IOC chairman says postponement of Olympics is "not limited to summer"

Recently Asahi Shimbun Digital reported on the following:

朝日新聞デジタル

IOC会長、延期の五輪開催は「夏に制限していない」

 朝日新聞社 2020/03/25 21:51

　国際オリンピック委員会（IOC）のトーマス・バッハ会長は25日、電話記者会見を開き、「遅くとも来夏までに開く」とした東京オリンピック（五輪）・パラリンピックの新たな開催時期について、「夏に限定していない。（2021年ならば）全ての選択肢が交渉のテーブルの上にある。幅広い視点で検討できる」と述べた。

　一方、大会組織委員会の森喜朗会長は24日の記者会見で「おおむね夏をめど」と語った。来夏に開催予定の水泳、陸上の世界選手権に日程変更の動きがあることや、欧米の人気スポーツの日程と重ならないことなどから、組織委内では、当初の7月24日～8月9日からは大きくずれないとの見方が広がる。

　バッハ会長は日程決定の期限について「できる限り早く解決したい。だが、全ての利害関係者の意向をくみ取れているのかという質も優先される」として、具体的には示さなかった。IOCと組織委は4月中旬に準備状況を確認する会議を開く予定だが、組織委の武藤敏郎事務総長は25日、「そこまでは待てない。できるだけ早く決めないといけない」と語った。

　また、バッハ会長は、東京・晴海に設置予定だった選手村について、従来の形にこだわらないと明言した。大会後、マンションとして改修することになっており、購入者に影響が出る可能性が指摘されていた。バッハ会長は「前例のない状況で、延期になった大会なのだから、全ての利害関係者に犠牲や妥協が必要。伝統的な選手村があれば喜ばしいが、最も実現可能な解決策を見つけなくてはいけない」とした。

　新型コロナウイルスの感染状況が来夏になっても改善していない場合の対応については、「これまでも、参加する全ての人の安全を守るという原則に沿ってきた。これは今後も変わらない」とだけ述べ、さらなる延期や中止を検討する可能性についての明言を避けた。（遠田寛生=ロンドン、斉藤佑介）

Translation

Thomas Bach, chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), held a telephone press conference on the 25th to announce the new timing of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which would be "opened by next summer at the latest”, and said that “it is not limited to the summer, (in the case of 2021) all options are on the bargaining table and can be considered from a broader perspective. "

On the other hand, Yoshiro Mori, chairman of the Organizing Committee said at a press conference on the 24th that "generally the prospect is the summer". Because of changes in world championships for swimming and on land sport scheduled to be held next summer, and no overlapping in the schedule of popular sports in Europe and the United States, there was a widespread view that there should be no significant deviation from the original days of between 24^th July to 9^th August.

On the deadline for the decision, Mr. Bach without going into the specifics supposed that "we want to resolve it as soon as possible, but the quality in taking into account the interests of all stakeholders has a priority." While the IOC and the Organizing Committee would have a meeting in mid-April to check the status of preparations, Toshiro Muto, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee on the 25th said "I can't wait that far. It has to be decided as soon as possible."

In addition, Chairman Bach had stated that he might not stick to the traditional form of the athlete village to be set up in Harumi, Tokyo. The village would be renovated into apartments after the tournament, and pointed out that buyers could be affected. Chairman Bach supposed that "it's an unprecedented situation, and it is a postponed tournament, so all stakeholders have to sacrifice or compromise. I'm glad to have a traditional athlete's village, and have to find the most feasible solution. "

Regarding measures to be taken when the infection situation of the new coronavirus had not improved by next summer, it was said that "we have been following the principle of ensuring the safety of all the participants, this will not change in the future"; meanwhile explicit statements on the possibility of discussing further postponements or cancellations were avoided. (Hiroki Enda = London, Yusuke Saito)

              So, both the chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the chairman of the Organizing Committee in Japan are having a hard time in deciding matters regarding the  postponement of the 2020 Olympics.

My visit to Japan 2020 – Hiroshima (3)

The Hiroshima Sighting Bus Advertisement

A Sight-seeing Bus

On the 7^th I took a sight-seeing tourist bus to tour around the major sight-seeing spots in Hiroshima downtown. The trip was free because it was covered by the 4-day pass that I purchased. The bus waited for tourists at the Hiroshima Station (広島ステーション) for drop-in tourists. I took the 9.00 am bus and the trip ended in slightly less than an hour.

