Tokyo to Host World Bank Public Seminar on Jan. 18

Tokyo is set to host the World Bank Public Seminar "From Tohoku to the World: Further Collaboration with Japan to Mainstream Disaster Risk Management" on Jan. 18, 2013.

Program

Opening:

Shigeo Shimizu, Director, Development Institutions Division, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan

Panel Discussion:

• Fumihiko Imamura, Tsunami Engineering, Disaster Control Research Center, Tohoku University
• Yukie Osa, Professor, Rikkyo University / President, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan
• Kenzo Hiroki, Principal, International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)
• Masami Fuwa, Director General, Global Environment Department, JICA
• Francis Ghesquiere, Manager for the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management Practice Group and Head of GFDRR Secretariat

World Bank Public Seminar in Tokyo

Date & Time:

January 18, 2013; 4.30 pm–6.30 pm

Venue:

The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center
10F, Fukoku Seimei Bld. 2-2-2Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011

Admission is free. To attend this event, send your name, affiliation, contact information via email to jointokyo@worldbank.org.

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Corinthians Wins FIFA Club World Cup 2012; Beat Chelsea FC 1-0

Brazil's Corinthians won the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 beating English giants Chelsea FC 1-0 in the final played at the Nissan Stadium (Yokohama), Japan on December 16. This is their second Club World Cup title having already lifted the cup in 2000.

Both clubs missed lot of chances to score in the match with Chelsea FC being the more dominant side but failing when it comes to final touch. Peruvian international Paolo Guerrero (28) scored the lone goal of the match with a header in the 69th minute for the Brazilian outfit. Fernando Torres was the main culprit for the English side missing easy scoring chances but that’s how the ‘Beautiful game’ rolls sometime. Torres did find the net in the 90th minute but was ruled off-side. Corinthians keeper Cassio, who made some sensation saves in the final, was rightfully named ‘Player of the tournament’.

Mexican side Monterrey defeated African champions Al Ahly 2-0 in the third place play-off.

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Club World Cup: Chelsea FC Beat Monterrey 3-1; To Meet Brazil’s Corinthians in Final

Goals from Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and an own-goal from D. Chavez helped English side Chelsea FC beat Mexican champions Monterrey 3-1 in their Club World Cup semi-final played at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama (Japan) on December 13.

Rafa Benitez’s men now will take on Brazilian side Corinthians, who defeated Egypt’s Al Ahly SC 1-0 in the other semi-final played at Toyota Stadium, in the final on December 16. Former Bayern Munich striker Paulo Guerrero scored the lone goal of the match for the Brazilian club.

This will be Rafa’s second Club World Cup final having already won the tournament with Inter Milan back in 2010.

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Nissan to Launch Duster SUV in India by Diwali 2013

Japanese automaker Nissan will launch the compact Duster SUV in India by October 2013, coinciding with the auspicious time of Dussehra and Diwali.

Nissan would launch a rebadged version of the Duster (codenamed NH79). The new vehicle will get major cosmetic tweaks both to the inside and outside, but will remain the same underneath.

The NH79 will slot in below the Renault Duster due to the Renault-Nissan hierarchy. The compact SUV is also likely to fare better than its French sibling as it will be cheaper and the fact that Nissan has better presence in India.

Also, Nissan might introduce a 4x4 and automatic variants (the Duster already has them in Europe) for the NH79 when it is launched.

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An Evening of Japanese Fusion Music in Kolkata on Dec. 4

Internationally acclaimed Japanese musical group Aun and Hide will showcase fusion music on the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata on Dec. 4, 2012.

The musical extravaganza will incorporate Japanese guitar, flute and drums played by percussionists Ryohei and Kohei Inoue of Aun along with Hideyuki Saito of Hide, according to a media release by the Japanese Consulate.

Aun, formed by the Inoue twins, has previously graced the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York city with their experimental sound and as part of the group Ondekoza, has also received Emmy awards.

Hide, formed in collaboration with Japanese Taiko drums group Kodo, in 1987, has performed with the likes of Paul McCartney and has also contributed to numerous Hollywood soundtracks.

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Man Utd’s Kagawa Out for 4-Weeks Due to Knee Injury

Manchester United new signing Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa (23) will be out of action for 4-weeks after twisting his knee during the Champions League match against Braga.

Sir Alex’s men will take on current leader Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League clash on Sunday (Oct 28).

