* * * * * * * * * 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 06, 2011, Issue No. 600<br>
<br>+++ INDEX<br><br>- What's New<br>- Short Takes<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><br><br>---------- UPGRADE TODAY TO PBXL IP TELEPHONY ----------<br><br>PBXL has the solution for your office. PBXL will purchase<br>
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<br>----------- PBXL is BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS ------------<br><br><br>+++ WHAT'S NEW<br><br>When the world's largest power utility (ranked by assets and<br>market value), the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), <br>
makes a technology announcement, you can be sure that it is<br>going to be something major which will touch all of our <br>lives -- particularly since we're not aware of any <br>competitors within Tokyo.<br><br>Well, TEPCO made just such an announcement this last week <br>
when it said that it will roll out 27m smart power meters <br>to consumers from 2013, preceded by a 90,000-home test run <br>from this coming October. The company joins many power <br>companies around the world which are trying out smart power<br>
meters as part of an overall shift to so-called smart grid <br>power distribution. Combined, the power meters and a smart <br>grid allow both the monitoring and control of consumer <br>usage, as well as the better calibrated "on-demand" <br>
production of energy. <br><br>This dynamic input-to-output cohesiveness of our energy <br>system is important now because TEPCO and other Japanese <br>power companies derive almost 80% of their power from <br>burning hydrocarbons (oil, coal, LNG, etc.), especially <br>
during peak usage periods such as heat waves and cold <br>snaps. Therefore, they want to encourage users to go <br>off-peak by adopting behaviors like doing the washing at <br>night, switching to energy efficient home appliances, and <br>
charging electric cars after factories close in the <br>evenings. Balancing out power usage means that more energy <br>can be sourced from much cheaper "fixed" energy assets such <br>as nuclear, hydro, and thermal power stations rather than <br>
quick and dirty hydrocarbons.<br><br>Another reason for smart power meters is that as <br>consumer-supplied power from home solar cells and <br>gas-driven fuel cell systems become more prevalent, and <br>households adopt en mass electric cars (a certain trend, <br>
just wait for a Middle East crisis to bump up sales), then <br>power companies will know what incoming energy there is <br>and how to offset that against the need for oil-fired <br>power.<br><br>[Continued below...]<br><br>
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------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>[...Article continues]<br><br>Then thirdly, if there is ever a power outage -- so far an <br>uncommon event here -- whether because of overload, <br>accident, or natural disaster, then with intelligent <br>
controls in each consumer's premises, the power company can <br>switch a broken grid back on in controlled and stepped <br>stages, without having to worry about power surges caused<br>by unswitched appliances suddenly starting up again.<br>
<br>The advent of smart power meters is being made possible <br>thanks to the pending assignment of dedicated wireless <br>spectrum to the devices by the Ministry of Internal <br>Affairs and Communications (MIC) in FY2012. The meters are <br>
likely to run on the 915-928MHz band, similar to the US and<br>Europe. Actually, MIC's ambitions for smart meters extend <br>well beyond just power. The ministry also wants <br>standardization of intelligent water and gas metering, <br>
through an initiative dubbed the Ubiquitous Metering <br>System. These standards are expected to provide a <br>foundation for the growth of a new export industry for <br>Japanese makers.<br><br>To that end, who is going to get most of this economic pie <br>
appears to already have been decided. Toshiba tied up with <br>TEPCO several years ago on smart power meters and seems to <br>be the main vendor to the TEPCO roll-out. 27m smart meters <br>-- that's a pretty juicy contract. Other players who are <br>
working on other utilities include GE in a tie-up with <br>Fuji Electric, Hitachi, and Fujitsu, which is scoring <br>export contracts but not much in Japan at this stage.<br><br>As a side note, TEPCO is not the first to adopt smart power<br>
meters in Japan. KEPCO, the utility supplying the Kansai, <br>started in 2008 and so far has installed about 640,000 <br>meters, with another 200,000 scheduled for FY2011.<br><br>So after all the hype about how great smart meters are <br>
going to be, what do we see as their downside? <br><br>Firstly, power costings will become more complex, and if <br>you think your power bills are hard to understand now, wait<br>til you start getting charged in time bands, locales, types<br>
