* * * * * * * * * 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, April 10 2011, Issue No. 609<br>
<br>+++ INDEX<br><br>- What's New -- Looking for Business Opportunities after the Disaster<br>- News -- Tokyo Office Vacancies at Record High<br>- Candidate Roundup/Vacancies<br>- Upcoming Events<br>- Corrections/Feedback -- PTSD: Post Trauma Stress Disorder<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>------------ PBXL IP TELEPHONY AND CLOUD BCP --------------<br><br>Since PBXL started in 2006, we have consistently focused on<br>
providing high quality, cloud based telephony services.<br>Designed around a high-availability, data center based<br>deployment, we are proud to report that our customers were<br>able to both make and receive calls during the earthquake <br>
and ensuing challenges.<br><br>Additionally, due to PBXL’s flexible system design, PBXL <br>was able to continue providing call center services and <br>other enterprise connectivity to both offices and remote <br>workers. With summer coming, and with it likely power <br>
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<br>Call us at 03-4550-2557, e-mail us at <a href="mailto:bcp@pbxl.jp">bcp@pbxl.jp</a> or for <br>more information on Tokyo and Yokohama power-safe telephony<br>visit us at <a href="http://en.pbxl.jp/bcp.php">http://en.pbxl.jp/bcp.php</a><br>
<br>------------ PBXL is BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS --------------<br><br><br>+++ WHAT'S NEW<br><br>In every cloud there is supposed to be a silver lining, and<br>in the case of the Tohoku-Kanto earthquake, the silver <br>
lining is the massive reconstruction effort that the <br>government is planning. Estimates are that the nation will <br>spend around JPY25trn (US$300bn approx.) to re-establish <br>the communities and businesses destroyed by the quake and <br>
the tsunami. This will mean raw materials for at least <br>30,000 temporary homes over the next two months, and 60,000<br>units by August -- even before the main reconstruction <br>effort and possibly millions of tons of wood, concrete, <br>
steel, and glass are put to use over the next 2-3 years.<br><br>With numbers like these, of course many companies around <br>the world are wondering if there are opportunities for them<br>to participate in what will be the largest reconstruction <br>
effort anywhere in the world for the next couple of years. <br>Among those already receiving advance notice of orders from<br>major trading houses and construction materials suppliers <br>are foreign suppliers of energy in the form of coal, <br>
LNG/LPG, and oil; timber, especially glue-lam and plywood; <br>and metals such as iron ore, copper, zinc, etc.<br><br>But to cash in on a potential US$300bn rebuilding bonanza, <br>only companies that are plugged in to the Japanese <br>
materials supplier network are likely to see much <br>opportunity. Partly because the Japanese are not likely to <br>reduce import standards or accept sizes and grades that are<br>unfamiliar, and partly because they are dealing with a <br>
patient population of refugees who know it could be several <br>years before things are somewhat back to normal. Therefore,<br>with some extra time up their sleeves, the powers that be <br>will not feel pressured to step far outside their comfort zone.<br>
<br>And this is why when we see offers on various social media <br>sites, such as one that came up a few days ago on Facebook <br>-- a gentleman with 50 ready-to-go prefab housing units and<br>wondering how to get them in to Japan, we just thought to <br>
ourselves, "Very, very difficult." Yes, Japan has plenty of<br>need, but the tsunami has not washed away national <br>characteristics, and the building materials sector was <br>always a tough space to compete in anyway.<br>
<br>So are there any opportunities to be had for foreign <br>suppliers and foreigners in Japan, as a result of the <br>disaster?<br><br>[Continued below...]<br><br>-------- Bilingual Social Media Software Solutions --------<br>
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Firstly, there are very clearly a number of opportunities <br>in the short term for specialist suppliers. As we note in <br>our news section below, a Scottish firm named Aggreko has <br>landed a major contract with TEPCO to supply a number of <br>
diesel and gas-fired portable generators for at least a <br>year, starting from June. The generators will provide <br>around 200MW of power, a drop in the bucket compared to <br>what's needed, but a good indication of the possibilities. <br>
We can only imagine that there are other leasing companies <br>getting similar orders.<br><br>Then there have been many companies and organizations which<br>have lost all their infrastructure. While the government is<br>planning to offer low-cost loans for reconstruction, these <br>
