* * * * * * * * * T E R R I E 'S T A K E * * * * * * *<br>A weekly roundup of news & information from Terrie Lloyd.<br>(<a href="http://www.terrie.com">http://www.terrie.com</a>)<br><br>General Edition Sunday, February 28, 2010 Issue No. 555<br>
<br>+++ INDEX<br><br>- What's new<br>- News<br>- Candidate roundup/Vacancies<br>- Upcoming events<br>- Corrections/Feedback<br>- News credits<br><br>SUBSCRIBE to, UNSUBSCRIBE from Terrie's Take at:<br><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie">http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie</a><br>
<br>BACK ISSUES<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take">http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take</a>, or,<br><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/">http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/</a><br>
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<br>------------- PBXL is Business Communications -------------<br><br><br>+++ WHAT'S NEW<br><br>As the recession for the ordinary person in the street <br>bites harder, we know that there must be some in the <br>community who are really struggling to make ends met. Voice<br>
of American ran a good story last week on increasing incidence<br>or child poverty in Japan. VoA interviewed a senior government <br>researcher who stated that up to 15% of Japanese children now <br>live in poverty. <br><br>
The definition of "poverty" in Japan appears to be a <br>household where the breadwinner earns less than JPY2m<br> (US$18,000) a year. Certainly not a huge amount and definitely <br>not enough to feed, house, and educate a family with two <br>
children. Yet in 2007 there were 10m households in Japan with <br>earnings at this level. <br><br>Perhaps even more surprising is that 4.3m households had <br>even less income -- earning less than JPY1m a year. True, <br>
many of these stony-broke households were elderly people, <br>but nonetheless the researcher interviewed by VoA must have<br>been estimating roughly 2.25m children as being in families<br>under the poverty line, to arrive at her number. That's a<br>
lot and no doubt some of them are members of the ultra <br>underprivileged families. <br><br>The researcher went on to say that Japan has the 4th <br>highest level of poverty in the OECD and that some of the <br>kids she sees turning up to school have not eaten <br>
breakfast, bathe as seldom as once a week, and can't afford<br>to bring pencils to class. Quite an unbelievable situation.<br><br>[Continued below...]<br><br>------------ Can't Afford a Better Web Site? --------------<br>
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<br>[...Article continues]<br><br>It is against this background then, that one sees that <br>despite the huge financial cost of the DPJ's increased <br>monthly child care allowances for young families -- <br>something that will cost the nation about JPY2.3trn in <br>
FY2010 and JPY5.3trn annually from 2011, it is nonetheless <br>an important investment if the country is to avoid all the <br>social ills that will otherwise arise as desperate children<br>grow into desperate adults. <br>
<br>A study done back in October 2009 by a Saitama teacher and<br>published by an academic print house found that there is a <br>direct correlation between childhood poverty and academic <br>and economic achievement. He comments that there is a <br>
"chain of poverty running from the parents to the children".<br>In his study he divided Saitama schools into five <br>socio-economic grades, from G1 (highest) through G5 <br>(lowest), and found that 47.5% of students in the G5 <br>
bracket had Dads who didn't have a regular job and thus no <br>regular income. Whereas for the G1 school students, just <br>12.7% of their Dads didn't have regular work. Similarly, <br>only 9.7% of G1 students lived in rented apartments, <br>
whereas 41.6% of the G5's did.<br><br>Perhaps most tellingly, 40% of the G5 kids had no breakfast<br>at home, and 20% didn't eat dinner regularly either! What<br>they live on in between meals is anyone's guess.<br>
<br>Our take is that the cause for an increase in the number <br>of families living below the poverty line lies in several <br>different areas. Firstly it is quite obvious that anyone <br>working in the manufacturing sector at present will have <br>
been hard hit by the recession -- either getting laid off <br>or at least having a cut in salary. The government itself <br>is forecasting that the nation's nominal total employee <br>payroll in FY2009 ending March 2010 will be around <br>
JPY252trn, a 3.9% drop over FY2008. Put another way, there <br>is JPY10trn less in disposable income by those families'<br>income earners.<br><br>The other big reason is the number of single-parent <br>families with one or more children aged 18 or less, which <br>
is now around 100,000 families. These single parents are<br>poor not because of unmarried births (abortion on demand <br>is commonly practiced), but because of the high divorce <br>rate. Because there is no concept of legally binding joint <br>
