Shrine decision draws both praise and protest

Peace activists rejoiced Sunday over the fact that Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Cabinet didn't visit Yasukuni Shrine this year, while conservatives slammed the decision. At the Japan Education Center in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, around 190 people welcomed Kan's decision to stay away. The group included citizens who lost relatives in World War II and who generally object to politicians visiting Yasukuni Shrine. The day marked the 65th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II and the first since the Democratic Party of Japan took power last year. It is also the first time in nearly 30 years the entire Cabinet has refrained from visiting the contentious shrine.

At Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward, hundreds of conservatives came to the 24th annual gathering to commemorate the war dead, where attendees criticized the absence of the prime minister and his Cabinet this year.

They issued a statement that slammed Kan and stressed the need for the prime minister to visit to Yasukuni.The statement also criticized Kan for issuing an apology to South Korea on the centennial of annexation, adding that such an apologetic attitude has restricted Japan's foreign diplomacy and drawn criticism from other countries.

" In my opinion , I agree with the Japanese people that they want their prime minister to visit this place because it was an important day of their country. I think the best way to solve this problem was the apologize form the prime minister. "

Fukuda resigns as Prime Minister, Aso expected to succeed

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced on Monday evening about his sudden resignation form the post emergency press summarize held in The prime Minister's official residence, the Kantei.He mention the political deadlock between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the oppositional Democratic Party of Japan. His resignation comes only a year after the previous Prime Minister , Shinzo Abe's. Abe left his party in a weak state. Due to a weak stomach after the Upper House election had given the opposition a majority in one of worst elections ever.

(http://www.japannewsreview.com)

" Thailand is a democracy, there were many groups of political party. Most of political in Thailand are also on the way of a high competition because they want to be the best. So , there are a lot of problems , make people to be a different groups because of a different ideas for example the red shirts and the yellow shirts. They fought each other although they were thai population. "

Millions of 1-Day Acuvue contact lenses recalled

TRENTON, N.I. (AP) Health giant Johnson & Johnson has distributed its ninth recall of a consumer health product in a year, this time covering millions of 1 Day Acuvue contact lenses sold in Japan and two dozen sold in Asia and Europe.The most effected contact lenses were sold in Japan and none were sold in the U.S. or Canada. The recal began in Japan when Johnson & Johnson notified the Japanese government on Aug. 18. The company did not announce the recall in the U.S. The company has examined the manufacturing equipment, determined the cause of the problem and corrected it. J&J said some of the affected lenses had not been shipped and were destroyed. Customers were being directed to check the lot number on the package by compare it with the affected lot numbers on J&J websites i each country, and return affected products to receive replacement lenses.

As a result, Johnson & Johnson has been under scrutiny by Congress, food and drug Administration officials and federal prosecutors.

(http://www.japentimes.co.jp)

" I think this was a very big problem for me because contact lenses are related with the eyes which is the part of the body that was a very easy to get hurt and it is a very useful organ. Johnson & Johnson should have more be careful with their procedure. They have a responsibility on their consumers , I think they did well with this."

Wako's Ginza outlets to open Sundays, holidays

Luxury specialty store Wako Co will open two flagship outlets in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza shopping district on Sundays and holidays from October, in an effort to win new customer and better cater to existing shoppers. Th e outlets is the flagship clock tower building located at Ginza's main Yonchome intersection, which has become a landmark of the shopping district. The outlet is closed on Sundays and national holidays as nonbusiness days since it started operations in 1952.

"Up until now our customers have understood our policy of having nonbusiness days on Sundays. From now on, we would like more customers to enjoy shopping (at our outlets)," a public relations official at Wako said.

" In Thailand there are many stores that open on Sunday or national days . For me it is very good because if the stores open only on a working day I will not have a time to buy some thing. For Wako's Ginza outlets , I think it should do it since a long time because most of people in Japan are working on day , they will not have a time for shopping well. And I think this outlets will achieve their goal .They will have more customers to shopping. "

Ranchers hope to save tuna

In Japan, half of the country works on fisheries commercial. They catch a lots of fish for the Japanese menu with fresh sushi and sachimi. The UNEP Green Economy report says the excess capacity of fishing fleets and global mismanagement of stocks have left almost 30 percent of fish species. It predicts that if it continue going to be like this , most of fish business will collapse in 40 years.

At town of Port Lincoln in South Australia , The 500 million Australian dollar (about ¥39.4 billion) industry has made many Port Lincoln fishermen very wealthy, with the town boasting the highest concentration of millionaires in Australia.The vast majority of the tuna is exported to Japan.Japanese consumers, however, are getting a taste of what the future may hold as Japan faces a shortage of high-quality tuna.

" I think the prediction will be true in 40 years because they catch a lot of tuna for their business and as much as can make themselves wealthy . It was very bad habit , I think they should change the menu to have more of pork and meat . May be tunas will be extinct form the world sea."

Carbon cap and trade at risk as Japan considers climate bill

Japan is at risk of undermine its own recent responsibility on carbon emission reductions during a confused debate on coming climate legislation. They have an outline absolute emission reductions of 25 per cent , and with the 'cap and trade' project outline as a key for achieving the target. But , until now some projects will not deliver "the emission cap that the Japanese government promised to the Japanese people during the elections and the world following the Copenhagen Accord"

(http://www.japantimes.com)

" I think they have to proceed their project that was lost as soon as they can because this will cause the small problem changes to big problem and it will hard to work out and finally it can't solve a problem."

