Japan Support thread

[Aegis DDG]

The decline of Japan's Confucian culture is tragic
@Chinese-DragonWhat do you think?

 

[tesla]

Turkey-Japan Relations
Turkey and Japan, which are situated on the western and eastern banks of the Historical Silk Route, share strong bonds of friendship deep-rooted in history. The longstanding friendship between the two nations is based, among other things, on shared traditions and cultural values, which have survived through the ages despite the geographical distance separating the two countries.

The first known official relations between Turkey and Japan were initiated more than a century ago. Since then, the friendly relations between the two countries have steadily grown and reached remarkable levels of cooperation in various fields. The visit in 1887 of the nephew of Emperor Meiji, Prince Akihito Komatsu to Turkey marked the inaugural step in relations between Turkey and Japan in modern times. Prince Komatsu was received in an audience by the Ottoman Emperor and presented him a message of good will from Emperor Meiji.

In 1890, Ottoman Emperor Sultan Abdulhamit the Second sent a message in return to Emperor Meiji to reciprocate his gesture. The message of Sultan Abdulhamit the Second was delivered to Emperor Meiji by Admiral Osman Pasha who sailed to Japan on this special mission on board of a ship of the Ottoman Navy, the Ertugrul Frigate, thus becoming the first Ottoman Envoy to Japan .

Yet, on his voyage back home after successfully accomplishing his emission, the Ertugrul Frigate sunk off the coast of Ooshima (Kushimoto), Wakayama Prefecture on 16 September 1890 due to a severe typhoon. On the orders of the Japanese Emperor, the surviving 69 of the total 609 crew of the Frigate were sent back to Istanbul with two Japanese navy vessels. This tragedy, however, constituted a strong base on which the mutual understanding and friendly relations between Turkey and Japan develop.For more information about Ertugrul Frigate, please click here. For information on a project which begun to explore the wreck of the Frigate, please click here (in Turkish).

Following the foundation of Republic of Turkey, diplomatic relations between two countries were established in 1924. Turkey and Japan opened their Embassies in Tokyo and Ankara respectively in 1925.

The current chancery and residence of the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo was designed by Mr. Kenzo Tange (1914-2005), famous Japanese architect.


For more information about Turkey-Japan political and economic relations, please visitwww.mfa.gov.tr and www.mofa.go.jp .

For more information about economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Japan, please visit http://www.hmtokyo.jp and http://www.musavirlikler.gov.tr .

 

[usernameless]

Japan's Next Big Trend Could Be "Neo Gals"

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Pink hair. Ripped jeans. Bling. Meet Japan's "Neo Gals," part Americana, part Tokyo, and lots and lots of bleach. P

During the 1990s, "gal" (ギャルor gyaru) fashion was in vogue with the nation's youth, with young women tanning their skin, dying their hair brown, and wearing impossible platform shoes. Now, as one of Japan's biggest morning shows Mezamashi TV points out, this generation has "Neo Gal" (ネオギャル or neo gyaru). P

[Photo: NxYmg]P

As noted on screen in the above image, the "pop icon" (ポップアイコン) of this trend is fashion designer, DJ, and model Alisa Ueno. [Photos: AlisaUeno/Instagram]P

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The trend was also introduced earlier today on mainstream websites like Excite. P

According to Naver, Neo Gals mix both foreigner and Harajuku fashion with loud lipstick and accessories as well as purple, pink, or blue hair. Much like the gal trend of the 1990s, Neo Gals are not dressing to impress men, but rather, for each other. However, one of their rules is apparently not to tan themselves like previous generations of Japanese girls did. P

Neo Gal is clearly borrowing heavily from American fashion—or rather, the idea of American fashion. Hell, the first rule of Neo Gal fashion is to take your cues from foreigner-style fashion. (Note that the Japanese clearly says "foreigner-style fashion" and not "foreign fashion" as, yes, there is a discrepancy.) Excite, however, says that many of these Neo Gals are saying they want to be foreign. P

In a segment from this morning's show on Neo Gals, a woman is asked why she admires foreigners. "Because they're pretty," she replies. P

