AI Model Mythos: Companies Using It Describe It as Having "Game-Changing Potential"

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

AIモデル ミュトス 利用企業 “ゲームチェンジ起こす能力”

2026年5月30日15:42

生成AI・人工知能

性能が非常に高くサイバー攻撃への悪用も懸念されるAIモデル、「クロード・ミュトス」の提供を受けたアメリカの企業がNHKのインタビューに応じ、その性能について「ゲームチェンジを起こす能力だ」と証言しました。そのうえで、「防御側の手にあり、攻撃側の手に渡っていない今この瞬間が重要だ」として悪用される前に対策が必要だと訴えました。

アメリカの新興AI企業、アンソロピックが開発したAIモデル「ミュトス」は、ソフトウエアのぜい弱性を発見する能力が極めて高いとされ、会社はサイバー攻撃に悪用されるおそれもあるとして公開を見送った一方、先月からIT大手や金融機関などおよそ50の企業や組織に提供してサイバー攻撃に備えるプロジェクトを始めています。

このプロジェクトに参加して「ミュトス」の提供を受けたアメリカ企業「モジラ」でウェブブラウザーの技術責任者を務めるボビー・ホーリー氏が今月下旬、NHKのインタビューに応じました。

この中でホーリー氏は、「ミュトス」の性能について、「1つの欠陥を見つけるために動ける一流の研究者は限られている一方で、AIなら数百、あるいは数千もの分析を並行して実行できる。これはセキュリティーの世界において、ゲームチェンジを起こす能力だ」と述べ、衝撃を受けたと証言しました。

また、ホーリー氏は、「ミュトス」の活用などによってこの会社が4月にウェブブラウザーのぜい弱性を修正した件数は平均的な1か月間の修正件数のおよそ20倍に増加したと明らかにしました。

そのうえで、「今これらの最先端の能力は防御側の手にある。攻撃側の手に渡っていない今この瞬間を活用し、私たち全員が依存しているインターネットのインフラを強化することが極めて重要だ」と述べ、悪用される前に対策が必要だと訴えました。

Translation

AI Model Mythos: Companies Using It Describe It as Having "Game-Changing Potential"

May 30, 2026, 15:42

Generative AI/Artificial Intelligence

An American company that received the AI ​​model "Claude Mythos," which boasted extremely high performance and raised concerns about its potential misuse in cyberattacks, gave an interview to NHK, testifying that its performance "has the potential to change the game." Furthermore, they emphasized that " at this very moment, the crucial thing is that it's in the hands of the defenders and not yet in the hands of the attackers,” appealing for countermeasures before being misused.

The AI ​​model "Mythos," developed by the American startup AI company Anthropic, was said to have an extremely high ability to detect software vulnerabilities. While the company withheld its public release due to concerns about its potential misuse in cyberattacks, it began a project last month to provide it to approximately 50 companies and organizations, including major IT companies and financial institutions, to prepare for cyberattacks.

Bobby Hawley, the Chief Technology Officer for web browsers at Mozilla as an American company that received "Mythos" as part of this project, gave an interview to NHK late this month.

In his remarks, Mr. Hawley described the capabilities of "Mythos," stated that "While only a limited number of top-tier researchers can work to find a single software vulnerability, AI can perform hundreds, or even thousands, of analyses in parallel. This is a game-changing capability in the world of security," and testified that he was shocked by this.

Mr. Hawley also revealed that, thanks to the use of "Mythos," the company's number of web browser vulnerabilities fixed in April increased to approximately 20 times the average number of fixes in a single month.

On top of that he said, "These cutting-edge capabilities are now in the hands of the defenders. It is crucial to made use of the present moment to strengthen the internet infrastructure on which we all depend on, before they fall into the hands of attackers”, urging that countermeasures were needed before someone used it with an ill intention.

So, an American company’s AI model "Claude Mythos," which is said to have extremely high performance, could be a game changer. Apparently, it is crucial that this AI model will not go into the hands of someone who may use it with ill intent.

咖哩店如何被捲入日本的移民管制行動（1/2）

Recently The New York Times reported the following:

How Curry Shops Got Caught in Japan’s Immigration Crackdown (1/2)

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, new visa rules are forcing some foreign business owners, who have put down roots in Japan, to leave.

The NYT - By Javier C. Hernández and Kiuko Notoya - Reporting from Shimotsuke, Japan

May 30, 2026

Updated 8:36 a.m. ET

For three years, Mahendra Dharmapriya, a Sri Lankan restaurateur, filled the streets of his neighborhood in rural Japan with the smells of his homeland: creamy lentils, fish curry, egg hoppers and black tea with ginger.

But on a recent Saturday, Mr. Dharmapriya cooked the last meal at Daiya Ceylon, his Sri Lankan curry shop in the Japanese town of Shimotsuke, about 66 miles north of Tokyo, and shut its doors. He was forced to close the restaurant because he could not satisfy new visa rules meant to restrict the flow of foreigners into Japan. He plans to return to Sri Lanka this week.

“I felt so alone,” Mr. Dharmapriya, 40, who moved to Japan in 2015, said in a recent interview at his restaurant, where he was handing out unopened bags of spices and cassava chips to friends. “I have no hope for the future right now.”

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, won office last year on a promise to more strictly regulate immigration and tourism. Now her government is trying to deliver, scrutinizing the roughly 47,000 foreigners like Mr. Dharmapriya who live in the country on so-called business manager visas.

Japan has long been cautious about immigration; foreigners make up only about 3 percent of the population. Some experts argue that Japan needs to allow more immigrants to deal with labor shortages and offset its rapidly declining population. But a wave of nationalist sentiment has swept the country recently, with some activists calling for even stricter controls as part of a “Japan First” movement.

Conservatives say that foreigners are exploiting Japan’s visa rules to stay in the country indefinitely. The government has responded by making it harder to obtain business manager visas, requiring applicants to have $188,000 in capital, up from $31,000 previously, and to employ at least one full-time staff member.

