The iPad is even more super!

Yea for more memory! I confess I’m surprised it took this long for a tablet to come out with a big storage drive like this, but hey, better now than not at all. That said, it’s still pretty impressive that a tablet, which presumably has a very large flash drive, since I don’t know how common flash memory cards with 128 GB are yet.

KDDI、ソフトバン クも128GBバージョ ン「iPad Retinaモ デル」販売へ

2013年1月30日(水) 19時57分

現行機種のラインアップと価格 30日、アップルは第4世代iPadの128GBモデルを 発表。同日、現在日本国内で第4世代iPadを取り 扱っているKDDIとソフトバンクモバイル も、128GBモデル第4世代iPadを販売すると発表し た。

KDDIはWi-Fi＋Cellularモデルのみ、ソフトバンク モバイルは、Wi-FiモデルとWi-Fi＋Cellularモデルを 取り扱うとのこと。価格や発売日については、どち らのキャリアも近日中の発表としている。

第4世代「iPad」は、クアッドコアグラフィック ス搭載デュアルコアA6Xチップを採用、ディスプレ イは9.7インチのRetinaディスプレイで 2,048×1,536、264 ppi。本体サイズ は、241.2×185.7×9.4mm、重さはWi-Fiモデル が652g、Wi-Fi+Cellularモデルが662g。

http://www.rbbtoday.com/article/2013/01/30/102167.html

KDDI and Softbank to sell 128 GB version of “iPad Retina” model

On the 30 th , announced a 128 GB version of the 4 th generation iPad. The same day, the two companies that offer the 4 th generation iPad locally in Japan, KDDI and Softbank Mobile, also announced they would sell the 128 GB model 4 th generation iPad.

KDDI will offer the Wi-Fi + Cellular model only while Softbank will sell both the Wi-Fi + Cellular and Wi-Fi only models. Both carriers will announce price and on sale dates within a few days.

The 4 th gen iPad has a quad core graphics dual-core A6X chip. The display is a 9.7 inch Retina Display with2,048 x 1,536, 264 ppi. The unit’s size is 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm. The Wi-Fi model weighs 652g and the Wi-Fi+Cellular model weighs 662g.

Good citizens

Doing cool things to make people feel better about life. I’m a big proponent of good citizenship, and Citizen Holdings has acknowledged a few such people below.

シチズン賞に女性最高齢の エベレスト登山家ら３人

2013.1.29 21:19 シチズンホールディングスが昨年１年間 の社会貢献や市民に感動を与えた人を表彰 する「２０１２年度シチズン・オブ・ザ・ イヤー（シチズン賞）」の受賞者３人が決 まり、２９日、都内で表彰式が行われた。 受賞したのは、声を失った難病患者のた めに文字入力支援ソフトを開発したプログ ラマー、吉村隆樹さん（４７）▽２度のエ ベレスト女性最高齢登頂記録を達成した登 山家、渡辺玉枝さん（７４）▽ルワンダの 障害者に義足を作り続ける義肢装具士、ル ダシングワ真美さん（４９）。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/news/130129/trd13012921200013-n1.htm

Citizen Award given to 3, including oldest female climber of Mt. Everest

Citizen Holdings acknowledged the three recipients of its “Citizen of the Year (Citizen Award) for 2012” for contributions to society and for deeply moving other citizens on the 29 th at an awards ceremony in Tokyo.

The recipients are Takaki Yoshimura (47) who developed input support software for patients with difficult illnesses who had lost their voice, Tame Watanabe (74), the oldest woman to have climbed Mt Everest twice, and. Mami Rudashinguwa (49), who makes prosthetics for Rwandan victims.

Star Wars is happening in the East!

It appears that ray guns and lightsabers may finally be coming to Asia, or at least far western China.

中国が弾道弾迎撃ミ サイル実験、上空に 神秘的な光

中国国防部新聞事務局によると、中国 は27日、地上配備型の中間コースでの弾道 弾迎撃ミサイル技術の実験を国内で実施 し、所期目的を達成した。中国網日本語版 （チャイナネット）によれば、同実験は防 御目的であり、第三国を対象にしたもので もないという。

中国は地上配備型の中間コースでの弾 道弾迎撃ミサイルの実験を実施した。同日 午後8時、新疆ウイグル自治区にいる中国 版ツイッター「微博（ウェイボー）」の ユーザーは、弾道弾迎撃ミサイルの実験に よると見られる情景を屋外と飛行機の上か ら撮影した。ネットユーザーは、「真ん中 がとても明るく、水蒸気みたいだった。 変化が速くて、真ん中の緑色の光はレー ザーのように見えた」とつぶやいた。（編 集担当：米原裕子）

http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi? y=2013&d=0128&f=politics_0128_018.shtml

China tests ballistic interceptor missile, mysterious bright light in the skies

According to China’s Defense Newspaper editorial board, on the 27 th , China conducted a domestic test of ground-based ballistic missile interceptor technology at an intermediate course and achieved the expected results. According to the Chinese-edited Japanese language publication (Chinanet), the aim of the test was defensive in nature, and not aimed at any third country.

