Ministry of Justice by mistake discarded documents from 902 people - applications for naturalization to Japan etc.

 Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

法務省 日本への帰化申請書類など902人分を誤って廃棄

2020年8月21日 20時33分

法務省は、外国人が日本国籍を取得する際の書類を電子化する作業に漏れがあり、902人分の書類を誤って電子化せずに廃棄していたと発表しました。

法務省によりますと、外国人が日本国籍を取得する際の申請書や決裁文書などの書類は、保存するために業者に委託して電子化していますが、ことし6月、過去の記録を参照しようとした法務局からの指摘で、書類を電子化する作業に漏れがあることが分かったということです。

その後、法務省で調査した結果、平成4年から平成25年までの間に、申請の手続きを行った、合わせて902人分の書類を誤って電子化せずに廃棄していたということです。

法務省は、廃棄していた書類のうち、申請を受け付けた各地の法務局などでコピーが残っている場合は、電子化して保存するとしていて、「大変遺憾なことであり、適正な文書管理により再発防止を徹底する」としています。

Translation

The Ministry of Justice announced that there were omissions when they performed the digitization of documents during acquisition of Japanese nationality by foreigners, and 902 documents were accidentally discarded without digitization.

According to the Ministry of Justice, documents such as application forms and approval documents regarding foreigners acquiring Japanese nationality were outsourced to a contractor to save them electronically; but in June when the Legal Bureau tried to refer to past records, it was pointed out that there was a leak in the processing of digitizing documents.

After that, as a result of an investigation by the Ministry of Justice, it was found that between 1992 and 2013, when the application procedures were being dealt with, a total of 902 documents were discarded without being digitized.

The Ministry of Justice said that if there was a copy of the discarded documents at the Legal Affairs Bureau etc. where the application was received, it would be digitized and saved; and supposed that “this is very regrettable, and we will thoroughly prevent recurrence through proper document management."

              So, I hope the 902 discarded applications will be followed up accordingly.

Panasonic to increase production of EV batteries for Tesla - investing over 10 billion yen

 Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun electronic version reported the following:

パナソニック、テスラ向けEV電池増産　100億円超投資

【イブニングスクープ】

エレクトロニクス 関西 大阪

2020/8/19 18:00 (2020/8/20 0:25更新)日本経済新聞　電子版

パナソニックは2021年に、米テスラの電気自動車（EV）向け電池の生産能力を増強する。百数十億円を投じ、米国の電池工場に追加の組み立てラインをつくる。テスラの主力車「モデル3」の拡販や、新型車の生産増に対応する。電池増産は2社の戦略の相違もあり19年春に凍結となったが、車の販売が上向いたことで再開に踏み切る。

テスラと共同運営する米ネバダ州の電池工場「ギガファクトリー1」の能力を高める。現在13あるラインに、生産効率の高い新ラインを1つ加える。生産能力は1割増の年約39ギガワット時になるもよう。17年に電池生産を始めてから初の増産投資となる。9月からは電池についても、1本当たりの電気を蓄える量が5%多いものに刷新する。

テスラのEVは新型コロナウイルス下でもモデル3の販売が堅調で、新型多目的スポーツ車（SUV）「モデルY」の量産も近く本格化する。19年11月に発表したピックアップトラック「サイバートラック」の予約も増えている。

車載電池の需要が急速に高まるなか、テスラのイーロン・マスク最高経営責任者（CEO）は7月22日の決算発表で「安価な電池の生産が成長には不可欠だ」と述べていた。

ギガファクトリーを巡っては、パナソニックはテスラと18年に生産能力を5割増やす大規模な増産投資を検討したが、モデル3の量産立ち上げに手間取り、先行きを見極めるために凍結した。

当時はマスクCEOがツイッターに「電池供給が『モデル3』増産の制約だ」と投稿し、電池生産のペースが遅いことに不満を表明。意見が2社で食い違った。現在はテスラの販売や業績が堅調で、パナソニック幹部は「投資を迷う局面ではない」としている。

テスラは20年の年間世界販売について前年比36%増の50万台とする計画だ。既存の米カリフォルニア州のほか、テキサス州でも工場を立ち上げる方針で、生産能力は21年中に100万台を超える見通し。車載電池の能力増強は今後も同社の大きな課題になるとみられている。

Translation

In 2021, Panasonic would increase its production capacity of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US Tesla. By investing billions of yen, an additional assembly line at a US battery plant would be built. It would respond to sales expansion of Tesla's flagship model "Model 3", and increase production of new models. The increase in battery production was frozen in the spring of 2019 due to the difference in strategy between the two companies, but it would be resumed as car sales improved.

