North Korea's Kim reportedly open to inspections at main Nyongbyon nuclear complex

Abstract: Exactly a year since nuclear-armed North Korea last tested a missile — its most powerful to date — news has emerged that leader Kim Jong Un is open to inspections at his country’s main nuclear complex. Citing a senior diplomatic source, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday that Kim is willing to let inspectors visit the Nyongbyon nuclear site. Kim had told South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their September summit that he would be willing to shutter the complex if the U.S. took “corresponding” measures. “I understand that Chairman Kim told (South Korean) President Moon (Jae-in) during their summit in September that if the U.S. took corresponding steps he would not only be willing to shut down the Nyongbyon nuclear facilities but also allow verification,” Yonhap quoted the source as saying. The source said Moon passed the message on to U.S. President Donald Trump when the two met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later that month. While the proposed shutdown — in exchange for reciprocal moves — had been previously reported, the offer to allow inspectors at the site had not. According to international experts, Nyongbyon houses a 5-megawatt reactor, centrifuges, fissile materials such as uranium and plutonium for bombs, and other facilities and equipment. Asked about reports of North Korean willingness to allow inspectors in and whether there had been new developments, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that she was “not aware of any of that,” but noted Kim had agreed to inspections in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently. “That’s something the secretary and Chairman Kim had agreed to and spoken about when the secretary was in Pyongyang about a month ago or so,” Nauert said. “So that’s something they agreed to and we look forward to Chairman Kim fulfilling his commitments.” It was not clear from her remarks whether Kim had specifically said inspectors could visit the Nyongbyon facilities. Critics have lambasted the offer to close the facility as merely for show, pointing to a number of other known and unknown nuclear sites. Some have even claimed that Nyongbyon had been built specifically for the purpose of allowing for its later dismantlement — while maintaining its clandestine sites. The last time North Korea allowed international nuclear inspectors into Nyongbyon was in 2009. Trump has repeatedly boasted about what he says are North Korean steps toward denuclearization, hailing the absence of missile or nuclear tests since last year and the return of remains of U.S. service members killed in the 1950-53 Korean War as “incredible progress.” Pyongyang’s last missile test — of its Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, which experts believe is capable of striking most, if not all, of the United States — was on Nov. 28, 2017. Trump has faced criticism over his claims, with some saying there is no evidence the North has taken significant steps toward denuclearization, despite the president’s remarks to the contrary. At a landmark June summit in Singapore, Kim agreed to a vaguely worded 1½-page joint statement to “work towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” while Trump committed to “provide security guarantees” to the regime. But there has been little progress since, with denuclearization talks between the two countries effectively deadlocked. Talks were dealt another blow Wednesday, when it emerged that the top CIA official in charge of Korea affairs will resign at the end of the year, reports said. Andrew Kim, head of the CIA’s Korea Mission Center, tendered his resignation effective Dec. 20 to move to a research post at Stanford University, Yonhap quoted a senior official at South Korea’s National Intelligence Service spy agency as saying. The Korean-American official played a key role in negotiations with North Korea before and after the Trump-Kim summit. The State Department’s Nauert declined to confirm the retirement, but served up praise for his accomplishments. “Andy Kim is fantastic,” Nauert said according to a transcript of a Tuesday news conference. “Andy Kim has been a great partner of Secretary Pompeo, not only at the agency, and I can’t speak for them, but certainly here at the State Department as well.”

u.s .
north korea
kim jong un
nuclear weapons
south korea
north korea nuclear crisis
donald trump
kim-trump summit


Japan's Upper House begins debate on bill to expand use of foreign labor

Abstract: Debate on a bill to accept more foreign blue-collar workers began Wednesday in the House of Councillors after the ruling bloc forced it through the Lower House the previous day despite an outcry from opposition parties. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito are seeking passage of the bill during the ongoing Diet session that continues through Dec. 10. Meeting that schedule would allow the major immigration policy shift — an attempt to address serious labor shortages caused by an aging population and falling birthrate — to take effect in April. Opposition parties have argued for closer scrutiny of the bill. Tetsuro Fukuyama, secretary general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, lambasted the ruling camp for having “bulldozed” the House of Representatives’ deliberations on Tuesday. “Why on earth did such an empty bill clear the Lower House? I can’t hide my anger about the (ruling bloc) railroading it without taking questions,” he said at a meeting of the party’s Upper House members. Many opposition lawmakers have claimed the bill lacks details, and expressed concerns that specifics would be decided through ministerial ordinances without Diet deliberations. They also showed frustration that the bill was only deliberated for 15 hours and 45 minutes by the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee, which was shorter than the amount of time spent on other controversial bills in recent years. But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference that the Lower House had held “enough” discussions over issues related to the bill, which was also debated by the chamber’s Budget Committee. In a rare move, Lower House Speaker Tadamori Oshima on Tuesday called on the government to explain the “whole picture” of the new system to the Diet before the revised immigration law takes effect, showing a degree of consideration for the views of the opposition. On Wednesday morning, the LDP and Komeito agreed to abide by Oshima’s request, with LDP Diet affairs chief Hiroshi Moriyama saying, “It’s important to obtain public understanding and cooperation.” Meanwhile, opposition parties confirmed they would work together to block enactment of the legislation. CDP Diet affairs chief Kiyomi Tsujimoto told reporters the party will “seek to scrap the bill.” In rural areas where labor shortages are acute and many foreign laborers from overseas are expected to arrive, anxiety has been growing over a lack of preparations for helping them adapt to life in Japan — including with Japanese-language education and medical assistance. “Local governments would be in trouble unless the state prepares responsibly (for the inflow of foreign workers),” Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso said Wednesday at a news conference. The ruling bloc rushed to wrap up Lower House deliberations in time for Abe’s departure Thursday for the Group of 20 summit in Argentina. So far, Japan has basically accepted the arrival of only highly skilled foreigners such as professors and doctors. But the bill under debate is expected to allow in many blue-collar workers from overseas in 14 sectors deemed to be suffering from labor shortages, ranging from nursing care to food services and the construction industry. Under the envisioned scheme, two new types of residence status for non-Japanese workers are expected to be created. The first, valid for up to five years, will be given to workers with certain skills but will not allow their family members to accompany them. The second new status will be for foreign nationals needed in fields that require higher levels of skill. The government does not plan to limit the number of visa renewals under this second status, paving the way for them to effectively live indefinitely in the country. The government has estimated that the nation would accept up to 47,550 foreign workers in the first year from next April, and up to 345,150 over five years. The number of foreign workers in Japan hit a record 1.28 million as of last October, doubling from 680,000 in 2012, according to the labor ministry. Chinese nationals make up the largest group at around 370,000, followed by Vietnamese and Filipinos.

immigration
ldp
diet
jobs
expats
labor shortage


Tokyo avoids criticizing Moscow over Ukraine issue ahead of talks on Russian-held islands off Hokkaido

Abstract: Japan’s government has so far refrained from criticizing Russia over its recent firing on and seizure of Ukrainian naval ships by Russian coast guard vessels, ahead of the start of territorial negotiations with the Russian government. At a news conference Tuesday, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kotaro Nogami said, “We hope that all the parties involved will exercise self-restraint and (that) the situation will calm down.” He stopped short of naming Russia. The Kremlin warned Tuesday that Ukraine’s declaration of martial law over Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian ships might trigger a flare-up in hostilities in eastern Ukraine, while Kiev blamed Russia for parading captured Ukrainian seamen on television. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for Sunday’s confrontation in the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The clash has raised the specter of renewing a full-blown conflict in eastern Ukraine, and has seen Russia strongly criticized at the United Nations by the United States and its allies. The Ukrainian Parliament on Monday adopted a motion proposed by the president to impose martial law for 30 days. The move is something Ukraine had avoided, even when Russia annexed its nearby Crimean peninsula in 2014 or sent in clandestine troops and weapons to insurgents in the country’s war-torn eastern regions. Tokyo’s position is to oppose any attempts to change the status quo by force, placing emphasis on freedom of navigation. But regarding the latest incident, which is highly likely to raise tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Nogami only referred to the importance of watching developments and concerns over a possible deterioration in the Ukrainian situation. As the United States and European countries step up criticism against Russia, a senior Foreign Ministry official admitted that the Russian acts do represent an attempt to change the status quo by force. But another senior government official showed reluctance for Japan to become involved in the problem, saying it is a faraway issue for this country. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin are slated to hold talks on the sidelines of the two-day summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies in Buenos Aires from Friday. The two leaders agreed at a summit meeting in Singapore earlier this month to accelerate bilateral talks on a World War II peace treaty based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet joint declaration, which calls for the return of Habomais and Shikotan, two of the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty. The Singapore agreement will form the basis of the upcoming Abe-Putin talks. As Abe is determined to maintain a good relationship with Putin, the Ukraine problem would have no impact on the Japan-Russia territorial negotiations, a government source said.

shinzo abe
vladimir putin
russia
disputed islands
northern territories
ukraine
russia-japan relations


Liberal Democratic Party won't present Constitution revision plan to Diet this year

Abstract: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party has given up its plan to present draft amendments to the pacifist Constitution to the ongoing extraordinary Diet session, sources close to the matter said Wednesday. In a policy speech in the Diet last month, Abe expressed his strong desire to present his party’s constitutional revision plan during the current session through Dec. 10. The party is now expected to present its proposal during the ordinary Diet session from January. Abe’s administration is prioritizing a bill to bring more blue-collar workers into the country. The LDP-led coalition bulldozed the controversial bill through the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Deliberation on the bill in the House of Councilors began Wednesday and the ruling coalition hopes to get the bill passed by Dec. 10. Abe seeks to realize the first-ever revisions to the supreme law by changing its war-renouncing Article 9, which bans the maintenance of war potential, to end academic debate over the constitutionality of the Self-Defense Forces. The Constitution took effect in 1947 during the U.S.-led postwar Occupation. The Lower House Commission on the Constitution will be held Thursday for the first time in this Diet session.


