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Monday, June 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Japanese print media question safety of food imports from China
The Japanese tabloid media have found something new to complain about China. Some features in news magazines lately have been warning people about the safety of food and ingredients imported from China. But officials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare said there are no major problems that are specific to Chinese food of late.
Yukan Fuji news magazine’s cover story last week features steps on how to cleanse any “highly toxic” product imported from China, which includes peeling the outer layers of onions and dipping the vegetables in boiling oil. Nikkan Gendai meanwhile had a headline saying “Extremely toxic rice from China has landed in Japan.” Even one of the more respectable news magazines Aera cited in an article published last May 23 the numerous food safety violations coming from China. Apparently for the past year, there have been 222 incidents with fresh or frozen vegetables, 112 cases with peanuts, 77 with other vegetables, 166 concerning frozen prepared food, 61 with shellfish and 97 concerning cooked meat products. Other publications have also taken issue with ingredients coming from China which are then used in Japanese-brand processed foodstuffs.
Hiroyuki Nagayama, a spokesman for the Imported Food Security Division from the ministry said that the most prevalent issue with Chinese food is pesticide residue, but that “has not been such a major problem” of late. He also emphasized that the food violations are not just specific to products imported from China; other countries like US and Thailand also have minor violations. The last major scare from a product from China came in 2008 when dozens of people were taken ill after eating dumplings from China that had insecticide. Tinyan Food Processing immediately stopped production and exporting the dumplings and the Japanese government asked Beijing to investigate the matter and make sure it never happens again.
Roy Larke, a professor of international marketing and Japanese business at Tokyo’s Rikkyo University said that instead of just worrying about product coming from China, the government should take responsibility on ensuring that the food people consume is safe. He said that they should have final say on “the quality control of the Japanese supermarkets and intermediary import suppliers.”
Yukan Fuji news magazine’s cover story last week features steps on how to cleanse any “highly toxic” product imported from China, which includes peeling the outer layers of onions and dipping the vegetables in boiling oil. Nikkan Gendai meanwhile had a headline saying “Extremely toxic rice from China has landed in Japan.” Even one of the more respectable news magazines Aera cited in an article published last May 23 the numerous food safety violations coming from China. Apparently for the past year, there have been 222 incidents with fresh or frozen vegetables, 112 cases with peanuts, 77 with other vegetables, 166 concerning frozen prepared food, 61 with shellfish and 97 concerning cooked meat products. Other publications have also taken issue with ingredients coming from China which are then used in Japanese-brand processed foodstuffs.
Hiroyuki Nagayama, a spokesman for the Imported Food Security Division from the ministry said that the most prevalent issue with Chinese food is pesticide residue, but that “has not been such a major problem” of late. He also emphasized that the food violations are not just specific to products imported from China; other countries like US and Thailand also have minor violations. The last major scare from a product from China came in 2008 when dozens of people were taken ill after eating dumplings from China that had insecticide. Tinyan Food Processing immediately stopped production and exporting the dumplings and the Japanese government asked Beijing to investigate the matter and make sure it never happens again.
Roy Larke, a professor of international marketing and Japanese business at Tokyo’s Rikkyo University said that instead of just worrying about product coming from China, the government should take responsibility on ensuring that the food people consume is safe. He said that they should have final say on “the quality control of the Japanese supermarkets and intermediary import suppliers.”
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Shareholder rebellion claims five scalps at Glencore
Glencore Xstrata was the subject of a boardroom clear-out as shareholders at the newly formed mining giant moved to punish directors for a controversial multimillion-pound "golden handcuffs" package proposed ahead of the mega-merger.
Its chairman, the City veteran Sir John Bond, was among the former Xstrata directors booted out at the company's first annual meeting since the $67bn (£44bn) tie-up, with 81 per cent voting against his re-election. He has been replaced on an interim basis by Tony Hayward, the former chief executive of BP who quit in 2010 in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.
Three other former Xstrata directors, Con Fauconnier, Ian Strachan and Peter Hooley, were also ousted, while a fifth, Sir Steve Robson, announced before the meeting that he was resigning from the board.
The revolt came amid continuing anger over a £144m package of retention payments for 70 Xstrata executives which was initially proposed as part of the mega-merger. Sir John had originally insisted these were vital to the success of the tie-up, but was later forced to remove them as a condition of the deal going ahead.
After a vote last November that saw Xstrata investors support the merger but about 87 per cent fail to back the payments, Sir John announced his resignation, although he said he would not leave until a replacement was found.
In a statement after he was ousted, he said he recognised and respected "the strong opposition among many to the retention arrangements which the board felt appropriate to ensure management stability".
The search for a new chairman will be led by Mr Hayward, the senior independent non-executive at the miner, as the head of the nominations board.
His elevation to interim chairman is a dramatic return to the top of a FTSE 100 giant for the ex-BP man, who attracted severe criticism in 2010 for telling reporters in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which caused 11 deaths, that he wanted "my life back." He eventually resigned as BP chief executive, saying he was "demonised and vilified".
Mr Hayward is currently chief executive of Genel Energy, the oil explorer backed by the financier Nat Rothschild. Glencore Xstrata said Mr Hayward would be step down once a permanent chairman was found.
The board clear-out leaves the struggle for power over Glencore Xstrata even more firmly in the hands of Glencore directors and executives, amid concerns over whether a new chairman will be able to provide a balance to the company's chief executive Ivan Glasenberg.
When the merger was originally proposed, the former chief executive of Xstrata Mick Davis was set to head up Glencore Xstrata for six months. However, the terms were later renegotiated and Glencore's boss Mr Glasenberg – who is also its largest shareholder – instead took charge. Meanwhile, nearly 25 per cent of the group is owned by Glencore managers.
"What matters now is to secure the appointment of an independent chairman who commands the support of both external and internal shareholders," said major shareholder Scottish Widows Investment Partnership's Anne Fraser. "The chairman would then be well-placed to lead a refreshment of the board."
Its chairman, the City veteran Sir John Bond, was among the former Xstrata directors booted out at the company's first annual meeting since the $67bn (£44bn) tie-up, with 81 per cent voting against his re-election. He has been replaced on an interim basis by Tony Hayward, the former chief executive of BP who quit in 2010 in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.
Three other former Xstrata directors, Con Fauconnier, Ian Strachan and Peter Hooley, were also ousted, while a fifth, Sir Steve Robson, announced before the meeting that he was resigning from the board.
