* West Japan Rail Demands Compensation
August 25, 2000
Nishtetsu is demanding over 10 million yen in compensation from the family
of the 17 year old unemployed boy who hijacked a Nishitetsu Highway bus in
May this year, it was revealed yesterday. Nishitetsu seeks compensation for
damages received to the bus when Police forcibly entered the bus to end the
hostage conflict. Also for damages to the bus Nishitetsu provided to the
police to simulate the entry. Regarding Nishitetsu's claim for
compensation, a company spokesman stated, "Nishitetsu by no means is
attempting to receive compensation before the victims families receive full
and just compensation for their losses."
* Isahaya Bay Environmental Impact
August 18, 2000
Yesterday, experts released a startling report on the extent of destruction
inflicted on Isahaya Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture, since a central-government
sponsored land reclamation project began on a section of the bay. According
to the report, all of the shellfish have been destroyed, and the first half
of August saw red tides due to poisoned plankton. According to the Nagasaki
Prefecture Fishery Division, the total extent of damage to the fishery
industry has reached an estimated 250 million yen.
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* Traditional Hakata Products Prove Popular in New York
August 8, 2000
Traditional Hakata textiles, on display at an international trade fair
currently being held in New York, are proving to be a big hit. The
traditional handicraft, known as "Hakata-ori", is being introduced to
customers in America under the brand name of "Hakata Japan". The line-up of
products features a fresh take on traditional patterns with bags and
accessories designed to coordinate with Western clothing. According to
reports, the products received 120 business inquiries during just the ̃rst
two days of the fair and several deals have already been signed. By all
accounts, an industry, which in the recession-plagued domestic market is
somewhat stagnant, looks set to be re-invigorated by dealings in a land far
away.
* Duplicate Keys Used to Rob Vending Machines
August 8, 2000
An investigation by police in Fukuoka and Hiroshima prefectures has
revealed an outbreak of crimes where money from vending machines is stolen
by perpetrators using duplicate keys, obtained illegally. According to
police, a spate of crimes have been committed in the Kyushu and Chugoku
regions with incidents thought to number several hundred in Fukuoka
Prefecture alone. Police in both prefectures had, as of yesterday, arrested
three Chinese nationals on suspicion of theft and several duplicate keys
had been coñscated from the suspects. Police believe the crimes are being
committed systematically by groups of Chinese and are investigating how the
keys were obtained.
* Kyushu Govts Lag Behind in IT Rush
August 3, 2000
Prefectural governments in Kyushu have been criticized for their lethargic
response to computerization and poor use of the Internet. While the
Ministry of Local Governments has set a national target of one PC per
government employee, Fukuoka Prefectural Government is struggling to keep
its promise of installing one PC for every 2.6 employees. The national
average is currently one computer per 1.5 government employees. Drives are
being made to have application forms for marriage, business, building and
other permits available online, however at most government offices in
Kyushu such forms are still submitted as paperwork.
* KNR Rail Pass to be Sold Through JR
August 2, 2000
The Korean National Railway is currently considering the sale of a rail
pass similar to the Japan Rail pass which allows unlimited travel on all
trains for a specified time. KNR currently offers such passes, however they
are only available in the U.S. The KNR pass, if given the green light, will
be available through Japan Rail Kyushu which also runs the high speed
hydrofoil connection between Fukuoka and Pusan.
* U.S. Secretary of State Visits Miyazaki
August 1, 2000
U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright yesterday attended an unveiling
ceremony in Miyazaki City for a hall named in her honor. Following the
ceremony the Secretary of State gave a talk inside the actual hall to some
400 local junior high school students. The event was originally scheduled
to take place during the recent meeting of foreign ministers' as part of
the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit but was postponed after the Secretary of State
was unable to attend the meeting. After the fleeting 3-hour visit to the
city, Albright traveled by airplane to Tokyo for talks with Japanese
Foreign Minister Kono Yohei.
* Discounter Osada Looks for a Way Out of Debt
July 28, 2000
Yesterday, the regional discount superstore Osada, with headquarters in
Saga, asked its 900 creditors and investors to forgive 80% of the 16
billion yen the company owes them. The plan presented by Osada also offers
to payback the remaining 20% over the next ten years, during which the
chain hopes it can survive through infusions of public funds applied for
under a civil support code. Osada's total debt however stands at 34.7
billion yen.
