Daily Japan Headlines: Monday, Sept 19, 2011

Written By: guyjin on September 24, 2011 No Comment

20110919
Photo Source: Telegraph.

Telegraph: World’s oldest sailor arrives home in Japan after solo journey around globe

An earthquake, two tsunamis, giant icebergs, towering waves and five typhoons: these may sound like typical challenges for anyone sailing around the world on their own.
But Japanese sailor Minoru Saito also had to contend with back pain, a hernia, a knee operation and organising delivery of his heart tablets – perhaps unsurprisingly, bearing in mind that he is 77-years-old.
Mr Saito yesterday broke a series of records – and defied all pensioner stereotypes – as he sailed into Yokohama port to a hero’s welcome after an epic 1,080-day journey sailing single-handed around the world.

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Washington Post: Japan trying to repair ties with Washington

The new Japanese government is trying to earn back trust from the United States, its most important ally, by showing support for initiatives that recent prime ministers in Tokyo have let languish.
The ideas include support for a multi-nation free-trade agreement and for allowing easier exports of Japanese weapons technology, ventures that have strong support in Washington. New Japanese leaders have also signaled their intention to carry out a long-stalled agreement with Washington that would put the U.S. Marine presence in Okinawa on a more solid footing.

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Daily Mail: Missile and submarine secrets ‘may have been stolen’ in cyber attack on Japanese defence firm

Some of Japan’s most sensitive defence secrets have been targeted by hackers, who have gained access to up to 80 computers of its biggest defence contractor – in what appeared to be a coordinated attack.
Contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd said today its submarine, missile and nuclear plant component factories had been targeted, according to a report.

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Bloomberg: Japan Targets 5 Trillion Yen in Non-Tax Revenue

Japan’s government is targeting 5 trillion yen ($65 billion) in non-tax revenue from asset sales and spending cuts, Kyodo News reported, citing Seiji Maehara, policy affairs chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.

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UPI: Damaged nuke plant may lose insurance

Japanese insurers are considering canceling coverage of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, which was heavily damaged by this year’s earthquake and tsunami.
The insurance contract with Tokyo Electric Power Co. comes up for renewal in January, the Asahi Shimbun reported. If the plant’s insurance is canceled, it would technically be operating illegally.

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Guardian: Fukushima protesters urge Japan to abandon nuclear power

Tens of thousands of people marched in Tokyo on Monday in the biggest show of public opposition to nuclear power since the start of the Fukushima Daiichi crisis in March.
The protesters, who included residents of Fukushima prefecture, called for the immediate closure of all of Japan’s nuclear reactors and a new energy policy centred on renewables.

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Washington Post: Japanese girl thanks US sailor in Hawaii for finding message bottle, calls it a ‘miracle’

Saki Arikawa, 17, said she had almost forgotten about the bottle and initially couldn’t believe it was found after five years.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from her hometown in Kagoshima, she said “it’s a miracle” the bottle was found. “It’s incredible,” she said.

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UPI: Japanese students seek more life purpose

Since the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in Japan, Japan’s youth are taking a more altruistic approach to work and community, a survey indicates.
The survey of 500 students at 47 universities and vocational schools in Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate — the three prefectures most directly affected by the March disasters — indicates 23 percent of the students said they worked to make money.
Nineteen percent said they want to work to help others, 18 percent said they wanted to attain a stable life and 17 percent said they wanted to work to improve their community.

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Sydney Morning Herald: Cloud hangs over Japan’s mushroom farmers

The continuing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant has affected this year’s autumn culinary delicacies in Fukushima Prefecture.
The prefecture’s annual matsutake mushroom-hunting event for tourists has been cancelled. Pears, the area’s speciality, are sold at some farm stands, marked with the amount of radioactive contamination. But the normally packed farmers’ markets are almost empty.

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Bloomberg: All Blacks Defeat Japan 83-7 to Move to Top of Group at Rugby’s World Cup

New Zealand scored 13 tries yesterday in its 83-7 defeat of Japan, which moves the All Blacks clear atop their Rugby World Cup group with the maximum points from their opening two matches.

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Washington Post: New Zealand’s Scott Dixon wins Indy Japan, Power second to take IndyCar series points lead