will probably come with significant hurdles for companies <br>that may have been struggling anyway, and so we imagine <br>that there will be plenty of opportunity for long-term <br>lease of capital equipment, particularly where the leasing <br>
company controls what brand equipment is to be used -- thus<br>potentially breaking down decades old supplier-customer <br>relationships in return for cheaper rates. <br><br>Where would this be likely to happen? Well, for example, in<br>
hospitals that have lost all their electronic equipment and<br>have to re-establish themselves. Indeed, with all the <br>injuries and suffering that has gone on in this disaster, <br>medical equipment seems to be a sure bet in terms of <br>
demand.<br><br>Other opportunities involve soothing people's fears. A <br>company selling tsunami resistant refugee structures to be <br>built in the middle of coastal towns would seem obvious. <br>Not sure what these would look like, but as a model, most <br>
towns already have fire lookout towers that extend 20m-30m <br>into the air, so maybe a concrete and steel version of that <br>but with a larger footprint and top platform areas would <br>work. Then, city offices investing in satellite phones <br>
would seem to be another obvious opportunity. As we have <br>seen both in the major temblor than in the recent big <br>aftershock, no power and circuit overloads can mean no <br>phones, and the authorities at least need to maintain <br>
communications.<br><br>Looking a bit further south, we have heard that many people<br>in Tokyo are worried about pending power restrictions and <br>blackouts and so are investing in wind and solar power <br>generation. Recent wind power generators operate with <br>
gentle breezes and can easily fit on a small suburban roof, <br>producing 500W or so, which is enough when combined <br>with off-peak batteries to keep a small cooling system <br>going during the hottest days of summer. Indeed, if we <br>
thought our landlord would be flexible enough, we'd be <br>looking at one of these for our office, as well.<br><br>Then, with all the charity scams going on, there is a clear<br>need for someone like <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.com">www.charitynavigator.com</a> to start up <br>
in Japan and provide a ranking system to domestic charities<br>that are probably too small and under resourced to make it<br>into that company's international list. The Charity Navigator <br>organization is quickly becoming a referee to help larger <br>
charity groups in the USA and elsewhere to channel their<br>funds, and yet you won't find any smaller but effective<br>local groups anywhere on their site.<br><br>But perhaps the biggest opportunities are going to be on <br>
the periphery of the disaster, specifically, investments <br>and buy-outs of small and medium-sized companies in Tokyo <br>and surrounds that were already stressed by the weak <br>domestic recovery and which have now been knocked <br>
on to their backsides by radiation fears, consumers' self <br>restraint, and impending rolling black outs this summer. <br>These companies are not going to get government funding <br>because they are too small, and/or too far away from the <br>
directly affected areas. They will include any company <br>involved in entertainment, advertising and media, real <br>estate, hotel accommodation and general tourism, luxury <br>goods and services, and other businesses impacted by the <br>
reduction in spending of activities seen as being <br>frivolous. In our opinion, this would be a very good time <br>for investment funds specializing in SMEs to be reviewing <br>Japan and moving in with offers of partnerships or majority<br>
buy-outs.<br><br><br>...The information janitors/<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>--------- BIOS - Bilingual IT Systems and Support ---------<br><br>BiOS full-service IT solutions has a new service.<br>
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to hire staff for Japanese customers, but who are unable<br>to commit to the expense and infrastructure of maintaining<br>an office in Japan. We take care of all aspects of the<br>employment, contracting, and dispatch -- including <br>
management of the employee.<br><br>Also, if you're thinking of Cloud office solutions, take a <br>look at Microsoft's new Business Productivity Online <br>Standard Suite. Terrie mentions Exchange Online in TT602, <br>
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Web: <a href="http://www.biosjp.com">www.biosjp.com</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>+++ NEWS<br><br>- Where there's a cartel there's a way, for OTC drugs<br>- Tokyo office vacancies hit record<br>