* New Fukuoka Airport Proposal
July 14, 2000
Yesterday, a committee created to discuss the feasibility of building a new
airport off the coast of Tsuyazaki Town met to discuss financing the
project. Officials estimate that the new airport would cost 960 billion
yen. The committee suggested that by selling the old airport to the private
sector, the city and prefectural government may be able to overcome the
hurdle of construction costs.
Now ask me why Fukuoka needs another airport? -Ed.
* Fukuoka City Subway Temperature Adjusted
July 12, 2000
In response to requests from subway users, Fukuoka City yesterday announced
it will adjust the strength of air-conditioning and temperature of the city
subway trains. The trains are currently set to 25 degrees. The city raise
the temperature of one of the six carriages of a subway train by two
degrees to 27 degrees. The "Mildly Air Conditioned Carriage"` will be so
marked and will be the third or fourth carriage of a train to arrive at a
station. The other carriages will be set to 24 degrees. The temperature
adjustments are expected to be completed by the 28th of this month.
* Fukuoka City to Get Tougher on Gang Related Crime
July 3, 2000
Fukuoka City on Friday announced plans to combat "urban crime" related to
gangs and foreign syndicates. As well as broadcasting commercials on
television, the city plans to seek the support of independent organizations
that deal with crime prevention. As the so-called "Gateway to Asia" and the
host of the upcoming Finance Ministers' Meeting of the Kyushu Okinawa
Summit, the plans suggest that the city is turning its eye to the downside
of such internationalization. The fact that the number of foreigners
arrested last year on suspicion of penal offenses was at an all-time high
was raised during open question time at the city's council meeting on
Friday. In response, Fukuoka City Mayor Yamasaki Kotaro expressed his
intention to strengthen efforts to deal with such crimes.
* Private Universities Drop Entry Requirements
June 28,2000
According to a survey released by cram school Kawai Juku, most private
universities nationally and in Kyushu will be forced to lower entry
restrictions at next year's entry exams on 54.6% of subjects offered. With
an increasing number of local students opting to enter national
universities, many of Kyushu's private universities have placed "F" as the
minimum exam grade acceptable for entry - a record low entry grade. There
are 475 private universities in Japan offering a total of 3,807 courses,
and of these 673 courses have a minimum entry requirement of F. But in
Kyushu, 161 of a total of 295 courses currently consider a grading of F as
acceptable for entry.
* Naha Highway Complete
June 26,2000
Today, at 5pm, the 5.1 kilometer Naha Airport Highway will open after
months of construction. The highway, built to handle increased traffic for
the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000, will link the airport with Hanebaru-minami
Interchange, and will feature signs and guides in English. No official
estimates of the total cost of construction were released.
* Police in Kasuga Search for Bank Robber
June 27,2000
Police in Fukuoka are continuing to search for a man suspected of robbing a
bank in Kasuga City yesterday. The man, wearing a mask, burst into the
Kasuga branch of Saga Bank at around 2:50 yesterday afternoon and told
staff to fill a bag he was carrying with money. After firing a shotgun once
at the ceiling, the man made off with some two million four hundred
thousand yen in cash. Receiving a call that the bank had been robbed,
police managed to track down the suspect's car some 30 minutes later by a
park approximately 800 meters from the scene of the crime. The bag
containing the cash and the shotgun were discovered hidden in shrubbery in
the park. There were some 50 customers and staff present at the bank at the
time of the robbery but no injuries were reported.
* Publication in English of A-bomb Victims' Accounts
June 23,2000
Consumers' cooperative F Co-op has put together an English version of a
collection of accounts by atomic bomb victims resident in Fukuoka. The
Cooperative hopes to spread the message of the realities of atomic warfare
by distributing the publication to foreigners visiting Fukuoka for the
Finance Ministers' Meeting of the Kyushu Okinawa Summit in July. The
Cooperative has issued the publication annually since 1995 however this
marks its first translation into English. The B-5 size, 66-page publication
is free (excepting postage) and can be obtained from F Co-op. Inquiries
should be made to (092) 474-1346.
* Nagasaki Town to Get Advanced Cable System
June 23,2000
Yesterday, officials of Shimabara City in Nagasaki announced plans for the
creation of an advanced information system using cable technology. As a
city selected to participate in the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunication's "Telecommunications Research Program", Shimabara plans
to connect 80 locations sometime this year, including schools, public
centers, medical centers, and homes for the elderly. The three year project
will cost 170 million yen, but will steadily increase its user base by
accepting applications from those who wish to be connected to the system.
