日経ウィークリー、TOEICを9月11日に受ける前後でとまってました。
8月末からのまとめてアップしまーす。
昨日からまた日経モードが復活しました。
10月11日から通訳学校はじまります。
前期入門科はなんと！進学＋奨学生資格がもらえました。
後期基礎I科で、授業料が25％安くなりました。
わーい
と、いうことで、これまで週1回の土曜日だったのを、
張り切って週2回の平日にしました。
生徒数も15人くらい→６，７人になるそうなので、
がんばるぞー
NIKKEI WEEKLY June 13, 2011(p.5)
Economy watchers see Jishuku constraint beginning to abate
Business confidence among store owners, taxi drivers and others who feel the pulse of economy improved for the second-straight months in May. Thanks to recovering consumer confidence as well as brisk sales of energy efficient household appliances, a Cabinet Office Survey shows.
The Index of current economic conditions rose 7.7% from the April, to 36, in the latest Economy Watchers Survey, released June 8. The growth spurt was the largest in 26 months.
In turn, the government upgraded its overall view for the first time in five months, saying economic conditions, while remaining severe due to the impact of the disaster, show signs of picking up.
Consumer sentiment has been recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake that devastated northeast Tohoku region March 11. The catastrophe put people in somber, downcast mood of Jishuku, or empathy-filled self-restraint, as their hearts went out to the disaster's victim. But recently, more people have been seeking pleasure. Dutch theme park Huis Tembus in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, saw the number of visitors increase 20% from the same month last year. Universal Studios Japan in Osaka also saw the May visitor count climb on the year.
Also consumers have been something on spending spree, buying up energy-saving fans, light-emitting diode lamps and goods to help them to cut down the electricity use.
According to a survey by Tokyo research firm Gfk Marketing Services Japan ltd. May sales of electric fans more than quadrupled from 12 month earlier in volume terms.
Production is also recovering as companies prepare for an expected surge in demand from the rebuilding devastated regions. We are busy running ahead of schedule trying to preemptively make up for production cuts come summer, when the country's electricity supply will be limited, a factory manager in Tohoku region said.
Among the 11 regions polled, the index for the hardest-hit Tohoku region showed resilience. After plunging in the immediate wake up of the catastrophe, the figure jumped 12.2 points from April to 35.7 last month, almost on par with the national average.
The forward index of expected conditions two to three months ahead climbed 6.5 points on the month, to 44.9.
街角景気、自粛ムード緩む
内閣府の調査によりますと、店舗経営者、タクシー運転手など景気の動向を感じ取っている人々の中では、5月の景況感は二ヶ月連続で改善しています。これは、省エネ家電製品の好調な売れ行きのみならず、消費者マインドの復活によるものです。
現状判断指数は4月の7.7ポイントから、36ポイントまで上昇しました。これは6月8日に発行された景気ウォッチャーソウサの最新版によるものです。成長の改善幅はここ26ヶ月で最大のものでした。
さらに、政府は街角景気全体の判断を五ヶ月ぶりに修正しました。その中で、経済の状態は、震災の衝撃により今だ厳しい状態だが、改善の兆候をみせているとしています。
消費者マインドは、3月11日に東北地方の東北部に壊滅的な打撃を与えた東日本大震災から回復しつつあります。大災害により、人々は重苦しく、意気消沈した自粛ムードに追い込まれました。この自粛ムードとはすなわち、まるで彼らの心が災害の被害者のところにいってしまったかのような、被害者への感情移入がもたらす自己抑制でした。しかし最近では、より多くの人々が楽しみを求めるようになっています。長崎県佐世保にあるオランダのテーマパーク、ハウステンボスでは、昨年同月比で来客数が20%増でした。大阪のユニバーサルスタジオでも、5月には昨年に比べて来客数が増加していました。
消費者はまた、ちょっとした消費活動にお金をかけています。省エネ扇風機、LED電球や電気使用を減らすことができる商品を買いまくっています。
東京の調査会社であるGfkマーケティングサービスジャパン株式会社の調査によると、5月の扇風機の売り上げは昨年同月比で4倍以上だったとのことです。
生産もまた回復してきています。これは震災で打撃を受けた地域からの需要の急上昇が見込まれるためで、企業が準備をしているためです。東北地方のある工場のマネージャーは次のように言っています。「忙しく、予定よりも早く生産しています。夏の電力供給量が限られており、生産が減るので、それを補うために先行して生産しているのです。」
調査が行われた11の地域の中で、最も打撃を受けていた東北地方の指数は回復をみせています。大災害の直後に急落した後、4月の12.2ポイントから先月には35.7ポイントまで回復し、ほぼ国の平均並みになっています。
2，3ヶ月先の状況を示す先行き指数もその月には6.5ポイントだったのが、44.9ポイントまで回復してきています。
NIKKEI WEEKLY June 20, 2011(p.6)
As panic recedes, travelers begin trickling back to Japan
86% of tourists shy away from Japan cite radiation concerns
Consumer electronic retailers, hotel operators and other businesses that cater to foreign travelers are breathing easier in these days. It appears that as March 11 moves further into the past, tourists from overseas are returning to their establishments.