China tested a ground-based ballistic interceptor missile at an intermediate course. The same evening around 8 pm, a user of the Chinese version of Twitter (Wei Bo in Chinese) in Xianjiang’s Uigur region reported seeing lights outside from the ballistic interceptor missile experiment and took pictures from an aircraft above. The net user posted, “From pitch black it became very bright, like water vapor. I saw something like a green laser in the darkness.”

Reach for your mask, or tissue!

It’s that time of year when they start forecasting pollen counts. Which means it’s also time for many Japanese to start strapping on protective masks to keep try and keep themselves from suffering the worst effects of allergies and hay fever. I’ve not done it yet, but maybe I’ll go for a mask this year too!

花粉ピークは３月上 旬から＝環境省

環境省は２５日、スギやヒノキの花粉飛 散予測（第二報）を発表した。飛散量の ピークは３月上旬から４月中旬と予測して いる。 ピーク時期は、九州、中国、四国、東 海、関東で３月上旬から中旬、近畿と北陸 は３月下旬から４月上旬、東北は４月上旬 から中旬。ピーク前後の１０～２０日間も 比較的多く飛散するという。 飛散量は、多くの地域で花粉症に注意が 必要な量に達し、関東や北陸では例年の １．５倍を超える地域が多いと予測してい る。（2013/01/25-19:50）

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g= eco_30&k=2013012500953

Pollen peak will start in beginning of March – says Environmental Ministry

The Ministry of the Environment announced the cedar and cypress pollen forecast (#2 Report) on the 25 th . The pollen peak is forecasted to run from early March to mid-April. The peak period for the Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, Toukai, and Kanto regions will be from early to mid-March, from late March to early April for the Kinki and Hokuriku regions, and from early to mid-April for Touhoku. The 10-20 day period before and after the peak will also be relatively bad. The pollen count will reach the level that requires caution regarding hay fever in most regions, with Kanto and Hokuriku notably projected to reach 1.5 times the amount in typical year.

Cutting costs…

Any way we can! As part of a broader effort to bring the retirement schemes of public employees at the national and local level in line with each other, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has asked all the prefectural governments to reduce their employees’ pension benefits by some amount. This has led to a rash of people trying to retire early. Can you blame them?

駆け込み 警察官も 「１５０万円分大き い」

自治体職員の退職手当引き下げを盛り込 んだ改正条例施行を前に、駆け込み退職を 希望する警察官が相次いでいる.

年度内に改正される見込みの愛知、兵庫 両県警では、少なくとも約２３０人の警察 官と警察職員が早期退職の意向を示してい る。条例施行前に退職すれば退職金は施 行後より平均１４０万～１５０万円多くな るためだが、治安維持に影響が出かねない として、人事異動の前倒しなどを検討する 動きも出ている。

退職手当を巡っては、国家公務員の手当 を減額する改正国家公務員退職手当法が昨 年１１月に成立したことを受け、総務省が 全国の自治体に対しても、職員の退職手 当の引き下げを要請。これを受け、東京や 徳島など少なくとも７都県では既に改正条 例が施行されたほか、兵庫県や愛知県など で３月までに条例が改正される見込み だ。埼玉県では公立学校の教員ら約１２０ 人が早期退職を希望したことが判明してい る。

３月１日から職員の退職金が引き下げら れる愛知県警では、退職予定の約２９０人 のうち約１４０人が早期退職の意向を示し ている。２月中に退職した場合の退職金 は、施行後と比較して、平均で約１４０万 ～１５０万円の差が生じる。３月分の給料 を差し引いても、約１００万円多くもらえ る見込みだ。

通常の定期異動は３月中～下旬のため、 ２月中に退職する警察官や警察職員が殺到 すれば、約１か月弱の空白ができる可能性 もある。県警は、署長などの重要管理職 や１人勤務の駐在所など、空白が生じると 業務に影響が出かねないポストについて は、臨時の異動などで対応する方針だ。

県警は「正規に決まった制度を利用して の退職であれば、止めることはできない。 本人の意向に委ねるしかない」としてい る。

早期退職を決意したある警視は「重要な 仕事との自負はあるが、自宅マンションの ローンもある。あてにしていた退職金が１ ５０万円分も減るのは苦しい」と打ち明け る。

（2013年1月23日 読売新聞）
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/kyoiku/news/20130123-OYT8T01117.htm

Stampede – policemen too “1,500,000 yen is a lot”

Ahead of a reform measure aimed at lowering the retirement allowance of municipal employees, a stampede of policemen are saying they want to retire.