It enhanced the capacity of "Giga Factory 1", a battery factory in Nevada, jointly operated with Tesla. A new line with high production efficiency could be added to the 13 lines currently in use. The production capacity could be increased by 10% to about 39 GW/hour a year. This was the first investment to increase production since the starting of battery production in 2017. From September, the batteries would be reformed so that the amount of electricity stored in each battery could be 5% higher.

Tesla's EV sales of Model 3 were firm even under the new coronavirus, and mass production of the new multi-purpose sports car (SUV) "Model Y" could soon be in full swing. The number of advance orders for the pickup truck "Cyber ​​Truck" announced in November 2019 was increasing.

As the demand for in-vehicle batteries rose rapidly, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk said in a statement on July 22 that "the production of cheap batteries is essential for growth."

Regarding Giga Factory, Panasonic and Tesla considered a large-scale investment to increase the production capacity as at 2018 by 50%, but it took time to launch the mass production of Model 3, and previously it had been frozen in order to determine its future.

At that time, CEO Musk posted on Twitter that, "About the battery supply it is a constraint on increasing the production of ‘Model 3’," and complained that the pace of battery production was slow. Opinions differed between the two companies. Currently, Tesla's sales and business performance were solid, and Panasonic executives said that "it is not in a phase to hesitate investment ".

Tesla planned to increase its annual global sales for 2020 by 36% to 500,000 units. In addition to the existing one in the California state of the United States, they planned to set up factories in Texas as well, and the production capacity was expected to exceed 1 million units within 2021. The expectation to increase the capacity of in-vehicle batteries would continue to be a major issue for the company.

              So, Tesla is beefing up its electric car production capacity. It seems that it will continue to buy batteries made by Panasonic for cars aiming at the US market, and to buy batteries from companies in China for cars aiming at the China market.

Former doctor of Osaka University Hospital - Dissertation data manipulation and falsification

 Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

元大阪大学附属病院医師 論文データの改ざんやねつ造

2020年8月18日 23時27分

大阪大学などは過去に所属していた医師が発表した肺がんの治療などに関する論文にデータの改ざんやねつ造の研究不正があったと発表しました。論文は患者に薬を投与する臨床研究の参考にされていたことから大阪大学などは参加した患者などに謝罪しました。

これは大阪大学と国立循環器病研究センターが会見を開いて明らかにしました。

研究不正が見つかったのは大阪大学附属病院に以前所属し、国立循環器病研究センターでも室長を務めていた野尻崇医師が2013年から2016年にかけて発表した肺がん手術の際に炎症を抑える薬剤などについての5本の論文です。

掲載されたデータに不正の疑いがあるとの指摘があったことから大学などが調査した結果、カルテにない数値を用いてグラフを作成するなど複数のねつ造や改ざんがあったと認定したということです。

調査に対し、医師は「ミスで不正は行っていない」と説明したということです。

医師はすでに退職しているということですが、大学などでは論文の取り下げを勧告するとともに懲戒解雇相当の処分にしました。

このうち1本の論文は、大阪大学附属病院が行った160人の患者に薬剤を投与した臨床研究の際に参考にされていましたが、これまでのところ健康被害は出ていないということで、病院は参加した患者に文書で謝罪したということです。

大阪大学と国立循環器病研究センターは「このような事態が発生したことは誠に遺憾です。意識の向上に一層努めるとともに再発防止に取り組みます」としています。

Translation

Osaka University and others had announced that there was a fraud on data tampering and fabrication regarding the research data on the treatment of lung cancer etc. published by a doctor who was belong to them in the past. Since the paper was used as a reference for clinical studies in administering drugs to patients, Osaka University and others apologized to the participating patients.