of usage (iPod charging could be priced differently to <br>refrigerator power), whether you're a pensioner or<br>otherwise disadvantaged, and seasons. This could clearly <br>be ameliorated by the utilities making an effort to create <br>
good quality end-user applications that connect to phones<br>and other mobile devices, so as to encourage more <br>consumer interaction with their appliances. As one is<br>quoted as saying, "We need to make saving power, fun".<br>
<br>Secondly there will be some significant human costs. TEPCO <br>appears to be employing around 5,500 power meter readers <br>in Tokyo, a number we picked up after iTron sold a similar<br>number of hand-held meter reading computers to TEPCO some <br>
years ago. We estimate that the cost savings to TEPCO will <br>be at least JPY3bn a year, once salaries, facilities, and <br>management costs are factored in. Not a huge amount, but <br>in the world of bean counting power companies, a useful <br>
uptick. And for money-losing TEPCO, probably every little<br>contribution to the bottom line helps right now.<br><br>Of course, of you add to TEPCO the other 10 power <br>utilities around Japan, then throw in dozens of water and <br>
gas utilities as well, we can guess that more than 30,000 <br>meter readers will lose their jobs over the next few years.<br>This is great bottom-line action for the companies, but for <br>those readers who are mostly housewives and who are <br>
otherwise unskilled, finding replacement work will be <br>difficult.<br><br>Lastly, smart power meters are offer the potential for more<br>things to go wrong. On the side of the power companies, the<br>Toshiba models supposedly allow TEPCO to turn off a <br>
customer's appliances remotely, presumably with the aid of <br>IPV6-enabled devices -- which although still a few years <br>away is still a bit disconcerting. For example, if someone <br>fell behind in payments, whereas previously the requirement<br>
for the utility company has been to maintain basic services,<br>now they will be able to selectively turn off everything <br>except heating on a cold day. Thus, no cooking gas, no <br>lights, no TV or Internet... <br><br>
Then there is the potential for abuse on the side of <br>customers. Power meter software hacking has already occurred<br>in the USA, and there are plenty of capable hackers here in <br>Japan. Instead of hacking into someone's credit card <br>
account, you could simply have your smart meter say that <br>you are pumping large quantities of solar or other <br>alternative power into the grid and have the power company <br>credit you accordingly... Then what about power meter<br>
viruses? Infected with a reboot virus, plugging in your <br>shaver on a hurried morning in 2020 could get interesting!<br><br>************<br><br>BTW, did you notice that we have hit another milestone -- <br>600 newsletters? There are 48 issues a year, so this <br>
represents around 12 and a half years of monitoring <br>Japanese business trends. We really appreciate all the <br>encouragement received over the years for putting Terrie's <br>Take together, and will continue to do so for the <br>
foreseeable future. Can we ask all readers to mention the <br>Take to your friends? We'd like to get our subscription <br>levels back up to 10,000 people.<br><br>...The information janitors/<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br>
<br>+++ SHORT TAKES<br><br>Some readers have asked why we are running these health <br>products messages. Just more ads? Well, no. Actully, we use<br>these products ourselves, to stay competitive working and <br>playing in Tokyo and know them to be effective. It's our <br>
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Working late for weeks in a row leaves your body run down. <br>That and poor diet can lead to gum recession and mouth <br>ulcers which are both painful and annoying. By far the best<br>remedy we have found for oral health when under physical <br>
stress is a myrrh/goldenseal combination that you apply <br>directly to the gums/ulcers with an eye dropper. It's not a<br>mouth wash. Works overnight and is completely natural.<br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/hQJGk1">http://bit.ly/hQJGk1</a><br>
<br>* <a href="http://iherb.com">iherb.com</a> referral code -- LOY499<br>* Pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you.<br><br>=> 2. Hotel stay for two at Hotel Avanshell Akasaka<br><br>This week's Metropolis Members Club prize is a pair of <br>
Adidas MI Performance customized shoes, courtesy of Adidas<br>Japan. Our congratulations to last week's winner, Jon <br>Wharton, who won a night's stay for two at the Hotel <br>Avanshell Akasaka, courtesy of the Hotel Avanshell Akasaka.<br>
