US survey – American with "no religion", also Catholics and the like were in the majority

Recently the CNN.co.jp reported the following:

「無宗教」の米国人、カトリック教徒などと並んで最多に　米調査

2019.04.14 Sun posted at 15:34 JST

  （ＣＮＮ） 米国人の宗教観に関する調査で「無宗教」との回答がカトリック教徒やキリスト教福音主義派を上回って２３．１％を占め、初めて首位に立ったことが１４日までにわかった。

イースタン・イリノイ大学の政治学者でキリスト教バプテスト派の牧師でもあるライアン・バージ氏が、長年実施されている総合的な社会状況調査を新たに分析した結果となっている。調査の参加者は２０００人超で、個別での面談にそれぞれ応じていた。

同氏によると、カトリック教徒は２３．０％、福音主義派は２２．５％だった。ただ、これら３グループの数値は回答率の誤差の範囲内にあり、統計学的には同一の数字と見なしている。

同調査では４４年間にわたって信奉する宗教に関する同じ質問をしているが、今回のような数字の並びは初めてとした。

無宗教の層の激増は１９９０年代初期から始まった。９１年以降では２６６％も伸びたという。今後４〜６年間は明白な最大勢力になるだろうとも推測した。

無宗教と答えた層はさまざまなグループから成り、無神論者、不可知論者、心霊主義者や特定の組織的な宗教にはくみしないとする人々などが含まれる。

無宗教の層の増加の背景要因については専門家の間でさまざまな見方が出ている。無神論者の団体責任者はインターネットの存在が要因とも分析。ネットは無信仰者が同様の思いを抱く者を見出せる場所を提供していると指摘した。

１９８０年代以降生まれのミレニアル世代に独自な傾向との意見もある。この世代は、事実確認に貪欲（どんよく）で世界について好奇心を抱くとも分析している。

Translation

(CNN) In a survey on Americans' view on religion, those answered “with no religion" exceeded Catholics and Christian evangelicals to stand at 23.1% to become the majority for the first time, it was made clear on the 14th.

Ryan Burge, a political scientist of Eastern Illinois University and also a Christian Baptist Pastor, had the result of a new analysis of a long-standing, comprehensive survey on social conditions. There were more than 2,000 participants in the survey who responded individually to interviews.

According to him, 23.0% were Catholics and 22.5% were evangelicals. However, the figures in these three groups were within the error of response rate and were statistically regarded as the same figure.

The survey asked the same questions for 44 years about religions that one believed in, but this was the first time that the numbers were in such a sequence.

The proliferation of the non-religious layer began in the early 1990s. It increased  by 266 percent since 1991. He also speculated that in the next four to six years, it would be an obvious majority force.

The non-religious layer was composed of various groups, including atheists, agnostic, psychics, and those who did not want to be part of a specific organized religion.

There were various views among experts on the background factors of an increase in the non-religious layer. Atheist group leaders also analyzed the existence of the Internet was a factor and pointed out that the Net provided non-believers a place where they could find people with similar feelings.

There were also opinions on the unique tendencies of millennials born since the 1980s. This generation was also eager in analyzing the facts and had a curiosity about the world.

               I am always interested in knowing the role of religion in different societies in different historical period. Religion is a key component of the culture of a nation or a society. The development of a religion in a society could tell us a lot about a society’s situation socially, politically and economically. In the scholarly world, more than 100 years ago, as least two scholars have looked into the religion of a society in order to find out an answer for their research questions. The first scholar is Emile Durkheim. His research is contained in a book entitled “Suicide: a Study in Sociology”; it was translated by John A. Spaulding and George Simpson; edited with an introduction by George Simpson; printed in 1952 in London: Routledge. The other book is by Max Weber entitled “The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism”; it was translated by Talcott Parsons, with an introduction by Anthony Giddens and published in New York: Charles Scribbner's Sons in 1976.

