The retirement term of the President of China was abolished; even with a wave of critical comments they were deleted one after another

Recently the NHK New On-line reported the following:

中国 国家主席の任期撤廃 批判の投稿殺到も次々に削除

3月11日 18時41分

中国で開かれている全人代＝全国人民代表大会で、国家主席の任期の撤廃が盛り込まれた憲法の改正案が採択されると、中国版ツイッターのウェイボーには批判的な投稿が殺到しましたが、当局によって次々と削除されています。

このうち、中国共産党系の新聞「中国青年報」が投稿した憲法の改正案が採択されたことを伝える号外記事のコメント欄には、「恥知らずだ」とか「国家は滅亡する」といった投稿のほか、検閲を免れるため、中国語の「帝国」と同じ読み方の別の漢字を使った投稿も見られました。

中には「やっと意見を述べられる場所を見つけた」とか、「ここは、まだコメントできる？」など当局による厳しい検閲の中、大勢の人がインターネット上で批判的な意見を書き込める場所を探している様子がうかがえます。

しかし、これらのコメントは投稿されて数分後には削除されたり閲覧禁止になったりしていて、当局が任期撤廃に批判的な意見が広がることに神経をとがらせているものとみられます。

My translation

When a proposed constitution amendment which incorporated the abolition of the state chief’s retirement term was adopted by National People's Congress = the whole country standing committee of people's congress  held in China, critical messages in Way Baud, the China version of Twitter rushed in, but they were deleted by the authority one after another.

Among these, in "Chinese Youth Report” a newspapers related to the Communist Party of China, its extra edition conveyed the proposed amendment of constitution, and in its comments column there were  readers contribution saying that  "there is no shame", "the state is finished". Also to avoid censorship, contribution using a different kanji with the same way to mean the word "empire" in Chinese was also seen.

Also, on the Internet there were comments "finally a place where you can express your opinion was found", "still a comment can be made?" etc., it could be seen that amidst severe censorship by the authority, many people were searching for a place where they could write a critical opinion.

But these comments were allowed and eliminated several minutes later and you could not read them anymore. It was thought that the nerve of the authority had been put on edge because of the wide spread opinion that was critical of the abolition of the retirement term.

    I think the wide spread critical comments are understandable.

Until the day the temporary housing vanished Kizuna newspaper would tie to victims of the accident: Ishinomaki of Miyagi

Recently the Mainichi News On-line reported the following

仮設住宅消える日まで　きずな新聞、被災者に寄り添う　宮城・石巻

毎日新聞2018年3月5日　東京朝刊

　東日本大震災の被災者に向けた宮城県石巻市の「石巻復興きずな新聞」は一度は終刊しながら復活した無料情報紙だ。編集長の岩元暁子さん（３５）は資金難から震災５年を区切りに発行をやめたが、以前に読者の「おっちゃん」から言われた「仮設に残る俺たちを見捨てるんか」という言葉がよぎった。「被災者にとって５年はなんの節目でもない」。最後の１人が仮設を出るまで続けると決め、被災者に寄り添う。

　情報紙は毎月１０日発行。Ａ４判４ページで、市内の仮設住宅約１０００戸と市街地の災害公営住宅（復興住宅）の住民に計約６０００部配布する。１月発行の１面トップは「どんと祭裸参り参加記」。無病息災を祈り、さらし姿で町を歩く裸参りに記者が挑戦した体験記だ。「石巻でも裸参りをやっているんだ」「今月も待っていたよ」。喜びの声が届く。

　横浜に住んでいた岩元さんは震災後すぐにボランティアとして石巻に入り、避難所などで活動、２０１２年から東京のボランティア団体が発行を始めた「仮設きずな新聞」の編集長に就任。しかし、時がたつにつれ助成金も人材も減った。

　１６年３月で終刊を決断したが、以前に休刊した際に言われた「見捨てる」の言葉の裏にある救いの手が減っていく心細さを、岩元さん自身も理解できた。

　メンバーたちも「『ありがとう』の言葉がやりがいになる」と続行を望んだ。読者アンケートでは８割以上が「続けてほしい」と回答。１４年に結婚し別居が続いた東京の夫も編集作業を手伝うと背中を押してくれた。

