For young Japanese, it's back to the farm (日本の若者が職業として、農業への関心が高まっている!?）

For young Japanese, it's back to the farm (日本の若者の間で職業として、農業への関心が高まっている!?）
A motley group of unlikely farmers descended on the countryside in Yokoshibahikari one recent Sunday, fresh towels around their necks, shiny boots on their feet.
"This is harder than it looks," said Tatsunori Kobayashi, a spiky-haired janitor from Tokyo Disney Resort, as he tromped through a mustard spinach patch with a seed planter, irregular furrows stretehing out behind him.
He is part of Japan's 2,400-strong Rural Labour Squad, urban trainees dispatched to the countryside under a pilot programme to put Japan's underemployed youth to work tilling its firms.
Started last month as part Prime Minister Taro Aso's stimulus plan, the programme stems from growing concern about both the plight of Japan's younger workers and the dismal state of firms. In a play on words, the squad's name in Japanese-Inala-de-hatarakitai-is also its rallying cry: "We want to work in the countryside!" The predicament of Japanese in their 20s and 30s dates back to the lost decade of the 1990s, when many failed to find good, stable work. Today, disproportionate number endure low-wage job - a potential portent for America's students and first-time job seekers plunging into a shallow job market in the United States.
As the Japanese recession has worsened, younger workers have taken the brunt of wage cuts and layoffs, especially in manufacturing. Now the government views the slump - Japanese exports fell almost 50 percent year to year in February - as a chance to divert idel labor to sectors that have long suffered from worker shortages, like agriculture.
Many young Japanese, for their part, have shown a growing interest in farming as disillusionment rises over the grind of city jobs and layoffs. Agricultural job fairs have been swamped with hundreds of applicants: one in Osaka attracted 1,400 people. "Young people want jobs, and farmers need the extra hands," said Isao Muneta, an agriculture ministry official who coordinates the 1.3 billion yen ($13 million) programme, part of a larger stimulus package. " It's the perfect match."
Whether it will save Japan's deteriorating economy is something else. "Rural communities could benefit from an influx of young people,' said Masashi Umemoto at the National agricultural Research Center. "But it's unrealistic to look to agriculture as a solution to the country's unemployment problems."
He added, " There aren't enough farming job." Japanese farming is a picture of inefficiency, and the rural work force is graying. A decline in rice prices has hit farms hard - only the largest farms still turn a profit from harvesting rice, forcing farmers to take on extra jobs. The farms most desperate for workers do not have the means to pay as little as $1,500 a month and are often seasonal. Overgrown plots abound in Yokoshibahikari, a town of 26,000 about 43 miles east of Tokyo. "We're all old folk and thankful to have young people come help us," said Hitoshi Suzuki, 57, and head of a cooperative of family farms that share equipment to reduce overhead costs. (One of the cooperative's famer is 83.)
Rural communuties themselves effectively shut out new blood by making it difficult for outsiders to set up their own farms, says Takayuki Yoshioka, a coordinator at the nonprofit organisation that runs the Yokoshibahikari programme. People with no local farming committees that can take years.
"I believe the possibilities are limitless in agriculture," said Yoshioka, who is interested in starting his own farm. "But there are also big barriers."
Shinji Akimoto, who until recently worked in information technology, is not intimidated.
Fearful of constant staff cuts as business deteriorated, Akimoto, 31, Quit his job last month and days later started training in Yokoshibahikari. His three day, government-financed training programme has been a succession of whirlwind lessons in rice and vegetable planting, cleaning pig sties and feeding cattle. "I had nothing much to lose, and in times like these, I felt I needed to learn to make my own living." he said. He chucked and twirled a finger in the air. "Did you know pigs really do have curly tails?"
Akimoto's team of 10 is a hodgepodge; the Disney janitor, a recently laid-off landscape artist and several collage students. They all get 7,000 yen a day, about $70, and free food and board.
They all shared a common complaint; there was no convenience store nearby drinks and snacks. One trainee persuaded a farmer to lend him his light truck, so he could get cigarettes.
"My friends think I'm crazy for coming here," said Tomoka Inoue ,20, a management major who said she was widening her job search to include farming, "But I think people are becoming more aware of where our food comes from, and I want to get more involved with that. (THE HINDU, FRIDAY, APRIL 17,2009)
今日の一言
農家が楽な仕事と勘違いして、容易に考えてる人が多いのかなぁ？　日本は農業や日本の伝統産業などを大事にしているとは思わない。　成功している農家は、最初から大地主で、お金持ちだ。　利益が上がらない農家が毎年廃業してるのに・・・　日本の政治家は本当に適当というか・・・その場しのぎの発言が多い。　しかし、良くも悪くも、こうして若者に農業が注目されている今、近い結果を見ず、10年、20年、後を見た、農業発展のプランにしてほしいものだ。
それよりも・・・サラリーマン・・・パワーないなぁ。若者がんばれ。流されるな！

Canon introduces 23 new products (キャノンが２３製品を紹介)

