Posturing's thrilling conclusion

And, since I know you were all eagerly awaiting the outcome of the no confidence vote, here it is.

消費増税法案、１０日 成立＝内閣不信任案を 否決

衆院は９日夜の本会議で、新党「国民の生活 が第一」など野党６党が消費増税関連法案の成 立を阻止するため共同提出した内閣不信任決議 案を民主党などの反対多数で否決した。自民、 公明両党は棄権した。野田佳彦首相が「政治生 命を懸ける」とした消費増税法案は、１０日に 参院で採決され、成立する。

内閣不信任案は生活のほか、共産、新党きづ な、社民、みんな、新党日本が提出。採決は記 名投票で行われ、賛成８６票、反対２４６票 だった。自民、公明両党は８日の首相との党首 会談で増税法案の早期成立で合意したため、不 信任案には同調しなかったが、「野田内閣を信 任できない」との理由で採決前に退席した。

ただ、自民党からは中川秀直元幹事長ら７人 が党の方針に反して賛成票を投じた。また、消 費増税法案の衆院採決で反対した民主党議員の うち、９日に離党届を提出した小林興起、小泉 俊明両氏が賛成。鳩山由紀夫元首相らが欠席し た。

野党第１党を除く形で少数野党が不信任案を 提出したのは１９８２年以来。このときは公 明、共産両党が鈴木善幸内閣に対して出した不 信任案に最大野党だった社会党が加わらなかっ た。

一方、参院は９日午後の社会保障と税の一体 改革特別委員会理事懇談会と議院運営委員会理 事会で、増税法案を１０日昼すぎの特別委とそ の後の本会議で採決することを決めた。与党と 自民、公明両党などの賛成多数で可決、成立す る運びだ。

http://jp.wsj.com/Japan/Politics/node_492167

Consumption tax increase bill passage on 10 th ; government no confidence measure voted down

At the general session of the lower house on the evening of the 9 th , the government no confidence measure submitted by 6 opposition parties, including the new “People’s Life First” (LF) party, that was aimed at hindering the passage of the consumption tax increase consolidated measure, was voted down by the DPJ majority. The LDP and Komeito abstained. The consumption tax increase bill, which Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda “staked his political life on,” comes up for a vote on the 10 th , and is expected to pass.

In addition to LF, the government no confidence vote was jointly submitted by the Communist Party, New Kizuna Party, Socialist Party, Everyone’s Party, and the New Party Japan. The vote was conducted by roll-call with 86 votes for and 246 against. Due to their agreement with the prime minister at a meeting of party leaders to quickly pass the tax increase bill, the LDP and Komeito did not agree to the no confidence measure. That sais, they left before the vote, stating “We can’t trust the Noda government.”

However, contrary to their party’s policy, former chief secretary Hidenao Nakagawa and 6 other LDP members voted for the measure. Also, Kouki Kobayashi and Toshiaki Koizumi, DPJ members who turned in letters of resignation over opposition to the lower house vote on the consumption tax increase, voted for the measure on the 9 th . Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his group were absent.

This is the first time since 1982 that a minority of opposition parties (i.e. excluding the largest opposition party) have submitted a no confidence measure. The last time it happened, the Komeito and Communist parties submitted a no confidence measure against the Zenko Suzuki government, with the largest opposition party, the Socialist party, not participating.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 9 th , at a meeting of the board of directors of the special committee on integrated social security and tax reform and the directors of the lower house steering committee, the members decided to hold a vote at the special committee after lunch on the 10 th and then follow with a vote in the plenary session. With the government party, LDP, and Komeito voting for, it is expected to pass and be enacted.

More posturing

Don't get excited. It's just party leaders talking about talking, but for some reason I find this fascinating.

解散めぐり党首会談＝ 野田首相と谷垣氏

野田佳彦首相は８日夜、自民党の谷垣禎一総 裁と国会内で会談した。自民党は、消費増税関 連法案の参院採決の条件として、今国会中の衆 院解散の確約を求めており、首相から納得でき る回答が得られない場合は、内閣不信任決議案 と首相問責決議案を提出する方針。これに対 し、首相に解散時期を明示する考えはなく、増 税法案の成立へ接点が見いだせるかは不透明 だ。

谷垣氏は党首会談で、解散時期に関する首相 の見解をただす意向。首相は、民主党と自民、 公明両党が増税法案の修正で合意したことを踏 まえ、新党「国民の生活が第一」など野党６党 が提出した内閣不信任案を協力して否決するよ う要請するとみられる。会談には、民主党の樽 床伸二幹事長代行、自民党の石原伸晃幹事長が 同席した。

