* * * * * * * * * 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 26, 2012, Issue No. 651<br>
<br>+++ INDEX<br><br>- What's New -- Todai and a Rigid Education System<br>- News -- Tighter permitted radiation levels in food<br>- Candidate Roundup/Vacancies<br>- Upcoming Events<br>- Japan Business Q&A (NEW FEATURE)<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>+++ WHAT'S NEW<br><br>On January 20th, Japan's most prestigious university, Tokyo<br>University (Todai), dropped a bombshell on academic Japan <br>
by announcing that it would change the start of the <br>university year from spring to fall. A number of reasons <br>were given for the decision, but harmonization with <br>universities abroad seemed to be the main one. That means <br>
not only being able to have Todai students go on to higher <br>education abroad, but as importantly, especially in the <br>face of a declining birthrate, the ability to recruit more <br>foreign students to Todai campuses in Japan.<br>
<br>It is no secret that Japan both as a source and a <br>destination for foreign students is not doing well when <br>compared to other industrialized countries. In terms of <br>outbound students, there has been a lot of hand-wringing in<br>
recent years about the fall-off in Japanese kids going <br>abroad to study. The latest figures from the Ministry of <br>Education are from 2009 (slow data is in our opinion an <br>excellent indication of the systemic malaise infecting <br>
Japanese education...) and show just 59,000 students going <br>abroad. The number this year will probably be nearer <br>50,000. <br><br>There is a fierce debate over why the numbers studying <br>overseas are dropping. Is it because Japanese kids are more<br>
timid, economically poorer, held back by their professors <br>(the Nikkei alleged some Todai professors try to hang on to<br>bright kids), or just generally this generation is having <br>too good a time with their friends in Japan?<br>
<br>For what it's worth, we think the problem is two-fold: 1) <br>Japan is a mature economy and the kids are not "hungry" <br>enough to put themselves out. 2) Japanese kids are <br>indoctrinated to not stand out. So unless you're elite, <br>
Todai thought processes don't come into the equation. <br>Instead, you want to do what all your friends are doing. <br><br>Given these two very deep psychological factors, we don't <br>see the falling numbers reversing until Japan has an <br>
economic shock of some kind -- which forces change. <br>Unfortunately, with the incoming consumption tax increases <br>to cushion against change and decision-making, that shock <br>probably won't be for another 10 years or so.<br>
<br>[Continued below...]<br><br>-- NAGAMINE & MISHIMA - Securing Your Success in Japan ---<br><br>Starting a new company in Japan? Looking to streamline<br>your current operations?<br><br>The team of bilingual experts at Nagamine & Mishima is able<br>
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your business in Japan succeed, please visit our website<br><a href="http://www.nagamine-mishima.com">www.nagamine-mishima.com</a> or reach us directly by telephone<br>at 03-3581-1975 or by email at <a href="mailto:info@nagamine-mishima.com">info@nagamine-mishima.com</a>.<br>
<br>---------- YOUR BOTTOM LINE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY------------<br><br>[...Article continues]<br><br>On the inbound side of things, there has been a 75% <br>increase in the number of foreign students coming into <br>Japan over the last ten years, and the number studying here<br>
hit 138,000 recently. However, while the numbers are <br>encouraging, what we're seeing is kids mainly from Asia who <br>come to Japan as a second choice, while their luckier <br>compatriots get to go to the USA. This is especially true <br>
for Chinese students. <br><br>Nothing wrong with this situation for Japan, though, since <br>it means that often the "hungriest" kids wind up here, <br>learning to speak Japanese, and entering Japanese <br>corporations before being dispatched back to their home <br>
countries. But one disadvantage is that such students <br>provide meager additional income for Japanese Universities <br>and Vocational Schools, who are already scrimping on <br>facilities and curriculum to make up for falling domestic <br>
enrollments. This is a far cry from UK universities, for<br>example, which host about 250,000 non-EU students and make <br>around US$5bn in fees annually from them.<br><br>Getting back to Todai, apparently when first established it<br>
