島霧酒廠造的「黒霧島」銷量冠軍

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

「黒霧島」が「いいちこ」超え…霧島酒造が首位

　帝国データバンク福岡支店は１５日、焼酎メーカーの２０１２年の売上高ランキングを発表した。

　主力の芋焼酎「黒霧島」が好調だった霧島酒造（宮崎県）が、前年比６・１％の増収で５００億円を超え、１０回目の今回初めてトップに立った。

　霧島酒造は、０３年の１回目は１２４億円で８位だったが、関東や関西などの大都市圏でも徐々に「黒霧島」が浸透するなど、右肩上がりで業績を拡大してきた。

　９年連続で首位だった三和酒類（大分県）は２位に後退。昨春、主力の麦焼酎「いいちこ」をペットボトルに詰めた新商品を発売するなどし、８年ぶりの増収を確保したものの、伸びはわずかにとどまった。

　上位５０社の総売上高は前年比２・１％増の２８４９億円。東日本大震災が発生した１１年に消費の自粛ムードが広がった反動もあり、４年ぶりにプラスに転じた。増収だったのは半数近い２３社で、前年（１１社）の約２倍に増えた。税引き後利益の黒字は、損益が判明した４４社中４２社（前年は３９社中３４社）にのぼった。

　ランキング調査は、帝国データバンクの企業データベースをもとに、１２年１～１２月期決算の売上高に占める焼酎の割合が５０％以上のメーカーを対象に実施した。

（2013年8月15日20時22分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

   On the 15^th (August) the Teikoku Databank Fukuoka branch announced the sales ranking in 2012 for white-distilled-liquor makers.

   Kirishimashuzo (Miyazaki prefecture) with its prime liquor "Black Fog Island", which was distilled from sweet potatoes, had sales exceeded 50 billion yen which was an increase of income by 6.1% compared with last year. This time, the 10^th round in ranking, it ranked at the top for the first time.

   Kirishimashuzo in 2003, in the 1st round ranking, was at the 8th place at 12,400 million yen. Expansion was achieved by the continuous rising sales of the "Black Fog Island" that even permeated gradually in metropolises, such as Kanto and Kansai.

   Sanwa Shurui (Oita Prefecture) which was at the first place for nine consecutive years in ranking retreated to the 2nd place. Although last spring a new product which filled the prime barley shochu "Iichiko" in a plastic bottle was put on the market, and an increase in income was secured for the first time in eight years, the growth remained slight.

   The gross sale of top 50 companies was 284,900 million yen, an increase of 2.1% compared with last year. While there was a reaction to the Great East Japan Earthquake which generated a wide spread mood in self-restraint on consumption in 2011, sales increased for the first time in four years. 23 companies, which were nearly half of the 50 companies, had an income increase of about twice compared with the previous year (11 companies in the previous year). Among companies that had their profit and loss approved, those with after-tax profit in black reached 42 companies out of 44 companies (there were 34 companies out of 39 companies in the previous year).

   This ranking investigation was conducted for makers that had 50% or more of their sales in white distilled liquor, as represented in their settled account covering the period from January to December of 2012, based on the company database of Teikoku Databank.

It seems that Kirishimashuzo’s "Black Fog Island" is quite popular. I would try to enjoy one when I visit Japan next time in order to find out why it is so popular.

日本最大護衛艦舉行下水禮

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

海自最大の護衛艦「いずも」進水

8月6日 17時32分

全長およそ２５０メートルと、海上自衛隊で最大となる護衛艦の進水式が、横浜市で行われました。
多くのヘリコプターを運用できる空母のような形が特徴で、来年度末に部隊に配備される予定です。

６日に進水したのは、海上自衛隊のヘリコプター搭載型の護衛艦「いずも」で、およそ１２００億円をかけて建造が進められています。
６日、建造に当たっている横浜市の造船会社で、防衛省や海上自衛隊の関係者らが出席して進水式が行われました。
「いずも」は全長およそ２５０メートル、基準排水量およそ１９５００トンと、海上自衛隊で最も大きく、最大で１４機のヘリコプターを搭載できます。
艦橋を甲板の片側に寄せた空母のような形が特徴で、同時に５機のヘリコプターが発着でき、海上自衛隊では周辺海域のさまざまな事態に対応する能力が向上できるとしています。
防衛省はこの護衛艦について、「戦闘機の発着は想定していない」として、専守防衛の立場から政府見解で保有が許されないとされている「攻撃型空母」には当たらないと説明しています。
防衛省では同じ型の護衛艦をもう１隻建造する予定で、「いずも」は今後、装備などを取り付けたあと、来年度末に部隊に配備される予定です。

(試譯文)

A launching ceremony was held in Yokohama for a convoy; with about 250 meters in full length it would serve as the biggest in the Maritime Self Defense Force.