There are four sight-seeing bus routes: orange, green, lemon and blue

This bus had four routes named after four colors: orange, green, lemon and blue. I took the orange route which went through 9 tourists’ sites in Hiroshima downtown. The most valuable of this trip was that it showed me the location of the Manga Library (Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art 現代美術館). The library was up the hill and could be a little bit difficult for tourists to travel there. There were a few Arts Museums in Hiroshima downtown, be care not to confuse them with one and other.

A notice on the clinic door requests all visitors to wear masks

In order to check out how the general public in Hiroshima reacted to the new virus. I tried to peep into one local clinic. I noticed that the clinic had put up a poster in the entrance to remind its clients to wear masks.

Fuji Fresh Food Market

Dekopon

I spent some time in a local supermarket, the Fuji Fresh Food Market to buy fruits. Other than the apple from Aomori prefecture, I found a fruit that also had sweetness of 13 degrees: Dekopon (デコポン). Dekopon was a seedless and very sweet hybrid citrus fruit developed by the Japanese in 1972. Dekopon was distinctive due to its sweet taste, large size and the large protruding bump on the top of the fruit.

The oyster I bought and pan fried

About the specialty (名物Meibutsu) of Hiroshima, I think oyster would be one of them. I bought some local oysters and pan fried them in my apartment. Although the size was small, the taste was good. The Fuji Fresh Food Market also sold fried oyster. The taste was also good.

An oyster set advertisement seen in Hiroshima downtown

New corona-virus can survive up to 3 days on plastic surfaces etc.

On 19 March 2020 CNN.co.jp reported the following:

新型コロナウイルス、プラスチックなどの表面で最長３日間生存

2020.03.19 Thu posted at 16:50 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 世界的に感染が拡大する新型コロナウイルスについて、プラスチックやステンレス鋼の表面で最長で３日間生きられることを示す分析結果が出た。研究者らが米医学誌ニューイングランド・ジャーナル・オブ・メディシン（ＮＥＪＭ）の編集者にあてた書簡の中で明らかにした。

さらにこのウイルスは、霧のように空気中を漂う「エアロゾル」という状態でも３時間生存できるという。

米国立衛生研究所が出資したこの研究は先週ネット上に投稿されていたが、より詳細な内容が上記の書簡を通じて１７日に公表された。

それによると、今回の新型コロナウイルス感染症を引き起こすウイルスのＳＡＲＳ―ＣｏＶ―２の安定性を調べたところ、検査を行った実験環境下においてはＳＡＲＳ―ＣｏＶ―１との類似性が認められたという。

ＳＡＲＳ―ＣｏＶ―１は、２００２年に重症急性呼吸器症候群（ＳＡＲＳ）の流行を引き起こしたウイルス。

検査の結果から、研究者らは新型コロナウイルスが物体の表面や空気中でどのくらいの間生存できるのかについて新たな知見を得た。一方でさらなる研究が必要だとも指摘している。

１７日の書簡が示した検査結果の要点は以下の通り。

●新型コロナウイルスは、ステンレス鋼やプラスチックの表面で最大７２時間生存した。

●銅の表面では最大４時間、ボール紙の表面では最大２４時間生存した。

●「エアロゾル」の状態では、３時間にわたる実験の間生存し続けた。

これらの研究結果は、新型コロナウイルスが物体の表面とエアロゾルを通じて感染する可能性を示唆する。ＳＡＲＳ―ＣｏＶ―１のケースでは、こうした感染形態に関連して「院内感染」や「スーパー・スプレッディング現象（ＳＳＥ）」が起きたと研究者らは記す。その場合、１人の感染者から数万人に感染が広がる恐れもある。

一方、先月発表された別の研究によれば、新型コロナウイルスと極めて近い関係にあるとされる種類のヒトコロナウイルスについて、金属やガラス、プラスチックといった物体に付着した場合、表面を殺菌消毒しない限り最長で９日間生存したとの結果が得られたという。

Translation

 (CNN) Analyzes had shown that a new type of coronavirus that was spreading worldwide could live up to three days on plastic or stainless-steel surfaces. It was made clear in a letter sent from researchers to the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

The virus could also survive for three hours in the form of aerosol that floated in the air like a mist.