The revolt came amid continuing anger over a £144m package of retention payments for 70 Xstrata executives which was initially proposed as part of the mega-merger. Sir John had originally insisted these were vital to the success of the tie-up, but was later forced to remove them as a condition of the deal going ahead.
After a vote last November that saw Xstrata investors support the merger but about 87 per cent fail to back the payments, Sir John announced his resignation, although he said he would not leave until a replacement was found.
In a statement after he was ousted, he said he recognised and respected "the strong opposition among many to the retention arrangements which the board felt appropriate to ensure management stability".
The search for a new chairman will be led by Mr Hayward, the senior independent non-executive at the miner, as the head of the nominations board.
His elevation to interim chairman is a dramatic return to the top of a FTSE 100 giant for the ex-BP man, who attracted severe criticism in 2010 for telling reporters in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which caused 11 deaths, that he wanted "my life back." He eventually resigned as BP chief executive, saying he was "demonised and vilified".
Mr Hayward is currently chief executive of Genel Energy, the oil explorer backed by the financier Nat Rothschild. Glencore Xstrata said Mr Hayward would be step down once a permanent chairman was found.
The board clear-out leaves the struggle for power over Glencore Xstrata even more firmly in the hands of Glencore directors and executives, amid concerns over whether a new chairman will be able to provide a balance to the company's chief executive Ivan Glasenberg.
When the merger was originally proposed, the former chief executive of Xstrata Mick Davis was set to head up Glencore Xstrata for six months. However, the terms were later renegotiated and Glencore's boss Mr Glasenberg – who is also its largest shareholder – instead took charge. Meanwhile, nearly 25 per cent of the group is owned by Glencore managers.
"What matters now is to secure the appointment of an independent chairman who commands the support of both external and internal shareholders," said major shareholder Scottish Widows Investment Partnership's Anne Fraser. "The chairman would then be well-placed to lead a refreshment of the board."
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Japan’s college co-eds on tight budgets seek illicit night work
A survey conducted in the 3-month period from May 2012 by the Tokyo chapter of the Japan Federation of Private University Teachers’ and Employees’ Unions (JFPU) analyzed data from 5,400 university and junior college students. The survey found that the students’ average monthly allowance from home was 89,500 yen — the lowest figure since the survey began back in 1986.
What’s more, reports Nikkan Gendai (April 9), after monthly rents were deducted from the above figure, the students were left with an average of just 923 yen in spending money per day — the first time this figure has fallen below 1,000 yen.
With the surge in the stock market brought on by so-called “Abenomics,” falling value of the Japanese yen and consumer price inflation that is expected as a result, families’ budgets are expected to be pinched further, and this is almost certain to lead more university co-eds to turn to yoru no arubaito or part-time work at night, a euphemism for jobs in the sex industry.
“It looks like more and more college co-eds will be taking up jobs at deri heru (out-call sex) services and erotic massage parlors in order to supplement their allowances,” says Yukio Murakami, a journalist who covers the “pink” trade, who adds, “For girls who don’t want to be affiliated with a sex shop, there’s also a method called ‘group prostitution.’ The way it works is that one girl ‘sells spring,’ and when the customer asks her to ‘introduce me to your friend,’ he will eventually engage the services of several girls in the group.
“The going rate is about 20,000 yen for honban (intercourse) and because the girls work in a group they tend not to suffer from feelings of remorse. Other groups of girls operate in a similar manner, working as ‘companions’ or accompanying men to karaoke boxes. They troll for business via the Internet, and their general charge is 10,000 yen per hour.”
Other part-time jobs involve wearing a revealing miniskirt while doing waitress work at a so-called “sexy izakaya” (2,000 yen/hr) and working at ona kura clubs whose service is watch male customers while they masturbate (but without hands-on participation) (4,000 yen/hr).
“Another type of job is ‘soft dating,’ just accompanying men for a dinner,” says Murakami. “The going rate is 10,000 yen an hour. It’s enough for lots of ‘herbivorous men‘ just to hold a woman’s hand.
“Attractive women willing to pose as nude ‘models’ can make 20,000 yen for three hours of work. A lot of girls try to land jobs modeling sexy lingerie — the going rate’s 3,000 to 5,000 yen per hour.”
Once your daughter heads for school in the big city, almost anything goes, warns Nikkan Gendai. (K.S.)
What’s more, reports Nikkan Gendai (April 9), after monthly rents were deducted from the above figure, the students were left with an average of just 923 yen in spending money per day — the first time this figure has fallen below 1,000 yen.
With the surge in the stock market brought on by so-called “Abenomics,” falling value of the Japanese yen and consumer price inflation that is expected as a result, families’ budgets are expected to be pinched further, and this is almost certain to lead more university co-eds to turn to yoru no arubaito or part-time work at night, a euphemism for jobs in the sex industry.
“It looks like more and more college co-eds will be taking up jobs at deri heru (out-call sex) services and erotic massage parlors in order to supplement their allowances,” says Yukio Murakami, a journalist who covers the “pink” trade, who adds, “For girls who don’t want to be affiliated with a sex shop, there’s also a method called ‘group prostitution.’ The way it works is that one girl ‘sells spring,’ and when the customer asks her to ‘introduce me to your friend,’ he will eventually engage the services of several girls in the group.
“The going rate is about 20,000 yen for honban (intercourse) and because the girls work in a group they tend not to suffer from feelings of remorse. Other groups of girls operate in a similar manner, working as ‘companions’ or accompanying men to karaoke boxes. They troll for business via the Internet, and their general charge is 10,000 yen per hour.”
Other part-time jobs involve wearing a revealing miniskirt while doing waitress work at a so-called “sexy izakaya” (2,000 yen/hr) and working at ona kura clubs whose service is watch male customers while they masturbate (but without hands-on participation) (4,000 yen/hr).
“Another type of job is ‘soft dating,’ just accompanying men for a dinner,” says Murakami. “The going rate is 10,000 yen an hour. It’s enough for lots of ‘herbivorous men‘ just to hold a woman’s hand.
“Attractive women willing to pose as nude ‘models’ can make 20,000 yen for three hours of work. A lot of girls try to land jobs modeling sexy lingerie — the going rate’s 3,000 to 5,000 yen per hour.”