It featured a shape that looked like an aircraft carrier where many helicopters could be employed, and it would be deployed into a unit at the end of next year.

Launched on the 6^th (August), it was a helicopter loading type convoy of the Maritime Self Defense Force: “Izumo”; its construction was in progress and it would cost about 120 billion yen.

On the 6th the launching ceremony was held in a shipbuilding company in Yokohama which was responsible for the construction. The staff of the Ministry of Defense and the Maritime Self Defense Force was present.

"Izumo" was about 250 meters in full length, the full-load displacement was about 19500 tons; it was the largest in the Maritime Self Defense Force and could carry 14 helicopters at the maximum.

Featuring the shape of an aircraft carrier, it brought near the enclosed bridge to one side of the deck, and supposedly that five helicopters could depart and arrive simultaneously. It would improve the Maritime Self Defense Force’s capability to correspond to various situations in the surrounding ocean area.

The Ministry of Defense was explaining that "the arrival and departure of fighter plane are not assumed" in this convoy. It did not suppose to possess the "attacked type aircraft carrier" as it was not allowed by the government from the defense position based on its exclusively defensive point of view.

In the Ministry of Defense, one more convoy of the same model was due to be built. From now on it would fit “Izumo” with the equipment etc., after that deployed it into a unit at the end of next year.

It seems that Japan is gradually building up its military might at sea.

台湾対日機関会長與日本官房長官會面

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

台湾の対日機関会長、官房長官と面会…断交後初

【台北＝比嘉清太】台湾の対日窓口機関「亜東関係協会」の李嘉進会長は１０日、訪日中の今月８日、首相官邸で菅官房長官に面会したことを明らかにした。

　李氏によると、日本と台湾が外交関係を断絶した１９７２年に設立された同協会のトップが日本の主要閣僚と面会したのは初めて。

　面会は数分程度で、沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺海域での操業ルールをめぐる日台漁業交渉が今年４月に妥結したことについて「安倍首相への感謝」などを菅官房長官に伝えた。

　馬英九(マーインジウ)総統に近い李氏は、今年５月に同協会会長に就任。今月４～９日の間、就任後初めて訪日し、この間、小泉進次郎・自民党青年局長とも会ったという。

（2013年8月10日20時16分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

On the 10^th it was made clear that Li Jiajin, the Chairman of the "East Asia Relations Association" of Taiwan which was an agency to contact Japan, had met Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga in the Prime Minister's official residence on the 8th of this month (August) during a visit to Japan.

   According to Mr. Li, this was the first time that top personnel of the association, established in 1972 when Japan and Taiwan severed diplomatic relations, to meet with a key Japanese Cabinet Minister.

   At the meeting for a few minutes the "gratitude to Prime Minister Abe" etc. was conveyed via the Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga regarding the conclusion of an agreement in April this year during the Japanese Taiwan fishery negotiations which involved the operation rules in ocean area surrounding Okinawa and the Senkaku Islands.

   Mr. Li, who was closely connected to President Ma Ying-jeou, was inaugurated as the association’s president in May this year. This month for the first time he visited Japan during 4^th to 9^th after his assumption of office, and it was said that he also met with the Liberal Democratic Party youth bureau chief, Koizumi Shinjirou during this period.

It seems that Japan is trying to strengthen its ties with Taiwan.