The study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, was posted online last week, but more details were released on the 17th via the above letter.

 According to the study which examined the stability of SARS-CoV-2, a virus that causes the new type of coronavirus infection, similarity was found with SARS-CoV-1 in the experimental environment where tests were conducted.

SARS-CoV-1 was the virus that caused the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002.

Tests had given researchers new insights into how long the new coronavirus could survive on the surface of objects and in the air. On the other hand, it was pointed out that further research was needed.

The key points of the test results indicated in the letter on the 17th were as follows.

- The new coronavirus survived up to 72 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces.

- Up to 4 hours on copper surface and up to 24 hours on cardboard surface.

-  In the "aerosol" state, it survived during a three-hour experiment.

These findings suggested that the new coronavirus might cause infection through the surface of objects and aerosols. In the case of SARS-CoV-1, researchers noted that “hospital infections” and “super-spreading phenomena (SSE)" occurred in connection with these forms of infection. In that case, there was a possibility that the infection spread from one infected person to tens of thousands of people.

On the other hand, another study published last month about the type of human coronavirus which was said to be very close to the new coronavirus could adhere to objects such as metals, glass, and plastic unless the surface was disinfected. It was said that it lived up to nine days.

              So, the new coronavirus can survive for a long time on object surface if it is not disinfected.

My visit to Japan 2020 – Hiroshima (2)

The 4-day Tourist Travelling Pass that I  bought

On the 5^th of March I flied from Hong Kong at around 9.00 am to Hiroshima and arrived there in less than three hours. The Hiroshima airport was very small. After finishing all the checking formalities, at the airport information counter I bought a bus pass. It was a 4-day bus pass that costed me 4500 yen. The most valuable part of this pass was that you could immediately use it to enter Hiroshima downtown by limousine bus that took about 50 minutes to travel. This trip alone would cost a traveler about 1,100 yen.

Various types of tourist traveling passes are available for foreign visitors

The bus destination was the Hiroshima Station in downtown. It was an important connection point in Japan regionally. It connected the bullet train from Hakata (博多) in western Japan to Tokyo(東京). Locally, it was a transport loop for the whole Hiroshima city: the streetcars and buses used it as their terminal. One should be careful in not to confuse the Hiroshima Station (広島ステーション) with the Hiroshima-eka (広島駅). The latter was located next to the Hiroshima Station and was only a small local tram station.

A phone card that I bought in Hong Kong

In order to ensure that I could have Wi-fi connection all time in Japan, I bought a phone card in Hong Kong. I costed me Hongkong $55.00 for a 6-day period. There was a bonus: it gave a 20-minute telephone time in Japan. It was easy to install; jump inserted the IC card and turned on the roaming function in the phone.

The noodle shop that I visited

After settling down at my Airbnb accommodation I ventured out to enjoy my dinner at a nearby restaurant. The regular menu of this restaurant was all kinds of Japanese noodles: ramen (ラーメン). In the next morning, I went out by taking a streetcar (i.e. a local electric tram) to visit the A-Bomb Dome. It was a popular place for both local and foreigner visitors. On this day I saw both kinds visitors. One person, a lady, representing an anti-nuke group came here to collect signatures to support their anti-nuke campaign. I also saw a Japanese explained to visitors about the impact of the A-bomb on Hiroshima, probably he drove here everyday by his bicycle. But on that day, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was closed due to the new virus. It was a disappointment to many visitors including me.

The A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima

A large notice board explaining the A-bomb incident as a world heritage. A small note was attached to it saying that the museum was closed.

In the afternoon I visited a local supermarket to buy some fruit and food. The high-light of the fruit was the apple from Aomori prefecture (青森県) known as Umappuri (うまっぷリor王林). It had a 13 degrees sweetness. It costed 494-yen (tax included) for a pack of three apples.

