Top of the Riken resign

Mr. Ryoji Noyori, President of “Riken”, the Japan's largest comprehensive research institution is said to resign within this month. Riken has been struggled with “STAP cell (Stimulus-Triggered Acquisition of Pluripotency cell)” scandals since Ms. Haruko Obokata, former stem-cell biologist and the former Research Unit Leader of the Laboratory for Cellular Reprogramming at RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology claimed she had developed a radical and remarkably easy way to make the STAP cells.

She manipulated the images used for the papers published in Nature. In addition, it was found impossible to reproduce STAP cells according to her methods. She tried to reproduce the STAP cell herself but could not make it after all. She resigned Riken and her boss committed suicide. It now becomes a most well-known scandal related to science.

Though Riken denies that the reason of resignation is due to the scandals, it is quite obvious that Riken wants to wipe out the dirty images painted by the scandals.

Foreign care worker

The government decided to add foreign care worker into a category of the Technical Intern Training Program for foreigners. This program allows foreigners to stay and work in Japan for 3 years at most as a technical trainee. As the number of care worker is not enough for the aging Japanese society, it is one of the clue to accept foreign care workers for the shortage.

I am not sure if this really works because care worker needs sufficient Japanese language ability. The program will request for foreigners to acquire the N3 level of the Japanese language proficiency. However in reality, it would not be sufficient to have that level because care work needs close communications with the patients.

Public assistance

In Japan, the number of household who live on public assistance accumulate to approximately 1.62 million last year, that is the record high. The number is increasing and this is one of the very serious social security issues.

It is a contradiction seeing the situation that the market is becoming lively. I think this is the problem of Abenomics. Companies earn money but workers don’t. The unemployment rate is quite low but the labor condition is not improved. There are more dispatched workers than before. Furthermore, Abe will revise the dispatched workers low in order to deregulate of the standards that is disadvantageous for the worker side.

The world’s safest city is Tokyo

 According to the Safe Cities Index 2015 of Economist, Tokyo ranks the 1^st out of the 50 nominated cities and Osaka ranks the 3^rd. Singapore comes to the 2^nd. It is understandable as I live in Tokyo. It is actually very safe.

For example, if you forget to bring your bags or even wallet, the possibility that you can get them back is high as long as they are left in a restaurant or shop. A woman can walk alone even midnight as long as the city lights are within reach.

But if you are accustomed to be a Tokyo resident, you tend to be careless when you go abroad. I was told to be careful many times when I visited a foreign country. I sometimes go to bathroom in a restaurant without bringing my bag, which is left on a chair.

Anyway, it is a very honorable stats for me.

PM Abe on fire

According to Tokyo Shinbun, the PM Abe also received donations from companies which received subsides by the government. It is found by the income and expenditure reports on political funds of the LDP’s branch of which manager is PM Abe himself.

Abe should explain the incidents and should clarify whether he recognized the fact or not. Of course he would say he didn’t. However, as long as a member of the Diet or the Prime Minister, it is unquestioningly obvious that such donation is prohibited by law.

Therefore, when receiving a donation from a company or a group, it is a matter of course to confirm whether the entity receives any subsidy or not. He is fully responsible for the confirmation as he is the manger of the branch.

The opponent parties should question him closely.

Taito city major

Even if you have not been to Japan, you may have heard the name “Asakusa” or “Kaminarimon” which are very famous for foreign tourists in Japan. Asakusa and Kaminarimon locates in Taito city having approximately 180,000 people mainly consisting of Ueno area and Asakusa area. In addition, there are many important national museums especially in Ueno area.

The election of Taito city major was taken place yesterday. I supported Mr. Yoshikatsu Nakayama, a former member of the Diet belonging to the DPJ. He used to be a gymnast and continued his political carrier for over 35 years.

Unfortunately, he could not make it. The difference was very small. I am very sorry for the result.

The Supreme Court has justice on sexual harassments

The Supreme Court has backed a company’s decision to suspend two male assistant managers who sexually harassed female subordinates verbally. This means that sexual harassments are one of the very serious problems.

I think the decision of the Supreme Court is appropriate and the decision would be an impetus for Japanese companies to impose a heavy sanction on sexual harassment.