In Tokyo's Akihabara electronics shopping district, a sales section for overseas visitors at Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba, part of the Yodobashi Camera Co. chain is welcoming nearly the same number of customers it was ringing up before the quake. Since late May, sales at the section have recovered to 80-90% of where they were a year earlier. After the March 11 disaster triggered the ongoing nuclear crisis, the section's sales had fallen to around half of year-earlier levels.
Likewise, Laox Co., another electronic retailer, reports that more groups from China are visited its flagship store.
Usage of the China Union Paycard - plastic Chinese tourists in Japan use to pay for purchases at department and other stores - is also trending up. In April, usage in Japan plummeted 90% on the year. In May, the figure was 70%. During the first half of June, it was 50%.
As for hotel figures, the Royal Park Hotel in Tokyo's Chuo Ward briefly saw the number of its foreign guests decline to around 20 a day. Nowadays, the number can be as high as 200 - around 80% of year earlier level.
One hotel employee has noticed a lot of "business travelers from European and U.S. pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions."
At the Imperial Hotel at Tokyo, April foreign tourist numbers were only 20% of what they were 12 months earlier. This month, the figure has been hovering at around 65%, "We expect further improvement in July and beyond," a hotel official said.
But a recovery in foreign tourist numbers appears to be trailing that for business travelers. For instance, business travelers currently make up a majority of the customers on bus tours for foreign visitors, said an official at a JTB Co. group firm that operate the service.
With the number of foreign arrivals still far below pre-quake levels, the tourism industry and other parties may call on the government to step up efforts to market Japan as a safe destination.
To promote itself as such, it would be important for Japan, both the public and private sectors to be forthcoming with information on local situations and risk levels, said Hans-Paul Bruckner, chief executive officer of Boston Consulting Group Inc.
According to a survey by consultancy, radiation concerns stemming from the nuclear crisis are a leading factor in keeping foreign arrivals down. Asked why they are not making trips to Japan, with multiple responses allowed, 86% of the respondents who are staying away cited radiation worries, and 49% said it is wrong to vacation in a country where many locals are struggling.
People considering visit to Japan were asked why they are, with 33% saying they want to support the country's reconstruction.
Asked about where they get information on tourist safety, 14% says they trust the Japanese government. Around 90% of respondents described international institutions and scientific organizations as credible.
Taken in late May, the Internet survey drew 2500 responses from the U.S., China including Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. The number of responses from people are avoiding Japan came to about 30% in the total.
April saw foreign visitor numbers plunge 62.5% on the year, missing the 30,000 mark for the first time in the eight years.
