Associated Press

2019年1月22日 星期二

China Wants to Dominate the Internet

Recently Yahoo Finance carried the following article which I found interesting. It is attached  below for sharing:

Finance
China Wants to Dominate the Internet

Bloomberg  Emily de La Bruyere and Nathan Picarsic,Bloomberg 8 hours ago

(Bloomberg Opinion) -- For the past year, the U.S. and China have been engaged in a wide-ranging trade war. Nominally, the dispute concerns intellectual-property violations, forced technology transfers and other unfair practices. In reality, though, this clash is a symptom of a much larger strategic showdown – one in which Chinese President Xi Jinping seeks "decisive victory.”Aided by technology, China is embarking on a new kind of geopolitical strategy.

As the Chinese Academy of Sciences explained, the goal is to build a "ubiquitous and universally used information network system." In doing so, China hopes to bolster its national champions, increase the world's reliance on Chinese technology and erode U.S. strategic advantages. It also wants to gain control over global data and information exchanges, thereby claiming leverage to advance its interests.

America and its allies must recognize this threat and prepare to respond forcefully.China's government has long controlled its commercial sector. State-owned companies dominate many industries, while even ostensibly private firms are required to put the government's interests first. Favored businesses receive state support in a domestic sandbox. Beijing deploys protectionist policies in areas of the economy thought to be strategically valuable.Increasingly, that means technology. For instance, the oft-cited "Made in China 2025" initiative stresses the need to foster Chinese companies in high-tech fields such as robotics, aerospace and information technology in the hopes of competing with Western tech giants. The subsidies and protectionist measures that support the plan are a major point of contention with the U.S.But China's true ambitions are larger. In the longer term, it seeks an all-encompassing advantage in what it perceives to be a zero-sum race for technological dominance.

Its strategy to achieve this goal is twofold.First, China is importing ideas and innovation from overseas. Sometimes that means overtly siphoning technology and trade secrets. Sometimes it's more subtle. For instance, China's state champions have built corporate R&D hubs in Silicon Valley, hoping to harvest breakthroughs in fields such as self-driving cars, cloud computing and deep learning. The stream of low-cost knowledge that those hubs acquire has been essential to building up China's domestic tech industry.Second, China is using the technologies it exports to collect data from abroad. Alipay, Alibaba's mobile-payments business, is swooping up vast amounts of transaction data as it expands globally. Mobike and Ofo want to dominate data-rich bike-share markets overseas. Chinese surveillance systems are ubiquitous in Africa, while businesses and hobbyists around the world fly DJI drones -- even though they may be sending sensitive information back home. (DJI denies this and asserts that its users have full control over whether to share data from their drones.) Soon, your phone might connect to a Chinese 5G network, while your mapping or fitness apps might be sending their data to Beijing.Collecting data, though, is just the start. China wants to lace all these systems together in what Xi calls the "network great power strategy." The idea is to make Chinese technology a foundation for the global flow of information and transactions -- and thus to expand the Chinese Communist Party’s leverage, influence and power worldwide.

As the Academy of Sciences put it, China hopes to use this network first to conduct "social experimentation and analysis," then to "predict, develop, and control real events." Consider it a global operating system with geopolitical ambitions. Other countries are aware that they need to counter this potential threat. Several are considering bans on Chinese tech companies such as Huawei and ZTE.

Last year, the U.S. blocked Ant Financial from merging with MoneyGram, a tie-up that would've given it a foothold in the data-rich U.S. payments market. But there's an asymmetry at work: Where China's approach is deliberate and strategic, the West's response has been disjointed and reactive.The U.S. and its allies need a more comprehensive response. For starters, they should develop new investment-screening protocols to protect critical fields. These should be established on the same principles as other export-control mechanisms, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, but with a mandate broad enough to match China's ambitions. For example, they could examine limited-partner stakes in U.S.-based funds as well as direct investments in operating companies. Free-trade agreements could institutionalize such a system by incorporating common definitions for covered transactions and rewarding allies and partners that resist China's attempts at coercion. A provision in President Donald Trump's renegotiated Nafta deal -- discouraging participants from signing agreements with "non-market" economies -- offers a good template. China can claim inherent advantages in this competition, namely scope and scale. And coordination among U.S. allies and partners -- with a range of interests and vulnerabilities -- won't be easy. But cooperating to constrain China's ambitions, and to protect free competition and open networks, has never been more essential. 

(Updates with DJI’s statement in seventh paragraph.)

