日本發明超薄透明紙

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

王子ホールディングス（ＨＤ）は１８日、極めて細くした植物繊維を原料に使って「透明な紙」を作るのに成功したと発表した。

　タブレット型多機能端末の画面に活用することができて、「電子新聞を丸めてポケットに入れる」（同社幹部）ことも可能になるという。通常の紙と同様、軽量で、何重にも折りたたむこともできる。

　髪の毛の２万分の１程度に細くした植物繊維「セルロースナノファイバー」を、特殊な技術を使ってシート状にした。ガラス繊維などで作る同様の商品に比べて割れにくく、再利用できるなどのメリットがある。３年後をめどに商品化を目指している。

（2013年3月18日21時15分 読売新聞）

 

(試譯文)

Prince Holdings (HD) announced on the 18th that they had succeeded in using very fine vegetable fiber materials to make "transparent paper".

It was possible that it could be flexibly used for the screen of the multifunction terminal type tablets, (the company's management) made reference to it as creating a possibility that "an electronic newspaper is wrapped into a pocket". Like the ordinary paper, it was lightweight and could also be folded many times.

The vegetable fiber "cellulose nanofiber" was as small as up to about 1/20,000 of a hair and was made into the shape of a sheet, using some special technology. Compared with the goods similarly made from glass fiber etc. it had the merit of being difficult to break and able to be reused. Its commercialization was aimed at within the limit of three-year from now.

It is a new invention. In future the manufacturing of i-pad and i-phone etc. would probably be benefited from this new technology.

北朝鮮警告日本是先制攻撃目標

Yesterday the NHK News on-line reported the following;

北朝鮮 日本も核攻撃の例外でない

3月17日 18時40分

北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党の機関紙は、「日本も、わが軍の核兵器による先制攻撃の例外ではない」として、３回目の核実験を強行した北朝鮮に対する独自の制裁措置を強化している日本政府をけん制しました。

北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党の機関紙「労働新聞」は１７日、北朝鮮による３回目の核実験に対する日本政府の姿勢について論評を掲載し、「安倍総理大臣は、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議に関連して、『各国が義務を順守することが重要だ』と言い散らしている」などと非難しました。
そのうえで、「わが軍は、アメリカが核戦争の導火線に火をつけるなら、侵略者たちの本拠地に対して核兵器で先制攻撃する権利を行使することになる。日本も決して例外ではない」と警告しました。先月の核実験によって原子爆弾の小型化や軽量化に成功したと主張している北朝鮮は、日本のほぼ全域を射程に収める中距離弾道ミサイル「ノドン」を、およそ２００基、実戦配備しているとみられています。
日本政府がアメリカなどと連携して北朝鮮に対する独自の制裁措置を強化していることに、北朝鮮は強く反発しており、１７日の論評も核ミサイルによる先制攻撃も辞さない姿勢を示すことで、日本側をけん制するねらいがあるとみられます。

(試譯文)

The bulletin of the “Korean Workers Party of North Korea” gave a warning to the Japanese government which had strengthened the original sanction against North Korea when the latter stubbornly carried out  the 3rd nuclear test, saying that "Japan also is not an exception to the pre-emptive strike by the nuclear weapon of my army".

The bulletin "Rodong Shinmun" of the Korean Workers Party of North Korea published the comment on the 17th about the posture of the Japanese government towards the 3rd nuclear test by North Korea. It blamed "Prime Minister Abe, in relation to the sanction resolution of the U.N. Security Council, spread the words that ‘It is important that each country should observe the duty’ etc."

Moreover it gave the warning that "if the American lights up the fuse of a nuclear war, my army will exercise the right against it and carries out a pre-emptive strike with nuclear weapons to aggressors' headquarters, and also warns that Japan is no exception to the strike". North Korea was claiming its success in the miniaturization and weight saving of the atomic bomb through the nuclear test carried out last month. It was expected that about 200 intermediate range ballistic missiles "No Dong" were put into battle disposition which would put almost the whole region of Japan within the range.

Regarding the matter that the Japanese government cooperated with the United States and others in strengthening the original sanction against North Korea, North Korea reacted strongly. The comments on the 17th showed the posture of not hesitated in carrying a pre-emptive strike by nuclear missiles, and it was expected that the aim was to check Japan.

I am wondering which country would be on the Korea’ exception list, China? Russia?