* Rail Travel Between Fukuoka, Tokyo a Record Low
June 20, 2000
Rail travel on the Shinkansen bullet train and other lines between Fukuoka
and Tokyo in the period between 1989 and 1998 has sunk to a record low,
with just 10% of travellers now opting to take the train instead of flying.
The entry of new domestic carrier Skymark Airlines in 1998 has been one
factor behind the increased competition between domestic flight carriers
which has led to significant travel cost reductions. Meanwhile, train
travel on the shorter Fukuoka-Osaka route has fared better, falling
slightly from 59.3% utilization in 1989 to use by 53.5% of travellers in
1998.
* Environmental Engineering Faculty Underway in Kitakyushu
June 20, 2000
Construction on a large new faculty of Kitakyushu University, the
Kitakyushu International Environmental Engineering Faculty (naming
unconfirmed) is gearing up towards completion by April, 2001. The faculty
will focus on training individuals in scientific and technological know-how
needed to deal with global environmental problems, and will be the first
such academic institution in Japan. The new faculty will emphasize training
in foreign languages, and staff will consist of local and international
environmental experts. With a student population of whom one-third will be
foreign exchange students, the new faculty is expected to foster a sense of
awareness of international environmental issues.
* Homeless to be Kicked-out
June 19, 2000
Following up on numerous street rumors, the Fukuoka 'Onigiri' (Rice-ball)
Group, which supports the homeless in the area, confirmed with authorities
that homeless who seek shelter in Ohori Park during the Okinawa Summit's
Finance Ministers' Meeting in Fukuoka will be removed. Officials have
scheduled a dinner for the ministers within the park, and apparently asked
local law-enforcement authorities to remove the homeless.
* Saga Youth to be Evaluated
June 19, 2000
On Friday, court proceedings officially began for the 17-year-old Saga
youth who hijacked a highway bus over the Golden Week holidays, killing one
passenger and injuring several others. The Saga court decided to conduct
the longest court-approved psychiatric evaluation to date, one that would
last 3 months. Previously, the longest testing ordered was by a Kobe court,
which took four weeks to evaluate a youth who beheaded an elementary school
girl.
* JR Western Japan to Sue
June 15th, 2000
Yesterday, the president of JR Western Japan announced that the company
will be seeking close to 3 billion in total damages from construction
companies who built tunnels along the bullet train line between Fukuoka and
Yamaguchi. Last year, concrete began crumbling from the ceilings of tunnels
due to faulty building techniques, causing extensive damage to at least one
bullet train, and halting service several times.
* Government Land in Kitakyushu Sits Idle
June 15th, 2000
A survey of land owned by the Kitakyushu City government revealed on June
15 that 50 sites in the area measuring a total of 54,000 hectares are
currently unused, with no existing plans for their use. The various sites
include forest and hillside land, surplus land originally intended for
housing development (37 sites), industrial areas fallen into disuse and
with no apparent plans for their re-use (8 sites) and others. A further 20
sites have been marked for eventual use as parks, housing or road areas
however development has not yet gone ahead. The government stated it would
examine the most appropriate ways of using the land, and that it would not
"simply sell" the areas.
* 40% of Japan's Loan-Sharks in Kyushu
May 25, 2000
According to a recent survey by Lawyers Against Illegal Loans, 910 of
Japan's 2,181 illegal loan companies and individuals are operating in the
Kyushu-Okinawa region. The same group launched a court case on the 9th of
this month--the first of its kind in the country--against all such
establishments in Kyushu's seven prefectures. The group intends to initiate
the second phase of its case on June 1.
* Beer Lovers Unite
May 24, 2000
Beginning today and running until the 28th, 15 beer companies from all over
Kyushu and Okinawa will offer 30 different kinds of beer at the
Kyushu-Okinawa Beer Festival, held on the rooftop of Fukuoka Building. This
festival highlights the best of what Southern Japan has to offer, with a
full frothy mug costing only 400 yen. Hours are from 11am to 10pm, except
for the first and last day, when doors close at 5pm. For more information,
call (092)737-2000.
