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☆ Taiwan's Powerchip chooses northern Japan for planned $5.4 bln fab
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp's Japanese business in pictured in Tokyo, Japan July 21 2023. "Japan has to have its own supply chain," Powerchip founder and Chairman Frank Huang told reporters. Powerchip said it aimed to manufacture micro-controllers and power chips, which are needed for power management in electric vehicles, along with chips for artificial intelligence. The second phase, planned for two years later, aims to introduce 28-nanometre technology with targeted monthly output of 40,000 wafers. They aim to cut costs by making reference to plans for a Powerchip fab being built in Taiwan, and discussions are already taking place with construction firms.

Persons: Sam Nussey, Taiwan's TSMC, Frank Huang, Powerchip, David Dolan, Jamie Freed Organizations: Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, SBI Holdings, Reuters, Powerchip, SBI, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Miyagi, Taiwan, Sendai, Hokkaido, Kyushu, chipmaking

☆ Japan's farmers are getting too old to work the land. 5G-powered smart tech is doing the heavy lifting for them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Bella Sayegh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In remote locations, 5G-powered tech is helping farmers produce crops with the support of experts. Smart farming was introduced into Japanese agriculture in 2020 by NTT AgriTechnology in Chōfu City, Tokyo, for a three-year project. This helps farmers monitor crops for disease and create a harvesting timeline while navigating conditions that can change daily. The next steps for 5G farming involve broadening the scale of these projects so that farmers can monitor more fields at a time, Ahmed and Masakuza said. To do that, companies and local governments will need to continue investing in private, local 5G networks, they added.

Persons: —, Abe Masakuza, Masakuza, Shahid Ahmed, Ahmed, NTT Ahmed Organizations: Private 5G, Service, Agriculture, Forestry, Smart, NTT AgriTechnology, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, NTT, Hokkaido University, 5G, Farmers, Chōfu, Private Locations: Japan, Chōfu City, Tokyo, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Iwamizawa, Northern Japan

☆ Scientists discovered the first fossil of its kind that shows 16-foot-long dinosaurs may have chirped like birds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The bone is the first example of a larynx in reptilian dinosaurs that paleontologists have ever found. Based on a fossil from a Pinacosaurus grangeri, paleontologists think that some large dinosaurs might have chirped like birds, not roared like lions. The fossil is the first intact larynx bone from a dinosaur ever found, the scientists said in their study which was published in the journal Nature earlier this year. How they found the bone and discovered its purposeA scan of the fossilized larynx of the Ankylosaurus dinosaur Pinacosaurus grangeri. They initially thought the bone they found was used in a different part of the dinosaur's throat, for breathing, Yoshida said.

Persons: dino, —, Junki Yoshida, Michael D’Emic, Yoshida, they're, there's, vocalized Yoshida Organizations: Service, Hokkaido University Museum, American Museum of Locations: Japan

CNN has contacted the Unification Church for an official comment but has not yet heard back. Previous controversiesThis is not the first time the Unification Church has been at the center of a controversy. The Sapporo District Court made a landmark ruling in favor of 20 former Unification Church members who had sued the group as part of the case. However, he also notes that some of its members felt happy and at peace after making donations to the Unification Church. Some critics of the Unification Church say the government’s actions don’t go far enough as it could still operate as a non-religious group.

Persons: Japan CNN —, Shinzo Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, Abe, Yamagami, Reverend Sun Myung, Abe’s, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Sakurai Yoshihid, Naomi Honma, ”, Nobutaka Inoue, What’s, don’t, Sakurai, ” Sakurai, Kimiaki, Nishida, Toshiyuki, – Organizations: Japan CNN, Unification, Family Federation, World Peace, Court, NHK, Unification Church, Reverend, CNN, Reuters, Japan’s Ministry, Cultural Affairs, Hokkaido University . CNN, National Lawyers Network, Kokugakuin University, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Japan Society for Cult Prevention, Osaka University Locations: Tokyo, Japan, South Korea, Sapporo