この後、公明党の山口那津男代表を交えた３ 党首会談も行われた。

党首会談に先立ち、首相は民主党両院議員総 会で「解散時期を明示することは、どんな事情 があってもできない」と表明。解散時期に関す る合意文書についても「政局に絡む話。作るの はふさわしくない」と否定的な見解を示した。

民主党は８日午前、自公両党との国対委員長 会談で党首会談を呼び掛けるとともに、解散時 期について「増税法案成立後、近い将来国民の 信を問う」との妥協案を提示したが、自民党は 難色を示した。このため民主党は午後、自公両 党に対し、「事前調整なしで、純粋に党首会談 をやりたい」と白紙の状態での党首会談を改め て打診。自民党は幹部協議の結果、「最後は党 首同士で話した方がいい」（幹部）として受け 入れた。

http://jp.wsj.com/Japan/Politics/node_491459

Party leaders Noda and Tanigaki meet on dissolution of parliament

Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda met with Sadakazu Tanigaki, head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), at the Diet on the 8 th . As a condition of passing the consolidated consumption tax increase bill in the upper house, the LDP is seeking a guarantee on dissolving the lower house during this parliamentary session. If it doesn’t receive a convincing answer from the prime minister, it plans to offer a measure of no confidence in the government and a censure resolution of the prime minister. In contrast, the prime minister has shown no inclination to reveal the timing of dissolution and detecting connection points with the successful passage of the tax increase is difficult.

Tanigaki desired to ascertain the prime minister’s opinion regarding the timing of dissolution at the meeting of party leaders. Meanwhile, the prime minister, based on their agreement around amendments to the tax increase bill, appears to be seeking cooperation from the LDP and Komeito in defeating a measure of no confidence submitted by 6 opposition parties, among them new party “People’s Lifestyle First.” Also, acting chief secretary of the DPJ Shinji Tarutoko and chief secretary Nobuaki Ishihara of the LDP attended the leadership meeting.

Afterwards, a 3-way party leadership meeting was conducted with Komeito’s Natsuo Yamaguchi.

Prior to the meeting of party heads, the prime minister told the general meeting of the DPJ, “Whatever the circumstances, I cannot explicitly state the timing of the next dissolution.” He also signaled a negative opinion of a consensus document regarding the timing of dissolution, saying, “That’s a political story. It would be inappropriate to create one.”

On the morning of the 8 th , at a meeting with LDP and Komeito party policy chiefs, the DPJ called for a meeting of party leaders and presented a compromise regarding the timing of dissolution, “After passing the tax increase measure, let’s ask the opinion of the electorate in the near future,” that was rejected by the LDP. Due to this, that same afternoon, the DPJ again broached the idea of a meeting of party leaders with a blank slate agenda saying, “We would like a genuine conversation of party heads, without pre-conditions.” After an executive consultation, the LDP agreed saying, “In the end, it would be best for equal party leaders to talk.”

Bring them home

The Red Cross of Japan and North Korea (who I didn't even know had a Red Cross) are the subject of today's article. It provides an lens on a part history that doesn't usually reach western eyes, that of what happens to the countries that didn't win WW2.

日朝赤十字、遺骨返還 で意見交換へ ９・１ ０日、北京で

日本赤十字社は、９、１０両日に北京のホテ ルで北朝鮮の朝鮮赤十字会と意見交換すると７ 日発表した。北朝鮮で戦没した日本人の遺骨返 還や墓参が議題だ。北朝鮮側と遺骨の返還をめ ぐる考え方を共有するのが狙いで、現地の遺骨 や墓地の現状の説明を受ける。

日赤によると、意見交換には、日朝赤十字の 実務者が３人ずつ出席。日本側は今回の意見交 換をきっかけに次回以降、遺骨返還に向けて政 府間を含めた本格協議につなげたいとしている 。今回は日本人拉致問題を取り上げないとい う。

北朝鮮の日本人戦没者をめぐっては、第２次 世界大戦末期の旧ソ連参戦で北朝鮮地域で日本 兵が戦死したほか、終戦後、朝鮮半島経由で日 本に帰ろうとした日本人が食糧不足などで多数 死亡。合計３万人とも推計されている。

http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0807/TKY201208070443.html

Red Cross of Japan and Korea to have dialog in Beijing 8/9 – 8/10 to discuss return of remains

The Japanese Red Cross announced on the 7 th that it would hold an exchange of views with the Chosun Red Cross of North Korea at a Beijing hotel on the 9 th and 10 th . The topic will be the repatriation of the remains of Japanese war dead as well as grave visits. With the aim of sharing a common way of thinking about the return of remains with the North Korean side, the Japanese Red Cross will receive an explanation of the current situation of the remains and burial sites.