Japan gets mixed assessment from U.N. over efforts to curb greenhouse gases

Abstract: OSAKA - The United Nations warned Tuesday that current national commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient to meet a 2030 reduction goal, and that unprecedented and urgent action is required by all nations — especially from members of the Group of 20 — to ensure global warming stays well below 2.0 to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In its annual update on the global emissions gap, the United Nations Environment Program said only three G20 nations including Japan were on track to meet their nationally determined contribution targets under their current policies to reduce carbon emissions by 2020. Japan, which accounted for 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions last year, has committed to reducing its emissions by 3.8 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and 26 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. But the nation is only currently predicted to achieve a 7.5 percent decrease in emissions by 2030, the report added. To cap global warming at 2.0 C (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), national carbon-cutting pledges annexed to the 2015 Paris Agreement must collectively triple by 2030, according to the report. Based on current trends and policies, temperatures are on track to rise roughly 4 C by the century’s end — well past a global “tipping point” that could see unprecedented storms, draughts, and the extinction of many species. The U.N. report was released on the eve of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, which begins Friday and where climate change and agricultural production are expected to be discussed. The release also comes ahead of U.N. climate talks starting next week in Katowice, Poland. Given the urgency of reducing emissions and capping global warming to 2.0 C — and, more ideally, 1.5 C — the role of so-called nonstate actors, especially the private sector and local governments, in setting their own decarbonization policies is now key to implementing greenhouse gas reduction goals, the report said. The report did note, however, that the impacts of such measures are limited and uncertain, and that nonstate actors around the world need to adopt common principles when formulating their actions. In July, to help meet or surpass the goals of the Paris agreement at the local level and in the private sector in Japan, the Japan Climate Initiative was formed. In a telephone news conference with journalists Thursday night, Eri Nakajima, vice governor of Nagano Prefecture and a representative of the JCI, noted that the group consists of 300 local governments, private sector partners, research institutions, and NGOs and that many members, like Nagano, were formulating decarbonization policies that were far more ambitious than the national government’s efforts. “After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, we in Nagano realized the limits of a centralized, fossil fuel-based energy system. So we established a sustainable energy strategy that set a goal of greenhouse gas emission reductions of 30 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels,” Nakajima said. “This strategy also covers local policy measures, such as the promotion of increased efficiency in renewable energy.” That said, she added that in the case of Nagano the promotion of certain types have renewables have brought a new set of complaints. “We’re increasing renewable projects in Nagano. But environmental groups are protesting because some big companies have cut down forests to develop large scale mega-solar energy projects,” she said. “This kind of balance between biodiversity, and nature conservation and decarbonization is very important.”

global warming
united nations
climate change
undp
environment


Hiroshima introduces interactive map to get tourists to visit A-bomb sites off the beaten path

Abstract: HIROSHIMA - Hiroshima has unveiled the Hiroshima Peace Tourism project, which includes an interactive map showing routes intended to help visitors view the city’s many memorial sites beyond just the Atomic Bomb Dome in the Peace Memorial Park, the main and only destination for about half of tourists. “We want visitors to understand and appreciate the city’s commitment to peace,” a city official said. The Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum, for example, is only a 10-minute walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome. It became a relief station after the bomb was dropped, and a wall inscribed with the words of those asking about the fate of their loved ones remains preserved and on display. But it receives few visitors. According to Masatoshi Yamamoto, 72, a graduate of the elementary school and now part of the museum’s management, only about 10 people come each day. On some days, he said, nobody shows up before noon. Many buildings that survived the atomic blast remain preserved and on display throughout the city. These include several museums with no admission fee. Visitors to Hiroshima, mainly from other countries, increased after 2016, when then-U.S. President Barack Obama visited the city. But many visitors just go to the Peace Memorial Park and then head for Itsukushima Shrine, a world heritage site in the city of Hatsukaichi. Visitors don’t spend much time and money in the city of Hiroshima, officials say. As part of the Peace Tourism project, the city has released recommended routes online. A walking route around the Atomic Bomb Dome includes surviving buildings such as the Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum, the former Bank of Japan Hiroshima branch and Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum. Other routes take in memorial spots, including ruins of the Chugoku Regional Military Headquarters, which is said to be the first to have reported about the atomic bombing. Fukuya Department Store, which survived the blast and remains in business to this day, is also a recommended spot. The building was forced to close during the war as it was used by the army and state-owned companies, but in 1951 the building’s prewar store space was re-established. Tourists will be able to see photos and learn about these sites as they follow the city’s routes, which use GPS tracking to show their location. Hiroshi Harada, 79, former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and now the head of a panel for the Peace Tourism project, said communication between the city’s numerous facilities had been disconnected. “Setting these routes will serve as a pillar of the city’s tourism on the theme of peace,” he said. “We want visitors to feel that, above all else, Hiroshima seeks peace.”

wwii
history
hiroshima
tourism
peace
atomic bombings


Wall Street Journal says Carlos Ghosn enduring 'bizarre inquisition' in Japan

Abstract: NEW YORK - Ousted Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn is enduring a “bizarre inquisition” in Japan, a Wall Street Journal editorial said Tuesday. He has been “held in detention for days without being charged, interrogated by prosecutors without a lawyer present, and fired from his post amid media leaks claiming he’s guilty of financial malfeasance,” the U.S. business daily wrote. “Communist China? No, capitalist Japan, where … Ghosn is enduring a bizarre inquisition,” said the editorial printed in the paper’s Tuesday edition and headlined “The Ghosn Inquisition.” Japan’s judicial system allows detention of suspects for up to 23 days without charges being filed. “Such treatment is more appropriate for a yakuza mobster than an international CEO with no previous record of fraud or self-dealing,” the editorial said. The allegations that he underreported his pay in Nissan securities reports are “odd in that Nissan should long have been aware” of the practice, the article noted. It indicated that behind the arrest was friction between Nissan and its top shareholder and alliance partner, Renault SA. “You don’t have to be a conspiracy theorist to look at these events and wonder if they are part of a larger effort to end Mr. Ghosn’s plan to merge Nissan with Renault,” said the editorial. It added that without more transparency in investigations, “the Nissan ambush will stand as a black mark on Japanese business.”

media
courts
scandals
nissan
carlos ghosn
police


Diet discussion halted after Justice Ministry says data in survey on missing foreign trainees was miscalculated

Abstract: The ruling coalition dropped a plan to start substantive deliberations in the Diet on Friday on a bill that would increase the number of foreign workers in the country amid a major backlash from opposition parties over errors in a related government survey. At an executive meeting of the Lower House Committee on Judicial Affairs, the government revealed that there were errors in its survey on missing foreign trainees. The opposition camp accused the government of undermining Diet talks on the bill. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted a motion to dismiss the Lower House committee’s chairman, Yasuhiro Hanashi of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, for not halting proceedings despite the revelation of the survey errors. The motion is expected to be voted down at a plenary Lower House meeting Tuesday. On Friday, the judicial committee was set to hear explanations on the bill by Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita and hold a question-and-answer session between the ruling bloc and the government. The delay in the start of the parliamentary deliberations is likely to make it difficult to enact the bill by end of the ongoing extraordinary session on Dec. 10, the target set by the government, raising the possibility of the session being extended. For the 2017 survey in question, the Justice Ministry interviewed foreign trainees who had left jobs without authorization but were later found. Following the discovery of counting errors, the government revised the number of interviewed foreign trainees from 2,892 to 2,870, and the percentage of interviewees who said they fled trainee posts to seek higher wages was revised from 86.9 percent to 67.2 percent. “We’ll carefully explain the errors during Diet deliberations,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference Friday, while reiterating the government’s hope for the bill’s enactment during the current session.


Japan Post seeks law revision to end delivery of ordinary mail items on Saturdays

Abstract: Against the backdrop of labor shortages and a fall in demand for postal services, Japan Post Co. has requested a law revision to allow it to limit deliveries of ordinary postal items to weekdays. The company currently delivers mail even on Saturdays based on the postal law requiring deliveries at least six days a week. The request was made Friday to a subcommittee of the Information and Communications Council, which advises the internal affairs and communications minister. Japan Post also sought changes in the law so it can see its next-day delivery obligation lessened. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications aims to introduce an amendment bill to the next ordinary Diet session starting in January. Estimating that net losses in the mail business will expand by as much as ¥20 billion each year, the Japan Post Holdings Co. unit hopes to shift personnel currently assigned for Saturday mail deliveries to its parcel delivery operation, which has been enjoying rising demand, company officials said.