A pipe for transporting carbon dioxide to removal equipment is shown at the Tomakomai carbon, capture and storage (CCS) test site in Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan March 22, 2018. Japan aims to cut total carbon emissions by 46% by 2030 from 2013 levels, and has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050. In Japan, those difficulties are made worse by the already-strained state of the national power system due to the sharp drop in nuclear power generation since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Over the longer term, Japan is also targeting increases in wind power generation, especially from offshore sites. Electric vehicle sales are accelerating in Japan, but remain a tiny proportion of Japan's total car fleetHowever, EVs represented just 3% of total car sales last year, and account for less than 1% of Japan's total car stock.

Persons: Aaron Sheldrick, EVs, Gavin Maguire, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Energy Institute, Japan, International Energy Agency, IEA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan, LITTLETON , Colorado, India, China, United States, Europe

☆ Chipmaker ASML to set up base in Japan's Hokkaido to support new Rapidus plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An ASML spokesperson said the company will have a customer support team for Rapidus, but could not immediately confirm staff numbers. Nikkei, which first reported the news, said that 50 ASML engineers will install an ASML "EUV" machine on a prototype line in Chitose City, Hokkaido. "We always have engineers that support our systems in our customers' fabs," the ASML spokesperson said, referring to customers' factories. TSMC, Samsung, Intel and memory chip specialists SK Hynix and Micron currently manufacture using ASML's EUV tools. The Nikkei report said ASML is also expanding its existing support base for TSMC, which is building a major plant in Kumamoto in Japan.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, ASML, Rocky Swift, Toby Sterling, Louise Heavens, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Rapidus, Nikkei, Samsung, Intel, SK Hynix, Micron, Thomson Locations: Hokkaido, Chitose City, Kumamoto, Japan

☆ A millennial dad of 2 bought an abandoned home in Japan for $23,600. He says restoring it is easier than expected.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Eric McAskill bought an abandoned house, or akiya, in the rural Japanese countryside for $23,600. Eric McAskill and his wife, together with their two children. Over the next decade, he would find himself visiting Japan again and again, each time visiting a different prefecture. McAskill bought his akiya through an akiya bank, which is a database maintained by the local municipalities for abandoned or vacant houses. "The first person to bid starts to enter into negotiations with the owner," McAskill said of the bidding process in Japan.

Persons: Eric McAskill, Eric McAskill's, —, McAskill, let's, Eric McAskill McAskill, Eric McAskill McAskill's, I'm, haven't, It's, I've, he's Organizations: Service, IKEA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Japan, Bali, Nagano Prefecture, Vancouver, Canada, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Yonaguni, Taiwan, Indonesian

☆ No time to lose on ocean treaty as threats to high seas rise - Greenpeace
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Greenpeace Limited FollowSINGAPORE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Governments have no time to lose when it comes to implementing a new global ocean treaty to protect the high seas as threats from human activities intensify, a report by environmental group Greenpeace said on Thursday. In March, more than 100 countries completed a groundbreaking treaty to protect the high seas after years of negotiations. The high seas, or international waters, constitute more than 60% of the world's oceans but have not been under any protection. Greenpeace said fishing hours on the high seas increased by 8.5% from 2018 to 2022, and were up 22.5% in areas that need special protection. Greenpeace said that needs to happen before 2025 if there is any hope of achieving the "30 by 30" target.

Persons: Chris Thorne, Greenpeace's, David Stanway, Jamie Freed Organizations: Kyodo, Rights Companies Greenpeace, Greenpeace, United Nations, General, Thomson Locations: Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, SINGAPORE