香港2014年的雨傘運動九名佔領運動領導人中有四人被判入獄長達16個月

Recently the South China Morning Post (SCMP) On-line in Hong Kong reported the following:

Four of nine Occupy leaders jailed for up to 16 months over roles in Hong Kong’s 2014 umbrella movement

Published: 10:46am, 24 Apr, 2019

Updated: 4:36am, 25 Apr, 2019

Hong Kong reopened one of the most emotional and divisive chapters in its history on Wednesday as four of nine democracy leaders and key activists convicted on public nuisance charges over the 2014 Occupy protests were jailed for up to 16 months.

Two founders of the city’s biggest civil disobedience movement, academics Benny Tai Yiu-ting, 54, and Dr Chan Kin-man, 60, were given the longest jail terms, at 16 months, while legislator Shiu Ka-chun, 49, and League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 30, received eight months each.

Because of poor health and his years of contribution to society, Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 75, the third founder, had a 16-month sentence suspended for two years.

Lawmaker Tanya Chan, 47, had her sentencing adjourned after her lawyer dropped a bombshell in court, revealing that she was suffering from a life-threatening brain tumour and would have to undergo surgery in two weeks.

Former lawmaker Lee Wing-tat, 63, had his eight-month term suspended for two years in light of his years of public service.

Former student leaders Tommy Cheung Sau-yin, 25, and Eason Chung Yiu-wa, 26, were sentenced to 200 hours of community service and eight months’ jail respectively, but Chung also had his prison term suspended. Their ages were taken into consideration.

All were sentenced by Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng at West Kowloon Court. The judge criticised the nine for putting their political demands before the lives of others.

All but Cheung and Chung said they planned to appeal against their convictions, and some their sentences.

Occupy leaders found guilty over role in 2014 umbrella movement

The nine were found guilty earlier this month of a string of public nuisance charges – which carry a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment – over the mass protests of 2014 that saw key roads blocked for 79 straight days and the city’s commercial district brought to a standstill in the name of greater democracy for Hong Kong.

While the judge noted the protests had been non-violent, and the goal was not motivated by “greed, lust, anger, or monetary reward”, the obstruction was serious and its duration extensive.

“The nine defendants just looked up to their aspirations ... but they failed to notice the ordinary folks who needed to use the carriageways,” he said, describing their would-be “martyrdom” as “contorted”.

Although Tai had recounted “touching moments” from the protests in court, the other side of the story was that the activists had brought excessive delays and inconvenience to the city, the judge added.

Until now, he noted, the group had not expressed any regret.

“By regret, I do not mean they should give up their political beliefs or demands,” he said. “It is an apology that the members of the public rightly deserve from the defendants, but never received.”

Occupy protests five years on: after all the prosecutions, was the movement in vain?

For the first time, Chu on Wednesday walked out of the dock without his two closest allies, Tai and Chan Kin-man, and burst into tears.

“In the past five years, we have never been apart,” he said, before leaving court. “Today, they were sentenced to jail. I’m in immense sorrow. I am truly willing to go with them.”

Raphael Wong thanked the judge from the dock and vowed to soldier on with his pursuit of democracy as cheers erupted from supporters in the public gallery. Judge Chan returned a smile.

Chan Kin-man, Tai, Wong and Shiu were later taken to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

Their convictions have drawn statements of concern about the impact on the city’s freedoms from Western diplomatic missions, as well as human rights groups.

Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, declined to comment on the sentencing but insisted the prosecution of the activists had not undermined freedom of expression or the right to demonstrate.

“I don’t see any of these effects, or any of these activities being affected,” Lam said.

Tears in court as first Occupy leaders deliver mitigation submissions

The protests, which began on September 28, 2014, were sparked by frustration over a restrictive framework Beijing had laid down for the direct election of Hong Kong’s leader.

Democracy activists had been expecting to elect a chief executive through a one-person, one-vote system, but were outraged that they would have to settle for a pool of preselected candidates.

