申請成為難民急増、目的是「掩飾」打工?

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

難民認定申請が急増、就労目的で「偽装」か

2014年10月18日 03時07分

　日本への難民認定申請の件数が急増している。

　法務省によると、今年１～９月の申請件数は約３６００件で、過去最多だった昨年の３２６０件をすでに突破し、最終的に４０００件を超える見通しだ。２０１０年３月の制度改正で、正規滞在の外国人であれば、審査結果が出るまで合法で働けるようになったことから、実は就労が目的の「偽装」申請が横行しているとみられている。

　制度改正は、審査期間中に経済的に行き詰まる申請者への配慮が目的だった。審査が半年以上に長引いた場合に限り、生活費を自ら稼ぐことを認めた。ただ、申請時点で不法滞在の外国人には適用されない。

　このため、改正後に増えたのは、留学や短期滞在など正規の在留資格を持つ外国人からの申請だ。１０年の６６８件から、１３年は２４０４件と３倍超となった。

　留学ビザで来日した外国人の場合、許可を得て原則１日４時間までのアルバイトが可能だが、難民認定申請して半年たてば職種を問わずフルタイムで就労できる。同省入国管理局には日本語学校などから、「留学生が難民認定申請をして本格的に働き始め、学校に来なくなった」という相談が寄せられているという。

(試譯文)

In Japan the number of applications to become confirmed refugee was increasing rapidly.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of applications for January to September this year was about 3,600, breaking last year’s 3,260 that was so far the highest in record, and it was estimated that it would go beyond 4,000 by year end. Due to a system change in March 2010, it was permissible for a foreigner, who had a lawful stay, to work legally until his application result was known. It was thought that these "disguised" applications, which in fact were for the purpose of starting to work, were rampant.

   The purpose for this system change was to give consideration to claimants who might come to an economic deadlock during the verification period. It was only in those cases that the verification was prolonged into over six months that one would be allowed to earn his own cost of living. However, it was not applicable to foreigners who were staying illegal at the time of application.

   Therefore after the system changes, there was an increase in the application from foreigners who had regular residence based on qualifications such as studying from abroad or for a temporary stay. From 668 cases in 2010 it increased by 3 times to 2,404 cases in 2013.

In case that a foreigner who was permitted to visit Japan using a student visa, a part-time job up to 4 hours a day was permissible in principle. One could apply for refugee confirmation and start working full-time in spite of the job category if the processing time exceeded six months. It was said that the said Ministry’s Immigration Bureau, during the consultation with schools that taught Japanese language, heard that "students from overseas begin to apply for refugee confirmation and then to work in earnest; they do not go to the school any more".

For a country like Japan which is having a population decline, I think to handle 4,000 refugee applications in one year is manageable.

視窗電腦軟件有漏洞, 電腦有被入侵危險

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

「ウィンドウズ」に新たな弱点　ＰＣ乗っ取られる危険性

2014年10月15日22時48分

　米マイクロソフトは１５日（日本時間）、基本ソフト（ＯＳ）「ウィンドウズ」で新たな弱点が見つかったと発表した。ハッカーの攻撃を受ける可能性があり、同社は修正プログラムをきちんと導入するよう呼びかけている。

　弱点はウィンドウズのすべてのバージョンで見つかった。攻撃を受けると、パソコンが乗っ取られて情報を盗まれたり、犯罪に使われたりする恐れがある。多くのパソコンは必要なプログラムが自動更新される設定になっているが、設定を切っている場合は、自ら更新作業をする必要がある。

　米セキュリティー会社の報告では、親ロシア派のハッカー集団がこの夏、ウクライナ政府関係者らへのスパイ活動に今回の弱点を悪用していたという。

(試譯文)

Microsoft in the US announced on the 15th (October) (Japan time) that a new weak point was found in the operating system (OS) of "Windows". There was a possibility that it could come under attack from hackers, and the said company was calling for the installation of a proper corrective program.