With the reform projected within the year, approximately 230 police officers and police staff in Aichi and Hyogo prefectures have indicated they want to retire as soon as possible. If they retire before the reform passes, their retirement will be approximately 1.4-1.5 million yen more than it would be after the reform passes. That said, because of the impact this might have on maintaining safety, movements to study accelerating personnel shifts are also under way.

Regarding the retirement allowance, the reform to the national public employee pension law that would reduce the allowance for national public employees was passed in November of last year, and the Department of Internal Affairs has requested that local public employees also have their pensions reduced. In response, at least 7 prefectures, including Tokyo and Tokushima have already passed reform legislation, and Aichi and Hyogo prefectures, among others, are planning to pass them by March. In Saitama Prefecture, approximately 120 teachers at public schools have also voiced a desire to retire early.

For employees at the Aichi Prefectural Police Department that will see their pensions reduced starting March 1, of the 290 planning for retirement, approximately 140 have requested early retirement. If they retire in February, they will receive on average 1.4-1.5 million yen more than if they retire after. Even if their quarterly salary is deducted, they would still receive an estimated 1 million yen more.

Because of standard staff reassignments occurring during the second half of March, if police officers and staff rush to retire in February, there could be an approximate one month vacuum. Within the Prefectural Police, if there is a vacancy in managerial rolls like the police chief or single man operations that could cause an impact in operations, they are considering special reassignments as a response.

The Prefectural Police made a statement saying, “If the retirements are in accordance with rules and procedures, we cannot stop it. We must honor the wishes of the individual.”

One policeman who has requested early retirement said, “I have an important job, but I also have a home loan. It would be difficult if I lose 1.5 million yen in retirement money.”

Being a soldier…

…comes first. Sounds like Prince Henry is doing what many soldiers do when they’re in a war. I don’t envy him his position though. I’ve never been to war or served in any military so don’t have much to offer on this only than to note that the British tabloids never do let go of royal indiscretions. Glad I’m not a Royal.

英王子「タリバン殺 した」＝アフガン従 軍終了で帰国へ

【ロンドン時事】チャールズ英皇太子の 次男ヘンリー王子（２８）はこのほど、約 ４カ月にわたるアフガニスタンでの軍務を 終了した。陸軍で攻撃ヘリコプター「ア パッチ」操縦士を務める王子は英メディア とのインタビューで、従軍中に反政府勢力 タリバンのメンバーを殺害したことを初め て認めた。 王子は２１日にアフガンを離れ、２３日 英国に帰国予定。安全確保のためメディア はこれまで報道を控えていた。 ２２日付各紙によると、任務中に敵を殺 したことがあるかと問われた王子は「ほか 大勢（の同僚）もそうしている」と回答。 「（仲間の）命を救うために命を奪う」の が自身の役割だと説明した。 ヘンリー王子をめぐっては２０１２年 夏、ラスベガスのホテルで女性と全裸に なっている写真が公開され話題になった が、これについても初めてコメント。「軍 人としての面が出過ぎてしまい、王子らし く振る舞わなかった」と反省の弁を述べ た。（2013/01/22-21:37） http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g= int_30&k=2013012200974

British prince says “I killed Taliban” – Returning home from the Afghan campaign

Prince Henry (28), second son of Britain’s Crown Prince Charles, completed 4 months of service in Afghanistan. He is a pilot flying Apache attack helicopters for the army and in an interview, the prince told the British media for the first time that he did in fact kill members of the anti-government Taliban while deployed.

The prince left Afghanistan on the 21 st with a planned return to Britain of the 23 rd . The media has refrained from reporting until now to protect his safety. Various papers reported on the 22 nd that when asked if he had killed enemies while on deployment, the prince answered, “Many (of my fellow soldiers) have too.” He explained his own role by saying, “I took their lives to save (my comrades).”

During the summer of 2012, pictures of a naked Prince Henry and some women at a Las Vegas hotel were released and became quite a media topic, and he made his first comments on that as well. “As a soldier, I was out of line and I was not acting like a prince,” he said, stating his regret.

A blast from the past!

So for any of you old-school gamer types, you might remember the game Simcity that came out many a long year ago. Well, Electronic Arts is revisiting it and if you want to try it out, see below.