Canon introduces 23 new products (キャノンが２３製品を紹介）
Plans to enhance channel structure for the digital and camcorder category
NEW DEHLI; Digital imaging company Canon on Thurthday launched 23 state-of-the-art digital cameras and camcorders priced between Rs. 8,995 and Rs. 1 lakh. It also launched its new 'I can with Canon' campaign that aims at empowering its customers. The company is eyeing 25per cent growth in 2009.
While launching the products in Mumbai, Canon India President and CEO Kensaku Konisi said; "Canon has made a conscious effort to bring the best in photographic equipment to continuation of our promise of cutting edge technology for our consumers.
"These are stylish and technologically advanced lifestyle products."
Focus
Canon India Senior Vice-President Alok Bharadwaj said "Despite the slowdown, we are aiming to grow by 25 per cent in the current year. We expect revenues to touch Rs.840 crore in 2009 as compared to Rs.665 crore last year. We are now focusing on consumer products which includes cameras and printers,"
"Canon is continuously creating new features and adding functionalities based on tomorrow's needs. The first revolutionary technology introduced today is the Smart Auto Mode, which uses Canon's intelligent scene detection technology that automatically recognizes 18 different types of scenes including the ability to differentiate between day-time and low-light(night time) scenarios in the new IXUS 100 IS Digital Camera, "Mr. Bharadwaj said.
"We also plan to enhance our channel structure for the digital and camcorder category which now includes over 1000 retailers, and 175 retailers,"he added. (THE HINDU, FRYDAY, APRIL, 10, 2009)
今日の一言
インドは今、カメラ、携帯、車が三種の神器になりつつある。ＰＣなどはインターネットのインフラが遅れているため、携帯がその代用となっている。今後、値段が比較的安いデジタルカメラが普及すると予想できる。

8 new digital cmaeras from Nikon(ニコンが８つの新商品を発表)

8 new digital cmaeras from Nikon(ニコンが８つの新商品を発表)
Company plans to hire around 200 people to strengthen ots sales force
NEW DEHLI;Nikon on Wednesday launched eight ner models of its flagship "Coolpix" brand of digital cameras, priced between Rs.7,450 and Rs.25,950.
"With these new launches, we aim to achive a 10-per cent market share in compact camera and 40 per cent in the SLR(single-lens reflex) camera market," said Nikon India Managing Director Hidehiko Tanaka after launching the new products here.
"We are planning to make our products available through 800 shop-in-shop stores this year. We are present in 100 stores and we are focussing to ezpand our base in Indea,' Mr. Tanaka said.
At present Nikon has five per cent share in the Indian compact camera market of around 10-lakh units, while SLR cameras are around 13,000 units. Nikon is importing cameras from Japan and China. Nikon also plans to hire around 200 people to strenghen its sales force as part of its retail expansion plans in the country. "Our expansion plans include increasing our sales force. We are targeting major cities like Mumbai,Koltaka and Bngalore for expansion," Mr.Tanaka added. Nikon is introducing its "SLR Zone" concept to stores located in other major cities. It has already been launched in Dehli. (THE HINDU ;Saturday, April, 9, 2009)

今日の一言
一眼レンズなんて高いものを買えるインド人はどれだけいるのでしょうか？

Panasonic introduces new range of LCDs and plasme TVs (パナソニックのインド活動）

Panasonic introduces new range of LCDs and plasme TVs (パナソニックのインド活動）
Ropes in actor Ranbir Kapoor as the brand ambassador.
NEW DELIH: Japan- based consumer electronics major Panasonic on Saturday launched its new range of LCD and plasma television and home theatre brands.
Addressing a press conference here, Panasonic India CEO Daizo Ito said their association with Ranbir Kapoor would be instrumental in communicating the trendy yet traditional image of their products such as LCD and plasma TVs.
The company also announced new marketing initiative for its product that includes offering gifts with home theatre.
It also plans to launch new products and expand its dealership network across India.
（ＴＨＥ　ＨＩＮＤＯ　April 5 2009)

今日の一言
パナソニックの家電が最近、インドで目立つようになりましたが、ＣＭなどから察するに、今年から本腰を入れそうなので、今後もっと目につくようになるでしょう。　個人的にソニーの次に来るのでは？

North Korea keeps world guessing (北朝鮮ミサイル発射についてパート１）

North Korea keeps world guessing (北朝鮮ミサイル発射についてパート１）
SINGAPORE: North Korea on Saturday kept the world guessing after announcing that a satellite would be launched "soon". Pyongyang's critics suspect that the move might actually be a smokescreen for test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. A five-day "Time window," beginning Saturday, was earlier set for the proposed "lift-off". And, in line with that, the North Korean state news agency said in the morning that the "preparations" for launching "an experimental communications satellite.... have been completed."
The statement sent neighbouring Japan and South Korea into a state of heightened alert. The U.S., with its "forward military presence" in the region, also intensified efforts to meet an emergency in the event of North Korean failure. Device were already deployed in and around Japan for protection against the possible "debris" of a disintegrating North Korea "missile" in test-flight.
An interlude of monitoring error punctuated the tension. The Japanese government suddenly reported that North Korea appeared to have " launched a projectile." However, the statement was quickly withdrawn.　（Ｔｈｅ　ＨＩＮＤＯ　April 5 2009)

今日の一言
インドからまさかこんなん記事を読むとは・・・・日本では北朝鮮はややこしいイメージが強いですが、ここインドではあまりイメージがつかない様で、ニュースにも余りならないのですが、今回はさすがに世界も注目しているみたいですね。　ただ資源に魅力がない北朝鮮には戦争等めんどくさい事には発展しないように思えますが・・・・まぁ平和が一番ですね。
では、パート２で。

Doctor directed to pay compensation (ケララでもＤｒの仕事は大変!?)