パニック薄らぎ、外国人客が少しづつ日本に戻り始める
日本を倦厭する観光客の86%が放射能への懸念をあげる
家電量販店、ホテル経営者、その他外国人を相手にビジネスをしている人々は、最近安堵のため息をもらしています。まるで3月11日は遠い過去にいってしまったかのようです。というのも、海外からの観光客が戻りはじめているからです。
東京秋葉原にある電器店街のヨドバシカメラ・マルチメディア秋葉の外国人部門では、これはヨドバシカメラのチェーン店の一つですが、震災前とほぼ変わらない客数に歓迎モードです。5月下旬以来、この部門の売上げは、1年前の80-90%にまで回復しました。原発危機の引き金となった3/11の震災後、この部門の売上げは前年比で半分近くまで落ち込んでいたのです。
同様に、他の量販店であるラオックスでも、本店や旗艦店に以前より多くの中国人グループが来客していると報告しています。
中国ユニオンペイカード、これは日本で中国人旅行者がデパートなどで利用するクレジットカードですが、この使用も上昇傾向にあります。4月には日本での使用は90%も落ち込みましたが、5月には70%、そして6月前半では50%まで回復しています。
ホテルの数値を見てみると、東京中央区のロイヤルパークホテルでは、外国人客数が一日20人まで落ち込みましたが、現在では多いときで200人まで回復し、前年比80%のレベルにまでなりました。
あるホテル従業員は、多くのビジネス客、それもアメリカやヨーロッパの製薬会社や金融機関からのビジネス客が多いことに気づきました。
東京帝国ホテルでは、4月の外国人客数はわずか前年比20%でしたが、今月は65%あたりで推移しています。7月以降はさらに増えると期待しています、とホテル側は言っています。
しかし、外国人旅行者の数は、ビジネス客に続いて復活するようです。例えば、ビジネス客は、最近では、外国人向けのバスツアー客の大半を占めている、と、バスツアーを企画、運営しているJTBグループ会社の担当者は話しています。
海外から到着する人の数は、まだ震災前のレベルに比べると非常に低く、観光産業やその他の関係業界団体も、政府に対し日本が安全な目的地であると宣伝するよう一層努力するよう求めました。
来日数を促進するためには、地域の状況や危険レベルを包み隠さず情報提供することが日本にとって、これは官民ともにですが、重要になるだろう、とボストンコンサルティンググループのCEOであるハンス ポール ブルクナーは述べています。
コンサルタント会社の調査によると、原発危機から生じた放射能への懸念は外国人の到着数を減少させている最も大きな理由です。なぜ日本に旅行しないのか、という質問に複数回答で答えてもらったところ、日本を避けている86%の回答者が放射能への不安をあげました。49%が、多くの地方がまだ奮闘している国を休暇の滞在先として選ぶのは間違っている、と答えました。
来日を検討している人々に理由を聞いたところ、33%が日本の復興を手助けしたいと答えました。
旅の安全に関する情報をどこで得るか、という問いに対しては、14%が日本大使館を信じると答えました。90%近くの回答者が国際機関や科学研究機関を信頼すると答えています。
5月下旬に、アメリカ、香港を含む中国、台湾の2500人を対象にインターネット調査が行われました。来日を避けている回答者の数は全体で約30%でした。
4月の海外からの訪問者の数は62.5%急落し、ここ8年ではじめて30万人を切りました。
NIKKEI WEEKLY June 27, 2011(p.2)
Kan's own words review reasoning behind his refusal to go down quietly
More than three weeks after Prime Minister Kan expressed his intension to step down at some undefined point in the future, he has become quite spirited in his defiance of calls for his resignation.
Kan successfully extended the current Diet session. And he is hardly acting like a lame duck, listing one task after another on which he says he will "stake his political life", the reconstruction from the March 11 disaster, countermeasures for nuclear crisis, supplementary budgets and the promotion of renewable energy.
It is natural to ask "Isn't he going to resign?" But a survey of Kan's own statements shows that question to be a bit naive.
"I would like to hand over my various responsibilities to the younger generation after I fulfilled my role."
(Statement to assembly of DPJ lower house members on June 2)
At a meeting of DPJ lawmakers on June 2, held immediately before the Diet voted on no-confidence motion against Kan's cabinet. The Prime Minister said "I would like to hand over my various responsibilities to the younger generation after I fulfilled my role."
This comment was largely taken as an expression of his intention to step down. It allowed Kan to stave off a rebellion within his party and ensured that the no-confidence motion would be struck down.
It appeared that Kan had come to an understanding with his predecessor and rival, Yukio Hatoyama, prior to the vote. But when differing interpretations of Kan's intensions emerged soon afterward, Hatoyama ended up calling Kan a "con artist."
Some of Kan's confidants, however, have a different view of his statement to the party assembly. They insist the premier did not say he will quit. His remark, rather, was an expression of his resolve to handle pending issues on his own, so as to avoid burdening a younger successor.
Kan has taken a similar tone in the past. While campaigning for the DPJ 's leadership election in September 2010, he said "I have a dream, even if I am worn to tatters and collapse, I will pass without fail a baton to the next generation of politicians"
This speech was apparently influenced by Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. There are also echoes of former U.S President John F. Kennedy's inaugurated address in 1961, which included "the torch has been passed to a new generation of the Americans." This sort of nostalgic rhetoric is a favorite of Kan's.
