Thursday, June 27, 2013

Japan takes the leads on fuel cells!

Want to go green? You’re likely going to be going Japanese, if this article is to be believed. We’ll see how soon fuel cell cars actually go into production but here’s to hoping. Save gas for the rest of us!

燃料電池車、国際基準に日本案 国連 フォーラムが採択

【ジュネーブ共同】自動車の安全対策な どに関する国際基準を策定する国連欧州経 済委員会のフォーラムは27日、ジュネー ブの国連欧州本部で会合を開き、燃料電池 車の安全基準案を全会一致で採択、基準の 大部分に日本の案が採用された。

燃料電池車は温室効果ガスをほとんど排 出せず、環境に優しい「究極のエコカー」 と注目されている。日本の基準採用で、国 内各メーカーは輸出が容易になり、国際的 なシェア獲得で優位に立てそうだ。

各社は2015年ごろに量産車の市販開 始を目指しており、世界販売台数は25年 でも130万台程度の見通し。日本政府は 今月、「世界最速普及」方針を閣議決定し た。

http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/newspack/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1218072009

Fuel cell cars, UN forum adopts Japanese proposal on international standards

A UN Europe Economic Committee forum met at the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva on the 27 th to discuss the authoring of international standards on automobile safety. They unanimously adopted safety guidelines on fuel cell cars, of which the large part was based on a Japanese proposal.

Fuel cell cars emit almost no gasses that cause global warming and are known as the “ultimate ecocar” in terms of being kind to the environment. With Japan’s standards being adopted, it seems likely that domestic manufacturers will have an easy time exporting and gain a preeminent share of global markets.

All companies are aiming to bring mass production cars to market by 2015 and sales by 2025 are projected to be 1.3 million vehicles. The Japanese government adopted a policy aiming for “fastest spread in the world” this month.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Let’s make it a defense triangle!

Japan and the UK, long in military alliances with the United States, are finally sealing their own deal on the subject. It’s not exactly a love triangle, more like the proverbial cord of three strands that’s not easily broken…or something. Anyway, at the very least, we should see some new chemical protective gear out of the agreement. Woohoo!

日英、防衛装備の共 同開発加速 首脳会 談、情報保護協定で 合意

【ベルファスト共同】

安倍晋三首相は1 7日昼(日本時間17日夜)、英国のキャ メロン首相と北アイルランドのエニスキレ ンで会談した。防衛装備品の共同開発を加 速させるため、相互に技術の流出防止を図 る協定を締結することで一致。軍事面を含 む機密情報の交換を可能にする両国間の 「情報保護協定」締結でも正式合意した。

双方はそれぞれ米国と同盟関係にあり、 安全保障面での連携を強める狙いがある。

防衛装備品の共同開発に関する協定によ り、日英間で既に具体化している化学防護 服の共同開発が本格化する

http://www.47news.jp/CN/201306/CN2013061701002275.html

Japan and the UK sign agreement to accelerate joint development of defense equipment through information protection at leadership meeting.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo met with the UK’s Prime Minister Cameron in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. They agreed to sign an agreement aimed at preventing leaks of technology in order to accelerate joint defense equipment development. As such, they formally concurred on the establishment of an “Information Protection Agreement” between the two countries, which will make possible the exchange of secret information, including of a military nature.

Both have alliances with the United States and are aiming to increase their links in the area of national security.

Based on the agreement for joint development of defensive equipment, the existing joint development of a chemical protective suit will get fully up to speed.

Monday, June 10, 2013

KDDI will take your iPhone

KDDI is finally trying make it right for those iPhone buyers who were deceived by their claims about massive 4G coverage that later proved inaccurate, at best.

So, if you hate your iPhone 5 because it doesn't get 4G signal in the boonies outside of Gifu, today, your respite g is announced.

KDDI、iPhone5下取り検討 広告誤記で

2013/6/10 21:00 KDDI(au)は10日、2012年9 ~12月にデータ通信エリアの広告に誤記が あった問題で、米アップル製スマートフォ ン(スマホ)「iPhone(アイフォー ン)5」の下取りを検討していることを明 らかにした。高速データ通信「LTE」の 障害対策に加え、新たな収益圧迫要因とな りそうだ。

同日、KDDIの田中孝司社長が記者団 に表明した。誤記は今年3月末時点でiP hone5を使って、最大毎秒75メガ(メ ガは100万)ビットのLTEが利用できる 地域を実際よりも広く表示していた。同社 が算出した実人口カバー率では96%と表記 したが、実際は14%にとどまるなど大きな 差があった。

同社は誤記を信じて端末を購入したユー ザーへの対応策が必要と判断した。下取り 額や時期は未定という。同端末の販売では 通常、端末代金を2年間にわたり毎月の利 用料金から割り引いている。設定期間の終 了前に下取りすれば、KDDIにとってコ スト負担増は免れない。