and other Japanese universities did work on a fall start to<br>the academic year. This was a pragmatic decision based on <br>the fact that the Meiji Era reformers were busy trying to <br>absorb as much as possible from international centers of <br>
learning, and were sending students abroad to study at a <br>great rate. Then in 1921 the school year was changed to <br>spring, to match the government's fiscal year. <br><br>Not coincidentally, this was the same period during which <br>
the Japanese education system started to become insular and<br>nationalistic, trying to remove outside influence so as to <br>indoctrinate kids into obedience to the flag. This pattern <br>of insularity by Japanese academics persists even today and<br>
we think is THE major contributing factor to the glacial <br>pace of change. There is still no real sense of crisis in <br>the comfy towers of learning.<br><br>We have personal experience of witnessing the difficulty <br>
that the Japanese calendar year can cause for talented <br>students seeking advanced education abroad. A member of our<br>own family, studying at Todai, wanted to do a Masters <br>degree in the USA and had to make the difficult decision to<br>
discontinue during the middle of the Todai academic year in<br>order to make the start of the US institution's one. Either<br>that or waste a year waiting to synchronize with the US <br>university's intake. Yes, degrees thus interrupted can be <br>
resumed after the student returns, but sync'ing the <br>Japanese education system with the institutions abroad <br>means much better mobility.<br><br>Apparently the Todai announcement is causing ripples <br>throughout Japanese academia, with some universities <br>
electing to join the fall start, while others are <br>steadfastly saying they will stick to tradition. In the <br>big scheme of things, the decision to change is a small <br>drop in Japan's academic bucket. Because even through Todai<br>
students may find it easier to go abroad to study from now <br>on, they represent just a fraction of the hundreds of <br>thousands of other Japanese kids who are stuck with an <br>education system that hasn't changed in 60 years. Education<br>
in Japan is a huge ship of tradition, cash, and vested <br>interests.<br><br>Let's not forget that the "ship" includes schooling before <br>university -- where rigidity and meaningless rules are the <br>order of the day. We have practical family experience here <br>
as well, with other children who have switched from foreign<br>to Japanese then back to foreign schools. Sometimes the <br>rules have no practical purpose other to represent the way <br>things have always been done and so why should they change?<br>
Other times, the rules were made without consideration that<br>some kids may be different -- clearly a problem for anyone <br>not 100% Japan-schooled (e.g., returnee kids and foreign <br>kids, of which there are an increasing number).<br>
<br>So let us finish off with several in-family examples of <br>rigidity in the education system <br><br>1) In the Japanese school that our teenage daughter <br>attended in 2011 there were rules about the type of bicycle<br>
helmet that had to be worn. Not that you had to meet a <br>specification. No. Instead, you had to buy the exact <br>product specified -- meaning that the few kids riding bikes<br>wore 1950's style helmets that looked like a balloon <br>
perched on the kids' heads. Zero fashion and limited <br>functionality -- no wonder most kids either elected to walk<br>to school or had their parents drive them in.<br><br>2) In that same school they had a computer classroom. But <br>
while in the rest of the world PCs are becoming an everyday<br>tool as training for adult life, in Japanese schools PCs <br>are regarded as a curiosity that are only turned on during <br>the computer class, once a week, to learn how to type. <br>
Actually, even the teachers were banned from using email,<br>because of concerns that they might misuse the accounts<br>(we must have control!). Little wonder then that in many regional <br>universities, teachers STILL set student assignments that <br>
are handed in with pencil and paper... (that's pretty <br>mind-blowing).<br><br>3) Then there is the issue of meaningless mandates for <br>various activities: military style uniforms that are <br>temperature inappropriate, especially at the end of summer;<br>