According to the Japanese Red Cross, three officials from each organization will attend the meeting. The Japanese are looking to this exchange of views as a launching point for further meetings that would include governmental representatives in formal discussions on the repatriation of remains. This meeting will not address the issue of abduction of Japanese.

The Japanese war dead in North Korea comprise Japanese soldiers that died in the region that is now North Korea while fighting the former Soviet Union at the end of World War 2 as well as many who died of starvation and other causes on the Korean peninsula while returning to Japan after the war. The total number of dead is estimated at 30,000.

Don't break the rules

Or else end up losing access to Tepco, it seems.

公開制約「社員保護の ため」＝時事通信、東 電に抗議書―原発事故 のテレビ会議映像

東京電力福島第１原発の事故後に行われたテ レビ会議の映像公開に制約を設けたことについ て、東電は６日、東京都内の本社で、公開に先 立ち説明した。出席した記者から疑問の声が上 がったが、同席した弁護士は「社員のプライバ シー保護を理由にした制限は妥当」と述べた。

東電本社の説明会には、１００人を超える報 道関係者が出席し、「何を根拠に制限するの か」といった質問が出た。同社広報部の栗田隆 史課長は「できることを開示させていただいて いる」と強調。事故直後５日間の約１５０時間 に及ぶ映像をチェックしたという寺島秀昭弁護 士は「映像は公開を前提に録画しておらず、主 な社員も公開を望んでいない」と説明した。

一方、時事通信社は同日、東電に「原子力災 害を起こした東電には重い説明責任があり、映 像公開の公益性や『国民の知る権利』を尊重す る観点が抜け落ちている」とする抗議書を提 出。同社の矢野伸一郎広報部長は「（映像に 写った）社員個人やその家族が批判、中傷にさ らされる恐れがあり、社員を守るための措置 だ」と回答した。

東電は約１５０時間分の映像公開を、同社内 での視聴に限定。視聴に当たっては、留意事項 として▽映像の録音や録画、撮影の禁止▽東電の 事故報告書に記載された役員らを除く社員個人 名の報道禁止▽従わない場合、視聴中止や今後の 会見参加を断る場合がある―といった条件を設 け、同意するよう求めている。

［時事通信社］

http://jp.wsj.com/Japan/node_490009

Publication restrictions for employees’ protection – Jiji News submits a letter of complaint to Tepco regarding the broadcast of televised meetings related to the nuclear accident

Tepco held a session at its Tokyo headquarters on the 6 th to explain the restrictions it placed on public broadcast of televised meetings conducted in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident. Questions were raised by the reporters in attendance, but lawyers for the company stated, “Restrictions based on protecting employee privacy are reasonable.”

More than 100 individuals from news outlets attended the Tepco briefing and repeatedly asked the question “On what basis are you restricting this?” Public relations section chief Takashi Kurita asserted, “We are releasing what we are able to.” Lawyer Hideaki Terashima who checked approximately 150 hours of footage from the 5 days immediately following the accident explained, “The video was not recorded for public consumption, and the main employees don’t wish for its release.”

The same day, Jiji News submitted a letter of objection to Tepco. “Tepco caused the nuclear disaster and therefore has responsibility to explain itself. The public interest in release of the recordings as well as respect for the ‘public’s right to know’ are being missed,” it said. Shinichiro Yano, manager of the public relations department, responded saying, “We fear that employees recorded in the footage and their families may be exposed to criticism and slander. This is a measure to protect those employees.”

Tepco has limited the release of this 150 hours of footage to within the company. Tepco asked for understanding of the following terms: forbids release of related audio, video recordings, and photographs; reporting the names of employees recorded on Tepco accident reports other than executives; possibility of refusal of further viewing of material or declining future interviews if previous terms are not followed.

Yet another financial company doing badly

America isn't the only place where big financial firms get into trouble. Nomura Securities has had a spate of bad goings on of late and people don't think they're out of the doghouse yet. See below for more.

