* * * * * * * * * 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" target="_blank">http://www.terrie.com</a>)<br><br>General Edition Sunday, July 03, 2011, Issue No. 620<br>
<br>+++ INDEX<br><br>- What's New -- Is Our Food Really Radiation Safe?<br>- Metropolis Members Club winners<br>- News -- Nokia to Pull Out of Japan<br>- Candidate Roundup/Vacancies<br>- Upcoming Events -- Next Entrepreneur Seminar set<br>
- Corrections/Feedback -- Rule of Law finding a surprise<br>- News Credits<br><br>SUBSCRIBE to, UNSUBSCRIBE from Terrie's Take at:<br><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie" target="_blank">http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie</a><br>
<br>BACK ISSUES<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take</a>, or,<br><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/" target="_blank">http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/</a><br>
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<br><br>+++ WHAT'S NEW<br><br>Our breakfast most mornings, including this morning, is <br>muesli, soy milk, yoghurt, and fruit -- followed by an<br>apple and carrot juice chaser. But after today, we might be<br>changing menus. You see, yoghurt = milk, fruit = berries, <br>
and carrots = root vegetables. All of these foods are <br>considered greater-than-average sources of long-term <br>radiation contamination, and all are under scrutiny in<br>growing areas outside the Fukushima exclusion area.<br>
<br>Why are we worried about food? It's been a series of things<br>really. The first incident was when it was discovered in <br>April that sludge pits from sewerage treatment plants in <br>Tokyo were responsible for generating high levels of <br>
radioactive (Cesium) ash from their incinerators. The <br>reading at one plant (Koto ward) was 170,000 becquerels/kg,<br>well over normal, and the ash from that particular plant <br>was recycled into construction materials such as cement. <br>
<br>Authorities were quick to say that the sludge processed was<br>found in March, and that by April the radiation readings at<br>the same plant had dropped to about 5%-10% of the March <br>levels. OK, that's all well and good, but:<br>
1. While air readings of radiation levels showed no majorly<br>abnormal levels of radiation in Tokyo post-explosion, how <br>did such high levels of radiation turn up in Tokyo <br>sewerage?<br>2. Worse still, how much radiation was re-distributed into <br>
the atmosphere while they were busy cooking the sludge into<br>cement filler?<br><br>[Continued below...]<br><br>-------- Remaining Partners for Tourist Web Project -------<br><br>Our many thanks to the 30+ partner candidates who have <br>
contacted us so far. The project is moving forward with<br>great momentum and full project details are available for <br>interested parties.<br><br>We still have the following prefectures available:<br><br>Aomori, Iwate, Yamagata, Toyama, Yamaguchi, <br>
Tokushima, Kagawa, Kochi, Saga, Nagasaki, <br>Miyazaki, and Kagoshima<br><br>If you can write and market tourism for your prefecture, as<br>part of a nationwide English-language tourism push under<br>the Metropolis banner, then please email us today for our<br>
Powerpoint presentation.<br><br>Initial project manager: <a href="mailto:terrie@metropolis.co.jp" target="_blank">terrie@metropolis.co.jp</a><br>------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>[...Article continues]<br>
<br>The best explanation by authorities for the sludge <br>radiation readings was that by virtue of the sewerage <br>"cooking" process, radioactive nucleides, however sparsely <br>dispersed and relatively safe as a result, would be <br>
concentrated once the food tissue holding them was consumed<br>by humans and that waste accumulated. OK, so does that mean<br>that those radioactive particles, no matter how few, <br>traveled through the digestive systems of Tokyo residents? <br>
If so, that means lots of people including, 10m kids, had the<br>possibility of DNA damage as it happened. Further, what <br>about the fact that some of this stuff was pumped back up <br>into the atmosphere for a second time in a more <br>
concentrated release, and what effect has that had?<br><br>Actually, the sludge pit furor didn't last long, because <br>the media had so many other Fukushima stories to to be <br>distracted by. However, in late May a second incident <br>
occurred that further concerned us. It emerged that about a<br>quarter of the green tea crop in Shizuoka (the prefecture <br>produces 20% of all Japan's green tea) -- which is on the <br>other side of Tokyo from the power plant -- was also <br>
contaminated and much of it will be destroyed. Given that <br>the radioactive plume from the March power plant explosions<br>was not supposed to have reached so far away in such <br>concentrations, how has the radiation shown up in in <br>