On the day of the no-confidence vote, Kan told the press, "In the DPJ, I have many competent colleges in their 50s, 40s and 30's." His aides explain that this was his way of saying that he will not turn over his post to a 60 something, say, former DPJ leader Ozawa, 69, Hatoyama, 64, or Dueputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku, 65.
"I believe a politician must thoroughly fulfill his responsibility," (Remark to upper house Budget Committee on June 10)
On June 10, the prime minister told the upper house Budget Committee: "I do not dislike the word "graceful", but I believe a politician must thoroughly fulfill his responsibility." Kan likely had his four predecessors, Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda, Taro Aso and Hatoyama in mind. Each stepped down after serving only about a year or less.
菅首相の発言が示す、やめずにねばる総理の論法
菅首相が、将来のある時期に退陣をすると表明してから三週間以上が経ちますが、辞職を求める声に対し、公然と無視する姿勢を強め、生き生きとしています。
菅首相は現在開かれている国会の会期延長に成功しました。そして死に体とは程遠く、次から次へと課題を挙げ、自身の政治生命をかけるつもりだと言います。具体的には3月11日に起きた震災からの復興、原発危機に対する対策、補正予算、そして再生エネルギーの促進などです。
「彼は本当にやめるつもりはあるのですか」という問いが生まれるのは当然のことです。しかし菅首相の言葉を検証すると、この疑問はいささか単純に思えます。
「私は、自分に課せられた役割を果たしたら、若い世代に様々な責任を引き継ぐつもりです。」（6月2日民主党衆議院議員の集まりにて）
6月2日民主党議員の集まりで、これは菅内閣に対する内閣不信任決議案の投票が行われる国会の直前でしたが、首相は次のように言いました。「私は、自分に課せられた役割を果たしたら、若い世代に様々な責任を引き継ぐつもりです。」
この発言は退陣が意図する表現であると広く受け止められました。この発言により、党内の造反を避けることができ、内閣不信任決議案は否決されました。
菅首相の前任者であり、ライバルでもある鳩山由紀夫氏と、投票前に一定の理解を得られたかのように見えました。しかし直後に、菅首相の異なる意向が伝えられると、鳩山氏は結局、菅首相を詐欺師呼ばわりしました。
しかし、菅首相に近い人々は、首相の議員総会での発言に関して異なる見方をしています。彼らがいうには、首相は辞めるとはいっていない、むしろ懸案事項を首相自身の手で解決し、若い後継者への負担を避けようとしているものだということです。
菅首相は過去にも似たようなトーンの発言をしたことがあります。2010年9月の民主党総裁選の最中に、菅氏は次のように述べました。
「私には夢があります。たとえボロボロになっても、次の世代の政治家にバトンを渡します。」
このスピーチは明らかに、マルチン・ルター・キングJr.の「私には夢がある」スピーチ（1963）からきています。また「トーチはアメリカ国民の次の世代に渡される」とする、ジョン・F・ケネディ元大統領の就任演説（1961)に影響を受けたものです。ノスタルジックな表現は菅氏が好むものです。
内閣不信任決議案の投票の日、菅首相は報道陣に向けて次のように話しました。「民主党には50代、40代、30代の有能な仲間がたくさんいます。」側近は、これは60代には政権を渡さないという菅氏の意向を表したものだと説明します。つまり元民主党党首の小沢氏(69)、鳩山氏(64)、内閣官房副長官の仙谷氏(65)には引き継がないという意向です。
「私は、政治家はその責務を貫徹しなければならないと信じている」(6月10日参議院予算委員会での発言)
6月10日首相は参議院予算委員会で次のように述べました。「潔く、という言葉は嫌いではない。しかし私は、政治家はその責務を貫徹しなければならないと信じている。」菅氏は明らかに四人の前任者たちを念頭において話していました。安倍晋三氏、福田康夫氏、麻生太郎氏、そして鳩山氏、全員が一年もたたずに退陣しています。
NIKKEI WEEKLY July 11, 2011 (p.32)
Todai mulling fall start to school year
Country's top academic institution want to be more in sync with universities across the globe
Japan's most prestigious university is considering it's academic year in autumn instead of spring to bring its kalender in line with international norm.
