日俄首腦會議與北方四島領土交渉

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

領土交渉「面積２等分で…」露大統領発言に憶測

ロシアのプーチン大統領が先月２９日の安倍首相との首脳会談で、過去にロシアが行った中国との領土交渉や、ノルウェーとの境界画定交渉に触れ、「面積を２等分して解決した経験がある」と述べていたことが分かった。

　政府筋が明らかにした。北方領土問題の解決を念頭に置いた発言か、４島返還を主張する日本をけん制したのか、様々な臆測を呼んでいる。

　これに関連し、安倍首相は１日、訪問先のサウジアラビアで同行記者団に、「（大統領が北方領土２等分による解決に言及した）事実はない。北方４島の帰属問題を解決し、平和条約を締結する方針に変わりはない」と語った。

　首相同行筋によると、首相の指摘通り、会談で大統領が両交渉の経緯を首相に説明した際、北方領土問題と絡めることは言わなかったという。仮に北方４島を面積で２等分した場合、４島の中で最も北側にある択捉島の西部に日露の国境線を引き、日本が択捉島の西側の一部と国後島、色丹島、歯舞群島の全部を領有し、択捉島の大半をロシアが領有する形が想定される。

（2013年5月1日19時07分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

It turned out that at the summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe on the 29th last month Russian President Putin had touched on territorial negotiations and about the border drawing which Russia had performed in the past with China and Norway, and about "the experience of dividing the area equally into two to solve the problems".

This was clarified by government sources. Various guesses were called for, with solving the issue regarding the Northern Territories in mind, could it be used to check Japan which had asserted the return of the four islands.

      In relation to this, on the 1^st Prime Minister Abe told the press corps traveling together at the visiting location of Saudi Arabia that "it (that the President mentioned the solution for the Northern Territories was to divide them into two equal parts) is not true, the ownership question of four northern islands would be solved, and there was no change in plan to conclude a peace treaty."

      According to sources accompanying the Prime Minister, it was say that the Prime Minister had pointed out that when the President explained the circumstances of the negotiation, the latter had not said things related to the Northern Territories. When temporarily equally divided the four northern islands into two areas, it was assumed that the form would be to draw the Japan-Russia international border in the western part of Etorofu which was the northernmost of the four islands, Japan would possess a part of the west side of Etorofu and all of Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets; and that Russia would possess the great portion of Etorofu.

It is an interesting story. To divide the islands equally could be a possible solution to the dispute.

日本車在中國銷路回升

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国新車販売 日本車シェア回復
4月11日 23時11分

先月の中国での新車の販売台数は、２０３万台余りと、１か月間の数字としては過去最高に上り、このうち乗用車の日本車のシェアは７か月ぶりに１５％台に回復しました。

中国自動車工業協会は１１日、先月の新車の販売台数が、景気の回復を背景に、去年の同じ月より１３．２％増えて、２０３万５０００台余りとなり、１か月間の数字としては過去最高に上ったと発表しました。
このうち乗用車の中で日本車は２３万８０００台余りとなっていて、販売台数は去年の同じ月より１４．３％減少したものの、全体に対するシェアは、前の月より３．２ポイント拡大して１５％ちょうどと、日本政府が沖縄県の尖閣諸島を国有化する以前の去年８月以来、７か月ぶりに１５％台に回復しました。
これに対し、外国車としては最大のシェアを占めるドイツ車や、日本車を激しく追い上げる韓国車は、シェアを落としており、日中関係が冷え込むなか、中国市場でほかの外国メーカーにシェアを奪われてきた日本車がいくぶん盛り返した形となっています。

(試譯文)

The sales number of new car in China last month went up to a little more than 2,030,000 sets, being the highest ever in number in a month; among these the share of the Japanese passenger car had recovered to the15% level, being the first time in seven months.