Keidanren faces flak for falling behind the times despite change in leadership

Abstract: The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) published an article on June 17 that was critical of the Japan Business Federation ( Keidanren ), a lobbying organization made up of more than 1,300 of the country’s biggest companies. The Nikkei has always been in Keidanren’s corner, so it was something of a shock to read a story suggesting that the organization appears to be incapable of changing with the times . The Nikkei more than likely had high hopes when Keidanren appointed Hiroaki Nakanishi of Hitachi Ltd. to the organization’s top post in May. Nakanishi was credited with saving Hitachi, which Nikkei described as a “sinking battleship,” and he seemed to possess a greater international sensibility than previous chairpersons in his position. However, not much had changed. All 18 current vice chairpersons were men over the age of 60. No foreign or information technology companies were represented. Only seven had ever worked abroad. Most significantly, there were no entrepreneurs or self-made businesspeople on the board. Every member was an organization man, having worked his way up the ranks within his respective company in Japan in a conventional way — namely, the lifetime employment system wherein one climbs the ladder through seniority. The Nikkei’s position that Keidanren should enter the 21st century was prominent in another article that appeared Oct. 16 , which covered a news conference in which SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda announced a joint venture to promote new mobile services. Toyoda said the venture was his company’s idea but that he couldn’t imagine entering such a field without Son’s help. Son expressed surprise that a company like Toyota wanted to work with him. The Nikkei pointed out that Toyota executives have headed Keidanren in the past but the organization has never been lead by someone such as Son, who was mostly educated in California and created his mobile communications behemoth “in the course of one generation.” Perhaps for those reasons, Japan’s business establishment has not recognized Son as one of its own. The Nikkei implied he could be the kind of chairman who would bring a progressive sensibility to Keidanren. Many students are no longer interested in joining Japan’s legacy companies due to what they see as these companies’ bureaucratic structures. Young entrepreneurs are less likely to “respect” the classic “salaryman leadership system.” Having someone such as Son in charge could mean a change in the federation’s outlook. Keidanren is obviously thinking about this matter because Nakanishi recently announced a shift in the organization’s university recruitment schedule . At present, Keidanren rules state that member companies should not invite prospective employees to recruitment sessions until the last month of their third year of study, meaning March. Job interviews in turn cannot start until the following June. Nakanishi wants to do away with these restrictions starting with the 2021 graduating class. Since more and more “excellent” students are interested in companies that aren’t members of Keidanren, the federation needs to relax its recruitment schedule in order to compete in what has become a sellers’ market. Last spring, the hiring rate for new graduates was 98 percent . As Dokkyo University economics professor Maki Fukasawa argued on a recent edition of Bunka Hoso’s “Golden Radio,” however, how can Keidanren members seriously think about attracting today’s graduates without changing a work culture that repels many of them? More significantly, the standard recruitment system, regardless of the schedule it follows, requires that new university graduates only be hired at the time they graduate, and an increasing number of companies, particularly foreign ones, don’t follow this system. They hire workers regardless of their age and whenever they want, based on the candidate’s experience and the companies’ needs. In fact, many young people these days think of their first job as a stepping stone. They aren’t interested in lifetime employment with one firm. They want to build a career and that tends to involve changing jobs. “A lot of my students now go overseas for work opportunities,” Fukasawa said, suggesting that they sidestep the whole process. Not everyone in the government is thrilled by this development. A Nov. 3 Asahi Shimbun column reported on a government-sponsored meeting that discussed the proposal to change Keidanren’s recruitment rules and concluded the present system should remain as it is in order to provide a level playing field for companies looking to hire new employees. The column’s pseudonymous author, who thinks the whole system should be done away with, points out that it’s rife with cheating. Many Keidanren members do not follow the recruitment schedule, anyway, since it is nonbinding. Companies and students who do follow the rules are at a disadvantage. Keidanren would appear to be moving forward by eliminating at least part of the system, the author says, while the government wants to keep things as they are. So do universities or, at least, private institutions, which are afraid that companies will be able to recruit students at anytime if schedule restrictions are relaxed, after which they will simply stop studying. However, that concern begs the question: Why are they studying in the first place? The author of the article in the Asahi Shimbun feels that if Japan wants to develop the kind of human resources that can compete in the world, then it needs to foster an educational environment that “maximizes students’ market value.” Keidanren’s recruitment rules are arguably self-serving and short-sighted, and while the government has always done the bidding of the business community — its controversial foreign worker acceptance policy is being implemented at Keidanren’s insistence — it also wants to maintain its authority in the area of education. Universities, on the other hand, just want to stay in business. Such a confluence of interests isn’t going to produce another Masayoshi Son anytime soon.

keidanren
japan business federation
hiroaki nakanishi


Live-action Pokemon trailer reaffirms Pikachu's enduring popularity

Abstract: Ever since the original release of the “Pokemon” games for the Nintendo Game Boy back in 1996, the series’ central character — the electric, yellow rodent Pikachu — has found a permanent place in the world’s pop-culture zeitgeist. Pikachu has since shown up everywhere, including on countless pieces of merchandise, an annual parade in Yokohama and even in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade . If you think Pikachu’s best days are behind him, you might want to head to your nearest Pokemon Center and revive yourself. Last week saw a shocking amount of Pikachu love on the internet that moviegoers, gamers and foodies will enjoy. The long-awaited “Detective Pikachu” trailer dropped on Nov. 12 and took social media by storm. The preview, which accumulated more than 20 million views in around 24 hours, will finally let Pikachu speak his mind, as he is voiced by none other than “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds. (Yes, technically Pikachu did speak briefly during a hallucination sequence in the “Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You!” of 2017 but let’s not talk about that.) The movie won’t be animated but will instead feature CGI Pokemon with fur and scales living in modern day, a style that both delighted and horrified some people online. IGN posted a video titled “Are Detective Pikachu’s live-action Pokemon cool or creepy?” while the BBC published an article titled “‘Gross’ furry Pokemon divides fans.” Twitter user @yuragi_oO , meanwhile, tweeted “The ‘Detective Pikachu’ movie is too scary. Kids will cry if they watch this.” One of the people behind the film’s controversial art direction is artist RJ Palmer, whose “realistic Pokemon” drawings have been blowing up on Twitter , Tumblr and DeviantArt for years. Thanks to his popular drawings that turned Pokemon from kawaii (cute) to kowai (scary), Palmer was contracted to work on the movie and redesign some of the most iconic Pocket Monsters. People have been posting memes and artwork about the trailer since it was released, including a tweet that received more than 100,000 likes and features the evolution of Pikachu from a crude, pixelated outline to a 3D monster with realistic fur. Before the movie trailer was shared online, however, the Pikachu hype train was already in full speed due to the Nov. 16 release of the newest “Pokemon” games for Nintendo Switch . Titled “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!” the latest entries will let players relive the original 1996 debut games in this 3D remake. (Not surprisingly, the “Pikachu” version of the game seems to be selling better on Amazon Japan.) To help market the game, Nintendo is taking a “real” Pikachu and Eevee on a tour in the United States, from California all the way to New York, letting visitors try out the game and even take a picture with their favorite Pocket Monster. One Twitter user posted photos of the event, noting that the long drive was “worth it when my daughter got to see Eevee & Pikachu.” If you would rather eat Pikachu than hug him, you’re in luck (if not a little weird). Mister Donut is now selling Pikachu- and Pokeball-shaped donuts as a marketing tie-in with the new games. Your results may vary, however. One Twitter user posted a photo of a rather deformed-looking Pikachu donut with lopsided eyes and an odd mouth that received more than 80,000 likes on the site. Others followed suit with their own photos of subpar sweets, forcing Mister Donut to suspend the Pokemon offerings temporarily and go back to the drawing board until it can nail down the perfect Pikachu recipe. If that doesn’t satisfy your Pikachu cravings, a pop-up Pikachu & Eevee cafe is also traveling around Sapporo, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, offering such treats as Pikachu curry, lattes and more. No matter where you are in Japan, it looks like people just can’t get their fill of Pikachu.


Nippon TV's top program rocked over allegation that it fabricated content at foreign 'festivals'

Abstract: Major broadcaster Nippon Television Network Corp. has been forced to suspend a segment on foreign festivals on its popular variety show after a weekly magazine reported earlier this month that the program fabricated some of the content. The program “Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q,” in which a popular comedian participates in unique festivals around the world, invented festivals in Thailand and Laos, according to the weekly Shukan Bunshun. The Thai “festival” featured in a broadcast in February last year involved a competition to harvest cauliflowers. The Laos one, broadcast this May, involved crossing a small wooden bridge on a bike. The variety show, which airs on Sundays, has a viewer rating of about 20 percent in the Kanto region, making it Nippon TV’s most popular program. “I apologize for creating suspicion and worries,” Nippon TV President Yoshio Okubo told a news conference on Thursday while denying the program set out to deceive. “There was no intention of fabrication or making things up,” he said. “The production team stretched the concept of the festival too much and featured some events as festivals, even though they were difficult for viewers to imagine as festivals,” he said. Okubo said a company in charge of coordinating overseas shooting for the variety show was involved in organizing some of the festivals, proposing festival projects or paying prize money from the budget for shooting expenses. An internal probe will investigate about 110 aired tapes, the president said, adding the broadcaster will consider whether to punish people involved with the program. A TV watchdog, the Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization, has demanded that Nippon TV report on the issue. Some in the industry fear the alleged fabrication may make people lose trust in broadcasters at a time when an increasing number of people, particularly youth, are said to be turning away from TV amid the rise of the internet and social networking services. “We’re in an era when even a lie regarded as acceptable in the industry leads to ruining viewers’ trust in us,” said a senior official of a major broadcaster. “We must be aware of their strict attitude.” Takahiko Kageyama, a professor of media theory at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, said, “Producers tend to think news reports and variety shows are different, but for the viewers, they are both the same TV broadcast. Creators should never forget that.”