Doctor directed to pay compensation
Rs.1 lakh for failure to diagnose tubular pregnancy（卵管妊娠の見落としによる、１ラックの賠償金）

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here has ordered a doctor to pay a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to a person whose wife died due to the failure of the doctor to the diagnose and treat tubular or ectopic pregnancy (a dangerous condition when the foe-tus develops inside the fallopian tube instead of womb) on time.
The compliment, Thomas-kutty Sebastian of Nadakkal, Eerattupetta, said that in March 1996, his wife had become pregnant after undergoing infertility treatment. On April 11, he took his wife to the opposite party, Sunny Mathew of Pala, for consultation as his wife had experienced slight bleeding. A scan report was called for and after examining the report, the doctor said that there was some bulging of one of the fallopian tubes but it was a case of "incomplete abortion."
The patient was asked to rest for a week. The complainant said that he took his wife back to the doctor on April 15, 18 and 23 also as she was in pain but was told that the abortion had been "completed " and some medicines were prescribed.
She could not be saved:
On April 25, another scan was taken after which the doctor confirmed the diagnosis of tuber or ectopic pregnancy and advised a D&C. The next day, however, the woman was rushed to the opposite party in severe pain.
The doctor diagnosed that the fallopian tube had ruptured and advised an emergency operation. But the patient could not be saved. The complainant said that his wife was only 35 years at the time of her death.
The doctor denied that there was any negligence on his part. He said that on April 11, when the scan was taken, there was no conclusive diagnosis regarding tubular pregnancy and hence, the patient was advised bed rest. He said that on April 25, he had doubts whether it was a case of tubular pregnancy and advised the patient to undergo a D&C. He claimed that the inordinate delay on the part of the complainant in getting medical aid for the patient after the tube had ruptured had resulted in her death.
Expert witness:
The commission, however, took serious note of the deposition of the expert witness, Annie Thomas, the then Associate Professor of Obstetics and Gynaecology, Kottayam Medical College, that a laparoscopy or laparotomy should de done if at all tubular pregnancy is suspected.
She pointed out that advising a D&C when the doctor suspected ectopic pregnancy was not correct. The commission also noted that the opposite party, having suspected ectopic pregnancy, did not take any step to rule out the same.
With 9% interest :
Dr. Annie Thomas said in her statement that "on Aplil 11 itself, if laproscopy had been done, the diagosis could have been confirmed."
The opposite party himself admitted that more care and caution is taken by doctors in case of "precious pregnancy." In this case, the complainant's wife had undergone infertility treatment before she became pregnant and the doctor should have exercised more caution, the commission noted. The doctor was ordered to pay the compensation with 9 per cent interest from the date of the complaint.
The judgment in the case was delivered by commission members Valsala Sarangadharan and S. Chandramohan Nair. （４月１日２００９年。ＴＨＥ　ＨＩＮＤＵ より）

今日の一言
最 近、日本においても、医療事故、医療ミス責任、モンスタペーシェント等、医療現場の問題をよく耳にするが、世界の医療の現場においても、よく似た問題が起 こっている。　今回、ここトリバンで起こった事も、私自身の前職が医療現場で働いていた事もあり、とても考えさせられた。　結論的に、今回の問題はＤｒの 診察ミスにより、患者がなくなったと決着がついたが、この病気を調べれば調べるほど、その診療は難しいように思われる。　日本では産婦人科Ｄｒの人手が足 りない、余裕のある診断が出来ないことが、問題の一つでもあるが、ここインドでは、人手というよりも、その施設設備だと思われる。　今回の患者は、おそら く、中級以上の病院に入院したとは思えるが、その設備は日本に比べると低いと思われ、また、今回のような難しい症例を取り扱う施設が整っていたのか疑わし い。　
今回の記事では、不妊治療をしていた患者家族の気持ちを考えるととても切なくなるが・・・年を考えると、死を含むリスクを考える必要性がお 互いにあったのではないかと思える。・・おそらく、人間の技術が高まれば、高まるほど、出産という奇跡の事柄が薄れていき、テクノロジーが全てを救うかの ように思い込み、このような問題は増えると思う。　患者は問題をＤｒの責任にし、Ｄｒは医療オタクになって孤立していく。　余裕のある出産、余裕のある診 察、余裕のある生活が難しくなっていく現代・・・・お互いが自分の権利を守るために、モンスターになっていく・・・恥ずかしい事だが・・・仕方ないの かぁ!?　難しい。