☆ Russia's Medvedev: Japan's 'militarisation' complicates Asia-Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS /File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 3 (Reuters) - Japan's "militarisation" complicates the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Council and former President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday. "It is regrettable that the Japanese authorities are pursuing a course towards a new militarisation of the country," the Russian TASS news agency quoted Medvedev as saying. "Troop exercises are taking place near the Kuril Islands, which seriously complicates the situation in the Asia-Pacific region." Russia decided this year to declare Sept. 3 - the day after Japan's surrender in World War Two - a "Day of Victory over Militaristic Japan", spurring a protest from Tokyo. Medvedev said Japan, with help from the United States, was expanding its military infrastructure and increasing its arms purchases.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Lidia Kelly, Ekaterina Golubkova, William Mallard Organizations: Russia's, Scientific, Machine, Sputnik, Russian Security Council, Soviet, Russian TASS, Thomson Locations: Reutov, Moscow, Russia, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Russian, Hokkaido, Northern Territories, Soviet Union, Tokyo, United States, China, North Korea, Melbourne

☆ Russian ships return from joint Pacific patrolling with Chinese ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A still image from a video, released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be Russian and Chinese navy ships jointly patrolling the Pacific Ocean and holding naval exercises in the East China Sea, in this image taken from footage released August 18, 2023. Russian Defence Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreAug 27 (Reuters) - A detachment of Russia's navy warships returned from more than three weeks of joint-patrolling of the Pacific Ocean with Chinese navy ships, the Russian Interfax news agency reported on Sunday. Warships of Russia's Pacific Fleet, together with a detachment of Chinese navy ships travelled more than 7,000 nautical miles through the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Interfax reported citing the Fleet's press service. The Wall Street Journal reported in early August that 11 Russian and Chinese ships steamed close to the Aleutian Islands, in what appeared to be appeared to be the largest such flotilla to approach American shores. Interfax on Sunday reported that some of the Pacific Fleet's largest warships participated in the patrol.

Persons: Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Russia's Defence Ministry, Russian, Fleet, Northern, Street, U.S, Sunday, Pacific, Thomson Locations: East China, Russian, Japan, Okhotsk, Hokkaido, Russia, Northern Territories, ., Alaska, U.S, Warsaw

Even as the import ban kicked in, tables were filled at Japanese restaurant Fumi in Hong Kong on August 24, 2023. Kathleen Magramo/CNNHours before China’s announcement, the Asian financial center of Hong Kong – a semi-autonomous Chinese city – imposed its own ban on aquatic product imports from 10 Japanese regions including Tokyo and Fukushima. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reportedly “strongly” requested via diplomatic channels that China “immediately overturn” the ban. Still, Fei too thought that the bans from China and Hong Kong would have limited impact on Japanese trade. Consequently, even considering the reputational damage for Japanese seafood products, Japan’s overall exports will not be materially undermined,” Fei said.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Thomason Ng, Fumi’s, “, Kathleen Magramo, Japan’s, Masanobu Sakamoto, Fumio Kishida, ” Sakamoto, –, Nigel Marks, there’s, CNN “ It’s, ” Marks, David Krofcheck, ” Krofcheck, Stefan Angrick, Angrick, That’s, China “, Fei Xue, Fei, ” Fei, restaurateurs, Hong Kong’s, Cara Man, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong’s, East China, Fisherman’s Cooperative Association, ” “ Fishermen, Japanese, Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, Curtin University, University of Auckland, World Health Organization, Moody’s, Economist Intelligence Unit, “ Seafood Locations: Hong, Hong Kong’s Central, Fumi, Asia, Japan, China, Fukushima, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Weibo, East, Beijing, Australia, Ocean, South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Japanese, Central, Japan’s Hokkaido, Kyushu, Kagoshima, Norway, Canada

Tokyo CNN —Japan expressed “grave concern” after Chinese and Russian warships sailed close to its southern islands on Thursday, just a day before its leader is expected to discuss rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific at a summit with counterparts from South Korea and the United States. It is the first time Russian and Chinese ships have sailed together through this particular body of water. It said the ships are believed to have taken part in a joint patrol in the Pacific. Chinese and Russian sailors conducted anti-submarine exercises, repelled a simulated enemy air raid, conducted rescue training at sea, and practiced helicopter takeoffs and landings on the decks of warships, the Russian ministry said. There, they are expected to agree to deepen defense, technology and economic cooperation, according to senior Biden administration officials.