Famed Japanese photographer Yasumasa Yonehara, a key part of the 1990s gal boom, told me that around the turn of the century, he asked a hundred girls in Shibuya what they wanted to be when they grew up. About half of them replied, "foreign." (Note: Yonehara told the same thing to Marxy, and you can read that interview in full here.)P

Also from the same show. The woman says it's a big change when you put in color contacts. P

However, Yonehara pointed out that they didn't mean "foreign" as in actually being foreign, but rather, simply the artifice—the idea of foreign. According to Yonehara, they meant that they wanted to live in Japan, speak Japanese, and eat Japanese food. These inclinations, however, do seem to be be cyclical. Some generations of the country's youth are completely ambivalent to foreign fashions, while subsequent gens are very much into them. It really depends. P

"A half-Japanese face!" is exclaimed as the above interview continued. P

However, it shouldn't be surprising that one of the most popular celebrities among Neo Gals is Kiko Mizuhara, a Japanese model and actress of American and Korean descent who was born in the U.S. Her make-up style is likely more of an inspiration for Neo Gal than, say, Miley Cyrus, as she appears in numerous television commercials. P

As mentioned above, the big fashion leader for the Neo Gals is Alisa Ueno. Her Instagram is filled with Neo Gal fashion as well as photos of her traveling through the U.S.—and the globe. What's being sold here isn't simply a style, but rather, a jet-setting international lifestyle. P

With mainstream coverage in Japan and more buzz on Twitter and Instagram, there's a good chance that the Neo Gal trend will catch on among the country's youth subculture. Online, there are young Japanese women who definitely seem delighted by the trend, saying it's cute and they love it (however, as with the 1990s gal trend, a minority of young women will dress like this).

Elsewhere online, commenters were less than impressed, saying the style didn't look very fashionable, and won't catch on like gal fashion did in the past. "Neo Gal, huh... It only looks like a worsening of the foreigner complex," wrote Twitter user chocofashion3. "The heck is Neo Gal? Foreigner style fashion does not suit Japanese people," tweeted kntm1019. "It's because the body types are different. Well, there are some [Japanese] people that it suits, so for them, go right on ahead."14P

Whatever, they're kids. This is escapism before they grow up and settle down, leaving their bleached locks behind them. 15

Japan's Next Big Trend Could Be "Neo Gals"

nooooooo, someone make an end to this, please... they are already fine as they are

 

[tesla]

Advertising agency Dentsu recently released the results of its annual Japan Brand Survey, in which it asks people from around the world for their opinion on the country. This year’s study involved 3,600 men and women living in 17 different countries, whose responses were used to compile a list of 10 things they feel Japan does better than anywhere else in the world.

In carrying out the survey, Dentsu spoke with people living in China, Hong King, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, the U.S., Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia. All participants were between the ages of 20 and 59, with middle or upper-class incomes.

Roughly 80% of those questioned said they had either plans or a desire to visit Japan, a jump of more than 7% from last year’s survey. When asked what intrigued them about Japan, the most common response was the country’s cuisine. Its numerous travel destinations, both urban and rural, came in second, and Japanese fashion rounded out the top three.

Being an advertising firm, though, Dentsu’s primary concern is with the perception of Japanese goods and services. To get a better grip on how people abroad feel about things stamped “made in Japan,” researchers asked participants what they felt Japan does better than anywhere else, resulting in the list below.


10. Video games

It’s a sign of the times that Japan’s video game makers, who created and for years dominated the modern industry, only barely managed to crack the top 10. Still, even as overseas companies continue to make strides in the arenas of smartphone and social gaming, for some fans there’s just no substitute for a Japanese-made game.

9. Transportation infrastructure

It’s telling that the list was compiled from responses from people who live outside Japan, and not in it. Residents have a number of valid complaints about the country’s narrow roads, expensive expressways, and difficult to find parking. If you’re a traveler though, or anyone else using public transportation in Japan, there’s a lot to be thankful for, as it’s hard to imagine the train and subway network being much more efficient or punctual than it already is (quibbles about service ending shortly after midnight notwithstanding).

8. Environmental engineering

7. Food

No arguments here. While sushi was the dish most respondents reported eating, wanting to try, or just simply knowing about, Japanese food has a wealth of delicious dishes, ranging from subtle delicacies like tofu and lotus root to heartier fare such as ramen and the cabbage-and-pork-filled crepes called okonomiyaki.

