Three years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the
government has reopened the evacuated community of Miyakoji. But many do
not want to come back.
紐約時報：沒人敢回家鄉Forced to Flee Radiation, Fearful Japanese Villagers Are Reluctant to Return By MARTIN FACKLER
Three years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the
government has reopened the evacuated community of Miyakoji. But many do
not want to come back.
Japan business lobby plans corporate governance rules: source
Japan's PM Abe walks past Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mimura, Keidanren Chairman Yonekura and Japan Association of Corporate Executives Chairman Hasegawa after making a speech in Tokyo (Toru Hanai Reuters, / April 24, 2014)
Noriyuki HirataReuters
2:13 a.m. CDT, April 24, 2014
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's most powerful business lobby, Keidanren, plans to introduce corporate governance rules that will require better disclosure, a person familiar with the matter said, but they will stop short of bolder reforms sought by many investors.
The lobby, whose member firms include most of Japan Inc's biggest names such as Canon Inc and Nippon Steel , will launch a study group later this year with an eye to announcing the new guidelines in 2016, the person said.
The Keidanren's rules will not require independent directors or any particular governance structure, reflecting its belief that such decisions should be left up to individual companies, the person familiar with the matter said.
But they will demand companies give a detailed explanation on a set of important matters, such as why it has or has not employed independent directors or adopted a company with a committee governance structure, the person said.
As such, the guidelines will effectively incorporate only the "explain" portion of the "comply or explain" regulatory approach common in Britain and other parts of Europe, the person said.
The move is an attempt by the conservative lobby to influence a growing debate in Japan over how to bolster corporate governance. Keidanren has traditionally opposed rules mandating independent directors and other reforms seen by some investors as vital to lifting Japan's corporate performance and protecting the interests of shareholders.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is working on a governance code that will be part of an economic growth strategy to be announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in June. The government also recently introduced a stewardship code aimed holding institutional investors more accountable and encouraging better communication with corporate boards.
The rules will be applied to all of Keidanren's roughly 1,300 members.
(Writing by Nathan Layne; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
President Obama on Thursday offered security assurances to Japan, but he stopped short of siding with Tokyo over islands that are also claimed by China.歐巴馬：釣島適用美日安保
2014-04-24
Japan's Prime Minister spoke to TIME managing editor Nancy Gibbs and East Asia correspondent Hannah Beech on a wide range of topics, from his country's relationships with the U.S. and China to the lessons he took from his family's political past
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has a rare electoral mandate in a nation that has churned through six Premiers in just as many years. Called a brazen nationalist by some and a brave change agent by others, the 59-year-old Prime Minister — whose first term ended abruptly after a year in 2007 and who assumed office again in December 2012 — sat down at his Tokyo office on April 9 with TIME managing editor Nancy Gibbs and East Asia correspondent Hannah Beech to discuss patriotism, “Abenomics” and his controversial grandfather.
On Japan’s relations with the U.S.:
“To preserve the national interests of Japan, first of all, I’d like to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan became an ally of the U.S., whom it fought against in the past war. I think this alliance has largely contributed to the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.”
On Japan’s relations with China:
“Because there is a problem that exists, the doors for communication between the two nations should not be closed. Japan always keeps our door for communication open. I’d like China to take the same attitude.”
On the territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea:
“Japan considers the Senkaku Islands [known as the Diaoyu by China] as Japan’s inherent territory. Unfortunately, Chinese government vessels are repeatedly violating Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku. China has been acting the same [way] also in the South China Sea, and many ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nation] nations have strong concerns about [these maritime disputes].”
On Japan’s brutal wartime record and official Japanese apologies for it:
“In the previous war, Japan has given tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly those of Asia. Japan’s postwar era began based on this remorse. Previous Prime Ministers have expressed their feelings of remorse and apology. In my first administration, I also did so.”
On his visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where the enshrined war dead include convicted war criminals:
“I paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine to pray for the souls of those who had fought for the country and made ultimate sacrifices. I have made a pledge never to wage war again, that we must build a world that is free from the sufferings of the devastation of war.”
On the 1993 Kono Statement that recognized the Japanese military’s sexual enslavement of Asian “comfort women,” which Abe indicated during the 2012 campaign he would like to revise:
“At the time of the first Abe administration, a Cabinet decision was made stating that there was no information that shows people were forcibly recruited. Lots of Japanese citizens did not hear that, and it may have not been recognized internationally. I had been saying in the election campaign that this Cabinet decision and the Kono Statement should be considered together. Because I have said this, lots of people are aware of this issue now. As for the Japanese government, we are not considering revising the Kono Statement.”
On patriotism and criticism:
“I am a patriot. I would think there are no politicians who are not patriots. Since I am a politician, I often get criticized, as I try to exercise what I believe to be right. However, if you mind such criticism, I think you can’t protect people’s lives.”
On lessons learned from his father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe:
“I have learned that being a politician is not an easy job. My father was trying to make progress in the peace treaty with the Soviet Union. At that time he was suffering from last-stage cancer, but he visited Moscow in the bitter cold. I learned from my father that you may have to risk your own life to make such a historic accomplishment.”
On his maternal grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, a member of Japan’s wartime Cabinet who was locked up (but never charged) by the Allied powers and later became Prime Minister:
“If I try to make it correct, my grandfather was arrested but not prosecuted. [As Prime Minister], my grandfather amended the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. He faced severe criticism. He passed the treaty and resigned as Prime Minister at the same time. Those who were against [revamping the treaty] are now overwhelmingly for [it]. Unfortunately, politicians don’t get applause.”
On his paternal grandfather Kan Abe, a wartime legislator:
“He was one of the few Diet members who was against [wartime leader Hideki] Tojo’s Cabinet and Japan going to war with [the] U.S. I have learned from each family member that politicians sometimes have to make decisions all alone.”
On the need to revise the postwar pacifist constitution, which was written by the Americans and precludes Japan from possessing a normal military:
“It has been believed for a long time in Japan that things such as the constitution can never be changed. I say we should change our constitution now. The U.S. has amended its constitution six times, but Japan has done it zero times.”
On the state of the nation when he assumed power in December 2012:
“When I came to office, in terms of diplomacy and national security, as well as the economy, Japan was in a very severe situation.”
On his economic reform program, dubbed Abenomics:
“The economic policy that I am implementing now is a growth strategy, which includes radical financial relaxation, flexible monetary policy and encouragement of private investment. For a long time, we have been suffering from deflation. We haven’t overcome deflation yet, but the confidence of small and medium businesses has turned to positive after 21 years and 10 months.”
On the role of women in Japan:
“I often say to entrepreneurs: ‘If Lehman Brothers were Lehman Brothers & Sisters, it wouldn’t have gone into bankruptcy.’ Hillary Clinton says if Japan were to utilize women’s power more, Japan’s GDP would increase by 16%. We have decided that at least 30% of all new hires by our government should be female. We have requested at least one female board member in first-tier listed companies. She doesn’t have to be Japanese but could be a foreigner.”
In a March 31 ruling, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Japan to stop granting permits for its Antarctic whaling program, which ...
Japanese baseball plans to re-test the ball and has asked ball manufacturer Mizuno to explain why the balls are livelier than what the league specified ...