Persons: David, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk, hasn’t, China’s, ”, Wang Yi Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Japan, Western, Biden, South Locations: Tokyo CNN — Japan, Russian, South Korea, United States, Miyako, Japan’s, Okinotori, Soya, Hokkaido, Sakhalin, Okhotsk, Japan, East, China, Russia, Tokyo, Ukraine, Moscow, Kyiv . China, North Korea, Seoul, Korea, Asia, European, Pyongyang, Korean

☆ Mess at Chef's Table: How claims of theft, embezzlement, and abuse shut down Brooklyn Fare's legendary Michelin-starred restaurant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, the iconic three-Michelin-star tasting restaurant by chef César Ramirez, quietly ceased operations in July. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare is one of New York's most hallowed culinary institutions. A former employee at Chef's Table at Brooklyn FareBut beneath the restaurant's pristine stainless-steel surface, chaos was brewing. By 2011, Chef's Table had become one of only 138 restaurants worldwide to boast three Michelin stars. This year, Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare was the highest-ranked US restaurant on the 2023 World's 50 Best Restaurants' list.

Persons: César Ramirez, hasn't, Ramirez, Moneer, Moe, Issa, I'd, Ramirez's, Conti, David Bouley's, Le Bernardin, Per, Chef César Ramirez, Jamie McCarthy, WireImage, Joshua David Stein, Grub, Ramirez freaked, he'd, didn't, Pete Wells, Issa didn't, Adriana, Issa's, Heidi, —, Domaine, disrespected, Spencer Platt, Cesar, Issa wouldn't, commenter Organizations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn Fare, Manhattan Fare Corp, Chef's, Pepsi, GQ, Michelin, Madison, New York Press, Guardian, Staff, New York Times, York, Madison Park Locations: Hokkaido, Los Angeles, New York, Brooklyn, Burgundy, Israeli, Hill, Mexican, Chicago, West, Madison, Masa, Kaluga Queen, Russia, Asia, Kings County, Clinton Hill, Taiwan, York

☆ The PR manager for Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok on the downsides of the job, why backpackers are the bane of his existence, and how 'The White Lotus' changed his workday
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He loved "The White Lotus" despite its exaggerated versions of industry extremes. And for those wondering: There's still no word on whether those rumors about the next season of "The White Lotus" are true. Dan is also the regional director of public relations for the Four Seasons hotels and resorts for Asia-Pacific. I have to ask: How has the show "The White Lotus" changed your job? Two of our properties have been featured on "The White Lotus."

Persons: Dan Schacter —, Dan, Bangkok . Dan, Ken Seet, wouldn't, Taylor Mahon, Michael, we've, Dan Schacter, Sakuragawa —, I'm, Jennifer Coolidge — Organizations: Service, Bangkok, Rak, Social, Bangkok isn't, Creative, Michelin, Google, HBO Locations: Wall, Silicon, Bangkok, Thailand, Bangkok ., Asia, Bhutan, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Japan, Hawaii, Taormina

☆ What Japanese potato chip maker Calbee learned from a potato shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —What happens when Asia’s biggest potato chip maker runs out of potatoes? Pepsi (PEP) controls about 24% of the region’s potato chip market, while Calbee has about 12%, according to data from Euromonitor International. But the area was ravaged by drought in 2021, and the firm’s domestic potato supply fell by 8% and 14% in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years, respectively. Calbee tried to make up for the shortfall by importing more from the United States, which normally accounts for the remaining 10% of its potato supply. “Staying available on shelves is essential, not just to compete with other potato chip brands but also with other types of snacks.”