The sweetest apple in Japan that I have enjoyed

Cabinet decision - to gradually raise the retirement age of national public servants such as prosecutors to 65

Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

検察官などの国家公務員定年引き上げ 段階的に65歳に 閣議決定

2020年3月13日 10時01分

政府は13日の閣議で、検察官などの国家公務員の定年を段階的に65歳に引き上げるための法案を決定しました。

13日に閣議決定された国家公務員法の改正案では、事務次官などを除いて60歳となっている国家公務員の定年について、少子高齢化の進展を踏まえ、経験が豊富な職員を最大限活用するため、令和４年度から段階的に65歳に引き上げるとしています。

また、60歳以上の給与はそれまでの水準の７割程度にするとしているほか、60歳になった職員を原則、管理職から外す「役職定年制」を導入するとしています。

これに併せて、検察官の定年についても63歳から65歳に段階的に引き上げるための検察庁法の改正案も13日、閣議決定されました。この中では、検事総長の定年は65歳のままとし、「役職定年制」と同様の趣旨の制度を導入し、63歳になった検察官は原則、次長検事や検事長に任命できないなどとしています。

また、定年延長については、国家公務員法の改正案に合わせて最長で３年まで可能とするとしています。

政府は今の国会で法案の成立を目指す方針ですが、検察官の定年延長をめぐっては、政府がことし１月、法解釈を変更して東京高等検察庁の黒川検事長の定年を延長したことに対し、野党側から批判が相次いでおり、法案の審議に影響を与えることも予想されます。

Translation

At a cabinet meeting on March 13, the government passed a bill to gradually raise the retirement age of prosecutors and other state officials to 65.

According to the revision of the National Public Service Act, which was approved by the Cabinet on March 13, the retirement age of national public employees being set at 60 years old, excluding the secretary-general, etc. would be gradually raised to 65 years old starting from Reiwa 4th fiscal year in order to make full use of experienced staff in light of the declining birthrate and aging society. 

In addition, the salary for people aged over 60 would be set to be about 70% of the level up to that point, and for those who had turned 60 a "retirement system for managers" was introduced which basically excluded employees from managerial positions.

At the same time, a Cabinet decision was made on March 13 to revise the Prosecutor's Office Act to gradually raise the retirement age of prosecutors from 63 to 65. In this case, the retirement age of the prosecutor-General would remain at 65, and a system similar to the `` retirement age system '' was introduced, and prosecutors who turned 63 could not be appointed as deputy attorney general or attorney general as a matter of principle.

In addition, regarding the retirement age, it could be extended up to three years in accordance with the revision of the National Public Service Law.

While the government was aiming to pass the bill in the current Diet session, regarding the retirement period of the prosecutor, in January this year the government changed the legal interpretation and extended the retirement period of Kurokawa the Attorney General of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office. Opposition parties, on this matter had made criticism one after another and it was expected to affect the deliberation of the bill.

              So, the Japanese government plans on extending the retirement age of civil servants up to 65 years old.

All schools suddenly closed – companies into action - going to work with children OK - special vacation...

Recently the Asahi Shimbun Digital reported the following:

朝日新聞デジタル

突然の一斉休校に企業動く 子連れ出勤OK、特別休暇…

 朝日新聞社 2020/02/29 09:00

　新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大で、安倍首相が全国すべての小中高校と特別支援学校について、3月2日から春休みに入るまで臨時休校するよう要請したことを受け、企業は対応に追われている。在宅勤務の対象拡大のほか、子連れ出勤を可能にしたり有給休暇を与えたりと取り組みは様々だ。

　ヤフーを展開するZホールディングスは、小学生の子どもがいる従業員に子連れでの出勤を認めることを決めた。子どもの預け先がない場合に限り、3月2日から20日まで実施する。正社員・契約社員が対象。派遣、業務委託などの社員については調整中という。

　また、小学生以下の子どもがいるが、コールセンターなどで在宅勤務ができない場合、1日の所定労働時間に満たない勤務となっても遅刻や早退の扱いにせず、1日分働いたものとして給与を支払うという。

　三菱UFJ銀行は3月2日から、子どもの面倒を見るために自宅待機しても、出勤扱いにして給与を払う。有給休暇を使い切っている行員や、パソコンが支給されずに在宅勤務ができない契約社員らが対象だ。

　損保ジャパン日本興亜は、子どもの預け先がないなどの事情で、出社できない社員らに有給の「特別休暇」を与える。日数の上限は設けないという。明治安田生命も小学6年までの子どもを持つ社員に対し、2週間めどの「防疫休暇」を付与する。

　石油元売り最大手のJXTGホールディングスも、小中高校などの子どもを持つ社員でテレワーク対応が難しい場合、有給の「特別休暇」とする。衛生陶器のTOTO（北九州市）は、一斉休校で子育て社員が欠勤になったり半日休暇をとったりしても、3月末までは出勤扱いとすることを決めた。