6. 3D technology

5. Precision engineering

4. Cars/motorcycles

Japan still may not be able to match Germany’s cachet in the luxury segment, and it’s facing ever-increasing pressure in the economy class from American and Korean manufacturers. That said, Japanese marques are still the go-to choice for many looking for reliably-made transportation, eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles, or a lightweight rear-wheel drive sports car.

3. Robotics

Build a dancing robot like Honda’s ASIMO, earn a rep for robotics. Simple as that.

2. Anime/manga

This one might be a bit of a linguistic technicality here. While in Japanese, the words anime and manga refer to cartoons and comics respectively, regardless of country of origin, among the international community, the terms generally refer to works made in Japan. For a lot of people, saying that Japan makes the best anime and manga is like saying Alaska produces the best Alaskan king crab.

Also, some fans are looking for completely different things from Japanese and non-Japanese animation. This makes the question of whether Japan produces “better” cartoons a tricky one to answer, sort of like asking, “Which is superior, a bicycle or an ocean freighter?” Sure, they’re both vehicles, but designed with completely different things in mind, and one isn’t really a substitute for the other.

Setting all that aside, though, if you want to see robots fighting, giant-eyed characters slowly falling in love, or some combination of the two, odds are the Japanese anime industry’s got you covered.

1. Audio/video electronics

Once again, Japan doesn’t have the same iron grip on this segment that it used to. Even as manufacturers from other countries offer alternatives with lower prices and passable quality, though, Japan still has the image of making some of the best-performing consumer electronics money can buy.

Source: Niconico News

 

[atatwolf]

India-US-Japan trilateral meet this month - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: With the new government on a foreign policy overdrive, senior officials from India, Japan and US will hold a trilateral meeting on June 23-24 in New Delhi to work on common approaches to Asian issues.

Meanwhile, US assistant secretary of state, Nisha Desai Biswal, leading the first official US outreach to the Modi government, will be meeting her counterparts in the MEA on Monday. On their agenda will be preparations for the first visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. The Indian side has proposed September 26 as the main event with Barack Obama.

The two sides are looking at achievements in defence and investment as sectors where they can show progress at this first summit. India's ambassador to the US S Jaishankar will join the talks on Monday.

The trilateral meeting is likely to focus on issues like cross-border connectivity and humanitarian and disaster response.

India and US are also working on two other important meetings — a possible visit by US secretary of state John Kerry and the India-US strategic dialogue. The latter was initially scheduled to be held in June, but has now been moved to September.

An early communication between the Modi government and the US happened before Modi's swearing-in, when US intelligence communicated to India their conclusions that LeT was responsible for the attack on the Indian consulate in Herat. While Karzai said in Delhi that he had been tipped off by a "key western" intelligence agency, sources said a similar communication was given to India by the US.

With the Modi government in place, US and India are looking to go beyond several issues that have slowed down relations in the past. Modi has shown that he is willing to put the visa ban behind him. The US will be looking to see what economic reforms are rolled out by the Indian government, including in contentious areas like tax reform, IPR issues etc.

OPINION: Modi-Obama bilateral meet can ease the chill and reset India-US relations

India, while working through obstacles in the past couple of years, will have its own list of demands in mind — on the immigration legislation which targets Indian IT companies, on Af-Pak and even on the "pivot" to Asia. The Indian government is particularly concerned about any fallout from the Nato withdrawal in Afghanistan.

 

[armchairPrivate]

Japanese = Daikon Radish Head

 

[TruthSeeker]

An Upbeat View From the Bank of Japan

By REUTERS, JUNE 13, 2014, TOKYO — The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady on Friday and offered a slightly more upbeat view on overseas growth, signaling confidence that the economy was on course to meet its inflation target next year without additional stimulus.

In a separate move, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled a plan to cut the corporate tax rate below 30 percent in stages over a few years.

The central bank’s governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, said Japan’s economy was showing signs of having weathered a sales tax increase that began in April and had been watched by economists as a risk to the recovery.

“The economy is moving roughly within our expectations,” Mr. Kuroda told reporters. “Household spending remains solid as a trend.”

Mr. Kuroda also noted that there were signs of clear improvement in job conditions and incomes. “We expect a gentle recovery to continue,” he said.