swimming pools that close and are drained at the end of <br>August; lack of shade for kids too sick to participate in <br>sports events but forced to hang around; forced consumption<br>of whale meat (although these days you can simply refuse to<br>
eat it) in school lunches and other dietary issues; and <br>endless school ceremonies that try to invoke a sense of <br>tradition rooted in patriotism. <br><br>We know that the Japanese universities are able to turn out<br>
some brilliant minds, so we're not totally "down" on the <br>education system. However, it is clear that Japan is not <br>preparing kids to function at the same level as other <br>advanced and advancing countries, and if it wants to stay <br>
competitive these issues will need to be addressed. This <br>unfortunately means having to uproot an entrenched academic<br>and bureaucrat system, and that Todai, while a good start, <br>is the tip of the iceberg. The deeper you dig past the <br>
elite, the more resistant the willingness to change.<br><br>... Until, that is, someone takes away their funding.<br><br><br>...The information janitors/<br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br>
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<br>Please visit <a href="http://delta.com">delta.com</a> for more details.<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>+++ NEWS<br><br>- Government to make TEPCO board stand down<br>- FSA takes action against AIJ fund<br>
- HSBC to dispose of Premier banking unit<br>- Tighter permitted radiation levels in food<br>- Birthrate Minister is for immigration<br><br><br><br>-> Government to make TEPCO board stand down<br><br>In what seems to be an unprecedented move, the government <br>
is requiring that the entire board of the Tokyo Electric <br>Power Company (TEPCO) stand down before it provides up to <br>JPY1trn in public funds. The requirement comes as the <br>government seeks to have TEPCO management take public <br>
responsibility for their actions that led to the Fukushima <br>nuclear disaster. (Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://reuters.com">reuters.com</a>, <br>Feb 24, 2012)<br><br><a href="http://reut.rs/zgmzsR">http://reut.rs/zgmzsR</a> <br>
<br>-> FSA takes action against AIJ fund<br><br>The latest money scandal to rock Japan is the possible <br>collapse of a JPY200bn fund called AIJ Investment <br>Advisors. The FSA has instructed the firm to stop all <br>
operations until the agency has had a chance to review AIJ's<br>books and financial situation. This latest scandal is <br>particularly embarrassing as it involves a number of <br>bedrock pension funds, including those from Advantest and <br>
more than 100 other companies. ***Ed: We imagine the FSA <br>will be moving quickly to ensure that another potential <br>Olympus situation doesn't occur.** (Source: TT commentary <br>from <a href="http://bbc.co.uk">bbc.co.uk</a>, Feb 24, 2012)<br>
<br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17150887">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17150887</a><br><br>-> HSBC to dispose of Premier banking unit<br><br>HSBC has announced that it will either sell off or shut <br>
down its Premier banking division in Japan. The move comes <br>after a global review of operations and a decision to shut <br>down not only Japan but also South Korea, and Thailand, <br>because of rising costs and stricter capital rules. HSBC <br>
has been pursuing customers in the mass-affluent segment, <br>which means people with savings of at least JPY10m. With <br>the closure of the division and the sale of its private <br>banking business in Japan late last year, HSBC will remain <br>
in securities and asset management only. (Source: TT <br>commentary from <a href="http://businessweek.com">businessweek.com</a>, Feb 24, 2012)<br><br><a href="http://buswk.co/zQ39Zv">http://buswk.co/zQ39Zv</a> <br><br>-> Tighter permitted radiation levels in food<br>
<br>While some might claim that the Japanese government is <br>hiding the real situation with radiation in food, in fact, <br>we think the DPJ is doing its best to renew trust with the <br>public. The Ministry of Health is introducing new rules <br>
limiting the amount of cesium allowed in food to levels <br>significantly below (just 20%) the current allowable <br>limits. Meat, vegetables and fish will have a limit of 100 <br>becquerels/kg, milk and baby food will be 50 becquerels, <br>
