Japan becomes the 9th tourism popular country

According to the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015 made by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranks the 9^th after Spain, France, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia and Italy.

Unfortunately, it’s only Spain that I have never been to among these countries. Spanish people may think it’s a terrible mistake. I have to say “Lo siento.”

Considering those top ranking countries, I believe Japan is doing quite well. Operation “Omotenashi” works indeed. Actually, I see lots of foreign tourists these days in Tokyo.

I sometime drop by Tsukiji market very early morning because I like seafood and treat them by myself. There, there are lots of foreigners. I feel it’s a pity that they just watch and pass by. They can buy but won’t because they have no tools and place to cook. I suggest to create a facility or just a corner to buy and experience. They will more be excited.

I hope Japan goes higher than Australia, the top of Asia-Pacific area. But it would be a hard way to go because Australia is such a beautiful and worth visiting countries. I can say for sure because I have visited Australia 4 times saw around lots of place.

Shopping refugees

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, there will be approximately 6 million people in 2025 who are 65 or older without a car and whose nearest fresh food store will be at least 500 meters from their home.

This is a very serious situation. If they become sick or unable to walk, it is a matter of life. We need to consider seriously this issues.

Unused prescribed medicine

Japan Pharmaceutical Association investigated a situation of unused prescribed medicine in 2007. According to the result, approximately 40% of the investigated home care patients have experiences of remaining or neglecting taking prescribed medicines. The sum of those unused medicines will amount to 3,220 yen per person per month.

Accounting the expenses of medicines occurred for over 75 years old with the above number, the total sum of unused medicines will be 475 million yen. It is a huge number.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary meet Okinawa Govenor

Just now, Mr. Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary met Mr. Takeshi Onaga, Governor of Okinawa at a hotel in Okinawa city. It is the first meeting after Mr. Onaga has been inaugurated as the Governor.

As Onaga clearly states that he is against the idea of the move of the US air force Hutenma base toward Henoko area.

Both of two just reiterated their stance and seemed no progress on the discussion. I just wonder that the government just wanted to show that they were ready to talk Mr. Onaga but had no intention to accept or compromise Onaga’s opinions.

There seems no way out unless they change their stances.

Live with 897 yen per day

Live with 897 yen per day

According to a survey, private university students who live in metropolitan area and away from their parents live with \897 per day. It is the record low and for the first time down from \900.

It shows that living level of students from local area is quite low. Therefore, they need to do a part time job. However, several students do not go to school because of doing part time job so often. That is a contradiction.

There are some scholarship and many students obtain one or some of them. However, it becomes a political issue that the interests of those scholarship are too high and many students cannot afford to pay back their debt.

“Do you believe in UFO?”

Mr. Inoki  Antonio, a legendary famous ex-pro wrestler, now a member of the House of Councilor questioned at the Diet session whether the cabinet member believed in UFO or not.

Mr. Gen Nakatani, a minister of the Defense answered that the government officially does not identify the existence of UFO according to the previously decided official announcement of the government.

I suppose this is a very serious and important question whether the government tackles with those issues. It was reported that a satellite of Jupiter called “Ganymede” holds a huge “sea” in its surface with 97 km depth. If there is sea, there might be a possibility of existence of life form.

The government can say they do not identify such existence but cannot deny the existence either.

The New term started

Yesterday, most companies and schools started the new term. In Tokyo, weather was not so nice as it was cloudy and a bit rainy outside, I saw many freshmen walking toward stations seeming a little tensed. I hope they enjoy the new life.

Same Sex partnership certificate

Yesterday, Shibuya city assembly approved an act that certifies same sex partnership for the first time in Japan. According to the Constitution, it is generally construed that the same sex marriage is prohibited. However, as the Supreme Court of the United States has approved the same sex marriage the year before last year, the same request is becoming bigger. I think that LGBT is one of the major human right issues and that legal protection should be considered in Japan too.

$300 million cost for Germanwings crash

Allianz estimated that the insurer would have to pay about $300 million for the crash of Germanwings. Allianz is the lead insurer for Germanwings and has a legal obligation to estimate the cost.

According to Reuters, the initial estimate represents about 20 percent of the $1.5 billion in premiums in the global market for airline insurance. The estimate includes the loss of the aircraft, which is seen at about $6.5 million, the recovery efforts, legal fees and indemnification of the passengers' families.

It tells how huge the amount is. I wonder how the company pursues the liability of the dead co-pilot who caused this crash. In Japan, a employer (company) is responsible for the damage caused by an employee and can pursues the liability to the employee to the reasonable extent.

Though I don’t know till what extent is “reasonable extent”, the left family of the co-pilot has to wave inheritance otherwise they will definitely be bankrupt.

Otsuka Kagu proxy fight

A Japanese major furniture sailor “Otuka Kagu(Kagu means furniture)” held its shareholders’ meeting the other day. The company was established by Mr. Katsuhisa Otuka and now run by his eldest daughter, Kumiko Otsuka.

Katsuhisa adopted a business model where staff is accompany with customers while they see around the shop. He made much of selling high-priced luxurious furniture. However, Kumiko changed the policy and tried to make the store more open such as Nitori or IKEA.

Katsuhisa and Kumiko gradually confronted against each other and Kumiko made Katsuhisa resigned from the board of directors. As Katsuhisa is the most major shareholder, he proposed a new management and tried to pull her down.

As the result of proxy fight, Kumiko won the general shareholders’ trust and won the fight. She remains president of the company but Katsuhisa remains the major shareholder occupying 18% of the total too.

I personally agree to her opinion and support her idea that it is necessary to strengthen the corporate governance of the company. As a customer, I and my wife have visted Otuka Kagu several times and has bought some furnitures at Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo.

At the time (maybe 10 years ago), as Katsuhisa adoped the said system, a staff was following us while seeing around the store. For us, it was a bit uncomfortable and awkward because we could not have a private talk as the staff was nearby and also, we felt pressure that we need to buy something.

After that experience, we have never visited Otsuka Kagu again. It is not that we hate Otuka Kagu. But we are more interested in IKEA or other boutiques. I hope Kumiko lead the company to the right way and regain both customer’s trust and profit.

Best know Japanese in West

The late Emperor Showa is the most famous Japanese in the West while there is no respondent in the United States who answers Prime Minister Abe. This survey is conducted in January with 1,000 respondents of each country. It is certain that PM Abe is not valued as he believes.

The DPJ recruits women candidates

The DPJ will make a public audition in order to recruit women candidates for local or national assembly members. I think this is good movement for the party. In Japan, the Diet women members occupy only approximately 8 % of all of the seats, ranking the 129^th among the world. It is too small number to emphasize equality between men and women. There are opinions that introduce Quota system which requires certain target proportions to a political group such as women or minorities. It is worth considering implementing the system while the detail should be scrutinized.

The university of Tokyo created a new vaccine for Ebola

Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a professor of school of Medicine, the university of Tokyo will announce that a new vaccine for Ebola is developed and acquire a preventing effect on monkeys. It is expected that it would contribute for cure Ebola hemorrhagic fever disease. 

Air-conditioner will be equipped in Tokorozawa

An exceptional referendum was taken place in February. As the result, the votes for exceeded the votes against by approximately 25 thousand, the mayor made a decision that the city would equip the air-conditioner. As there is a SDF(Self Defence Force) base nearby, it is necessary to shut out the noises.

A German plane fell

It is found that a Germanwings plane crashed in th French Alps. About 150 people were on board including a group of exchange students and two opera singers. There seems no survivors in the accident, it is a tragedy. I feel deep condolence to the victims and remained families.