　阪急電鉄は3月2日以降、家族の介護やボランティア用に認めてきた休暇について、臨時休校で子どもの面倒をみなければならなくなった社員も使えるようにする。

　そごう・西武は、臨時休校で在宅が必要な社員について、所属部門内で優先的な有給休暇が取得できるようにする。店舗販売員も有休取得できるようにした。

　三井物産は3月2日から、小学校4年生までの子どもを育てている社員について、子どもの通学先が臨時休校になれば在宅勤務ができるようルールを緩和する。住友商事は3月1～15日に国内約4千人の全社員を対象に原則として在宅勤務を義務付ける。

　ライオンは全社員の7割にあたる2800人を、2月28日～3月13日、原則在宅勤務にする。米製薬大手ファイザーの日本法人も、医薬情報担当者（MR）を含む全社員約4500人を同じ期間、原則在宅勤務にする。近鉄百貨店はこれまで育児中の時短勤務社員を対象としていた在宅勤務について、3月から事務系の社員全員に広げる。

　パナソニックはすでに、東京・汐留の法人向け事業の従業員約2千人を原則、在宅勤務とし、大阪府門真市の本社などでも職場単位で可能な従業員から在宅勤務に切り替え中だ。「現時点で混乱はでていない」（広報）という。

　ソニーは国内グループの従業員に対し、当面の間、月10回までとするテレワークの上限をなくすことにした。富士通は、国内グループの従業員にテレワークの推奨を通知し、週2回、月8回までとしていた上限も撤廃した。

　日産、ホンダ、マツダなどは、在宅勤務制度やフレックス勤務制度の対象の拡大や条件緩和などで対応する。ホンダは都内の本社勤務などの2千人を原則在宅勤務にする

Translation

With the spread of the new coronavirus, companies had been forced to respond after PM Abe requested that all elementary, junior high and high schools and special needs schools be closed temporarily from March 2 until spring break.  In addition to expanding the scope of home-office, various approaches had been taken, such as to allow bringing children to work and to give out paid leave.

Z Holdings, which operated Yahoo Japan, had decided to allow employees with elementary school children to go to work with children. The program would be held from March 2 to March 20 only if an employee had no place to keep the child. It was for regular and contract employees. It was said that adjustments to cover temporary or sub-contract etc. employees were being made.

In addition, it was said that if one had children below elementary school and could not work from home at a call center etc., even if the work was less than the prescribed working time for one day, they would not be treated as late or leaving early, salary for working the whole day would be paid.

From March 2, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank would pay employees as if they were at work even if they were waiting at home to take care of their children. This applied to employees who had used up their paid vacation, or contract employees who could not work from home because computers were not available.

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa would give paid “special leave” to employees who could not come to the office due to a lack of child care service. There was no maximum number of days. Meiji Yasuda Life was also, for employees with children up to elementary school 6th year, prepared to give a two-week "epidemic prevention vacation".

JXTG Holdings, the largest oil source seller, would also give paid “special holidays” if employees with children at elementary, junior high, and high schools had difficulty in teleworking. Sanitary ware TOTO (Kitakyushu City) had decided that even if childcare employees were absent, or took a half-day leave during the school leave, they would be treated as work attendance until the end of March.

 Hankyu Railway since March 2, regarding leave related to family care and those leaves approved for volunteers, would make itself accessible to employees who had had been on leave to take care of their children due to temporary school closures.

Sogo / Seibu for employees who needed to stay home due to temporary school would be able to take priority paid vacations within their departments. Store sales staff could also take paid leave.

Mitsui would from March 2nd relax the rules for employees who were raising children up to the fourth grade in elementary school so that they could work from home if the child’s learning location was temporarily closed. Sumitomo Corporation would in principle supposed all its 4,000 employees in Japan to work at home from March 1 to March 15.

Lion would make 2800 employees, or 70% of all employees, work at home from February 28 to March 13. The Japanese subsidiary corporation of Pfizer, a major U.S. pharmaceutical company, would also have its about 4,500 employees, including medical information representatives (MR), in principle to work at home for the same period. Kintetsu Department Store would, regarding its work-at-home program which so far was applicable to short-time employees doing child care, expanded it to all administrative employees from March.