The Bank of Japan has signaled that it has become increasingly convinced that the nation’s economy will continue its modest recovery, with companies’ increasing capital spending and consumer confidence’s holding up despite the sales tax increase.

Sluggish exports remain a soft spot for the economy, however, although central bank officials see overseas impediments receding as China’s exports rebound and as the United States economy rebuilds after a severe winter.

“Overseas economies, mainly advanced economies, are recovering, although lackluster performances are seen in some areas,” the central bank said in a statement issued before Mr. Kuroda spoke. That was a slightly brighter view than last month, when it said that global growth was “starting to recover.”

As widely expected, the central bank maintained its monetary policy framework, under which it has pledged to increase the base money supply each year by 60 trillion to 70 trillion yen, or $588 billion to $686 billion, through aggressive asset purchases.

Mr. Kuroda also pushed back at the European Central Bank’s efforts to keep euro gains in check. “I don’t think there is a reason for the yen to strengthen against the euro from the E.C.B.'s stimulus package, including negative interest rates,” he said, offering the most direct remark to date on the exchange-rate effects of the European Central Bank’s moves, announced this month.

Also on Friday, Mr. Abe, the Japanese prime minister, unveiled a plan to cut the corporate tax rate below 30 percent to help pull the economy out of two decades of sluggish growth and deflation.

Japan’s corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world, but Mr. Abe needs to strike a balance between stimulating growth and reining in snowballing public debt, which is twice the size of its $5 trillion economy.

The corporate tax cut, which would come in stages starting in the fiscal year that begins in April, is seen as a major issue to be included in the government’s key fiscal and economic policy outline, which will be completed around the end of the month along with a detailed “growth strategy” of structural overhauls.

“Japan’s corporate tax rate will change into one that promotes” economic growth, Mr. Abe told reporters, adding that he hoped the lower burden on companies would lead to job creation and other improvements for private citizens.

He also said that the government would make sure that alternative revenue sources were secured to offset a decline in corporate tax revenue, but did not elaborate on what those might be.

The government said that it would decide on a concrete plan by the end of the year to secure a “permanent revenue source” needed for corporate tax cuts, like a broadened tax base. The government also reiterated that it would decide by the end of the year whether to go ahead with its plan to raise the sales tax to 10 percent in October 2015. The national sales tax rose to 8 percent from 5 percent on April 1 to help reduce the public debt.

Japan’s corporate tax rate is nearly 36 percent for large companies operating in Tokyo, among the highest in the industrialized world. At the same time, only 30 percent of all Japanese companies pay corporate income tax, so bringing more companies onto the tax rolls could help offset a cut in the tax rate. Most money-losing companies are exempted from paying corporate tax, and companies can defer losses over several years, making it easier for them to avoid paying taxes.

Private-sector members of the government’s top economic and fiscal council have proposed cutting the rate to 25 percent eventually to put it in line with international standards. Each percentage point of tax cut would reduce government revenue by about ¥470 billion a year, according to the Finance Ministry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/14/business/international/an-upbeat-view-from-bank-of-japan.html?_r=0

 

[atatwolf]

Japanese MP: Turkish-Japanese ties need to be studied more
Japanese parliamentarian Misako Yasui has told Today's Zaman that Japan is keen on boosting its ties with Turkey, but that she believes the two countries have problems in communication and that both sides should step up their efforts to resolve the issue.

“We have established trust between the two sides. Nevertheless, we don't really communicate [with] each other very well,” said Yasui, a member of the Japanese House of Councilors, adding that both sides need to help their nations get to know each other better. Yasui visited İstanbul to participate in a two-day summit titled "Women's Perspective on the Post-2015 Development Agenda," organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation's (GYV) Abant Platform and Women Platform in early June.

Yasui believes that both sides might have greater success in bilateral state affairs if interaction and communication were to improve. In an interview with Today's Zaman, Yasui talked about how the Turkish and Japanese people are fond of each other and how Turkey is a top travel destination for Japanese tourists. She also noted that Japan is interested in the potential of investment in Turkey. “The Japanese market is shrinking with the decline of Asia's population, so Japan is trying to expand overseas business, including to Turkey,” Yasui said, underlining that Turkey -- along with Central Asian and African countries -- “needs to be studied well.”