Once your daughter heads for school in the big city, almost anything goes, warns Nikkan Gendai. (K.S.)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Hitachi's ROPITS is a tablet-controlled self-driving urban vehicle
Toyota, Honda, and General Motors have been toying with the concept of eco-friendly single-seater urban vehicles over the past few years, and Hitachi has taken notice. Although it may look like a miniature car, Hitachi's ROPITS is more like a robotic wheelchair designed to assist people with difficulty walking (i.e. Japan's growing elderly population). The key difference is that – unlike the concept vehicles demonstrated by the auto makers – ROPITS drives itself.
The company says ROPTIS, which stands for Robot for Personal Intelligent Transport System, would pick up a single passenger at designated stations all on its own. Entering your destination is as simple as tapping on a map displayed by an onboard tablet PC or your own mobile device. And because it only travels on sidewalks with a maximum speed of 3.7 mph (5.9 km/h), it won't have to deal with many of the safety issues associated with self-driving road vehicles.
The navigation system combines Real Time Kinematic GPS (RTK-GPS) with a stereo camera rig and multiple laser range finders to provide accuracy to within one meter (3 feet). The sensors provide a 360-degree three-dimensional image of the vehicle's surroundings, giving it the capability to detect and react to oncoming pedestrians or unevenness in the ground surface.
Hitachi has already tested ROPITS in an 18 square-kilometer (6.9 sq mile) area of Tsukuba city, one of the first in Japan to give the green light to robotic vehicles testing just a few years ago.
The company says that besides transporting people, ROPITS could also be used as an autonomous delivery vehicle for a variety of services, and plans to continue developing the technology.
While it may be a while before such a system is actually rolled out, you can see the vehicle perform a press demonstration in a video released by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.
The company says ROPTIS, which stands for Robot for Personal Intelligent Transport System, would pick up a single passenger at designated stations all on its own. Entering your destination is as simple as tapping on a map displayed by an onboard tablet PC or your own mobile device. And because it only travels on sidewalks with a maximum speed of 3.7 mph (5.9 km/h), it won't have to deal with many of the safety issues associated with self-driving road vehicles.
The navigation system combines Real Time Kinematic GPS (RTK-GPS) with a stereo camera rig and multiple laser range finders to provide accuracy to within one meter (3 feet). The sensors provide a 360-degree three-dimensional image of the vehicle's surroundings, giving it the capability to detect and react to oncoming pedestrians or unevenness in the ground surface.
Hitachi has already tested ROPITS in an 18 square-kilometer (6.9 sq mile) area of Tsukuba city, one of the first in Japan to give the green light to robotic vehicles testing just a few years ago.
The company says that besides transporting people, ROPITS could also be used as an autonomous delivery vehicle for a variety of services, and plans to continue developing the technology.
While it may be a while before such a system is actually rolled out, you can see the vehicle perform a press demonstration in a video released by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Seo In Guk to Debut in Japan Coming April
According Nikkan Sports News on February 18, the singer turned actor Seo In Guk is to debut in Japan this coming April.
Seo In Guk is currently narrowing down his list for his debut song in Japan by reviewing 500 ballads.
Seo In Guk said, “I cannot wait to see you in Japan. I am working hard in Korea now, please wait just a little longer.”
Seo In Guk was the winner of the Superstar K’s first season, and debuted as an actor in the KBS drama Love Rain, which also aired on Japan’s Fuji TV.
His hit tvN drama, Reply 1997, in which he played the lead, was also introduced in Japan.
Seo In Guk is currently narrowing down his list for his debut song in Japan by reviewing 500 ballads.
Seo In Guk said, “I cannot wait to see you in Japan. I am working hard in Korea now, please wait just a little longer.”
Seo In Guk was the winner of the Superstar K’s first season, and debuted as an actor in the KBS drama Love Rain, which also aired on Japan’s Fuji TV.
His hit tvN drama, Reply 1997, in which he played the lead, was also introduced in Japan.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Cubs Should Pursue Hideki Okajima
According to Nikkan Sports (via MLBTR), the Softbank Hawks of Japan has released former Red Sox Hideki Okajima so that the reliever can pursue opportunities back in MLB. Okajima registered a 0.94 ERA over 47 2/3 innings of work while featuring 6.8 K/9 and 1.1 BB/9 ratios. The lefty actually had a higher K/9 ratio during his four seasons with the Red Sox, although the higher level of competition led to a career ERA of 3.11. A shoulder injury on his pitching arm side prevented Okajima from attempting to continue his MLB career via a minor league deal with the rival Yankees, hence the return to Japan to pitch for Softbank.
The early word is that the Oakland Athletics have interest in securing the southpaw’s services. The lack of other teams knocking down Okajima’s door would make it reasonable that the Japanese lefty figures to find a minor league offer and an invite to Spring Training at best. Considering Theo Epstein’s familiarity with Okajima from his days in Boston, it would not be out of the question for the Cubs to pursue the former Softbank Hawk.
The 37 year old lefty could help fellow countryman Kyuji Fujikawa adjust to MLB and life in America. As for the Cubs bullpen, it currently only features one veteran left hander in the form of James Russell. Unless Chris Rusin and Brooks Raley are shifted to relief duty, the pitching depth in terms of southpaws is thin to say the least. The Cubs would certainly be addressing that need by signing Okajima, age and durability in the Majors be damned. A minor league deal would not impact the current 40 man roster that already has Scott Hairston in a holding pattern.
This is exactly the type of low risk, higher reward opportunity that Epstein and Company have known to thrive on.
The early word is that the Oakland Athletics have interest in securing the southpaw’s services. The lack of other teams knocking down Okajima’s door would make it reasonable that the Japanese lefty figures to find a minor league offer and an invite to Spring Training at best. Considering Theo Epstein’s familiarity with Okajima from his days in Boston, it would not be out of the question for the Cubs to pursue the former Softbank Hawk.
The 37 year old lefty could help fellow countryman Kyuji Fujikawa adjust to MLB and life in America. As for the Cubs bullpen, it currently only features one veteran left hander in the form of James Russell. Unless Chris Rusin and Brooks Raley are shifted to relief duty, the pitching depth in terms of southpaws is thin to say the least. The Cubs would certainly be addressing that need by signing Okajima, age and durability in the Majors be damned. A minor league deal would not impact the current 40 man roster that already has Scott Hairston in a holding pattern.