* Doctor Sued for not Revealing Cancer
Yesterday, the Iizuka branch of the Fukuoka court system ordered a doctor
and Aso Cement, the financial manager of Iizuka Hospital, to pay a local
family 30 million yen in damages for not revealing that a now deceased
family member had developed stomach cancer. Although the doctor diagnosed
the woman as having cancer, he chose not to reveal his findings to either
the woman or her family. Cancer is traditionally a somewhat taboo subject
in Japan, and while not revealing a diagnosis to a cancer patient is not
unusual, the judge decided that the rest of the family should have been
notified. The 54-year-old woman died last June.
* West Japan Rail Issues Bonds
April 5, 2000
West Japan Rail yesterday announced the issue of 10 billion yen in
corporate bonds aimed at institutional investors. The bonds will have a
fixed yearly interest rate of 1.8%, and will mature in 7 years with a
lump-sum redemption payment. Money raised from the issue will be used for
investments in facilities and the repayment of loans.
I include this as a demonstration of the interest rates offered in Japan. Needless to say, rates are slightly higher in the United States. -Ed.
* Huis Ten Bosch President Resigns
March 28, 2000
Yoshikuni Kokin, 57, president of one of Japan's most prominent theme parks
Huis Ten Bosch, yesterday announced he would resign at a general
shareholders meeting to be held in July. At a press conference held in
Sasebo City, he stated he was resigning to except responsibility for the
110 billion yen of accumulated debt that the company is currently holding.
The announcement comes after The Japanese Performance Bank accepted his
request to write off 20 billion yen of debt. A succeeding president has yet
to be decided and the situation has shaken up Nagasaki residents and the
Kyushu tourist industry.
* Police Mistakenly Fires Tear Gas on Residence
March 27, 2000
A 35-year old assistant inspector with the Miyazaki Prefectural police
mistakenly fired tear gas towards an apartment complex Monday during riot
squad training at. The tear gas cannister traveled about sixty meters
before landing in the ground floor parking of the apartment building.
Although gas was not released and no injuries were reported, the police
failed to make the accident public, or inform the residents until nearly
ten hours later.
* Fukuoka Bank Claims Responsibility for ATM Crash
March 24, 2000
Fukuoka Bank has claimed responsibility for the incident at the beginning
of this month when some 1,400 ATMs went off line for approximately four
hours due to problems with the bank's host computer. In a report that was
filed to the relevant government agency, the bank admitted that its failure
to take expedient measures resulted in prolonged confusion. The bank's
president will take a 30% pay cut for three months and five management
level employees will be dealt disciplinary punishment.
I think this story and a few others like it are interesting because of the admission of guilt. Even though Japan definitely has a very strong system of coverups, when something publicly goes astray, the admission of guilt is often very swift. -Ed.
* Cherry Blossom Season Forecast
March 17, 2000
The Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory yesterday announced the
forecast for this year's cherry blossom season in Kyushu and Yamaguchi.
Revising an earlier forecast, the observatory now expects the start of the
season to be in line with the average. The trees are expected to start
blooming in Miyazaki on the 25th of this month, in Nagasaki, Kumamoto and
Kagoshima on the 27th, in Fukuoka and Oita on the 28th and in Shimonoseki
and Saga on the 29th. The trees are forecast to be in full bloom
approximately one week later.
* Cancer Cure to be Announced in Fukuoka
March 16, 2000
At the first "International Ultrasound Medical Research Symposium," to be
held on the 28th of this month at Fukuoka University Hospital, Dr. Hisashi
Oka of Showa University in Tokyo will formally announce a new method for
the treatment of liver cancer in advanced stages. Dr. Oka, working with
doctors at Fukuoka University who ran successful tests of his experiment,
used ultra sound and chemotherapy drugs to isolate and destroy cancerous
cells. The new development should provide further impetus for research in
the expanding field of ultrasound medicine.
* Blue Note to Re-open
March 13, 2000
Last Friday, the railway corporation Hanshin Dentsu announced that it would
take over management of Blue Note Fukuoka from the financially struggling
Iwataya Department Store. Iwataya announced they would close the club on
March 18, claiming loses of 100 million yen per year. If the management
transfer runs smoothly, the club will re-open as early as September.