　ボランティア団体を退職後、資金集めに奔走した。クラウドファンディングで全国に協力を仰ぎ１６年４月、同市に「石巻復興きずな新聞舎」を設立。６月に創刊にこぎつけた。現在は２人の職員と約３０人のボランティアと活動する。岩元さんは「泣いてばかりいた人も元気を取り戻していく。そんな日々に寄り添えた時が一番うれしい」とほほ笑んだ。【森口沙織】

My   translation

The "Ishinomaki Reconstuction Kizuna Newspaper" of Ishinomaki-shi in Miyagi was a free information paper that aimed at victims of the Eastern Japan great earthquake accident, it re-appeared after ceasing publication for some time. Akiko Iwamoto, the chief editor (35) stopped publishing it after five year due to financial difficulties, marking the 5^th year of the earthquake disaster. A former reader known as "The Uncle" passed along the words saying that “are you leaving me behind who is living in the temporary structure” “for victims of the accident there was not even one milestone in five years". Now the paper had decided to continue until the last person moved out from the temporary structure, aiming at staying close to victims of the accident.

The information paper was issued on the 10^th of each month. With 4 pages of A4 size, a total of about 6000 copies were distributed to people in the accident temporary public housing that had about 1000 residents, and also to those in the disaster municipal housing (reconstruction housing) in urban areas. At the top page of the January issue was "A participation account of the nude parade in the Daito Festival ". It was an experience which was challenging to the reporter:  wishes for good health and no disaster; and walking the town in nude form. "Nude parade will be also take place at Ishinomaki," “Also waiting for this month". The voice of joy had arrived.

Mr. Iwamoto who lived in Yokohama came to Ishinomaki jumped into action among shelters etc. as a volunteer immediately after the earthquake disaster. Taking up the post of chief editor of the "Temporary Kizuna Newspaper", a volunteer group in Tokyo, he began to publish issues from 2012. But as time passed, grants and human resources decreased.

A cessation of publication was decided in March, 2016. But when the publication was suspended, it called back of the word “abandon",  which one could understand the loneliness inside: the helping hand was fading. The same was also felt by Mr. Iwamoto.

Members too also felt the words  " ‘Thank you very much’ it will be worth doing" , and wished for a continuation. By a reader questionnaire, more than 80 percent answered "want" it to be continued.  A husband in Tokyo who married in 2014 and living apart would help with editing work to give backing.

After the retreating of the volunteer group, fund raising was busy. By a crowd funding the whole country was looked to for cooperation and the "Ishinomaki Reconstruction Kizuna Newspaper House" was established in the said city in April 2016. The first issue was published in June. At present it was operating with 2 staff and about 30 volunteers. Mr. Iwamoto with a smile said "The people who kept crying are back to vigor. It is most pleasing when I got close to such days.”

    It is nice to know that this local newspaper has returned through the kind efforts of the volunteers.

"No need for a register" a show to introduce the modern technology of a store

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

 “レジ不要”店舗の最新技術などを紹介する展示会

3月6日 17時12分

人手不足に悩む小売りの業界を支援するため、レジのいらない店をつくる最新の技術などを紹介する展示会が開かれ、さまざまな企業が近未来の買い物のしかたを提案しています。

６日から東京都内で始まった展示会には、およそ２１０社が出展しています。

「ＮＥＣ」が展示したのは、レジのいらない店を実現する技術で、顔認証の機能がある店内のカメラが、客がどの商品を手に取ったかを認識し店を出る時にそのまま支払いの決済ができます。財布やスマートフォンを持たなくても、買い物できるのが特徴です。

「沖電気工業」の技術は、店内のカメラで客の人数のほか、それぞれの性別、年齢を分析し、ＡＩ＝人工知能がレジの混み具合を予測するシステムです。ＡＩが「３０分後にレジが混雑しそう」と予測すれば、店ではそれにあわせて稼働させるレジの数を増やし、客の待ち時間を減らせるということです。

「富士通」の技術は、客がどの商品をどれくらいの時間、見ているかをカメラで捉え、商品への関心をＡＩが分析します。関心を持った客に、店員が適切なタイミングで声をかけて商品の説明ができるということです。

富士通研究所の開発担当、上村拓也さんは「快適な接客につながり、人手不足に悩む店側の負担も減らせる。客がまた来店したくなる店づくりが実現できる」と話していました。

展示会は、東京ビッグサイトで今月９日まで開かれています。

My translation

 To support of the retail industry that was troubled with labor shortage, an exhibition was held to introduce the latest technology to make a store that needed no register, and various enterprises had proposed the near-future way of the shopping.