The change has left many foreign restaurant owners in limbo. For decades, workers from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries have relied on business manager visas, setting up small restaurants in Japanese cities and rural areas that serve curry, fried rice, noodles and other favorites.

Chan Ka Yee, who managed a branch of San Mai San, a Hong Kong-style congee chain, in Tokyo, closed her restaurant last week after more than five years because she said she could not meet the new visa requirements. She plans to return to Hong Kong this summer.

On her final day, customers brought flowers and snapped photos of Ms. Chan as she made pork congee, waffles and milk tea. She thanked them and waved goodbye.

The next morning, she wrote on social media, “My eyes are incredibly swollen from crying so much last night.”

“I can’t believe it’s over,” she said. “I wanted to stay there forever.”

Chie Taniguchi, 50, a regular at Ms. Chan’s restaurant, called the new visa requirements “sloppy politics.”

“Now it will become impossible for Japanese people to discover new flavors and food cultures,” she said.

(to be continued)

Translation

咖哩店如何被捲入日本的移民管制行動（1/2）

在首相高市早苗的領導下，新的簽證規則迫使一些在日本紮根的外國經營企業的人離開

三年來，斯里蘭卡餐廳老闆Mahendra Dharmapriya 將家鄉的香氣瀰漫在日本鄉村的街道上：奶油扁豆、魚咖哩、雞蛋餅和薑茶。

但就在不久前的一個週六，Dharmapriya先生在他位於日本下野市（東京以北約66英里）的斯里蘭卡咖哩店“Daiya Ceylon”烹製了最後一餐，然後關上了店門。由於無法滿足旨在限制外國人入境日本的新簽證規定，他被迫關閉了餐廳。他計劃本週返回斯里蘭卡。

40歲的Dharmapriya先生說: 「我感到非常孤獨」; 「我現在對未來沒有任何希望」。他於2015年移居日本。最近，他在自己的餐廳接受採訪時，正將未開封的香料和木薯脆片分發給朋友們。

日本首相高市早苗去年上任時承諾將更嚴格地監管移民和旅遊業。如今，她的政府正努力兌現承諾，對像Dharmapriya先生這樣持所謂「商務經理簽證」在日本居住的約4.7萬名外國人進行嚴格審查。

日本長期以來對移民問題持謹慎態度；外國人僅佔日本人口的3%左右。一些專家認為，日本需要允許更多移民入境，以應對勞動力短缺和人口快速下降的問題。但近來，一股民族主義情緒席捲日本，一些活動人士呼籲加強管控，並發起「日本優先」運動。

保守派人士稱，外國人正在利用日本的簽證政策無限期地留在日本。政府的回應是提高了商務經理簽證的申請門檻，要求申請人擁有18.8萬美元的註冊資本（先前為3.1萬美元），並且至少僱用一名全職員工。

這項變化令許多外國餐館老闆陷入困境。幾十年來，來自印度、尼泊爾、斯里蘭卡、中國、越南、泰國等國的務工人員一直依靠商務經理簽證在日本的城市和鄉村地區開設小餐館，供應咖哩、炒飯、麵條和其他美食。

Chan Ka Yee在東京經營一家港式粥品連鎖店「三米三」（San Mai San）的分店，上週，由於無法滿足新的簽證要求，她在經營五年多後關閉了這家餐廳。她計劃今年夏天返回香港。

在她工作的最後一天，顧客們帶著鮮花，拍下了陳女士製作豬肉粥、華夫餅和奶茶的照片。她向顧客道謝並揮手道別。

第二天早上，她在社交媒體上寫道：“昨晚哭得太厲害，眼睛十分腫。”

她說:“真不敢相信一切都結束了”，“我真想永遠留在那裡。”

50歲的Chie Taniguchi是陳女士餐廳的常客，她稱新的簽證要求是「糟糕的政治操作」。

她說:「現在日本人將很難發現新的口味和飲食文化了」。

（待續）

February's Number of Foreign Tourists in Japan Reaches Record High for February, Despite Decline in Visitors from China

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

2月の訪日外国人旅行者数 2月として過去最高 中国からは減少

2026年3月18日午後5時58分

観光

先月、日本を訪れた外国人旅行者は346万人余りと、去年の同じ月と比べて6.4％増え、2月として過去最高でした。中国からの旅行者は引き続き減少したものの、韓国や台湾からの旅行者が増え、全体を押し上げました。

日本政府観光局によりますと、先月、日本を訪れた外国人旅行者は346万6700人と、去年の同じ月と比べて6.4％増加し、2月として過去最高でした。

1月の外国人旅行者数は日中関係悪化の影響で中国からの旅行者が大幅に減ったことから、コロナ禍の2022年1月以来のマイナスでしたが、2か月ぶりに増加に転じました。

国・地域別では中国からの旅行者が例年なら春節のため伸びる時期ですが、去年の同じ月と比べて45.2％減少しました。

一方、国・地域別で旅行者数が最も多い韓国は28.2％、2番目に多い台湾は36.7％増え、全体を押し上げました。

また、前の月はマイナスだった香港も19.6％増えたほか、メキシコが42.8％、インドが22.7％それぞれ増えました。

観光庁長官 「イラン情勢の緊迫化 影響を注視」

外国人旅行者数が2か月ぶりに増加したことについて、観光庁の村田茂樹長官は「春節の時期は中国からの旅行者が通常より増える時期だがマイナスになった。しかし、全体では2月として過去最多の旅行者数となっていて好調な状況が続いている」と述べました。

そのうえで、イラン情勢の緊迫化による影響については「ヨーロッパからの訪日客が中東の空港を経由して来日する場合もあるが、大半は直行便を利用している。ただ航空燃料についても変化が見られることから、インバウンド市場全体にどのような影響があるか引き続き注視していく」と述べました。

Translation

February's Number of Foreign Tourists in Japan Reaches Record High for February, Despite Decline in Visitors from China

March 18, 2026, 5:58 PM

Tourism

Last month, over 3.46 million foreign tourists visited Japan, a 6.4% increase compared to the same month last year, marking a record high for February. While the number of tourists from China continued to decline, increases in visitors from South Korea and Taiwan boosted the overall figure.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 3,466,700 foreign tourists visited Japan last month, a 6.4% increase compared to the same month last year, being a record high for February.