野村、顧客離れなど業績影 響も 問われる新経営陣の 手腕

2012.8.3 21:06

野村証券が金融庁から業務改善命令を受 けたことで、公募増資に関わる一連のイン サイダー取引問題は、一つの区切りを迎え た。今後は、再発防止策の実行と信頼確 保が問われるが、顧客離れなど業績影響は 避けられない見通し。今月１日に持ち株会 社、野村ホールディングス（ＨＤ）のグ ループ最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）に就任 した永井浩二氏ら新経営陣は、情報管理の 徹底と業績回復の両立を急ぐ。

渡部賢一ＣＥＯが７月３１日付で辞任 し、「自浄作用が発揮された」（松下忠洋 金融担当相）として、業績に大きなダメー ジを与えると懸念された業務停止命令は回 避された。

野村は業務改善命令に対してコメントを 発表し、「厳粛に受け止め、改めて心より おわびする。内部管理態勢の一層の充実を 図り、再発の防止および信頼回復に向けて 取り組む」と謝罪した。

ただ、道のりは平坦（へいたん）ではな い。行政処分を受けた証券会社との取引を 避ける内規がある企業や機関投資家は多 く、影響が広がる可能性が高い。

野村はすでに、日本政策投資銀行の財投 機関債や、日本たばこ産業（ＪＴ）の政府 保有株売り出しなどの主幹事から除外され た。３日に東証が承認した日本航空の再上 場という大型案件でも、主幹事証券７社を 統括する業務から外された。

この日、出そろった大手証券５社の平 成２４年４～６月期決算でも、野村ＨＤは 最終利益が前年同期比８９・４％減の１８ 億円で最下位。業績低迷の中でトップが 引責辞任し、「信用力評価の上ではマイナ ス」（大手格付け会社）。同社は「野村を 根底から作り直す」（永井ＣＥＯ）として いるが、繰り返す不祥事に対する市場や 企業の不信感払拭は容易ではない。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/news/120803/fnc12080321070014-n1.htm

Performance impacts from customer departures raise questions about the ability of new management at Nomura

Nomura Securities received was instructed by the Financial Services Agency to improve business processes, a welcome break after a series of problems related to insider trading connected with public offerings. Its ability to prevent a reoccurrence and ability to maintain trust have been questioned, and customer departures and performance impacts seem inevitable. On the first of this month, the newly minted CEO of Nomura Holdings, Koji Nagai and his new management team hurried to balance thorough information administration with business recovery.

Kenichi Watanabe, the former CEO, retired on July 31. Finance Minister Tadahiro Matsushita explained that Nomura had avoided an order to cease operations that would have severely damaged business performance by demonstrating self-purification.

With regard to the business improvement order, Nomura posted comments, “We received it with all seriousness and sincerely apologize. We are striving to further strengthen our internal controls preparedness, aiming to prevent a reoccurrence and restore our trustworthiness.”

That said, the way forward will not be easy. There are many companies and institutional investors that have internal rules against dealing with securities companies that have received regulatory sanctions, and the likelihood of this impact spreading is quite high.

Nomura has already been removed from its lead underwriting role in the issue of FILP Agency Bonds by the Development Bank of Japan and the sale of government owned shares of Japan Tobacco. They have also been removed from among the 7 lead securities companies overseeing the reissue of JAL shares that was approved by the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 3 rd .

Furthermore, of the five big securities companies that announced April-June 2012 quarterly earnings, Nomura Holdings had the lowest with 1.8 billion yen, an 89.4% decrease from the same period last year. Several ratings agencies noted that the former CEO taking responsibility and resigning in the midst of weak performance was a negative in evaluating Nomura’s creditworthiness. They further commented, “CEO Nagai is promising to rebuild Nomura from the ground up, but dispelling distrust in the marketplace and among companies based on these repeated scandals will be no easy task.”

Questionable judgments

We take a break from Japanese politics to bring you this rather lately translated story about Olympians and their disagreements over sporting judgments.

I confess I did refer to an English language article to get the proper transliteration of the fencer's name, which brings up an interesting question. When translating the name of an individual from another languish, when the name in question is foreign to the language being translated from, what are the rules regarding transliteration? My original transliteration in this case was Shin Aram but the Associated Press translated it Shin A-lam. Since I'm far from an expert on Korean, I'm going with their version since I'm assuming there's a Korean speaker, or at least someone who knows the accepted rules for transliterating Korean names into English who reviewed the article for the AP. I guess you just give it your best shot or else find someone else who can help in such cases. That's what I did and will probably continue to do.
Enjoy!