To contact the authors of this story: Emily de La Bruyere at ebde@alumni.princeton.eduNathan Picarsic at nate.picarsic@post.harvard.edu

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Timothy Lavin at tlavin1@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

2019年1月20日 星期日

My visit to Tokyo 2018 (13)


Ginza shopping district
On the 26th I went to several places in Ginza (銀座) such as its shopping district, the Kabukiza (歌舞伎座) and the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace (皇居外宛), all which were within the walking distance.The  Ginza shopping district is an area with luxury brand stores such as Gucci and Chanel, and also casual fashion stores such as Uniqlo and Gap, on top of many other different shops.



In Ginza I walked to the Kabukiza where Kabuki (歌舞伎) was performed for the audience on a regular basis. 
Kabuki regular programs
According to the Tokyo Travel Guide, Kabukiza is the only theater for performing Kabuki in the world. The first generation of the building was built in 1889 and it will celebrate its 130th anniversary. It has maintained its refined classical outlook since the Meiji era, and has continued to present performances that incorporate the spirit of the times. The 5th incarnation of the theater structure is a master piece of tradition and innovation.
After visiting the Kabukiza I reversed my direction and walked towards the Hibuya (日比谷) mid-town and then to the Hibuya Garden. Form this garden I walked to the Outer Gardens of the Emperor Palace (皇居外宛).
The Hibuya Garden
According to the Tokyo Travel Guide, the Edo Castle, formerly the Tokugawa Family’s residence, became the Imperial Palace as the Emperor moved to Tokyo from the Kyoto Imperial Palace after the Meiji Restoration. Part of the site is opened to the public as the Outer Garden of the Imperial Palace. The Nijibashi Bridge (ニ重橋) in front of the main Palace entrance is a famous tourist attraction for taking photos.
A notice about the Imperial Palace
I note that the Outer Garden of the Imperial Palace is an abundant green area, the imperial palace is a place where one can relax and enjoy the clean air. In addition to the Nijibashi Bridge, you can enjoy viewing some part of the historical building such as the wooden gates that have been designated as nationally important cultural properties.
The Nijibashi Bridge


2019年1月18日 星期五

Because of wine-drinking problems JAL was dropped from the top 20 companies in world safety ranking


Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:
JALが飲酒問題で安全ランキング世界上位20社から脱落
2019113 1557

世界の航空会社の安全性を評価する専門メディアの最新のランキングで、日本航空がパイロットの飲酒問題を受けて上位20社から脱落したことが分かり、世界の航空業界からも厳しい目が注がれています。

世界の航空会社の安全性やサービスの質を評価しているオーストラリアの専門メディア、「エアライン・レーティングス」は、安全性の高い航空会社、上位20社を選ぶ最新の2019年版のランキングを発表しました。

それによりますと、日本からは全日空が選ばれた一方、2016年から3年連続で選出されていた日本航空はランキングから脱落しました。

このランキングでは、世界の405の航空会社を対象に、事故の記録や政府による監査、経営状況などの指標をもとに安全性を評価していて、担当者はメディアの取材に対し、日本航空について「パイロットの飲酒問題で除外した」と話しています。

日本航空をめぐっては、パイロットに続いて客室乗務員の飲酒も発覚し、国土交通省が業務改善勧告を出していて、世界の航空業界からも厳しい目が注がれています。

Translation
A professional media which estimated the safety of airline companies in the world showed that due to pilot’s drinking problems, it disclosed that in its latest ranking JAL was dropped from the top 20 companies, and the airline industry in the world had shown a critical eye.

The Australian professional media the "Airline Ratings" which estimated the safety quality and service of airline companies in the world announced its latest 2019 edition ranking which picked out the top 20 companies.

According to that, from the side of Japan while ANA was chosen, JAL which had been elected continuously for 3 years from 2016 was omitted from the ranking.

In this ranking, 405 airline companies in the world were targeted. Safety was estimated based on record of accident and government management; and also on business situation indicators etc. A person in charge said in a media coverage about JAL that they "excluded it because of pilot's drinking problems".

Concerning JAL, flight attendant's drinking was also being detected following the pilots; while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had sent out improvement recommendations, the airline industries in the world had shown a critical eye.

              I like traveling with JAL. I hope it can show improvements soon.