The number of foreign tourists in January was down for the first time since January 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to a significant decrease in tourists from China as a result of worsening Japan-China relations. However, it had now increased for the first time after two months.

By country/region, while the number of tourists from China would usually increase during the Lunar New Year, it decreased by 45.2% compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, South Korea, which had the highest number of tourists by country/region, saw a 28.2% increase, and Taiwan, the second highest, saw a 36.7% increase, boosting the overall figures.

In addition, Hong Kong, which had seen a decrease the previous month, increased by 19.6%, while Mexico increased by 42.8% and India by 22.7%.

Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner: "We are closely monitoring the impact of the escalating tensions in Iran"

Regarding the increase in the number of foreign tourists for the first time in two months, Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Shigeki Murata (村田茂樹) stated, "While the Lunar New Year period usually sees an increase in tourists from China, this time it was a decrease. However, overall, the number of tourists in February is the highest ever, and the situation remains strong."

He further added, regarding the impact of the escalating tensions in Iran, "While some visitors from Europe arrive via airports in the Middle East, the majority use direct flights. However, since we are seeing changes in aviation fuel, we will continue to closely monitor what impact this will have on the overall inbound tourism market."

So, last month, over 3.46 million foreign tourists visited Japan, a 6.4% increase compared to the same month last year. While the number of tourists from China continued to decline, increases in visitors from South Korea and Taiwan boosted the overall figure. Apparently, the “boycott” initiated by the China is not impacting tourism in Japan.

日本貿易特使稱，日本堅持要求美國取消關稅

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Japan is sticking to demand for US to eliminate tariffs, trade envoy says

Reuters -Leika Kihara

Mon, May 19, 2025 at 7:24 p.m. PDT·2 min read

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Tuesday there was no change to Tokyo's stance of demanding an elimination of U.S. tariffs in bilateral trade negotiations.

Tokyo will not rush into clinching a trade deal if doing so risked hurting the country's interests, he said.

"The slew of U.S. tariffs including reciprocal tariffs as well as those on automobiles, car parts, steel and aluminium, are regrettable. There's no change to our stance of seeking a review, which is to say an elimination, of them," Akazawa told a regular press conference.

Akazawa said the two countries held working-level trade talks in Washington on Monday. The schedule of a third round of ministerial-level negotiations was yet to be fixed, he added.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday that Akazawa will travel to Washington this week to attend the third round of talks potentially starting on Friday.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to attend the talks, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be absent, Kyodo reported without citing sources.

On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all countries except Canada, Mexico and China, along with higher tariff rates for many big trading partners, including Japan, which faces a 24% tariff rate starting in July unless it can negotiate a deal with Washington.

Japanese policymakers and ruling party lawmakers have said they see no merit in striking a deal with the United States unless a 25% tariff on automobile imports is lifted, given the industry's economic importance.

While Japan was the first major economy to start bilateral trade talks with Washington, Britain was the first to strike a deal with the Trump administration. China and the United States also agreed to a 90-day truce in their trade war that had threatened a global recession.

With initial hope of a quick deal failing, the Nikkei newspaper reported last week that Japan may water down its demand to a reduction, rather than an elimination, of U.S. tariffs.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations has told Reuters that Japan is considering a package of proposals to gain U.S. concessions that may include increased imports of U.S. corn and soy, technical cooperation in shipbuilding, and revision to inspection standards for imported automobiles.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Tom Hogue and Shri Navaratnam)

Translation

日本貿易特使稱，日本堅持要求美國取消關稅

東京（路透社）—日本首席貿易談判代表赤澤良聖 (Ryosei Akazawa) 週二表示，東京要求在雙邊貿易談判中取消美國關稅的立場沒有改變。

他說，如果貿易協議可能會損害日本的利益，東京就不會急於達成協議。

赤澤在例行新聞發布會上表示： “美國徵收的大量關稅，包括對等關稅以及針對汽車、汽車零件、鋼鐵和鋁的關稅，令人遺憾。我們尋求重新審視的立場沒有改變，也就是說, 要取消這些關稅。”

赤澤稱，兩國週一在華盛頓舉行了工作級別的貿易會談。他補充說，第三輪部長級談判的時間表尚未確定。

日本共同社週二報道稱，赤澤本週將前往華盛頓參加可能在週五開始的第三輪會談。

共同社在未引述消息來源之下稱，美國貿易代表 Jamieson Greer 預計將出席此次會談，而財政部長貝森特將缺席。

4月2日，美國總統特朗普對除加拿大、墨西哥和中國以外的所有國家徵收10%的關稅，同時對包括日本在內的許多主要貿易夥伴提高關稅稅率，即從7月開始面臨24%的關稅稅率, 除非能與華盛頓達成協議。

日本政策制定者和執政黨議員表示，鑑於汽車產業的經濟重要性，他們認為除非取消 25% 的汽車進口關稅，否則與美國達成協議毫無意義。

日本是第一個與華盛頓展開雙邊貿易談判的主要經濟體，而英國則是第一個與特朗普政府達成協議的國家。中國和美國也同意就威脅全球經濟衰退的貿易戰實行為期 90 天的休戰。

日本由於最初希望快速達成協議的願望落空，《日經新聞》上週報道稱，它可能會降低其要求，即是降低美國關稅而不是取消它。

一位了解談判情況的消息人士告訴路透社，日本正在考慮一攬子提議以獲得美國的讓步，其中可能包括增加美國玉米和大豆的進口、造船方面的技術合作以及修改檢驗進口汽車的標準。

So, while Japan's stance is to demand an elimination of U.S. tariffs in bilateral trade negotiations, a source with knowledge of the negotiations has said that Japan is considering a package of proposals to gain U.S. concessions that may include increased imports of U.S. agricultural products, technical cooperation in shipbuilding, and revision to inspection standards for imported automobiles. Apparently, Japan is an important US ally in Asia, I am interested in knowing how the future agreement will look like.

