Japan News for January 5, 2007
Some news/links for this morning:
- Japan’s oldest person, Yone Minagawa, has turned 114, celebrating her birthday at the Keijuen special nursing home in Fukuoka Prefecture where she now resides. Born in 1893 in Fukuchi in the southwestern Japan prefecture, she was widowed early and raised her five children by selling flowers and vegetables in a coal mining town.
- Survey results reveal what Japanese people think the most annoying thing on trains is. “Loud and annoying gaijin” didn’t have the list.
- Starting yesterday, cash transfers via automatic teller machines have been limited to 100,000 yen per transaction in a move aimed at thwarting money laundering and terrorist-financing. Previously, customers in Japan were allowed to transfer up to 2 million yen per transaction with their cash cards at ATMs.
- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he wants to submit legislation this year to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution for the first time since its adoption 60 years ago. Speaking at a New Year’s press conference in Tokyo, Abe said he wants to submit bills for the revision during this year’s regular parliamentary session.
- About a dozen fossil fragments of what may be the biggest dinosaur yet found in Japan have been unearthed in Hyogo Prefecture, researchers said. Judging from the shapes of the bones, the creature likely was a Titanosaurus, measuring more than 10 meters from head to tail.
- Chinese-made counterfeits of Japanese products, such as auto parts and electrical appliances, illegally exported to Middle Eastern countries are causing trillions of yen in losses for Japanese companies. In some cases, the goods were exported to Middle Eastern countries via Kobe Port and other locations to make the products appear as if they were made in Japan.
- The Japanese and U.S. governments have begun work to strengthen a cooperative system in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, including the creation of a plan to evacuate civilians of the two countries living in South Korea. According to sources, the Japanese government is considering an evacuation plan that will oblige the nation to provide a temporary refuge for Americans evacuated from South Korea, while the plan would require the United States to help transport Japanese evacuees using its military aircraft and vessels.
- Japan Sugoi has posted a wacky video of Japanese guys sniffing the shoes and socks of girtls they meet on the street.
- Excitement over N-H-K’s new drama about feudal warlord Takeda Shingen at Japundit!
- Tigers and Cranes shows off some awesome backpacks.
[I'll be on vacation in Hakone for the new few days, so there won't be any news postings. However, there will be several posts I have prepared to be automatically posted!]