Such a move by the university of Tokyo would have a far-reaching impact on corporates and government recruiting in Japan.
The current system of spring enrollment may last for another 10 years, but won't stand for 50, president Junichi Hamada told Nikkei in an interview.
We should conform to global standard as soon as possible.
The country's top academic institution, widely known as Todai, is expected to make a final decision by the end of the year. The idea is to ease exchange with foreign colleges. If it does refigure its calendar, Today will still maintain its existing entrance exam schedules so as to keep in sync with elementary, junior-high and high schools, and with their adherence to the spring start of the academic year.
This would create a half year gap between high school graduation and university commencement. Todai hopes successful candidates will use that period to gain broader social experiences by studying abroad or volunteering. A working panel led by executive president Takao Shimizu has already begun deliberating the matter.
The big questions have to do with graduation time tables how freshmen spend months after leaving high school in addition to fall commencement. Todai will explore other options. One thought is to keep spring graduation in place by extending the program beyond 4 years. Another idea is to accept freshmen in both spring and fall. Hamada favors a fall switchover with a September or October start to the school year.
Spring based academic years have been fixed in Japan since the Meiji era. But about 80% of universities in the U.S. and Europe start their academic year in September. A difference is said to have pushed down the number of Japanese students studying abroad and delay globalization of Japanese universities.
In 2007, a government panel proposed promoting fall admissions. And 2008, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology relaxed the law to give university president to final say over when to start and end school years.
But to switch to fall start has never flown in Japan. Starting and ending in spring is too deeply rooted here. Everything from government and corporate hiring to civil serving testing is scheduled current school year. This makes Todai's initiative all the more important. Some institution must summon the courage to make the switch, said Nagoya University president Michinari Hamaguchi. If Todai were to take a step forward, firms may change their recruit time tables and high schools may adjust their plans.
Tokyo Institute of Technology is willing to consider similar move. This is an important issue for Tokyo Tech as well. And we need to form a study panel, said president Kenichi Iga. Iga expressed concerns, however, Todai might jump the gun, fall admission should start all at once nationwide, he said.
For their part, Japanese companies might not averse to revamping recruitment schedule, since many are already seeking to hire workers who receive higher education overseas. The Japan Foreign Trade Council last year propounded an idea. For those who finish school 2013 or afterward, company should delay the start of the recruitment by 4 months so that the screening process begins after August.
The proposal has caused stirs both by companies and universities. It remains unclear when Todai would set graduation for students who enroll in Autumn. But the proposal by business organization is expected to fuel discussion over the country's recruitment time table. A move by Todai would likely intensify competition among universities to attract promising young mind. Keio University president Atsushi Seikei welcomed discussion as a bold step, suggesting that university might also consider autumn enrollment.
東大は学年を秋スタートにすることを検討
国のトップ学術機関は世界の大学とのさらなる連携を望んでいます。
日本の最も一流大学は、学年を春に代わり秋にスタートすることを検討しています。それにより、大学の年間カレンダーを国際規格に合わせることができるからです。
東大のこのような動きは、日本の政府や企業の採用に多大な影響を与えます。現在の春入学システムはあと10年は続くでしょうが、50年はもたないでしょう、と学長の濱田純一氏は日経のインタビューで語りました。できるだけ早く世界基準に従わなければなりません。