the tea plantation? <br><br>The authorities say that much like the sewerage, this is a <br>case of sparsely distributed radioactive particles being<br>concentrated in the collection and drying process. Whatever<br>the reason, radiation is clearly now contaminating the food<br>
chain outside of Fukushima. Thankfully, the public is <br>becoming so sensitized to the possibility of contamination,<br>that occurrences like the tea crop are quickly detected, <br>reported, and being dealt with.<br><br>
Then, in June a group of concerned parents in Fukushima, <br>who it appears don't trust the government (we wonder why?) <br>sent off urine samples to ACRO, a French independent <br>radiation testing lab, and got them back last week with <br>
indications that some of the kids were running higher than<br>normal (but not necessary injurious) levels of Cesium <br>contamination. Authorities were quick again to point out <br>that the kids are contaminated in small amounts and so <br>
were probably affected by the original set of March <br>explosions at the plant. But what if the contamination <br>wasn't a one off? What if those kids are being affected by<br>an ongoing situation, such as what they are eating?<br>
<br>Interestingly, ACRO also did testing on Belaurus residents <br>after Chernobyl and found ongoing contamination because of<br>the food system. Indeed, in April this year, Greenpeace <br>issued a statement that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians<br>
are still eating and being affected by food contaminated by<br>Chernobyl 25 years after the meltdown there. In that <br>report, Greenpeace said that milk, berries, potatoes, and <br>other root vegetables in two regions near the exclusion <br>
zone (in Japan, think Fukushima city, 60km from the plant),<br>still show "unacceptably high levels of the radioactive <br>isotope cesium-137". In one village, milk samples had <br>contamination up to 16 x greater than normal levels, a <br>
situation blamed on dairy cattle being fed contaminated <br>hay.<br><br>The current level of doubt and fear is of course wreaking <br>havoc with consumers of high-value Japanese foods purchased<br>overseas. Japanese apples are particularly popular in <br>
Taiwan, with about 17,000 tons shipped last year -- that's <br>90% of Japan's apple exports. In April, Taiwan banned food <br>imports from five prefectures, including Fukushima, but <br>unfortunately for Aomori apple growers, which isn't in the <br>
banned group but by association is still suspect as far as <br>consumers are concerned, the total apple exports to Taiwan <br>in May tumbled to less than one ton, about 0.1% of March's <br>volume. These numbers show that this will be a disastrous <br>
year for the fruit export industry and indeed the entire<br>food export sector in general.<br><br>This is disturbing stuff, and whether or not there really <br>is a serious problem in our food supply here in Japan, <br>rather than be entertained by politicians and <br>
celebrities eating Fukushima tomatoes and other produce, <br>we'd be more comforted by the government making a serious <br>effort to address public fears. What is needed is a major <br>coordinated and trustworthy study (i.e., involving outside <br>
agencies) coupled with a comprehensive radiation-related <br>health check program so that the public can be reassured<br>that their food sources are safe.<br><br><br>...The information janitors/<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br>
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for companies not yet registered in Japan.<br><br>This innovative service is available for companies needing<br>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>and we can do the same implementations for you.<br><br>For more information on this and other SI and IT services,<br>in English or Japanese:<br><br>Phone: (03) 4588-2220, Email: <a href="mailto:solutions@biosjp.com" target="_blank">solutions@biosjp.com</a><br>
Web: <a href="http://www.biosjp.com" target="_blank">www.biosjp.com</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>+++ NEWS<br><br>- Nokia to pull out of Japan<br>- LaSalle land deal biggest in two years<br>
- 19.4% of Japanese men may never get married<br>
- First day of compulsory power rationing incident-free<br>- NZ used car business hit by Tohoku earthquake<br><br><br><br>=> Nokia to pull out of Japan<br><br>Nokia never really got the Japanese market anyway, but now <br>
with global earnings on the skids, the company has decided <br>to get real and pull out of the consumer market here. The <br>company will apparently shut its high-end Vertu stores in <br>Shibuya and Ginza by the end of July, then shut down its <br>
phone service by the end of August. The company will <br>continue to handle refunds and other customer support until<br>year end. ***Ed: If you were one of those people who spent <br>JPY20m on a diamond encrusted Vertu phone, we'd be <br>
