Wednesday February 15, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

nigelboy's past comments

1

nigelboyFeb. 04, 2012 - 02:05AM JST

Virtually every part of their business has become second-rate. And, respectfully, that is not Stringer's fault.

Classic!!!!!

When every part of the their business has become second rate under his/her helm, it's not the fault of a CEO. You have just redefined the role of a CEO.

Posted in: Sony is forecasting a 220 billion yen loss for fiscal 2011, its 4th straight year of red ink despite massive cost cuts and restructuring efforts in recent years. What do you think are the main reasons for Sony's decline?
0

nigelboyFeb. 04, 2012 - 01:06AM JST

Here is a video of radiation being in Tokyo

Just like the Setagaya incident, it only goes to show that people were living under these conditions for many many years without any negative health effects.

Unless of course you decide to sit, eat, and sleep alongside the roadside gutter for 24 hours a day.... (sigh)

Getting tired of these geiger counter carrying mobs.

Posted in: Chernobyl experts hopeful on Fukushima
0

nigelboyFeb. 04, 2012 - 12:47AM JST

-- it's quite clear that I know when you succeed in declaring bankruptcy you do not pay back that which you owed beforehand.

Dear smith.

Your quote is as follows

"now they don't have to pay back any of the debt they forfeited on since they are making major profits? "

Declaring buankruptcy, in this case, a restructuring, does not mean you automatically forfeit (give up) the debt you owe. It simply means that the debt is on hold for creditors to where they cannot take recourse during the period of restructuring. To put it simply, they (as in JAL) will have to pay back the debt. Since they are no longer under bankruptcy, JAL in fact has paid the so-called bail out money from the government.

From Mainichi

"経営再建中の日本航空は２８日、東京地裁から、会社更生手続きの終結決定を受けたと発表した。金融機関１１行から約２５５０億円の融資を受け、破綻（はたん）後も残る借金約３９５０億円を一括返済。"

Basically, it states that 11 banks gave JAL a loan at a collective amount of 255 billion yen along with their own cash infusion to pay off the outstanding amount of 395 billion yen. (of which 350 billion yen was from ETIC Japan i.e. government)

Anyone with their head screwed on properly would be upset that their tax money went towards bailing out a company who could not pay their debts, only to see them turn that into a major profit while STILL price-gouging the customers. Sure, fuel costs money, and those costs are rising, in particular with problems in the Middle East, but not as much as they are raising the fuel surcharge! But hey, if it suits your fancy jump up and click your heels over paying more on top of what you paid them in tax money.

As I alluded in the previous paragraph, the money that was infused by the government is paid off. Secondly, your statement " but not as much as they are raising the fuel surcharge!" are based nothing but your subjective view of what the price range should be (i.e. wishful thinking as a consumer with very limited knowledge) and not what the industry can actually absorb based on the current climate.

Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
-2

nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 01:13PM JST

Elvensilvan

I'm quite aware. But it appears most posters are not. That's why I emphasized raw milk in parenthesis.

Posted in: Dairy association to test products for radiation
-4

nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 01:08PM JST

Smith. Rhetorical? I doubt it very much. I just don't understand why you would be upset that JAL would turn a profit?? Would you be happy if they are at a loss and if so, why??

Airlines are very susceptive to fuel costs. In fact, both Delta and Northwest filed for bankruptcy because of the lack of recourse for increased volatile fuel costs. So if you want to complain about the current level of air fare, you might want to target a different collusion. (I.e cartel)

Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
-1

nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 12:10PM JST

Good point Himajin.

Let's not also forget the fact that the spread was so far that mushroom from Italy was over the guidelines.

Posted in: Chernobyl experts hopeful on Fukushima
-2

nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 12:04PM JST

The Japan Dairy Association HAS BEEN TESTING "raw milk" since March of last year. Those test results can be found on their website separated by dates and prefectures. You can start with "Q&A" which answers most if the concerns raised by above posters.

Back to regular programming.

Posted in: Dairy association to test products for radiation
0

nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 10:26AM JST

Lose about 50lbs, turn off your air conditioner, and get out of LA. There is your 50mpg you were seeking for.

Posted in: California woman wins suit over Honda hybrid mileage per gallon
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nigelboyFeb. 03, 2012 - 09:58AM JST

and now they don't have to pay back any of the debt they forfeited on since they are making major profits?

That's not how it works, smitty. You're confused with liquidation versus reorganization.

Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
-1

nigelboyFeb. 02, 2012 - 02:45AM JST

They should have admitted they were going to be that far off well before now.

uuum. They did.

http://www.toshibatec.co.jp/ir/material/news/

That is why U.S. companies are required to file QUARTERLY updates and projections.

uhhmm. Same in Japan as well.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%BA%E7%AE%97%E7%9F%AD%E4%BF%A1#.E5.9B.9B.E5.8D.8A.E6.9C.9F.E6.B1.BA.E7.AE.97.E7.9F.AD.E4.BF.A1

The operative word here is 四半期決算短信

Posted in: Toshiba profit dives 70%
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nigelboyFeb. 02, 2012 - 01:56AM JST

Great management. They just now, on Feruary 1st, figured out that their profit for the year ending the end of NEXT month will be down 33% from their forecast. Japanese companies and boards are a joke.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that their original forecast was announced in May of 2011. A lot of things happened including but not limited to high yen against not only the dollar but the Euro, Thai flooding, and Euro crisis which resulted in spike of long term interest rates for several nations.