  The weak point was found in all versions of Windows. When it was under attack, the PC would be taken over, and information would be stolen and there were fears that it would be used for a crime. Many PCs had a setting that would renew the necessary program automatically, but in situation that the setting was turned off, it was necessary to do renewal work manually.

In a report by a security company in the US, it was said that in this summer, a hacker-group from the pro-Russian party was abusing this weak point to conduct spying activity on Ukrainian administration officials and people related to them.

So, be careful when you use your personal computer.

展覽会銷售日本“設計”

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

日本の“デザイン”売り込む展示会

10月3日 23時58分

経済成長が続く東南アジアに、日本の機能的なデザインを売りにした調理器具や生活雑貨などを売り込もうと、シンガポールで日本の中小企業の製品を集めた展示会が開かれています。

この展示会は、ＪＥＴＲＯ＝日本貿易振興機構が３日からシンガポールで開いていて、日本の中小企業を中心に８０社以上が出展し、機能的なデザインやさりげないおしゃれを売りにした調理器具や生活雑貨などが紹介されています。会場には、畳んでも厚さ２ミリと本のしおりとしても使える老眼鏡や、傘立てなしでも地面に立つ折りたたみ傘、しょうゆを入れるとサクラの形が現れる白い小皿など、およそ１２０点の製品が展示され、地元の人たちが興味深そうに見入っていました。
会場を訪れたシンガポール人の女性は「日本のデザインは控えめながら強い印象を残し、優雅さも兼ね備えていると感じました」と話していました。
製品の選考を担ったデザイナーの佐藤オオキさんは「。アジアの人たちに新しい視点を提供していきたい」と話していました。
経済成長が続く東南アジアでは欧米のブランド品の人気も高まっていますが、出展した中小企業としては、使い勝手のよさやライフスタイルに合った点をアピールして、販路を広げたい考えです。

(試譯文)

In Southeast Asia where economic growth was continuing, an exhibition that put together products made by Japanese small and medium enterprises was held in Singapore in order to sell Japanese functionally designed cookware and miscellaneous daily life items.

This show was held in Singapore from the 3^rd (October) by JETRO, a Japanese trade promotion organization. At the center were more than 80 companies from small and medium Japanese enterprises which held exhibition to introduce cookware and miscellaneous daily life items to sell functional designs and casual fashion. In the exhibition there were spectacles for the aged, even if folded it was just 2 millimeters in thickness so that it could also be used as a bookmark in a book, a folded umbrella standing on the ground even without an umbrella stand, and a white small plate with the shape of the cherry tree appeared when soy sauce was put into. Approximately 120 products were exhibited. Local people were gazing and looked interested.

A female Singaporean who visited the exhibition said that "the mild Japanese design has left me with a strong impression; I also feel that it has the elegance".

A designer Mr. Oki Sato who did the product selection was saying that “I would like to offer a new viewpoint to Asian people".

With economic growth in Southeast Asia continuing, the popularity of European and American brand name product was also rising. The small and medium enterprises doing the exhibition appealed to the point that easy-to-use and lifestyle could be combined together, and was considering expanding sales outlet.

It seems that the Japanese companies are eager to sell their designs to people in Southeast Asia. 

由於福島原発事故, 美國西岸水域検出銫

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

原発事故のセシウムか 米西海岸沖で検出

11月15日 21時38分

東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故で、海に放出されたとみられる放射性物質のセシウム１３４が、アメリカ西海岸の沖合の海水から検出されたと、アメリカの研究所が発表しました。

アメリカのウッズホール海洋研究所は、ことし８月にアメリカ・カリフォルニア州の西およそ１５０キロの沖合で採取した海水から、放射性物質のセシウム１３４を検出したと発表しました。
セシウム１３４は核分裂によってできる放射性物質で、通常自然界には存在せず、半減期が２年であることから、研究所は、過去に行われた核実験などではなく、福島第一原発の事故で海に放出されたものとみられると分析しています。そのうえで、セシウム１３４の量は１０００リットル当たり２ベクレル未満で、人間の健康や海洋生物に影響を及ぼす濃度をはるかに下回り、アメリカの環境保護局が定めた飲用水として許容できる数値の１０００分の１以下だと説明しています。
セシウム１３４は、これまでカナダの沖合では検出されていましたが、アメリカの沖合で検出されたのは、これが初めてだということです。
研究所は「日本からの放射性セシウムの流れを予測したモデルは、今後２年から３年の間にアメリカ西海岸沖での濃度が今より高くなることを示していて、観測を続ける必要がある」としています。