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Brazilian Student (20) Sells Virginity for $780,000

A Brazilian student by the name of Catarina Migliorini is all-set to give away her virginity to a man called Natsu from Japan for $780,000 after she put it up for auction online.

The 20-year-old was the subject of 15 bids during the auction and she would be filmed by an Australian crew for a documentary flick called ‘Virgins Wanted’. Sex toys will be banned and condom is a compulsion during the encounter.

According to Reports, Japanese Natsu outbid American bidders Jack Miller and Jack Right and Indian named Rudra Chatterjee.

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Madrid’s Marcelo Out for 3 Months With Injury

Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Marcelo has been ruled out for three months with a fractured foot. The 24-year-old fractured his right foot while training on international duty and is likely to undergo a surgery.

Brazil will take on Asian champions Japan in a friendly international on October 16 in Wrocklaw, Poland.

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Spain's Gestamp Solar to Invest $1.16-Billion in Japan

Spain's Gestamp Solar plans to invest nearly 90 billion yen ($1.16 billion) in solar plants and panels in Japan over the next three years.

In its foray into Japan's renewable energy sector, Gestamp Solar has signed an accord with Kankyo Keiei Senryaku Soken to build and operate rooftop photovoltaic installations with a capacity of 30 MW.

The two companies have set a goal of achieving 300 MW in generating capacity within three years through a combination of rooftop and ground-mounted projects, Gestampo Solar CEO Jorge Barredo said in a press conference in Tokyo.

Of that capacity, 70 percent over the long term would come from rooftop projects, Barredo said, adding that that goal is "realistic and achievable".

In addition to its partnership with Kankyo Keiei Senryaku Soken, the Spanish firm is currently in talks with other companies in Japan, a market Barredo said Gestamp Solar is in "for the long haul."

The Spanish company is planning to start building the solar installations before year's end with the goal of having its first plant up and running before the close of March 2013.

Gestamp Solar also is in talks with supermarkets and other commercial outlets to install solar panels on some 40 or 50 surfaces.

The company, a unit of Gestamp Renewables, specializes in the development, construction, operation and maintenance of solar parks and has developed photovoltaic installations with more than 500 MW of generating capacity in 13 countries, including the US, Spain, Peru and Chile.

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Akai Smart Box Launched in India at Rs 6,590

Japan’s leading consumer electronics firm, Akai launched a ‘Smart Box’ in India on Oct. 4, 2012 at Rs 6,590. Akai Smart Box allows users to surf the Internet on their television sets.

The company, which is targeting revenues of Rs 250 crore this fiscal, expects sales of one lakh devices in the next three-four months.

The Android-based device, powered by a 1.25-Ghz processor, comes with a wireless mouse for navigation. It is equipped with 4GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB through the SD card slot.

Similar to Apple TV, Smart Box is a digital media device which allows users to access content such as videos, games and Web sites using WiFi and broadband connection.

Google, which operates the Android platform, also plans to launch its set-top box ‘Google TV.’

The Smart Box has 4 USB ports, hard drives as well as connects to Internet using 3G dongle.

The device connects to the Internet using LAN, WiFi as well as 3G. It also acts as a router using which other devices such as tablet PCs and laptops can be connected to the Internet.

Akai India will sell the devices through e-commerce stores, its Web site as well large format stores and distribution channels. It will also launch television commercials and digital campaigns for the device.

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iPhone 5 Hits Stores

The most anticipated phone of the year, the Apple iPhone 5 finally went on sale around the world on Sept. 21, 2012. From London to New York to Tokyo, fans camped outside Apple stores to get their hand on Apples’s latest baby.

The phone is already a best-seller, with over two million pre-orders around the world in just 24 hours. The smartphone is being launched in Australia, US, UK, Canada, France, Germany Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan. It will go on sale in 22 more countries a week later.

According to sources, Apple will be shipping as many as 10 million iPhones 5 by the end of September. The iPhone 5 is thinner, lighter, has a taller screen, faster processor, updated software.

For Indian customers, they have to wait till December.

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Honda Invests $425-Million in Britain Plant

Japanese car major, Honda Motor Co is investing 267 million pounds ($424.9 million) in building new models and engines at its Swindon plant in Britain, which is an effort to rebuild its ailing European business.