- Japanese ambassador to Ivory Coast rescued<br>- New Australian ambassador to Japan named<br>- Large power generators order goes to UK<br><br><br>-> Where there's a cartel there's a way, for OTC drugs<br><br>Although the Health Ministry decided it didn't like Rakuten<br>
and other internet companies making money out of drugs sold<br>online, it is happy to let anyone who wants to include <br>pharmacists to do so. So it is that the Home Medicine <br>Association through wholesaler Toho Holdings will be <br>
selling drugs online, but include a twist -- Toho will <br>ship the medicines to a drug store for customers to pick <br>up. ***Ed: This makes a mockery of the Health Ministry's <br>internet ban, in that although the drugs are shipped via a <br>
pharmacy, users are still unlikely to get any supervision <br>in how to use them. Toho reckons that they will be <br>shipping to around 10,000 pharmacists around the <br>nation.** (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com">e.nikkei.com</a>, Apr 5, <br>
2011)<br><br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110405D05EE994.htm">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110405D05EE994.htm</a><br><br>-> Tokyo office vacancies hit record<br><br>According to the latest commercial real estate survey by <br>
Miki Shoji, office vacancies in Tokyo hit a record 9.19%,<br>the highest level since Miki Shoji started compiling data in <br>1990. The company said that the situation in Osaka, despite<br>firms moving some operations to that location, is even <br>
worse, with a vacancy rate of 12.4%. ***Ed: Clearly we're <br>near the bottom of the commercial real estate market and <br>our take is that vacancy rates will stay at this level for <br>another 6 months or so, as the earthquake bankruptcies <br>
start to take effect. After that, a recovery is likely, and<br>rents are likely to recover. So now is the right time to be<br>moving if you have that option.** (Source: TT commentary <br>from <a href="http://bloomberg.com">bloomberg.com</a>, Apr 7, 2011)<br>
<br><a href="http://bloom.bg/eFGCSX">http://bloom.bg/eFGCSX</a><br><br>-> Japanese ambassador to Ivory Coast rescued<br><br>While Tokyo may not have been so happy with the French <br>Embassy's decision to push all French nationals to evacuate<br>
from Tokyo after the March 11th earthquake, all will have <br>been forgiven with the assistance that France offered to <br>Japan's ambassador to the Ivory Coast this last week. The <br>embassy in Abidjan was caught in the firefights between <br>
defending Gbagbo loyalists and Ouattara fighters invading<br>the capital. French helicopters apparently landed on the roof <br>of the embassy and plucked the Japanese staff to safety. <br>(Source: TT commentary from afp at <a href="http://google.com">google.com</a>, Apr 7, 2011)<br>
<br><a href="http://bit.ly/hzgALm">http://bit.ly/hzgALm</a><br><br>-> New Australian ambassador to Japan named<br><br>The new ambassador to Japan replacing long-serving Murray <br>McLean will be Bruce Miller, who was named for the position<br>
this last week. Ambassador Miller is no stranger to Japan, <br>having been posted to Tokyo previously from 1992-1996 and <br>2004-2009. He is a Japanese speaker and the Australian <br>newspaper says that he should be well-informed, since he <br>
has been serving as deputy director of the intelligence <br>agency, the Office of National Assessments. (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://theaustralian.com.au">theaustralian.com.au</a>, Apr 7, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/hMCr1g">http://bit.ly/hMCr1g</a><br>
<br>-> Large power generators order goes to UK<br><br>While many firms around the world must be hoping they can <br>share in the JPY25trn of rebuilding estimated to be <br>required in Tohoku through to Ibaraki, at least one firm <br>
in the UK has already scored a substantial order for a <br>number of diesel and gas-fired generators that will deliver<br>200MW of power by June. The company, Glasgow-based Aggreko,<br>specializes in temporary power generators and will be <br>
shipping the units under a minimum 1-year contract. <br>(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://bbc.co.uk">bbc.co.uk</a>, Apr 4, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-12956484">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-12956484</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>
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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>Desktop/IMAC Engineer – Tokyo<br><br>BiOS is currently looking for an IMAC Engineer to work <br>