Approximately 210 companies were participating at the exhibition which was started in Tokyo-to from the 6th.

What "NEC" exhibited was a technology that could made real a store without the need for a register.  A camera in the store that functioned as facial authentication could recognize a visitor who took goods in his hand and went out of the store, payment could be settled just as that. The special feature was that you could shop even if you did not have a purse and smart phone.

About the technology of "Oki Electric Industry", it used a camera in the store to analyze the gender and age of each individual in addition to the number of visitors. The system used the AI= artificial intelligence to predict the crowded condition of the register. When AI predicted that "the register would be crowded 30 minutes later", then it would accordingly increase the number of cashiers to operate, and it was said that they could reduce the waiting time of customers.

The technology of "Fujitsu" used a camera to catch what goods and for how long a customer was looking at, and then the AI analyzed his interest in the goods. A shop assistant would speak to this interested customer at an appropriate timing to say that he could explain the goods.

Mr. Takuya Uemura the development in-charge of Fujitsu research center said that “while linked to comfortable customer service, the burden on the store side over labor shortage can also be reduced. To make a store that visitors feel like coming again can be achieved."

The exhibition was held at Tokyo Big Sighton until the 9th this month.

     I think the new technology could help improve the shopping experience of customers.

Mr. Seiji Ozawa was hospitalized: will concentrate on treatment for 1 month, this month's performance was replaced

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

小澤征爾さん入院 １か月治療に専念 今月の公演は降板

3月8日 16時58分

世界的な指揮者の小澤征爾さんが、心臓の弁がうまく機能しない「大動脈弁狭さく症」と診断されて入院しました。退院までおよそ１か月かかる見込みで、今月予定されている公演の指揮を降板して、治療に専念するということです。

事務所によりますと、小澤征爾さん（８２）は先月２７日に体調不良を訴えて病院で検査を受け、その後、心臓の弁がうまく機能せず、血液を全身に送り出す部位が狭くなっている「大動脈弁狭さく症」と診断されました。

検査と同時に入院し、精密検査をしたうえで治療に専念し、退院までおよそ１か月かかる見込みだということです。

小澤さんは今月、京都と名古屋、東京で開かれる「小澤征爾音楽塾オペラ・プロジェクト」で４回、指揮をするほか、子ども向けの公演で話をすることになっていましたが、すべて降板し、指揮は代役が立てられることになりました。

小澤さんは「本当に申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいです。楽しみにしてくれていたお客様に、心から深くおわび申し上げます。私自身も、とても残念な気持ちでおりますが、また皆様の前で指揮をするためにも、今は治療に専念し、体力の回復に励みたいと思っております」とコメントしています。

My translation

Mr. Seiji Ozawa the international conductor was hospitalized, his heart valve did not function well and was diagnosed as having “Aortic valve stenosis ". It was said that it was possible to take approximately 1 month before being discharged,  his conducting  scheduled for this month was replaced in order to concentrate on treatment.

According to his office, Mr. Seiji Ozawa (82) complained about poor physical condition on the 27th and had received a check in a hospital last month, after that he was diagnosed as suffering from “aorta valve stricture"  :  his heart valve did not function well and the part which pumped blood to the whole body had become smaller.

While hospitalized, examination was done at the same time. In order to receive treatment after careful examination, it was said that there was the possibility of taking approximately 1 month before being discharged from the hospital.

Mr. Ozawa was scheduled to hold the “Ozawa Seiji Music School Opera Project” in Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo this month. On top of conducting  for 4 time, he was  supposed to talk in lectures for children, but all these were replaced and his conducting role had a substitute.