涙で抗議の韓国フェン シング選手に特別賞 も、選手は拒否

韓国はロンドン五輪の女子エペ個人準決勝 で延長のすえに敗れたシン・アラム選手の判定 を不服として、国際フェンシング連盟に抗議を 提出した。連盟は同選手に特別賞を授与すると 発表したが、同選手は受け取りを拒否する意向 を示した。中国メディアの千龍網が1日付で報じ た。

国際フェンシング連盟は韓国体育協会と協 議を行い、シン選手の試合における問題を認 め、シン選手に特別賞を授与することを申し出 た。

国際フェンシング連盟は判定に問題があっ たことを認めたものの、韓国代表団による不服 申し立ては却下した。韓国側も「判定は変更で きないうえ、シン選手も団体戦が控えているた め、今回の件はこれで一区切りつける」と表明 したが、シン選手は連盟が用意した特別賞は受 け取らないと表明した。

韓国メディアは、1秒を争う競技であるフェ ンシングにおいて、「時代遅れの設備と制度を 用いており、結果として今回のような明らかな 誤審が生まれる」と主張。「制度を変えて、今 後はシン選手のような犠牲者が出ないようにす べき」と非難した。

http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi? y=2012&d=0802&f=national_0802_070.shtml

Korean fencer refuses special award, protesting in tears

Korea lodged a protest with the International Fencing Federation (IFF) over the decision that fencer Shin A-lam lost after the conclusion of the match in the women’s individual semifinals at the London Olympics. The Federation announces that they would award the athlete a special prize but Shin showed no intention of accepting it. China’s Qianlong Network reported this on the 1 st .

The IFF held discussions with the Korean Athletics Association and admitted that a problem did occur in Shin’s match and proposed offering Shin a special prize. Even though the IFF admitted the mistaken judgement, the Korean delegation rejected the proposed solution. “Given that the judging can’t be altered, Shin is refusing to participate in team competition, and we would like to put an end to this,” the delegation announced, but Shin refused to accept the special award prepared by the federation.

With regard to fencing where matched are decided within a single second, Korean media complained, saying “When you use outdated equipment and systems, this kind of judging mistake is bound to come to light. The system must change so that no more athletes are victimized like Shin was.”

Political posturing

Another player wants in on national politics it seems.  The Osaka Restoration Party (for lack of an officially translated name) it's going to get in on the election action. Best of luck!

維新の会幹事長、政党 要件満たす方針を明言

地域政党・大阪維新の会幹事長の松井一郎大 阪府知事は１日の記者会見で、「（次期衆院選 を）戦うなら、国で定められている政党を目指 す」と述べ、公職選挙法上の政党要件を満たす ため、国会議員５人以上を集める方針を明言し た。

政党要件を満たせば、衆院選で立候補者が小 選挙区と比例選の重複立候補も可能になる。松 井氏は「政党と地域政党ではメディアの扱いや 選挙でできることが全然違う。悔いなく戦うた めに既存政党と同じ扱いをしてもらえる体制に したい」と強調した。

松井氏は既に他党の国会議員が離党して合流 するなら、次期衆院選での擁立を検討する考え を示していたが、公の場で政党化方針を表明し たのは初めて。維新代表の橋下徹大阪市長は１ 日、「まずは（次期衆院選の公約案となる）維 新八策の中身を固め、示すことが先決だ」と記 者団に語った。

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/news/20120801-OYT1T01237.htm

Restoration Party chief declares plan to fulfill political party requirements

The head of the regional party, Osaka Restoration Party, Ichiro Matsui, also Osaka prefectural governor, announced at a news conference on August 1 that “If we compete in the next Lower House parliamentary elections, we will aim to be a nationally established political party.” He outlined a policy to gather the minimum of 5 parliamentarians required for party recognition under public election law.

If it fulfills the party requirements, it is possible that candidates will run for both directly elected and proportionally elected seats in the lower house elections, “National and regional political parties are completely different in both media treatment and in what they can accomplish through elections. We want to structure ourselves to receive the same treatment as existing parties and compete without regret,” Matsui explained.

Matsui has previously considered joining with current parliamentarians who have left their party and supporting them in the next Lower House elections but this is the first time to publicly announce the aim of becoming a nationally recognized party. Restoration Party representative Toru Hashimoto, mayor of Osaka, told reporters on the 1st, “Our first and top priority must be to solidify and show the contents of the 8 Measures for Restoration (what will be the party platform for the next elections).”