Japanese government agencies warned about generative AI developed by China's Deepseek

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国「ディープシーク」開発の生成AI 日本政府機関に注意喚起

2025年2月6日 20時07分

中国の「ディープシーク」が開発した生成AIについて、政府は利用のリスクを十分認識する必要があるとして、政府機関などに対し、利用するかどうかは、内閣官房などの専門部署に助言を求めた上で判断するよう注意喚起しました。

中国のスタートアップ企業「ディープシーク」が開発した生成AIをめぐっては、政府の個人情報保護委員会が個人情報などのデータには中国の法令が適用されるとして利用には留意が必要だとする見解を公表しています。

これを踏まえて政府のデジタル社会推進会議幹事会は6日、サービスの利用によって生じるリスクを十分認識する必要があるとして、政府機関などに対し、利用するかどうかは内閣官房の「内閣サイバーセキュリティセンター」やデジタル庁に助言を求めた上で判断するよう文書で注意喚起しました。

林官房長官は記者会見で「政府の対応方針を徹底する観点から文書を出した。AIに関する諸課題については引き続き関係省庁や専門機関が連携し情報収集などを行っていく」と述べました。

Translation

Japanese government agencies warned about generative AI developed by China's Deepseek

The government had warned government agencies and other entities to seek advice from specialized departments such as the Cabinet Secretariat before deciding whether to use generative AI developed by China's Deepseek, stating that it was necessary to be fully aware of the risks of using it.

Regarding generative AI developed by Chinese startup Deepseek, the government's Personal Information Protection Commission had published its opinion that personal information and other data were subject to Chinese laws and regulations and caution was required when using it.

In light of this, the government's Digital Society Promotion Council Steering Committee on the 6^th issued a warning in writing to government agencies and other entities to seek advice from the Cabinet Secretariat's “Cyber ​​Security Center” and the Digital Agency before deciding whether to use the service, stating that it was necessary to be fully aware of the risks associated with using the service.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said at a press conference that "We issued the document with the aim of thoroughly implementing the government's response policy. Relevant ministries and specialized agencies will work together to continue to collect information on various issues related to AI."

So, the Japanese government has warned government agencies and other entities to seek advice from specialized departments before deciding whether to use generative AI developed by China's Deepseek. Apparently, the government worries that sensitive information can be leaked out to China after using Deepseek.

Inappropriate remarks made on NHK radio international broadcasts etc. and on issues about Senkaku Islands

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

NHK ラジオ国際放送などで不適切発言 尖閣諸島などで

2024年8月19日 21時51分

19日午後、NHKのラジオ国際放送などの中国語ニュースの中で、原稿を読んでいた中国籍の外部スタッフが、沖縄県の尖閣諸島などについて、原稿にはない不適切な発言を行いました。NHKは、このスタッフと業務委託契約を結んでいる関連団体を通じて本人に厳重に抗議しました。また関連団体は、本人との契約を解除する方針です。

19日午後1時すぎから、NHKの短波ラジオなどの国際放送とラジオ第2放送で伝えた中国語のニュースの中で、日本語の原稿を翻訳して読んでいた外部スタッフが、ニュースを伝えたあとに、沖縄県の尖閣諸島について、中国の領土であると述べるなど、原稿にはない不適切な発言を行いました。

このスタッフは、NHKの関連団体が業務委託契約を結んでいる中国籍の40代の男性で、日本語の原稿を中国語に翻訳してラジオで読み上げる業務を担当しています。

NHKは関連団体を通じて本人に厳重に抗議しました。

また関連団体は本人との契約を解除する方針です。

NHKは「ニュースとは無関係の発言が放送されたことは不適切であり、深くお詫び申し上げます。再発防止策を徹底します」とコメントしています。

Translation

On the afternoon of the 19th, during Chinese news on NHK radio international broadcasts, etc., a Chinese external staff member who was reading the script made inappropriate remarks about the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, etc., that were not in the script. NHK had strongly protested to this staff through the related organization the contract for outsourcing. This related organization also planned to terminate the contract with this staff member.

From just after 1:00 p.m. on the 19th, during Chinese news broadcasts on NHK's international broadcasts such as shortwave radio and Radio 2, an external staff member who translated and read the Japanese script made inappropriate remarks that were not in this script, such as stating that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture were Chinese territory, after reporting the news.

This staff member was a Chinese man in his 40s with whom an NHK related organization had an outsourcing contract, and was responsible for translating Japanese scripts into Chinese and reading them on the radio.

NHK had strongly protested to this staff through the related organization.

Additionally, this related organizations planned to terminate the contracts with the person in question.

NHK commented, "It was inappropriate to broadcast remarks that were unrelated to the news, and we deeply apologize. We will take thorough measures to prevent recurrence."

              So, a Chinese contract staff who was responsible to translate and read the Japanese script for NHK radio broadcasting, made some politically incorrect remarks after reporting the news. This is an interesting incident and I am wondering what has motived this Chinese employee to do this, may be out of patriotism?

製造飛機的突破如何拯救了日本航空火球中379 人的生命

Recently Yahoo news reported the following:

How aeroplane breakthroughs may have saved 379 lives from the Japan Airlines fireball

The Telegraph - Matt Oliver

Tue, January 2, 2024 at 10:02 a.m. PST

The evacuation of every passenger from the Japan Airlines aircraft that collided with a smaller plane on Tuesday seemed all the more miraculous as footage of the ensuing inferno emerged.

However, instead of being down to luck, industry insiders believe the incident is proof of how modern materials and tough fire safety rules can protect passengers.