Documents about atomic bombing - a site was open to public which one could do searching based on the language of individual countries


Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following
原爆に関する文献 各国の言語で検索できるサイト公開
201919 1726

世界各国で、これまでに出版されたおよそ3500冊に上る原爆に関する文献を各国の言語で検索できるサイトがつくられ、9日から公開が始まりました。

このサイトは、原爆関連の世界の文献を調査している広島県呉市の研究者などのグループが、各国の人が利用できるデータベースとして活用してもらおうと立ち上げました

サイトには、世界各国の75の言語で出版された、およそ3500冊の文献のリストが収められていて、タイトルや著者名、それに出版時期などが分かるようになっています。

それぞれの言語を使ってキーワードで検索できるほか、「体験記」や「写真集」などテーマ別に絞って検索できるようにもなっています。

各国のおよそ40人の研究者などと協力して原爆に関する文献を調べた結果、今回のリスト化が実現したということで、今後も文献の調査を続け、内容の充実を図っていくということです。

サイトを立ち上げたグループ、「リンガヒロシマ」の中村朋子代表は「このサイトを通じて核廃絶を願う気持ちが1人でも多くの人に広がることを期待したい」と話していました。

このサイトのアドレスは、https://www.linguahiroshima.com/となっています。

Translation

A site which one could search for a piece of article from approximately 3500 different volumes of documents published so far in a language of individual countries that touched on the atomic bombing was now completed; its opening to the public had started from the 9th.

Started up by a group formed by the researchers in Kure city of Hiroshima etc. who investigated documents in the world that was related to the atomic bombing, this site was a data base that people from individual countries could try to utilize.

In this site, a list of approximately 3500 documents published in 75 languages of various countries was being worked out; the title, author and publication time could be known.

Besides that one could search by a key word using the respective languages, one could also narrow down searching according tor themes such "experience notes" and "photograph collection".

It was said that after the cooperation of approximately 40 researchers from various countries and the checking of documents on atomic bombing, this list-ization was achieved. It was also said that investigations on documents would be continued from now on with the aim of beefing up the contents.

Nakamura Tomoko, a representative of the group the "LinguaHiroshima" which started the site said that "through this site I look forward to widely spread to people the desire to ban nuclear weapons, even it was only one person."

The address of this site was https://www.linguahiroshima.com/.

     Good work, this site will help historians digging into the history of the atomic bombings in 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

2019年1月17日 星期四

A US report - "Chinese weaponry led the world in some fields"- a strong sense of vigilance


Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:
米報告書「中国の兵器 一部の分野で世界をリード」強い警戒感
2019116 1502

アメリカ国防総省の情報機関は中国の軍事力に関する報告書を発表し、中国が進めるミサイル開発などについて「一部の分野ではすでに世界をリードしている」と指摘し、急速な兵器開発に強い警戒感を示しています。

アメリカ国防総省の情報機関、国防情報局は15日、「中国の軍事力」と題した報告書を発表しました。

この中で、中国は外国企業の先端技術を自国企業と提携していることを理由に法律で強制的に提供させるなど「あらゆる可能な手段を尽くして技術を入手している」と分析しています。

そのうえで、アメリカのミサイル防衛網では捉えられないとされる「極超音速兵器」の開発や、洋上の空母をねらった移動式の対艦弾道ミサイルの開発などを例に挙げ、「中国軍は世界で最も進んだ兵器の配備を目前にしており、一部の分野ではすでに世界をリードしている」と指摘し、急速な兵器開発に強い警戒感を示しています。

トランプ政権は軍備増強を続ける中国を国際秩序に対する脅威と位置づけて対抗する戦略を掲げており、国防総省としてはアメリカ軍も兵器の開発や更新を急ぐ必要性を改めて強調するねらいがあるとみられます。

Translation

An intelligence agency in the U.S. Department of Defense had released a report on Chinese military power; about the missile development advanced by China it pointed out that " it already led the world in certain fields " and showed a strong sense of vigilance regarding its quick weapon development.

On the 15th, an intelligence agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency released the report entitled "The military power of China".

Inside, it analyzed that China had made foreign companies compulsorily by law to offer them advanced technique etc. for reasons to cooperate with its own country’s enterprise; "it does all possible means to get technology ".

On top of that the development of American missile defense network in "extreme supersonic weapon" which supposed to be could not be captured, and the development of mobile anti-battleship ballistic missile that aimed at aircraft carriers in the ocean were quoted as examples; it pointed that "China is at the verge of deploying  the most  advanced weapon in the world, it is already leading the world in some fields", showing a strong sense of vigilance in the quick speed in its weaponry development.

The Trump government regarded China, which was reinforcing its armaments, continued to be a threat to international order and put up strategies to counter it. As for the Department of Defense, it seemed that there was an urgency to emphasize once again the need for the US military to rush into the development and updating of weapons.

        So, the military budget of the US will go up soon.
             