同社は先月末に相次いで発生したLTE の通信障害対策として、今年度中に300億 円をかけてバックアップ設備を増強するこ とを同日、正式発表した。通信障害で影響 を受けたユーザーに対して7月以降 に700円を請求額から差し引くことも決め た。 「LTE基盤強化対策本部」を10日付で 新設し、顧客の視点に立った情報発信や通 信網の安定に努める考え。携帯電話会社の 信用に直結する問題が相次ぎ発生したこと でユーザーをどうつなぎ留めるかが重い課 題となりそうだ。

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD100O4_Q3A610C1TJ2000/

KDDI considering iPhone5 trade-ins due to advertising error

On the 10 th , KDDI(au) revealed that it is considering trade-ins for Apple iPhone5s due to an error in the advertisement for the data coverage area reported between September and December 2012. In addition to being a measure to prevent data issues in the high-speed mobile data service (LTE), it seems likely that this will put new pressure on its revenues.

KDDI’s president, Kouji Tanaka, announced this at a press conference. The incorrect advertisement occurred through March of this year and said that using the iPhone5, the area covered by the maximum of 75 MB per second LTE service was larger than it was in reality. The company calculated that it’s service covered 96% of inhabited areas when in reality it hovered around 14%.

KDDI decided that this was a necessary measure for users who had purchased the device believing the advertisement. The trade-in value and period have yet to be determined. Normally, when the device is sold, its cost is discounted from the monthly usage fees charged over a two year period. If a device is traded in before that fixed period ends, it becomes an inescapable cost increase for KDDI.

KDDI also formally announced a plan to spend 30 billion yen to strengthen its back-up infrastructure as a countermeasure to data transmission issues in its LTE network. It also decided to discount the bills of users impacted by the LTE network issues by 700 yen starting in July.

It established an “LTE Network Resilliency Group” on the 10 th , with the aim of stabilizing the data network from a customer’s perspective. It seems that how to connect to users who’s trust in mobile phone companies has been hit by multiple problems lately has become a major issue.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Nukes cost too much

I’m just saying. I’m glad I don’t operate any nuclear reactors or I might get hit with a bill like the below.

原発廃炉、上限40 年超は3基/費用不 足、最大は美浜1号

2013/06/07 19:34

原発の廃炉に備えて電力会社が積み立て なければならない費用が、運転期間の上限 の40年を超えた3基でも不足しているこ とが7日、分かった。40年超で最も不足 額が大きいのは、関西電力美浜原発1号機 の94億円。原発の稼働率が想定を下回っ たためで、見通しの甘さが露呈した形だ。

経済産業省資源エネルギー庁が7日の自 民党部会に提出した資料で判明。国内の5 0基について、2013年度に廃炉を決定 する場合を試算した。

営業運転開始から40年超は、美浜1、 2号機と日本原子力発電敦賀1号機の計3 基。

http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/science_environmental/20130607000538

Nuclear Reactor decommissioning, 3 have crossed the 40 year maximum that lack funds, with the largest being Mihama #1

It was reported on the 7 th that 3 reactors who have exceeded the 40 year operating lifespan lack the funds required to be saved in preparation for decommissioning. The reactor that has exceeded the 40 year limit with the largest shortfall is Kansai Electric’s Mihama #1 with 9.4 billion yen. The optimism of the forecasted amount was revealed through the reactor’s operating ratio being lower than projections.

It was revealed in a report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Energy and Natural Resources Department to the LDP section. It looked at the country’s 50 reactors and estimated for those scheduled for decommissioning in 2013.

The three reactors that have passed their 40 year operating lifespan are the Mihama #1 and #2 reactors and Japan Nuclear Power’s Atsuga #1 reactor.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Taking it old-school

The Japan Restoration Party, no stranger to perhaps anachronistic ideas, has nominated a former pro- wrestler for elections for the House of Councillors set for this summer. Maybe a flying powerbomb from the upper rope is what this Parliament needs to get things moving again.

維新の会:アントニオ 猪木氏を擁立へ 参 院選比例代表

日本維新の会は4日、夏の参院選比例代表に元参院議員で元プロレスラーのアントニオ猪木氏(70)=本名・猪木寛至=を擁立する方針を決めた。猪木氏は5日、記者会見し、立候補を発表する。猪木氏は1989年、スポーツ平和党から参院選に出馬し初当選。2期目を目指した95年の参院選で落選した。

Japan Restoration Party: Nominates Inoki Antonio as proportionally selected representative in Upper House elections

The Japan Restoration Party announced on the 4 th that it would nominate former Upper House representative and pro-wrestler Inoki Antonio (70), real name Inoki Kanji, of as a proportionally elected representative for this summer’s Upper House elections. Inoki will announce his candidacy on the 5 th at an interview. Inoki first ran for the Upper house under the Sports Peace Party in 1989. He lost his seat while running for a second term in the 1995 election.