今週の日本

Japan Says It Will Send Anti-Piracy Force to Somalia’s Coast

New York Times

Japan executes four convicted killers

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Japanese workers urged and go home and multiply

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Blowfish testicles poison seven in Japanese restaurant

Guardian

Japan factory output plunges, jobless rate jumps

Washington Post

Man from Japan with will to win

Times on Line

Another wrestler nabbed with dope

Asahi

Japan: The Price of Normalcy

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Big slump in Japan factory output

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Last week's Japan news

Japan Statistics

In 2008, some 252 Japanese police officers were punished for misconduct and illegal acts. That is the lowest figure since records started being kept, in 2000.

Source: Kyodo News

Japanese economic roundup.

Toshiba: a record loss is forecast for 2009; estimates are in the 280 billion yen range
Sony: the fourth quarter, 2008, saw net profit decline by 95%
Nintendo: the Kyoto gamemaker recorded a 21% increase in its third quarter profits
Hitachi: 700 billion yen net loss in FY2008
Unemployment rate: 4.4%

Source: Daily Yomiuri

The number of applications for refugee status in 2008 hit 1,599. That is the highest ever.

Of those 57 were recognized as refugees.

The majority of the applicants, 979, were from Burma.

Source: Daily Yomiuri

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東大寺、奈良

Todaiji Temple, situated a short walk from the center of Nara, in Nara Park, is probably the city's biggest draw and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Todaiji, along with Kofukuji and Horyuji, make up the "Big Three" must-see temples of Nara.

Founded in 745 by the Emperor Shomu, the vast temple was constructed as a symbol of imperial power, and took over 15 years to complete at great expense. The main hall, which houses the colossal bronze Buddha statue within, remains the world's largest wooden building, though the present structure - rebuilt in 1709 - is only two thirds the size of the original.

Visitors enter the temple through the massive Nandaimon Gate - rebuilt in the 13th century - and known for its giant guardian gods or nio, 7m-tall wooden statues protecting the temple within from evil.



The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) houses Japan's largest bronze statue - a darkened figure of the Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi Nyorai). The statue weighs 500 tons and is 16m tall - a masterpiece of Tempyo Period (729-764) art.



Several attempts at casting the Buddha failed before success was finally achieved in 752. Ambassadors from as far away from India, Persia and China attended the dedication ceremony and the gifts they brought with them were kept in the Shoso-in treasure house, behind the hall.

Little remains of the original 8th century statue, however, which has been damaged in fires and earthquakes and subsequently re-cast. West of the Daibutsuden is the Kaidanin, which was set up in 754 as Japan's premier ordination hall for new monks. The present building dates from the Edo Period (1603-1858) but it contains some ancient and exquisite clay statues.

Access

Todaiji is a walk from Kintetsu Nara Station north east of Kofukuji and north of Nara National Museum. Opening hours are 8am-4.30pm or 5pm daily from November to March and 7am-5pm or 5.30pm April-October. Adults 500 yen.

Todaiji
Zoshi-cho 406-1
Nara
630-8587
Tel: 0742 22 5511

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日本不景気の原因

The Japanese government formally acknowledged last November that its economy had fallen into a recession.

This recession - two quarters in a row of negative growth - has witnessed the world's second largest economy's GDP contract by 0.4 percent from July to September of last year.

Japan's last recession was in 2001, following the collapse of the dot-com bubble in the USA.

In Japan, there is no doubt as to why the recession is happening. All fingers point across the Pacific at the United States.

Following the subprime lending and banking crises in the US, consumers there stopped purchasing with their usual zeal - or with any zeal at all.

Japan remains heavily dependent on exports, mainly to the US, and this is hurting sales.

Blue chip firms like Toyota, Honda, and Canon have seen profits dip by as much as 70 percent.

Making things even worse is the dollar - yen rate. Most major manufacturers generally budget $1 to 110 yen for their exports. Of late, however, the yen has been trading in the high 80s.

This makes the few Japanese who do travel abroad close to kings (or, more likely, queens) with their tremendous purchasing power. However, for Japanese companies trying to sell from Japan to the US, the strong yen - weak dollar makes Japanese goods in the US more expensive and is a nearly fatal blow.

Hard to believe, but there is still more bad news.

Worse still is the hangover from Japan's "lost decade" of the 1990s: huge public debt. Japan is saddled with the highest amount of debt of any developed nation. This curtails its spending options.

The reaction of the Aso government? A 12,000 yen (roughly $140) handout to all adults, including foreigners with a permanent visa, this spring. This stimulus package is however opposed by a majority of Japanese.

Even for a nation of chicken littles, this is all a bit too much to take.


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天気

Although the English might be renowned for always talking about the weather, you haven’t heard the Japanese! Perhaps, however, it’s less the actual weather they obsess about than the seasonal climate.

Never, ever - ever - in Japan is the temperature “just right,” or chodo ii. It is always either (grimacing) atsui, i.e. hot, or samui, i.e. cold. In other words, the Japanese love complaining about the climate more than actually talking about it.