Mr. Ozawa commented that “I am really full of sorrow feelings. I deeply and sincerely apologize to the customer who was looking forward to the performance. For myself I feel very regrettable, in order to be able conduct in front of everybody, I would like to concentrate on treatment to encourage the recovery of my physical strength."

    Mr. Ozawa is an internationally famous music conductor. I wish him a quick recovery from the ailment.

Children with thyroid cancer due to the nuclear accident:10 percent or 8 people had cancer recurrence and operations performed

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

原発事故 甲状腺がんの子ども 約1割の8人再発し再手術

3月1日 4時18分

東京電力福島第一原発の事故のあと甲状腺がんと診断された子どもの支援を行っている民間の基金が、子どもたちの手術後の経過を調べたところ、およそ１割に当たる８人ががんを再発して再手術を受けていたことがわかりました。

民間の基金、「３・１１甲状腺がん子ども基金」は、原発事故後に甲状腺がんやがんの疑いと診断された２５歳以下の子どもたちに１人当たり１０万円の療養費の支援を行っていて、１月末までに１１４人に支給しています。

このうち事故当時福島県内に住んでいた８４人について基金が術後の状況を調べたところ９．５％に当たる８人ががんを再発して甲状腺を摘出するなどの再手術を受けていたことがわかりました。

８人は、事故当時６歳から１５歳で最初に手術を受けた時期から最も早い人で１年後にがんを再発していたということです。

福島県が行っている甲状腺検査では、これまでにがんやがんの疑いと診断された人は１９４人に上り、再発するケースが出ていることはわかっています。

しかし県の検討委員会でも詳しいデータは明らかになっておらず、基金では国や県はがんの再発のケースを詳しく検証してほしいと話しています。

基金は、事故から７年を前に３日医師による無料の電話相談を行う予定で、電話番号は、０１２０－９６６－５４４です。

My translation

A private fund which provided support in monitoring the children who were diagnosed to have thyroid cancer after the accident in Tokyo Electric Power Daiichi Fukushima nuclear power plant examined the progress of children who had received surgery, it was found out that  8 people or approximately 10 percent had cancer recurrence and received operation again.

The "3. 11 Thyroid Cancer Children Fund" was supporting  medical expenses of 100,000 yen to each child under the age of 25 who had been diagnosed to be likely to suffer from thyroid cancer or some other cancer after the nuclear accident; it provided  private fund to 114 people up to the end of January.

Related to this Fund, 84 people who were living in Fukushima-ken during the accident were monitored after the operations, among them 8 people or 9.5%  were found to have received operations to remove the thyroid etc. due to the recurrence of the thyroid cancer.

It was said that these eight people who had received operations were aged from 6 to 15 during the accident, the earliest person to have cancer recurrence was one year after the operation.

Through a thyroid check done in Fukushima-ken, the people diagnosed as to have suspected cancer or confirmed cancer so far reached 194 people, and the cases on recurrence were noted.

But even in the exploratory committee of the prefecture detailed data were not made clear. It was said that the Fund wanted to inspect cases of cancer recurrence in the country and the prefecture.

As it was reaching 7 years after the incident, the Fund was planning to do a free telephone consultation by doctors for 3 days, and the telephone number was 0120-966-544.

     I hope the cancer victims would be carefully looked after.

A thin type displayer that could be directly stuck on the skin was developed

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

肌に直接貼る薄型ディスプレー開発

2月19日 4時54分

伸び縮みして肌に直接、貼り付けられる厚さ１ミリほどの薄型ディスプレーを、東京大学などの研究グループが開発しました。

手の甲に貼り付けて、センサーが計測した心電図の波形を表示させたり、家族からの簡単なメッセージを受け取ったりするなど、さまざまな応用が考えられるということです。

厚さが１ミリで肌に直接貼り付けられる薄型ディスプレーを開発したのは、東京大学の染谷隆夫教授らの研究グループです。

ディスプレーは、ゴム製で小型の発光ダイオード、マイクロＬＥＤが埋め込まれ、最も大きいもので、縦６センチ横１０センチの画面に簡単なマークや動画を表示できます。伸び縮みすることから手の甲などに直接貼り付け体を動かしても違和感がないということです。

これを使えば、センサーが計測した心電図の波形を、自分の手の甲に貼り付けたディスプレーに表示させたり、家族などから送られてきた簡単なメッセージを見たりするなどさまざまな応用が考えられるということです。

染谷教授は「スキンディスプレーを使えば、お年寄りから子どもまですべての世代の人が情報によりアクセスしやすくなり、生活の質の向上が期待できる」と話しています。

My translation

 An expandable and contractible thin type displayer with a thickness of about 1 millimeter that could be stuck on the skin directly had been developed by a study group from the University of Tokyo.