The incident at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, marks the first time an Airbus A350 has been destroyed in an accident.

The model is the first of the manufacturer’s passenger jets to be built largely from carbon fibre composites.

“It’s a watershed event in aviation safety,” says Andreas Spaeth, an aviation journalist and co-host of a podcast that examines historic plane crashes.

“This was an aircraft that was absolutely full. So to see that everyone escaped safely is a miracle.

“Even then, it was a fairly long time before a big fire emerged. We have never seen a fuselage made of carbon fibre burn. And the structure held up pretty well.”

The twin-engine, double-aisle A350 has been in commercial service since 2015. It is used by several international carriers for long-haul journeys, with more than 570 in operation globally, according to Airbus.

Japan Airlines operates around 16 of the shorter, A350-900 planes.

Airbus says the A350 family uses “lightweight and high-strength materials” to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency. These carbon fiber composites make up to 54pc of the overall frame, including the wings, reinforced by titanium and other metallic alloys.

Like all aircraft, these materials also need to meet tough safety standards that give passengers 90 seconds to escape in the event of a fire.

The A350 involved in Tuesday’s collision came in to land at Haneda Airport at about 5.45pm local time, before colliding with the coast guard plane just as it was touching down.

At that moment, the footage shows a large, bright orange flash.

The A350 then continues to skid forward, with fire and smoke billowing from behind it, before coming to a stop bent forward and resting on its nose.

Five people onboard the coastguard plane were killed in the collision.

Separate footage of the incident has shown smoke filling the cabin and passengers escaping via the inflatable slides extended from the sides of the plane, while the orange glow of fire can be seen underneath at least one of the wings.

“This was the very first crash or burn-up ever of a new carbon fiber aircraft type,” explains Spaeth.

“There’s the Boeing 787 and there’s the A350 being built of carbon fiber instead of aluminium. The inside also has the newest materials for seat covers, for wall covers, for carpets, all these things.

“We have very stringent standards these days and, of course, normally you’d never see in real life how these materials actually behave in a big fire, so this was very much a confirmation that the standards actually do what they’re supposed to do, delaying the spread of fire.

“We saw many cases in the 1980s and the 90s where once an aircraft was affected by fire, it almost always spread very quickly.

“But if you watch today, it took a surprisingly long time before the whole plane was on fire.”

Jan-Arwed Richter, founder and manager of the JACDEC Flight Safety Bureau in Germany, agrees: “Every modern-day aircraft is designed, manufactured and certified to allow a safe evacuation within 90 seconds. Today’s accident proved this concept does work.”

Steve Ganyard, a former fighter pilot for the US Marine Corps and aviation expert, added on ABC News: “I think this is going to come down to human error. The airplane did its job here.”

Many experts have also credited cabin crew on board the Japan Airlines flight for getting passengers out quickly, without taking bags.

Dai Whittingham, chief executive of the UK Flight Safety Committee, told Sky News: “It is a remarkable outcome and I think there are some people out there who have been particularly lucky today.

“The message here is really important: If anything like this happens to you, you have a chance and one priority, which is to get yourself off.”

Translation

在週二日本航空公司的飛機與一架較小的飛機相撞，隨著之後出現所發生的熊熊大火的鏡頭，令能使所有乘客撤離是不可思議地神奇。

然而，業內人士認為，這起事件並不是運氣，而是證明現代材料和嚴格的消防安全規則如何可保護乘客。

東京羽田機場發生的事件標誌著空中巴士 A350 飛機首次在意外中被摧毀。

該型號是該製造商第一架主要由碳纖維複合材料製造的客機。

航空記者 Andreas Spaeth，也是一個探討歷史性空難事件的播客的聯合主持人說道: 「這是航空安全領域的一個分水嶺」。

“這是一架絕對滿座員飛機。 所以看到大家都可安全逃離是一個奇蹟。”

“即便如此，大火還是過了相當長的一段時間才出現。 我們從未見過碳纖維製成的機身燃燒。 而且結構支撑得很好。”

有雙引擎、雙通道的 A350 自 2015 年起投入商業營運。據空中巴士稱，多家國際航空公司使用該機型進行長途旅行，全球營運的飛機數量超過 570 架。

日本航空營運約 16 架較短的 A350-900 飛機。

空中巴士公司表示，A350系列使用「輕質高強度材料」來減輕重量並提高燃油效率。 這些碳纖維複合材料佔整個框架的 54%，包括機翼，並由鈦和其他金屬合金加固。

與所有飛機一樣，這些材料也需要滿足嚴格的安全標準，讓乘客在發生火災時有 90 秒的時間逃生。

週二發生碰撞事件的這架 A350 於當地時間下午 5 點 45 分左右在羽田機場降落，隨後當正在著陸時與海岸防衛隊飛機相撞。

就在那一刻，鏡頭顯示出巨大的、明亮的橙色閃光。

然後，A350 繼續向前滑行，身後冒出火焰和滾滾濃煙，然後向前彎低停了下來，機頭著地。

海岸防衛隊飛機上有五人在碰撞中喪生。

事件的另一影像顯示，煙霧充滿了機艙，乘客透過從飛機兩側延伸的充氣滑梯逃生，而至少一個機翼下方可以看到橙色的火光。

Spaeth 解釋道: 「這是新型碳纖維飛機的首次墜毀或燒毀事件」。

「波音 787 和 A350 都是用碳纖維而不是鋁製造的。 裡面還有用最新材料造的座椅套、牆布、地毯等」。

「現在我們有非常嚴格的標準，當然，通常你在現實生活中永遠不會看到這些材料在大火中的實際表現，所以這在很大程度上證實了這些標準實際上達到了預期的效果，延緩火勢蔓延」。

 「我們在 20 世紀 80 年代和 90 年代看到過很多案例，飛機一旦起火，幾乎總是會迅速蔓延」。

「但如果你今天看的話，會發現令人驚訝要用很長一段時間，整架飛機才著火」。

德國 JACDEC 飛行安全局的創始人兼經理 Jan-Arwed Richter 對此表示同意：「每架現代飛機的設計、製造和認證都是為了在 90 秒內實現安全疏散。 今天的事故證明這個想法確實可行」。

