In Nara Park the number of tourists who were bitten by a deer and got injured was the highest so far

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

シカにかまれてけがの観光客が過去最多 奈良公園

2月8日 4時14分

奈良公園で、観光客がシカにかまれるなどしてけがをしたという通報が、今年度すでに１６０件を超えて過去最多になっていることがわかりました。外国人観光客が、シカにせんべいを与える際にかまれるケースが目立ち、奈良県は、外国語で注意を促すポスターを貼るなど対策をとることにしています。

奈良県などのまとめによりますと、奈良公園を訪れた観光客がシカにかまれたり突き飛ばされたりしてけがをしたという通報は、今年度、先月末時点で、すでに１６４件に上っていて、前の年度より４６件増えて過去最多になっています。

けがをした人の７９％は外国人で、このうち中国人が８３％と最も多くなっています。けがは、いずれも軽傷ですが、観光客がシカに好物のせんべいを与える際、写真を撮ろうとじらしたり、時間をかけて食べさせたりして怒らせるケースが目立っているということです。

奈良県を訪れる外国人観光客は急増していて、県は、シカと接する際の注意点をわかりやすくまとめたスマートフォンで見られる動画を配信しているほか、今後奈良公園でせんべいを売る出店に、外国語で注意を促すポスターを貼るなど対策をとることにしています。

My   translation

In Nara Park, the number of tourists who had been bitten by a deer and got injured was known; this year already there were over 160 cases and became the highest on record. The cases that stood out were about foreigner tourists being bitten when giving rice crackers to a deer, and in Nara prefecture measures such as putting up posters in foreign language to draw attention were taken.

According to a summary on Nara prefecture, the reports about tourists who visited Nara Park and got bitten by a deer, or knocked down and got injured in this fiscal year had already reached 164 cases as at late last month, and it was an increase of 46 cases compared with the previous fiscal year and was the highest on record.

Among the injured people 79% were foreigners, and among them 83% were Chinese and they were in the majority. Regarding the injury, all were slight ones. It was said that the cases that stood out were the tourists, in order to lure the deer into a photo, tried to feed them with rice crackers which was the latter’s favorite, but because they kept them waiting for a quite a time before doing the feeding they had angered the deer.

Foreigner tourists who visited Nara prefecture were increasing rapidly. For the prefecture, in addition to delivering a collection of easily understood animation which could be watched from the smart phone to show the aspects where attention were need when touching the deer, from now the Nara Park would take measures so that posters in foreign language aiming at  drawing attention would be put up at stores which rice crackers were sold.

  So,  in order to avoid injury, Chinese tourists should be more careful when feeding the deer in Nara Park.

Was the destroyer "Isokaze" that was sunk together with the battleship "Yamato" found?

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

戦艦「大和」とともに沈んだ駆逐艦「磯風」発見か

2月7日 23時38分

太平洋戦争末期、戦艦「大和」とともに沖縄に向かいアメリカ軍の攻撃によって沈んだ旧日本海軍の駆逐艦「磯風」と見られる艦船が鹿児島県沖の海底で見つかっていたことがわかりました。専門家は、大和以外の艦船の調査は行われておらず、貴重な発見だと評価しています。

駆逐艦「磯風」は昭和１５年に就役して真珠湾攻撃やミッドウェー海戦などに参加しましたが、戦艦大和とともに特攻作戦で沖縄に向かっていた昭和２０年４月７日、鹿児島県の枕崎沖でアメリカ軍の攻撃によって沈みました。

大和について広島県呉市とともに潜水調査を行った大阪市の海洋調査会社によりますと、おととし５月の調査の中で、大和が沈んだ場所から北東に９．５キロ、深さおよそ４５０メートルの海底で、艦船１隻が沈んでいるのが見つかったということです。

これについて専門家は、撮影された映像や戦闘の記録などから「磯風」の可能性が高いとしています。

映像には４つの砲身をもつ魚雷発射管のほか、爆発でめくれ上がった艦尾や横倒しになった主砲も映し出されていて、当時の戦闘の激しさがうかがえます。

旧日本海軍の歴史に詳しい広島県呉市の大和ミュージアムの戸高一成館長は、「記録に残る被害状況や沈没場所をつきあわせると磯風でほぼ間違いない。大和以外の艦船の調査は行われておらず貴重な発見だ」と話しています。