A little more than a month after Beijing’s ruling, protesters poured into Admiralty, Wan Chai and Central, blocking major thoroughfares in the heart of the city. Police fired tear gas but failed to disperse them.

The nine were found guilty of a range of public nuisance charges on April 9 following an 18-day trial that revisited the civil disobedience movement through testimony from police officers, footage of the protests and the words of those who took part.

Judge Chan called the protest plan unrealistic, saying it was naive to think “a concession to introduce the form of universal suffrage advocated by the founding trio could be made by the government overnight with a click of its fingers”.

During mitigation, Chan Kin-man, Tai and Wong urged the judge not to jail Reverend Chu, citing worries for his health.

Who are the nine key leaders of Hong Kong’s Occupy movement?

On Wednesday, Judge Chan accepted that request, saying he was “impressed and touched” by Chu’s 30-plus years of service helping drug addicts and HIV patients.

“I am also concerned about his age,” he said.

The judge also acknowledged former lawmaker Lee’s track record of serving Hong Kong, saying it was time for the court to recognise those contributions.

Ex-student leaders Cheung and Chung were still young and lacked life experience, Chan said as he spared them jail.

As for the rest, the judge said, they could only be punished with immediate custodial sentences but he shortened them by a month to two months after considering their good characters, with the exception of Wong’s sentence.

Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Tai and Chan were also convicted of one count of inciting others to commit the same offence. The three were acquitted of one count of inciting others to incite, and Chu was also cleared of one count of incitement.

Tanya Chan, Shiu, Cheung, Chung and Wong were all found guilty of one count each of inciting others to incite and one count each of inciting. Lee was found guilty of one incitement charge.

What is more naive than believing in ‘one country, two systems’?

Wednesday’s sentencing session began as more than 100 people with yellow umbrellas – the symbol of the movement – awaited the arrival of the nine on the ground floor of the court building. Some wore yellow shirts with the words “I was not incited”, in defiance of court findings that the group had incited others to block roads in 2014.

Before walking into court, Chan Kin-man said the group would only discuss appeals after the sentencing.

“In the verdict, the judge commented that we were naive – believing that by having an Occupy movement, we could attain democracy,” Chan said.

“But what is more naive than believing in ‘one country, two systems’?”

He was referring to the policy under which Hong Kong has been granted a high degree of autonomy by Beijing since 1997.

Tai said he felt “peaceful and hopeful” before learning of his fate. Chu urged democracy activists in Hong Kong not to give up even if the nine were all jailed.

The group walked into court surrounded by supporters chanting: “We want genuine universal suffrage.”

Tai and Shiu said prayers and sang hymns with a small group, before joining other Occupy leaders to address journalists.

They received rounds of thunderous applause when they eventually turned up on the fourth floor outside the courtroom for the sentencing.

Security measures were stepped up as scores of pro-Beijing protesters also gathered outside the court building, chanting through loudspeakers: “You have to pay for occupying Central.”

(This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: FOUR OF NINE OCCUPY LEADERS JAILED FOR UP TO 16 MONTHS)

My Chinese translation

香港2014年的雨傘運動九名佔領運動領導人中有四人被判入獄長達16個月

星期三，香港重新開啟了其歷史上最激動人心和最具分裂性的一個章節，因為在2014年“佔領”抗議活動中因為公共滋擾指控而被定罪的九名民主黨領袖和關鍵活動家中有四人被判入獄長達16個月。

這個城市最大的公民抗命運動的兩位創始人，54歲的學者戴耀廷和60歲的陳健民博士被判了16個月最長的監禁，而49歲的立法委員邵家臻和30歲的社會民主黨副主席黃浩銘每人被判8個月。