美國海軍陸戰隊前戰鬥機飛行員兼航空專家 Steve Ganyard 在美國廣播公司新聞中補充道：「我認為這碰撞將歸類為人為錯誤。 飛機在這裡完成了它的任務。”

許多專家也稱讚日本航空航班上的機組人員在乘客沒有攜帶行李的情況下迅速將他們從飛機徹離。

英國飛行安全委員會執行長 Dai Whittingham 告訴天空新聞：「這是一個了不起的結果，我認為今天有些人特別幸運」。

「這裡傳達的訊息非常重要：如果類似的事情發生在你身上，你有一個機會，一個優先事項，那就是讓自己離開」。

      So, the evacuation of all passengers from the Japan Airlines aircraft that collided with a smaller plane on Tuesday seemed all the more miraculous. However, instead of being lucky, aircraft industry insiders believe the incident is proof of how modern materials and tough fire safety rules can protect passengers. Many experts also have credited cabin crew on board the airplane in getting passengers out quickly. Well done Airbus and Japan Airlines.

About 100,000 servings of scallops to be provided free for school lunch due to import suspension – Morimachi of Hokkaido (2/2)

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ホタテ約10万食分 給食に無償提供へ 輸入停止で 北海道 森町 (2/2)

2023年9月22日 19時05分

(continue)

保管場所なくなる懸念も

北海道森町の水産加工会社「カネキチ澤田水産」では、中国に輸出する予定だった冷凍のホタテおよそ50トンが冷凍庫に保管されたままで、来月にも加工した冷凍ホタテを保管する場所がなくなる懸念も出てきているということです。

この水産加工会社の澤田光社長は「年間でおよそ10億円分のホタテを中国向けに輸出していました。輸出できないと相当厳しく、ことしは電気代も上がっているので大変です」と話しています。

さらに、中国への輸出ができなくなった分、国内でホタテの流通量が増え、この1か月で市場の価格が下がっているということで、澤田社長は「ホタテを消費者に届けていくという使命感を持っています。工場で働く従業員の生活もあるので、なんとか危機を乗り越えたい」と話していました。

6年前からホタテの特別給食を提供

ホタテの養殖が盛んな北海道森町では、6年前から子どもたちに地元の水産業について興味を持ってもらおうと、小学校や中学校などでホタテをメニューに入れた特別給食を提供しています。

提供されるのは年2回ほどで、来月13日にもホタテの給食がふるまわれる予定だということです。

町が今回、ホタテおよそ10万食分を全国の学校給食に無償で提供する方針を固めたことについて、町の学校に給食を届けている「森町学校給食センター」の石岡丈宜センター長は「全国の子どもたちにぜひホタテをおいしく食べてもらいたい」と話していました。

森町岡嶋町長「影響計り知れない」

北海道森町の岡嶋康輔町長は、22日、中国への輸出ができなくなった地元の水産加工会社を訪れ、現状の聞き取りなどを行いました。

この中で、水産加工会社の澤田光社長は岡嶋町長に対し「水産業は森町の基幹産業で、今回の中国の禁輸措置の影響は計り知れない」などと訴えました。

これに対し、岡嶋町長は、輸出できずに冷凍庫で保管されたままになっている大量のホタテを全国の学校給食に無償で提供する方針を固めたことを伝え、「品質のよい北海道のホタテの価値を世界中に発信していきたい」などと話していました。

聞き取りを終えた岡嶋町長は「国の基金を活用し、ホタテの販路を拡大していくことも視野に入れていますが、まずは全国の子どもたちが給食を通してホタテに親しみを持ってくれたらうれしいです」と話していました。

Translation

(continue)

Concerns about running out of storage space

At Kanekichi Sawada Fisheries, a seafood processing company in Morimachi of Hokkaido, approximately 50 tons of frozen scallops that were scheduled to be exported to China were still stored in the freezer, and there were concerns that there could be no place to store the processed frozen scallops next month.

The president of this seafood processing company, Hikaru Sawada, said, ``We used to export about 1-billion-yen worth of scallops to China every year. If we can't export them, it's going to be very difficult,  our electricity bills are going up this year, so it's going to be tough.''

Furthermore, since exports to China were no longer possible, the amount of scallops distributed domestically had increased, and market prices fell over the past month. "We have a sense of mission to deliver scallops to consumers. The employees working at the factory have a livelihood, so I want to somehow overcome this crisis."

We have been offering special school lunches of scallops for the past 6 years

For the past six years Morimachi in Hokkaido, where scallop farming was popular, had been offering special school lunches with scallops on the menu to elementary and junior high schools in an effort to get children interested in the local fishing industry.

It only offered up to twice a year, and it was said that a school lunch of scallops could be served on the 13th of next month.

This time, regarding the town's decision to provide approximately 100,000 scallops for free to school lunches nationwide, Takeyoshi Ishioka the director of the Morimachi School Lunch Center which delivered school lunches to schools in the town said “I want children all over the country to enjoy scallops."

Morimachi Mayor Okajima: ``The impact is immeasurable.''

On the 22nd, Mayor Kosuke Okajima of Morimachi in Hokkaido visited a local seafood processing company that was no longer able to export to China and conducted interviews about the current situation etc.

In the meeting, Hikaru Sawada the president of a seafood processing company appealed to Mayor Okashima to say that ``Fisheries are Mori Town's core industry, and the impact of this Chinese embargo is immeasurable.''

In response, Mayor Okajima announced that they had decided to provide free scallops for school lunches across the country, including large quantities of scallops that could not be exported and being stored in freezers. He said among other things that " I want to spread the value of high-quality Hokkaido scallops to the world."

