Softbank Corp. said that their profit has doubled in the last quarter as its cellular business continue to expand.
The net profit was 43.37 billion yen during the July-September period, up from 21.75 billion yen a year before.
Softbank is the only Japanese operator to offer the iPhone, which are popular for its convenience in countries such as North America and Europe.
The upstart carrier is the smallest of Japan's big three mobile companies, but has been successively undercut rivals with cheap calling plans and impressive advertisements, including the Otousan series, adopting famous American stars, and Japanese stars.
I am also a user of Softbank cell phone, and I'm satisfied with the plans they have.
I use call phone every day, e-mailing someone and calling whenever I want to. But it doesn't cost much. It's about 2500 yen a month. When I was using docomo cell phone, it cost about 6000 yen a month doing the same thing.
I think their plans are economically impressive to consumers.
2009年10月31日土曜日
Increasing Tobacco Tax
Prime minister Yukio Hatoyama said Friday that there are possible tax increase of tobacco.
He says that t should be possible to raise the tax in light of its impact on the environment and public health.
It seems like he wants to adopt the environmental tax, but cautious because the econmy is not getting much better at this point.
He knows that it should be difficult unless the government gets the public support for a new tax
desighed to protect the environment.
He also said that his government will abolish gasoline and other taxes related to roads from the fiscal year starting next April.
I agree with the increasing tobacco tax. There are many smokers don't care about other people and smoke anywhere they like. It is distracting others. The prime minister should make a law that forces smokers to follow the rule and manner when they smoke.
He says that t should be possible to raise the tax in light of its impact on the environment and public health.
It seems like he wants to adopt the environmental tax, but cautious because the econmy is not getting much better at this point.
He knows that it should be difficult unless the government gets the public support for a new tax
desighed to protect the environment.
He also said that his government will abolish gasoline and other taxes related to roads from the fiscal year starting next April.
I agree with the increasing tobacco tax. There are many smokers don't care about other people and smoke anywhere they like. It is distracting others. The prime minister should make a law that forces smokers to follow the rule and manner when they smoke.
Unemployment rate unexpectedly eases to 5.3%
According to the Japan Times, the government said that the unemployment rate has dropped to 5.3% in September.
In August, the rate was 5.5%.
There seems a signs that a recovery in the economy is spreading to consumers.
According to Toru Shimano, head of econmic research at Okasan Securities Ltd. , said that the productions slowely increasing, which means that the job market is probably not going to get much worse. Still, it is too early to be optimistic.
The U.S. economy , Japan't largest verseas market, expanded at an annual 3.5% rate last quarter after a year of contraction. The growth in China which has 8.9% of economic expantion could have lead to it.
However, the situation of recruitment of university graduates have not changed a bit.
The big companies in Japan, such as Nomura Holdings Inc., and Mitsubishi UFJFinancial Group
Inc. say they will cut the recruitment of those graduates to almost a half.
In August, the rate was 5.5%.
There seems a signs that a recovery in the economy is spreading to consumers.
According to Toru Shimano, head of econmic research at Okasan Securities Ltd. , said that the productions slowely increasing, which means that the job market is probably not going to get much worse. Still, it is too early to be optimistic.
The U.S. economy , Japan't largest verseas market, expanded at an annual 3.5% rate last quarter after a year of contraction. The growth in China which has 8.9% of economic expantion could have lead to it.
However, the situation of recruitment of university graduates have not changed a bit.
The big companies in Japan, such as Nomura Holdings Inc., and Mitsubishi UFJFinancial Group
Inc. say they will cut the recruitment of those graduates to almost a half.
2009年10月26日月曜日
Hatoyama Says Futenma Can Wait
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said over the weekend that the decision on where the U.S. Futenma military airfield in Okinawa will be relocated does not necessarily have to be reached before President Barack Obama visits Tokyo next month.
The day before, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada made remarks that contradicts from the position the prime minister takes.