This is exactly the type of low risk, higher reward opportunity that Epstein and Company have known to thrive on.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Roppongi’s Roi Building continues to swing
n the early morning hours of September 2 of last year, a group of approximately 10 males in ski masks and armed with metal bats arrived at club Flower, located in the Roppongi entertainment district, and assaulted 31-year-old restaurant manager Ryosuke Fujimoto, who was drinking in the club Flower’s VIP room with a party of five or six persons.
Fujimoto suffered substantial head injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died an hour and 20 minutes later.
The grisly crime has remained unsolved, though Tokyo Metropolitan Police have issued a number of arrest warrants for former members of the Kanto Rengo bosozoku motorcycle gang.
The club, which is now closed, was located on the second floor of the Roi Building, which houses dozens of clubs, bars, and restaurants. Nikkan Gendai (Jan. 1) reports that in spite of the murder investigation and rumors of a redevelopment project the building’s tenants still swing.
“Flower, stained with a sea of blood, changed its name after the incident,” says a local restaurant employee. “But the club’s managers were busted immediately for licensing problems. Now, a chain is stretched across the entrance. People find it to be a strange scene since there is a no plan for it to reopen.”
It also could seem strange since other businesses in the building haven’t missed a beat. (Nikkan Gendai describes the building with the term fuyajo, meaning a castle that never sleeps.)
Zoo Tokyo, a huge, high-end kyabakura (hostess club) occupying one entire floor, has been doing a brisk trade. During this past bonenkai season, customers were lined up outside, waiting to spend between 20,000 and 30,000 yen (entrance fees start at 5,000 yen) on one of the 100 hostesses on staff. (The club maintains 250 ladies on its books.)
Any lingering effects of the murder and the ongoing recession seem to not matter. But that will change quickly if continuing rumors about a redevelopment plan prove to be true.
Local media has reported that the massive project, which may extend from the site Roi Building to the edge of Mori Building’s Roppongi Hills complex, could begin in 2013.
“I heard that the Roi Building would be demolished,” says a hostess. “Is it real? I mean, we’ve heard this before. The club is telling me to earn as much money as I can. So I’m doing my best.”
So for now, concludes Nikkan Gendai, the flickering, suspicious lights of the sleepless castle continue. (A.T.)
Fujimoto suffered substantial head injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died an hour and 20 minutes later.
The grisly crime has remained unsolved, though Tokyo Metropolitan Police have issued a number of arrest warrants for former members of the Kanto Rengo bosozoku motorcycle gang.
The club, which is now closed, was located on the second floor of the Roi Building, which houses dozens of clubs, bars, and restaurants. Nikkan Gendai (Jan. 1) reports that in spite of the murder investigation and rumors of a redevelopment project the building’s tenants still swing.
“Flower, stained with a sea of blood, changed its name after the incident,” says a local restaurant employee. “But the club’s managers were busted immediately for licensing problems. Now, a chain is stretched across the entrance. People find it to be a strange scene since there is a no plan for it to reopen.”
It also could seem strange since other businesses in the building haven’t missed a beat. (Nikkan Gendai describes the building with the term fuyajo, meaning a castle that never sleeps.)
Zoo Tokyo, a huge, high-end kyabakura (hostess club) occupying one entire floor, has been doing a brisk trade. During this past bonenkai season, customers were lined up outside, waiting to spend between 20,000 and 30,000 yen (entrance fees start at 5,000 yen) on one of the 100 hostesses on staff. (The club maintains 250 ladies on its books.)
Any lingering effects of the murder and the ongoing recession seem to not matter. But that will change quickly if continuing rumors about a redevelopment plan prove to be true.
Local media has reported that the massive project, which may extend from the site Roi Building to the edge of Mori Building’s Roppongi Hills complex, could begin in 2013.
“I heard that the Roi Building would be demolished,” says a hostess. “Is it real? I mean, we’ve heard this before. The club is telling me to earn as much money as I can. So I’m doing my best.”
So for now, concludes Nikkan Gendai, the flickering, suspicious lights of the sleepless castle continue. (A.T.)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Andruw Jones Reportedly Signs with Japanese League's Rakuten Golden Eagles
Sports Illustrated (via Nikkan Sports) announced that the team Jones will be joining is the Rakuten Golden Eagles. SI's report also mentions that "Nikkan Sports estimates the deal is worth approximately $3.5 million including signing bonus, base salary and performance bonuses."
With the New York Yankees last season, Jones hit just .197 with 14 home runs and 34 RBI. He provided some power off the bench, and in limited starting duties, but that was all he could muster in 94 games played.
That's way down from his .254 career average, though. As ESPN Stats & Info mentions, he's shown his home-run ability throughout his career and also has 1,289 career RBI.
The 35-year-old Jones has won 10 Gold Gloves in his major-league career. Even as a rookie with the Atlanta Braves in 1996, his potential was obvious.
The Japanese League should still be a challenge for Jones, and it's understandable that he would choose to take his career in that direction. At his age, it's hard to tell whether any major-league teams would've offered him a deal.
Because of his reputation, Jones should be very popular in Japan. He has a big personality and still has a flair for the big play.
Jones played with five major-league teams during his career. He made his mark as an Atlanta Braves center fielder, but he managed to contribute, in some way, wherever he went.
With the New York Yankees last season, Jones hit just .197 with 14 home runs and 34 RBI. He provided some power off the bench, and in limited starting duties, but that was all he could muster in 94 games played.
That's way down from his .254 career average, though. As ESPN Stats & Info mentions, he's shown his home-run ability throughout his career and also has 1,289 career RBI.
The 35-year-old Jones has won 10 Gold Gloves in his major-league career. Even as a rookie with the Atlanta Braves in 1996, his potential was obvious.
The Japanese League should still be a challenge for Jones, and it's understandable that he would choose to take his career in that direction. At his age, it's hard to tell whether any major-league teams would've offered him a deal.
Because of his reputation, Jones should be very popular in Japan. He has a big personality and still has a flair for the big play.
Jones played with five major-league teams during his career. He made his mark as an Atlanta Braves center fielder, but he managed to contribute, in some way, wherever he went.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Grab Your Camera: More Middle-Aged Japanese Men Crossdressing in Public
We’ve run quite a few stories about crossdressing in Japan over the past few months, which may have some of you wondering if dressing up in drag has become something of a fashion craze among Japanese men.