custody in Japan, due to the archaic system of having to <br>associate a child with just one family register, there is <br>little incentive for divorced fathers to help out with <br>child maintenance. Even if a court awards maintenance, if <br>
the Dad isn't seeing his kids it's a case of out of sight, <br>out of mind, and there is no enforcement by the courts.<br><br>This situation needs to change, but we don't think it will <br>be any time soon -- due to the entrenched nature of the <br>
legal system and the values of the judges who inhabit those<br>trenches. <br><br>Thankfully, the DPJ came to the rescue of such families in <br>October of last year, after the LDP mean-spiritedly cut <br>child subsidies for all single-parent families unless the <br>
parent was working (in which case they got a princely <br>JPY10,000 per month). Too bad for the 20% of single moms<br>who were sick, disabled, or simply couldn't find work or <br>an available day care center. Anyway, the DPJ allocated <br>
JPY5.8bn starting December 2009, to provide single-parent <br>families with an additional JPY20,000/month for the first <br>child and JPY1,000 for each following child.<br><br>Child poverty is just one more reason to wonder why it is<br>
that the nation spends so little time looking after its<br>future generations and so much time pandering to the ones<br>who can't do much more than vote from their hospital beds.<br><br>**************<br><br>Lastly, several readers have commented on the ad we're <br>
running for the Metropolis investor isurvey. What is it? <br>Well Metropolis is getting ready to make a significant <br>expansion into online media and web tools, as well as some <br>tie-ups with other Japanese companies -- all of which will <br>
be announced over the next few months.<br><br>Given that this is such a difficult economic environment in<br>which to raise equity from conventional VCs and angels, <br>Metropolis' management felt it would be interesting to see <br>
if the readers of Terrie's Take and its other related media<br>might be interested to become small-lot investors. The <br>survey is the company's first (and non-binding) step <br>towards creating a more diverse investor base. To see <br>
whether you have the right profile and experience to be <br>investing into a company like Metropolis, send email to<br><a href="mailto:isurvey@metropolis.co.jp">isurvey@metropolis.co.jp</a>.<br><br><br>...The information janitors/<br>
<br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>------------- Be Part of Metropolis' Future ---------------<br><br>Metropolis is considering bringing in private investors to <br>finance the company's growth plans on the Internet and <br>
off-line as well. We wishes to survey our readership to see<br>whether there is any interest by potential investors in<br>such an opportunity. <br><br>This is not solicitation to sell shares, however, if you <br>have an interest in private investments within Japan and <br>
wish to participate in this survey, please contact <br>Metropolis at <a href="mailto:isurvey@metropolis.co.jp">isurvey@metropolis.co.jp</a>.<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>+++ NEWS<br>
<br>- Lower company taxes?<br>- Willcom rescue deal may be off<br>- Economic data shows slight recovery<br>- Goldman analyst reckons Japan next big risk threat<br>- New drug effective against bird flu<br><br><br><br>-> Lower company taxes?<br>
<br>The DPJ ruling party is saying that it plans to cut company<br>taxes. Although we'll believe it when we see it, the <br>Cabinet Office Senior Vice Minister, Motohisa Furukawa, is <br>saying that the tax rate needs to be cut so as to preserve <br>
the health of Japanese firms. Rumor has it that the <br>government is planning to cut the rate for small- to <br>medium-sized companies from 18% to 11%. At the same time, <br>it looks like the tax rate for large companies might stay <br>
at 30%. ***Ed: Always gotta laugh at these tax rates, <br>because they're so misleading. You still need to add in the<br>local government taxes of 10% and the social welfare "tax" <br>of 16.5% on every employee's salary.** (Source: TT <br>
commentary from <a href="http://nikkei.co.jp">nikkei.co.jp</a>, Feb 27, 2010)<br><br><a href="http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/ac/tnks/Nni20100227D26JFA09.htm">http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/ac/tnks/Nni20100227D26JFA09.htm</a><br>
<br>-> Willcom rescue deal may be off<br><br>Bickering between the two co-sponsors supposed to rescue <br>failed telco Willcom has caused the Enterprise Turnaround <br>Initiative Corp. of Japan (ETIC) to warn both parties that <br>
it may not facilitate the deal if they don't come to a <br>decision on capital allocation and other issues soon. The <br>two parties are Softbank (we thought they didn't have any <br>spare cash...?!) and Private Equity fund Advantage <br>