The China Auto Industry Association announced on the 11th that the sales number of new car last month increased by 13.2% compared to the same month last year against the background of a recovery in business, it became over 2,035,000 sets and had reached the highest number ever in one month.

Among these, the Japanese car was a little more than 238,000 sets in passenger cars. Although the volume of sales decreased by 14.3% compared with the same month last year, yet as a whole in sales, compared with last month, it had expanded 3.2 point and returned exactly to the level of 15%, being the first time in seven months. Before the Japanese government nationalized the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture in August last year it was 15%.

On the other hand, regarding the German car which was occupying the greatest share as a foreign vehicle and the South Korean car which was catching up with the Japanese car closely, their market share had dropped. This could serve as a sign that, in the Chinese market, the Japanese car had regained part of the market share taken by other foreign makers when Japan-China relations became cold.

It seems that Japanese brand names still have some attraction among Chinese consumers.

日本成為世界最大音樂市場

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

音楽ソフト売り上げ:日本が初めて米抜き世界最大市場に

毎日新聞　2013年04月08日　22時11分（最終更新　04月09日　00時17分）

　国際レコード産業連盟（ＩＦＰＩ、本部ロンドン）は８日、ＣＤやダウンロードを合わせた音楽ソフトの売上高で、日本が２０１２年に初めて米国を抜き、世界最大市場になったと発表した。

　同日公表された１２年の世界音楽産業統計によると、日本の音楽ソフトの売上高は約４３億ドル（約４２００億円）で、約４１億ドルの米国を上回った。

　映画やＣＭでの使用料など、音楽ソフト以外の売り上げも含めた全体の市場規模では米国が引き続き最大だった。

(試譯文)

   On the 8th the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI, headquarters London) announced that the combined sales of the music software which included CD and download, for the first time, Japan replaced the U.S. in 2012 to become the world's largest market.

   According to the world music industry statistics 2012 released on the same day, the sales of a Japanese music software was about 4,300 million dollars (about 420 billion yen), exceeding the U.S. that had about 4,100 million dollars.

   In terms of the total market size that would include the sales other than music software, such as the usage fee for movie and CM, the U.S. continued to be the biggest.

It seems that the Japanese people love music very much.

UNIQLO擴展香港支店規模

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

ユニクロ 香港に大型店開店へ

4月25日 23時51分

大手衣料品チェーン「ユニクロ」を展開するファーストリテイリングの柳井正会長は２５日、訪問先の香港で記者会見し、新たに大型店舗をオープンするなど香港での事業を強化することで中国での販売拡大に弾みをつけたい考えを示しました。

ファーストリテイリングの柳井正会長は、２６日、香港で新たに中核となる大型店舗をオープンするのを前に現地で記者会見しました。この中で柳井会長は、かつて上海に出店した店舗の業績がふるわず、その後、香港に店を出して現地のビジネスを学んだことを明らかにしたうえで、「香港への出店で成功したことが、その後のアジアでの成長の原動力になった」と述べ、香港市場の戦略的な重要性を強調しました。
新たに香港にオープンする店舗は、売り場面積がこれまでの香港の店に比べて２倍余りから３倍余り大きく、中国本土から多くの観光客が訪れ、情報発信の役割も期待されており、ファーストリテイリングでは、香港での事業を強化することで中国での販売拡大に弾みをつけたい考えです。
また、柳井会長は最近の急激な円安について、「われわれは円安でも円高でも商売できるということがいちばん大事なので、安定した為替がいちばんよい」と述べ、為替相場は安定していることが望ましいという考えを示しました。

(試譯文)

On the 25^th Tadashi Yanai the chairman of the Fast Retailing which operated a major company clothing chain the "UNIQLO" gave a press interview in Hong Kong where he was visiting; he showed the idea of wishing to spur sales expansion in China by strengthening the enterprise in Hong Kong, such as by opening a new large store.