PC用ゲーム『シムシ ティ』のベータテス ト実施期間が決定、 発売に先駆けてひと 足早く体験するチャ ンス！

エレクトロニック・アーツは2013年3月7日発売予 定のPC用ゲーム『シムシティ』について、現在参 加登録受付中のベータテストを1月26日から実施す ることを発表した。 エレクトロニック・アーツ は2013年3月7日発売予定のPC用ゲーム 『シムシティ』について、ベータテスト実 施期間を発表した。

ベータテスト実施期間は、日本時間 の2013年1月26日（土）午前2:00か ら1月28日（月）午後5:01まで。ベータテ ストの参加登録受付はすでに公式サイト （→こちら）で始まっており、登録済みの 方はベータテスト参加が確保されていると のこと。なお、未登録の方にもまだ参加で きる可能性があるそうなので、登録受付が 終了する前に公式サイトをチェックされた し（登録受付は1月21日（月）午 前11:00に終了予定）。

今回のベータテストでは、本編から切り 出した約1時間のゲームプレイを実施期間 中であれば何度でもプレイ可能。スタジオ にフィードバックを送り、最終的な調整に 協力できるチャンスでもある。

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201301/18027470.html

The dates for the beta test of PC game “Simcity” have been set, a chance to experience it before it goes on sale!

Electronic Arts announced that it will start that the beta test period (currently accepting registrations) will begin on January 26th for “Simcity”, a PC game going on sale on March 7, 2013.

Electronic arts announced the dates for the beta test period for Simcity, it’s PC game going on sale on 3/7/2013.

The beta test period will begin on January 26, 2013 at 2 am Japan time and continue until 5:01 pm on January 28. Registration for beta testing has already begun on a public site and those who have completed registration to participate are assured a spot. For those who have not registered yet, it is still possible to participate and so those interested should check the site before registration concludes (end date at 11 am on 1/21).

The beta test contains about one hour of gameplay from the actual game, but can be played multiple times during the test period. Feedback will be sent to the studio and is a chance to help with final tweaks to the game.

This must end

Sometimes,severe problems call for big threats to resolve them. In this case, Mayor Hashimoto is wielding the biggest stick he has to bring the educational system to heel with regard to entrance exams. I don’t know any more of the story,so can’t offer any opinion on it,but when terrible things occur like this,some amount of soul searching may be required,methinks.

桜宮高入試中止改め て要請＝予算「人 質」に—高２自殺・ 橋下大阪市長

大阪市立桜宮高校２年のバスケットボー ル部主将の男子生徒（１７）が顧問の男性 教諭（４７）から体罰を受けた翌日に自 殺した問題で、橋下徹市長は１７日、同校 の体育科などの入試中止を改めて市教育委 員会に求めた。橋下市長は記者会見で、 「予算の執行権は僕（にある）」と述 べ、市教委予算の凍結を示唆。市教委は予 算を「人質」にとられた形での判断を迫ら れることになる。 「受験生に罪はない」など入試中止に反 対の声が上がっていることに対しては、「 まずは実態を解明をしないといけない。 （体罰が）許されるという意識を一度断ち 切るために、（入試を）やめることこそが 子どものためになる」と語った。 ［時事通信社］

http://jp.wsj.com/article/JJ1114319070830442355471791734 3260113407600.html

Renewed calls for halting of Sakuramiya high school entrance exam - Holding budget “hostage” –Sophomore suicide –Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

Regarding the Sakuramiya high school basketball team captain and 2 nd year male student (17) who received corporal punishment from his male teacher and adviser (47) and committed suicide the next day,mayor Tooru Hashimoto renewed his call to the city board of education to halt entrance exams for physical education and other subjects on the 17 th . Mayor Hashimoto told reporters that,“The right to enact the budget is mine,” hinting that he might freeze the city’s education budget. The Board of Education has criticized this as holding the budget “hostage.”

Against those that say that “there’s nothing wrong with screening prospective students” in opposition to halting the entrance exams,he said, “First,we must bring the situation to light. In order to end a mindset that allows (corporal punishment), specifically ending (entrance exams) will be the best for our children.”

Here’s what happened…

KDDI has announced the results of an internal investigation on why their 4G network suffered outages around the New Year holiday. It would stink to not be able to post that instagram picture of yourself upside down with a huge bottle of shochu sticking out of your mouth as you ring in the New Year. Glad I wasn’t hit by it, but then again, there’s no telling if Verizon will have the same issues or not. Here’s to hoping.

２度のＫＤＤＩ障 害、原因は相次いだ 人為的設定ミス

ＫＤＤＩ（ａｕ）は１６日、携帯電話向 けの高速通信「ＬＴＥ」サービスが、年末 年始に２度にわたり、一部の端末で使えな くなった通信障害の原因を発表した。 データ通信量が想定を超え、処理時間の設 定を間違えるなどの人為的なミスが相次い だ。再発防止に向けて、今月中に総点検な どの対策を講じる。 昨年１２月３１日の障害では、スマート フォンのデータ通信量が、直前の約７倍に 増えた。データを処理する時間の設定にミ スがあり、処理しきれない状態になった。 １月２日の障害では、ソフトウエアの不具 合に備えるマニュアルがなく、いったん通 信を中断してしまったという。 障害の対象となったのは同社のＬＴＥ データ通信対応の「ｉＰｈｏｎｅ５」など のスマートフォンやタブレット端末の一 部。昨年１２月３１日に４時間２３分、今 月２日に１時間５３分、ネット接続やメー ルができなくなった。全国で合わせて最大 ３５５万人に影響が出た。

