JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
-
- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
-
- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
0
dontpanic
The price indicated in the article relates to Japan only. Mazda will charge more for export markets, generally competitively against other product available locally.
Posted in: Mazda upgrades Premacy
0
dontpanic
"My, my, my we've really touched a nerve, haven't we. "
Only in as much as you're panic mongering based on a bit of conjecture and your own prejudice.
"tell us all why there have been 147 cases of Typhoid in a first world country in 2002"
Already did, but for your benefit its the same reason there are around 400 American cases per year, because people travel to the Indian subcontinent and take it back.
Posted in: Britain braces for 100,000 swine flu cases a day
0
dontpanic
So from the UK governments advice for people to sneeze into tissues and be sure to wash their hands you interpret they're fighting a public and personal hygiene crisis? Sounds more like you're overeacting.
Typhoid infections are hardly going to be announced, but they are reported. On a very quick scan of the web I understand there were 147 cases in the UK in 2002, 101 were acquired abroad with a recent increase in cases put down to people not being vaccinated prior to travel. I wouldnt call that common and certainly not evidence of a personal hygiene crisis.
The UK is a densly populated country with people in close proximity, particularly on public transport. It is inevitable that swine flu is spreading there as it is everwhere. The 100,000 a day infection rate is up there because someone did some mathematical modelling and it makes a good headline.
Posted in: Britain braces for 100,000 swine flu cases a day
0
dontpanic
LIBERTAS - "Much of this spread of this infection in the UK has got to be related to poor personal and public hygiene"
Thats a pretty big generalisation. Typhoid outbreaks in the UK are extremely rare and are almost always traced back to someone returning from a visit to the Indian subcontinent where the disease is carried in food or water contaminated with human waste. If the outbreak was in Wembley, the demographics would suggest this is likely.
But back to swine flu. You're right, good personal hygiene will help reduce the risk of contracting the disease but your post looks more like an excuse to take a cheap shot at the UK. Did they upset you while you were there?
Posted in: Britain braces for 100,000 swine flu cases a day
0
dontpanic
"the competition, mainly north american, produces quality vehicles."
"Plain and simple, American car makers build the best cars in the world"
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.....
Posted in: Japan auto production tumbles again in May
0
dontpanic
"Your argument is like saying "we have cars so there is no need to have any public transport"
No, its actually like saying we can farm animals humanely, there is no need to hunt and torture to death wild animals that are under pressure.
"OK, you are nice and polite so I'll continue as well"
Its a pleasure to be patronised by someone with so much regard for life and conservation. "Removing the moratorium won't change the economicality of it. Japan's coastal whalers are harvesting their quotas, so unless they are running at a loss out of foolish pride I think it's clearly economical"
The economics do change if restrictions are relaxed and quotas increased. The whole point of maintaining a heavily subsidised whaling fleet is to return to commercial whaling. In a freer marketplace it may well be that they dont get as much per kilo. The pressure is then on to make it pay by taking more.
"I don't know what figures you are looking at, but they are evidently very very stale."
A review of recent research of Norwegian whale killing and japanese JARPA hunts by Andy Butterworth of the University of Bristol Clinical Veterinary Science, Somerset, UK.
Percentage of whales requiring use of secondary methods: Norway 1999 57%, 2000 43%, 2001 45% - Japan 1998/99 60.7%, 2000/01 63%, 2001/02 68.4%.
Published in May 2006 however using data more recent than that quoted by you. The secondary method used is a rifle and mean bullets used is 2.2.
"if there are legal sources of the product on the market at reasonable prices then there will be no financial incentive to bother going the illegal route anyway."
The financial incentive is a return on considerable investment. Sell more and you improve your return. Its not unheard of in the industry to mask one product as another. Random DNA sampling would and does miss the majority of illegaly sold product.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
You may have gone but I'll still address your points.
"You need scientific advice based on actual data in order to even know what would likely be sustainable"
To know what would be sustainable yes, but the Japanese operation is not a native fishing operation, cash plays a major part in it and would inevitabely determine how many are taken.
As to the rest of that paragraph, read it again and ask yourself if you havent made yourself look a little silly.
"More than half die instantaneously when modern methods are used."
Not true. Look up the evidence from the Norwegian and Icelandic operations. Average instant kill rate is less than 50%, average time to death 4 minutes and up to 50.
The measure for a kill is when the whale stops moving. As`we all know animals can continue to live after they stop moning. Whales can even be concious as the slicing operations start.
"Even without the moratorium it would still be the case that most die naturally."
The moratorium was put in place to stop whalers taking to the point of extinction. How does that stack up with the above statement? or are you saying populations were in decline anyway and whaling was incidental? But then that wouldnt expalin the recovery in numbers, would it?