and drinking water 10 becquerels. The producers of most <br>foods will be held to the new standards from April 1, while<br>rice and beef producers have until October 1st. (Source: TT<br>commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com">e.nikkei.com</a>, Feb 24, 2012)<br>
<br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20120224D24JF301.htm">http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20120224D24JF301.htm</a><br><br>-> Birthrate Minister is for immigration<br><br>It will probably take a lot more than one minister's <br>
musings, but it's encouraging to hear that the Birthrate <br>Minister (i.e., the minister for increasing the birthrate),<br>Masaharu Nakagawa, has been quoted saying that immigration <br>into Japan is a probable solution for the declining <br>
birthrate and that there needs to be public debate on the <br>topic. He also said in the same interview that foreigners <br>receiving technical training were really a guise for cheap <br>labor and implied that the practice needs to be reviewed. <br>
(Source: TT commentary from <a href="http://e.nikkei.com">e.nikkei.com</a>, Feb 24, 2012)<br><br><a href="http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20120224D2302A09.htm">http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20120224D2302A09.htm</a><br>
<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>--------- Earn Hotel Stays Writing About Travel -----------<br><br>If you can write 350 words and take 3-5 correctly exposed<br>photos, then you should try your hand as a writer for Japan<br>Tourist, Metropolis' fast-growing Japan travel megasite.<br>
<br><a href="http://www.japantourist.jp">www.japantourist.jp</a> is in fact the fastest growing English-<br>language travel site in Japan, and it's getting that way<br>because more than 200 people have signed up to contribute.<br>
<br>Japantourist.jp is offering 10 Delta airline tickets, <br>800+ Solare hotel rooms all across the country, Adidas<br>apparel, and many other redeemable goods and services to<br>anyone writing for the site. So long as it is in Japan,<br>
anywhere, past or present, is welcome.<br><br><a href="http://www.japantourist.jp">www.japantourist.jp</a> for more information.<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 Electrical Facility <br>Engineer (Data Center) with experience designing and <br>architecting electrical facilities within data centers, for<br>posting at our client's office in the Tokyo area. The <br>
candidate will be responsible for designing the power <br>supply environment, which will include transformers, <br>distribution panels, and cabling, as well as ordering in <br>and managing air conditioning facilities and <br>
uninterruptible power supplies. You will also be <br>responsible for planning and implementing an <br>electricity-saving environment by working closely with data<br>center IT engineers.<br><br>Due to the technical nature and demanding work environment,<br>
this position is suitable for someone with more than two <br>year's experience of designing or architecting electrical <br>facilities and environments within data centers. In <br>addition, since this role requires direct communications <br>
with domestic and international clients, business-level <br>English and fluent Japanese will be required. <br><br>Remuneration is JPY4m – JPY7m depending on your experience <br>and skill level.<br><br>** POSITIONS VACANT<br>
<br>- Field Engr (DC Support), global DC co., JPY4M – JPY5M<br>- Account Mgr (Business Development), BiOS, JPY4M – JPY6M<br>- Senior Software Engineer, global IT co, JPY6M – JPY8M<br>- Data Center Sales Executive, global IT co, JPY4M – JPY8M<br>
- Windows Server Engr, Japanese software co, JPY5M – JPY6M<br><br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br><a href="mailto:tomohiro.kimura@biosjp.com">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">kenji.sakota@biosjp.com</a>.<br>
<br>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to:<br><a href="mailto:tomohiro.kimura@biosjp.com">tomohiro.kimura@biosjp.com</a><br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>--------- BIOS - Bilingual IT Systems and Support ---------<br>
<br>BiOS full-service IT solutions has a new service.<br><br>Now the largest independently owned bilingual IT support<br>company in Tokyo, BiOS offers some of the most competitive<br>services available to multinationals whether large or<br>
small.<br><br>Data Center staff and managed services, Help Desk, desktop,<br>and network support. Server virtualization, cloud computing<br>hosting and solutions, general software development. <br><br>For more information on these and other SI and IT services,<br>