www.asahi.com/national/update/0116/TKY201301160319.html

Two KDDI outages caused by human error in settings

KDDI (au) announced the cause of two network outages in its mobile device focused LTE data service around the end of the year that resulted in some mobile devices not being able to transmit data. The cause was that data usage exceeded projections combined with mistakes in the processing time settings and other human errors. The company will be doing comprehensive evaluations throughout this month to prevent reoccurrences.

In the case of the outage on 12/31 of last year, the amount of smartphone data in the network spiked to 7 times the amount just before. There was a mistake in the data processing time settings and it ended up being unable to complete data processing. In the outage on ½, there was no manual on how to fix a software malfunction, and so data transmission was temporarily halted.

The devices affected by the outages used the LTE data transmission service and included some smartphones like the iPhone 5 as well as tablets. During the outage on 12/31 lasted 4 hours, 23 minutes, and this month’s lasted 1 hour, 53 minutes, internet connectivity and mail did not work. Approximately 3,550,000 people were affected nationwide.

When locals and nationals don’t get along…

Usually the nationals win. That’s just the way it is when national governments control the purse strings. I’d hate to be a prefectural governor right now, having to tell all your local bureaucrats that they’re taking a pay cut.

地方公務員の給与引き下げ へ 政府、交付税６千億円 圧縮 政府は１５日、首相官邸で開いた国と地 方の協議の場で、地方公務員の給与水準を 国家公務員並みに引き下げるため、２０１ ３年度に地方自治体へ配分する地方交付税 （１２年度約１７兆円）を６千億円圧縮す る方針を地方側に伝えた。山田啓二全国知 事会長（京都府知事）らは「交付税を使っ て政策を強要するのは、地方分権に反す る」と強調、方針撤回を求めた。 政府は、国の予算の２割を占める交付税 の圧縮で、財政健全化に向けた取り組みを アピールしたい考え。地方側は巻き返しを 図るが、月内にまとめる１３年度の政府予 算案では一定の減額が避けられない見通し だ。 http://www.47news.jp/CN/201301/CN2013011501001766.html

Reducing regional public employees’ salaries –Government to shrink locally allocated taxes by 600 billion yen

At a conference between national and local governments at the Prime Ministerial residence on the 15 th , the government conveyed to the local government representatives that in order to reduce the salary level of regional public employees into line with the national public employees, it would be shrinking the amount of locally allocated taxes distributed to local government by 600 billion yen in the 2013 fiscal year (approximately 17 trillion yen in 2012). Keiji Yamada, chair of the national governor’s association (governor of Tokyo prefecture) declared that “Using the locally allocated taxes to compel government policy is a violation of the decentralization of power,” and sought a withdrawal of the policy.

The government claimed the necessity of shrinking the locally allocated taxes, which make up 20% of the national budget, as needed for restoring fiscal health. Local governments are trying to have the policy rolled back, but it seems certain that they will not avoid some reduction in the 2013 budget which will be finalized by month’s end.

Snowfall…yea?

So the snow’s falling in Japan and as often happens in inclement weather, flights are canceled and trains run behind schedule. Not much else going on it seems.

羽田便中心に欠航相 次ぐ＝東北新幹線に も遅れ—大雪

列島各地の大雪の影響で１４日、羽田空 港発着の航空機を中心に欠航が相次いだほ か、東北新幹線などにも遅れが出た。 日本航空は午後７時までに国内線２８２ 便、全日空は同５時３０分までに２５０便 の欠航を決め、計約１０万４０００人に影 響が出た。 ＪＲ東日本によると、東京都北区の新幹 線車両センター構内で降雪によるポイント 不良が起き、東北新幹線と上越新幹線で最 大４９分の遅れが出ている。ＪＲ東海によ ると、東海道新幹線も徐行運転の影響で、 東京—静岡駅間の下り列車などに最大１５ 分程度の遅れが出ている。 http://jp.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732405050457824 1333276583700.html

Canceled flights continue, mainly at Haneda –Touhoku Shinkansen also running late – Big snow

Because of heavy snow across the islands on the 14 th , flights continued to be canceled, mainly those arriving at Haneda Airport, but also the Touhoku Shinkansen has been running late.

JAL had canceled 282 domestic flights as of 7 pm and ANA had canceled 250 as of 5:30 pm, affecting around 104,000 passengers.