Bilateral ties between Japan and Turkey have been bolstered since 2013, especially after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012. Focusing on economy and energy, Abe has paid two visits to Turkey -- the first one in May 2013, and the second one in October of last year -- during which Tokyo worked to promote and develop ties with Ankara.

In his first visit, Abe and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the "Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Turkey." On his second trip to Turkey, Abe attended the Japan-Turkey Summit Meeting and participated in the opening ceremony of the Marmaray project, an undersea commuter train line that connects İstanbul's Asian and European sides.

The Marmaray project was realized with the help of Japanese technology and is an indicator of the importance Japan attaches to its investment in Turkey and Japan's power in the region.

Regarding Abe's visits to Turkey, Yasui said, “That means Abe is serious about exploring ties between the countries,” highlighting that both Japan and Turkey have a lot to do in terms of business.

During the opening ceremony of the Marmaray, Abe called the project “a new sign of the friendship between the two countries.” In return, Erdoğan visited Japan in January to focus on the improvement of the existing economic partnership.

İstanbul summit meaningful

According to Yasui, the Women's Perspective on the Post-2015 Development Agenda summit was very meaningful in that it was dedicated to a variety of topics, including women's empowerment and food security, as part of the United Nations Development Agenda.

Yasui said she initially thought the summit would “end up in chaos” as the event hosted many scholars and officials from various countries with different opinions based on their individual contexts, political and historical situations. “Japan and Africa are very different with regard to equality between women and men,” Yasui said, adding that she does not know how much they understood each other but that it was very productive as it made her think how international interactions should be in the future, and about the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

As a presenter at the Women's Perspectives on UN Post-2015 Development Agenda, Yasui shared her insight and experience as one of the few female parliamentarians in Japan.

Yasui evaluated the situation of gender equality in politics as “very bad” despite Japan's economic power, saying: “Equality between men and women does not exist in the Japanese parliamentary system. In fact, women only make up 8 percent of the Japanese parliament. If we combine the upper house and lower house, it comes to 10.8 percent.”

"Japan is 154 out of 190 countries,” Yasui said, underlining that the situation in her country is “far from ideal." In light of these facts, Yasui considers it both challenging and interesting to be a female politician in Japan.

“Unless you are very influential and powerful, you can't be involved in politics. But sometimes just because you are a woman you are given a chance, because the male-dominated party want to show that they are utilizing female politicians. So they tend to choose a woman to put in a [powerful] position. That way, people think this party is trying to utilize the women.”

Yasui thinks women need to promote policies that are in favor of women, as only by way of an increase in the number of female politicians can they push their opinions and perspectives forward.
Japanese MP: Turkish-Japanese ties need to be studied more - CİHAN

US Air Force deploys first advanced drones to Japan

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Saturday, May 31, 2014, 7:49 PM

ERIC TALMADGE/APThe U.S. Air Force has deployed two of its most advanced long-distance surveillance drones to a base in northern Japan over the past week.

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan— The U.S. Air Force has deployed two of its most advanced long-distance surveillance drones to a base in northern Japan over the past week, enhancing its ability to monitor nuclear activities in North Korea and Chinese naval operations.

The deployment of the two unarmed Global Hawk drones to Japan, a key U.S. ally, is intended to demonstrate Washington’s commitment to security in Asia as part of its rebalancing of forces to the Pacific. But it will likely rankle with China and North Korea, which have been working to improve their own unmanned aircraft fleets.

Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, said Friday the drones will remain here until October, when the typhoon season on the drones’ home base on the Pacific island of Guam is over. Similar rotations from Guam to Misawa are expected in the future, though Angelella said no firm plans have been made. He refused to comment on the specific missions the drones will carry out but noted that the Global Hawk’s “capabilities are well known.”

The drone is considered particularly valuable because it can conduct long-range missions without the limitations of pilot fatigue, is able to fly at a maximum 60,000 feet (18.3 kilometers) and can “loiter” around any particular site of interest for 24 hours or more.

From Japan, it can easily monitor areas on the Asian mainland — including North Korea’s nuclear sites — or targets at sea — such as areas where China and other countries have had confrontations over territory.