After the interview, Mayor Okashima said, ``We are considering using national funds to expand the sales channels for scallops, but first we would be happy if children all over the country become familiar with scallops through school lunches.''

              So, China’s measures to completely suspend imports of Japanese marine products have severely impacted the fisheries in many areas in Japan. One of them is Mori-machi of Hokkaido where scallop farming is popular. In response, a policy has been decided to provide free scallop to school as lunches across the country up to about 100,000 servings. I always suspect that China’s suspension to import Japanese marine products is politically motivated.

Aichi Prefectural Police Chief after drinking with his subordinate for a long time is transferred for inappropriate behavior

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

署長が部下と長時間飲酒 泥酔させ不適切行動で異動 愛知県警

2023年9月15日 22時05分

愛知県の警察署の57歳の署長が15日未明、署長官舎で女性警察官を含む部下の複数の警察官と飲酒し、一部が泥酔状態となって110番通報される騒ぎがありました。

愛知県警察本部は、署長を15日付けで異動させ、今後、聞き取りを進めて詳しいいきさつを調べることにしています。

愛知県警によりますと、15日午前2時ごろ、港警察署の署長官舎で「女性警察官がもめごとにあっているようだ」という内容の110番通報がありました。

警察官が駆けつけたところ、署長官舎では、57歳の署長と、部下の複数の警察官が飲酒をして、一部が泥酔状態だったということです。

署長たちは14日の午後6時ごろから港区内の飲食店で飲食をし、午後11時半ごろからは、署長と、20代と40代の男性警察官、それに、20代の女性警察官の4人で署長官舎に移動し、飲酒を続けていたということです。

県警は、部下の複数の警察官が15日は勤務だったにもかかわらず、長時間にわたって一緒に飲酒し、泥酔させたことは不適切な行動だとして、15日付けで署長を異動させました。

今後、聞き取りを進め、詳しいいきさつを調べることにしています。

Translation

In the early hours of the 15th, a 57-year-old chief of a police station in Aichi Prefecture drank alcohol with several subordinate police officers at his office, including a female police officer; some of them became so drunk that there was a commotion and someone called 110.

The Aichi Prefectural Police Headquarters transferred the chief as of the 15th, and planned to continue conducting interviews to find out more details.

According to the Aichi Prefectural Police, a 110 call was received at around 2 a.m. on the 15th stating “it seems that a female police officer was in trouble” at the chief's official residence of the Harbour Police Station.

When police officers arrived, they found that the 57-year-old police chief and several of his subordinate officers had been drinking alcohol, some of them were said to be in a drunken state.

The chief and others ate at a restaurant in Harbor Ward from around 6pm on the 14th, and from around 11:30pm, the chief with two male police officers respectively in their 20s and 40s, and a female police officer in her 20s, in total four officers moved to the chief's office to continue drinking alcohol.

The prefectural police department transferred the police chief on the 15th, as it was an inappropriate behavior to drink together with multiple police officers under his command for a long period of time on the 15th, causing them to become drunk even though they were on duty.

After that, interviews would continue be conducted to find out more details.

              So, a chief of a police station was found drinking alcohol with several subordinate police officers, including a female police officer, while on duty. This is quite surprising to me because in my mind Japanese police are usually following strict discipline.

In China a Japanese male indicted - detained on suspicion of spying

Recently NHK news on-line reported the following:

中国で日本人男性起訴 スパイ行為などとみられる疑いで拘束

2023年8月30日 22時52分

中国の上海でおととし、当局にスパイ行為などとみられる疑いで拘束され、その後逮捕された日本人男性が8月、起訴されたことがわかりました。

起訴されたのは、おととし12月、中国の上海で拘束され、当時、スパイ行為などの疑いが持たれたとみられていた50代の日本人男性です。

男性は去年6月に逮捕され、上海にある日本総領事館が8月中旬に起訴されたことを確認したということです。

当局による手続きが進められたことになりますが、日本政府関係者によりますと、中国側は今回、起訴された具体的な内容について明らかにしていないということです。

中国では2014年に「反スパイ法」が施行されて以降、日本人がスパイ行為に関わったなどとして当局に拘束されるケースが相次いでいて、日本政府関係者によりますと、これまでに少なくとも17人が拘束されているということです。

このうち、9人が中国の裁判で実刑判決となり服役しましたが、裁判は非公開で、中国側はどのような行為が法律に違反したのか明らかにしていません。

Translation

It was understood that a Japanese male who was detained by the authorities on suspicion of spying and  subsequently arrested in Shanghai of China two years ago was indicted in August.

In Shanghai of China in December two years ago, a Japanese male in his 50s who was detained at the time for suspicion of being a spy was indicted.

The man was arrested in June last year, and the Japanese consulate general in Shanghai confirmed that he was indicted in mid-August.

While this meant that the authorities were proceeding with the procedure, according to Japanese government officials, the Chinese side had not disclosed the specifics of the indictment.

Since the anti-espionage law came into force in China in 2014, there had been a series of cases in which Japanese nationals were detained by the authorities for being involved in espionage. According to Japanese government officials, at least 17 people had been detained so far.

Of these, nine were sentenced to prison in a Chinese trial, but the trial was closed to the public, and the Chinese side did not disclose what actions had violated the law.

So,  a male Japanese who was detained on suspicion of spying was indicted in August. Since the anti-espionage law came into force in China in 2014 least 17 Japanese have been detained. Of these, nine were sentenced to prison in a Chinese trial, but the trial was closed to the public. The transparency of China’s legal system and its anti-espionage law is always a concern to foreigners.