in English or Japanese:<br><br>Phone: (03) 4588-2220, Email: <a href="mailto:solutions@biosjp.com">solutions@biosjp.com</a><br>Web: <a href="http://www.biosjp.com">www.biosjp.com</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS<br><br>----------------- Start a Company in Japan ----------------<br><br>Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 17th of March, 2012<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.<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>---- Katerva Conference on Innovation in Sustainability ---<br>
<br>March 7, 2012, 8:30-16:00 (including networking lunch)<br>United Nations University, Tokyo<br><br>Katerva (<a href="http://www.katerva.org">www.katerva.org</a>) is identifying and helping to <br>diffuse sustainable technologies and practices that are <br>
more efficient, less costly, and more profitable. Join us <br>for a full day conference with Japanese and global leaders <br>all of whom share a common interest in ensuring a <br>sustainable future for the Planet through innovative <br>
business development.<br><br>Admission: JPY6,500<br>Register: <a href="http://katerva.doorkeeper.jp/events">http://katerva.doorkeeper.jp/events</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>------------- Tokyo Teacher Training Academy --------------<br>
<br>Starting from February. For each program, workshops are <br>held once a month on Sundays in central Tokyo.<br>Programs offered: TESOL Certificate, TESOL Certificate <br>(Young Learners)<br>Trainers include: David Paul, Rob Waring, Alastair <br>
Graham-Marr, Robert S. Murphy<br><br>Information: <a href="http://ltprofessionals.com/en/tta.html">http://ltprofessionals.com/en/tta.html</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>------------------ ICA Event - March 15 -------------------<br>
<br>Speaker: Michael King (President of Citrix Japan)<br>Title: User Expectations drives new approaches in the New IT<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 15, 2012<br>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Drinks and Snacks<br>Cost: 2,000 yen (members), 3,000 yen (non-members) <br>Open to all, venue is Wall Street Associates<br><br>May: <a href="http://bit.ly/x0ytH6">http://bit.ly/x0ytH6</a><br>
------------------------------------------------------------ <br><br>***------------------------****-------------------------***<br><br>+++ JAPAN BUSINESS Q&A (NEW FEATURE)<br><br>=> Here we start a new feature in Terrie's Take, which is<br>
basic business and work advice for foreigners living in <br>Japan. While most of the commentary will be our's, some <br>will come from guests -- such as today's Q&A on tax, which<br>comes from Jun Nagamine of Nagamine & Mishima.<br>
<a href="http://www.nagamine-mishima.com">www.nagamine-mishima.com</a><br><br>Question: I’m a US citizen living in Japan less than 5 <br>years, and I have rental income from an apartment in the <br>USA. Do I have to declare this income in Japan?<br>
<br>Answer: If you aren’t a Japanese national and have lived in<br>Japan for less than 5 years in the past 10 years, you are <br>classified as a “Non-permanent resident” under Japanese <br>income tax law.<br><br>Non –permanent residents are subject to Japanese income tax<br>
for the following types of income:<br>* Income generated from business operations in Japan<br>* Proceeds of sale or rent generated from real property <br>located in Japan<br>* Certain types of interest (i.e. interest received on <br>
Japanese Government Bonds, Japanese Local Government Bonds,<br>loans rendered for the business operation in Japan etc)<br>* Certain types of dividend (i.e. dividends received from <br>Japanese companies)<br>* Royalties received for certain rights related to <br>
businesses operated in Japan<br>* Salaries received for services rendered in Japan <br>(salaries for services rendered outside of Japan are <br>subject to Japanese tax if the salary is remitted to Japan)<br>* Other revenues received in Japan or remitted to Japan <br>
from overseas<br><br>In your case, you don’t have to file rental income from an <br>apartment in the USA since it does not fall into any of <br>the above categories.<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: 8,176 members as of Feb 26, 2012<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>
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<br>Copyright 2012 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><br><br>