由於健康狀況不佳及其多年來對社會的貢獻，75歲的第三位發起人朱耀明牧師被判處16個月, 緩刑兩年。

47歲的立法会議員陳淑莊的律師在法庭上透露陳患有危及生命的腦瘤，並且必須在兩週內接受手術, 因投下這一枚重磅炸彈, 法庭暫緩判處她的刑罸。

63歲的前議員李永達因其多年的公共服務而被判緩刑兩年。

25歲的前學生領袖張秀賢和26歲的鍾耀華分別被判處200小時的社區服務和8個月的監禁,因為考慮到他們的年齡。鍾耀華也被判緩刑。

所有人均被西九龍法院的陳智貞法官判刑。法官批評九人將他們的政治要求置於他人的生命之前。

除了張秀賢和鍾耀華之外，其餘的人都表示他們計劃對定罪和刑期判決提出上訴。

佔領領導人對2014年雨傘運動中的角色感到內疚

本月早些時候，九人被判有罪 : 一系列公害案 , 最高可判七年監禁。在  2014年的大規模抗議活動，主要幹道連續79天被封鎖，他們以香港要更大民主的名義, 令該市的商業區停頓。

雖然法官指出抗議活動是非暴力的，並且目標不是出於“貪婪，慾望，憤怒或金錢獎勵”，但阻礙是嚴重的，其持續時間亦很長。

“九名被告只是滿足了他們的願望......但他們沒有注意到那些需要使用行車道的普通人，法官說，他們將自己的描述“扭曲” 為 “殉難”。

法官補充說，儘管戴耀廷已在法庭上講述了抗議時期的“感人時刻”，但故事的另一面,是活動人士給這座城市帶來了過多的延誤和不便。

法官指出，到目前為止，該組織並未表示遺憾。

“遺憾的是，我並不是說他們應該放棄他們的政治信仰或要求，” 法官說。 “這是一個道歉，是公眾人仕理所當然應該得的，但從未收到過。”

五年抗議活動：在所有起訴之後，這場運動是徒勞的嗎？

週三，朱耀明在第一次走出被告席而沒有他兩個最親密的盟友戴耀廷和陳健文，並淚流滿面。

在離開法庭之前他說:“在過去的五年裡，我們從未分開過”， “今天他們被判入獄, 我非常悲傷。我真的願意和他們一起去。”