Kansai business community sees future foreign worker influx with both hope and concern

Abstract: OSAKA - The news last week that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is preparing to admit up to 345,000 foreign workers by 2023 has been met with a combination of hope they will help prop up agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors that are struggling to find workers, and concern that Abe has rushed through an immigration policy that will create massive social problems. This mixture of hope and fear is clear in the Kansai business world. The Kansai Economic Federation and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, after long insisting it was “too soon” and the climate was “not right” to talk about more foreign workers, finally began earnest public discussions a few years ago. But their talks focused on more high-skilled foreign workers whose knowledge would benefit large corporations involved in critical industries or small businesses producing innovative technologies. Give us your strong, your wealthy, your educated, your prosperous middle or upper middle class masses, yearning to start, but not finish, their careers in Kansai. That sounded like the unspoken message. Nobody seemed willing to talk about bringing in “lower skilled” construction workers, farmers, and service industry employees. No longer. Today, much of the local business community recognizes the need for foreign workers who don’t have Ph.D.s in electrical engineering or MBAs. But not everyone. The reluctance in parts of Kansai reflects concerns elsewhere that politicians will have to address. If not now, then on the campaign trail when nationwide local elections take place in April 2019, followed by an Upper House election next summer. A survey conducted by the Kansai Economic Federation and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in September among 430 firms showed a stark difference in attitude toward foreign workers between large corporations, which have the resources to assist them in their transition to life in Japan, and small and medium-sized enterprises, which cannot, or simply will not, support anything other than their training. While only 30 percent of Kansai’s large firms said they had no plans to hire foreign workers, 63 percent of small and medium firms replied they would not take on foreign staff. Concerns about foreign workers included worries about their ability to communicate in Japanese (79 percent of all respondents), doubts about their ability to adapt to the way Japanese firms operate (48.7 percent), and fears that the firm will see their labor management and logistical burdens increase (27.1 percent). More than a quarter (26 percent) also cited having to account for the religious views of foreign workers as an issue. Only 11.8 percent were nervous about worsened public security with more foreign workers. Just 8.6 percent expressed concern about their effect on the employment of Japanese workers. The debate about accepting foreign workers in Kansai, like the national debate, often seems driven by the needs of powerful corporations. Yet, as human rights groups have warned, it is folly to “accept” foreign workers into a company and then ignore the social environment in which they live. The possibility of xenophobic attacks in the form of online hate speech, anti-foreigner rallies or even physical attacks must be addressed by local governments and, better still, national legislation. To their credit, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka city were among the first in Japan to take local steps to crack down on groups engaging in hate speech. It’s far more difficult to hold anti-foreigner rallies in Osaka than it was a few years ago. Of course, local governments can only advise Tokyo on how they deal with local foreign residents. But if Tokyo is smart, it will consider the best administrative practices of local governments like Osaka as the basis for national legal protections for foreign workers, protections needed now more than ever. View from Osaka is a monthly column that examines the latest news from a Kansai perspective.

osaka
foreign workers
kansai region
graying society
labor shortage


Body of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi dissolved in acid, poured down drain: Turkish newspaper

Abstract: ANKARA - The killers of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi poured his remains down the drain after dissolving him in acid, a Turkish newspaper reported Saturday. Samples taken from the drains at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul showed traces of acid, the pro-government daily Sabah said, without quoting sources. This led investigators to believe the dead body of the insider-turned-critic of the Riyadh regime was disposed of through the drains as liquid, the paper said. Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his forthcoming marriage. His body has never been found. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted the 59-year-old had been murdered at the mission in a “rogue” operation. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the “highest levels” of the Saudi government of ordering the hit, while some officials have pointed the finger at the all-powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Erdogan, suggested last week the body may have been dissolved in acid. And on Monday, a Turkish official said Saudi Arabia sent two experts to Istanbul with the specific purpose of covering up evidence after the murder. Khashoggi’s Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, took to Twitter on Thursday, writing, “I’m unable to express my sorrow to hear about dissolving your body Jamal!” “They killed you and chopped up your body, depriving me and your family of conducting your funeral prayer and burying you in Madinah as wished.” A Turkish official this week confirmed a Sabah report that chemicals expert Ahmad Abdulaziz al-Janobi and toxicology expert Khaled Yahya al-Zahrani were among a team sent from Saudi amid investigations into the murder. The paper said they visited the consulate every day from their arrival on Oct. 11 until Oct. 17. Saudi Arabia only allowed Turkish police to search the building on Oct. 15.

murder
saudi arabia
crime
istanbul
jamal khashoggi


Rape victim details South Korean military crackdown during Chun's '79 coup

Abstract: SEOUL - It is nearly four decades since South Korean protester Kim Sun-ok was raped by an army officer after a crackdown on democracy demonstrations, and she still cannot bear the sight of a green uniform. Kim was a fourth-year music education student in May 1980 when she went out to buy books but instead found a body in the street, riddled with gunshot wounds. Hundreds of thousands of people in Gwangju, a traditional hotbed of democratic sentiment, had risen in protest against a military coup by Gen. Chun Doo-hwan. Chun, who was seeking to fill a power vacuum following the assassination of dictator Park Chung-hee, launched a bloody crackdown, leaving more than 200 civilians dead or missing, according to official figures. Kim’s ordeal — for which South Korea’s defense minister apologized on Wednesday — is a microcosm of the trauma that endures from the decades of dictatorship in South Korea, despite its transformation into a robust democracy and the home of K-pop. After seeing the corpse, instead of returning home, Kim joined protesters at the provincial government building in the southern city, helping with loudspeaker broadcasts and issuing press IDs. She left the facility — the demonstrators’ last holdout — before troops retook it but was arrested weeks later while working as a trainee teacher. “‘Here comes a female commander,'” interrogators taunted when she was brought to a military prison, she said. Incarcerated for more than two months, she was beaten with sticks, kicked, punched and forced to kneel for hours on end. Finally an interrogator sporting a major’s insignia treated her to a bowl of bibimbap — a Korean mixture of rice and vegetables — at a restaurant before raping her at an inn. “As I was physically wrecked by torture, I was unable to fight back at all, and this makes me angrier now than the fact that I was subject to torture,” Kim said in her first interview with foreign media. “I still can’t bear seeing anyone in a green uniform,” said Kim, now 59. “Just the sight of such clothes sends my heart rate rushing.” The Gwangju uprising is a touchstone event for the South Korean left. After the advent of democracy, Chun was convicted of treason and corruption and was sentenced to death, though the sentence was commuted. He was later pardoned with the backing of Kim Dae-jung, the first liberal to be elected president, who had a limited power base and sought reconciliation rather than recrimination in the face of entrenched vested interests. Divisions persist in South Korean society. Conservatives view the uprising as a Communist-inspired rebellion, and Chun last year published a controversial memoir denying responsibility for the bloodbath, damning key witnesses as liars. Despite a price of 150,000 won ($135), it sold more than 20,000 copies. At the time of the pardon, current President Moon Jae-in was a human rights lawyer and one of the activists pushing for wider investigations. He made Gwangju a campaign issue last year and has launched inquiries into the actions of past military dictatorships and conservative administrations. His administration was looking to “restore the status of the Gwangju pro-democracy protests in history” said Yoon Sung-suk, professor of political science at Chonnam University — Kim’s alma mater — while at the same time using them to shore up its public support. Kim herself was instrumental in one of the probes. Chun’s troops were long believed to have carried out widespread sexual assaults against women, but the issue was swept under the carpet because traumatized victims remained reluctant to come forward. Emboldened by South Korea’s growing #MeToo movement, Kim told a television interviewer about her experiences in May. An official probe later confirmed 17 cases of rape and sexual assault, the victims including teenagers and women unconnected to the protests. On Wednesday, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo issued a formal apology, bowing in regret for the inflicting of “unspeakable, deep scars and pain” on “innocent women” who were raped and subjected to “sex torture” by soldiers cracking down on protests against Chun’s military coup. After raping Kim, the man told her to “forget what has happened so that you may live on.” A few days later, she was released and allowed to return to her teaching job after signing a written pledge to keep silent and behave herself. She was under regular surveillance during her 20 years working as a music teacher, and has suffered long-lasting consequences from the assault — even attempting suicide. “I’ve been living through the past four decades like a mute with deep wounds in my mind,” she said. Kim appeared before the government inquiry and believes it has identified and traced her assailant — adding that unless he is punished, “a million apologies would be meaningless.” “I am grateful that my testimony served as a catalyst in investigating what has been left untold so far,” she said. “I decided to come out with the truth to put this behind me before I die.”

history
military
women
protests
south korea
sex crimes
chun doo-hwan
park chung hee
kim sun-ok


47 Japanese confirmed safe after flash floods in Jordan

Abstract: ISTANBUL - A total of 47 Japanese have been confirmed safe in the historic city of Petra in Jordan after flash floods hit sightseeing spots in the area on Friday, Japanese officials there said. The 47 consist of 45 tourists and two tour guides, none of whom were injured, they said, adding that the Japanese Embassy in Jordan is trying to confirm whether there were any other Japanese in the area. Led by one guide each, the two groups were in the city when the floods struck and more than 10 of the members could not be accounted for immediately. Petra, an ancient city believed to date back to 9,000 B.C., was designated a World Heritage Site by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1985.