Panasonic with approximately 2,000 employees working for businesses in the Shiodome area of ​​Tokyo had already been working from home as a principle. At the head office in Kadoma, Osaka etc., it was switching possible employees to working at home. "There is no confusion at the moment," (the public relations) was said.

For the time being, Sony had decided to remove the maximum teleworking limit of 10 employees per month for domestic group employees. Fujitsu had made known that it was recommending domestic group employees on tele-work, and had removed the maximum ceiling of twice a week and eight times a month.

Nissan, Honda, Mazda, etc. would respond by expanding the scope of the home-office system, and relaxing the governing conditions on flexible working system. For Honda in Tokyo, its 2,000 employees would basically work at home.

             So, more than a week ago all the big corporations in Japan were responding to the need to reduce the number of company employee going to office everyday. This will have the effect of reducing group infection in the office environment.

My visit to Japan in 2020 - Hiroshima (1)

Airbnb advertisement for accommodation in Hiroshima central district

Two weeks ago I visited Hiroshima of Japan for about 8 days starting from 5^th March 2020. I planned on visiting the A-Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum; and in the nearby town Kure to see the Yamato Museum and the Iron Whale Museum (JMSDF). On top of that I planned on traveling by ferry to a nearby island (Miyajima) to see the Itsukushime shine which has its O-Torii partly emerged in the sea water during high tides.

I lived in this building. All its first floor apartments are min-paku

 I choose to live in a min-paku (民泊=みんぱく) in Hiroshima for two reasons. First, it is cheaper than living in a hotel; second there is a kitchen and a washing machine inside, both are important for an overseas stay in a fixed place for over one week. My apartment costed me less than HK$5,000 in total. I booked the min-paku through the Airbnb. The online booking was simple and easy. One point to note is that you should pick the one with a proper licence. 

An accommodation law has been enforced in Japan which demands that all min-paku to register with the authorities and that foreigners have to submit personal details such as passport numbers for record purpose. After booking the accommodation, I book the air ticket on line from the Hong Kong Express. I fly from Hong Kong to Hiroshima airport. I choose the Hongkong Express because it is one of the cheapest: one round trip air ticket is about HK$2500 with one luggage weighted up to 25 kg on top of one hand held luggage up to 7 kg. Also, as a matter of fact, there are not many planes that may fly directly from Hong Kong to Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Airport Homepage. HK Express is at the bottom of the list

This is my second time to fly with this low-cost airline company. One thing to note about low-cost jet is that you are not allowed to eat or drink your own stuff in the plane en route except for those you buy from the plane (you can order it before flying).

This time I do not have a good impression on Hongkong Express because for this trip both my departure day and returning day were changed by this company. My original schedule in visiting Hiroshima was from 3^rd March to 15^th March. I picked these days some 6 months ago. My departure day was changed from 3^rd to 5^th by this company about a week before departure. Probably due to the new corona virus, the company had to group travelers of different days together into one single batch in order to save money. My returning trip was even more disappointing. While I was in Hiroshima, the company unilaterally cancelled my flight just a few days before my scheduled return. By e-mail it suggested me to buy a return ticket on my own in Japan, or to postpone my depart date to until April when it would resume its flights to Hiroshima in Japan.

Sharp receives mask production request from government, first request 150,000 pieces a day

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic version reported the following:

シャープがマスク生産、政府要請受け　まず1日15万枚

新型コロナ 経済 エレクトロニクス

2020/2/28 18:00日本経済新聞　電子版

シャープが新型コロナウイルスによる肺炎の感染拡大を受け、マスク生産に乗り出すことが分かった。マスク不足を受けた政府の緊急要請に応じて異業種から参入するのは初めて。3月半ばにも1日あたり15万枚の態勢で生産を始め、同月中にも市場に投入する。政府は新型コロナウイルス対策の予算を投じて後押しする。

シャープは三重工場（三重県多気町）でマスクを生産する方針だ。液晶ディスプレーを生産する同工場のクリーンルームなどを活用する。まず3つの製造ラインで作り始め、最終的には10ラインで1日50万枚まで増やす計画だ。

政府は緊急対策として2019年度予算の予備費から103億円を支出すると決定済みで、シャープに資金を支援する。マスク生産設備の導入事業の対象に認定し、3000万円程度を補助する方向だ。