<br>Becoming a Metropolis Member is as simple as going to the <br>website and signing up for the weekly newsletter. No other <br>obligations. <br><a href="http://blogs.metropolis.co.jp/club/">http://blogs.metropolis.co.jp/club/</a><br>
<br>* Many more prizes scheduled in coming weeks. <br>* No charge to enter.<br>* Simply receive the MMC newsletter to stay in the draw.<br><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>+++ NEWS<br><br>- Nuclear arms hawks gain a supporter -- Tokyo Gov. Ishihara<br>- New advisory panel for tax and social insurance reforms<br>
- Falling commercial rents hurt Mitsui Fudosan earnings<br>- Tsutaya's CCC to do management buyout<br>- eMobile rolls out cheaper, faster iPad solution<br><br><br><br>-> Nuclear arms hawks gain a supporter -- Tokyo Gov. Ishihara<br>
<br>Shintaro Ishihara, Tokyo's governor for life (he's 78 and <br>counting) has reaffirmed his outspoken reputation by noting<br>in a recent speech that if Japan had had nuclear weapons, <br>then North Korea wouldn't have abducted Japanese nationals <br>
during the 1970s and 1980s. He followed up by intimating <br>that since the US bombed Libya as punishment for terrorism<br>(but not for nuclear arms, those came later), Japan is <br>justified in taking a tougher approach to North Korea. <br>
***Ed: Well, it may be correct that North Korea only <br>recognizes force, however, Ishihara ignores the fact that <br>Japan's current democracy is based on non-aggression, and in<br>particular no nukes. He and the nation's other hawks will <br>
first need to de-program their own citizens before getting <br>the military might they crave. Better that Japan continue <br>to lean on the US for their nuclear umbrella, and pay the <br>very modest "rent" resulting from that policy. Meanwhile, <br>
we think Ishihara definitely needs to retire before he says<br>something even more outrageous.** (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://telegraph.co.uk">telegraph.co.uk</a>, Feb 4, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6zvtoyr">http://tinyurl.com/6zvtoyr</a><br>
<br>-> New advisory panel for tax and social insurance reforms<br><br>At the beginning of the year, we predicted that Naoto Kan's<br>government will wise up and will go on the offensive to <br>start a public discussion of consumption tax, in an effort <br>
to have the general population accept the inevitability of <br>a massive increase. One step towards doing this was the <br>establishment of a new tax/social welfare panel to create <br>reform plans and to test ideas through debate and hearings.<br>
Leading the panel will be Kaoru Yosano, a consumption tax <br>hawk.***Ed: This is the right way for Kan to win approval, <br>but we also worry what such a rise might do to the economy.<br>It will be ugly for the first year or so until people get <br>
used to it -- and the mooted 15% is still better than<br>many other countries, such as the UK with its 20% tax.** <br>(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com">ibnlive.in.com</a>, Feb 5, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/4lmpcum">http://tinyurl.com/4lmpcum</a><br>
<br>-> Falling commercial rents hurt Mitsui Fudosan earnings<br><br>Slowed demand for office buildings and a big drop in rents <br>have slashed the profits of the nation's biggest property <br>developer by 34% over the last 9 months. Sales were <br>
JPY987.4bn and net profit was JPY33.8bn, down from JPY50bn <br>a year earlier. The company's office leasing vacancy rate <br>rose to 4.9% in December 2010, up from 3.2% three months <br>earlier -- not a good trend. Average office rent in Tokyo <br>
is now JPY17,585/tsubo (3.3 sq. m.), the lowest in six <br>years. ***Ed: Our take is that this office rent deflation<br>trend will continue for at least the next 6 months. Yes,<br>exporters are making record profits, but they account for<br>
only 15% of the economy. Everyone else is doing it <br>tough.** (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://bloomberg.com">bloomberg.com</a>, Feb 4, <br>2011)<br><br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/46bearw">http://tinyurl.com/46bearw</a><br>
<br>-> Tsutaya's CCC to do management buyout<br><br>Japan's massive Culture Convenience Club, which owns video <br>rental chain Tsutaya, looks set to go private again, after <br>a management buyout bid by founder and still-major <br>
shareholder, Muneaki Masuda. Apparently Masuda wants to <br>wrestle CCC's business into the digital age much more <br>quickly and is tired of having to address public <br>shareholder concerns about the strategic investments that <br>
will have to be made. The MBO calls for Masuda and his <br>supporters to pay around JPY69.6bn. ***Ed: Needless to say,<br>shares were limit-up after the announcement.** (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com">e.nikkei.com</a>, Feb 4, 2011)<br>