The military keeps much of the Global Hawk’s work secret, but Angelella spoke of its use in humanitarian missions including Japan’s 2011 tsunami and the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines last year. More recently, he said, the drone was used in surveillance work following the mass abduction of more than 300 girls in Nigeria by Islamic extremists.

The deployment of the drones will also help Japan familiarize itself with the aircraft. Tokyo plans to buy three Global Hawks.

Angelella said the aircraft has proven itself to be one of the most reliable in the Air Force. While still under development, the Global Hawk began supporting overseas contingency operations two months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. As of September last year, it had surpassed 100,000 flight hours, three-quarters of which were performed in combat.

ERIC TALMADGE/APLt. Gen. Sam Angelella, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, said Friday the drones will remain here until October, when the typhoon season on the drones’ home base on the Pacific island of Guam is over.
Safety is a key factor in Japan because many U.S. bases here are located in heavily populated areas.

Under a mutual security pact, the U.S. maintains about 50,000 troops in Japan, which is home to several major air bases, the headquarters of the U.S. 7th Fleet and more than 10,000 Marines.

Though some residents of the city of Misawa have raised concerns about the drone deployment, opposition has been notably muted compared to the often emotional and deep-rooted protests against the deployment of new aircraft or troops on the southern Japan island of Okinawa, where most of the U.S. military in Japan is based.

But the deployment comes at a politically sensitive time.

Tokyo is now hotly debating a significant revamp of the role of its military forces, which have since World War II been rebuilt and are now one of the strongest in Asia, though they remain restricted to a narrowly defined strategy of national defense.

Citing the perceived threats from China and North Korea, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is championing an effort to change that and allow the Japanese military to be able to fight more closely with U.S. troops in contingencies.

Abe’s focus has been on what the Japanese military should be allowed to do when an ally defending Japan comes under attack — what the Japanese call collective self-defense. But opponents fear loosening restrictions will open the door for the Japanese military to be drawn into broader U.S. conflicts that don’t have a direct connection to Japan’s national defense.

Read more: US Air Force deploys first advanced drones to Japan - NY Daily News

Nice, Japan needs this.

 

[atatwolf]

 

[TruthSeeker]

Can Japan Change? Yes, It Can!

It may not be a revolution, but change is happening in Japan in important ways.

By Devin Stewart, June 20, 2014

For decades, Japan has been described as stagnant and arthritic. But no society remains the same forever, and even stagnation must come to an end. Earlier this spring, I published an article in Foreign Affairstitled, “Japan’s Change Generation,” which describes developments taking place in Japanese society, among businesses and the public. Specifically, a more open attitude is emerging toward entrepreneurship, global education, civil society, and women in leadership positions, especially among people in their 30s and 40s (the “76 Generation” or “76-ers”). That article was based on 40 interviews I conducted with businesses, nonprofit and education leaders in Japan.

This month I convened a private symposium at Carnegie Council in New York City to analyze the issues I raised in that article. The panel, which included experts from civil society, finance, business and education, attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 100 people interested in Japan’s future. The discussion was conducted according to the Chatham House Rule so while I cannot quote the specific participants, below are some key takeaways from that exciting event.

My argument goes toward dispelling at least three myths about Japan: that it is socially stagnant; that it is becoming nationalistic; and that change can only come about through a massive revolution akin to the Meiji Restoration. Instead, the currents of change are happening inside Japan in subtle but significant ways: mindsets are more self-assured and confident, with people focusing on improving their standard of living rather than being haunted by an inferiority complex toward the world. The priority of younger generations coming into positions of power is about finding meaning in life rather than addressing global challenges.

Meanwhile, Abenomics is providing a deeper impetus for economic revival than did the policies of the Koizumi administration. While Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi emphasized structural reform and opportunities for “barbarians at the gate” (foreign investors), that approach did not create much domestic confidence. Abe, by contrast, has captured the sentiment of a more confident Japan and branded it using his own name, meaning he has a political stake in making it work. Also in contrast to previous administrations, the Abe team announced it is targeting inflation, thereby creating the expectation that it will happen.

