Fresh & Hot from Japan, 27 to 31 May 2016

Please enjoy fresh & hot news from Japan with comments by Europe-Japan Dynamics.

27 May. “Words that speak to the heart” is what victims of atomic bomb want

Most of the victims of the atomic bomb in Japan seals their demand to request apology to the US President on his visit to Hiroshima, but want to hear “words that speak to the heart”. This is because they wish to have concrete steps to abolish a nuclear weapon that brings a horribly non-humanitarian ending.

Comments: Emotion speaks to Japanese.

30 May. Mizuho Bank to extend the retirement age to 65 by the end of March 2019, the first among the three major banks

Mizuho Financial Group (FG) has decided to extend the retirement age to 65 years old from the present 60 years old. The plan, which is the first among the three major banks in Japan, will be implemented by the end of fiscal year 2018 (March 2019). Recognizing an imcreasing importance of consulting on asset management and its efficient use, FG will benefit from those bank clerks with ample experience, while meeting a social demand to extend the retirement age.

Comments: The plan meets a requirement of the aging society. It allows the bank to benefit from experience built in-house and allow longer working opportunities to its employees. For the bank employees, however, the plan may mean that they must have skills needed by the bank in order to benefit from the extended retirement.

31 May. Twenty years of Pokemon, “Want to soak into the real world” said the president

Pocket Monster which greeted 20 years since the release of the game has grown up to be major game contents that represent Japan. The game is popular by a nickname of Pokemon, as well as its fancy goods. The sale of the Pokemon-related products amounts to over 4,600 billion yen worldwide. Upon an interview, President Tsunekazu Ishihara (58 years old) of company “Pokemon” which manages the brand said, “We want to promote Pokemon in a way in which people feel Pokemon is there in the real world.

Comments: Making Pokemon integrated in the real world is a very Japanese idea. Japanese take all the existence in the nature and spiritual world as their neighbours.

  • All the news items are picked up from “Asahi Digital”, and summarized and translated by Europe-Japan Dynamics. The articles are not an official translation by the Asahi Newspaper.

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