I was born in Ginowan and have been lived in the city for almost 21 years, and feel that the loud noise of the airplanes has always been annoying. I definately agree with the idea that the government think the military base should be removed from this island. However, I strongly oppose the idea to move it to Henoko. If they move it there, we lose the beautiful nature and the animals living in the ocean. The problem whon't change unless we remove the air base from this island. It's better not to remove it if we can't remove it out of this island. People in Ginowan knows how noisy it is, and I don't want people who live close to Henoko suffer the same way.
There's no good points to remove it to Henoko. Eventually we spend a lot of money and destroy nature, make people suffer and put them risks to be killed by the crached airplanes.
The day before, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada made remarks that contradicts from the position the prime minister takes.
I was born in Ginowan and have been lived in the city for almost 21 years, and feel that the loud noise of the airplanes has always been annoying. I definately agree with the idea that the government think the military base should be removed from this island. However, I strongly oppose the idea to move it to Henoko. If they move it there, we lose the beautiful nature and the animals living in the ocean. The problem whon't change unless we remove the air base from this island. It's better not to remove it if we can't remove it out of this island. People in Ginowan knows how noisy it is, and I don't want people who live close to Henoko suffer the same way.
There's no good points to remove it to Henoko. Eventually we spend a lot of money and destroy nature, make people suffer and put them risks to be killed by the crached airplanes.
Creationism and Evolutionary Theories
More than half of adults in a survey of 10 countries thought school science lessons should teach evolutionary theories alongside creationism. The countries in survey were Argentina, China, Egypt, Great Britain, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and USA.
Among those who knew of Darwinism, on average 53% felt other possible perspectives should also be taught. The higher percentage of those who feel this way were Argentina ( 68% ) , and Great Britain ( 60 % ).
The highest proportion agreeing that evolutionary theories alone should be taught was in India, at 49%, followed by Spain (42%).
1/5 people in China and in South Africa thought other perspectives ( other than evolutionary theories ) should be taught.
However, the debate over creationism and evolutionary theories are somewhat difficult because
the theory is a scientific point of view, and the creationism is a religious perspective.
In Japan, the evolutionary theories are widely known but not so many people know the creationism. If they learned creationism, though, I think its hard for them to believe the perspective because the majority of them don't believe in Christianity.
Among those who knew of Darwinism, on average 53% felt other possible perspectives should also be taught. The higher percentage of those who feel this way were Argentina ( 68% ) , and Great Britain ( 60 % ).
The highest proportion agreeing that evolutionary theories alone should be taught was in India, at 49%, followed by Spain (42%).
1/5 people in China and in South Africa thought other perspectives ( other than evolutionary theories ) should be taught.
However, the debate over creationism and evolutionary theories are somewhat difficult because
the theory is a scientific point of view, and the creationism is a religious perspective.
In Japan, the evolutionary theories are widely known but not so many people know the creationism. If they learned creationism, though, I think its hard for them to believe the perspective because the majority of them don't believe in Christianity.
Italy: A Castle Becomes an Cashmere Factory
An Italian entrepreneur has transformed a castle and outbuildings in the medieval village of Solomeo into a cashmere factory which has proved a hit with local employees.
The factory makes the high quality garments, skirts, jackets, and so on with the cashmere of hih quality.
Brunello Cucinello's factory runs along less traditional lines, there is no clock watching, and he says the well-being of workers is just as important as profits. He says that he is going to make a profit, but use it for the people's dignity.
Cucinello is called " a king of cashmere " in the village and the factory has been successful for his fame.
The factory has about 500 workers, and many of them feel happy to be able to work there.
Cucinello donates 20% of its profit to the district, making schools, churches, and even the theaters in the village.
The factory makes the high quality garments, skirts, jackets, and so on with the cashmere of hih quality.
Brunello Cucinello's factory runs along less traditional lines, there is no clock watching, and he says the well-being of workers is just as important as profits. He says that he is going to make a profit, but use it for the people's dignity.
Cucinello is called " a king of cashmere " in the village and the factory has been successful for his fame.
The factory has about 500 workers, and many of them feel happy to be able to work there.
Cucinello donates 20% of its profit to the district, making schools, churches, and even the theaters in the village.
Punishment or Reward: Which Works Better on Behavior?
It seems like that adults are much more cooperative if they work in a system based on rewards. Researchers at Harvard University in the United States and the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden did the study.