somewhat upset about this announcement...!** (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com" target="_blank">ibnlive.in.com</a>, Jul 1, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/mhGzZb" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/mhGzZb</a><br>
<br>=> LaSalle land deal biggest in two years<br>
<br>According to sources in the property industry, LaSalle <br>Investment Management is close to selling a large portfolio<br>of industrial buildings to one of two funds: either <br>Singapore's Global Logistic Properties, or Blackstone <br>
Group. The asking price is thought to be around ¥140bn. <br>Driving the acquisition is the ability for Tokyo prime <br>property to still get reasonable yields. Apparently Tokyo <br>residential gets yields of 4.5%~5%, compared to just 3% or <br>
less in places like Hong Kong. Interestingly, Tokyo had the<br>highest land transaction volume, JPY1trn, in the first half<br>of 2010 out of all the world's major cities. (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://wsj.com" target="_blank">wsj.com</a>, Jul 1, 2011)<br>
<br><a href="http://on.wsj.com/mf435J" target="_blank">http://on.wsj.com/mf435J</a><br><br>=> 19.4% of Japanese men may never get married<br><br>An Internal Affairs Ministry 2010 census report shows that <br>amongst man aged 45-54 a full 19.4% were unmarried, while <br>
for women it was 9.8%. Further down the age scale, a <br>surprising 46.5% of men aged 30-34 were unmarried and for <br>women it was 33.3%. This high rate of unmarrieds is <br>considered the main reason why Japan's birth rate is <br>
falling. Reasons given for late or non-marriage included <br>inability to find a suitable partner, lack of income, and <br>lack of a full-time job. ***Ed: What about Nintendo <br>obsession?** (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com" target="_blank">e.nikkei.com</a>, <br>
Jul 2, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110702D01JFA16.htm" target="_blank">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110702D01JFA16.htm</a><br><br>=> First day of compulsory power rationing incident-free<br>
<br>Sasuga Nihonjin... with the chips down and the government <br>
asking everyone to do their bit to reduce power consumption<br>in the TEPCO service areas, the level of power being used <br>on the first day of compulsory power rationing was down <br>5.8% on the same time last year, even though the daytime <br>
temperatures were 3 degrees higher. As a result, power <br>usage was 81.8% of capacity and no actual restrictions <br>applied. The reduction was due both to the public responding<br>to power saving measures, as well as large corporations <br>
moving production to early mornings and weekends, thus <br>allowing peak demand periods to be avoided. (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com" target="_blank">e.nikkei.com</a>, Jul 2, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110701D01JFA15.htm" target="_blank">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110701D01JFA15.htm</a><br>
<br>=> NZ used car business hit by Tohoku earthquake<br><br>In this interconnected world of ours, events on one side of<br>the globe can have unintended knock-on effects elsewhere. <br>So it is in the used car business. There are not many <br>
countries in the world that drive on the left hand side of <br>the road as Japan does, but New Zealand is one of them. As <br>a result there has been a healthy export business of second<br>hand cars bought by Kiwi dealers directly from Japanese car<br>
auction yards, but which is now severely disrupted as <br>Tohoku residents scramble to replace the estimated 300,000 <br>cars damaged by the tsunami. Dealers are saying that used <br>car prices in NZ are expected to increase substantially <br>
from next year. (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://3news.co.nz" target="_blank">3news.co.nz</a>, <br>Jul 3, 2011)<br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/k4KOrY" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/k4KOrY</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>------------- Japanese Labor Law in English ---------------<br>
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Guide 1st Ed'. New amendments, additions and more details <br>and precise information are available throughout all <br>chapters. Page volume also increased by 100+ pages.<br><br>Contact: <a href="mailto:support@cch.co.jp" target="_blank">support@cch.co.jp</a>, or 03-6234-3980<br>
Orders: <a href="https://www.cch-japan.jp/contents/register/form" target="_blank">https://www.cch-japan.jp/contents/register/form</a><br><br><a href="http://www.cchjapan.jp" target="_blank">www.cchjapan.jp</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<br><br>BiOS is urgently looking for an Account Manager with <br>experience selling embedded software services to <br>international corporations at our client’s office in the <br>
Minato-ku area. The candidate will be responsible for <br>building relationships with both new and existing clients <br>to close sales deals of the company’s product with high <br>market share, as well as liaising with internal engineering<br>