Japan's news outlets weigh in on Jumpei Yasuda's culpability in Syria kidnapping

Abstract: Freelance reporter Jumpei Yasuda gave a three-hour news conference at the Japan National Press Club on Nov. 2 about his hostage ordeal, describing in detail how he was kidnapped after entering Syria in 2015 and then held for more than three years. He also discussed the situation in the Middle East and why it was important for Japan to know about what was happening in the region. However, many people seemed only interested in one thing — whether Yasuda would apologize to the government and the public for putting himself in harm’s way. As expected, based on past hostage incidents involving Japanese nationals, when Yasuda was released last month, the news was met with criticism of his “personal responsibility” ( jiko sekinin ). The government discourages individuals and groups, including those involved in news-gathering activities, from working in conflict areas, its message being that anyone who does go to such a place is responsible for whatever happens to them, which presumably means they’re on their own. Of course, the government is expected to do everything in its power to help Japanese who get into trouble overseas, but victims of kidnapping and the like typically face fierce resentment in Japan when they’re freed because they are seen to have flouted official directives for self-serving reasons. A Canadian man who was also recently held captive in Syria explained to Kyodo News that he, too, was roundly condemned after his release by people who said he “deserved” what he suffered, but the main difference between this man and Yasuda is that the former is not a journalist. Yasuda received condemnation not only from the Japanese public, but from some in the Japanese media — that is, his own profession. On Fuji TV’s lunchtime information program, “Viking,” guests commented on the news conference as it was broadcast live and, according to the web magazine Litera , no one in the studio seemed to care much about Yasuda’s explanation of the situation in Syria. They only cared about an apology, which Yasuda delivered at one point. “I’m relieved he finally apologized and thanked people,” comedian and former Miyazaki Prefecture Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru said. “If he hadn’t, I would have stood up and walked out.” Since Higashikokubaru was not physically at the news conference, it’s difficult to say what “walking out” would have accomplished. Comedian Teruyuki Tsuchida was not impressed, saying he wasn’t interested in listening to stories about Yasuda’s years of captivity. “I want to hear the Q&A as soon as possible,” he said. Lawyer and former Diet lawmaker Katsuhito Yokokume was more understanding, praising Yasuda’s “detailed and logical” explanations, but he was bothered that Yasuda didn’t discuss how he felt about becoming a hostage or what he thought when he heard the government had become involved in his case. He wanted Yasuda to talk more about his “remorse.” This line of inquiry continued into the adjoining information program, “Chokugeki Live Goody,” since the news conference hadn’t finished. In passing the baton to “Goody” host Yuko Ando, “Viking” host Shinobu Sakagami complained that for three hours Yasuda had just “talked about his situation” rather than the public’s main concern — his personal responsibility. Ando, who, unlike the participants on “Viking,” is a career journalist, took up this concern. She seemed disappointed that “at the core” Yasuda didn’t talk much about jiko sekinin. Although it would seem that as individuals most journalists do not resent Yasuda, media companies have institutionalized the government’s restrictive position. In a different article in Litera , former Kyodo reporter Osamu Aoki says that as far back as the Vietnam War, domestic news organizations have never sent reporters into conflict areas, relying instead on freelancers. If they do report on conflicts, it’s usually through correspondents who are far away from any fighting. Even when the Fukushima nuclear disaster happened in March 2011, companies told their reporters to evacuate, which meant all news came through the authorities. Aoki says these companies don’t want to pay compensation if anything happens to their employees. Using freelancers is cheaper, because if something does happen, they aren’t responsible. What’s troubling about this attitude is that it runs contrary to the spirit of journalism. Yasuda wanted to convey to the Japanese public, in their own language and in terms that made sense to them, why the Syrian civil war was creating so many refugees. Toru Tamakawa, a regular commentator on TV Asahi’s “ Shinichi Hatori Morning Show ,” said that journalists safeguard “democracy” by bringing to light the issues of the moment and, in that regard, Yasuda should be welcomed home as a “hero.” Veteran reporter Taro Kimura elaborated on this idea in his column for the Tokyo Shimbun . In 1973, when he was working for NHK, he covered the effects of the oil embargo on Japan, when consumers panicked and started hoarding toilet paper. Kimura realized that the situation in the Middle East was influencing the lives of average Japanese, but no one was reporting on it from there. He talked NHK into sending him to Beirut, where he was stationed as civil war raged in Lebanon. The background of that war was deep and complex, and could only be understood by someone on site. Yasuda was doing the same thing, wrote Kimura, and while foreign news organizations can convey what’s going on, they aren’t going to do it with the concerns of Japanese people in mind. Reporters such as Yasuda will. As for understanding the dangers, that is an essential part of the job. Yasuda fully accepted the risks, even if he misjudged them. Kimura’s point is valid, but he’s talking from the standpoint of a dedicated journalist whose work is invested in the need to know. What he doesn’t mention is whether the Japanese public, or media companies in general, share the same desire.


Illustrators use social media to highlight the minutiae of everyday life in Japan

Abstract: Garbage collectors perform a service that is essential to the functioning of society, and yet their contributions are often overlooked. Whatever a person’s social standing, however, it doesn’t mean their observations on life aren’t worth examining. Social media allows anyone to attract attention if they offer up an interesting perspective on life. Garbageman Shuichi Takizawa encapsulates this state of affairs succinctly on his Twitter account. The Adachi Ward-born worker creates comics about life collecting trash and shares them on his Twitter account . 『ゴミ清掃員の日常』 ・息子が始めたごみ分別 を「漫画」にしてみました #ゴミ清掃員の日常 pic.twitter.com/6qExyTG1T9 — マシンガンズ滝沢 (@takizawa0914) August 10, 2018 Takizawa, who also works as a comedian, has managed to attract a sizeable audience online by sharing his experiences on the job. His illustrations can rack up myriad likes and retweets — one recent offering boasts more than 76,000 retweets — and, in September, he even managed to publish a book on the subject . Most importantly, however, he’s offering followers an insight into the daily lives of garbage collectors in Japan. 『ゴミ清掃員の日常』 ・ペットボトル工場 を「漫画」にしてみました。 #ゴミ清掃員の日常 #このゴミは収集できません pic.twitter.com/66ONccC8Wn — マシンガンズ滝沢 (@takizawa0914) October 19, 2018 Takizawa is just one example of someone using online illustrations to share a perspective that rarely attracts much attention in Japan, let alone in traditional media spaces. A wide variety of Japanese people have used illustrations on social media to offer followers a sneak peek into their lives, whether they be parents on the northwestern coast of the U.S. or employees of a manga cafe in Japan . Social media can help expose people to new viewpoints that originate from all kinds of unlikely places. The internet was originally created so that people could “share information, access opportunities, and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries.” For the time being, the jury’s still out on just how well humanity is doing in this regard and yet, in spite of the doubts, the web continues to be a great space for independent creators. In Japan, blogging services such as Ameba helped fledgling comics creators to blossom in the 2000s, with a memorable example being the popular family-centric “ Uchi no Sanshimai .” In recent years, however, social media has also become increasingly influential as far as artists are concerned, as it is far easier to have your work shared on platforms such as Twitter. This state of affairs has subsequently produced a healthy community of social media creators such as Qrais and Mojiji , who have gone on to earn physical releases and theme cafes , respectively. These days, however, comic artists on social media tend to focus on the minutiae of everyday life in Japan. Many discuss what it’s like to raise kids, homing in on the funnier moments in particular. That’s certainly the draw of “ Gyuunyu Niki ,” which chronicles the daily existence of a mother and her two kids as they go to Sylvanian Families’ toy events and draw animals . It’s simple, but it has managed to attract more than 200,000 followers on Twitter . It’s a genre also highlighted by creators such as @horahareta13 and @aomuro , who mix stories about their kids with fairly ordinary topics. Others bring more unique situations to their digital panels, such as a comic focused on the challenges of a Japanese mother raising a baby while in Seattle (featuring bonus commentary on American culture ). Moving beyond toddlers, these funny takes on the benign cover everything from raising sneaky cats to enjoying meals , complete with recipes. The prevalence of such ho-hum observations was once one of the biggest criticisms leveled at social media — namely, “Why would I want to see what someone ate for lunch?” (In 2018, however, I imagine many users these days go so far as to wish their feeds were actually filled with pictures of Instagram-worthy sandwiches.) Online comics offer Japanese netizens something equally easy to digest, with plenty of humor thrown into the mix. At their best, online comics bring a new perspective to situations that many don’t think about in their daily life. In a popular comic from earlier this fall, an artist reflected on their time in a part-time job at a manga cafe , touching on a series of illuminating challenges. Another found an artist recounting the time she worked with Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward on a project , only for the organizers to mess up and try to charge her money for their screw-ups. Her tale angered many and, hopefully, made some aware of the challenges freelancers face (OK, I admit it — I’m projecting here). Take a look at comics made by @ringoanu on Twitter. This creator drew attention online at the start of 2018 with a series focusing on a woman who isn’t really sure what the point of life is as she goes through the daily grind. Many could relate to the comic’s musings, especially if they were feeling similarly bleak . If nothing else, such illustrators have managed to establish a connection with readers online, who are both surprised by the frankness of the drawings and as well as finding plenty to relate to.