"Russia and Korea can hunt Baird's beaked whales already (they choose not to), so your point is mute."
At the moment they dont hunt Bairds beaked whales because its uneconomical. Korea is already looking to start. Opening the market in Japan is very likey to make the numbers stack up. Moot, I dont think so.
"These people do the best with what they have available to them in their environment. It doesn't make sense to punish whalers with good modern techniques available because people in other parts of the world have poorer techniques"
I havent advocated an end to subsistence whaling, I advocate an end to the commercial torture and exploitation of species recently brought to the edge of extinction when there is no good reason to do so.
"Because the only thing you appear to care about is how "well" they are killed."
It only appears that way to you because you've choosen to ignore what doesnt fit the bill.
"The problem with tuna is that the international organizations aren't making science based decisions."
The problem with tuna management is that quotas are ignored.
"The only issue is appropriate regulations to ensure that all players stick to their quotas. And whales are not like sardines, such regaulations could be agreed easily if there was the will to do so."
There are already appropriate regulations in place but Norway and Iceleand choose to ignore them and Japan to circumvent them. The only way to ensure anyone sticks to a quota is to have a zero quota and then any that appears for sale is more easily spotted and instantly recognisable as illegal.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
davidattokyo - "resources that are available on a sustainable basis."
The only concrete info is that theyre there. How you fish determines whether it's sustainable or not.
"Past mistakes are not an indication of future mistakes."
Except where those mistakes continue to be current mistakes. Japan bears a massive responsibility to the current state of Blue Fin Tuna stocks.
"That is not an argument to forgoe all sustainable use of natural resources"
Never said it was. It's you that inexplicably pointed out a need to reduce reliance on farming.
"The main three whaling nations all use penthrite grenade harpoons which have excellent efficiency compared with methods used by yesterday's whalers."
Statistically increasing instant kill efficiency to less that 50% can be called excellent when compared to netting, cold harpooning and older black powder grenade harpoons. But it is still nowhere near acceptable when more than half the kill dies slowly, bloodied and terrorised.
"You don't seem to care much for farm animals"
What makes you say that? The fact that I believe food animals can be farmed outside of a cage? Surely that indicates I do care. However in addition to good animal welfare in life your humanity should determine whether or not torturing your food to death is acceptable. Mine says no, I think most would agree.
"Most die of non-anthropogenic causes."
Because of the moratorium!!
"They won't be "competing", they will be "cooperating"
Read selling product to Japan. Russia and Korea will still be taking the same whales, just from different hunting grounds, pressure on the unknown numbers of (in this instance) Bairds whale will be increased.
"further afield Norway and Iceland
Japan does not hunt in the same areas and I doubt they ever will."
Really? The Japanese fleet goes to the Southern Ocean because thats where the whales are. Common sense indicates fleets go where the fishing is best. Japanese fishing fleets can and do operate globally and in my experience the Japanese have a great deal of common sense.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
"And just how are they going to catch the whales without the regulators noticing"
Dont be naive. It goes on all the time and its not difficult. Its hard to keep an eye on the whalers, as youre aware Sea Shepherd were actively looking for them but couldnt keep an eye on the fleet all the time. The seas are impossible to police.
Dolphin has been passed off on the Japanese market as whale meat in the past. The only way to know is by exhaustively taking samples and testing. In those circumstances how hard do you think it is to cover up an overfish?
"Why?"
Because there's money in it.
Posted in: Whaling talks stuck on compromise deal
0
dontpanic
davidattokyo - "I don't think there is a proper substitute for freedom"
Well there has to be, unfortunately there isnt enough wildlife to feed the world.
"The argument is whether sustainable marine resource utilisation should be permitted or not. I say it should. The greater degree to which we sustainably utilise natural, free ranging resources, the greater degree we can reduce our reliance on farming activities."
You make two points there, sustainable marine resource utilisation should be permitted. Unfortunately, especially in the case of whaling, we've been tested on how well we can sustainably utilise that particular resource and found wanting.
Your point on reducing our reliance on farming activities is madness. The worlds population is way beyond what can be sustained by hunting and gathering.
"The chance of having a quick death in the case of being harpooned is still much higher than the chance of having a messy one"
Cold harpooning and netting are methods that can take hours to kill a whale. Even when hit with a Penthride grenade harpoon there is a less than 50% chance of instant death. This is not deer hunting.
"I think it is not rational to focus solely on the killing method and ignore the rest of the animal's welfare."
Im not, as I've already said its not necesary to cage farm animals. But once you've raised the animal, its either going to feed you or provide you an income, you owe it a quick, painless, terror free death. Whales dont get that opportunity.