They had about two hundred college students play a game known as the Prisoner's Dilemma.
They are divided into groups of four. Each members can reward or punish each of the other three players.
The result was that the group that rewarded the most gained 2 times more than the groups that rewarded the least. Also, the group with the most punishment had 25 percent less points than the group with the least punishment.
I think the study made us clear that Rewarding works better than to punish.
Although there are some people who work hard as they punished, people in general feel better and try to do their best if they can get the reward.
They had about two hundred college students play a game known as the Prisoner's Dilemma.
They are divided into groups of four. Each members can reward or punish each of the other three players.
The result was that the group that rewarded the most gained 2 times more than the groups that rewarded the least. Also, the group with the most punishment had 25 percent less points than the group with the least punishment.
I think the study made us clear that Rewarding works better than to punish.
Although there are some people who work hard as they punished, people in general feel better and try to do their best if they can get the reward.
2009年10月25日日曜日
The "Clean" Smells Encourage Clean Behavior
According to the study by Katie Liljenquist, professor of organizational leadership at Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management, the clean smells makes people to be nice.
" People feel contaminated by immoral choices and try to wash away their sins." She says.
The experiment used the citrus-scented Windex to put in a room. The other room was unscented.
The result was that the people who were sorrounded by the flesh scented air were more likely to act fairly and charitably than those sniffing unscented air.
That is very interesting.
I've read an article about the smells affect humans before. That was about smells influence
prople's dreams. I don't remember it clearly but it was a study from German scientist.
They experimented among women, divided into 2 groups. One of them smelled the rose odoers
when they sleep, and the other slept in air that doesn't smell good.
The resulf was that those who smell the rose scented air could have good dreams, and the others had bad dreams probably because of the bad smell of the air.
" People feel contaminated by immoral choices and try to wash away their sins." She says.
The experiment used the citrus-scented Windex to put in a room. The other room was unscented.
The result was that the people who were sorrounded by the flesh scented air were more likely to act fairly and charitably than those sniffing unscented air.
That is very interesting.
I've read an article about the smells affect humans before. That was about smells influence
prople's dreams. I don't remember it clearly but it was a study from German scientist.
They experimented among women, divided into 2 groups. One of them smelled the rose odoers
when they sleep, and the other slept in air that doesn't smell good.
The resulf was that those who smell the rose scented air could have good dreams, and the others had bad dreams probably because of the bad smell of the air.
BIG EARTHQUAKES??
I read an interesting article which was in TIME online,
and that was about the places that can have big earthquakes in the future.
They introduced 5 of them, including Los Angels, Tokyo, Tehran (Iran), Pacific Northwest,
and Indonesia. Above all, Sumatra (Indonesia) just had an 7.6 earthquake last month, killed more than 1000 people.
As for Tokyo, one of the busiest city in the world, it is estimated that at least 10000 people
will be killed and $1 trillion damages will be caused if the big earthquakes like in 1923 hits the city. The 1923 earthquake in Tokyo killed 150000 citizens.
Although Okinawa have had few earthquakes which are considered big in the past,
I think we have to be prepared for the earthquakes at least, such as connecting shelves to the wall, and storing food and bottles of water.
By the way, there is a company that makes houses, and they invented an air cushion
that prevent houses from being damaged by earthquakes. That was pretty interesting.
and that was about the places that can have big earthquakes in the future.
They introduced 5 of them, including Los Angels, Tokyo, Tehran (Iran), Pacific Northwest,
and Indonesia. Above all, Sumatra (Indonesia) just had an 7.6 earthquake last month, killed more than 1000 people.
As for Tokyo, one of the busiest city in the world, it is estimated that at least 10000 people
will be killed and $1 trillion damages will be caused if the big earthquakes like in 1923 hits the city. The 1923 earthquake in Tokyo killed 150000 citizens.
Although Okinawa have had few earthquakes which are considered big in the past,
I think we have to be prepared for the earthquakes at least, such as connecting shelves to the wall, and storing food and bottles of water.
By the way, there is a company that makes houses, and they invented an air cushion
that prevent houses from being damaged by earthquakes. That was pretty interesting.