It was noted that Abenomics may have a 60 percent chance of succeeding; however, even if there is a financial crisis in Japan, it won’t be catastrophic as its debt is mostly held internally and Japan has social safety nets in place. Japanese corporations need to find ways of using the mountains of cash they have been sitting on, as well, in order to spur investment. A small marginal increase in profitability can be significant in relative terms, given the low starting points. Similarly, a small wage increase can spark a positive wealth effect. Other challenges include the ongoing debate over the constitutional revision and reinterpretation but Japan will likely maintain the spirit of pacifism.

Similarly, although there will be obstacles, Abe has been the first prime minister to make female leadership a national policy target through guidelines for organizations and companies, which are finally discovering the massive pool of talent underutilized in Japanese society. While the baby boom generation focused on efficiency and stability, the newer generation appreciates the value of innovation, risk-taking, and diversity, all central values in remaining relevant in the global economy. The retirement of the baby boom generation will usher in new values in the corporate and academic sectors. By 2020, a 30-year cycle of destruction will yield to a new era of prosperity in Japan, in conjunction with the emergence of Japan’s 76-ers and the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Finally, the educational sector is shifting toward a greater embrace of critical thinking, risk-taking, and global awareness. That means that the current changemakers, who are primarily exceptional people from the financial and corporate elite, can move from being exceptional to being the norm. Change agents that are in the fringes are expected to move to the center of society in the next five years. So yes change is inevitable in Japan, as it is in every country, and many experts expect much of that change to be quite positive.

Devin Stewart is senior program director at Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and a Truman National Security Project fellow.

Can Japan Change? Yes, It Can! | The Diplomat

 

[atatwolf]

Turkish-Japanese food partnership aims for the world markets
18.06.2014

Dünya – A joint venture of Turkish Nuh’un Ankara Makarnasi and Japanese food companies Nisshin Seifun and Marubeni plans to bring another ‘Made in Turkey’ pasta brand to the attention of the pasta lovers of the world.


The company, Nisshin Seifun Turkey, whose USD 36 million pasta production facility is scheduled to start production in Ankara’s Sincan district by 2015 will be entirely export-oriented, adding to Turkey’s 600,000 tons a year shipments of pasta. Turkey is a major producer of pasta and second only to Italy when it comes to exports of the popular food.
“This investment signifies the investor-confidence in Turkey and the strong level of cooperation between the two countries. More partnerships and foreign investments in the food sector will follow Nisshin Seifun Turkey’s example”, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said at the establishment ceremony of the company.


Speaking at the event, Japan’s ambassador to Turkey, Yutaka Yokoi, drew attention to the increase in Japanese investments in Turkey, which reached USD 490 million last year.


Turkey and Japan have agreed to start talks on a free trade agreement during Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the Far Eastern country in January.
Turkish-Japanese food partnership aims for the world markets
- Invest in Turkey

 

[Aepsilons]

 

[Ali.009]

Past will always come back and bite you in your ***. Chinese will never forget what japs did to them and there is no reason why they should forget that. No crime should be left unpunished. Why Japan is so scared? Because they never did justice. Japan is the most irrational nation on the face of the earth.

 

[Tshering22]

Past will always come back and bite you in your ***. Chinese will never forget what japs did to them and there is no reason why they should forget that. No crime should be left unpunished. Why Japan is so scared? Because they never did justice. Japan is the most irrational nation on the face of the earth.

So are you going to nuke UK just because they occupied us collectively? No. That is not the right way. Japanese have offered to put the past in the past and move forth peacefully without causing any tensions.

What irrationality do you see in them? In fact, both Chinese and Japanese leaders are keen to sort out the issues diplomatically. It is just the hardliners in both countries that are making it difficult for both of them.

 

[Aepsilons]

Past will always come back and bite you in your ***. Chinese will never forget what japs did to them and there is no reason why they should forget that. No crime should be left unpunished. Why Japan is so scared? Because they never did justice. Japan is the most irrational nation on the face of the earth.

And you have the authority to make such a blatant judgment on all of Japan, and the entire 130,000,000 people that belong to the Japanese Race?

So are you going to nuke UK just because they occupied us collectively? No. That is not the right way. Japanese have offered to put the past in the past and move forth peacefully without causing any tensions.

What irrationality do you see in them? In fact, both Chinese and Japanese leaders are keen to sort out the issues diplomatically. It is just the hardliners in both countries that are making it difficult for both of them.

Well said, Shering-Senpai!