“Bad Deflation”, “Bank of Japan Initiative needed” comments by Otsuka, Deputy Finance Minister

Asahi Newspaper 24th Nov 2009

Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Kouhei Otsuka (who formerly worked at the Bank of Japan) made comments on a TV Asahi programme on 23rd November with regard to the government’s engagement with the issue of prices going into a long-term deflationary cycle revealing government fears that “the recent drop in prices represents [...]

Knowledge of Japan Test to be Reviewed – Foreign Nursing Intern Issue

In relation to the problem of foreign nursing interns from Indonesia and other Asian countries not being able to overcome the language barrier in the ‘Japan Test’ and returning home after completing the initial 3-year ‘probational’ stage, Foreign Minister Okada commented on 21st November that “although [these interns] are among the best in their own [...]

Tarantino Interview summary

Quentin Tarantino talks with Asahi Newspaper journalists about his new film ‘Inglorious Bastards’.
As a child, he used to love playing with GI Joe dolls.
“But I never played ‘war’ with them. I used to re-enact films that I had seen. If I saw a trailer for a film that looked interesting, I would also often imagine [...]

Simple Blood Test for Digestive Organ Cancer diagnosis

Kanazawa University announced on 19th November that their researchers have discovered a method for detecting cancer of the stomach, intestines, liver or other digestive organs using only a blood test. Having learned that digestive system cancers  share a distinctive genetic trait, this discovery led to a method for detecting cancer. The new method is expected [...]

Heart Attack Victim in Nara turned away from 9 hospitals – treatment delayed by 1 hour 20 minutes

The Asahi newspaper reports this morning on a 69-year-old man who suffered a heart attack due to low blood-sugar levels and was refused admission to 9 hospitals within the Osaka prefecture and city area; it is understood that an hour and 20 minutes passed before the man was finally admitted to a public hospital in [...]

APEC Leaders propose ambiguous Target for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

15th Nov 2009 : Asahi Newspaper
[ Reuters \ Singapore \ 14th Nov ]
Leaders of APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Committee), at a meeting held in Singapore, have made it clear that the target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be made public in a declaration on 15th Nov will be expressed by the English word [...]