黃浩銘在被告席向法官表示感謝，並發誓要追求民主，因為公共旁聽席的支持者們正在歡呼。陳法官笑了一笑。

陳健民，戴耀廷，黃浩銘及邵家臻後來被帶往荔枝角收押所。

他們的判刑引起了西方外交使團以及人權組織關注, 和對該城市自由的影響。

香港政府領導人林鄭月娥拒絕對判刑發表評論，但堅稱起訴些活動人士並未破壞言論自由或示威權。

“我沒有看到任何影響，或任何這些自由或示威權活動受到影響”林說。

當第一個佔據領導者提交輕判請求時  求法庭上有人落淚

2014年9月28日開始的抗議活動是由於北京為香港政府領導人的直接選舉制定一個限制性框架, 令人沮喪而引發的。

民主活動人士一直希望通過一人一票制選出一位行政長官，但他們因為要接受一批預先選出的候選人而憤怒。

在北京定出限制性框架一個多月後，抗議者湧入金鐘，灣仔和中環，封鎖了市中心的主幹道。警方發射催淚瓦斯但未能驅散他們。

在經過18天的審判後，這9人被判定犯有一系列公害行為罪，這次審判通過警察的證詞，抗議的鏡頭和參與者的言論重新審視了公民抗命運動。

陳法官稱這一抗議計劃不切實際。他說,“如果政府一夜之間只需用手指點擊一下，就可以讓步通過提出引入三人組所倡導的普選形式”是天真的。

在請求減刑期間，陳健民，戴耀廷 和黃浩銘敦促法官不要監禁朱牧師，理由是擔心他的健康狀況。

誰是香港佔領運動的九大關鍵領導者？

星期三，陳法官接受了這一要求，稱朱先生30多年來一直幫助吸毒成癮者和愛滋病病毒感染者，他對此感到“印象深刻和感動”。

“我也很關心他的年齡，”他說。

法官還承認前立法議員李永達在香港服務記錄，並表示現在是法院承認這些贡献的時候。

陳法官說前學生領袖張秀賢和鍾耀華還很年輕，缺乏生活經驗，免了他們坐牢。

至於其他人，法官說，他們只能受到立即監禁的懲罰。但在考慮到他們的良好品格之後，將他們刑期縮短了一個月到兩個月，但黃浩銘的判決除外。

戴耀廷，陳健民和朱耀明被判犯有一項串謀引起公共滋擾罪。 戴耀廷和陳健民也被判犯有一項煽動他人犯同樣罪行的罪名。三人被控煽動他人煽動罪被判不成立，朱耀明也被清脱了一項煽動罪。

陳淑莊，邵家臻，張秀賢, 鍾耀華和黃浩銘都每人被判犯有一項煽動罪和一項煽動他人煽動的罪名。李永達被判犯有一項煽動罪。

什麼比相信“一國兩制”更天真？

週三的量刑會議開始時，超過100人帶著黃色遮陽傘 - 運動的象徵 - 等待九人到達法院大樓底層。一些人穿著黃色襯衫，上面寫著“我沒有被煽動”，蔑視法庭已判定該組織在2014年煽動其他人阻塞道路。

在走進法庭之前，陳健文說，該組織只會在判決後討論上訴。

“在判決中，法官評論說我們天真 - 相信通過佔領運動，我們可以實現民主，”陳說。

“但是，相信'一國兩制'不是更天真？”

陳指的是香港獲得由北京自1997年以後享有高度自治的政策。

戴耀廷說他在知道判决前感到“和平而充滿希望”。朱耀明敦促香港的民主活動人士不要放棄，即使九人都被判入獄。

該團體走進法庭，被支持者高呼：“我們想要真正的普選權。”

戴耀廷和邵家臻在與其他佔領領導人一起向記者講話之前，曾與一小群人一起祈禱和唱讚美詩。

當他們最終出現在四樓法庭室之外, 预備聽取量刑時，他們收到了雷鳴般的掌聲。

保安被加强由於有些支親北京的抗議者聚集在法院大樓外，並通過擴音器高喊：“你必須支付佔領中環的費用”。

My comments
It is sad to see that these nine people were convicted and sent were to jail because they, together with other like mind people,  wanted to express their anger over the restrictive framework that Beijing had laid down regarding a direct election in choosing Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. Hong Kong people had been promised by Beijing in the Basic Law a right to elect their top political leader, but it turned out to be an empty promise.

Eating-while-walking and dangerous-photo-taking were " Nuisance" in Kamakura laws

Recently the NHK New On-line reported the following:

食べ歩きや危険な撮影「迷惑行為」 鎌倉で条例

2019年4月3日 16時56分

年間2000万人以上の観光客が訪れる神奈川県鎌倉市で混雑した場所での食べ歩きや危険な場所での撮影などを「迷惑行為」と定め、観光客らにマナーの向上を呼びかける新たな条例が、今月施行されました。

条例は、観光客のマナーをめぐり鎌倉市に苦情が多く寄せられていることから制定され、混雑した場所での食べ歩きや線路周辺など危険な場所での撮影、それに山道で歩行者を走って追い越す行為などを「迷惑行為」と定め、これらを行わないよう求めています。

土産物店や食品店が並ぶ小町通りでは、今月１日に条例が施行されたあとも、ソフトクリームや菓子などを食べ歩きする観光客の姿が多く見られました。

訪れた人の中には「条例を知ったので食べ歩かないようにしますが、楽しみの一つでもあり人に言われることでもないかと思います」と話す男子高校生や「食べ歩きは見た目もよくないし服に付くと迷惑になるので条例に賛成です」と話す70代の女性もいて、さまざまな受け止めがありました。