緬甸三飛機場營運權公開招標

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

ミャンマー３空港国際入札、日本勢受注は１か所

ミャンマー政府が国内３空港の運営や改修を請け負う事業者を選ぶ国際入札の結果を発表し、双日や日本航空などが出資する商社「ＪＡＬＵＸ」と三菱商事を中心とする共同企業体が、ミャンマー中部のマンダレー国際空港の優先交渉権を得た。

　一方、最大都市ヤンゴン周辺の２空港では地元資本や韓国勢に敗れ、受注できなかった。

　マンダレー国際空港は２０００年開港。国際線、国内線の各ターミナルと滑走路１本を備え、国内の主要１２都市に路線を就航するハブ空港として年間５８万人が利用している。同政府がビルの改修と、３０年間の長期契約で空港運営を請け負う事業者を公募していた。契約すれば、日本企業が海外で空港全体の運営に参入する初の事例となる。ヤンゴン国際空港では日本企業を含む３グループが応札したが、地元財閥や中国企業の連合に敗れた。新設のハンタワディー国際空港にも日本企業を含む２グループが応札したが、韓国勢などの企業連合が落札。いずれも日揮のグループが次点に入るにとどまった。

（2013年8月12日23時17分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

   The result of the international bidding event held by the Myanmar government to choose some entrepreneurs to do contract management and repair of the three domestic airports was released; the consortium centering on the trading company "JALUX" and Mitsubishi which Sojitz, Japan Airlines etc. contributed funding had acquired the preferential negotiating rights over the Mandalay international airport which was located in central Myanmar.

   On the other hand, for the two airports around the biggest city Yangon, the bid from Japan had been beaten by the local capital groups and those from South Korea.

   The Mandalay international airport was opened in 2000. The international flights and the domestic flights each had one terminal and one runway, and every year 580,000 people used it as a hub airport which had routes going to 12 main domestic cities. The government was recruiting openly the entrepreneur to get contracts in repairing the building, and an agreement to manage the airport for 30 long years. If Japan got the contracts, it would become the first example that Japanese companies entered into the management of a whole airport overseas. For the Yangon international airport three groups including Japanese companies, tendered the bid, Japan was lost to a union of local capital groups and a Chinese company. For the new Hantawadi international airport two groups including Japanese companies tendered a bid. It was awarded to a join enterprise from the side of South Korea etc. In both cases the group of JGC remained the runner-up.

I do not expect South Korea could be so successful in bidding for these contracts.

日本人口６５歳以上佔四分之一

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

６５歳以上、４人に１人…最多の３１８６万人

　総務省は１６日の「敬老の日」に合わせて日本の高齢者人口の推計（９月１５日現在）を発表した。

　６５歳以上の高齢者が総人口に占める割合は２５．０％（前年比０．９ポイント増）となり、総人口の４人に１人が高齢者となった。

　高齢者人口は前年比１１２万人増の３１８６万人で、最高を更新した。

　同省は「『団塊の世代』が６５歳に達し始めたことが要因」と分析している。

　６５歳以上の男女別人口は、男性１３６９万人、女性１８１８万人で、総人口に占める男女別の割合は、男性が２２．１％、女性が２７．８％となった。

　年代別でも、８０歳以上が前年比３８万人増の９３０万人で、９００万人を突破した。７０歳以上は、６１万人増の２３１７万人、７５歳以上は４３万人増の１５６０万人だった。

（2013年9月16日09時19分  読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

On the 16^th in accordance with the "Respect for the Aged Day" the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the estimation (as of September 15) on the elderly population in Japan.

In the overall population, the ratio of the elderly people aged 65 and above accounted for 25.0% (an increase of 0.9 point compared with last year); overall one in four became an elderly.

Compared with last year, the elderly population had an increase of 1,120,000 people to become 31,860,000 people, updating the highest figure so far.

The said ministry analyzed that "It is a factor that "baby-boomers" began to reach 65 years old".

In the overall population aged 65 and above, in ratio broken down according to sex, the population was 13,690,000 men and 18,180,000 women, in that the man was 22.1%, the woman was 27.8%.

As for the age exception, those aged 80 and over broke through 9 million people to become 9,300,000; it was an increase of 380,000 people compared with last year. Aged 70 and over were 23,170,000 people, an increase of 610,000; aged 75 and over were 15,600,000 people, an increase of 430,000.

Like mainland China, Japan is having an aging population. Probably, government spending on both social welfare and medical welfare for the aged would increase.