According to JR East Japan, there were point failures inside the Shinkansen Center in Tokyo’s Kita Ward and so delays of up to 49 minutes were occurring on the Touhoku and Joetsu lines. JR Tokai said that the Tokkaido line was running slowly and that trains running between Tokyo and Shizuoka could be delayed by as much as 15 minutes.

To the stars!

Or at least the farthest reaches of the human body. So saith Prime Minister Abe. Not only is he big on defense spending, the PM is intent on reaching into all sorts of exciting new research and saving the world through government investment in science. Sounds good to me. I just hope the bond markets are cool with bankrolling yet more pie in the sky research while the Japanese national debt creeps towards 300% of GDP.

安倍首相「世界一目 指せ」＝山中教授に 支援約束

安倍晋三首相は１１日午後、神戸市の理 化学研究所発生・再生科学総合研究セン ターを訪れ、人工多能性幹細胞（ｉＰＳ 細胞）の開発でノーベル医学生理学賞を受 賞した山中伸弥京都大教授らと懇談した。 首相は「安倍政権では世界に展開できる分 野に集中的に投資する」と支援を約束し た。 首相は実際にｉＰＳ細胞を顕微鏡で観 察。その後の懇談で、再生医療の研究に今 後１０年間で約１１００億円を支出する政 府方針を伝えた。山中教授は「一円も無駄 にすることなく、さらに力を合わせてまい 進していきたい」と応じた。 視察を終えた首相は記者団に「やはり世 界一を目指さないと駄目だ。未知の分野に 挑戦していく精神があって初めて大きな成 果が出てくるんだろう」と感想を語った。

http://jp.wsj.com/article/JJ1276540245529453430311977557 0750431283654.html

Prime Minister Abe “Aim to be #1 in the world” –Promises to support Professor Yamanaka

On the evening of the 11 th , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Developmental Biology Center at the Institute for Physics and Chemistry in Kobe and met with Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research on man-made pluripotent (iPS) stem-cells. The Prime Minister promised his support saying, “The Abe administration will provide focused investments in fields that can be expanded globally.”

The Prime Minister observed iPS stem-cells under a microscope. In his discussion after that, he revealed a government policy of supporting research in regenerative medicine with an 110 billion yen investment over 10 years. Professor Yamanaka responded by saying, “Without wasting a single yen, I hope to continue working through our combined efforts.”

After his observation, the Prime Minister told reporters, “It’s a waste for us not to aim to be best in the world. If we have the intent to venture into unknown territory, who’s to say we have brand new, big results?”

787 goes boom?

Not exactly, but still potentially worrisome times ahead for ANA, JAL, Boeing, and anyone else who’s bought a 787, if these so-called teething issues don’t get resolved soon. One wonders if ANA and JAL are regretting their early-adopter approach to the 787, given that jet fuel gushing on the runway is not the most encouraging site from a passenger perspective.

日航・全日空「想定内」も 株価は下落 Ｂ７８７トラ ブルで

2013.1.9 21:24

米ボーイング社の最新鋭旅客機ボーイン グ７８７でトラブルが相次いだが、日本航 空と、同機を世界で初めて導入した全日本 空輸はともに、今後の「購入計画に変更 はない」（日航広報部）として、今後の主 力機として活用する戦略を変えない方針 だ。一方で、安全性への懸念から旅行客の 搭乗敬遠を心配する声も出始めている。

航空業界に詳しい東京工業大学大学院の 花岡伸也准教授は「新型機に、一定の初期 トラブルが発生するのはしかたない。今回 もそのレベルで、全日空も日航とも想定内 だ」と指摘。その上で「７８７自体の信頼 性を揺るがすものではない」と分析する。 出火トラブルが発生した機材を除き、両 社は、今後も７８７の運航計画について変 更する考えはない。

７８７の安全性は、両社の今後の経営戦 略にとって極めて重要だ。日航は、７８ ７を将来的に４５機導入し、国際線中型機 の主力にする。６６機購入を計画する全日 空は、国内線、国際線ともに中型機のほと んどを７８７で運用する考えで、「世界 のエアラインと互角に戦う」（伊東信一郎 社長）ために不可欠だ。

ただ、「消費者目線からすれば、トラブ ルで７８７の搭乗を敬遠するケースもあり 得る」（全日空幹部）。８日のニューヨー ク株式市場で米ボーイング株が下落したの に続き、９日の東京株式市場では日航、全 日空とも株価が下落し、トラブルの影響が 重くのしかかっている。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/news/130109/biz13010921250030-n1.htm

JAL and ANA “within expectations,” stock prices fall on Boeing 787 trouble

The US-based Boeing Corporation’s cutting edge airliner, the Boeing 787, continues to have issues. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), who was the first to introduce the new aircraft, both said “Our purchase plans have not changed,” indicating no change in their strategy of making it their main aircraft of choice. On the other hand, voices have begun to wonder whether passengers will refrain from riding in the planes over fears related to safety.