日本音楽著作権協会希望檢討著作権保護期

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

日本音楽著作権協会（ＪＡＳＲＡＣ）の都倉俊一会長らは２５日、外務省を訪れ、海外１５か国の音楽作品などの著作権保護期間を、主として約１０年間延長している現行ルールの見直しを各国に働きかけるよう、岸田外相に要請した。

　著作権法は、著作権保護期間を作者の死後５０年間と定め、その間は著作権料が発生する。これに対し、英米仏やブラジル、オランダなど第２次世界大戦の戦勝国の作品については、日本が戦後の独立を回復した１９５２年のサンフランシスコ講和条約により、交戦状態にあった期間の分、著作権を長く保護する「戦時加算」が義務づけられている。戦時加算の期間は国や著作権取得時期によって異なる。

　日本の映画などでもしばしば使用される「星に願いを」の場合、米国の作曲家のレイ・ハーラインは１９６９年に死亡しており、著作権法に従えば２０１９年中に著作権保護期間は終了する。しかし、戦時加算により約１０年（３７９４日）延長され、終了時期は３０年５月まで延びる。

（2013年2月26日00時28分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 25th (February) Chairman Toshikazu Tokura of the Japanese Society of Rights of Authors and Composers (JASRAC) together with others visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; they requested Foreign Minister Kishida to re-examine the present rule in 15 overseas countries on musical composition etc. regarding the extended copyright protection period, mainly about the ten-year extension; and to encourage a review of this rule in these countries.

   The Copyright Act fixed the copyright protection period at 50 years after the author's death, and a royalty was levied in that period. In respect of the work generated in the World War II victorious countries such as the British, American, France, Brazil, and the Netherlands, according to the Peace Treaty signed in San Francisco in 1952 through which Japan regained its postwar independence, a "war addition" responsibility was imposed on Japan which would extend the copyright protection period to compensate for the time when the state of war existed. The time period of this “war addition” and the acquisition time of the copyright varied among these countries.

   In the case of "When You Make a Wish upon a Star" which often used in Japanese movies etc, the American composer Leigh Harline had died in 1969. If the Copyright Act was to be followed, the copyright protection period would be ended by the end of 2019. However, it would be extended by “war addition” for about ten years (3794 days), and the ending time would be extended to May, 2030.

It is a legacy of the WWII. It is also an interesting copyright topic between Japan and the Allied countries.

中国本土人口比前年増加６６９万

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following;

中国各紙は２３日、国家統計局が公表した２０１２年の「国民経済と社会発展統計」で、昨年末の中国本土（香港、マカオを除く）の人口が前年比６６９万人増の１３億５４０４万人であることがわかったと報じた。

　労働人口（１５～５９歳）は前年比３４５万人減の９億３７２７万人、６０歳以上の高齢者は総人口比１４・３％の１億９３９０万人に達し、一人っ子政策の影響による少子高齢化の進行を裏付けた。

（2013年2月23日20時27分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

  The Chinese newspapers on 23rd (February), regarding "the national economy and social development statistics" of 2012 which the Office for National Statistics had released, reported that the population in mainland China at the end of last year (except for Hong Kong and Macao) was 1,354,040,000 people, being an increase of 6,690,000 people compared with last year.

  Labor force (15 to 59 years old) amounted to 937,270,000 people, being a decrease of 3,450,000 people compared with last year; the number of elderly people aged 60 and over was 193,900,000, amounted to14.3% of the overall population. It confirmed the continuation of low birthrate and aging in the country under the influence of the one-child policy.

The labor force in China is shrinking gradually. Perhaps it is time for China to review its one-child policy.

日本探索新一代能源

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

次世代のエネルギーとして注目されている、海底の「メタンハイドレート」から、ガスを生産する実験が愛知県の沖合で始まり、生産が確認された。
愛知県の渥美半島沖では、12日午前5時40分ごろ、メタンハイドレートからガスを生産する実験が始まり、午前9時半ごろ生産が確認された。
海底のメタンハイドレートからのガス生産実験は、世界でも初めてで、資源エネルギー庁は、今後2週間にわたって生産実験を行い、実用化に向けて検討することにしている。
メタンハイドレートは、メタンガスと水が結晶化した物質で、日本近海には、国内の天然ガス消費量のおよそ100年分に相当する量が埋蔵されているとみられている。

(03/12 14:03)

(試譯文)

Production was confirmed with regard to the experiment to produce "methane hydrate" gas from under the ocean in the offing near the Aichi Prefecture; it had attracted attention as the next-generation energy.

In the offing of the Atsumi peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, at around 5:40 a.m. on the 12th, the experiment to produce gas from methane hydrate had begun, and production was confirmed at around 9:30 a.m.

It was the first time in the world to do experiments to produce gas from methane hydrate at the ocean floor. The Agency of Natural Resources and Energy would conduct a production experiment within two weeks from now, and it would inquire into the practical aspects.

Methane hydrate was the substance produced when methane and water crystallized, and it was expected that in Japanese waters’ underground there was a quantity equivalent to about 100 years of domestic natural gas consumption.

If the production is successful, the energy problem in Japan would be solved.