Fast Retailing Chairman Tadashi Yanai met the press before the opening of the large store on the 26^th which would serve as a new core in Hong Kong. During the meeting, Chairman Yanai said that once the store opened in Shanghai did not show clear achievements, then the business of the store opened in Hong Kong was studied to help make clear the matter. He said that "to have a successfully opened shop in Hong Kong could become a driving force of growth in Asia thereafter". He emphasized the strategic importance of the Hong Kong market.

Compared with the old store in Hong Kong, this newly opened store in Hong Kong had a store space two to there time bigger. It was visited by many tourists from mainland China; its role in information dissemination was expected. At Fast Retailing, by strengthening the enterprise in Hong Kong, it was expected that this shop could spur sales expansion in China.

Moreover, concerning the latest sharp fall of the yen Chairman Yanai said “it is most important that we can do business whether we are having a weak yen or a strong yen, the best is to have a stable money exchange”. He expressed the wish that the exchange rate could become stable.

Probably a weak yen could help many Japanese to do business in Hong Kong and China.

日本希望加強大學生英語水平

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

ＴＯＥＦＬを国公立大の卒業要件に…自民が提言

自民党教育再生実行本部（遠藤利明本部長）は８日、世界で活躍できる人材の育成策をまとめた提言を、安倍首相（自民党総裁）に提出した。英語教育の抜本改革と理数教育の刷新、ＩＣＴ（情報通信技術）教育の充実を柱に、国公立大学の受験や卒業に、英語能力テスト「ＴＯＥＦＬ」で一定以上の成績を求めることなどを盛り込んだ。

　ＴＯＥＦＬは米国の非営利団体が実施する試験で、留学生の英語力を測る際などに使われる。提言では、受験・卒業の基準点は各大学で定めるとしているが、トップレベル３０校程度については、ＴＯＥＦＬ９０点（１２０点満点）以上を卒業要件とするよう求めた。

　理数教育では、文系でも、大学入試で「理数の力を重視する」ことを求めた。当初案では「理数科目を必須にする」としていたが、入試は各大学の判断で実施することから軌道修正し、大学側に促す程度にとどめる。私立大などからは、受験生の負担増を懸念する声が上がっていた。

（2013年4月8日22時25分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 8^th the Liberal Democratic Party Education Rejuvenation Execution Headquarters (Director-General Toshiaki Endo) submitted to Prime Minister Abe (the Liberal Democratic Party President) the proposal which touched on of the training measures that could shape the talented people to play an active role in the world. It incorporated a fundamental reform in English education and a reform in the education of science and mathematics. It noted the important role of strengthening the  ICT (information and communication technology) education, suggesting that when students taking the examinations of the national and public universities and colleges, and also when at graduation, the English aptitude test "TOEFL" should be used and that a certain level of test results should be required.

   TOEFL was the examination carried out by an American nonprofit institution which measured a student's command of English. At the proposal although it supposed that the standard to be set in the examination and at graduation would be decided by individual university, for the 30 top universities it asked for more than 90 points in the TOEFL (120-point full marks) as the requirement for graduation.

   In the science and mathematics education, also in liberal arts, it asked for "treating the ability in science and mathematics as important" in regard to the university entrance examination. Although in the original plan it supposed that "science and mathematics will be made indispensable", the practice that the entrance examinations would be carried out based on the judgment of individual university was adjusted, to such an extent that it urged the universities to stop it. From the private colleges etc. voices had come out which expressed the concern about the increasing burden towards students who were preparing for the examinations.

It seems that Japan is trying to strengthen its English education.