2019年1月9日 星期三

To withdraw from the IWC indicated - to resume commercial whaling


Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:
IWCから脱退表明 商業捕鯨再開へ
20181226 1123

日本が目指す商業捕鯨の再開などをめぐって国際的な対立が続く中、菅官房長官は記者会見で、IWC=国際捕鯨委員会から脱退し、来年7月から商業捕鯨を再開することを表明しました。

この中で菅官房長官は「来年7月から商業捕鯨を再開することとし、国際捕鯨取締条約から脱退することを決定した」と述べ、来年7月からの商業捕鯨の再開に向けてIWCから脱退することを表明しました。

その理由について「持続可能な商業捕鯨の実施を目指して30年以上にわたり、解決策を模索してきた。しかしながら、鯨資源の保護のみ重視する国々からの歩み寄りは見られず、ことし9月のIWC総会で鯨資源の持続的利用の立場と保護の立場の共存が不可能であることが改めて明らかになり、今回の決断に至った」と述べました。

また、菅官房長官は国際捕鯨取締条約で、来月1日までにIWCからの脱退を、取りまとめ役のアメリカ政府に通告すれば、来年6月30日に脱退できるとされていることを踏まえ、年内に、外交ルートを通じて、アメリカ政府に通告する考えを示しました。

そして、脱退の効力が発生する来年7月から再開する商業捕鯨について、日本の領海とEEZ=排他的経済水域に限定し南極海や南半球では行わないとしたうえで、国際法に従いIWCで採択された方式により算出される捕獲枠の範囲内で行うとしています。

さらに菅官房長官は、脱退は25日の閣議で決定したとしたうえで、発表が26日になった理由について「脱退にかかる関係国との調整を含め、諸般の事情を総合的に判断した結果だ」と説明しました。

また、菅官房長官は記者団が「IWCとは別に新たな国際的な枠組みづくりを目指すつもりか」と質問したのに対し「将来的には新たな国際的な枠組み作りも検討していきたい。毎年、鯨の持続的利用という立場を共有する国々との会合を開催しており、これらの場を通じて関係強化を図っていきたい」と述べました。

Translation

Amidst the continuing international opposition concerning Japan’s resumption of commercial whaling, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan in a press conference expressed that Japan would withdraw from the IWC = International Whaling Commission and resume commercial whaling from July next year.

In this conference Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan stated that "commercial whaling would be resumed from July next year, as such, it was decided to withdraw from the international whaling control treaty”. Heading towards a resumption of commercial whaling from July of next year, the withdrawal from the IWC was expressed.

Regarding the reason for that, it was stated that "more than 30 years had passed since we aimed at searching for a possible way to implement a sustainable commercial whaling. However, from those countries which only emphasized the protection of whale resources, compromise was not seen. At the IWC general meeting in September of this year, it was clearly shown once more that coexistence was impossible for the viewpoint of continuous use, and the viewpoint of protecting the whale resources; based on that the present decision was made."

Also, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan said that if Japan announced the withdrawal by 1st of next month from IWC in following the International Whaling Regulation Treaty which the US government was the organizing committee, based on that, the country could withdraw on June 30 next year. He showed his thought on notifying the US government through a diplomatic route by the end of the year.

Also, about the commercial whaling which would be resumed from July next year after the withdrawal taken effect, on top of limiting the whaling to Japanese territorial waters and the EEZ= exclusive economic zone, whaling would not be carried out  in the Antarctic Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere; it would be within the limits of catch quotas calculated according to international law adopted by the IWC.

Furthermore, besides touching on the withdrawal which was decided at a cabinet meeting on the 25th, Kan the Chief Cabinet Secretary also talked about the reason why it was announced on the 26th; he explained that "it is the result of comprehensive judgment of various circumstances including adjustment with countries that have a concern on the withdrawal."

Also, in response to inquire of the press corps asking "will Japan aim at making new international structure apart from the IWC?", Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan stated that "He'd like also to consider making new international structure in the future. A meeting of countries which share the viewpoint on continuous use of whales is being held every year, he'd like to plan for reinforcing relation with them through this venue."

         It is disappointing to know that Japan will leave IWC.

2019年1月6日 星期日

My visit to Tokyo 2018 (12)

Tokyo panoramic view
The Tokyo Skytree
On the 25th I visited the Tokyo Skytree. According to the Tokyo Metro Guide, the Skytree has so many services that it becomes a small town in its own right. I went there by a shuttle bus which was on a circular route. This route had eight stops. I got on this bus at the Ueno stop and it only took about 10 minutes to arrived at the Tokyo Skytree.
Shutter bus to Skytree




Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー ) is a broadcasting tower in Sumida of Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2011 with a full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft). It is the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kantō region as the older Tokyo Tower can no longer give complete digital terrestrial television broadcasting coverage because of its surrounding high-rise buildings. Skytree is the centrepiece of a large commercial development funded by Tobu Railway and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK. The tower's structure is cylindrical and can offer panoramic views of the river and the city. There are two observatory floors, respectively at 350 m (1,150 ft), with a capacity of up to 2000 people; and at 450 m (1,480 ft) with a capacity of 900.