Japan pursues moon station by 2020

JAPAN is looking at sending a wheeled robot to the moon in five years and building a lunar base by 2020. The robots world set up solar panels to create energy and have an observation device to group geological samples. The robots would work from the lunar base at the moon's south pole from 2020.It has been estimated the unmanned mission would cost $2.57 billion over the next 10 years,which could be a problem given government efforts to cut spending. (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/)

" I think , although it has a high cost of spending , it is also worthwhile .Maybe this research will give more information of the moon and it will be useful for Japanese and other people in world wide to study."

Japan's oceans very rich, holding 14.6 percent of known sea species

A "murasakikamurikurage," a type of jellyfish unique to Japanese waters,

in the waters east of Izu Oshima. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTC)

The number of species identified in the waters off Japan has been measured at 33,629, 14.6 percent of the 230,000 ocean-dwelling species identified around the world. Japan's waters were found to be a treasure trove of marine species. It holding a greater variety than the ocean waters of any other nation in the world. Especially snails (7,013 species), fishes (3,770 species), and crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs (2,501 species) were abundant , star sand (383 species), cnidarians such as jellyfish and sea anemones (350 species). In addition , over 200 unidentified species were found. The researchers speculated that if research continues, over 120,000 new species will be discovered in Japanese waters.

(http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news)

This was a very excited news for me . It has a vary of species of aquamarine in the sea and many strange type of species. In Thailand , it also has an aquamarine in south seas.For example, at Andaman sea has a big colurful and beautiful corals , many of species of fishes such as clown fish , jelly fish , electric and ect.

‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’ brings in 15 billion yen during opening weekend

Legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest movie, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” sold an estimated 1.5 billion yen ($13.9 million) worth of tickets during its three-days opening weekend in Japan last week.

The movie failed to top the box office record of Miyazaki’s 7 year old Academy Award winning film “Spirited Away” but came closer to his production company Studio Ghibli’s previous movie, “Tales from Earthsea”, directed by his son Goro Miyazaki.

“Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” is the story about 5-year-old Sousuke and his sudden meeting with half-goldfish, half-human girl Ponyo by the shore of a quiet seaside town. The two meet after Ponyo has escaped from her mysterious father’s underwater tower in a dazzling intro scene where she rides on the back of a giant jellyfish. Ponyo immediately falls in love with Sousuke and decides she wants to become a human, a decision that ends up bringing unexpected consequences to the sleepy town.

(japannewsreview.com)

"According to paragraph above , it seems like to be a very good cartoon movie . The character was very interesting , the scenes at under water will be beautiful . I will wait for this cartoon animation .I think it will be a great film of the year. Have you ever seen "Spirit away" it was a very beautiful animation I have ever seen before.It's story was very good."

46,000 fans rock Tohoshinki concert in Japan

Three of the five members of boy band Tohoshinki (aka TVXQ) held their debut concert in Japan on June 5, signaling the start of their own activities as a new group. Some 46,000 fans filled the Kyocera Dome in Osaka to watch the "Thanksgiving Live in Dome" concert of Xiah Junsu, Micky Yoochun and Youngwoong Jaejoong, the three members who decided to form their own unit in view of the ongoing court case with SM Entertainment agency.

This was a very bad news for TVXQ fan clubs in many country and expecially in Thailand,most of teenagers in Thailand are Tohosinki's fan clubs.

I have heard from my friends who were Tohoshinki fan clubs that they were very sad about this news.

The Toyota's Bus-Train

A dual mode road/rail vehicle is being tested in Japan by Toyota and its truck-manufacturing division Hino Motors. The bus bridges the contract between road and rail with 4 rubber tires for road use and 4 steel wheels for riding on rails. It can hold 25 passengers and is based on the Toyota Microbus. The bus has been in service in Japan for the past 18 months, and there are plans to produce a newer version by June of 2008. Hino spokesperson Kenichiro Baba has stated that the bus “is expected to be another step toward more practical use of the dual mode vehicle.” This could be the mass transit vehicle of the future for Japanese commuters.

(http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/toyota-bus-train/)

I think it was very good idea because this bus can also drive on road and rail. But it was too small I think if there would have this bus in the future , they would develop it to be bigger and it could contain more passengers. In thailand , there are many bus that service .It has many number according to the way that they run , for example the bus number 140 run to victory monuments.It always full of people in the bus every morning and every evening.And most of the bus in Thailand use oil fuel energy, it makes air pollution and can cause disease to the people.

Japan's big four car makers issue over 100000 recalls

Nissan's cube

Toyota , Honda and Nissan motor will recall their cars because of the problem with the airbag inflator in the passenger seat that causes shards to fly out when the air bag opens , and the faulty seat belts that fail to buckle up.The recalls affect cars that built in 2000-2001 including Toyota's popular Corolla, Honda's Fit and Nissan's cube.

Japanese carmakers have been hit by a string of safety recalls this year, the most glaring being Toyota, which was forced to pull nearly 10 million vehicles worldwide and blamed for more than 80 deaths in the United States.

In Thailand , it also has Toyota Corolla , Honda Fit and Nissan Cube but

there have no problem with this type of car . And in different way , in Thailand it was very popular.You can see on the road many new cars are Toyota Corolla ,Honda or Nissan Cube.In United States , I think they have a very bad luck about having a big problem with their car .Not only the customers but also the car makers.The car makers lost their money and their prestige.The customers lost their money and someone lost their life.