It turns out it has among one demographic, according to Nikkan Spa, who reports that over the past few years there have been an increasing number of reports of normal, middle-aged Japanese men walking around Tokyo in drag.
Nikkan Spa took the streets around Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest areas in Tokyo and a popular spot for crossdressers thanks to to its proximity to the city’s premier entertainment and red-light district, Kabukicho, to see if the locals have noticed anything out of the ordinary recently.
“Some of them walk around without any makeup on so they just look like an old man in a dress. Others wear bikinis and sandals during the summer,” comments one Shinjuku commuter.
“We see them almost everyday in this neighborhood, but for some reason a lot of them seem lackluster in their attempts. For example, dressing up like a woman but leaving their face untouched, or only wearing a skirt,” says another.
What Nikkan Spa learned is that while that there’s nothing particularly unusual about the presence of crossdressers in Shinjuku, it’s the shift in the way people are crossdressing that has been raising eyebrows recently.
Traditionally, most men who crossdress in public go all out with their clothes and makeup to make themselves as womanly as possible, or at least try and keep a low profile while in drag. However, now, it is becoming more common to see middle-aged men walking around in broad daylight while wearing women’s clothing, but doing little else to hide their original face or figure.
Has crossdressing in Japan entered a midlife crisis?
Nikkan Spa spoke with the staff at a well-known DVD shop in Ikebukuro that offers discounts to crossdressers:
“They really have increased. Some of them you can tell are men right away, others look more like middle-aged women and it’s difficult to pick them out as men unless you check their Adam’s apple, hands, or hair. Before, crossdressing in public was dangerous, but now most people are used to seeing it and there are places like this where crossdressers can gather. It’s become easier for people to do it.”
It’s likely that most of these men were closet crossdressers who hid their hobby for fear of being socially ostracized. According to Japanese crossdressing guru, Candy Milk (pictured above), the signal that it was safe to come out was given by the internet.
Mr. Milk became a leading figure for crossdressers in Japan after founding “Himawari”, the country’s first magazine for drag queens, by drag queens. In 2005, however, he was forced to discontinue the magazine after an 18 year run due to poor sales. The reason behind this, he explains, was that crossdressers had begun to use social network sites like Mixi to form communities on the internet. These communities allowed them to share information directly and also let them know that they weren’t the only guys out there into women’s clothes.
“The internet has empowered many closet crossdressers to go outside. I call this new group of crossdressers born from the internet the ‘third wave’. They are incredibly diverse and cannot be lumped into one category, much like the people of modern society. When I first started, wearing makeup while in drag was common sense, but with the ‘third wave’, even that is starting to fall apart now. These new middle-aged crossdressers will surely shape a new history of crossdressing in Japan.“
Any of you Tokyoites out there noticed a change in public crossdressing recently? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Source http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/12/06/grab-your-camera-more-middle-aged-japanese-men-crossdressing-in-public/
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Why This Japanese Town Is So Damn Happy Obama Won
When Barack Obama was sworn in for his first term, a small Japanese
town was overjoyed. Women danced the hula at the local temple, and the
town readied a slew of I Love Obama t-shirts, stickers and flags.
Why was this small town of 30,000 people who could not vote in the US
presidential election so happy? Because the town’s name is Obama.
The town is not named after the newly re-elected president, and its
name, Obama (小浜) literally means “small beach” in Japanese. The area has
a long, proud history.
According to Nikkan Sports,
today in Obama, around a hundred people gathered to cheer on the
president, chanting his name “Obama, Obama” as the ballots were counted.
A few years back the city even created a group of hula-dancing ladies
called the “Obama Girls” as a nod to the President’s home state.
The event today was called “Change: Obama Gathering” (チェンジ オバマの会),
which sounds more like an event organised by the opposition. (During
President Obama’s first run, “Change” and “Yes, We Can” became catch
phrases in Japan, so the nuance of the literal “Change Obama” is
somewhat lost in Japanese.)
As the above Sankei photo shows, an Obama statue was rolled out, perhaps because the President was unable to attend. He was busy!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Cambodia radio broadcaster jailed 20 years for inciting rebellion
A Cambodian radio broadcaster was sentenced Monday to 20
years behind bars for stirring up an insurrection against the state, charges
that human rights groups say are a fig leaf for the government squelching dissent.
Mam Sonando, the 71-year-old founder of Beehive Radio, was
found guilty of instigating rebellion and inciting people to take up arms
against the government, among other charges. The insurrection charges were tied
to a land dispute in Kratie province during which security forces fatally shot
a teenage girl.
Local activists have denied the government description of
the Kratie clashes as efforts to stop a secessionist rebellion, calling it an
excuse to eject families from land sought by a corporation. Sonando was abroad
when security forces stormed the village in May, the Phnom Penh Post reported.
“Not a shred of evidence has been submitted in court that
proves any connection between Mam Sonando and these bogus charges,” said Ou
Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, calling the verdict “embarrassingly
unsophisticated and brazen.”
His alarm was echoed by Catherine Ashton, the European Union's
foreign policy chief, who warned the conviction of Sonando and two other
people
by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court “raises severe doubts about the
impartiality
and independence of the court.”
Media freedom groups pointed out that Prime Minister Hun Sen
began calling for Sonando's arrest the day after Beehive Radio
broadcast a report about Cambodian activists accusing Hun Sen of human rights abuses in a
complaint filed before the International Criminal Court. Sonando had been
arrested in 2003 and 2005 for allegedly defaming the prime minister.
The stiff sentence comes as Cambodia has faced mounting
criticism over attacks on human rights activists and journalists who draw
attention to abuses tied to the government. As protests have erupted this year over factory conditions
and Cambodians being pushed out of their homes to make way for development,
human rights groups say the state has persecuted and jailed activists in
retribution.
Earlier this year, United Nations human rights rapporteur for
Cambodia
Surya Subedi lamented "a worrying trend" of activists facing gunfire.
Many Cambodians also remain suspicious over the shooting of
environmental activist Chut Wutty this year; journalist Hang Serei
Oudom was slain this month after implicating local officials in illegal
trafficking of timber, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Darty 'error' on CEO pay prompts rebellion
Up to 50pc of shareholders are expected to vote against the Anglo-French
retailer’s remuneration report at Thursday’s Annual General Meeting.