Shinya Hanaoka, associate professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, who is knowledgeable on the airline industry, said, “It is to be expected that new aircraft will have some initial issues. This time is no different and JAL and ANA certainly are not surprised.” Also, “This does not undermine the reliability of the 787 aircraft.” Unless there are problems with catching fire, both companies are not planning to revise their plans around operating the 787 going forward.

The safety of the 787 is critically important to the future operating strategies of both companies. JAL is planning to introduce 45 of the 787s going forward and to use them on all of its international routes for mid-sized craft. ANA is planning to purchase 66 of the craft, and use them on almost all domestic and international routes for mid-sized craft. (President Ito) explained that it was critical for the company “to compete with the airlines of the world.”

That said, “From the consumer’s point of view, it’s easy to imagine cases of not riding in a 787 because of the issues,” (ANA’s management noted). On the 8 th on the NYSE, Boeing’s stock continued its decline, and JAL’s was down on the 9 th on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. ANA’s followed suit, being driven downward under the influence of the aircraft’s issues.

Let’s get to spending!

While I’m no expert on the financial needs of the Touhoku region that will be recovering from the Great earthquake for years to come, there’s a lot of cash earmarked to be spent on recovery effort by the national government, as noted below. I hope it gets used appropriately cuz it will basically mean a lot more debt for a country that’s already more than 200% of GDP in debt. 政府、震災復興に１・６兆円 雇用確 保や営農再開 政府が１１日にまとめる１０兆３千億円 の緊急経済対策のうち、１兆６千億円を 被災者の雇用対策など、東日本大震災の復 興関連事業に充てることが８日、明らかに なった。安倍晋三首相は震災復興を政権の 最優先課題に挙げており、思い切った予 算措置で復興を加速させたい考えだ。 緊急対策では主な復興事業として、被災 者の一時的な雇用確保に５００億円を使う ほか、津波被害を受けた自治体の地域振興 に１０４７億円、福島県での営農再開を支 援する基金設置に２３２億円を拠出する。 今回の緊急対策では、原則として復旧・ 復興や被災者の生活再建のための施策に絞 り込んだ。

2013年01月08日火曜日

http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2013/01/2013010801002126.htm

Government earmarks 1.6 trillion yen in recovery funds for employment security and agriculture revitalization

On the 8 th , the government’s 10.3 trillion yen emergency financial measure that will be finalized on the 11 th was noted to contain 1.6 trillion yen earmarked for employment measures for disaster victims and other related works linked to recovery from the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made disaster recovery the highest priority of his administration and has stated that he wants to speed up recovery through bold budgetary measures.

The emergency measures will mainly focus on recovery efforts including 50 billion yen for temporary employment security, 104.7 billion yen for recovery efforts in municipalities who suffered tsunami daamage, and 23.2 billion yen contribution for establishing funding to support agriculture revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture.

This emergency measure is principally being focused on recovery and restoration as well as rebuilding the lives of disaster victims.

Old people…pay more…later, maybe?

Regardless whether you call it a knife in the back or good fiscal sense, the elderly will not have to pay an increased percentage of their healthcare costs, at least until later this summer at the earliest. Even countries with a universal healthcare system, like Japan, are having conversations about the cost of healthcare, and so one wonders who will be the first country to tell the elderly that they have to help pay for the cost of living into older and older age?

高齢者医療「窓口１割」継 続へ 政府与党、負担増先 送り

政府、与党は７日、７０～７４歳の医療 費窓口負担を１割に据え置いている現行の 特例措置を当面継続する方針を固めた。１ ５日に閣議決定する２０１２年度補正予算 案に、今年４月から１年間特例措置を続け るための経費約２千億円を計上する。

財政状況の改善や世代間格差の是正を図 るため、本来の２割に引き上げざるを得な いとの意見もあったが、負担増が高齢者の 反発を招くのは必至のため、夏の参院選後 に議論を先送りして批判を回避すべきだと 判断した。

財務省や厚生労働省は、団塊世代の高齢 化による医療費の増加に備え、７０～７４ 歳の窓口負担引き上げを早期に実施したい 意向だった。

http://www.47news.jp/CN/201301/CN2013010701001668.html

Healthcare for the elderly, continue “10% at reception” – Governing party, postpones increasing burden

On the 7 th , the governing party confirmed its policy to continue the special measure to require those aged 70-74 to pay 10% of the cost of their medical care at the time of service. On the 15 th , a cabinet resolution on the Fiscal Year 2012 supplementary budget bill will add a expense for approximately 200 billion yen to continue the special measure for another year starting on 4/1.