It was said that various applications could be considered such as using it as a sensor by sticking it on the back of the hand to be used as a measuring tool to indicate electrocardiogram in waveform , or to receive simple message from the family.

This thin type displayer, which could be stuck on skin directly and had a thickness of 1 millimeter was developed by a study group of the University of Tokyo’s Prof. Takao Someya and others.

About this displayer, it was made with rubber embedded with a small light-emitting diode and a micro LED. Simple marks and movies could be displayed on the screen with the largest size of 6 centimeters by 10 centimeters. If stick to the back of a hand etc. body parts directly, it was said that there was no discomfort to move that part of the body because it could be expanded or contracted.

When using it, it was said that various applications could be considered. For example to use it as a sensor displayer to indicate the measurement of waveform of an electrocardiogram by sticking it to the back of the hand, or to watch a simple message dispatched by the family etc.

Prof. Someya said that “When using a skin displayer, access to information for people of all generations from the elderly to children have been made easy, improvement in living quality can be expected."

   I think it is an interesting and innovative invention with unlimited applications.

A man of 10,000 years ago discovered in England had light dark skin - DNA analysis

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

肌は浅黒かった 英で発見の１万年前の男性 ＤＮＡ分析

2月8日 7時33分

ロンドンにある自然史博物館などは、イギリス南西部で発見されたおよそ１万年前の男性の骨のＤＮＡを分析した結果、肌が浅黒かったことが判明したと発表し、ヨーロッパ北部の多くの人たちの肌が白くなったのは、これまで考えられていた時期よりもっと最近であることを示すものだとして注目されています。

この男性の骨はおよそ１万年前のものと見られ、イギリス南西部のチェダーにある洞窟で１９０３年に発見されたことから「チェダーマン」と呼ばれています。

ロンドンにある自然史博物館などの研究チームは７日、頭蓋骨から採取したＤＮＡを分析したとして、その結果を発表しました。それによりますと、チェダーマンは、肌が浅黒く、目の色は青かったほか、髪は浅黒い巻き毛だったということです。

これは、チェダーマンの肌は白いと見られるという仮説を覆す結果で、ヨーロッパ北部の多くの人たちの肌が白くなったのは、これまで考えられていた時期よりもっと最近であることを示すものだということです。

自然史博物館で４０年以上にわたってチェダーマンを調べているという研究者は、「１万年前の人たちが浅黒い肌で青色の目だったとは想像していなかったため、とても驚いている」と話しています。

My translation

A natural history museum in London announced that the DNA of a male’s bone of approximately 10,000 years ago found at the United Kingdom’s southwest was analyzed and it was revealed that he had dark skin, and the assumption that many people's skin in the northern Europe had become white in color was a more recent thing in time than we had thought up to now, and this had attracted attention.

This male’s bone was thought to be approximately 10,000 years old, and because it was found in 1903 at the cave in Cheddar in the southwest of the United Kingdom, it was called the "Cheddar Man".

 A research team of a natural history museum in London analyzed the DNA extracted from the skull, and the result was announced on the 7th. According to that, it was said that the Cheddar Man had light dark skin, also the color of the eyes was blue and the hair was light dark and curly.

This result had overturned the hypothesis which considered the skin of Cheddar Man to be white, and it showed a story that many people's skin in the northern Europe turned white was something more recent in time than had been thought up to now.

In the natural history museum, the researchers who had been checking the Cheddar Man for more than 40 years said that "It's very startling because it is beyond imagination to think that people of 10,000 years ago had light dark skin and blue eyes."

     It is an interesting scientific discovery.