The latest film by Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki is a box-office success in the United States, one year after it became a number one hit in Japan.
"Ponyo" opened at more than 900 US cinemas on August 14th, a new record for the Japanese director.
Walt Disney Pictures is the movie's distributor in the US. Hollywood actors, including Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett, provide the English voiceovers.
Eight-year-old child actors play a goldfish girl, Ponyo, and a Japanese boy, Sosuke. The theme song is sung in English.
Children at a cinema in New York said the movie is more enjoyable than they expected, and some said that Sosuke is adorable.
A US research firm, Box Office Mojo, says "Ponyo" ranked 9th in its first week, and 12th a week later. The company says the figures are good for a children's movie.
2009年8月30日日曜日
2009年8月16日日曜日
Japan's college entrance ratio marks record high
A Japanese government survey shows that more than 56 percent of high school graduates went on to higher education this year, marking the highest ratio on record.
The education ministry survey says that nearly 682,000 people, or 56.2 percent, entered universities, colleges, or junior colleges in April -- the start of a new school year.
The percentage of collegians has increased for 7 years in a row.
The ministry says while the percentage of those choosing junior colleges is on the decline, the number of students entering colleges and universities has steadily increased since 1991. This year, the rate topped 50 percent for the first time.
Behind the growing enrollment rate are a decline in the population of 18-year-olds and a rise in the number of colleges.
This year, the number of 18-year-olds was 1.21 million, which is less than 60 percent of the figure in 1992, when the age bracket was at its peak. The number of colleges in Japan now stands at 773 - a record high.
While the percentage of those entering colleges rose, the future of those graduating from them looks rather bleak. Of those who graduated this spring, only 68.4 percent were able to land jobs, which is down 1.5 percentage points from a year before.
The education ministry survey says that nearly 682,000 people, or 56.2 percent, entered universities, colleges, or junior colleges in April -- the start of a new school year.
The percentage of collegians has increased for 7 years in a row.
The ministry says while the percentage of those choosing junior colleges is on the decline, the number of students entering colleges and universities has steadily increased since 1991. This year, the rate topped 50 percent for the first time.
Behind the growing enrollment rate are a decline in the population of 18-year-olds and a rise in the number of colleges.
This year, the number of 18-year-olds was 1.21 million, which is less than 60 percent of the figure in 1992, when the age bracket was at its peak. The number of colleges in Japan now stands at 773 - a record high.
While the percentage of those entering colleges rose, the future of those graduating from them looks rather bleak. Of those who graduated this spring, only 68.4 percent were able to land jobs, which is down 1.5 percentage points from a year before.
2009年8月13日木曜日
Annual summer dance festival opens in Tokushima
Dancing fever has engulfed the western Japanese city of Tokushima, following the opening of the traditional summer dance festival called Awa-odori.
The annual event started on Wednesday evening with an opening ceremony at a dance arena near the city hall.
Groups of dancers in traditional cotton kimono began dancing in rhythm in 7 designated areas in the city.
The festival runs through Saturday.
2009年8月9日日曜日
Nagasaki marks 64th A-bomb anniversary
Nagasaki observed the 64th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city on Sunday.
A memorial service was held at the Peace Park near Ground Zero, with about 5,800 people taking part.
They included representatives from 29 countries -- a record number -- and the mayors of 87 overseas cities who are attending the Mayors for Peace conference.
The participants observed a minute's silence at 11:02 AM, the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped.
In his speech, Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue praised US President Barack Obama's appeal for a nuclear-free world. He called on people everywhere to declare their support for Obama and take steps to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.
UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto said he came to Japan to express solidarity with the victims and survivors of one of the greatest atrocities the world has ever witnessed.
At the Mayors for Peace conference, atomic bomb survivors and citizens collected signatures to urge Obama to visit Nagasaki.
A participant from Belgium, who signed the petition, said visiting Nagasaki and listening to survivors' accounts made him realize the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons.
He added that leaders from all over the world should visit Nagasaki.
2009/08/09 22:44(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
A memorial service was held at the Peace Park near Ground Zero, with about 5,800 people taking part.
They included representatives from 29 countries -- a record number -- and the mayors of 87 overseas cities who are attending the Mayors for Peace conference.
The participants observed a minute's silence at 11:02 AM, the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped.
In his speech, Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue praised US President Barack Obama's appeal for a nuclear-free world. He called on people everywhere to declare their support for Obama and take steps to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.
UN General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto said he came to Japan to express solidarity with the victims and survivors of one of the greatest atrocities the world has ever witnessed.
At the Mayors for Peace conference, atomic bomb survivors and citizens collected signatures to urge Obama to visit Nagasaki.
A participant from Belgium, who signed the petition, said visiting Nagasaki and listening to survivors' accounts made him realize the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons.
He added that leaders from all over the world should visit Nagasaki.
2009/08/09 22:44(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
2009年8月8日土曜日
Lay judges say trial time was tight
Japan's first lay judges described their experience as stressful. They said it was hard to deliberate and hand down a ruling in just four days.