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Remuneration is JPY3.8m – JPY4.8m depending on your <br>experience and skills level.<br><br>** POSITIONS VACANT<br><br>- Account Manager (IT Outsourcing/Recruiting), BiOS, <br>JPY3.5m – JPY4.5m<br>- Account Manager (IT Services), BiOS, JPY4m – JPY5m<br>
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<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:kenji.sakota@biosjp.com">kenji.sakota@biosjp.com</a>.<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br><a href="mailto:kenji.sakota@biosjp.com">kenji.sakota@biosjp.com</a>.<br>
<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS<br><br>------------- Entrepreneur Seminar in Tokyo ---------------<br>
<br>Start a Company in Japan<br>Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 23rd of April, 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 and A on starting <br>up a company in Japan. Over 450 people have taken this <br>course so far.<br><br>This is an ideal opportunity to find out what is involved,<br>and to ask specific questions that are not normally answered<br>
in business books.<br>All materials are in English and are Japan-focused.<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><br>------------------ ICA Event - April 21 -------------------<br><br>Speaker: Marc Einstein, Industry Manager - Frost & Sullivan<br>Title: APAC Mobile & Wireless Outlook in 2011<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, April 21, 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><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>*** TT606 has spurred a lot of feedback. Many thanks for <br>this. As a reminder, we spoke about how the fear factor has<br>
impacted life and work in Tokyo.<br><br>=> Reader One: <br>My family was directly involved in 9-11 and they took some <br>months and a little therapy to get "right" with the world. <br>I think Fukushima is no different. Actually, my step father<br>
is a nuclear chemist and he has been saying since the whole<br>sordid affair began that the amounts of radioactivity are <br>negligible and not to worry. To quote him "7 times zero is <br>still zero". Not sure that helps you at all but it did set <br>
my mind at ease to a certain degree.<br><br>Also, it is also important to remember that many in Japan <br>are now suffering from PTSD. You can get a very good idea <br>about how this affects people by reading about the after <br>
effects of 9-11 on the residents of NYC. Being originally <br>from there I can tell you that my friends and family really<br>truly understand what is going on for us on an emotional <br>level. They don't panic or freak out, but instead offer <br>
well thought out comments and food for thought. <br><br>Lastly, I wanted to share a link that a friend of mine sent<br>me about radiation. I hope it helps you understand the <br>situation even better, I know it has for me<br>
<br><a href="http://xkcd.com/radiation/">http://xkcd.com/radiation/</a><br><br>=> Reader Two:<br><br>Great newsletter as usual. I just wanted to respond on one <br>point in your main article.<br><br>"In our part of town, in the shopping triangle represented <br>
by Shinjuku to Shibuya and then through to Roppongi/Akasaka<br>there is still a lot less people shopping and eating out <br>than there usually are. Again, the average person is in a <br>state of nervous agitation and the last thing they are <br>
thinking of is relaxing with friends at a restaurant or <br>buying new clothes."<br><br>I live in Kichijoji and it is a different story there. For <br>the first few days after the earthquake of course things <br>were quiet but for the past week the shops and restaurants <br>
have been heaving with people. I'm not sure if people are <br>spending money as usual but they are certainly out and <br>about. <br><br>I think the reasons for the difference between here and <br>central Tokyo are:<br>
<br>1) This area is a big residential area and people don't <br>want to be spending time at home during difficult times <br>like these. A lot of people in Japan live by themselves so <br>prefer to go out and be with friends<br>
<br>2) People are leaving the city areas earlier and not <br>staying to go out with colleagues as they usually would but<br>returning to local neighborhoods and still spending money <br>there<br><br>3) The proportion of foreigners outside of central Tokyo is<br>
much lower. Most of the people I see in Kichijoji these <br>days are Japanese and there is noticeable absence of <br>foreigners although the numbers were not that large to <br>begin with.<br><br>***********************************************************<br>
END<br><br>SUBSCRIBERS: 8,815 members as of April 10, 2011<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 2011 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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