創業およそ100年の和菓子店の店主は「鎌倉は食べて、味わう観光もあるのでゆるやかに楽しめるよう条例という形でなくてもよかったように思います」と話していました。小町商店会の高橋令和会長は「ごみのポイ捨ての問題もあり、マナーを守って安全、安心に楽しんでほしいです」と話していました。

また今回の施行をうけ、市内のハイキングコースでは、観光課の職員が歩行者を追い越す際には、走らずに歩くよう呼びかける案内板を設置し、マナーの向上を呼びかけていました。

ハイキングに訪れた80代の男性は「山の中を走る『トレイルランニング』の練習なのか、かなり速いスピードで走る人もいて危ないのでマナーを守ってほしいです」と話していました。

一方、人気漫画に描かれた江ノ島電鉄の鎌倉高校前駅近くの踏切では、２日も車道や線路で撮影する外国人観光客が多くいて、中にはドローンを飛ばす人もいました。

鎌倉市では、今後、多言語で条例を周知していくことにしていて、観光課の廣川正課長は「条例は禁止や規制を促すものではないが、自らマナーを守って皆が楽しく過ごせる機会になればと思っています」と話していました。

Translation

In Kamakura city of Kanagawa Prefecture where more than 20 million tourists visited annually, a new law that defined the habit of eating while walking in crowded places, and taking photos in dangerous places etc. as "nuisance"; it called on tourists to improve their manners as this law was enforced this month.

The law was enacted as many complaints were sent to Kamakura City on the manners of tourists:  eating while walking in crowded places, taking photos in dangerous places such as around the railroad tracks, and the act of running to overtaking other users on a mountain. It defined these acts as "nuisance acts" and asked tourists not to do them.

In Komachi-street that lined with souvenir shops and food shops, even after the law came into effect on the 1st of this month, many tourists were found eating soft cream and sweets while walking.

Among the visitors a high school boy said, “I know the law, so I don't eat while walking. But I think it was said by some people that it's one of the fun things". A woman in his 70s said,” Eating while walking can’t keep a watchful eye, I agree with the law because it would be annoying when food sticks to the dress". There was a wide range of reaction.

The owner of a Japanese-style confectionery store of about 100 years old said, "In Kamakura through eating one can taste while doing sightseeing and enjoyed it slowly, I think it is not necessary to have a form of regulation. " Koichi Takahashi, chairman of the Komachi Store Association, said, "I have a problem of littering waste, I want people to keep their manners and to safely enjoy without any worries."

In addition, undertook to do enforcement this time was in the hiking trails of the city; the staff of the Tourism Division had set up sign boards to call for walking and not running when trying to past-over another trail user, calling for improvement of manners.

A man in his 80s who came for hiking said, "Is it to practice "trail running" by running in the mountain? I want to follow manners, because some people may run at a very high speed and it is dangerous."

On the other hand, at the railroad crossing of Enoshima Electric Railway Station near the front of Kamakura High School which had been described in popular manga, there were a lot of foreign tourists taking photos on both the roads and on the railroads for two days. Some of them even flew drones.

Kamakura City from now on would disseminate the regulations in multiple languages. Mr. Sasakawa, the chief manager of the Tourism Division says, "The regulations do not promote prohibitions or regulations; I hope everyone will have a chance to enjoy themselves by observing their manners”.

            So, tourists in Kamakura City should be careful in their manner when visiting the city.

Banknotes renewal - 10,000-yen Eiichi Shibusawa, 5,000-yen Umeko Tsuda

Recently the Nihon Keizai Shimbun On-line reported the following:

紙幣刷新へ　1万円は渋沢栄一、5000円は津田梅子

経済

2019/4/9 1:34 (2019/4/9 9:34更新)

政府・日銀は2024年度前半に千円、5千円、1万円の各紙幣（日本銀行券）を一新させる。麻生太郎財務相が9日午前に発表した。刷新は04年以来となる。千円札の図柄は北里柴三郎、5千円札は津田梅子、1万円札は渋沢栄一になる。「平成」から「令和」への改元機運を盛り上げる。自動販売機などの関連需要が生まれるため、景気刺激の効果もありそうだ。