This was made clear by an interview between Osaka University and the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease Research.

Research misconduct was found done by Dr. Takashi Nojiri who was previously belong to the Osaka University Hospital as the director of the National Cardiovascular Research Center relating to five papers announced from 2013 to 2016 about drugs etc. that suppressed inflammation during lung cancer surgery.

After it was pointed out that the posted data was suspected to be fraudulent, the university etc. investigated it and found that there were multiple falsifications and tampering, such as creating graphs using figures not in the clinical records.

In response to the investigation, the doctor explained that he did not commit fraud by mistake.

It was said that the doctor had already retired, but universities and others recommended that the thesis be withdrawn, and the disciplinary dismissal was taken.

One of these papers was used as a reference during a clinical study conducted by Osaka University Hospital on 160 patients, but no health hazard had been reported so far. The hospital had apologized in writing to the patients who were involved.

Osaka University and the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease Research said, "We regret that such a situation has occurred. We will try hard to raise awareness and prevent recurrence."

              So, it is nice to note that Osaka University and the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease Research have the courage to admit the error occurred in their organizations.

Mitsubishi Chemical - in a new factory in Taiwan to produce advanced materials related to 5G

 

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun electronic version reported the following

三菱ケミカル、5G関連で台湾に新工場　先端素材を生産

【イブニングスクープ】

環境エネ・素材 中国・台湾

2020/8/17 18:00日本経済新聞　電子版

 三菱ケミカルは次世代通信規格「5G」向けなどの半導体に使う高機能な化学品の工場を2021年に台湾に新設する。現地メーカーからの引き合いが強く投資を決めた。全体の生産能力は現在よりも5割高まる。半導体向けの先端素材は日本企業が強みを持つ一方で、韓国や中国企業が内製化で追い上げており先行投資で引き離す。

日本の素材企業は、半導体関連ではフォトレジストや高純度ガス、ウエハーなど主要原材料で世界でのシェアが5割を超えるとされる。ただ、足元では韓国のSKマテリアルズが高純度フッ化水素の量産を始め、中国国有企業の中国化工集団も半導体製造用の特殊ガス工場を21年にも新設する。

国際的な競争が厳しくなるなか、三菱ケミカルは台湾の新竹市に半導体の製造で使う洗浄剤の工場を新設する。洗浄剤はシリコンウエハーなどに付着した微小な不純物などを取り除く工程で使う。台湾の半導体大手、台湾積体電路製造（TSMC）などが主な顧客とみられる。高機能品の供給を通じて中韓勢の台頭をけん制する。投資額は十数億円のもようだ。

TSMCは中国にも工場を持つが、最先端の製品は台湾でつくっている。洗浄剤など半導体素材は純度を高める高度な生産技術がいるほか、3万点あるといわれる半導体の部材ごとに顧客の要望を聞いて少量生産するきめ細かな営業体制も必要になる。米中摩擦で中国の地政学リスクが高まるなか、台湾投資の優位性が増している。

他の素材メーカーも台湾での生産増強を進める。日立化成は75億円を投じて半導体の基板材料の新工場を建設し、5月から稼働を始めた。三井化学も50億円を投じて半導体の製造工程に使う特殊な樹脂テープの生産を台湾・高雄市で新工場を1月に稼働させ、生産能力を1.5倍に引き上げた。

化学メーカーの動向に詳しいKPMG FASの真野薫氏は「日本は半導体産業向け素材での微細化対応・量産化で10年は先行している」としながらも「国策による内製化や半導体の進化スピードが鈍化して素材の汎用化が進めば、市場を取られる可能性もある」と指摘する。

半導体は新型コロナウイルスの流行による在宅勤務の拡大などで通信量が増え、高速通信機器向けの需要が伸びている。世界的に5G関連の市場が本格的に立ち上がってきたことも大きい。世界半導体市場統計（WSTS）によると21年の世界の市場規模は4522億ドル（47兆円）と19年比で9.7%拡大する見込みだ。

Translation

Mitsubishi Chemical would establish a new factory in Taiwan in 2021 for the highly functional chemicals used for semiconductors such as those for the next generation communication standard "5G". Inquiries from local manufacturers were strong and investment was decided. The total production capacity would be increased by 50% from the present. While Japanese companies had strengths in cutting-edge materials for semiconductors, South Korean and Chinese companies were catching up in their in-house production, yet this advanced investment could create a leading distance between them.