Partners. (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://nikkei.co.jp">nikkei.co.jp</a>, Feb 27,<br>2010)<br><br><a href="http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/ac/tnks/Nni20100226D26JFA28.htm">http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/ac/tnks/Nni20100226D26JFA28.htm</a><br>
<br>-> Economic data shows slight recovery<br><br>Mixed economic signs may be pointing to better days ahead. <br>Industrial production was up 2.5% in January 2010, the 11th<br>straight month of improvement, and retail spending in <br>
January was also up, by 2.6% over the same month in 2009. <br>But while consumption is up, at the same time deflation <br>continues, albeit in Tokyo it's slowing down. Tokyo's CPI <br>fell by 1.8% in January, after falling by 2% in December. <br>
(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://wsj.com">wsj.com</a>, Feb 25, 2010)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/yl9s7bw">http://tinyurl.com/yl9s7bw</a><br><br>-> Goldman analyst reckons Japan next big risk threat<br>
<br>What's your pick of the next country to cause a major <br>financial panic? Greece? Spain? Iceland? No, according to <br>the chief global economist for investment house Goldman <br>Sachs, Japan is the biggest risk for a serious economic <br>
melt-down in the G10. The economist points to consumers <br>running out of savings and of course the huge government <br>debt. Net assets held by Japanese households dropped to <br>JPY1,065trn yen (US$11.9trn) as of September 2009, 3.3% <br>
less than FY2008 and 10.7% less than a decade earlier. <br>(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://businessweek.com">businessweek.com</a>, Feb 26, <br>2010)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/yhmmwkr">http://tinyurl.com/yhmmwkr</a><br>
<br>-> New drug effective against bird flu<br><br>Researchers at Tokyo University have developed a new drug <br>effective in mice tests against the H5N1 bird flu, as well <br>as other strains which are resistant to Tamiflu. The team <br>
found that the drug is effective in 70%-90% of cases where <br>mice have been infected with the flu. The drug will be <br>marketed by Daiichi Sankyo and it says that this is the <br>first drug to be developed in Japan from scratch. It should<br>
be on the market by early 2011. (Source: TT commentary from <br><a href="http://istockanalyst.com">istockanalyst.com</a>, Feb 25, 2010)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ylxjdup">http://tinyurl.com/ylxjdup</a><br><br><br>
NOTE: Broken links<br>Many online news sources remove their articles after just a<br>few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we<br>apologize for the inconvenience.<br><br><br>--------- BIOS - Bilingual IT Systems and Support ---------<br>
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Web: <a href="http://www.biosjp.com">www.biosjp.com</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ CANDIDATE ROUND UP/VACANCIES<br>
<br>=> BiOS, a Division of the LINC Media group, is actively <br>marketing the following positions for customers setting up <br>or expanding in Japan, as well as other employers of <br>bilinguals.<br><br>** HIGHLIGHTED POSITION(S)<br>
<br>BiOS is currently looking for skilled helpdesk staff to <br>work onsite for a number of exciting and growing operations<br>run by our various customers. We require both level-1 and <br>level-2 support, so if you are looking to use your <br>
knowledge to get experience on a helpdesk, or looking to <br>upgrade your helpdesk career with the next step up, we <br>definitely want to talk with you. With duties ranging from <br>standard helpdesk receipt of calls and incident logging, <br>
through to resolution of issues, remote laptop and mobile <br>support and ad-hoc desk side services, we have varied and <br>engaging roles to suit just about any set of skills and <br>experience.<br><br>As these are predominantly customer facing role you will <br>
need to have excellent communication skills, never-failing <br>enthusiasm, and go-getter attitude. You will be helping <br>people out with each and every call you receive, so as well<br>as your excellent attitude, a few years experience in a <br>
similar operation would be required. If you can show <br>certifications such as MCP or similar, this will be of <br>great help to your application.<br><br>Remuneration is JPY3m JPY5m depending on your experience <br>and technical level.<br>
<br>** POSITIONS VACANT<br><br>- Network Engineer (CCNA Holder), JPY5m JPY8m<br>- Network PM, Global Telecoms Co, JPY8m JPY11m<br>- Equities IT Biz Analyst, Japanese iBank, JPY7m JPY10m<br>- FileNet Architect, Euro Insurance co., JPY6m JPY7.5m<br>
- Unix Engineer, Okinawa I-Bank, JPY4m JPY5m<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br><a href="mailto:stuart.gibson@biosjp.com">stuart.gibson@biosjp.com</a><br><br>** BiOS Job Mail<br><br>Every 2 weeks BiOS sends out a regular communication to its<br>