Persons: ”, Makoto Ehara, Noriko Hayashi, Calbee, Ehara, it’s, Keiei Sho, Sho, Emil Fazira Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Pepsi, Euromonitor, United Nations, Food, Agriculture Organization, FAO, Walmart Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Asia, Brazil, Ukraine, Japan, Hokkaido, United States, Pacific Northwest, ”, America, Europe, China, Indonesia, Asia Pacific

☆ Missing genes in ‘mind-controlling’ worms pose an evolutionary puzzle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

However, when the scientists compared their horsehair worm genomes with genomic information from other animals, something was missing, Cunha told CNN. Two live tangled freshwater horsehair worms, scientifically called Gordionus violaceus, were found in Germany. Mysteries remain about the worms’ movementsAs useful as cilia are, horsehair worms seem to be doing just fine without them, the scientists reported. To date, scientists have identified several hundred species of freshwater horsehair worms and five species of marine horsehair worms. Marine horsehair worms spend their entire lives in water, but freshwater species are only aquatic as adults.

Persons: —, australiensis, munidae, Tauana Cunha, Cunha, “, ”, “ It’s, Gonzalo Giribet, nematomorphs, Keiichi Kakui, Kakui, ” Kakui, Martin Sørensen, Ophiocordyceps, Bruno de Medeiros, California’s Organizations: CNN, Chicago’s Field, Harvard University, Hokkaido University, HBO, Field, Monument Locations: Germany, Japan, nematomorphs, California’s Muir

☆ Shohei Ohtani: MLB two-way superstar entering ‘uncharted waters’ on brink of record-breaking contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Sahil Kurup | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The figures you hear mentioned, whether that be $50 million, $60 million, he will set a new standard. This season, he’s currently in the top three in both categories — Ohtani is doing things previously thought to be inconceivable in the sport. Steph Chambers/Getty Images“[Ohtani] increases interest in Japanese baseball — who’s going to be the next Ohtani?” Fellenzer said. It increases interest in Japanese baseball here. Ohtani receives his 2021 American League MVP trophy alongside his teammate and three-time MVP outfielder Mike Trout.

Persons: Shohei Ohtani, –, he’s, Jeffrey Fellenzer, Ohtani, Tim Heitman, “ Sho, ”, He’s, Dusty Baker, Yu Darvish, Hideo Nomo, Scott Miller, “ Nobody, Babe Ruth, Ruth, Steph Chambers, ” Fellenzer, Tommy John, — Ohtani, “, ” Ohtani, Mike Trout, Phil Nevin, we’ve, ” Nevin Organizations: CNN, ” University of Southern, CNN Sport, ”, Pacific League, Major League Baseball, LA Times, Los Angeles Angels, New York, Texas Rangers, ” Houston Astros, peerless, Los Angeles Dodgers, The Dodgers, Hokkaido, Ham Fighters, Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Angels, MLB, American League, Kyodo, White Sox Locations: ” University of Southern California, America, Hokkaido Nippon, Japan

☆ Michelin starred hotels around the world, from Italy to Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

Courtesy CoteArgentinian maestro Mauro Colagreco was the first ever non-French chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, at Mirazur on the famed French Riviera. Gastronomic restaurant Plénitude by chef Arnaud Donckele marked an extraordinary debut by being awarded the pinnacle of three Michelin stars just six months after opening. Since 2021, they have held three Michelin stars for their cuisine, which celebrates peerless produce from their sustainable farm just seven miles away. Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hong KongLung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to hold three Michelin stars. Capella Hotels & ResortsFinally to Vietnam, where Michelin published its first ever guide in June 2023.