Japanese material companies were said to have a global market share of more than 50% in the semiconductor-related major raw materials such as photoresists, high-purity gas, and wafers. However, SK Materials of South Korea had recently begun mass production of high-purity hydrogen fluoride, and the Chinese chemical industry group under the Chinese state-owned enterprise would also establish a special gas factory for semiconductor manufacturing in 2021.

Amid stiff international competition, Mitsubishi Chemical would establish a new cleaning agent plant for semiconductor manufacturing in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The cleaning agent could be used in the process of removing minute impurities and the like adhering to silicon wafers. Major customers include Taiwan's semiconductor giant, the Taiwan Integrated Circuit Manufacturing (TSMC). By supplying high-performance products, it suppressed the rise of Chinese and South Korean groups. It seemed that the investment amount could be in billions of yen.

TSMC had a factory in China, but the most advanced products were made in Taiwan. In addition to having the advanced manufacturing technologies that enhanced the purity of semiconductor materials such as cleaning agents, it was also necessary to have a detailed sales system in which small quantities were produced by listening to customer requests for each of the 30,000 semiconductor components. As China's geopolitical risk was increasing due to the US-China friction, Taiwan's investment advantage had increased.

Other material manufacturers were also increasing production in Taiwan. Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd invested 7.5 billion yen to build a new factory for semiconductor substrate materials and began operations in May. Mitsui Chemicals had also invested 5 billion yen at a new plant in Kaohsiung of Taiwan to produce in January a special resin tape used in the semiconductor manufacturing process that would increase production capacity by 1.5 times.

Kaoru Mano of KPMG FAS, who was familiar with the trends of chemical manufacturers perceived that "Japan is ahead by a decade by responding to miniaturization and mass production of materials for the semiconductor industry"; and also pointed out that  “In-house production due to national policy, a slow down in the speed of progress; and if the materials become more common, all could made possible that the market could be taken over."

Due to an increase in working from home etc. caused by the epidemic of the new coronavirus, the demand for semiconductors had expanded caused by the need for high-speed communication equipment as a result of an increase in communication volume. It was also significant that the 5G-related market had started in earnest worldwide. According to the World Semiconductor Market Statistics (WSTS), the global market size in 2021 was expected to be 452.2 billion dollars (47 trillion yen), an increase of 9.7% compared to 2019.

              So, the global demand for semiconductors has expanded due to the need for high-speed communication equipment as a result of an increase in communication volume.

中國計劃將人民幣電子化測試擴展到北京，香港

 Yahoo News on 16.8. 2020 reported the following:

China Plans to Expand Digital Yuan Tests to Beijing, Hong Kong

Joanna Ossinger and Dong Lyu

Bloomberg yesterday

(Bloomberg) -- China has outlined plans for further tests of its digital currency initiative, now aiming for trials in areas including Beijing and Hong Kong.

A digital renminbi trial will start in some of the country’s most developed regions, the Commerce Ministry said in an announcement on Friday that didn’t provide a timeline. Tests will take place in the area of northern China encompassing Beijing, coastal city Tianjin and Hebei Province; the city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta region including Shanghai; and the Greater Bay Area in the Pearl River Delta Region including Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau.

Cities in central and western China may also undertake the trials if they meet certain conditions, the ministry said, without specifying what they were.

The exercise will kick off in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou, Xiong’an and sites for the 2022 Winter Olympics and will then expand to other regions, the announcement said.