and marketing teams in order to provide best and customized<br>services to all clients.<br><br>You will also be responsible for expanding network <br>connections within the industry to promote products and<br>services by attending trade shows, events, etc.<br>
<br>Due to the technical nature and demanding work environment,<br>this position is suitable for someone with solid experience<br>selling embedded software services in Japanese market with <br>proven sales records. In addition, since this role requires<br>
direct negotiations with both Japanese and international <br>clients, business-level communication skills in English and<br>fluent-level communication skills in Japanese will be <br>required.<br><br>Remuneration is JPY7m – JPY11m depending on your experience<br>
and skill level.<br><br>** POSITIONS VACANT<br><br>- Helpdesk Engineer, global med equip co, JPY4M – JPY5.5M<br>- MS Dynamics Specialist, BiOS, JPY6M – JPY8M<br>- Bank Operations Staff, global bank, JPY3.5M – JPY4.5M<br>
- Project Manager (Mobile), global sw co, JPY 8M – JPY11M<br>
- MAC Coordinator, global ibank, JPY4M – JPY5M<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br><a href="mailto:tomohiro.kimura@biosjp.com" target="_blank">tomohiro.kimura@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" target="_blank">kenji.sakota@biosjp.com</a>.<br>
<br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br>
<a href="mailto:tomohiro.kimura@biosjp.com" target="_blank">tomohiro.kimura@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 16th of July, 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 17 start-up companies in Japan, will be <br>giving an English-language seminar and Q&A on starting up a<br>company in Japan.<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. Over 450 people have taken this<br>seminar in the last 8 years, and approximately 20% have<br>gone on to form companies.<br><br>For more details:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>------------------- ICA Event - July 21 -------------------<br>
<br>Speaker: Kazuaki Hiraga, Senior Software Engineer, Basis <br>Technology<br>Title: 'Lucene/Solr Open-source Enterprise Search Engines'<br><br>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/" target="_blank">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a><br>
(RSVP Required)<br><br>Date: Thursday, July 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).<br>Open to all. <br>Venue: The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br>
<br><a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">editors@terrie.com</a>.<br>
<br>*** In TT618 we mentioned a report by the World Justice <br>Project where Japan was ranked 4th for rule of law out of <br>countries globally. We admit that we were surprised <br>ourselves by this ranking -- but the World Justice Project<br>
seems to be a kosher think tank, so who are we to second<br>guess?<br><br>=> Reader response:<br><br>Wow! All I can say is wow.<br><br>I can give points for the fact it is a lawful country and <br>the crimes seem to be under control. Because of the almost <br>
complete ineffectiveness of the litigation system other <br>unofficial systems have taken their place. <br><br>The sentinels make themselves seen to be busy, being extra <br>severe with bicycle parking and moped traffic offenses <br>
while turning a blind eye to rohipnol robberies, sumo <br>murders and hostess rapes. The probability is that the <br>most effective policing is a system where Mr Plod is judge <br>and jury. From this, then subtract the numbers of <br>
foreigner-related (as victim) crimes and YUP! it's a great <br>system -- IF you are Japanese. <br><br>If this makes for the 4th best system in the world, the <br>baseline must be pretty skewed or else stop the world. I <br>
want to get off. <br><br>***********************************************************<br>END<br><br>SUBSCRIBERS: 8,862 members as of July 03, 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" target="_blank">terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com</a>)<br>
<br>HELP: E-mail <a href="mailto:Terrie-request@mailman.japaninc.com" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">terrie.lloyd@japaninc.com</a>.<br><br>ADVERTISING INFORMATION<br>
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Contact <a href="mailto:ads@japaninc.com" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/terrie</a><br><br>BACK ISSUES<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/terries_take</a><br>
or, <a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/terrie/" target="_blank">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" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com</a> for the best business insight on<br>Japan available.<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
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