東大として広く知られている国の最高学術機関は、今年末までに最終的な決断をするとみられています。考えとしては、海外の大学との留学を容易にする、ということです。
もし学事カレンダーを変更したとしても、東大は入学試験の時期は据え置くでしょう。というのは、小学校、中学校、高校と協調するためです。これらは春入学に執着しているからです。
秋スタートをはじめると、高校卒業と大学入学との間に半年間のギャップが生まれることになります。東大は、優秀な学生候補たちに、この時間を使い、海外で勉強をしたりボランティアをするなどして幅広い 見聞を身につけて欲しいと考えています。
副学長清水タカオ氏率いる作業パネルは既にこの課題の検討をはじめています。
大きな問題として卒業の時期と、新入生が高校卒業後にどう時間を過ごすかということです。秋スタートに加えて、東大は他の選択肢も模索しています。一つの考えとしては、期間を4年以上に伸ばすことで、春卒業を維持するというものです。その他の考えとして新入生を春と秋どちらも受け入れるというものがあります。ハマダ氏は9月か10月にスタートする完全な切り替えを望んでいます。
春を基準とする学年は明治時代以来日本では固定されています。しかしアメリカやヨーロッパの大学の約80%はその学年を9月にスタートさせています。その違いにより、海外で勉強する日本人学生の数は減少し、日本の大学のグローバル化が遅れていると言われています。
2007年に政府の委員会は秋入学促進を提案しました。そして2008年には、文部科学省は学年の開始と終了に関して、学長に最終的な権限を与えることができるよう、法律を緩和しました。しかし日本で秋スタートは決して起こりませんでした。春に学年がはじまり、終わることはここではあまりにも深く根付いているのです。政府、企業、公務員採用試験すべてが現存の学年に基づいてスケジュールされています。
これにより、東大の先導の重要性はさらに増しています。どこかの大学が転換する勇気を奮い起こすべきです。と名古屋大学学長の浜口みちなり氏述べています。もし、東大が前進すれば、企業は採用スケジュールを変更し、高校はそれにあわせて調整を行うでしょう。
東京工科大はこれに似た動きの検討を歓迎しています。これは東京工科大にとっても重要な課題です。これについて研究するパネルを発足させなければいけません。と、学長の伊賀健一氏ははなしています。
しかしながら、伊賀氏は東大が抜けがけをするという懸念を表明しています。秋入学は全国一斉に行われなければなりません、と彼は述べています。
これに関して、日本企業は採用スケジュールを刷新することを嫌がっている様子はありません。というのは、多くの企業が、海外でより高い教育を受けた人々を既に採用しているからです。
日本貿易会は、ある名案を提起しました。2013年かその後に卒業する学生の採用に関して、企業は4ヶ月採用を遅らせなければいけない、という提案です。これにより選考過程は8月以降にはじまることになります。
この提案は企業と大学双方に物議をかもしました。
東大が秋入学の学生に対する卒業をいつに設定するかはまだ不明確です。しかし経済団体からの提案は、この国の採用スケジュールに関する議論を燃え上がらせるとみられています。
東大の動きは将来有望な若者をひきつける大学間での競争を激化させるようです。慶応大学学長の清家篤氏はこの議論を勇気ある一歩として歓迎しています。そして私立大学もまた秋入学の検討が必要と示唆しています。
NIKKEI WEEKLY July 18, 2011 (p.2)
Haphazard policies imperil Japan
Kan’s short-on-detail nuclear shift reminiscent of arbitrary politics in troubled developingnations.
Japanese businesses say that their biggest headache stemming from the government response to the nuclear crisis is difficulty in planning for investment and recruitment.
With the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant causing electricity shortages, many manufactures announced plans about two months ago to shift production to the western Kansai region and other parts of the country. But now the power pinch appears to be more of an issue in Kansai than elsewhere.
Certainly, in the early days of the crisis, no one could have imaged possibility that all 54 of Japan’s nuclear reactors might be off-line by next spring. Without offering a convincing solution to power conundrum, Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a news conference July 13 that Japan should strive to become a society that does not depend on nuclear power.
Kan remained vague on when idle-for-inspection reactors will be restarted. And without backing himself up with figures, he said in-house electricity generation and power-saving measures will be enough to make up for the power shortages.
But more crucially, Kan made no reference to the higher costs that would result from his proposed policy shift, inviting accusations that he and his close aides cobbled scheme together on an ad hoc basis.
The Fukushima disaster shattered the myth of nuclear power safety, making fundamental review of energy policy imperative. To be sure, the government’s old plan to almost double Japan’s reliance on nuclear power by 2030, to 53% of its electricity needs, is now unrealistic. It is essential to drastically increase the use of renewable energy sources like the wind and the sun, while also finding innovative ways to reduce overall power
consumption.
To revamp the nation’s energy policy, a multilateral approach will be necessary. Issues such as safety, costs, supply stability and securing of domestic energy sources must be studied from a range of prospective.
The government should work out how to hold down the costs that go hand in hand with stepped-up use of renewables. It also needs to make considered judgments on the cost of nuclear power generation, including the treatment of spent nuclear fuel.
Deliberations on various energy sources have to be comprehensive and not geared toward preset conclusion. The debate should also involve experts from a cross section of fields.