The digital currency trials are part of a broader package of initiatives Beijing rolled out on Friday to stimulate innovation and encourage further opening of its service sector. The same day, the country reported steady industrial growth in July, though retail sales continued to show weakness.

China has been ramping up plans and testing for the People’s Bank of China digital currency in recent months, an initiative that some see as a threat to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and even potentially someday to the U.S. dollar’s dominance.

In April, Bloomberg News reported that state-owned Chinese banks were conducting internal, hypothetical-use tests of the currency. Last month, Softbank Group Corp.-backed ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing said it was working with the PBOC on tests of the currency and Bloomberg reported that Tencent Holdings Ltd.-backed food delivery giant Meituan Dianping was planning tests on its platforms as well.

Translation

（彭博社）-  中國已經勾畫出對其電子貨幣計劃進行進一步測試的計劃，目前的目標是在北京和香港等地區進行測試。

商務部在周五的公告中稱，將在該國一些最發達的地區開始試用人民幣電子化，但沒有提供時間表。測試將在包括北京，沿海城市天津和河北省在內的中國北方地區進行；包括上海在內的長三角地區的城市群；以及珠三角地區的大灣區，包括深圳，香港和澳門。

該部表示，如果中西部城市符合某些條件，他們也可能會進行試驗，但沒有說明具體情況。

公告稱，試驗將在深圳，成都，蘇州，雄安以及2022年冬季奧運會的地點開始，然後將擴展到其他地區。

電子化貨幣試驗是北京周五推出的旨在刺激創新並鼓勵其服務業進一步開放的一系列舉措的一部分。當天，該國公告7月份工業在穩定增長，儘管零售額繼續表現疲軟。

近幾個月來，中國一直在加大對中國人民銀行電子化貨幣的計劃和測試，這一計劃被一些人視為對比特幣等加密貨幣的威脅，甚至有可能在某天對美元的主導地位構成威脅。

彭博新聞社（Bloomberg News）4月份報導稱，中國的國有銀行正在對該貨幣進行內部假設使用測試。上個月，由軟銀集團公司（Softbank Group Corp.）支持的乘車公司滴滴出行（Didi Chuxing）表示，正在與中國人民銀行（PBOC）合作進行人民幣匯率測試，彭博社報導稱，騰訊控股有限公司（Tencent Holdings Ltd.）支持的食品配送巨頭美團點評（Meituan Dianping）也在計劃對其平台進行測試。 。

              From China’s point of view, both politically and economically, there are many good reasons to include Hong Kong into its currency digitization project. It is another sign that Hong Kong is moving closer to the orbit of China.

Google to discontinue direct data provision to the Hong Kong authorities - due to enforcement of the National Security Law

 Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

Google、香港当局へデータ直接提供中止　国安法施行で

中国・台湾 北米

2020/8/14 22:10

米メディアは14日、米アルファベット傘下のグーグルが香港当局へ今後直接データを提供しないと報じた。香港国家安全維持法の施行を受けた措置だ。

米紙ワシントン・ポストによると、グーグルは13日、香港の警察当局に対し、今後は米国との刑事共助条約を通じて、データ開示の要求に対応すると通知したという。この手法は米司法省を経由することになり、数週間から数カ月かかるという。グーグルは今後直接対応しない。事実上中国本土と同じ扱いとなる。

グーグルの声明によると、グーグルは利用者のデータに関する全ての要請について検討し、「過度に幅広い要請」についてはユーザーのプライバシーを保護するために拒否するという。またグーグルは6月30日の香港国家安全法施行以降はデータを提供していなかったという。

米IT各社は利用者の当局へのデータ提供が人権侵害につながる事態を懸念している。香港国家安全法の影響を精査するためとし、グーグルとフェイスブック、ツイッターの3社は7月上旬、香港当局に対する利用者情報の提供を一時停止したと明らかにしていた。

香港国家安全法の規定では、ネット上の情報が国家安全に危害を加えると判断すれば、プラットフォーム業者に削除やアクセス制限を求めることができる。

Translation

The US media reported on the 14th that Google, which was belong to the US Alphabet, would no longer provide data directly to Hong Kong authorities. It was a measure that came into force after noting the Hong Kong National Security Maintenance Act.