Posted in: Toshiba profit dives 70%
0

nigelboyFeb. 02, 2012 - 12:30AM JST

In Japan? You take your girl to places where they don't expect you to pay at the cash desk by the door? In the few times I've been to top class joints, I've never had the waiter bring the change to the table.

Cleo.

I find NetNinja's post puzzling as well.

Posted in: What do you think of the quality of waiters in Japanese restaurants?
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nigelboyFeb. 02, 2012 - 12:19AM JST

Not this again but here it goes.

I like the fact that you can order your food/drinks to any waiter/waiteress that walk by your table without getting the "that's not my table" remark.

I hate it when they stick to a script they cannot veer from if the customer asks a difficult question or can't understand them. I accidentally made a young woman cry when I first came to Japan and visited a McDonald's because I couldn't understand the word "以上" and she literally froze and kept repeating it until she burst into tears?

Poor girl. Using the phrase "以上でしょうか”is equivalent to "is that all?"　It's not a "script". Look at it this way. How do you EXPLAIN the phrase "is that all?" to a customer that doesn't speak English?

Posted in: What do you think of the quality of waiters in Japanese restaurants?
-1

nigelboyFeb. 01, 2012 - 11:54PM JST

You see, when Japan was at war with China in 1885, the same year you speak of, this war called the first Sino-Japanese war

False. First Sino-Japanese war started in 1894. In 1885, nine years prior, Tatsushiro Koga had already established a small fishing port and a dried bonito plant there with the approval from the Japanese government.

Posted in: China protests Japan's plan to name disputed islands
-3

nigelboyFeb. 01, 2012 - 11:43PM JST

Cletus

We went over this. 48 nations agreed to put some of the territories under trusteeship where U.S. was the sole administrator. To make it easier for you, the 48 nations agreed to let the U.S. do whatever in regard to these territories. The said territories were subsequently returned via Agreement between Japan and the United States of America Concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands which refers to the Article 3 of the Peace Treaty. Hence, under Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties on interpretation of treaties, the 48 nations who are signatories to the Treaty accepted the return of the territories to Japan.

Oh and as for your assertion about China's claim starting in 1971 you are in fact correct. It started when and because the US "gave" the islands to Japan and this is when Japan and Taiwan raised their objections

Thanks for agreeing to the fact that China kept silent for 86 years to start. Secondly, then please explain to me that in 1953, China's newspaper "Peoples Daily", they indicated the said territories as "Senkaku" and indicated as part of the Ryukyu islets? Also explain to me that in 1958, their map issued in Beijing also labeled it as "Senkaku" and indicated as Japanese territory?

Posted in: China protests Japan's plan to name disputed islands
2

nigelboyFeb. 01, 2012 - 06:05AM JST

Japan's debt at 1% and the financial instiutions still buying them in bunches just means it's a net sum zero game on Japan's balance sheet. Majority of the pensions that are paid to the senior citizens simply goes to their respective savings account which in turn is invested by these financial institutions to buy more 1% debt. It's a deflatinary cycle within its own house that will not cause a "bankruptcy" for that only happens when Japan can no longer raise money within their own peoples. A worst case scenario would be for Japan to simply print more yen to pay off the yen denominated debt which will cause inflation to an extent but consumption tax is literally the same thing because it will raise prices.

Posted in: IMF urges Japan to triple consumption tax to reduce debt
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nigelboyFeb. 01, 2012 - 05:32AM JST

So Japan claims these islands (how many countries recognise and support this claim? very few if any), and Japan deliberately provokes the other nations that claim these islands as well by declaring that they will name them.

Signatories to Treaty of Peace with Japan to start. Who other than China officially supports China's claim?

Posted in: China protests Japan's plan to name disputed islands
-1

nigelboyFeb. 01, 2012 - 05:30AM JST

Its rather telling that China gets a whole lot ot flak for its land claims, but the pro-Japan side does not want to talk about the details of Japan's claim to these islands at all. In other words, they are desperate to change the subject with a "Hey! Lookee over there!". They sure don't want to talk about Liancourt Rocks or the Kurils. The hypocrisy might kill us all...through laughter!

Incorporated in Jan of 1895. Not a single complaint from neighbors until 1971. Anything else you want to whine?

Posted in: China protests Japan's plan to name disputed islands
0

nigelboyJan. 31, 2012 - 07:18AM JST

So, my answer is. What is happening with you japanese? You have the best technology, but even though you can't assemble anymore? It is time to wake up, to change. Lets to it.

Japan has advanced to where large assembly factories are no longer profitable. Those are reserved for developing countries where competetitive advantage can be utilized due to low labor costs.

And oginome is correct. Korea has a LARGEST trade deficit with Japan. This is simple because Korea relies heavily on parts/compenents derived from advanced manufacturing of Japan.

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111221-00000049-yonh-kr

Posted in: Japan losing its manufacturing edge to South Korea
-17

nigelboyJan. 23, 2012 - 06:03PM JST

Hindsight is and always will be 20/20.

If any of the posters predicted this and actually posted something to this before the fact, I would agree that person can claim lack of common sense to the Japanese government. For the rest..... Hindsight is always 20/20.

Posted in: Radioactive crushed stone may have been used in over 80 buildings, METI says