吉野家牛肉飯減價

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

牛丼:吉野家も値下げ…並盛り２８０円、１８日から

毎日新聞　2013年04月10日　18時58分（最終更新　04月10日　19時34分）

　牛丼大手の吉野家ホールディングスは１０日、米国産牛肉の輸入規制緩和を受けて、１８日午前１０時から全国（一部店舗を除く）で牛丼を値下げすると発表した。並盛りは現在の３８０円より１００円安い２８０円となる。牛丼大手では「すき家」を展開するゼンショーホールディングスと松屋フーズが期間限定で値下げを実施しており、価格競争が再燃した。

　吉野家の値下げは販売キャンペーンではなく、期間は設けない。大盛りは４０円安い４４０円に、特盛りも９０円安い５４０円にそれぞれ価格を引き下げる。

(試譯文)

   Yoshinoya Holdings, a major beef bowl company, announced on the 10th that it would reduce the price of a beef bowl starting from 10:00 a.m. on the 18th in the whole country (some stores excluded) in response to the lifting of import restrictions on American beef. The regular serving would be changed to 280 yen, 100 yen cheaper than the present 380 yen. As there were already price reduction for a limited time offered by the major beef bowl company the Zensho Holdings which operated the "Lovely Home", and also by the Matsuya Foods, price competition was revived.

  Because the price reduction by Yoshinoya was not part of a sales campaign, no time period had been fixed. The large serving would be 40 yen cheaper at 440 yen and the super serving would be 90 yen cheaper at 540 yen, respectively showing a price reduction.

Price reduction is always good news for the fans of the beef bowl.

小澤征爾漸漸恢復指揮活動

Recently the NHK news on-line reported the following:

小澤征爾さん復帰へ 指揮活動増やす

4月3日 20時36分

ことしの夏の演奏会で本格的な復帰が予定されている世界的な指揮者の小澤征爾さんが３日、東京都内で記者会見し、「去年は病気をしたが、これから少しずつ指揮を増やしていく」と意欲を語りました。

これは毎年、夏に小澤征爾さんが長野県の奥志賀高原で開いている若手の演奏者を対象にした合宿についての記者会見で語ったものです。
この中で小澤さんは、「去年は病気をしましたが、これから少しずつ指揮の活動を増やしていきます。若手の教育の方も減らすつもりは全くないです」と述べ、若手の育成に力を入れながら、指揮者としての活動を増やしていく考えを語りました。
小澤さんは現在７７歳で、３年前に食道がんの手術を受けたあとも体力の低下などで活動の再開と休止を繰り返していますが、先月２７日、京都で行われた演奏会でおよそ１０分間指揮するなど、少しずつ指揮者としての活動を再開していて、ことし８月には長野県松本市で開かれる「サイトウ・キネン・フェスティバル松本」でオペラの指揮をみずから行い、本格的に復帰する予定です。
小澤さんは自身の体調について、「まあまあ、いいです。僕はラッキーだと思って、これは神様からもらったものだ思って、這（は）い上がります」と語っていました。

(試譯文)

The international conductor Mr. Seiji Ozawa had planned a full-scale return to the concerts of this summer; he gave a press interview in Tokyo on the 3^rd to talk about his intention and said that "although I got sick last year, from now on my conducting is increasing little by little".

This was told at the press conference that was about a training camp for the young players which Mr. Seiji Ozawa every year in summer would organize at the Okushiga plateau in Nagano Prefecture.

At the conference, Mr. Ozawa said that “although I got sick last year, from now on I would increase the conducting activities little by little, and that he absolutely has no plan to reduce the education for the young”; meanwhile he expressed the idea of increasing his activities as a conductor and putting energy into training the young.

Mr. Ozawa is 77 years old now. After undergoing an operation of an esophagus cancer three years ago, he had repeatedly resumed and paused his activities due to the falling physical strength etc. But his activity as a conductor had resumed little by little, for example he conducted for about 10 minutes in the concert held in Kyoto on the 27th last month. In August this year he would conduct the opera himself during the "Saito Kinen Festival" scheduled to be open in Matsumoto city in Nagano, and he would return to conducting completely.

About Mr. Ozawa’s own health condition he said that "it could be said so so. I think that I am lucky and consider that I get this from God. This is what has been”.

May I wish Mr. Ozawa every success in the coming Saito Kinen Festival.