Japan's health ministry says more than 2,000 schools across the country were fully or partially closed last week due to the new influenza epidemic. The figure was 2.8 times higher than that of the previous week.
The ministry said on Tuesday that 2,158 facilities reported closing in the week that ended last Saturday. 772 facilities were closed in the previous week.
The ministry asks educational facilities ranging from nursery schools to high schools to report to the ministry if they close fully or partially.
By prefecture, Tokyo had 372 closures, followed by Saitama with 184, Osaka with 128, and Chiba with 122. The figures suggest that the new flu is rapidly spreading in large cities.
2009年9月15日火曜日
JAL reports on tie-up talks and restructuring
Struggling Japan Airlines says it plans to agree on capital tie-ups with foreign airlines by the middle of next month.
Japan Airlines President Haruka Nishimatsu on Tuesday reported to a Transport Ministry expert panel about his company's business improvement program to be drawn up this month.
He said JAL is holding talks with the world's largest carrier, Delta Air Lines, on a capital alliance worth about 500-million dollars. He also said American Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, is studying the possibility of investing in JAL.
Nishimatsu said JAL plans to cut 6,800 jobs, or 14 percent of its group workforce, over the next 3 years and suspend 30 loss-making international routes.
The participants in the panel meeting asked about the feasibility of JAL's restructuring plans and requested more details.
Japan Airlines President Haruka Nishimatsu on Tuesday reported to a Transport Ministry expert panel about his company's business improvement program to be drawn up this month.
He said JAL is holding talks with the world's largest carrier, Delta Air Lines, on a capital alliance worth about 500-million dollars. He also said American Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, is studying the possibility of investing in JAL.
Nishimatsu said JAL plans to cut 6,800 jobs, or 14 percent of its group workforce, over the next 3 years and suspend 30 loss-making international routes.
The participants in the panel meeting asked about the feasibility of JAL's restructuring plans and requested more details.
2009年9月12日土曜日
JAL seeks $550 mil. investment from Delta
Japan Airlines is seeking a capital injection of about 50 billion yen, or some 550 million dollars, from US carrier Delta Airlines.
The struggling Japanese airline company has been pursuing capital tie-ups with Delta Air Lines and European carrier Air France-KLM in an effort to fundamentally reform its operations.
Japan Airlines sent top executives, including a deputy president, to the United States to negotiate with Delta on the amount of capital.
The company plans to ask for about 550 million dollars as part of the funds needed to restructure itself, but it is yet to be seen how much Delta will commit.
Japan Airlines also plans to enter into negotiations with Air France-KLM to receive tens of millions of dollars of capital.
If the negotiations are successful, an airline group made up of Japanese, US, and European carriers will come into being.
The struggling Japanese airline company has been pursuing capital tie-ups with Delta Air Lines and European carrier Air France-KLM in an effort to fundamentally reform its operations.
Japan Airlines sent top executives, including a deputy president, to the United States to negotiate with Delta on the amount of capital.
The company plans to ask for about 550 million dollars as part of the funds needed to restructure itself, but it is yet to be seen how much Delta will commit.
Japan Airlines also plans to enter into negotiations with Air France-KLM to receive tens of millions of dollars of capital.
If the negotiations are successful, an airline group made up of Japanese, US, and European carriers will come into being.
2009年8月30日日曜日
"Ponyo" wins hearts of US children
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.
"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.)
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