Shopping area and restaurants etc. can be found at the lowest 4 floors of the Skytree and they are quite big and spacious. For example, on the third floor, there are restaurants, fast food stall, and dessert shops. There is a podium on the fourth floor. At the podium there is a small garden. The entrance of an aquarium is also at the podium of the Skytree. The podium links the Skytree to the nearby commercial buildings.

The podium and the the garden




2019年1月4日 星期五

Community Party Chairman Shii talked with Vietnamese Secretary-General about student apprentice problem - cooperation was confirmed


Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
共産 志位委員長がベトナム書記長と会談 実習生問題で協力確認
20181219 537

ベトナムを訪問している共産党の志位委員長は18日、最高指導者のチョン書記長と会談し、ベトナムが最大の送り出し国となっている日本への技能実習生について、低賃金での労働といった問題の解決に向けて、情報の共有を進めていくことを確認しました。

共産党の志位委員長は、ベトナム共産党からの招待で、17日から5日間の日程で、ベトナムの首都ハノイを訪れていて、18日に最高指導者のチョン書記長と会談しました。

会談では、ベトナムが、現在13万人余りと最大の送り出し国となっている技能実習生について意見が交わされ、低賃金での労働といった問題の解決に向けて、必要な情報を共有していくことなどを確認したということです。

また、志位委員長とチョン書記長は、北朝鮮情勢について、朝鮮半島の非核化や和平に向けた動きを歓迎するとともに、国際社会がその実現に努力していくことの必要性を確認したということです。

会談を終えた志位委員長は、記者団に対し「さまざまな政策で2つの党が協力することで、さらなる日越関係の発展にもつなげていきたい」と述べ、ベトナム共産党との協力関係を一層強化していきたいという考えを示しました。

Translation

On the 18th Chairman Shii of the Communist Party, who was visiting Vietnam, talked with Secretary-General Trong the supreme leader.  Towards solving the problems such as the low labor wages paid to skill student apprentice in Japan in which Vietnam was the biggest apprentice sending out country, it was confirmed that the sharing of information would continue be promoted.

Communist Party chairman Shii visited metropolitan Hanoi in Vietnam on a scheduled 5-day visit starting from the 17th at the invitation of the Vietnamese Communist Party; he talked with Secretary-General Trong the supreme leader on the 18th.

It was said at the meeting confirmed that Vietnam had exchanged opinion on about the 130,000 skill student apprentice working in Japan towards which Vietnam was the biggest sending out country at present, and that Vietnam was sharing necessary information for a solution of problems such as low labor wages.

Also, about the North Korean situation, Chairman Shii and Trong the Secretary-General welcome the denuclearization in Korean Peninsula and the movement for peace; it was said that they confirmed the need for the international society to make an effort for the realization.

After finished talking to a press corps, Chairman Shii stated that " about cooperation on various policies of the two parties, I would like to tighten relationship development between Japan and Vietnam" and indicated his thought on further strengthening the cooperative relationship with the Vietnamese Communist Party.

              I am interested to know how the apprentice may impact on the economic development of Vietnam.

2019年1月1日 星期二

My visit to Tokyo 2018 (11)

On the 24th I visited Asakusa (浅草).  The Tokyo Metro Guide describes Asakusa in the following manner:



One tourist spot in Asakusa was the Sensoji (浅草寺), literally the Senso Temple. Ji () in Japanese means temple. The Tokyo Travel Guide has the following to say about this Temple.
Courtesy Tokyo Travel Guide

The Sensoji 浅草寺. Note the temple's name near the top roof

Karminarimon Gate (雷門 ) is a gate at the outskirt of Sensoji, after passing through this Gate, tourists must walk several minutes along a straight road (仲見世通り) before reaching the Sensoji where one can made prayers to god. Lining along both sides of this straight road are shops selling all kinds of souvenir. Standing before the Sensoji, looking east, one can see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance.

The Karminarimon Gate
The Tokyo Skytree at a distance







In Asakusa, apart from the Sensoji, there is the “Touring the district on rickshaw” service offered outside the Kan'non-dōri (觀音通り). Tourist can enjoy the city scene by riding on a rickshaw driven by handsome and physically very fit young guys.

Rickshaws are waiting along the street

In Asakusa eating is also an attraction. There are several high-end restaurants, some specialized in making shrimp tempura that costs around 1,000 yen each. There is also a restaurant boasting that their eels are caught in Japan instead of importing from overseas, mainly China.