"Big picture - I think everyone would agree with me on this point (even if they may still find other reasons to oppose whaling)"
I disagree, even if were were solely talking about how whales die I believe most would agree with me that they want their food killed instantly and without fear. To me its irrational to want anything other than decent standards of animal welfare.
Bigger picture, should the whaling nations finally get agreement on a return to commercial whaling, you will find that there are a lot more whaling nations than anticipated. Around its own coastal waters Japan will be competing with Korea and Russia and further afield Norway and Iceland (unless stopped by the EU) will act in support of their industries. The competition that will be created for an already limited resource will see neither your nor my vision come to fruition.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
davidattokyo - So you agree with me that the "authorities" have their own agenda, thats a start.
Its not necesary to keep food animals in batteries, and it is possible to give them a good life until they are despatched with as little fear and pain as possible. But lets be honest your justification is simply an attempt to steer the argumant according to your agenda, I'm sure you dont live exlusively on whale and other free roaming wild animals.
The bigger picture is, its not necesary to fish, hunt, farm or industrialise the planet into oblivion. We can all get a decent standard of living while managing our resources thoughtfully and how we obtain food is part of that. Currently whale meat is not required to survive, its a nice to have item. In those circumstances I would apply very strict controls, I certainly wouldnt allow hunting of at risk (possibly tainted) species and I would not advocate any cull with an instant kill rate of less than 50%.
Lets remember, animals dont get the opportunity to represent themselves and cannot say whether or not they appreciate the humaneness of the method of despatch. Ask yourself the question, its going to happen, do I want it quick and painless, or over a perod of 4 to 50 minutes, paralysed and in pain?
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
davidattokyo - "in any case Japanese authorities are permitting the whaling, as is evident in this article"
A good bale out position but we all know the "authorities" and those behind them whoever they may be, generally act in their own best interests.
"Humane killing" of animals is an oxymoron"
Is it? It seems to me that despatching our food animals with consideration for their pain and fear is the least respect we can pay. Where's the contradiction? Im glad you at least consider animal welfare during life. Its a shame you casually disregard it at death.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
We can obfuscate all day long but whether we're talking whaling in the Southern Ocean or small scale commercial coastal whaling, theres such a paucity of published results theres no indication any management is going on. And whether you dipute that or not, one thing is for certain, neither are subsistance hunts and do not do so humanely.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
"If that's the case then your original statement is wrong - but you made it anyway?"
What? That the whales will be brutalised until they die, dont think so. Or do you refer to my use of the mean length data? If its wrong, then its no more wrong than your statement "We do have an idea of the numbers from research. (Of course, we would always like to have better information.)"
"Absolute certainty in numbers is not a requirement for sustainable management"
Dont know if absolute certainty is required or not, but it seems to me that if even you concede the need for better information theres little management going on.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
davidattokyo - The data I refer to is also from the Japanese catch which in any case is too small to be representative. If it contradicts your data it simply reinforces the fact that no-one knows the population of the Bairds beaked whale. You simply cant claim sustainability if you cant count the population.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
"For the record the 26 whales will not all be eaten as sashimi."
Well that makes all the difference then eh?
"Research is done on the numbers, and conservative quotas are set in light of that"
No-one knows the numbers, how can you set quotas on that?
"Which research shows this?"
Look it up.
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
Thats 26 whales to be brutalised until death in the name of a plate of sashimi. Enjoy the taste of fear.
It's good that Watanabe san realises we live at the cost of precious lives, but as these whales are so rare no one knows how many exist, who knows just how precious?
Note the mean body length of the slow maturing female whales (theyre the biggest, the ones you aim for) is going down. Does that hint theyre having to take younger, less mature whales?
Posted in: Japan whaling town gets season's first catch
0
dontpanic
sf2k - I think youve misunderstood the meaning of grid connected vehicle. GCV essentially refers to vehicles that are connected to the electricity grid somehow, such as plug-in hybrids or plug-in battery cars. There is currently no way to connect any vehicle to the electricity grid while it's moving and I know of no research to do so. Unless someone can show otherwise?
Your points on the limitations of lithium are very valid though. In my opinion the way forward long term is to involve the oil companies in installing a hydrogen infrastructure so that we can switch to fuel cell vehicles and continue to motor in much the same way as we do now.
Posted in: Toyota gets 180,000 orders for new Prius hybrid
0
dontpanic
Bars, hotels, conference centres, trainers, marketers, event organisers, anyone that wants to present deecnt images to the larger audience really.
Posted in: Panasonic develops 85-inch full HD plasma display
0
dontpanic
Theres only one way to put a stop to this. I'll have to visit.
Posted in: Foreign nudists flock to Gunma hot spring resort