Dollar dips below ¥112.80 in late Tokyo trading

Abstract: The dollar was weak below ¥112.80 in late Tokyo trading Monday, with its downside backed by purchases reflecting firm Tokyo stock prices. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥112.75-75, down from ¥113.29-30 at the same time Friday. The euro was at $1.1407-1411, up from $1.1343-1343, and at ¥128.62-62, up from ¥128.51-52. The dollar dropped to levels around ¥112.60 in early trading following its weakness Friday in New York due to a decline in U.S. long-term interest rates. The U.S. developments came after Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said the Fed should stop raising interest rates when its policy rate hits a neutral level, adding that the U.S. central bank is close to that point. Later in Tokyo, the U.S. currency cut losses to approach ¥112.80, buoyed by a firm start of the Nikkei 225 stock average. After falling below ¥112.70 again, the dollar recovered to levels near ¥112.80 in the afternoon, as U.S. long-term interest rates stopped falling and the Nikkei average held steady. “Hopes for easing of U.S.-China trade friction withered” after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum member economies failed to adopt a joint communique at their summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday, a currency market broker said. “The dollar rebounded, but its rally was weak,” the broker continued. If U.S. stocks bottom out on positive developments on the trade front, the dollar will rise against the yen, an official of a foreign-affiliated securities firm said.


Tokyo stocks rally as investors seek out bargains

Abstract: Stocks bounced back Monday as investors snapped up bargains after recent declines. The Nikkei 225 average rose 140.82 points, or 0.65 percent, to end at 21,821.16. On Friday, the key market gauge fell 123.28 points. The Topix, which covers all first-section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, finished 8.31 points, or 0.51 percent, higher at 1,637.61 after losing 9.67 points Friday. Stocks moved mostly higher, assisted by repurchases of beaten-down issues including semiconductor-related companies and electronic parts makers, brokers said. “Individual investors were seen as major bargain buyers today,” an official of a bank-affiliated securities firm said. The official added that overall trading was thin, however. Explaining the day’s rally, Hiroaki Hiwada, strategist at Toyo Securities Co., pointed to investor hopes for some easing of U.S.-China trade friction ahead of a planned summit between the world’s largest economies as early as the end of this month. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday his country may not slap more tariffs on Chinese products if Beijing makes some more concessions, providing a lift to U.S. equities that day. “For the Tokyo market to stage a full-fledged recovery, external uncertainties need to be cleared,” an official of a midsize securities firm said. Rising issues outnumbered falling ones 1,289 to 756 in the first section, while 67 issues were unchanged. Volume decreased to 1.286 billion shares from 1.424 billion Friday. Higher semiconductor-related names included Tokyo Electron, Advantest, Screen Holdings, Sumco and Shin-Etsu Chemical. Electronics parts makers Murata Manufacturing, Alps Electric and Kyocera fared well. China-linked issues advanced on hopes for the U.S.-China summit, brokers said. Among them, industrial equipment manufacturers Fanuc gained 1.93 percent and Yaskawa Electric 3.04 percent. Other major winners were mobile phone carrier SoftBank Group and game maker Nintendo. On the other hand, lower U.S. interest rates battered financial names, such as mega-bank group Mitsubishi UFJ and insurer Dai-ichi Life. Also lower were clothing retailer Fast Retailing and Shizuoka Bank.


SoftBank's new robot Whiz skips the chit chat, gets to work mopping office floors

Abstract: SoftBank Group Corp. is introducing a new robot that, unlike the talkative Pepper, skips the chit chat and just mops the floor. Whiz, an autonomous floor-cleaning machine for businesses, will go on sale in Japan in February, the company announced Monday. The 32-kg machine is powered by self-driving software and an array of sensors from Brain Corp., a San Diego-based startup that is part of SoftBank’s $100 billion Vision Fund. It will be available for rent for ¥25,000 a month. Pepper, SoftBank’s first foray into robotics, was marketed as a companion in the home and as a sales assistant on the shop floor. While that robot is capable of expressing humanlike body language, keeping eye contact and engaging in limited small talk, it failed to catch on. Brain doesn’t make its own hardware. It focuses instead on developing software that endows machines with autonomy in closed environments. “At Brain, we want to see the future where robots are everywhere,” Eugene Izhikevich, founder and chief executive of Brain, said at a briefing in Tokyo. “We want to enable this revolution.” The robot comes with a handle which a human uses to “teach” it the layout of the space that needs cleaning. After that it can perform the task autonomously. The machine comes equipped with a laser range finder, 3D camera, collision sensor and a battery that can power it for as long as three hours. It can operate safely even when humans are present. SoftBank itself pays about ¥180,000 a month for a crew of three people to tidy its own headquarters, said Kenichi Yoshida, chief business officer at SoftBank Robotics. Because floor cleaning accounts for about 40 percent of the work, using Whiz could shave about ¥35,000 off that bill, Yoshida said.


Carlos Ghosn, the auto world's 'cost killer,' won praise in Japan for hard-nosed, workaholic image

Abstract: PARIS - Brazilian-born Carlos Ghosn has long stood out among the world’s auto executives as a hard-nosed workaholic able to get a troubled company back on its feet quickly. As head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, Ghosn has created an industrial behemoth, its combined 470,000 employees selling 10.6 million vehicles last year from 122 factories around the globe. But the combined group now looks troubled after Japanese police arrested Ghosn on suspicion he failed to report his full compensation to stock market authorities as chairman of Nissan. Nissan’s board has said it will seek his removal after a monthslong inquiry prompted by a whistleblower uncovered “significant acts of misconduct.” Long nicknamed “Le Cost Killer” in France, Ghosn began his career with the tire maker Michelin and, after a early stint in Brazil, was quickly promoted and earned a reputation for turning around its North American operations. From there, he was recruited by Renault in 1996 to work alongside then CEO Louis Schweitzer where he helped return the company to profitability. Just three years later, he was sent to head the newly acquired Nissan group with the challenge of doing the same thing within two years. He managed it within one. The performance made him a hero in Japan, where manga comics are devoted to the suave businessman known for always being up before dawn after just six hours of sleep a night. “A boss has to have 100 percent freedom to act and 100 percent responsibility for what he does. I have never tolerated any wavering from that principle, I will never accept any interference,” he once said. Crossing borders has never been a problem for 64-year-old Ghosn. His Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and English are fluent, and he has picked up a working knowledge of Japanese during his time at Nissan. Born in Brazil on March 9, 1954, to Lebanese parents, he was reportedly able to distinguish types of cars at the age of 5 just by the sound of their horns. At the age of 6, he went to live in the Lebanese capital Beirut with his mother and attended a Jesuit high school there. Later he went to Paris where he picked up degrees at two of France’s most elite schools, including the Polytechnique engineering university, and he has a French passport. After restoring Renault and Nissan to sound financial footing, he soon shifted into higher gear by pressing hard to develop electric cars, one of the first in the industry. Yet he also fiercely guarded his personal time with his wife and four children. “I do not bring my work home. I play with my four children and spend time with my family on weekends,” he once told Fortune magazine. “When I go to work on Monday … I come up with good ideas as a result of becoming stronger after being recharged.” But the hefty pay packages that have come with his success have at times raised hackles, not least with the French government, which owns 20 percent of Renault. His combined compensation reached €13 million ($14.8 million) last year, according to the corporate governance advisory firm Proxinvest. In 2016 the French state joined 54 percent of voters at the automaker’s annual meeting in refusing to authorize a €7.25 million pay package for his position at Renault. The vote was overruled by Renault’s board, but Ghosn later accepted a pay cut after Emmanuel Macron, France’s finance minister at the time, threatened to step in with a new compensation law. Relations have eased since then, with the government approving a new mandate for Ghosn as Renault CEO in exchange for a 30 percent pay cut and the nomination of Thierry Bollore, his expected successor, as his deputy.


Two years after Philippines 'divorced' U.S., President Rodrigo Duterte still waiting on China dividend