最大手のユニ・チャームなど国内の既存メーカーのマスク生産は、新型コロナウイルスの感染が拡大する以前は週2000万枚程度だったが、政府の補助も受けて足元では各社の合計で週1億枚ほどの生産能力があるとみられる。シャープのシェアは数%になる見通しだ。

新型コロナウイルスの世界的な感染拡大が続くなか、マスクの需要が急拡大し、国内の小売店では在庫がなくなっている。以前は国内需要の7割を賄っていた中国メーカーからの輸入が滞っているためで、シャープのマスク生産への参入は国内の品不足解消に一定の効果がありそうだ。

菅義偉官房長官は26日の衆院予算委員会で、3月に月6億枚規模の供給力を確保できるとの見通しを改めて示している。既存のメーカーのほかにも広く協力を募って供給を増やし、国民の不安を払拭したい考えだ。

Translation

Sharp was set to start producing masks following the spread of pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus. This was the first time that a different type of company entered the market in response to a government urgent request due to a mask shortage. Production would begin with 150,000 pieces per day in the middle of March, and they might go into the market in the same month. The government would throw in a new coronavirus control budget and back it up.

Sharp planned to produce masks at the Mie Plant (Taki-cho, Mie Prefecture). It utilized a clean room at the plant which produced LCD displays. It planned to start with three production lines and eventually increased to 500,000 pieces per day with ten lines.

The government had decided to spend 10.3 billion yen from the contingency budget for the 2019 budget as an emergency measure, and would provide Sharp with the funding. The company planned to subscribe about 30 million yen for a project to introduce mask production equipment.

Prior to the spread of the new coronavirus, the production of masks by existing domestic manufacturers such as Unicharm, the largest manufacturer, was around 20 million per week; but with the assistance of the government, it seemed that on this footing the total of all companies could have a production ability of 100 million per week. Sharp's share was expected to represent a few percent.

As the global outbreak of the new coronavirus continued to spread, demands for masks had surged and inventory at retail stores in Japan had run out. Sharp's entry into the mask production seemed to have a certain effect in resolving the shortage of goods in Japan because imports from Chinese manufacturers, which previously covered 70% of domestic demand, had been delayed.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshii Suga repeatedly reminded the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Tuesday that a supply capacity of 600 million pieces per month in March could be secured. He hoped to broaden his cooperation with existing manufacturers to increase supplies and to ease public anxiety.

          So, Japan is gearing up its preparation to fight the new coronavirus.

Poor manner of luxury cars - proven by academic research in the US and Europe?

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

高級車のマナーの悪さ、米欧の学術研究で実証？

2020.02.28 Fri posted at 18:35 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 高級車を運転するドライバーほどマナーが悪い――。そんな傾向を裏付けるような調査結果が、このほど学会誌に発表された。

米ネバダ大学の研究チームは、道路を横断する歩行者に対する車の反応を調べるため、ボランティアに何度も道路を横断してもらい、その様子を撮影して、ドライバーの反応を観察した。

その結果、歩行者のために減速するドライバーは、車の値段が１０００ドル高くなるごとに、３％ずつ減っていた。

この傾向について研究者は、高級車を運転していると「他の道路使用者に対する優越感」を感じ、歩行者への思いやりが薄れるのではないかと推測している。

この調査では、歩行者の性別や人種による反応の違いも調べた。歩行者が白人女性だった場合に停車する車は３１％だったのに対し、男性の場合は２４％、黒人の場合は２５％だった。

これに先立ちフィンランドのヘルシンキ大学も先月、車の値段の高さとマナーの悪さの相関関係をうかがわせる調査結果を発表していた。

ヘルシンキ大学はドライバー１８９２人を対象に調査を実施。その結果、「けんか腰で頑固、不愉快、同情心が薄い自己中心的な男性ほど、アウディやＢＭＷ、メルセデスといった高級車を所有する傾向」が浮かび上がったとしている。

Translation

(CNN) Drivers who drove luxury cars had worse manners. A survey that supported this tendency had recently been published in a journal.

A research team at the University of Nevada asked volunteers to cross the road several times, took pictures of the situation, and looked into how the drivers responded to the pedestrians.

As a result, drivers who slowed down for pedestrians were reduced by 3% for every $ 1000 more expensive.