Keeping the conversation confined to nuclear power insiders and others with vested interests, as in the past, will hardly enable a thorough review of energy policy. Experts in renewable energy and other new technologies such as smart grid, should also have seats at the table.
Japanese companies are struggling to cope with harsh conditions, such as high corporate taxes and strong yen. With many other nations trying to lure foreign companies their way, Japanese businesses concerned about electricity shortages and higher operating costs may opt to shift operations overseas at a faster rate than expected.
Kan, meanwhile, has shown a tendency to throw away his toys after he has played with them. Not so long ago, he put forward proposals with significant consequences for the nation, such as a hike in the consumption tax to 10%. He also recommended that Japan take part in talks to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multination free trade agreement.Yet he has not acted on any of these ideas.
Procrastination has prevented the compilation of a proper budget for post-disaster reconstruction. Government officers are practically paralyzed by the uncertainty over the direction Kan is dragging his administration and when he will finally step down.
The government’s haphazard policy making is reminiscent of governments in troubled developing countries. Repeated adoption of ad hoc policies will lead to Japanese politics being written off as third-rate.
Japan has many problems, including a graying population and fiscal deterioration. Continued political dysfunction will bring the nation to its knees. will bring the nation to its knees.
Haphazard policies imperil Japan
Kan’s short-on-detail nuclear shift reminiscent of arbitrary politics in troubled developingnations.
Japanese businesses say that their biggest headache stemming from the government response to the nuclear crisis is difficulty in planning for investment and recruitment.
With the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant causing electricity shortages, many manufactures announced plans about two months ago to shift production to the western Kansai region and other parts of the country. But now the power pinch appears to be more of an issue in Kansai than elsewhere.
Certainly, in the early days of the crisis, no one could have imaged possibility that all 54 of Japan’s nuclear reactors might be off-line by next spring. Without offering a convincing solution to power conundrum, Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a news conference July 13 that Japan should strive to become a society that does not depend on nuclear power.
Kan remained vague on when idle-for-inspection reactors will be restarted. And without backing himself up with figures, he said in-house electricity generation and power-saving measures will be enough to make up for the power shortages.
But more crucially, Kan made no reference to the higher costs that would result from his proposed policy shift, inviting accusations that he and his close aides cobbled scheme together on an ad hoc basis.
The Fukushima disaster shattered the myth of nuclear power safety, making fundamental review of energy policy imperative. To be sure, the government’s old plan to almost double Japan’s reliance on nuclear power by 2030, to 53% of its electricity needs, is now unrealistic. It is essential to drastically increase the use of renewable energy sources like the wind and the sun, while also finding innovative ways to reduce overall power
consumption.
To revamp the nation’s energy policy, a multilateral approach will be necessary. Issues such as safety, costs, supply stability and securing of domestic energy sources must be studied from a range of prospective.
The government should work out how to hold down the costs that go hand in hand with stepped-up use of renewables. It also needs to make considered judgments on the cost of nuclear power generation, including the treatment of spent nuclear fuel.
Deliberations on various energy sources have to be comprehensive and not geared toward preset conclusion. The debate should also involve experts from a cross section of fields.
Keeping the conversation confined to nuclear power insiders and others with vested interests, as in the past, will hardly enable a thorough review of energy policy. Experts in renewable energy and other new technologies such as smart grid, should also have seats at the table.
Japanese companies are struggling to cope with harsh conditions, such as high corporate taxes and strong yen. With many other nations trying to lure foreign companies their way, Japanese businesses concerned about electricity shortages and higher operating costs may opt to shift operations overseas at a faster rate than expected.
Kan, meanwhile, has shown a tendency to throw away his toys after he has played with them. Not so long ago, he put forward proposals with significant consequences for the nation, such as a hike in the consumption tax to 10%. He also recommended that Japan take part in talks to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multination free trade agreement.Yet he has not acted on any of these ideas.
Procrastination has prevented the compilation of a proper budget for post-disaster reconstruction. Government officers are practically paralyzed by the uncertainty over the direction Kan is dragging his administration and when he will finally step down.
The government’s haphazard policy making is reminiscent of governments in troubled developing countries. Repeated adoption of ad hoc policies will lead to Japanese politics being written off as third-rate.
Japan has many problems, including a graying population and fiscal deterioration. Continued political dysfunction will bring the nation to its knees. will bring the nation to its knees.