磯風は数多くの作戦に参加

旧日本海軍の駆逐艦「磯風」は、長崎県佐世保市の旧海軍工廠で建造され昭和１５年に就役しました。全長はおよそ１２０メートル、基準排水量は２０００トン余りです。

広島県呉市の博物館「大和ミュージアム」によりますと、磯風は、真珠湾攻撃をはじめミッドウェー海戦やレイテ沖海戦など旧日本海軍の数多くの作戦に参加しました。

昭和２０年４月、戦艦「大和」など、ほかの９隻とともに特攻作戦で沖縄に向かいましたが、アメリカ軍の攻撃によって大和や磯風を含む６隻が鹿児島県枕崎沖で沈みました。

大和は戦後、呉市や民間団体が潜水調査を行ったため沈没した位置が判明していますが、磯風など５隻については、沈没した場所は特定されてきませんでした。今回、大和以外の艦船の沈没位置がわかったのは、初めてだということです。

磯風の調査にあたった「深田サルベージ建設」の花戸忠明中国支社長補佐は、「磯風以外にも見つかっていない艦船があるので可能であれば調査したい」と話しています。

My translation

It was found out that during the last years of the Pacific War the destroyer "Isokaze” of the old Japanese navy which was sunk together with the battleship "Yamato" by the offensive of the U.S. forces that moved towards Okinawa were discovered at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Kagoshima prefecture. As ships besides Yamato had not been investigated so far, a specialist estimated that it was a valuable discovery.

Destroyer "Isokaze" was commissioned in 1940 and had participated in the Pearl Harbor attack and the Battle of Midway, but was sunk by the U.S offensive forces at the Makurazaki offing at Kagoshima-ken on April 7, 1945 together with  the battleship Yamato while  going to Okinawa on a special attack operation.

Regarding Yamato, according to Kure-shi of Hiroshima and also one oceanographic investigation company from Osaka-shi that did a diving  investigation, it was said that in the investigation in May two years ago one ship was found sunk at the bottom of the sea at depth of 450 meters at about 9.5 km northeast from the place where Yamato was sunk.

About this, based on the photos taken and records of the battle, specialists assumed that there was a high possibility it was the "Isokaze".

In addition to a torpedo launching tube with 4 tubes, the stern that got curled up by an explosion, and the main gun that was lying down were also projected in the picture, all these told about the violence of the battle in those days.

Todaka Kazushige the director of Yamato museum in Kure-shi of Hiroshima who was conversant with history of the old Japan Navy said that "When compared with the damage as put down on the record and also the sinking location, most apparent it is the Isokaze. Ships besides Yamato have not been investigated, it is a valuable discovery."

Isokaze had participated in a large number of battles

As a destroyer of the old Japanese Navy "Isokaze" was built at an old dockyard in Sasebo-shi, Nagasaki, and went into commission in 1940. The full length was approximately 120 meters and the standard displacement was about 2000 tons.

According to the "Yamato Museum" in Kure-shi of Hiroshima, Isokaze had participated in a large number of battles in the old Japanese Navy starting with the Pearl Harbor attack, then the Battle of Midway and the naval battle at Leyte offing.

In April, 1945 nine ships including the battleship "Yamato" moved towards Okinawa for a special operation, but 6 ships including Yamato and Isokaze were sunk by the offensive conducted by the U.S. forces at the Kagoshima-ken’s  Makurazaki offing.

After the war Kure-shi together with a non-governmental organization conducted diving investigation and as a result the location where Yamato was sank was revealed, but the place of sinking for other five ships including Isokaze could not be ascertained. It was said that that this time was the first occasion to know the sinking position of ships besides Yamato.

Hanato Tadaaki the Chinese branch manager assistant of the "Fukada Salvage Construction" that investigated Isokaze said that "when it is possible, apart from Isokaze I would like to investigate the ships which are not found yet."

   So, more historical facts about the sea battles will come to light in due course.

Technical developments will make the judgment on Alzheimer's disease possible by an easy checking

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

アルツハイマー病 簡単な検査で判定可能な技術開発

2月1日 5時15分

認知症の原因であるアルツハイマー病を、症状が出る前でも簡単な検査で発見できることにつながる技術を、国立長寿医療研究センターと大手精密機器メーカーが共同で開発しました。

認知症の原因の１つであるアルツハイマー病は、症状が出る２０年以上前から脳の中にβアミロイドという物質の一種が蓄積を始めることがわかっていますが、高額な検査などを行わないかぎり、症状が出る前に病気に気付くのは難しいとされています。