job seeking candidates, called BiOS Job Mail. Every edition<br>carries a list of BiOS's current and most up-to-date<br>vacancies, with each entry featuring a short job<br>description and a direct link to the main entry on the BiOS<br>
home page. Regardless of whether you are unemployed and<br>searching, thinking about a career change, or just curious<br>to know if there is something out there that might suit you<br>better, the BiOS Job Mail newsletter is an easy and<br>
convenient way for you to stay informed. If you would like<br>to register for the BiOS Job Mail, or to find out more,<br>please email <a href="mailto:stuart.gibson@biosjp.com">stuart.gibson@biosjp.com</a>.<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br>
<a href="mailto:stuart.gibson@biosjp.com">stuart.gibson@biosjp.com</a><br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS<br>
<br>------------------ ICA Event - March 18 -------------------<br><br>Speaker: Christopher Neufeld, Business Development <br>Manager - Frost & Sullivan<br>Topic: Green is the New Black!<br><br>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a><br>
(RSVP Required)<br><br>Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010<br>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Buffet Dinner included and cash bar<br>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)<br>Venue: The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br>
<br><a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map">http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>------------------- CCH Tax Seminar -----------------------<br><br>
Corporate & Individual Tax Overview 2010 in Japan<br><br>1. Corporate Tax (50 mins)<br>- Entities available<br>- Creating taxable presence in Japan (sales offices, <br>internet, etc)<br>2. Consumption Tax (25 mins)<br>
3. Transfer Pricing (25 mins)<br>4. Tax Audit (25 mins)<br>5. Individual tax (25 mins)<br>- Overview plus structuring a compensation package<br><br>Date: Monday, March 8, 2010 1:30PM-4:45PM<br>Venue: Happo-en (5F, Linden), 1-1-1 Shirokanedai Minato-ku<br>
Fees: 20,000yen+Tax<br><br>Please register from following URL:<br><a href="https://www.cch-japan.jp/contents/register/form">https://www.cch-japan.jp/contents/register/form</a><br>Number of seats: 50 seats, Language: English<br>
Speakers: Accountants from Ernst & Young<br><br>For more details, Please contact us at: <a href="mailto:support@cch.co.jp">support@cch.co.jp</a>,<br>or 03-6234-3980 <a href="http://www.cch-japan.jp">www.cch-japan.jp</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ CORRECTIONS/FEEDBACK<br><br>In this section we run comments and corrections submitted<br>
by readers. We encourage you to spot our mistakes and<br>amplify our points, by email, to <a href="mailto:editors@terrie.com">editors@terrie.com</a>.<br><br>*** No comments this week.<br><br>***********************************************************<br>
END<br><br>SUBSCRIBERS: 9,675 as of February 28, 2010<br>(We purge our list regularly.<br><br>+++ ABOUT US<br><br>STAFF<br>Written by: Terrie Lloyd (<a href="mailto:terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com">terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com</a>)<br>
<br>HELP: E-mail <a href="mailto:Terrie-request@mailman.japaninc.com">Terrie-request@mailman.japaninc.com</a><br>with the word 'help' in the subject or body (don't include<br>the quotes), and you will get back a message with<br>
instructions.<br><br>FEEDBACK<br>Send letters (Feedback, Inquiries & Information) to the<br>editor to <a href="mailto:terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com">terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com</a>.<br><br>ADVERTISING INFORMATION<br>For more information on advertising in this newsletter,<br>
Contact <a href="mailto:ads@japaninc.com">ads@japaninc.com</a>.<br><br>SUBSCRIBE<br>Get Terrie's Take by giving your name and email address at<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a>, or go<br>
straight to Mailman at:<br><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie">http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie</a><br><br>BACK ISSUES<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take">http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take</a><br>
or, <a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/">http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/</a><br><br>Copyright 2010 Japan Inc. Communications Inc.<br><br>----------------- Japan Inc opens up Japan ----------------<br>
<br>J@pan Inc is Japan's only independently published English-<br>language business website. Authoritatively chronicling <br>online the business trends in Japan, each posting brings <br>you in-depth analysis of business, people and technology in<br>
the world's second largest economy. <br><br>Visit <a href="http://www.japaninc.com">www.japaninc.com</a> for the best business insight on<br>Japan available.<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
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