Many Americans Now Plan to Work Past 67
According to the study from Sun Life Financial, about two-thirds of American workers
now think that they will work until the age 67.
The main reason for this is mostly from the confused economy , and
the stock market losses they faced.
In Japan, the general retirement age is 60, but some people retire a little earlier,
or stay a little longer, if their company want them to.
I watched TV the other day and there was a program called "the paradise of life."
It was about an old couple who makes lunch and sell them at a train station
in a suburb.
The old man said he retired from his company at the age of 57.
It seems like he enjoy his second life there.
I think it's important to have hobbies, because then one can enjoy spending time
doing his/her hobbies after the retirement.
now think that they will work until the age 67.
The main reason for this is mostly from the confused economy , and
the stock market losses they faced.
In Japan, the general retirement age is 60, but some people retire a little earlier,
or stay a little longer, if their company want them to.
I watched TV the other day and there was a program called "the paradise of life."
It was about an old couple who makes lunch and sell them at a train station
in a suburb.
The old man said he retired from his company at the age of 57.
It seems like he enjoy his second life there.
I think it's important to have hobbies, because then one can enjoy spending time
doing his/her hobbies after the retirement.
2009年10月23日金曜日
A Woman Was Killed By the Balinese
A Japanese Woman Was Killed in Java, a Tourist Spot
A 33-year-old Japanese woman was killed by the 37-year-old man.
She was staying in Malang in East Java province.
The place was pretty famous as a tourist spot.
These days, more and more Japanese woman travel overseas, with friends or by herself.
Therefore, they should be more careful not to become a victim of crimes.
The woman who was killed seems to have a friendly character, so that might be
a cause for the incident. If she was more careful, however, she might be alive now.
Last month, a friend of mine left Japan and traveled to Vietnam.
I haven't heard anything from her yet.. Hope she's doing okay, ,
A 33-year-old Japanese woman was killed by the 37-year-old man.
She was staying in Malang in East Java province.
The place was pretty famous as a tourist spot.
These days, more and more Japanese woman travel overseas, with friends or by herself.
Therefore, they should be more careful not to become a victim of crimes.
The woman who was killed seems to have a friendly character, so that might be
a cause for the incident. If she was more careful, however, she might be alive now.
Last month, a friend of mine left Japan and traveled to Vietnam.
I haven't heard anything from her yet.. Hope she's doing okay, ,
Kao's Econa loses 'healthy' label
Econa loses healthy label....
The Kao's oil, Econa, was very famous for its healthy, safe, and functional ingredient.
It was also accepted by the government as a "Tokuho" oil.
However, it was found that the oil has a little amount of cancer-causing ingredients.
Therefore the government canceled the "Tokuho" label they had.
...That was shocking.
I have been using the oil for cooking for a year and I thought it was pretty safe and
the healthiest. I never thought it could have a risk of getting a cancer...
Not only me, but also the famous athletes seem to have been used the oil for their diet.
I hope they will change their problematic ingredients and get the Tokuho mark again.
The Kao's oil, Econa, was very famous for its healthy, safe, and functional ingredient.
It was also accepted by the government as a "Tokuho" oil.
However, it was found that the oil has a little amount of cancer-causing ingredients.
Therefore the government canceled the "Tokuho" label they had.
...That was shocking.
I have been using the oil for cooking for a year and I thought it was pretty safe and
the healthiest. I never thought it could have a risk of getting a cancer...
Not only me, but also the famous athletes seem to have been used the oil for their diet.
I hope they will change their problematic ingredients and get the Tokuho mark again.
swine flu
H1N1 vaccinations
seems like it is going to start from Monday, next week.
However, not all people can get it simultaneously.
Those who are working at hospitals should get the vaccinations first, then kids or people who have some risks to be badly infected , pregnant women, and students, moms and dads, and so forth.
Young college students like me would be the last to be concerned , and the time we can have the
vaccination is said to be next year.
That's sad, because the swine flu is very well spread in this island. The only thing we can do now is to be careful not to be infected by the flu.
So, let's wash your hands and take vitamin C!
Many doctors say that we can prevent the flu from us by doing some simply things.
2009年10月14日水曜日
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