こうした中、国立長寿医療研究センターと大手精密機器メーカーの島津製作所は、脳に蓄積すると血液中に含まれるわずかな量のβアミロイドの一種が減ることを発見し、これを応用して簡単にβアミロイドが蓄積しているかわかる技術を開発したとして、記者会見を開きました。

日本とオーストラリアの高齢者およそ２３０人に対して臨床研究を行い、およそ９０％の確率で、βアミロイドが蓄積しているか判定することができたということです。

１６年前にノーベル化学賞を受賞し、今回の開発に加わった島津製作所の田中耕一さんは「微量な物質の測定技術を、病気の治療や検査などに応用できるよう今後も努力していきたい」と話しています。

国立長寿医療研究センターの柳澤勝彦所長は「当面は、治療法の開発のための患者を見つけ出すために使い、将来的には検診にも使うことができればと考えている」と話しています。

My translation

The National Institute for Longevity Sciences together with a major precision equipment maker had jointly developed a technology which could lead to an ability to identify Alzheimer's disease, a cause of dementia, by a simple checking even before the symptom came out.

It was known that one cause of dementia was the Alzheimer's disease, it was understood that as a symptom, one type of material in the β amyloid in the brain would begin to accumulate more than 20 years earlier. Unless expensive checkings were done, it was difficult to notice the sickness before the symptom came out.

As such, when it accumulated  in a brain, the National Institute for Longevity Sciences together with Shimadzu Incorporation, a major precision equipment maker found that a rare kind of β amyloid that had only a small amount in the blood would decrease. Applying this, the technology which could easily know whether β amyloid was accumulating could be developed, and a press conference was held.

A clinical study was performed on approximately 230 senior citizens in Australian and Japan, and it's said that it was possible to judge whether β amyloid was accumulating with an approximately 90 % probability.

Mr. Koichi Tanaka of Shimadzu who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 16 years ago joined this development and said that “from now on I'd like to make an effort on the application of the small amount measuring technique so as to check and treat the sickness."

Yanagisawa Katsuhiko the general manager of the National Institute for Longevity Sciences said that "at present it is used to find out patients for the development of a treatment, in future I'm thinking when it can also be used for medical examination.”

     The discovery is good news for all Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Maps wrongly presented the Senkaku Islands etc. - China ordered a Japanese company to dispose of its maps

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

中国 尖閣諸島などの記載に“違反” 日本企業に地図廃棄命じる

1月31日 4時14分

中国当局は、国内で配布された地図について調査を行い、自国の領土だと主張する沖縄県の尖閣諸島などの記載をめぐって違反があったとして、日本企業にも地図の廃棄を命じたと発表しました。

中国当局は、国内で配布された地図などで表記に問題があるものについて、去年、調査を行い、罰金や地図の廃棄などの処分を行った８社の事例を発表しました。

このうち、生活雑貨などを販売する日本のブランド「無印良品」の店舗が配布したカタログの地図について、地図の管理条例に違反していたとして廃棄を命じたとしています。

具体的な違反として、中国が自国の領土だと主張する沖縄県の尖閣諸島や、領有権を主張する南シナ海の島々が記載されていなかったほか、台湾について誤った表記があることなどを挙げています。

また、ほかの中国企業７社についても同様の違反があったとして罰金などが命じられました。

無印良品のブランドを展開する良品計画によりますと、地図は、世界各国での店舗展開を紹介するための簡単なものだったということですが、去年１０月、当局の指示を受けて中国で配布するものについては廃棄などの対応をとったということです。

中国では、地図のほかにも、ホームページなどで台湾を国家のように扱っているなどとして、今月、ホテルや航空会社など複数の欧米企業が修正と謝罪を求められていて、中国当局は、外国企業に対しても領土や主権についての主張を受け入れるよう対応を強めています。

My translation

The Chinese authority investigated the maps that were distributed in the country and assumed that there was a violation concerning the recording of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa-ken,  insisting  that they were the territory of its country, and announced that it had order a Japanese company to dispose of the map .

The Chinese authority last year investigated transcription problems in maps distributed in the country and announced that there were 8 punishment cases with a fine and the disposal of the maps.

Among them was Muji, a Japanese brand store which sold living miscellaneous goods. It had violated  management regulations in its catalog maps that were used to show shop locations, and was ordered to dispose of them.

The wrong transcription mentioned was about the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa-ken, China had insisted that they were its territory, also that some islands in the South China Sea where China had a possession right weren't mentioned in the map, and that Taiwan was wrongly recorded.