(試譯文)

An American research center announced that cesium-134, a radioactive material thought to have been released into the sea due to the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Number One Nuclear Power Plant accident was detected in the seawater at the offing of the United States’ west coast.

The America’s Wood Hall Oceanographic Institute announced that in August this year they detected cesium-134 radioactive material in the seawater picked up at the offing approximately 150 kilometers west of California in the United States.

Cesium-134 was a radioactive material by fission; usually it did not exist in the natural world and had a half-life of 2 years. As no nuclear tests were performed in the past, in analysis, the research center thought that it was released into the sea due to the accident in the Fukushima Number One Nuclear Power Plant. The amount of the cesium-134 was less than 2 Becquerel in 1000 liters and its density was comfortably below a level that could have an effect on human’s health or marine creature. The center explained that according to the American Environmental Protection Bureau, if the numerical value was less than 1/1000, water could be permitted as drinkable quality.

So far, while Cesium-134 had been detected at the Canadian offing, it was said that this was the first time to detect cesium at the American offing.

The research center supposed that "the model which predicts the flow of radioactive cesium from Japan shows that the density at the offing of America’s west coast will become higher in the coming 2 to 3 years, it is necessary to keep on observing".

   I hope the Cesium -134 would not affect the marine creatures in the vicinity.

上野東京線將會開通、常磐線特急名称変更

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

上野東京ライン開業決定、常磐線特急も名称変更

2014年10月31日 23時12分

　ＪＲ東日本が上野―東京駅間で線路建設を進める「上野東京ライン」開業が来年３月１４日に決まり、常磐線の二つの特急はそれぞれ「ときわ」「ひたち」に名称が変わるほか、一部の電車がいわき（福島県）―品川駅を運行する。

　ＪＲ東によると、同ラインの開業で、上野駅止まりだった高崎線、宇都宮線、常磐線（快速）の上り線は、朝の通勤ピーク時に各５本ずつ、東京駅方面へ乗り入れる。３線の利用者は上野駅での山手線、京浜東北線への乗り換えが不要となり、所要時間は１０分近く短くなる。通勤ピーク時の午前８～９時に同ラインを利用するのは約３万５０００人に上るため、上野―東京駅間の両線の混雑率は２００％超から１８０％以下に減少する見通しとなっている。

(試譯文)

Regarding the JR East Japan, the railroad track construction between Ueno-Tokyo stations was advancing; it was decided that the "Ueno - Tokyo Line" would be open on March 14th next year. In addition, the two express of the Joban Line respectively the "Tokiwa" and "Hitachi" would have name changes, some of the trains would travel between Iwaki (Fukushima) and Shinagawa stations.

  According to JR East, at the same time when this line was open, those lines which stopped at the Ueno station: the Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line, and Joban Line (rapid train) which going up-town, each would have 5 times pulling into Tokyo station during peak traveling time in the morning. For the users of these 3 lines, a transfer to Yamanote Line and Keihin Tohoku Line at Ueno station would not be necessary, and the time required would be shorten by almost 10 minutes. For the about 35,000 people who used the said lines at 8.00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the peak commuting time, it was estimated that the passenger ratio of the lines between Ueno-Tokyo stations would decrease from over 200% to below 180 %.

There would be an obvious improvement in traveling time when the "Ueno - Tokyo Line" is open.