Shareholders are angry after the
company admitted last month that a €775,000 (£620,000) share award
made to chief executive Thierry Falque-Pierrotin was not subject to
performance criteria as had been stated in the 2009 annual report.
The shares automatically vested in January this year after Mr Falque-Pierrotin
had completed three years with the company.
The potential shareholder revolt comes as one of the UK’s largest fund
managers Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) revealed the part
it played in the so called “shareholder spring”.
The £383bn fund manager voted against 77 remuneration reports in the first
half of the year, compared with 125 reports in the whole of 2011. LGIM
revealed it managed to change 12 companies’ remuneration reports following
consultation. These included Land Securities and Sainsbury where changes
were made to the bonus schemes being put forward by remuneration committees.
Although LGIM said it expected fewer shareholder revolts next year it warned investor pressure would not go away. The company also said it intends to remain a “chief nagger” on issues such as executive pay, boardroom diversity and auditor independence.
Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9539842/Darty-error-on-CEO-pay-prompts-rebellion.html
Although LGIM said it expected fewer shareholder revolts next year it warned investor pressure would not go away. The company also said it intends to remain a “chief nagger” on issues such as executive pay, boardroom diversity and auditor independence.
Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9539842/Darty-error-on-CEO-pay-prompts-rebellion.html
Monday, July 30, 2012
Terre Haute Police investigate two possibly related shootings
Police are investigating several shootings in Terre Haute that witnesses believe may be linked together.
The first shooting incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. Sunday on Wabash Avenue.
Several shots were fired into the air outside the Blu Katt Lounge.
No injuries were reported from the initial incident.
The second shooting incident occurred this afternoon outside the Booker T. Washington Community Center that injured two.
One victim was taken to Regional Hospital, while the other was taken to Union Hospital.
Police believe neither of the two victims’ injuries are life threatening at this time.
It is unknown at this time who the shooter is and if any arrests have been made.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
McDonnell Bolsters UVa Board, Keeps Dragas
Governor Bob McDonnell has put his stamp on the University of
Virginia Board of Visitors, reappointing its lightning-rod Rector Helen
Dragas, replacing five old board members and appointing two “senior
advisors.”
“Cognizant of the need for varied and wide-ranging voices, I have
appointed competent professionals to the board who come from the fields
of academia, business, law and technology, and who can, while bringing
different backgrounds and philosophies to the table, work well together
in finding common ground and forging a shared path for Mr. Jefferson’s
University,” McDonnell said in a prepared statement.
Newcomers include Linwood Rose, former president of James Madison
University; Edward Miller, dean of the School of Medicine at Johns
Hopkins University; and Victoria Harper, CFO of Gannett Company.
Senior
advisors whose role will be “to provide the board with wise counsel on
an array of matters and to assist the university in solving strategic
and communications challenges,” include William H. Goodwin, a Darden
School graduate and the most successful entrepreneur in Richmond, as
well as Leonard W. Sandridge, the university’s highly respected CFO
before retiring last year.
By any objective measure, the newcomers represent an impressive
addition to the board. There are no light weights. And they aren’t all
big Republican donors.
Regarding the controversial Dragas, McDonnell said, “Ms. Dragas’s
serious critique of the challenges facing the university is a voice that
must be heard, and can help, in ensuring UVa remains one of the world’s
foremost institutions of higher learning.”
Just as I was disappointed to see the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the request for the resignation of the first female president of UVa, I am also concerned that the first female rector seemed to become the sole target of recent criticism. While there is no doubt that the board made several mistakes in its actions, which it has publicly admitted, this is not a time for recrimination. It’s a time for reconciliation. I have been heartened by recent statements made by president [Teresa] Sullivan, the Board of Visitors and by the faculty senate chair about their ability to work with the rector.
Yesterday I opined that, given the animosity she had engendered,
Dragas probably would have to go. I questioned whether McDonnell had the
guts to reappoint her. But I do agree with the governor’s s decision to
keep her. As I wrote when the controversy first began, “Dragas gets
it.” Higher education in America is facing an existential crisis. The
university needs strong leaders and a bold vision. McDonnell has
assembled a powerful team to lead the university forward.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tickets On Sale for February UFC Japan Card
In Japan and planning to attend the UFC's return to the Land of the Rising Sun? Get your credit card ready.
Tickets for UFC Japan go on sale today through UFC Mobile. On Tuesday, fans in Japan can get tickets through WOWOW and Nikkan Sports. WOWOW is a subscription-based Japanese broadcasting company; Nikkan Sports is a daily sports newspaper with a circulation of nearly 2 million.
Tickets will range in price from 5,800 Japanese Yen to ¥100,000. Current exchange rates between the Yen and U.S. Dollar (1/0.0128) make those tickets priced from just under $75 to nearly $1,300. The pricing breakdown is similar to major U.S. UFC pay-per-view shows.
Tickets for the general public will be made available starting Dec. 10 through Lawson Tickets, E-Plus and Kyodo Promotion. UFC Japan, as the card is being billed (UFC 144 in the numbered event system), will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, just north of Tokyo. The arena has hosted some of the biggest events in MMA history and was the home for many Pride Fighting Championship events.
The UFC on Monday announced the full fight card for UFC Japan with a press conference in Tokyo that featured many of the card's biggest names. Headlining the event will be a lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Ben Henderson. The co-main event will feature a name plenty familiar to Japanese MMA fans – Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who was a Pride star for many years before coming to the UFC. Jackson will fight Ryan Bader in the co-main event six years to the day from his last fight in Japan.
Also appearing at the press conference alongside UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC international managing director Marshall Zelaznik and UFC Asia managing director Mark Fischer were Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama and Jake Shields, who meet in a welterweight bout on the main card; Mark Hunt and Cheick Kongo; Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis; and Japanese fighters Yushin Okami, Takanori Gomi, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Hatsu Hioki, Takeya Mizugaki and Riki Fukuda, all of whom have fights on the card. The card features seven Japanese fighters, though only Akiyama will appear on the main card.
"Japan is the spiritual home of martial arts," Fertitta said in a release from the UFC. "The world has learned from the Japanese many aspects of how to compete in hand-to-hand combat with respect and honor. But Japan also has a proud history of modern mixed martial arts and I am excited to bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship back here ..."
The UFC last held a show in Japan in December 2000, prior to its purchase by Zuffa. Due to the time difference between Tokyo and the United States, the pay-per-view is scheduled to air live in the U.S. at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 25. There is a 14-hour time difference between Tokyo and the Eastern time zone in the U.S.