<br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110204D03JFA12.htm">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110204D03JFA12.htm</a><br><br>-> eMobile rolls out cheaper, faster iPad solution<br><br>If you're in the market for an Apple iPad, or already have <br>
one but are disappointed by how terribly slow Softbank's <br>3G service is, then you should know there is an <br>alternative. Basically the Softbank service is too slow to <br>support the main reason companies buy iPads -- for sales <br>
people to show visual materials to customers in the field. <br>Thus it's interesting to see eMobile do a deal with Apple <br>whereby they will see the WiFi-only model coupled with a <br>fast eMobile modem. **Ed: We can tell you that the eMobile <br>
modems are really excellent -- fast, cheap, and portable. <br>Because they are WiFi, there is no need for a connector <br>and you can keep the modem in your bag while using it.** <br>(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com">e.nikkei.com</a>, Feb 4, 2011)<br>
<br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110203D03JFA03.htm">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110203D03JFA03.htm</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><br>-------- Essential Business Reference in English ----------<br>
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<br><a href="http://www.cch-japan.jp">www.cch-japan.jp</a><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<br><br>BiOS is currently looking for a Service Delivery Project <br>
Manager to join a global information media company in <br>Tokyo. The company is currently expanding their services to<br>both existing and new clients in order to provide services <br>not only in Japan but also within APAC region.<br>
<br>A successful candidate should have solid project management<br>experience in IT Infrastructure (strong focus on Network) <br>related, preferably in financial industry with <br>understanding of Market Data Systems.<br>
<br>Remuneration is JPY8m – JPY12m depending on your experience<br>and technical level.<br><br>** POSITIONS VACANT<br><br>- Network Architect, Market Data, JPY10m – JPY18m<br>- Account Manager (IT Sales Team), BiOS JPY3m – JPY4.5m<br>
- Sales Manager, High Tech JPY7m – JPY9m<br>- PR Specialist, Global Health co JPY6m – JPY8m<br>- AS400 Programmer, Medical Equipment co JPY 6m – JPY8m<br>- Media Manager (Data Center), iBank JPY 4.5m – JPY5.5m<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br>
<a href="mailto:kenji.sakota@biosjp.com">kenji.sakota@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>--------------- Start a Company in Japan ------------------<br>
<br>Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 19th of February, 2011<br><br>If you have been considering setting up your own company,<br>find out what it takes to make it successful. Terrie Lloyd,<br>founder of over 13 start-up companies in Japan, will be <br>
giving an English-language seminar and Q&A on starting up <br>a company in Japan at The Executive Centre (Tokyo Bankers <br>Club).<br><br>This is an ideal opportunity to find out what is involved,<br>and to ask specific questions that are not normally <br>
answered in business books. All materials are in English <br>and are Japan-focused.<br><br>Date: Feb 19th, 2011 (SAT)<br>Location: The Executive Centre (Tokyo Bankers Club)<br><br>For more details:<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar">http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar</a><br>
<br>Our special thanks for the venue go to The Executive <br>Centre, Mr. Paul Taylor<br>TEL: 090-9363-9605/email: Paul_Taylor@ExecutiveCentre.com<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>---------------- ICA Event - February 17 ------------------<br>
<br>Speakers: Dr David Sweet & Charles Breen, Specialized Group<br>Title: Job Search, Recruiting and Training<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, February 17, 2011<br>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Buffet Dinner included and cash bar<br>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members) Open to <br>all. Venue is 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>***------------------------****-------------------------***<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 feedback this week.<br><br>***********************************************************<br>END<br><br>SUBSCRIBERS: 8,746 members as of February 06, 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>
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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>
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<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>
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