大韓航空副社長責罵機内服務耽擱飛機出発

Yesterday the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

大韓航空の副社長、機内サービス叱り出発遅れる

2014年12月09日 00時53分

　【ソウル＝吉田敏行】大韓航空の趙顕娥(チョヒョナ)副社長（４０）が同社機に搭乗した際、客室乗務員のサービスを叱責し、出発を遅延させていたことが８日、判明した。

　聯合ニュースによると、韓国国土交通省は８日、法令違反の有無について調査に乗り出した。

　同社などによると、趙副社長は米ニューヨークの空港で５日、韓国・仁川(インチョン)に向かう同社機のファーストクラスに搭乗。客室乗務員が袋のままナッツを渡したことに「なんてサービスをしてるの」と叱責、機内サービスの責任者に降りるように指示した。同社の規定では、乗客の意向を確認後、ナッツを皿に載せて出すように決められていたという。

　機体は滑走路付近まで移動していたところを引き返し、責任者が降りた後に離陸、仁川到着は１１分遅れた。航空関係者によると、通常、乗務員を降ろす権限は機長にあり、趙副社長の「越権行為」と批判も出ている。趙副社長は大韓航空を中核とする韓進グループ会長の長女で、航空機の安全サービスなどを統括する。

(試譯文)

   On the 8th, it was revealed that Vice President Chohyona (40) of the Korean Air boarded a plane of the said company; she rebuked cabin crew’s service and delayed the plane’s departure.

   According to the Union News on the 8th, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport carried out an investigation to check if there was any law violation.

   According to the said company, on the 5th Vice President Zhao at an airport in New York of the US boarded the first-class of the said company’s airplane heading for Inchon of Korea. When a flight attendant handed out nuts packed in a bag, she scolded with "what service is being provided" and directed that the person in charge of the in-flight service to get off. It was said that there was regulation decided by the said company that, after confirming the passenger's wish, nuts might be taken out and served on a dish.

   The aircraft while moved to the vicinity of the runway, returned back to where it had been. The person in charge got off before the plane taking-off, the plane’s arrival at Inchon was 11 minutes behind schedule. According to people in the industry, usually the chief pilot had the authority to drop a crew off, and criticized Vice President Zhao was displaying "arrogance". Vice President Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Han Susumu group chairperson who formed the core of the Korean Air, oversaw the service safety of the airplanes.

It is hard to believe that a plane’s flying schedule could be interrupted by a minor mistake made by a member of the cabin crew. 

大学倶楽部論壇:「寄望日中留学生幫助両国発展」

A few weeks ago the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

大学倶楽部フォーラム:「日中留学生両国発展に寄与を」

毎日新聞　2014年10月15日　23時51分（最終更新　10月16日　00時01分）

　「日本・中国間の留学の将来像」をテーマにした「第１回＠大学倶楽部フォーラム」（毎日新聞社大学支援センター主催）が１５日、毎日新聞東京本社（東京都千代田区）の「毎日ホール」で開かれた。中国大使館公使参事官で北京外国語大学副学長の経験もある白剛（はく・ごう）氏の基調講演に続き、文部科学省高等教育局学生・留学生課長の渡辺正実氏と白氏が対談した。講演で白氏は「中国と日本は文化や価値観が似ている面もあり、双方の留学生が両国の安定した発展に寄与してほしい」と表明した。

 (試譯文)

On the 15^th (October) "The First Round@ University Club Forum", which had the theme "The future image of studying abroad between Japan and China" (with Mainichi Newspapers' university support center as the sponsor), was opened at the "Mainichi Hall" inside the Mainichi Newspapers Tokyo headquarters (Chiyoda district, Tokyo). Following a keynote speech made by Mr. Bai Gang who was the Chinese Embassy minister counselor and had the experience as the vice president of the Beijing University of Foreign Languages, Mr. Masami Watanabe, the section chief of the Higher Education Bureau for Students and Overseas Studying, which was under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, conversed with Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai in the lecture had expressed that "there are areas in Chinese and Japanese culture where values are similar, and hope students from respective countries studying abroad could contribute to the stable development of both countries".

It is nice to note that cultural exchanges between Japan and China are continuing.