Abstract: MANILA - Two years after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced a divorce with old ally the United States in return for bumper business ties with China, he doesn’t have much to show for it. Duterte left Beijing in 2016 with $24 billion of Chinese loans and investment pledges for his ambitious infrastructure overhaul, a few weeks after saying the Philippines was being treated like a dog by Washington and would be better off with China. But only a fraction of China’s pledged support has materialized, exposing Duterte to criticisms he has been complicit in allowing China to pose threats to Philippines’ sovereignty, and been left high and dry by Beijing. When President Xi Jinping visits the Philippines this week, Duterte will need the Chinese leader to put his money where his mouth is and help Duterte justify his geopolitical concessions to a historic rival, according to Richard Heydarian, a Manila-based defense and security analyst. “Otherwise, we can definitely conclude that there’s really nothing much in the rhetoric and the Philippines has been taken for a ride,” Heydarian said. “Duterte’s naivety with China has been a slam dunk strategic coup for China, no doubt about it.” Philippine’s Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said it would be unreasonable to expect all the Chinese pledges to come through after only two years, but officials are hopeful intervention by Xi after his visit could help. “We’re very optimistic this will, their head of state, will pressure their bureaucracy to speed up the process,” he said last week. Duterte’s signature “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the centerpiece of his economic strategy, involves 75 flagship projects of which about half are earmarked for Chinese loans, grants or investments. But according to publicly available Philippine government documents reviewed by Reuters, only three of those — two bridges and an irrigation facility worth a combined $167 million — have so far broken ground. The rest, including three rail projects, three highways and nine bridges, are at various levels of planning and budgeting, or are awaiting Chinese government approval for financing, or the nomination of Chinese contractors. ‘Positive results’ China’s Foreign Ministry said major projects agreed by both sides “are proceeding smoothly and continue to achieve positive results.” China wanted to boost trade and investment and “promote the early commencement of building of even more agreed upon projects,” the ministry said in a statement. Committed Chinese investments in the Philippines in the first half of this year were just $33 million, about 40 percent of that of the United States and about a seventh of Japan’s, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, tracking a similar trend the previous year. Trade between China and the Philippines has picked up significantly, but data suggests mostly in China’s favor. Chinese exports to the Philippines grew 26 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the same period a year earlier, outpacing its imports from Manila, which grew 9.8 percent. Net foreign direct investment from China has, however, surged to $181 million for the first eight months of this year, from $28.8 million for all of 2017, according to the Philippine central bank. Pressure needed Duterte has made a point of praising China effusively and confessing his “love” for Xi. He even jokingly offered his country to Beijing as “a province of China.” Many ordinary Filipinos as well as international lawyers and diplomats are incensed by Duterte’s refusal to even raise with China the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) 2016 award that ruled in the Philippines’ favor, and invalidated Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea. Instead, Duterte is seeking an agreement with China to jointly explore offshore gas at the disputed Reed Bank in the resource-rich and strategic waterway. Some lawmakers fear that could be tantamount to recognizing Beijing’s claim to a site that the PCA ruling said China has no sovereign rights to under international law. Duterte has also been against Southeast Asian countries taking a united stand against China militarization and at a regional summit last week, he warned against causing friction, because the South China Sea was “now in their (China’s) hands.” Heydarian said if Duterte is unable to show an economic dividend from his China gambit, it could weaken his hand ahead of 2019 mid-term elections that might determine the success or failure of his presidency. To stand a chance of delivering on his policy agenda, Duterte needs his allies to command a majority in Congress and the Senate to ensure key legislation is passed to enable reforms aimed at generating revenue, attracting investment and creating higher-quality jobs. “If after Xi Jinping’s visit, there’s still no big move by China to invest in the Philippines, if China’s militarization and reclamation will just continue unabated, you’re going to have a situation where Duterte will come under extreme pressure,” he said. “The opposition is going to use that to pin down Duterte and his allies as Chinese lackeys.”

china
philippines
xi jinping
rodrigo duterte


APEC's relevance called into question after forum fails to reach deal on communique amid Sino-American clash

Abstract: PORT MORESBY - The “C” in APEC stands for Cooperation. But when the two biggest members are fighting a trade war and using the forum to attack each other’s policies, it was always going to be hard work delivering on that. The weekend’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Port Moresby was one of open disagreement, led by disputes between the United States and China over trade, security, and who would be the better investment partner for the region. As APEC approaches its 30th anniversary, the failure to agree on a communique for the first time calls into question its relevance in a crowded summit calendar and as the Trump administration makes clear its aversion to multilateralism. “It does mark the death of APEC’s founding trade vision,” Euan Graham, executive director of La Trobe Asia at Australia’s La Trobe University, said on Twitter, adding APEC was the “most disposable of the regional summits.” Rather than cooperation, the theme seemed to be conflict and containment as Beijing and Washington directly criticized each other’s policies and staked their claims as to why they were the security and investment partner the Pacific should choose. “It’s not even supposed to be binding, it’s APEC,” said one diplomat involved in negotiations for the communique, surprised that the members couldn’t agree on what is usually a humdrum summary of issues discussed. “China and the U.S. hijacked the APEC spirit, I suppose,” the diplomat added. The United States even preferred its own terminology of Indo-Pacific, which it defines as running from “the western shores of Latin America to the furthest reaches of the Indian Ocean,” with Vice President Mike Pence mentioning APEC five times and Indo-Pacific 41 times in his APEC speech Saturday. Founded in 1989 with a view to fostering trade and economic ties around the Pacific Ocean, it operated at a ministerial level until 1993 when U.S. President Bill Clinton established the annual leaders meeting. Each meeting had produced a joint statement at its conclusion, until Sunday. “This is very concerning from a systemic perspective. The WTO faces similar challenges,” said Charles Finny, a Wellington-based trade consultant and a former New Zealand government trade negotiator. In an editorial, Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times said the absence of a communique was “not a big deal,” and placed more significance on an upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to meet at the Group of 20 summit, which starts in Argentina next week. “It is hoped Washington makes serious preparations for the summit and not pin its hopes on exerting pressure,” said the tabloid, which is known for its nationalistic stance. Still, there did seem to be some Chinese concern over the communique, with officials rebuffed on Saturday when they tried to meet Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato on the issue. Pato confirmed that Chinese officials had wanted to see him, but said they had not made “necessary arrangements.” As the APEC host it was Papua New Guinea’s role to produce a communique. But the hostility and conflicting visions on display meant few blamed the group’s poorest country for being caught between two feuding superpowers. “In these times, chairing a gathering such as the leaders that we had over the last few days is no easy task,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, adding Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had shown great integrity and leadership. Indeed, one big change was long-forgotten Pacific nations found themselves aggressively courted by the two big-spending superpowers competing for influence in the strategically important ocean. Pence said the United States would join Australia to help Papua New Guinea build a navy base on its Manus Island, which was a U.S. base in World War II, after China had emerged as a possible developer of the deep-water port. Analysts had said a Chinese presence on Manus could have impacted the West’s ability to navigate in the Pacific while offering China a site close to U.S. bases in Guam. And the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand unveiled a $1.7 billion plan to bring electricity and the internet to much of Papua New Guinea, a collective counterattack to the lure of Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road program. “Whatever concepts have been raised by the United States or China or Australia doesn’t necessarily mean that these are the same concepts for Papua New Guinea,” Wera Mori, Papua New Guinea Commerce and Industry Minister said by phone. “We have our own situations and our own priorities to focus on.”


After finding no takers, Rohingya repatriation, relocation plans pushed back to 2019

Abstract: COX'S BAZAR, BANGLADESH - Bangladesh’s plans to tackle the Rohingya refugee crisis have been stalled until the new year with repatriation and relocation programs only likely to be revisited following year-end general elections, a top Bangladeshi official said on Sunday. Abul Kalam, Bangladesh’s refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, told Reuters “a new course of action” needed to be adopted on repatriation that took into account refugees’ key demands. More than 720,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in 2017, according to U.N. agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to insurgent Rohingya attacks on security forces. Rohingya refugees say soldiers and Buddhist civilians killed families, burned many villages and carried out gang rapes. U.N-mandated investigators have accused Myanmar’s army of “genocidal intent” and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has denied almost all the accusations, saying its forces engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against “terrorists.” In late October, Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to begin to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled, but the plan has been opposed by the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the U.N. refugee agency and aid groups, who fear for the safety of Rohingya in Myanmar. The repatriation of the first batch of 2,200 refugees was to begin officially on Nov. 15, but it stalled amid protests at the refugee camps. None of those on the list agreed to return if their demands for justice, citizenship and the ability to go back to their original villages and lands were not met. “I don’t think anyone’s agreeing to go back without these,” said Kalam, who last week called on the international community to pressure Myanmar to accept certain “logical and acceptable” demands in order for any repatriation to take place. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group and calls them “Bengalis,” suggesting they belong in Bangladesh. It has agreed to take the Rohingya back and said they would need to accept the National Verification Card, which it says would allow Rohingya to apply for citizenship. The Rohingya reject the card, saying it brands them foreigners. Kalam said he believed Myanmar needed to propose a “clearer path” to citizenship for the Rohingya if any returns were to take place, adding he would raise the matter at the next bilateral meeting on repatriation, likely to take place next month. Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay was not reachable on Sunday for comment. With Bangladesh now set to go to the polls on Dec. 30, any decision either to repatriate people, or relocate refugees from the crowded camps to Bangladesh’s Bhasan Char island will not proceed until 2019, Kalam said. “Elections are coming up now, so the government will only finalise a future course of action after the elections,” said Kalam, adding that Bangladesh remained ready to repatriate refugees if any volunteered to return. Bangladesh has vowed not to force anyone to return. Kalam said construction work on alternative housing on Bhasan Char was “nearly complete.” He said he was hopeful some refugees would agree to move, given the island’s “livelihood opportunities” such as fishing and farming. Aid agencies express caution as the island is prone to flooding.

myanmar
u.n .
elections
refugees
bangladesh
genocide
rohingya
rakhine


In Australia, refugees ditch overcrowded cities to live a slower paced life in small outback towns

