MikeT said...

MikeT at 09:46 AM JST - 6th June

“It is a zero-emission vehicle. It does not rely on oil, which is different from hybrid cars”

A clever choice of words, but generally miss-leading "it does not rely on oil." Because we leave that to the power generating utilities, which use over 60% of oil and other fossil fuels…

Posted in Mitsubishi unveils Y4.59 mil electric car at 09:46 AM JST - 6th June
MikeT at 07:20 PM JST - 30th May

Bonym - assuming you don't believe the Nikkei is in on the conspiracy, this is quote from their newspaper about 3 weeks ago: "...In addition, the reactor's return will help Japan's efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Because the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station accounts for 17% of the total power…

Posted in Global warming to cause Y17 tril damage to Japan annually: study at 07:20 PM JST - 30th May
MikeT at 05:50 PM JST - 30th May

bonym - were your comments based on any research?

"The main mystery being, how the hell did Japans co2 readings actually increase during the target dates for the protocol"

Just for starters, the worlds largest nuclear power station, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant was closed for almost two years due…

Posted in Global warming to cause Y17 tril damage to Japan annually: study at 05:50 PM JST - 30th May
MikeT at 01:38 PM JST - 30th May

Realist, guess it depends how we define our geographic areas, old Tokyo "City", Tokyo Prefecture, or the "Greater Tokyo Area." In the case of Tokyo Prefecture, the additional 4 million people, would only need the ostrich to leave his head in the sand an extra 2 weeks... The most urgent…

Posted in Global warming to cause Y17 tril damage to Japan annually: study at 01:38 PM JST - 30th May
MikeT at 12:44 PM JST - 30th May

Marsnairb - I assume you have some scientific research to normalize the weather cycles of the past 100,000yrs with the population changes of the past 50years, and the associated man made CO2 increases. Between 10,000BC and 1,000AD, a total of 11,000 years, the world’s population grew by approximately 200million people.…

Posted in Global warming to cause Y17 tril damage to Japan annually: study at 12:44 PM JST - 30th May
MikeT at 11:57 AM JST - 28th March

Great, so I assume if I fudge my taxes for 31 months that the Ministry will take the same lenient approach that I 'had no intention of cheating the system'!...

Posted in Ministries fail to disclose disciplinary steps against officials at 11:57 AM JST - 28th March
MikeT at 10:49 AM JST - 19th November

Some14some, if you are arguing that subsidized gas stations should be a public service? Surely better to invest that subsidy in discounted electric vehicles, local biomass power generation and micro ethanol plants. Then these rural areas could utilize local agricultural waste to generate green power and turn unused rice that…

Posted in 153 localities in Japan may lose gas stations due to dwindling population at 10:49 AM JST - 19th November
MikeT at 11:42 AM JST - 10th June

I also feel something close to anger that METI appoints senior officials who do not understand basic economics, nor do they show any understanding of the industry they are commentating on. Global demand for oil products increases, supply is almost fixed, thanks to OPEC, and years of underinvestment in basic…

Posted in METI official raps oil speculators at 11:42 AM JST - 10th June
MikeT at 09:46 AM JST - 10th June

I was able to convert my UK car licence with no drama, just doing the local paperwork & didn't need to go to school. However I convert get an automatic conversion for my large motorbike licence, so I choose Koyama to take my Japanese oogata licence. They aren't cheap but…

Posted in Driving lessons available for foreigners at 09:46 AM JST - 10th June
MikeT at 09:50 AM JST - 1st May

Proxy, it does add up, if you add in the extra Y7 cost + consumption tax, rise in the TOCOM gasoline price index over the past month, that wasn't passed on. At 149.1 the gas stations are basically not even covering their costs. At that level the retailer is making…

Posted in Gas stations hike prices by roughly 30 yen at 09:50 AM JST - 1st May