Also, other 7 Chinese enterprises likewise were being assumed to have made a violation and a fine was ordered.

According to Muji which developed the brand for generic quality goods, the maps were something to introduce its store developments in all countries in a simple manner. It was said that in about October of last year they received instructions from the authority that were linked to things they distributed in China and it meant that they had to take action such as to dispose of the maps.

In China, in addition to maps,  on the web site Taiwan was being regarded as a state, as such some hotel and airline companies of several European and American enterprises this month were asked to make correction and  apologies. The Chinese authority was strengthening its reaction to matters that were linked to territory and sovereignty reasoning accepted by foreign companies.

   It seems that China is tightening its control in the business activities of foreign companies over sovereignty related matters.

About 1,270,000 foreign workers worked in Japan - the highest on record

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

日本で働く外国人労働者127万人余 過去最多に

1月27日 4時38分

日本で働く外国人労働者は去年１２７万人余りと、統計を取り始めた平成２０年以降最も多くなったことが厚生労働省のまとめでわかりました。

厚生労働省によりますと、日本の企業で働く外国人労働者は去年１０月末の時点で１２７万８６７０人と、おととしの１０月末と比べて１９万４０００人、率にして１８％増加し、統計を取り始めた平成２０年以降最も多くなりました。

国別では中国人が最も多く３７万２０００人、次いでベトナム人が２４万人、フィリピン人が１４万６０００人などで、特にベトナム人はおととしと比べて４０％近く増えました。

産業別では「製造業」が３８万５０００人、清掃などの「サービス業」が１８万９０００人、コンビニエンスストアやスーパーマーケットなどの「卸売業、小売業」が１６万６０００人などとなっています。

在留資格別では日系人や日本人の配偶者などが４５万９０００人、留学生が２５万９０００人、技能実習生が２５万７０００人などで、留学生はおよそ２４％増加しました。

厚生労働省は「人手不足や景気の回復を背景に、留学生のアルバイトや技能実習生の活用が進んでいる」としています。

My translation

January 27  4:38.

The number of foreign workers who worked in Japan last year was found out to be about 1,270,000 people and was the highest on record as noted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare since statistics keeping began in 2008.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as at the end of October last year the foreign workers who worked for a Japanese enterprise was 1,278,670 people, and compared with the 194,000 people at the end of October a year before it was a 18%  increase and became the highest since 2008 when statistics  keeping began.

On country basis the highest was the Chinese with 372,000 people, followed by 240,000  Vietnamese and 146,000  Filipino, the Vietnamese stood out when compared with a year earlier as it was an increase of nearly 40 %.

On industry basis 385,000 people worked in “industry", 189,000 people in “service industry" of cleaning,  166,000 people in “wholesale business” and “retail trade” such as convenience stores and supermarkets.

According to the residence qualification , Japanese descent or spouses of  the Japanese was 459,000 people while students from abroad was 259,000 , skill learning student apprentice was 257,000 , students from abroad had increased by approximately 24 %.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare assumed that “against the background of labor shortage and a recovery of business conditions, students from abroad doing part-time jobs and skill learning student apprentice doing practice are increasing."

    It seems that the economic ties between Japan and Vietnam are increasing.

Cloned apes were born - Chinese study group and future controversy

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

クローンのサルが誕生 中国の研究グループ 今後物議も

1月25日 4時53分

クローン技術によって、全く同じ遺伝子を持つサルを作り出すことに初めて成功したと、中国の研究グループが発表しました。研究グループは、病気の研究に役立つとしている一方、クローン人間を生み出すことにもつながりかねないため、今後議論を呼びそうです。

クローンのサルを作ったのは、中国科学院の上海の研究グループで、２４日付けのアメリカの科学雑誌「セル」に発表しました。

それによりますと、研究グループは、カニクイザルの胎児の皮膚の細胞を、核を取り除いた卵子の細胞の中に入れました。そして、あらゆる臓器や組織に変化する状態になるよう促す遺伝子などを加えた上で、別のメスのサルの子宮に入れたところ、およそ５か月後に２１頭のうち１頭から、健康なメスの双子が生まれたということです。

生まれたサルの遺伝子は、皮膚の細胞を提供したサルと全く同じで、研究グループは、体細胞を使ったクローン技術で霊長類を作ることに初めて成功したとしています。

このクローン技術は、１９９７年にイギリスで報告されたクローン羊「ドリー」と同じ技術で、その後、牛など畜産業でも使われています。研究グループは、ヒトに近いサルのクローンを作ることで、ヒトの細胞やネズミなどの動物を使った研究では解明できていない病気の仕組みの研究や薬の開発に生かせるとしていて、具体的には、アルツハイマー病やパーキンソン病などを再現して治療につなげたいとしています。

クローン人間を作ることは各国で禁止されていますが、研究グループは「霊長類のクローンを作るための技術面での壁は取り除かれた」と話していて、今後議論を呼びそうです。

My translation

January 25  4:53.