The trial, held at the Tokyo District Court, closed on Thursday. Six lay judges and three professional judges tried a murder case. They sentenced the male defendant to 15 years in prison.
After the ruling, a male lay judge told reporters that the schedule was tight. He said he got tired because he had to handle a vast amount of information, adding that he had to check the record and other documents even during the 30-minute breaks.
A female lay judge said it was difficult to draw conclusions in such a limited time.
Defense lawyers needed more time than usual to prepare for the session. They said they had to work through the night on the eve of their closing arguments.
The court had estimated that four days would be enough for lay judges to settle the case, where the defendant had admitted the charges.
The trial, held at the Tokyo District Court, closed on Thursday. Six lay judges and three professional judges tried a murder case. They sentenced the male defendant to 15 years in prison.
After the ruling, a male lay judge told reporters that the schedule was tight. He said he got tired because he had to handle a vast amount of information, adding that he had to check the record and other documents even during the 30-minute breaks.
A female lay judge said it was difficult to draw conclusions in such a limited time.
Defense lawyers needed more time than usual to prepare for the session. They said they had to work through the night on the eve of their closing arguments.
The court had estimated that four days would be enough for lay judges to settle the case, where the defendant had admitted the charges.
DNA test links Noriko Sakai to stimulants
Tokyo police say they have reason to believe missing pop singer and actress Noriko Sakai was personally using illegal stimulants.
They are looking for the 38-year-old after obtaining an arrest warrant for her on Friday on suspicion of illegal drug possession.
Police say a raid on Sakai's condominium in central Tokyo turned up traces of stimulants and a device for inhaling such substances. The DNA on the inhalation device is a match for Sakai's.
The singer's real name is Noriko Takaso. She went missing on Monday, hours after her husband was arrested on the same charge.
Police say her husband has said the items found in the residence do not belong to him.
They are looking for the 38-year-old after obtaining an arrest warrant for her on Friday on suspicion of illegal drug possession.
Police say a raid on Sakai's condominium in central Tokyo turned up traces of stimulants and a device for inhaling such substances. The DNA on the inhalation device is a match for Sakai's.
The singer's real name is Noriko Takaso. She went missing on Monday, hours after her husband was arrested on the same charge.
Police say her husband has said the items found in the residence do not belong to him.
2009年8月3日月曜日
Poor weather causes vegetables prices to rise
Rainy weather and a lack of sunshine in many parts of Japan has created shortages of vegetables and caused wholesale prices to rise.
The farm ministry says the average price of 14 major fresh vegetables traded at the Tokyo metropolitan central wholesale market in July was 160 yen per kilogram, or about 1.7 dollars. That's 5 percent higher than normal.
In particular, the price of potatoes from areas around Tokyo and elsewhere has soared by about 60 percent. Onions from southwestern Japan and elsewhere are up 36 percent. Tomatoes from northeastern regions have risen 14 percent and carrots are up by 6 percent.
By contrast, the prices of cabbage and Chinese cabbage from Nagano Prefecture in central Japan and Gunma Prefecture north of Tokyo, where weather has been more stable, have fallen by some 13 percent, due to abundant crops.
Market sources say vegetable shipments from Hokkaido in northern Japan are about to move into top gear, but poor weather conditions in the region are likely to keep prices of potatoes and onions high for the time being.
2009年8月1日土曜日
Jobless rate rises to 5.4% in June
Japan's unemployment rate worsened to 5.4 percent in June.
The internal affairs ministry says the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was up 0.2 percentage points from a month earlier and close to the all-time high of 5.5 percent recorded in April 2003.
The number of workers fell by 1.51 million from a year earlier to 63 million.
The number of jobless increased by a record 830,000 to 3.48 million.
In a separate report, the labor ministry says the ratio of job offers to job seekers in June dropped by 0.01 point from May to 0.43, meaning there were 43 jobs available for every 100 on offer. It was the lowest on record for the second straight month.
For permanent positions, the ratio of job offers to job seekers was at 0.24, the same as May and the lowest on record.
The labor ministry says the deterioration of the employment situation has eased but, as yet, there are no signs of improvement.
It says the severe job situation may continue for some time as industrial production is recovering but at low levels.
2009/07/31 10:53(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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The internal affairs ministry says the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was up 0.2 percentage points from a month earlier and close to the all-time high of 5.5 percent recorded in April 2003.
The number of workers fell by 1.51 million from a year earlier to 63 million.
The number of jobless increased by a record 830,000 to 3.48 million.
In a separate report, the labor ministry says the ratio of job offers to job seekers in June dropped by 0.01 point from May to 0.43, meaning there were 43 jobs available for every 100 on offer. It was the lowest on record for the second straight month.
For permanent positions, the ratio of job offers to job seekers was at 0.24, the same as May and the lowest on record.
The labor ministry says the deterioration of the employment situation has eased but, as yet, there are no signs of improvement.
It says the severe job situation may continue for some time as industrial production is recovering but at low levels.
2009/07/31 10:53(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
Video Quality
Low (256K)High (512K)
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