Microsoft to switch its generative AI business base to Japan

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

マイクロソフト 生成AIの事業 拠点を日本国内に切り替えへ

2023年7月27日 19時10分

マイクロソフトは、自動で文章などを作る生成AIの事業で、データセンターの拠点をすべて日本国内に切り替え、情報管理の強化を進める方針を明らかにしました。

マイクロソフトは、企業向けなどの生成AIの事業を手がけていて、AIの機能を担うデータセンターの拠点は、アメリカと欧州に置かれていました。

発表によりますと、会社は、東日本にあるデータセンターを拡充し、AIの機能を新たに日本国内に置くということです。

生成AIをめぐっては、データセンターの拠点が海外にあることで機密性や重要性の高い情報管理に対する懸念が指摘されています。

会社は、生成AIの事業ですべてのデータのやりとりを日本国内で行うことで、情報管理の強化につながるとしています。

また、生成AIの事業の拡大に合わせて、今後、西日本にあるデータセンターの拡充も検討していくとしています。

生成AIの情報管理をめぐっては、NECも日本国内にあるデータセンターを使ったサービスを今月から始めるなど、強化に向けた動きが相次いでいます。

平井元デジタル相「有力な選択肢が増える」

自民党のデジタル社会推進本部は27日、党本部でAIの活用に関する作業チームの会合を開き、マイクロソフト側から新たな方針について説明を受けました。

このあと推進本部の本部長を務める平井 元デジタル大臣は記者会見で「世界各国で研究開発がどんどん進んでおり、日本でも環境を与えるという意味では有力な選択肢が増えることになる」と述べました。

また作業チームの座長を務める平将明 衆議院議員は「データセンターが海外にあるとセキュリティーの問題などが出てくるので、国内に拠点が整備されることは懸念の一つを解消する重要な提案だ」と評価しました。

Translation

Microsoft had announced a policy to switch all data center bases to Japan and strengthen information management in its generative AI business that could automatically create articles.

Microsoft had been engaged in the business of generative AI for companies, etc., and the bases of the data centers responsible for AI functions were in the United States and Europe.

According to the announcement, the company would expand its data center in eastern Japan and for the first-time placing AI functions in Japan.

Regarding generative AI, concerns had been pointed out about the management of highly confidential and important information because data centers were located overseas.

The company said that as all data exchanges in the generative AI business would be conducted in Japan, this could lead to stronger information management.

In addition, in line with the expansion of the generative AI business, in the future expanding the data center in western Japan would be considered.

Regarding the information management of generative AI, such as NEC starting a service using a data center in Japan from this month, there were a series of strengthening movement.

Former Digital Minister Hirai - ``There will be more prominent​ options''

The Liberal Democratic Party's Digital Society Promotion Headquarters held a working team meeting on the use of AI at the party headquarters on the 27th, and received an explanation from Microsoft on the new policy.

After this, former Digital Minister Hirai, who was the head of the Promotion Headquarters, said at a press conference, ``R&D is progressing rapidly in countries around the world, and in terms of providing an environment in Japan, there will be more prominent​ options.''

Masaaki Taira (平将明), a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the work team, judged that "When data centers are located overseas, problems such as security arise, so establishing a base in Japan is an important proposal to resolve one of these concerns."

              So, Microsoft has announced a policy to switch all data center bases to Japan. The company also says that all data exchanges in the generative AI business will be conducted in Japan. I am wondering what are the attractions for Microsoft to choose Japan as a new location.

ICC Japanese Judge who issued Arrest Warrant for Putin and others was on Russia Wanted list

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ICC日本人裁判官をロシアが指名手配 プーチン大統領らに逮捕状

2023年7月27日 17時10分

ロシア政府が戦争犯罪の疑いでプーチン大統領などに逮捕状を出したICC＝国際刑事裁判所の日本人裁判官を指名手配したとロシアの国営通信社が伝えました。

ロシアの国営通信社は27日、ロシア内務省の指名手配リストにICCの赤根智子裁判官が掲載されたと伝えました。

具体的にどのような容疑で指名手配したのかは明らかになっていませんが、ICCはことし3月、ロシアがウクライナの占領地域から子どもたちをロシア側に移送したことをめぐり、国際法上の戦争犯罪の疑いでプーチン大統領など2人に逮捕状を出しました。

これに対しロシアの連邦捜査委員会は、3月、赤根裁判官を含む4人に対して刑事手続きを開始し、これまでに主任検察官らを本人不在のまま起訴したと発表していました。

8月、南アフリカではBRICS＝新興5か国の首脳会議が開かれ、プーチン大統領は対面での出席を見送ることを決めています。

南アフリカはICCの加盟国でプーチン大統領を拘束して引き渡す義務があることから、ロシア側の対応が注目されていました。

松野官房長官「ICCとも連携し適切に対処」

松野官房長官は午後の記者会見で「わが国としては本件をめぐってICC＝国際刑事裁判所の関係者個人に対して措置を取ることは不当であると考えており、ICCとも連携し適切に対処していく」と述べました。

Translation

A Russian state news agency reported that the Russian government had issued an arrest warrant for a Japanese judge of the ICC = International Criminal Court that had issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and others on suspicion of war crimes.

The Russian state news agency reported on the 27th that ICC Judge Tomoko Akane (赤根智子)was placed on the Russian Interior Ministry's wanted list.

It was not clear on what specific suspicions were based in issuing the warrant, but the ICC announced in March this year that Russia had transferred children from the occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia, under international law arrest warrants were issued for two people, including President Putin, on suspicion of war crimes.

In response, Russia's Federal Investigative Committee announced in March that it had begun criminal proceedings against four people, including Judge Akane, and had so far indicted the chief prosecutors in absentia.

In August, the BRICS = summit meeting of five emerging countries was held in South Africa, and President Putin decided to postpone face-to-face attendance.

South Africa was a member of the ICC and obliged to detain and hand over President Putin, so Russia's response has attracted attention.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno (松野)-"To cooperate with the ICC to handle appropriately"

At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "Japan believes that it is unjust to take measures against individuals involved in the ICC (International Criminal Court) over this matter, and we will work with the ICC to deal with it appropriately. '

So, Russian government has issued an arrest warrant for a Japanese judge of the ICC who has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and others on suspicion of war crimes. I agree with Japan that it is unjust for Russia to take measures against individuals involved a decision of ICC as an organization.