So talking about the weather in Japanese is actually remarkably easy. Forget about grammar and sophisticated vocab. With atsui and samui - and the appropriate body language and grimaces - you’ve basically mastered it.

However, it you’d like to add a few descriptive touches, here are some extra words that might come in handy:

weather - tenki
climate - kiko
temperature - ondo
rain – ame (rhymes with lamé)
snow – yuki (rhymes with spooky)
wind - kaze (also "cold" as in "to catch a cold)
cloudy - kumori
sunny – hare (like “hurray!,” but with the stress on the first syllable)
muggy / humid – mushi-atsui (mooshy atsooey)
warm - atatakai

Example conversation

Mrs. Tanaka: Ohayo gozaimasu! (Good morning)

Mrs. Bando: Ohayo gozaimasu! (Good morning)

Mrs. Tanaka: Kyo wa honto ni samui desu ne. (It's really cold today, isn't it.)

Mrs. Bando: So desu ne. Honto ni samui desu yo. (Yes, it really is cold.)

Mrs. Tanaka: Kaze o hikanai yo ni ki o tsukete kudasai ne. (Please take care not to catch a cold.)

Mrs. Bando: Arigato gozaimasu. (Thank you very much.)

Mrs. Tanaka: Kotoshi wa toku ni hayatte imasu mono. (They are particularly prevalent this year.)

Mrs. Bando: Desu yo ne! (You're telling me!)

Mrs. Tanaka: Konna samui hi ga tsuzuku to nakanaka naorinikui mono desu shi. (And with the cold days persisting like this, it's very difficult to cure.)

Mrs. Bando: Tashika ni so desho ne. (I'm sure you're right.)

Mrs. Tanaka: Toku ni kodomo ga hiku to kawaiso desu mono. (And you feel particularly sorry for any children who catch it.)

Mrs. Bando: Tashika ni! (Without a doubt!) Atatakaku suru to ii desu ne. (It's good to dress up warm.)

Mrs. Tanaka: So nan desu yo. (So true.)

Mrs. Bando: Ne! (But isn't it just!)

Mrs. Tanaka: Dewa, dewa. Soro soro shitsurei shimasu ne. (Well, well, I'd better get going.)

Mrs. Bando: Hai, hai! (Very well!)

Mrs. Tanaka: O-karada ki o tsukete kudasai ne. (Look after yourself won't you.)

Mrs. Bando: Hai, domo domo. (Yes, thank you.)

Mrs. Tanaka: Dewa, shitsurei shimasu. (All right, goodbye.)

Mrs. Bando: Hai, shitsurei shimasu. (Goodbye)

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京都二年坂と三年坂

One of Kyoto's most beautiful walks is in the hills of the eastern part of the city, or Higashiyama (east mountain).

Among the many attractions that can be seen in a day, on foot, in this area are: Kiyomizu Dera, Kodaiji Temple, Nene no Michi, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion.

At the top of the list for many tourists is Kiyomizu Dera (temple). It is a stunning structure that affords a panoramic view of Kyoto.

After exiting Kiyomizu Temple, a short stroll down the narrow road leading to and from the temple will lead you, after a right turn, to Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.

These contiguous streets are filled with quaint shops in Japanese style buildings. Aside from the telephone wires over head, this part of Kyoto is among the very few areas that present a unified wooden cityscape.

The shops offer many traditional items, from incense to fans to woven goods.

The two sloped stone paths will lead you to Nene no Michi.

This wider but equally elegant road has Kodaiji Temple above and to the right, Ichibei no Koji on your left, and Gion farther ahead.

For those with energy to spare, it is possible to press on and see Chion-in and then the museum area of Okazaki.

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レトロでんしゃ館

The Nagoya City Tram & Subway Museum near Akaike Station on the Tsurumai subway line is a favorite for parents and their train-loving kids, especially on weekends.

Besides the model railways, Play Station-style computer train simulators and a collection of old subway and tram carriages (ideal for reading a book or newspaper, while the kids play on the trains and ring all the bells) - there are some interesting black and white photographs of Nagoya in the 1960s, when the last trams were still running in the city.



The trams in Nagoya were finally phased out in 1974 as the subway system began to cover much of the city.

Nagoya City Tram & Subway Museum
Tel 052 807 7587
Hours: 10am-4pm

Walk north from Akaike Station Exit 2 down the hill, cross Route 153 and you will see two giant subway drills. The museum is here. Admission free; closed Wednesdays.



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• Date: Saturday Jan 31st, 2009
• Time: 18:15 - 20:45
• Drinks will be served between 6:30pm-8:40pm.
• Place: Nagoya Tsurumai City Public Hall, 1-1-3 Tsurumai (very close to JR Nagoya Station)
• Fee: 3000 Yen Gentlemen, 2500 Yen Ladies 1st 15 foreigners 2000 yen each!
• Dress code: Anything (Casual, etc)
• Reservations: Not necessary but recommended and appreciated. Just show up to the party!
• Over 25,000 Yen worth of exciting prize giveaways each month!
• Special Belly Dance performance by Jansu Belly Dance Company!