Honda, which has seen three straight year of losses in Europe, aims to be profitable in Europe in 2013–14, when 80 percent of cars sold in the market will be sourced from the Swindon plant.

Imports into Europe presently make up 40 percent of Honda's sales in the region.

Honda plans to produce 183,000 vehicles at the Swindon factory in 2012, double the 2011 total, and bring the plant to full capacity to make 250,000 vehicles annually within three years, it said in a statement.

Honda said it has already started to invest part of the 267 million pounds in buying new production equipment such as presses and robotics.

About 60 percent of production from the Swindon plant will be exported, Honda said.

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L&T Sells Plastics Machinery Business to Toshiba

Larsen & Toubro has sold its entire stake in L&T Plastics Machinery Ltd to Toshiba Machine of Japan, the company informed the stock exchanges on Aug. 27, without disclosing the consideration for the deal.

This move is in line with its strategy of exiting non-core businesses, L&T said.

L&T Plastics Machinery, a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T, manufactures injection moulding machines. The company reported a turnover of Rs 206 crore and profit of Rs 11 crore for the year 2011–12.

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Japan Education Fair in Delhi, Bangalore on Aug. 30, Sept. 1

In a bid to enhance educational ties and to attract Indian students, Japan will soon be organizing a special education fair in Delhi and Bangalore.

The education fair, which is part of the Indian and Japanese government's program of building people-to-people ties, will be held in Delhi on Aug. 30, and in Bangalore on Sept. 1, 2012.

A total of 11 key universities from Japan will attend the exhibition.

Japan Education Fair will be organized on Aug. 30 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm at Delhi Public School (DPS) RK Puram and Sept. 1 from 10 am to 5 pm, at Vivanta by Taj, MG Road, Bangalore.

The universities from Japan, which will be present in the fair, are Doshisha University, Kyushu University, Meiji University, Nagoya University, Osaka University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Ritsumeikan University, The University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, University of Tsukuba, and Waseda University.

While no registration is required for the Delhi fair, students in Bangalore can register at http://www.uni.international.mext.go.jp.

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Japan’s Uchimura Wins Gymnastics Gold in Olympics

Japan's Kohei Uchimura put in a classy all-around performance to take gold in the men's gymnastics at the London Olympics in London on Aug. 3, 2012.

Uchimara put in five near-flawless routines, and despite a four-point landing on the floor, the Beijing silver medalist held on to win with 92.690 points.

Marcel Nguyen of Germany scored 91.03 for an unlikely silver on the final rotation when Uchimara's teammate Kazuhito Tanaka fell off the pommel horse.

America's Daniel Leyva took the bronze after a strong final routine on the high bar, scoring 90.698.

British favorite Kristian Thomas's challenge slipped on the vault, when he stumbled on landing a double pike to score 14.9.

A mid-16s score that he was expected to achieve would have placed him in medal contention.

As it was he finished seventh, on 89.406.

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Olympic Gymnastics: China Win Gold, Japan Silver

A dazzling all-round performance led by Zou Kai powered defending champions China to the team gold in the artistic gymnastics in London at the Olympics on July 31, 2012.

China won with 275.997 points. In a controversial decision, Japan won the silver in a dramatic last-ditch appeal on 271.952 points while Great Britain took bronze with 271.711.

China went into the last rotation nearly three points ahead, and strong pommel horse routines from Chen Yibing, Guo Weiyang and Zhang Chenglong dispelled any doubts about them.

Zou, 2008 Beijing Olympics champion in the floor and the horizontal bar, put in near flawless performances on the same apparatus to put his team firmly on course to victory.

But the main drama of the evening came on the final rotation, when Japan only needed two average scores on the pommel horse for silver.

After one gymnast slipped, Kohei Uchimura fell on the dismount to allow — initially — the British into second and Ukraine into third.

The Japanese, led by brothers Yusuke and Kazuhito Tanaka, headed the competition early on before China clicked into gear.

Max Whitlock, Daniel Purvis and Kristian Thomas put Britain in a position for silver with scores of 15.166, 15.533 and 15.433 scores on the floor.

They thought they had the bronze in the bag when it turned out they had outscored Ukraine, who hit 15.33, 15.233 and 15.433 through Oleg Stepko, Mykola Kuksenkov and Igor Radivilov.

But the judges took their time in scoring Uchimura, after which it emerged Britain had done enough for silver.