甘迺迪長女可能當駐日大使

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

新駐日大使 ケネディ氏が決意表明
9月19日 23時53分

アメリカの新しい駐日大使に指名された故ケネディ元大統領の長女キャロライン・ケネディ氏が１９日、議会上院の公聴会に臨み、日米同盟の強化などに取り組む決意を表明しました。
ケネディ氏が公の場で対日政策について発言するのは初めてです。

この中でケネディ氏は、「日米両国は、政治的にも経済的にも深く結びついている。日米同盟は、地域の平和と安定の礎だ」と述べ、日米同盟の強化や、ＴＰＰ＝環太平洋パートナーシップ協定の推進などに取り組む決意を表明しました。
ことし７月に駐日大使に指名されたケネディ氏は、議会上院の承認が得られれば、来月にも日本に着任する見通しです。
大使に就任すれば、女性初の駐日アメリカ大使となります。

(試譯文)

Ms. Caroline Kennedy, the eldest daughter of the deceased former president Kennedy, was nominated as the new American ambassador to Japan and she attended the public hearing of the parliamentary Senate on the 19^th; she expressed her decision to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance etc. 

This was the first time that Ms. Kennedy spoke about Japanese policy publicly.

For Ms. Kennedy "Japan and the U.S. are deeply connected politically, economically, and that Japan-U.S. alliances are the foundation of stability and peace in the area". She expressed the decision to tackle the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance and the promotion of TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement etc.

Ms. Kennedy was nominated as the ambassador to Japan in July this year and was expected to arrive in Japan next month for the new post, if recognition from the parliamentary Senate could be obtained.

If inaugurated as an ambassador, she would become the first United States woman ambassador in Japan.

I am interested in the history of the Kennedy family. The Kennedy family was an awesome political force in the US during the 1960s.

北朝鮮豪華客船停航

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

北朝鮮 豪華客船運航取りやめ
9月11日 21時27分

北朝鮮は、ことしからシンガポール船籍の豪華客船による景勝地・クムガン山への観光を始めましたが、中国がこの春以降、北朝鮮への観光ツアーを制限した影響で、このほど運航を取りやめたことが分かりました。

北朝鮮は、ことし２月からシンガポール船籍の豪華客船を北東部のラソン経済特区の港に停泊させ、カジノ付きの宿泊施設として活用するとともに、５月からは、ラソン経済特区と南東部の景勝地・クムガン山の間で観光船として運航していました。
しかし、中朝関係筋がＮＨＫに明らかにしたところによりますと、中国が４月以降、朝鮮半島の緊張の高まりを受けて北朝鮮への観光ツアーを制限したことで、当てにしていた中国人観光客が集まらず、北朝鮮は先月、豪華客船の運航を取りやめ、船は今月２日ごろ、ラソン経済特区の港を出てシンガポールに戻ったということです。
これについて北朝鮮の国営メディアは一切伝えておらず、キム・ジョンウン第１書記が外貨獲得のため観光を重視する姿勢を打ち出しているなかで、イメージダウンを避けたいものとみられます。
また、最近北朝鮮が韓国に対し、陸路でのクムガン山観光の再開を強く働きかけている背景には、こうした中国人観光客の減少を穴埋めしたい思惑もありそうです。

(試譯文)

Although from this year North Korea began the sightseeing to the scenic spot of Qum Gang Mountain by luxury liner that had a Singapore nationality, because of China’s restriction on the sightseeing tour to North Korea since this spring, it turned out that the operation was canceled recently.

From February this year, the luxury liner with the Singapore nationality anchoring in the harbor of the Rason special economic zone located at the northeast part, was fitted out with accommodation facilities and a casino. From May, North Korea operated it as a tourist ship going between the Rason special economic zone and the scenic spot at the Qum Gang Mountain located at the southeast part.

However, according to a China-North Korea competent source, it was made clear to NHK that in April, in response to the rise of strain in the Korean Peninsula, China restricted the sightseeing tour to North Korea. Afterwards, it was said that the Chinese tourists who were counted on did not gather for the trips. North Korea canceled the operation of the luxury liner last month, and on the second of this month the ship came out of the harbor of the Rason special economic zone and returned to Singapore.

No state media in North Korea were told about this. Because the First Secretary Kim Jong Eun, for the acquisition of foreign currency, had set forth a posture that sightseeing was considered as important, the media was regarded as to avoid any damage to this image.

Moreover, as there was a wish to make up for the reduction in Chinese tourists, the matter was likely to serve as a backdrop which influenced strongly North Korea in these days to resume with South Korea the Qum Gang mountain sightseeing that used the overland route.

It seems that North Korea is eager to earn foreign currency.