Persons: Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, it’s, Heiko Nieder, carne ”, Ben Benoliel, Alex Nietosvuori, Ally Thompson, Hjem, morel, Cigliutti Enrico Crippa, Piazza, Crippa, Ferran Adrià, Mauro Colagreco, Côte, Raymond Blanc, Paul Wilkinson Chef Raymond Blanc, Lady Gaga, Queen Elizabeth II, ”, ” Blanc, Luke Selby, Plénitude, Cheval Blanc, France Plénitude, Sylvie Becquet, Blanc Paris, chef Arnaud Donckele, Chopin, Maxime Frédéric –, Aled Williams, Gareth Ward, Il Ristorante Niko Romito, Ristorante Niko Romito, Niko Romito, Romito, Giacomo Amicucci, Kyle, Katina, Michel Bras, Le Saint, Martin, Château Saint, France Le Saint, Chef Jean, Luc Lefrançois, Saint, –, sommelier Vincent Arhuro, King Heen, Hong Kong Lung King Heen, Heen, who’s, Chan Yan Tak, Rome Cavalieri, Pergola, Heinz Beck, Hatta, Ushikubo, Raby Hunt, Raby Hunt's Michelin, James Close, Maria, Chef Maria, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Germany Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Lorenz, Young, Reto, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D, Waku, Ghin, Tetsuya Wakuda, There’s, Tetsuya, they’re, kinome, It’s, Denmark There's, Jean Marchal, Maria Coppy, Jakob de Neergaard, iberico, Sven Wassmer, “, Lumnezia, Douglas, Koki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Bill Bensley, Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Michelin, Duomo, Capella, Rosewood, of, Notre Dame, Resorts, Dubai Michelin, Resort Dubai, Reale, peerless, ”, Le Saint, Hong, Hong Kong Lung, Seasons Hong, Rockefeller, Sands, Royal Suite, Royal, Swiss, Koki, Capella Hotels, Capella Hanoi Locations: Bangkok, Piedmont, Hanoi, Tokyo, Zurich, Switzerland, Northumberland, Hadrian's, Swedish, England, Wall, Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy, Japan, Spanish, Capella Bangkok, Thailand, France, Mirazur, Thai, Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Chaat, Oxfordshire, ”, Cheval Blanc Paris, of Light, City of, Powys, Wales, Bulgari, Dubai, UAE, Italy’s Abruzzo, SingleThread, California, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Toya, Le, Provence, French, Vence, Marseille, Seasons Hong Kong, Yunnan, Peking, La, Rome, Eternal, County Durham, Darlington, romaine, Berlin, Germany, Brandenburg, Young Swiss, Europe, Marina, Sands, Singapore, Australia, Shizuoka, Hokkaido, d’Angleterre, Copenhagen, Denmark, Marchal, Hibana, Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

☆ China to ban food imports from Japan citing concerns over nuclear contaminated water
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China will ban the import of food from about one-fifth of Japanese prefectures for safety reasons, Chinese customs said on Friday, citing Japan's move to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. China customs said it would continuously strengthen the detection and monitoring of radioactive substances to ensure the safety of food imported from Japan in banning food from 10 prefectures. The move was to prevent the export of radioactive contaminated Japanese food to China and protect the food safety of Chinese consumers' imports, China said. For weeks China had publicly voiced strong opposition to Japan's move to discharge treated radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. China customs said the report did not fully reflect the views of all the experts involved in the assessment process, and the conclusions were not unanimously endorsed by the experts.

Persons: Japan's Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency Locations: Hokkaido, Japan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

☆ Why Japan is lagging behind in generative A.I. — and how it can create its own large language models
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

But the nation is lagging behind in the generative AI race and is trying to create its own large language models. Generative AI has been the trendiest topic in tech since OpenAI made waves with its chatbot ChatGPT. Key to generative AI development are large language models which underpin the likes of ChatGPT and Baidu's Ernie Bot, capable of processing vast data sets to generate text and other content. Japanese companies pursuing generative AIBig Tech players have also joined the fray to boost Japan's standing in generative AI. While it has yet to catch up in the generative AI space, Japan is making its first stride with these private sector efforts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Ernie Bot, Noriyuki Kojima, Kojima, Fumio Kishida, Sam Altman, Masayoshi, Son, Amir Anvarzadeh, Anvarzadeh, CyberAgent, Bloom Organizations: Getty, Japan, Technology, Reuters, Microsoft, Google, Ministry of Economy Trade, Industry, IMD, Nikkei, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, Fujitsu, Riken, Japanese, Big Tech, SoftBank Group, SB Energy, Toyota Tsusho, Fortress Investment, Vision Fund, Asymmetric Advisors, NTT, Local Locations: Japan, China, Europe, Nikkei Asia, Government, Tohoku, Hokkaido, SoftBank