Researchers on this tendency had speculated that driving a luxury car might give a feeling of "superior to other road users" which could reduce compassion for pedestrians.

The study also looked at differences in responding to pedestrian by gender and race. 31% of cars stopped when white women were pedestrians, compared to 24% for men and 25% for blacks.

Before this, the University of Helsinki in Finland last month also published a study that showed a correlation between high car prices and poor manners.

Helsinki University conducted a survey on 1,892 drivers. As a result, it was become apparent that "a self-centered man who is belligerent with stubbornness, obnoxity, and a low sympathy may tend to own luxury cars such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes."

              I think the studies made by both universities may sound a bell among drivers of  Audi, BMW and Mercedes cars regarding their driving manners.

Unusual heat wave hits Antarctica, northernmost island melts 20% in just 9 days

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

南極を襲った異常な熱波、最北端の島はわずか９日で２０％の雪解け

2020.02.25 Tue posted at 11:29 JST

 南極の気温、観測史上最高を記録

（ＣＮＮ） 南極大陸の北端が今月に入り、９日間続く熱波に覆われた。この影響で、北東部のイーグル島では島を覆っていた雪の２０％が溶けていたことが米航空宇宙局（ＮＡＳＡ）の観測で判明。気候変動の影響が広がりつつある現状を見せつけた。

ＮＡＳＡは今月、南極大陸を覆った熱波の始まった時と終わった時のイーグル島の画像を撮影した。９日間の熱波が終わるまでには、雪が解けて地表が現れ、雪解けの水たまりができていた。

南極の最高気温は今月に入り、観測史上最も高い１８．２度を観測した。この日、米カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルスで観測した気温と同じだった。

イーグル島ではわずか１週間あまりで約１０センチの雪が解けた。これは同島でこの冬に積もった雪の総量の約２０％に当たる。

世界一寒いはずの南極で、これほどの速さで雪が解けるのは極めて異例。夏季でさえも稀（まれ）だった。

専門家によると、今回の熱波は気温の高い日が続いたことによるもので、こうした現象は２１世紀に入るまで、ほぼ発生したことはなかった。

ＮＡＳＡによると、今月に入り、南米チリのホーン岬上空が高気圧に覆われて気温が高くなった。南極大陸北端の半島は、例年であれば南半球を横断する強風に阻まれて、そうした暖気からは守られる。ところが今年は異常に風が弱く、南極大陸北端への暖気の流入が止まらなかった。

南極大陸を覆う氷は、人が排出する温暖化ガスの影響で、既に急速に解け始めている。海面が上昇すれば、世界の沿岸部に住む何百万人もの人に壊滅的な影響が及びかねないと世界気象機関は警鐘を鳴らしている。

Translation

 (CNN) Entering this month the northern tip of Antarctica had been covered by a nine-day heat wave. As a result, NASA observations revealed that 20% of the snow that covered the island on Eagle Island in the northeast had melted. It showed that the effects of climate change were spreading.

NASA captured images of Eagle Island this month at the beginning and end of the heat wave that was covering Antarctica. By the end of the nine-day heat wave, the snow melted and land surfaces appeared, pools of water were formed from the melted ice.

The highest temperature in South Pole was observed this month, the highest temperature in Antarctica had reached 18.2 degrees. The temperature observed on that day was the same as that in Los Angeles, California.

On Eagle Island in just over a week about 10 cm of snow melted. This was about 20% of the total snow accumulated on the island this winter.

In South Pole, the coldest place in the world, it was extremely unusual for snow to thaw at such a fast rate. It was rare even in summer.

According to experts, the heat wave was due to a series of hot days, and this phenomenon had rarely occurred until the turn of the 21st century.

According to NASA, entering this month the Cape Horn in Chile of South America was covered by high pressure and the temperature went up. The northernmost peninsula of Antarctica was usually protected from such warm air by strong winds crossing the Southern Hemisphere. However, the wind was unusually weak this year, and the flow of warm air to the northern tip of Antarctica could not be stopped.

The ice that covered Antarctica had already begun to melt quickly due to the greenhouse gases emitted by humans. The World Meteorological Organization warned that rising sea levels could have catastrophic effects on millions of people living along the coasts of the world.

          So, global warming is affecting the South Pole, surely it will have a huge impact on other areas globally as a consequence.