渋沢栄一は第一国立銀行（現在のみずほ銀行）など数多くの企業を設立し、日本の資本主義の父とされた。1万円札の図柄変更は1984年に聖徳太子から福沢諭吉になって以来となる。

津田梅子は津田塾大学の創始者で、特に女子の英語教育の指導に注力した。5千円札は現在の樋口一葉に続き、女性の図柄となる。

北里柴三郎は日本における近代医学の父として知られ、感染症予防や細菌学の発展に大きく貢献した。ペスト菌を発見した功績もある。

新紙幣には最新の偽造防止技術などを用いる。政府は5月1日から元号を令和とする発表に続いて、紙幣の刷新も発表した。心理面の好転を狙い、個人消費の喚起など経済効果も期待しているとみられる。

Translation

The government and the Bank of Japan would renew banknotes of 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen (Japanese banknotes) in the first half of 2024. Finance Minister Taro Aso announced this in the morning of the 9th. It was a renewal since 2004. One thousand-yen bills design would be Kitazato Yuzaburo, 5,000-yen bills would be Tsuda Umeko, and 10,000-yen bills would Shibusawa Eiichi. It was an opportunity to stir up the climax in era change from "Heisei" to "Rekazu". Because it would generate demand needs in vending machines and other related area, it was seen as an effective stimulus.

Eiichi Shibusawa founded a number of companies including Daiichi National Bank (now Mizuho Bank) and was considered as the father of Japanese capitalism. A design change in the 10,000-yen bills from Shotoku Taiko to Fukuzawa Yukikichi was done in 1984 and was in use since then.

Umeko Tsuda was the founder of Tsuda College who focused on teaching English education to girls in particular. A five-thousand-yen bill, following the present Higuchi Ichiba, would continue to use a female figure.

Kitasato Yuzaburo was known as the father of modern medicine in Japan who had contributed greatly to the development of infectious disease prevention and bacteriology. He also had achievements in finding a plague fungus.

The latest banknotes would use the latest anti-counterfeit technology. Following the announcement of a new ear on May 1^st, the government would also announce the renewal of banknotes. With the aim of improving the psychological aspect, it was expected that economic effects such as aspiration of personal consumption would be aroused.

      I am eager to know how far Japan will go in using the latest anti-counterfeit technology to print their new money.

Overseas companies - a selling market for Japanese stock in 2018, the first time in 31 years

Recently the Nihon Keizai Shimbun On-line reported the following:

海外勢、日本株31年ぶり売越額に　18年度

日銀が同額相殺、売り買い拮抗

2019/4/4 18:00

海外投資家が日本株の売りを膨らませている。2018年度の売越額は約5兆6300億円と、31年ぶり高水準となった。米中貿易戦争などを背景に世界経済の先行きに慎重姿勢を強めたためだ。ただ日銀がほぼ同額（約5兆6500億円）の買いで相殺し、売り買いが拮抗。海外勢の売りを日銀が一手に受け止めるいびつな構図が鮮明になっている。

東京証券取引所が4日発表した投資部門別売買動向をもとに集計した。海外勢の売越額はバブル経済の本格化で日本株の上昇が続いた1987年度以来の高水準となる。売り越しは2年連続。

海外勢の売りが膨らんだ最大の要因は、世界景気の減速への警戒だ。日本株は輸出型の製造業が多く、世界景気の動向に左右されやすい。米中貿易戦争や中国経済の減速など先行き不透明感が強まるなか、海外勢が日本株の投資判断を下げる例が相次いだ。

世界最大の資産運用会社、米ブラックロックは18年7月に、日本株の投資スタンスを「強気」から「中立」に約1年8カ月ぶりに変更した。

世界3位の資産運用会社、米ステート・ストリート・グローバル・アドバイザーズは、米中貿易戦争の解決の道筋が見えないことなどを理由に、リスク資産である株式そのものに対する投資割合を18年10～12月に引き下げた。このうち日本株についても円高リスクなどを理由に19年に入ってから投資判断を「中立」から「やや弱気」に引き下げている。