Because of efforts toward reform of the financial situation and efforts to lessen the gap between the generations, some had said that the rate paid must rise to 20% but the administration judged it necessary to postpone debate until after the summer Upper House elections to avoid opposition from the elderly as well as avoid criticism.

The Finance Ministry and Department of Health, Labor, and Welfare, both would like to see the rate paid at reception by 70-74 year old seniors rise quickly in order to prepare for the increase in healthcare costs coming from the aging of the baby boomer generation.

Times are getting better!

At least if you’re selling bags filled with an unknown quantity of women’s clothing items at a major department store. Maybe I need to get into that business…can’t be too complicated.

福袋、１分５１秒で 完売…２万人行列の 百貨店も

主要百貨店の初売りは、都心部の店舗で 前年の売り上げを上回るなど、おおむね好 調だった。 最近の株価上昇など、景気の先行きに明 るい兆しが見え始めたためだとみられる。 高島屋日本橋店（東京都中央区）では２ 日、婦人服のブランド福袋が開店後まもな く完売した。同日の売上高は昨年より４％ 増えており、「財布のひもも少し緩くなっ ているのでは」と分析している。 松屋銀座（同）では２日、婦人服の人気 ブランド福袋が開店から１分５１秒で完 売。宝石や毛皮商品が入った福袋も１時間 程度で売れ、「昨年より消費に勢いがあ る」という。 初売りが元日だった西武池袋本店（東京 都豊島区）では、開店前に２万人が行列を 作った。１～２万円台の婦人服や食品の福 袋が人気で、同日の売り上げは昨年の初売 り日（２日）に比べ２０％増えた。 （2013年1月3日19時40分 読売新聞）

Grab bags, sold out in 1 minute, 51 seconds…20,000 person line in front of department stores

Major department stores’ first sales at Tokyo stores increased over last year’s sales, generally in good shape.

It seems this being driven by recent commodity price increases and increasingly positive signs in the economy.

On the second at Takashimaya’s Nihonbashi store (in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward), grab bags of women’s brand name clothing sold out as soon as the store opened. Sales were up 4% for the same day compared to last year. Takashimaya concluded that, “People’s grip on their money has gotten a little bit looser.”

At Matsuya’s Ginza store on the 2 nd , the grab bag of women’s brand name clothing sold out 1 minute, 51 seconds after the store opened. Grab bags containing jewelry and fur goods also sold out within 1 hour. Matsuya stated that “Consumption is stronger than last year.”

New Year’s Day sales at the Seibu Ikebukuro store (Tokyo’s Toushima Ward) drew a line of 20000 people before store opening. 10-20,000 yen grab bags of women’s clothing and food items were popular and sales compared to the previous year on the 2 nd were up 20%.

Someone broke the internet…

If you use KDDI’s LTE service, hopefully you weren’t on this morning around 1 am or you may have been frustrated. Network outages are a not uncommon occurrence in this modern world and even super high-tech Japan is not immune to the gremlins in the machine that occasionally mess with our phones, tablets, and PCs ability to talk to each other. And… that’s about all I’ve got to say on the issue so onto the article!

Also, Happy New Year, 新年明けましておめでとうご ざいます, etc. ＫＤＤＩ、ＬＴＥで 再び通信障害 最大 １７５万人に影響

ＫＤＤＩ（ａｕ）は２日、携帯電話向け の高速通信「ＬＴＥ」サービスが、同日午 前０時５分から午前１時５３分の間、一部 の端末で使えなくなる通信障害が起きたと 発表した。影響があったのは全国で最大約 １７５万人。同様の障害は昨年１２月３１ 日にも発生し、同社は対策を急いでいる。 同社のＬＴＥデータ通信対応の「ｉＰｈ ｏｎｅ（アイフォーン）５」などのスマー トフォンやタブレット端末の一部で、ネッ ト接続やメールができなくなった。同社に よると、原因はデータ設備の故障とみら れ、データをやりとりするための信号の処 理に不具合があるという。ただ、「根本的 な原因はまだ分かっていない」（広報）た め、引き続き究明を進めている。
http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0102/TKY201301020220.html

KDDI has reoccurrence of LTE network outages –maximum of 17.5 million customers affected

KDDI (au) announced that its high-speed data (LTE) service for mobile phones experienced a network outage between 12:05 am and 1:53 am this morning that caused some phones to be unable to send/receive data. Nationally, a maximum of around 17.5 million customers were affected. A similar outage occurred on 12/31/12 and the company is hurrying to resolve the issue.

Smartphones (like the iPhone 5) and tablets that use the company’s LTE data service became unable to connect to the Internet or send email. According to KDDI, it appears that the cause was at a data facility where there was a malfunction in the processing of signals uses for the exchange of data. A press release stated “the root cause has not yet been identified,” and that investigation was continuing.