Later the Japanese coaching staff appealed, arguing Uchimura had been penalized incorrectly for failing to dismount entirely, rather than a poor dismount. The judges agreed, returning the 0.5 points the Japanese needed for second place, pushing Britain for the bronze and Ukraine off the podium.

For obvious reasons, the Ukrainians weren't happy.

The British, meanwhile, were ecstatic with winning a medal, even though it was relegated to bronze at the death.

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Infosys Opens Second Office at Japan’s Nagoya

Global software major Infosys expanded its operations in Japan by opening its second office at Nagoya to enhance its footprint in the Chubu manufacturing hub.

"Opening our office in Nagoya is part of our expansion plan, as we look at targeting the manufacturing industry in Japan. We have seen strong business growth since we entered Japan in 1997 with about 40 clients across manufacturing, financial services and consumer goods," Infosys chief executive S.D. Shibulal said.

The company has about 1,000 employees in Japan working on different client projects.

Though the US and Europe account for over 85 percent of Infosys' software export revenue, rest of the world, including Japan, contribute around 12 percent.

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Tokyo Named World's Most Expensive City for Visitors

Japan’s capital city, Tokyo has been named the world's most expensive city in a new survey of living costs for expatriates, overtaking Luanda, capital of Angola, to claim the top spot. The Land of the Rising Sun's second city, Osaka, came in third.

The survey, by consultancy firm Mercer, analyses costs faced by visitors from the US. In Asia, New Delhi (113) and Mumbai (114) have dropped considerably. Jakarta is at 61, Bangkok at 81 and Pakistani city Karachi is at 214 to remain the region’s least expensive city for expatriates. The Mercer survey covers 214 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment.

The top 25 most expensive cities in the world for foreign visitors are:

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Luanda, Angola
3. Osaka, Japan
4. Moscow, Russia
5. Geneva, Switzerland
6. Zurich, Switzerland
7. Singapore, Singapore
8. N'Djamena, Chad
9. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
10. Nagoya, Japan
11. Sydney, Australia
12. Sao Paulo, Brazil
13. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
14. Bern, Switzerland
15. Melbourne, Australia
16. Shanghai, China
17. Beijing, China
18. Oslo, Norway
19. Perth, Australia
20. Libreville, Gabon
21. Copenhagen, Denmark
22. Seoul, South Korea
23. Canberra, Australia
24. Brisbane, Australia
25. London, United Kingdom.

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Tokyo Stocks Hit 28-Year Low

The Tokyo market slumped to a 28-year low on June 4, 2012 as Asian shares dived on fears of a nightmare scenario of euro-zone breakup, US economic relapse and a sharp slowdown in China.

Tokyo's Topix index lost as much as 2.4 percent to 692.18, a level not seen since late 1983, while the Nikkei average of major stocks tumbled 2 percent. The Nikkei last week marked its ninth straight week of losses, the longest such losing streak run in 20 years.

The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell by as much as 2.5 percent to 2012 lows, down 17 percent from this year's peak, continuing a rout of global stocks sparked on June 1 by weak US jobs data.

European shares were likely to extend their losses, having wiped out all their 2012 gains on June 1. Spreadbetters tipped major European markets to fall by as much as 1.8 percent when trading resumes on June 4.

The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield fell below 0.80 percent to its lowest since July 2003. Ten-year JGB futures prices jumped to a 19-month high.

US and German government bond yields had both hit record lows on June 1, with 10-year German yields dipping to 1.127 percent and 10-year Treasury yields touching a historic low of 1.442 percent.

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Tokyo Skytree, World's Tallest TV Tower to Open for Public From May 22

Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest television and radio broadcast tower, will be opened for public access from Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

The construction of the structure, which has a height of 2,080 feet, was completed in February 2012. It incorporates broadcasting facilities, restaurants, observation platforms and entertainment outlets.

About 400 employees have been training for two months to ensure a "warm and proper" reception of the visitors. Until July, the tickets for the tower tour could be booked only online.

The construction of the Tokyo Skytree started in 2008 to replace Tokyo's current facility, Tokyo Tower with a height of 1,093 feet, which no longer gives complete digital TV and FM-radio broadcasting coverage because it is surrounded by many high-rise buildings.

Tokyo Skytree project cost over $800 million and involved 580,000 workers.

The tower features seismic proofing, including a central shaft made of reinforced concrete.

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