☆ Japan’s Native Ainu Fight to Restore a Last Vestige of Their Identity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Motoko Rich | Hikari Hida | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Masaki Sashima gazed through the fog one recent afternoon onto the gray waters of the Tokachi River in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. From here, his Indigenous people, the Ainu, once used spears and nets to catch the salmon they regarded as gifts from the gods. Under Japanese law, river fishing for this salmon, an essential part of Ainu cuisine, trade and spiritual culture, has been off limits for more than a century. Mr. Sashima, 72, said it was time for his people to regain what they see as a natural right, and restore one of the last vestiges of a decimated Ainu identity. “In the past in our culture, the salmon were for everybody to enjoy within the community,” he said.

Persons: Masaki Sashima gazed, Sashima, ”, Mr Locations: Hokkaido, Japan’s

☆ Factbox: Japan ramps up efforts to strengthen its chip industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are investments in Japan announced by chipmakers and measures the government is taking to revive its semiconductor industry. Sony Group (6758.T) and auto parts maker Denso (6902.T), which will use the chips TSMC makes, are also investors. It said it would be the first chipmaker to bring EUV technology to Japan for production. It has offered TSMC a 476 billion yen subsidy, or about half the expected cost of the factory. Rapidus secured an initial 70 billion yen of funding from the government, and local media reported in April that the government was finalising a plan to provide an additional 300 billion yen.

Persons: TW, Rapidus, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Sam Nussey, Tim Kelly, Miho Uranaka, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Semiconductor, chipmakers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Sony Group, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Business Machines, IBM, Samsung, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan Investment Corp, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Toshiba, Japan Industrial Partners, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Kyushu, Denso, KS, Yokohama, Japan's, Chitose, Hokkaido, Rapidus, U.S, China, State

☆ Meet the typical Japanese millennial: Victims of the country's 'Lost Decade,' they are trapped in dead-end jobs and are adamant about never having kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

At 36, Isechi Makoto finally feels like he can start living life. Like many Japanese millennials, Isechi is content with living life as it is, happy to stay afloat as they watched their nation endure crippling economic crises and natural disasters. In comparison, the US is home to 72 million millennials, while China has around 400 million millennials. Insider spoke to three millennials in Japan, as well as two economists, to better understand the generation. Our findings about their career aspirations, their spending habits, and their financial decision-making speak to the typical millennial in Japan, but not every millennial.

Persons: Isechi Makoto, Isechi, he's Organizations: Pew Research Center Locations: Hokkaido, Kagoshima, Osaka, Japan, China

☆ Japan threatens to destory any North Korean
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Emiko Jozuka | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

North Korea’s space development agency had said last year it would finish preparations for the reconnaissance satellite by April 2023. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also said Monday that any North Korean missile launch disguised as a “satellite” is a “threat” to the nation’s security. Matsuno said Japan’s Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces have issued an order regarding the preparation of destructive measures against ballistic missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects preparations for North Korea's first military spy satellite on Tuesday, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday local time. Last month, Kim ordered officials to prepare to launch the country’s first military reconnaissance satellite, North Korean state media reported at the time.

☆ Japan arranging subsidies for Samsung chip facility -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Maki Shiraki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan is arranging subsidies that could be worth around 15 billion yen ($110 million) to South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS) for a chip facility it is considering setting up near Tokyo, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Samsung, the world's largest maker of memory chips, would construct the facility including its first chip packaging test line in Japan near its existing research and development centre in Yokohama, Reuters reported in late March. The facility could cost around 40 billion yen to set up, of which about a third would be subsidised by the Japanese government, said the source, who declined to be named because the information is not public. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday plans to meet with executives from leading chip firms including Samsung to strengthen multilateral cooperation. Japan said last month it would give 260 billion yen in subsidies to domestic chipmaker Rapidus, which is building a factory on the northern island of Hokkaido, in addition to 70 billion yen of government funding secured earlier.

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