こうした海外勢の売りを日本株の上場投資信託（ETF）買いで吸収したのが日銀だ。日銀は「リスクプレミアムの縮小」を目的に、日経平均がおおむね1万円を下回っていた10年にETFを買い始めた。購入額は当初4500億円だった。16年には6兆円とする方針を打ち出した。

日銀のETF買い入れ額を集計すると、18年度は5兆6500億円に及ぶ。保有残高は3日時点の推計で、約29兆円と、東証1部の時価総額（約600兆円）の5%弱を占めるもようだ。

日銀はETFの大規模な購入を通じて資産価格の上昇や個人消費の活性化を促し、物価上昇につなげる効果を見込む。だが、中央銀行が直接株高を支える異例の政策はリスクも大きい。

日銀の雨宮正佳副総裁は3月、国会で「日経平均株価が1万8000円程度を下回ると保有ETFの時価が簿価を下回る」との試算を示した。足元の相場水準からはまだ距離があるが、ひとたび株安局面に転じて日銀の自己資本が毀損する事態になれば、通貨の信認も揺らぎかねない。

Translation 

Overseas investors were increasing selling Japanese stocks. The amount of sales in fiscal year 2018 was about 5,630 billion yen, a 31-year high.  Against the background of a US-China trade war and other factors caution about the future of the world economy was becoming strong. However, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) offset it by buying in almost the same amount (approximately 5.65 trillion yen) and buying and selling were offsetting each other. The imbalance picture that the BOJ singled-handedly taking up the sale from foreigners was clear at a glance.

Based on investment trends worked out by investment sector announced on the 4th by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the recent amount of overseas sales had been high, counting from since 1987 when Japanese stocks continued to rise with a bubble economy in earnest. The selling out was two years in a row.

The biggest factor behind the foreigner’s sale was an alert to a slowdown in the global economy. There were many export-type manufacturers in Japanese stocks, and they were easily influenced by trends in the global economy. With an uncertainty in the outlook such as the US-China trade war and the slow going of the Chinese economy, there had been a series of cases where foreigners had scaled down the decision to invest in Japanese stocks.

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, changed the stance on Japanese stocks from "bully" to "neutral" in July 2018 for the first time in about one year and eight months.

State Street Global Advisors, the third largest asset manager in the world, had from October to December 2018 reduced the investment ratio of stocks with risky asset for reasons such as lack of a clear path to resolve the US-China trade war.  Among them, they also lowered their investment judgment on Japanese stocks from "neutral" to "slightly bearish" after 2019 because of a risk of yen appreciation.

The Bank of Japan absorbed these foreign sales by buying in the Japanese stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Bank of Japan began buying ETFs in 2010 when the Nikkei average was generally below 10,000 yen,  it served the aim as " a premium for risks reduction." The initial purchase amount was 45 billion yen. It announced a policy to set it at 6 trillion yen in 2016.

The total amount of ETF purchases by the BOJ amounted to 5.65 trillion yen in FY2006. The balance of holdings was estimated to be about 29 trillion yen as of the 3rd, representing nearly 5% of the market capitalization (about 600 trillion yen) of the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The Bank of Japan boosted asset prices and stimulated consumer spending through large-scale purchases of ETFs and it was expected to lead to a rising prices of commodities. However, the exceptional policy that a central bank directly supported share appreciation was also risky.

In March, the National Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Masatoshi Amamiya stated in the National Assembly that "If the Nikkei Stock Average falls below about 18,000 yen, the market value of ETFs held will fall below the book value." Although there was still a distance from the current market level, yet once the stock market turned into a downturn the BOJ's equity capital could be damaged, and currency confidence might also fluctuate.

     So, the Japanese government is directly supporting the share prices of many Japanese companies.