日本加速向国際提升文化形像

Recently the FNN News on-line reported the following:

日本の国際展開の加速へ、クールジャパン推進会議初会合

 政府は、日本のアニメやゲームなどのコンテンツや、ファッション、文化などの国際展開を加速するため、4日、首相官邸でクールジャパン推進会議の初会合を開いた。
安倍首相は「日本は、まさに潜在力は極めて大きなものがある。3年、5年の間に、ずいぶん日本は、あの戦略によって、世界にたくさん、ものが進出したな、世界からたくさん人が来たなという、結果を出していけるように、ぜひともよろしくお願いしたい」と述べた。
推進会議は、稲田クールジャパン戦略担当相を議長に、作詞家の秋元 康さん、デザイナーのコシノジュンコさん、茶道・裏専科家元の千 宗室さんらが参加している。
出席者からは、「クールジャパンという言葉は、定着していないのではないか」、「韓国のコンテンツのように、日本も初めから海外に輸出することを念頭に、コンテンツを作るべきでないか」などの意見が出された。
秋元 康さんは「日本はすごい国なんだっていう、日本のものを自信を持って出すこと。つまり一番大事なので、自信だと思うんですよ」と話した。
コシノジュンコさんは「日本のチームという良さを、もとは何って、お祭り精神だと思うんですよ」と語った。
推進会議は、4月に提言をまとめる予定。

(試譯文)

On the 4th at the Prime Minister's official residence the government held the first promotional meeting on “Cool Japan” in order to accelerate internationalization in regard to the contents of Japan’s cartoons, games, and also in fashion and culture, etc.

Prime Minister Abe said "Japan is a country that has very great potential power. Definitely in three to five years through this policy strategy, it could put forward a lot to the world, and a lot of people would come to Japan. In order to able to get this outcome I very much need your help".

In the promotion meeting, Inada as the minister of the Cool Japan strategy became the chairperson. Akimoto Yasushi the songwriter; Koshino Junko the designer and Iemoto no Sen Soshutsu the tea ceremony master had participated.

The people who had attended the meeting offered the opinion that "whether the term ‘Cool Japan’ is established", or "just like South Korean’s contents, whether Japan should make the content from the start bearing in mind it’s for exporting to overseas" etc.

Mr. Yasushi Akimoto said that "Japan is a great country, Japan needs to take out the things it is possessing with confidence. I think confidence is the most important thing".

Mr. Koshino Junko said that "the merit of the so called Japanese team, in essence, was its festive spirit."

The promotion meeting would summarize a proposal in April.

So, the Japan government is actively trying to promotion its culture to the world with a specific goal.

岩手県及宮城県等大学向中國學生招生

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

被災地の大学 中国で留学をアピール

3月9日 23時10分

東日本大震災の影響で外国人留学生の数が伸び悩むなか、被災地の岩手県や宮城県などの大学が、北京で開かれている国際留学フェアに参加し、大学の魅力を中国人の学生にアピールしました。

この留学フェアは中国教育省傘下の団体の主催で、９日と１０日の２日間、北京市内で開かれているもので、およそ３０か国から４００以上の大学が参加しています。
日本からは被災地の岩手県や宮城県を含む３８の大学などが、日本への留学や各大学の魅力を紹介するコーナーを設けました。
このうち岩手大学の担当者は、東日本大震災からの復興を目指して農林水産業関係や防災の教育に力を入れていることなどを説明し、訪れた中国人の学生たちに資料を手渡していました。
独立行政法人の「日本学生支援機構」によりますと、去年の外国人留学生の数は１３万７７５６人で、東日本大震災の影響で最も多かった３年前と比べて３％減っているということです。
参加した中国人の女子高校生は、「地震の影響はもう感じません。大事なことは、留学で知識や文化を学ぶことだと思います」と話していました。
岩手大学の岩渕明副学長は「留学生の力を被災地の復興につなげられるよう、多くの留学生を呼び込みたい」と話していました。

(試譯文)

While the number of foreign students had little increase due to the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, universities in the stricken area such as the Iwate Prefecture and the Miyagi Prefecture etc. had participated in the international studying-abroad fair that was opened in Beijing, and they advertised the charm of the universities to the Chinese students.

This studying-abroad fair had the sponsorship of an organization affiliated to the China Department of Education, it was open for two days on the 9^th and the 10^th in Beijing and 400 or more universities from about 30 nations had participated.

From Japan there were 38 universities including those from the Iwate Prefecture and the Miyagi Prefecture in the stricken area etc., they set up a corner to introduce the charm of studying abroad in Japan, and the charm of the individual university.

Among these, the person in charge of the Iwate University explained that man power was put into the education on agriculture-and-forestry fisheries relations and on disaster prevention that aimed at the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake etc.; data were handed over to the Chinese students who visited the counter.

According to the "Japan Student Services Organization", an independent administrative agency, it was said that under the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake the number of the foreign students last year was 137,756 people, it was a decrease of 3% compared with the peak three years ago.

A Chinese high school girl who had participated said that "the influence of the earthquake is not felt any longer. I think that the important thing is to learn knowledge and culture through studying abroad".

Iwate University Vice-President Akira Iwabuchi was saying that "I would like to call in more foreign students so that the foreign student's energy may be connected to the recovery of the stricken area".

It seems that cultural flow between China and Japan is gradually recovering.