A Chinese study group announced that they had for the first time succeeded in producing an ape with the same gene by cloning technology. They had generated argument from now on because while the study group was useful for studying sickness, it could also be lined to the production a human clone.

It was announced in an American scientific journal "Cell" dated 24th that a study group in Shanghai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences had made an ape by cloning.

According to the study group, a cell skin from the fetus of a cynomolgus monkey which had the nucleus removed was put into the cell of the ovum. Then the gene which was said to have the effect of changing the organs or organization was added.  It was put in the wombs of different female apes, after about 5 months it was said that among the 21 female apes, one had given birth to a healthy female twin.

The gene of the born ape was the same as the ape which provided the skin cell, and it was assumed that the study group had succeeded in making primates with cloning technology using a soma for the first time.

This cloning technology was the same as the technology used in the cloned sheep "Dolly"  in the United Kingdom reported in 1997, and after that, a cow was also used in a stock-breeding trade. It was assumed that this study group by making the clone of the ape which was similar to a man could utilize it for the study and development of medicine by knowing the sick mechanism that could not be elucidated by a study using man's cell or an animal such as mice; and specifically they would like to reproduce Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease and link it to a treatment.

Making a human clone is prohibited at all countries, as the study group had said that “a wall on the technological aspect of making the clone of the primates has been removed", from now on discussion would be generated.

     If this research could help the treatment of Alzheimer disease etc. as suggested, then I think many scientifically and medically advanced countries could have already done similar researches, may be in secret.

Smart-phones and computers in the whole world had serious CPU defects - attacks were feared

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

全世界のパソコンやスマホ ＣＰＵに深刻な欠陥 攻撃のおそれ

1月11日 11時29分

コンピューターの頭脳として世界中のパソコンやスマートフォンなどに使われている「ＣＰＵ」と呼ばれる装置に、サイバー攻撃に悪用されるおそれがある深刻な欠陥が見つかり、ソフトウエアメーカーなどが緊急に修正プログラムを公開して、アップデートするよう呼びかけています。

欠陥が見つかったのはコンピューターの頭脳にあたる「ＣＰＵ」と呼ばれる装置で、発見した海外の研究者らが公開した情報によりますと、この欠陥を悪用すると本来は特定のユーザーしか見ることができないパスワードなどの機密情報を第三者に見られてしまうおそれがあるということです。

影響は、世界中のほぼすべてのパソコンやスマートフォン、ゲーム機などに及ぶおそれがあり、マイクロソフトやアップルなどのメーカー各社では今月に入って緊急に修正プログラムを公開し、ユーザーにアップデートするよう呼びかけています。

この欠陥を悪用したサイバー攻撃はまだ確認されていませんが、セキュリティ企業「トレンドマイクロ」の岡本勝之さんは「こうした設計上の欠陥はサイバー攻撃で狙われやすい。パソコンは自動でアップデートされるものが多いが、スマートフォンには自動で修正されないものもあり、注意が必要だ」と話しています。

My translation

Some serious flaws were found in the so called "CPU" which was the brain of the computer equipment used in PCs and smart phones all over the world, and there was a fear of abuse by a cyber-attack and some software manufacturers had disclosed a corrective program urgently, and they were calling for up-dating.

Defects were found in the so called "CPU” which was an installation, according to the information disclosed by the overseas researchers who found them, it was said that when these defects were made used of,  there was a fear that password and other classified information that were specific to the user could be seen by other people.

Regarding the impact, there was a fear that all over the world nearly all PCs, smart phones and game machines would be affected, and a corrective program was released urgently from this month by Microsoft and Apple etc. manufacturing companies, and they were calling the users to up-date.

Although no cyber-attack abuse that made use of these defects had been confirmed yet, Mr. Katsuyuki Okamoto of "Trend Micro" which was a security enterprise said that “the flaws on such design are easy to be aimed at by a cyber-attack. In PC there are a lot of automatic up-dating, but in smart phone there are things which could not be automatically corrected, attention is needed."

         I hope my computer has automatically up-dated itself now.