Source http://www.heavy.com/mma/mma-news/2011/11/tickets-on-sale-for-february-ufc-japan-card/
Tickets for UFC Japan go on sale today through UFC Mobile. On Tuesday, fans in Japan can get tickets through WOWOW and Nikkan Sports. WOWOW is a subscription-based Japanese broadcasting company; Nikkan Sports is a daily sports newspaper with a circulation of nearly 2 million.
Tickets will range in price from 5,800 Japanese Yen to ¥100,000. Current exchange rates between the Yen and U.S. Dollar (1/0.0128) make those tickets priced from just under $75 to nearly $1,300. The pricing breakdown is similar to major U.S. UFC pay-per-view shows.
Tickets for the general public will be made available starting Dec. 10 through Lawson Tickets, E-Plus and Kyodo Promotion. UFC Japan, as the card is being billed (UFC 144 in the numbered event system), will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, just north of Tokyo. The arena has hosted some of the biggest events in MMA history and was the home for many Pride Fighting Championship events.
The UFC on Monday announced the full fight card for UFC Japan with a press conference in Tokyo that featured many of the card's biggest names. Headlining the event will be a lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Ben Henderson. The co-main event will feature a name plenty familiar to Japanese MMA fans – Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who was a Pride star for many years before coming to the UFC. Jackson will fight Ryan Bader in the co-main event six years to the day from his last fight in Japan.
Also appearing at the press conference alongside UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC international managing director Marshall Zelaznik and UFC Asia managing director Mark Fischer were Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama and Jake Shields, who meet in a welterweight bout on the main card; Mark Hunt and Cheick Kongo; Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis; and Japanese fighters Yushin Okami, Takanori Gomi, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Hatsu Hioki, Takeya Mizugaki and Riki Fukuda, all of whom have fights on the card. The card features seven Japanese fighters, though only Akiyama will appear on the main card.
"Japan is the spiritual home of martial arts," Fertitta said in a release from the UFC. "The world has learned from the Japanese many aspects of how to compete in hand-to-hand combat with respect and honor. But Japan also has a proud history of modern mixed martial arts and I am excited to bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship back here ..."
The UFC last held a show in Japan in December 2000, prior to its purchase by Zuffa. Due to the time difference between Tokyo and the United States, the pay-per-view is scheduled to air live in the U.S. at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 25. There is a 14-hour time difference between Tokyo and the Eastern time zone in the U.S.
Source http://www.heavy.com/mma/mma-news/2011/11/tickets-on-sale-for-february-ufc-japan-card/
Monday, October 3, 2011
Ishikawa fined by Japanese Tour despite earthquake relief fundraising efforts
Ryo Ishikawa's efforts to raise money for the Japanese earthquake relief fund may have been hit after he was fined £16,500 by the Japanese Tour for pulling out of two tournaments.
Japan's golfing superstar is giving his entire earnings for 2011 to the fund, which was set up after the huge quake and tsunami devastated the east coast of the country earlier this year. Ishikawa will also add a further £750 for every birdie he makes this season.
The Japan Golf Tour Organisation took a dim view of the 19-year-old's decision to withdraw from the Kansai Open in August and last week's Toshin tournament, which he missed for the second year running, citing a sore shoulder.
The JGTO handed him the first such fines for three years on the men's tour as punishment.
'Rules are rules,' the tour's executive director Andy Yamanaka said. 'They are put in place to protect the tournaments. They are not rules only for Ryo.'
Yamanaka insisted the Japanese tour would not make any special concessions to Ishikawa's enormous celebrity in Japan, where his grinning face looks down from giant billboards and appears frequently on TV commercials.
'Yes he's a superstar but he is also one of 200 (JGTO) members and everyone plays under one set of rules. You should not change rules for one person.'
JGTO chairman Tadashi Koizumi said the organisation would 'get tough' next year to tighten the rules and prevent players suddenly pulling out of tournaments.
'We want the players to support the Japanese tournaments,' said Yamanaka. 'They can't just pay money and take time off, so we want to amend the rulebook.
'Even if Ishikawa goes off and plays on the American PGA Tour he will still have to abide by our rules.'
Ishikawa apologised and produced a doctor's note.
'My left shoulder felt like it was about to dislocate,' Japan's brightest hope for a future men's major champion told Nikkan Sports.
'The doctor told me if I played on, it would develop into chronic inflammation so I made the tough decision to withdraw.
'Last year I was playing in Europe so had to pull out. It's bad timing.'
Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2037290/Ryo-Ishikawa-fined-Japanese-Tour-despite-earthquake-fund-raising-efforts.html
Japan's golfing superstar is giving his entire earnings for 2011 to the fund, which was set up after the huge quake and tsunami devastated the east coast of the country earlier this year. Ishikawa will also add a further £750 for every birdie he makes this season.
The Japan Golf Tour Organisation took a dim view of the 19-year-old's decision to withdraw from the Kansai Open in August and last week's Toshin tournament, which he missed for the second year running, citing a sore shoulder.
The JGTO handed him the first such fines for three years on the men's tour as punishment.
'Rules are rules,' the tour's executive director Andy Yamanaka said. 'They are put in place to protect the tournaments. They are not rules only for Ryo.'
Yamanaka insisted the Japanese tour would not make any special concessions to Ishikawa's enormous celebrity in Japan, where his grinning face looks down from giant billboards and appears frequently on TV commercials.
'Yes he's a superstar but he is also one of 200 (JGTO) members and everyone plays under one set of rules. You should not change rules for one person.'
JGTO chairman Tadashi Koizumi said the organisation would 'get tough' next year to tighten the rules and prevent players suddenly pulling out of tournaments.
'We want the players to support the Japanese tournaments,' said Yamanaka. 'They can't just pay money and take time off, so we want to amend the rulebook.
'Even if Ishikawa goes off and plays on the American PGA Tour he will still have to abide by our rules.'
Ishikawa apologised and produced a doctor's note.
'My left shoulder felt like it was about to dislocate,' Japan's brightest hope for a future men's major champion told Nikkan Sports.
'The doctor told me if I played on, it would develop into chronic inflammation so I made the tough decision to withdraw.
'Last year I was playing in Europe so had to pull out. It's bad timing.'
Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2037290/Ryo-Ishikawa-fined-Japanese-Tour-despite-earthquake-fund-raising-efforts.html
Friday, July 22, 2011
'Frog king' Kitajima leaps injury hurdle
Japan's Kosuke Kitajima is determined to overcome an injury-plagued build-up to the world championships as he steps up his quest for a third straight golden double at next year's Olympics.
For the Japanese breaststroke superstar, the Shanghai worlds will not just be a vital pre-Olympic test but also a chance to restore his reputation in China, tarnished by a poor showing in November's Asian Games.
The red-hot favourite in Guangzhou, the 28-year-old finished a disappointing fourth in both the 50m and 100m before pulling out of the 200m citing nagging pain in his shoulder and joints.
It was in sharp contrast to his dominant showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was labelled "Frog King" after retaining the 100m and 200m titles he won four years earlier in Athens.
"I feel I won't be satisfied just by winning," said Kitajima, who saw his world marks shattered when he sat out the 2009 world championships in Rome. "Records or medals. Both will be important after all."
Los Angeles-based Kitajima struggled against rising domestic rivals in April in his battle to qualify for both the 100m and 200m in Shanghai.
He won the 100m at the national trials and in the 200m he finished second to Asian Games champion Naoya Tomita, although it was a painful ordeal as he tore his left adductor muscle early in the race.
"The injury may have something to do with my age but I want to believe I am stronger than ever when it comes to my feeling and my heart," said the straight-talking son of a Tokyo butcher.
"Various kinds of experience make me stronger," he said, adding he has fully recovered and ready to add to his three gold, three silver and four bronze world championships medals since 2001.
Kitajima attributed his positive thinking to his laid-back training regime under American coach David Salo at the University of Southern California since June 2009.
Still remembered for his screams and exclamation "cho-kimochi-ii (I feel super good)" that accompanied his first Olympic double in Athens, the swimmer said he had been freed from pressure.
"We ride balance balls in the water. Sometimes we go to the beach together," Kitajima recently told Japanese media in Los Angeles. "It was a fresh surprise to find there is such a fun kind of swimming."
He attended the 2009 worlds as a TV commentator during his 15-month post-Olympics layoff and could only look on as Australia's Brenton Rickard broke his 100m record and Christian Sprenger lowered his mark in the 200m.
Kitajima said he was raring to beat the Australians and break the world marks they set in the era of high-tech swimming suits.
"I want to hear people say, 'What were those high-speed swimsuits after all?' Then, I'll say, 'Give me a break. Now you know the power of human beings,'" he told the Nikkan Sports daily.
Source http://www.supersport.com/aquatics/international-news/news/110721/Frog_king_Kitajima_leaps_injury_hurdle
For the Japanese breaststroke superstar, the Shanghai worlds will not just be a vital pre-Olympic test but also a chance to restore his reputation in China, tarnished by a poor showing in November's Asian Games.
The red-hot favourite in Guangzhou, the 28-year-old finished a disappointing fourth in both the 50m and 100m before pulling out of the 200m citing nagging pain in his shoulder and joints.
It was in sharp contrast to his dominant showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was labelled "Frog King" after retaining the 100m and 200m titles he won four years earlier in Athens.
"I feel I won't be satisfied just by winning," said Kitajima, who saw his world marks shattered when he sat out the 2009 world championships in Rome. "Records or medals. Both will be important after all."
Los Angeles-based Kitajima struggled against rising domestic rivals in April in his battle to qualify for both the 100m and 200m in Shanghai.
He won the 100m at the national trials and in the 200m he finished second to Asian Games champion Naoya Tomita, although it was a painful ordeal as he tore his left adductor muscle early in the race.
"The injury may have something to do with my age but I want to believe I am stronger than ever when it comes to my feeling and my heart," said the straight-talking son of a Tokyo butcher.
"Various kinds of experience make me stronger," he said, adding he has fully recovered and ready to add to his three gold, three silver and four bronze world championships medals since 2001.
Kitajima attributed his positive thinking to his laid-back training regime under American coach David Salo at the University of Southern California since June 2009.
Still remembered for his screams and exclamation "cho-kimochi-ii (I feel super good)" that accompanied his first Olympic double in Athens, the swimmer said he had been freed from pressure.
"We ride balance balls in the water. Sometimes we go to the beach together," Kitajima recently told Japanese media in Los Angeles. "It was a fresh surprise to find there is such a fun kind of swimming."
He attended the 2009 worlds as a TV commentator during his 15-month post-Olympics layoff and could only look on as Australia's Brenton Rickard broke his 100m record and Christian Sprenger lowered his mark in the 200m.
Kitajima said he was raring to beat the Australians and break the world marks they set in the era of high-tech swimming suits.
"I want to hear people say, 'What were those high-speed swimsuits after all?' Then, I'll say, 'Give me a break. Now you know the power of human beings,'" he told the Nikkan Sports daily.
Source http://www.supersport.com/aquatics/international-news/news/110721/Frog_king_Kitajima_leaps_injury_hurdle
Monday, July 4, 2011
Nintendo Japan constructing new $184 Million office building
News publication Nikkan has reported that Nintendo Japan will be investing 16 Billion Yen (roughly $184.4 Million AUD) into a new research and development facility located in Kyoto with their main office. Expected to be a massive 40,582 square meters in size, the new office is being built on a golf course which Nintendo has now bought out.
There will be six floors along with a basement level making the building 41 metres in height. There will be a meeting room located on the first floor with a cafeteria at the top so staff can take in the beautiful view on their lunch breaks.
Currently Nintendo has their research and development team scattered around Kyoto in various offices and buildings, this new office will allow the entire team to work under the one roof and thus improve the overall efficiency, productivity and communication. The new building will house up to 1,500 employees with construction to begin in January next year, Nintendo hopes to have the structure up and running by the end of 2013.
Source http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/news/nintendo-japan-building-new-184-million-office
There will be six floors along with a basement level making the building 41 metres in height. There will be a meeting room located on the first floor with a cafeteria at the top so staff can take in the beautiful view on their lunch breaks.
Currently Nintendo has their research and development team scattered around Kyoto in various offices and buildings, this new office will allow the entire team to work under the one roof and thus improve the overall efficiency, productivity and communication. The new building will house up to 1,500 employees with construction to begin in January next year, Nintendo hopes to have the structure up and running by the end of 2013.
Source http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/news/nintendo-japan-building-new-184-million-office
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