Abstract: GRIFFITH, AUSTRALIA - A Hazara refugee who now calls the Australian outback home, Ali named his new venture the Afghan Friendship Restaurant, a tribute to the warm welcome he says he received after moving to the town of Griffith five years ago. The 44-year-old father of three is among a growing number of refugees and migrants to Australia who have opted to live in the bush rather than among the bright lights, hustle and bustle and astronomical prices of Sydney or Melbourne. The word friendship hovers over Ali’s head in bright red lettering while he cooks lamb skewers, his face a picture of concentration as the rich wafts of fragrant smoke lure in hungry customers. It is the first-ever Afghan eatery in Griffith — a six-hour drive west of Sydney — and a far cry from the pie and chips staples of the Australian bush. “I suggest to all of my friends, especially Afghan people, to come to Griffith, because here’s very friendly,” Ali, who asked that his surname not be used to protect family still in Afghanistan, said during a break from cooking. “Also we can find a job as well, because the population is not too much.” A nation of immigrants, nearly half of Australia’s 25-million-strong population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born abroad. The country takes in around 14,000 refugees annually, with one-off exceptions to allow additional asylum-seekers, such as a recent system for 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis. But harsh anti-asylum policies against boat arrivals and high-profile incidents of racism have given the country a reputation as inhospitable to non-white immigrants. There’s been a spike in anti-immigration sentiment, according to the Lowy Institute think tank, despite the overall intake of migrants — capped annually at 190,000 — remaining stable. Lowy’s annual poll found that for the first time this year, more than half the Australians surveyed said the number of migrants was “too high” — up from 40 percent in 2017. The poll’s authors said the shifting attitudes could reflect a lurch to the right, particularly as conservative politicians call for intake cuts amid urban pressures. Rapid demographic changes in Australian cities over the past decade have caused disquiet as residents grapple with congestion and high house prices. Yet at the same time many regional towns are “crying out for more people,” according to Population and Cities Minister Alan Tudge. His government is proposing that new arrivals live in smaller towns for a few years, in the hope they might make it their home. Critics say the policy is not enforceable, and add that migrants would struggle to integrate into rural populations amid language and cultural differences. But that is not what Jock Collins at the University of Technology Sydney, who is currently surveying 250 recently arrived families from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, has found. Collins says many migrants have positive feedback to share after being settled in smaller towns. In addition to job opportunities and a supportive environment — “where the town goes out of its way to welcome refugees” — the presence of other migrant communities can ease the transition, Collins says. “A lot of regional and rural towns are losing populations and in particular, the young people are leaving … so immigration can help fill that gap.” Some immigrants also find it difficult to adjust to the busy rhythms of city life, making smaller towns an easier fit. Incentives like extended family visas — which the conservative government has been cutting back on in favor of younger working-age migrants — could also attract and keep refugees in the bush. One success story is Mingoola, a small rural township in New South Wales, on the border with Queensland, that was slowly dying as its population aged. Desperate for an injection of new blood, the town finally found a match with refugees from rural East Africa who were struggling in Sydney. Similar praise has been heaped on Nhill, a town four hours’ drive from Melbourne that has boomed since local poultry firm Luv-a-Duck found a Karen community, a minority group persecuted in Myanmar, willing to move there. Eight years on, business is booming and the Karen now make up 10 percent of Nhill’s 2,000-strong population. “From a position of decline, these towns are now thriving,” says Jack Archer of the Regional Australia Institute, which is pushing for a national strategy instead of isolated efforts to match needy towns with job-seeking migrants. Back in Griffith, refugee entrepreneurs are boosting local jobs. Ali’s restaurant employs another refugee and a migrant from Malaysia, while his wife also helps with the cooking. In more than one way, Ali is altering visitor flows between cities and rural towns. One couple have traveled from Sydney three times to eat at the restaurant. It’s “for the soup,” he says. “They like my soup and because of that they come here.”

immigration
australia
afghanistan
refugees
asylum seekers


Restraints used on nearly half of dementia patients in regular hospitals in Japan

Abstract: Nearly half of those with dementia who have been hospitalized in Japan were physically restrained at some point to prevent them from harming themselves. A nationwide survey carried out early last year at 3,446 hospitals and receiving valid responses from 937 found that among 23,539 patients with or suspected of having dementia, 10,480, or 45 percent, were physically restrained during their stay. The joint survey by the National Cancer Center and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science said the results show that hospitals are going too far in restraining dementia patients and that the practice “may be becoming habitual.” The findings highlight practices such as tying patients to wheelchairs, and indicate that more studies are necessary regarding the appropriate way to care for the elderly in a country whose population is rapidly graying. “We should examine the demerits of restraints, including a decline in bodily functioning and the progression of dementia, and take measures to reduce unnecessary cases,” the survey team said. The poll focused on regular hospitals, where physical restraints are allowed by law and are used at the discretion of medical staff. This is in contrast to psychiatric hospitals, where restraints are allowed only in certain situations, and nursing facilities, where they are in principle banned. The survey, which allowed multiple answers, found 69 percent of such cases involved enclosing a patient’s bed with a barrier, while 28 percent entailed strapping patients to a wheelchair with belts and 26 percent involved putting mittens on patients to prevent them from pulling out catheters. Asked about the reasons for taking such steps, the measures were taken in 47 percent of cases due to a risk of patients falling, 14 percent were due to the possibility of them pulling out catheters and 10 percent were because they had pulled out catheters before.


Rubella spreading across Japan, raising concern before Tokyo Games

Abstract: Rubella infections are spreading across Japan, raising concern that a potentially long-term epidemic could sap travel demand ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. With the total number of rubella patients this year expected to top 2,000 for the first time in nearly five years, experts are stressing the importance of taking antibody tests and vaccinations. The spread is mainly because many men in their 30s and older are unvaccinated. When the rubella outbreak began in the week between July 23 and 29, only 19 patients were reported in five prefectures including Tokyo, Chiba and Aichi, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. But the weekly number of rubella patients surged to 154 in the period between Oct. 29 and Nov. 4 in 26 prefectures, with notable rises in the Kansai region. The number exceeded 100 for the ninth consecutive week, already bringing the overall figure for patients so far this year to at least 1,884, the institute said. In late October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised its alert level for the rubella outbreak in Japan to Level 2, the second-highest of three levels, warning that pregnant women should not travel to Japan unless protected through vaccination or previous infection. If unborn babies are infected with rubella through their mothers in the early stages of pregnancy, they can suffer birth defects such as hearing impairments, cataracts and heart disorders. A rubella epidemic could last several years, regardless of season and weather conditions, according to experts. If the situation does not change, it could lead to a fall in the number of foreign visitors to Japan. The current outbreak’s characteristic is that a large number of patients are men in their 30s to 50s. Japan’s vaccination policy has changed many times and men aged 39 or older did not have an opportunity to get a shot against rubella through regular public vaccination programs offered by municipalities. Vaccination rates for both men and women aged between 31 and 39 are also low as they needed to go to clinics on their own to get shots rather than in groups when they were in junior high school. In the wake of the epidemic, some municipal governments and companies have started offering free antibody tests or vaccinations. But Keiko Taya of the institute’s infectious diseases and epidemiology center, said many people are still unaware of publicly supported vaccination services. “I want people to search (information) online and (get vaccinations) immediately. We have to stop a rise in the number of patients to prevent a pandemic,” Taya said. Among Japanese companies taking initiatives, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. began covering the full costs of rubella vaccinations for around 1,700 employees from October. Believing that many workers are unable to find time to go to clinics to get shots, the company decided to organize group vaccinations at its offices in Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto. Hirotoshi Yamada, a 44-year-old Rohto employee who got vaccinated, said, “I did not want to cause any trouble to female colleagues at work, but taking a day off only for that purpose was difficult so I appreciated this chance.”


Don't eat Jiro persimmons, drink them, town in Mie urges

Abstract: Members of the Nippon Bartenders Association’s branch in Mie Prefecture have created original cocktails that make use of typhoon-damaged Jiro persimmons — a local specialty of the town of Taki that is now in harvest — that cannot be shipped for sale. Until now, persimmons unfit for sale had been consumed by producers and their neighbors. But since ripe Jiro persimmons have sugar content as high as 17 degrees Brix, the Taki Municipal Government, concerned about excessive sugar intake by residents, asked the association to develop cocktails based on the fruit. The bartenders developed eight cocktails, including a Moscow Mule variation made by grating half a Jiro persimmon and mixing it with orange juice, vodka and ginger ale, a concoction that involves mixing the fruit with ume (plum) liquor and a nonalcoholic drink made by mixing persimmons and oranges with crushed ice. The cocktails have been offered at 14 bars in the prefecture since Nov. 9 after debuting at a tasting event Nov. 6 at City Hall. Taki Mayor Yukio Kubo, who sampled a nonalcoholic Moscow Mule at the event, said, “There is the appealing flavor of persimmons.” “Even if they are damaged, they taste as good (as undamaged ones),” said Chitose Michigami, 47, head of the association’s Mie branch. “We hope to cooperate with other branches so (the new cocktails) will be offered widely.” Persimmon producers will provide bars with the damaged fruit at low prices, and the bars plan to offer the new cocktails until the end of the month. The project for utilizing damaged persimmons started after officials in the municipal government found out five years ago that medical expenses for treating lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are roughly 20 percent higher in persimmon-producing areas compared with other areas in town. After looking into the results of past health checkups and interviews about people’s dietary habits, they found that residents in persimmon producing districts consumed larger numbers of damaged persimmons — three to five a day for some people — resulting in high triglyceride levels. Although the officials have not concluded that persimmons are the reason for the high medical expenses, they started looking for other ways to make use of damaged persimmons in light of the possibility that eating too many could have adverse effects. Shipping about 600 tons of Jiro persimmons a year, Taki is the second-largest producer of the fruit after Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. “Due to typhoons and other reasons, about 10 percent of the persimmons can’t be shipped every year,” said Kenichi Ono, 69, a grower who heads a group of persimmon producers at a local agricultural cooperative. “We can’t bear to see them disposed of. We hope (the cocktails) will help increase consumers of damaged persimmons, which should also contribute to increasing farmers’ income.”

disease diabetes mie cocktails persimmons taki