According to the Washington Post, Google had informed the Hong Kong police officials on Thursday that it would respond to requests for data disclosure through the Criminal Mutual Aid Treaty with the United States. It was said that this method would go through the US Department of Justice and could take weeks to months. From now on Google would no longer respond directly. Effectively the treatment was same as with mainland China.

According to Google's statement, Google would review all requests for your data, and would refuse "excessive broad requests" so as to protect the privacy of users. In addition, Google had not provided data since the enforcement of the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30th.

US IT companies were concerned that providing user data to the authorities could lead to human rights violations. In order to scrutinize the impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Google, Facebook and Twitter announced in early July that they had suspended the provision of user information to the Hong Kong authorities.

According to the provisions of the Hong Kong National Security Law, platform operators could be asked to delete or restrict access if it was determined that the information on the Internet would pose a national security risk.

              It is nice to note that Google and other major US IT companies in Hong Kong, for the purpose of protecting user privacy, will no longer provide data directly to Hong Kong authorities as a response to the new Hong Kong National Security Maintenance Act.

US Microsoft to launch a two-screen smartphone – price starting from 150,000 yen

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

米マイクロソフト、２画面のスマホを発売へ　価格は１５万円から

2020.08.13 Thu posted at 13:30 JST

ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 米マイクロソフトは１２日、２つの画面を備えたスマートフォン「サーフェス・デュオ」を９月１０日に発売すると発表した。価格は１３９９ドル（約１５万円）と、米アップルのスマートフォン「ｉＰｈｏｎｅ　１１　Ｍａｘ」と同水準となっている。

高額で、人々が購入に殺到する可能性も少ないが、価格や端末にはいくつかの相応の理由がありそうだ。

まず、このスマホは２画面だ。基本的には折り畳めるタブレットで電話としても利用できる。２つの画面はいずれも５．６インチで、広げると８．１インチ相当のディスプレーとして利用できる。４Ｋ動画に対応のカメラも搭載している。

ヒンジは両方向に作用するので、端末を本のように折り畳んだり、両面が使える端末のように展開できたりする。本体も薄く、ディスプレーもあらゆる携帯電話の中でも最も素晴らしいもののひとつだ。

マイクロソフトはまた、デュオを生産性を高める端末として売り込んでいる。マイクロソフトによれば、オフィススイートをデュオ向けに最適化したとしており、ビデオ会議や外出先での作業もやりやすくなるという。

さらにデュオはおそらくマイクロソフトにとって「見本」となる端末だ。オリジナルのサーフェスのように、マイクロソフトは何百万もの人たちに端末の購入を促そうとするよりは、端末で何ができるのかを示すことになりそうだ。

デュオはマイクロソフトにとって初のアンドロイド端末でもある。

Translation

New York (CNN Business) - Microsoft announced on the 12th that it would release a smartphone "Surface Duo" with two screens on September 10th. The price would  be 1,399 dollars (about 150,000 yen), which was at the same level as the US Apple smartphone "iPhone 11 Max".

As it was expensive, people were less likely to rush to buy it; but there might be several good reasons for the price and the device.

First of all, this smartphone had two screens. Basically, it could be used as a phone with a foldable tablet. Each of the two screens was 5.6 inches, and when expanded it could be used as a display equivalent to 8.1 inches. It also had a camera compatible with 4K video.

Since the hinge acted in both directions, the terminal could be folded like a book or could be deployed like a double-sided terminal. The body was thin and the display was one of the most amazing of all mobile phones.

Microsoft was also promoting this Duo as a productivity-enhancing device. According to Microsoft, Duos had been optimized for the office suite, making it easier to work in video conferences and in places beyond one’s own office.

In addition, the Duo was probably a "sample" device for Microsoft. Like the original surface, Microsoft was likely to show what it could do, rather than trying to encourage millions of people to buy it.

The Duo would also be Microsoft's first Android device.

              So, Microsoft is testing the market with a foldable smartphone.