* Kagoshima Police Policy Change
March 9, 2000
Kagoshima Police Headquarters yesterday announced they would no longer make
public the names of officers under the rank of assistant inspector. The
move comes in an attempt to protect officers from crank calls and allow
them to conduct their work free from harassment. In the past officers and
their families have received death threats and crank calls while working on
murder cases and other violent crimes. One officer received crank phone
calls over a period of seven years. Kagoshima Police say it is a timely
decision as they will start a new initiative this April against gangsters.
The names of officers under the rank of assistant inspector in Fukuoka and
Okinawa Prefectures are not available to the public.
* School Field Trip Overhaul
March 8, 2000
Amid the ongoing controversy over corrupt practices in planning school
field trips, the chairman of the Fukuoka Board of Education recognized
during a prefectural assembly meeting yesterday that school officials had
not made attempts to reduce the financial burden on parents. He also
announced plans to establish a special group that will explore ways to cut
costs. The recent moves toward cost-cutting and transparency in the trip
selection process were the result of revelations that school employees may
have been receiving kick-backs for choosing certain travel companies.
* Gasoline Leak Discovered Weeks Later
March 6, 2000
On Friday evening at approximately 6pm the Fukuoka City Fire Department
responded to a call from a Mitsubishi gasoline station in Katakasu,
Hakata-ku. The station reported a gasoline leak caused when in the middle
of February, staff mistakenly filled an underground tank that was under
repair. Some 3,000 litres of gasoline was leaked but went undetected until
Friday. The city's environment bureau has taken water and air samples from
the surrounding area to check for contamination.
* High School Graduations Run Smoothly
March 2, 2000
The majority of Fukuoka public high schools held graduation ceremonies
yesterday for the first time under a controversial new law recognizing the
hinomaru (national flag) and kimigayo (national anthem), but no protests or
disruptions were reported. Last August, despite fierce protests from many
students, teachers, and principals, the Diet approved the law, thus
requiring schools to use both during official ceremonies. Many opposed the
law fearing that the flag and anthem are too intimately tied to Japan's
militaristic past.
I attended one such ceremony. Nobody really objected. But the song, and bowing to the flag every single time, is a little different. -Ed.
* School Trip Scandal Continues
February 29, 2000
A survey of schools in Ogori City, found that four out of eight public
elementary schools in the city signed contracts with travel agencies
without going through the estimates and proposals sent by various travel
agencies last year. The principal of a school which conducted business for
five years with the same travel agency said that it was customary for the
schools to do business with the company with which they did business the
previous year without questioning whether the fees were expensive or not.
In order to reduce the expenses of future tours, the schools have decided
to look at the proposals of at least three travel agencies before signing
any contracts.
* Kumamoto Governor Dies Suddenly
February 28, 2000
The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Fukushima Joji, died suddenly on
Friday. The 72-year old governor was found floating face down in the
outdoor bath of an inn he was visiting in the spa resort of Kurokawa at
around 6:50pm. He was taken to a hospital in Kumamoto City where he was
pronounced dead at around 9:50pm. The cause of death was myocardial
infarction. The governor, who was serving his third term in office, had
been carrying out official duties up until his departure for Kurokawa.
Under the law, an election for a new governor must be held within 50 days.
* Car Plunges into Shopping Arcade
February 21, 2000
A car driven by a 58-year old man fell 21 meters from the seventh floor of
a parking garage to land upside-down on the roof of a Beppu City shopping
arcade. Firemen and paramedics arrived thirty minutes later, and rescued
the driver, who was doing well, though badly bruised. The accident occurred
as the man was backing into a parking space.
* Forum on Domestic Violence
February 21, 2000
Some 200 people yesterday participated in a forum aimed at establishing a
support system for victims of domestic violence. The forum, held in Kasuga
City, was the first of its kind to be held in Kyushu. Panelists
participating in the forum agreed on the need for a network comprising of
both public and private bodies in order to provide a total support system
for victims. Similar networks already exist in Sapporo and Tokyo. A
research panel that will explore concrete ways in which support can be
provided is to be established later this year.
* Man-made Island Leads to Decrease in Migratory Birds
February 21, 2000
A survey conducted by the Fukuoka City Ports and Harbours Bureau has
confirmed that the number of migratory birds on the Wajiro tideland has
decreased since the start of construction on a man-made island in the area.
The survey revealed that compared to 1993, before the start of
construction, the number of birds such as sandpipers and plovers has
decreased by half. However the bureau denies the decrease is related to the
construction and claims the main cause is climate changes along the bird's
migratory routes and breeding grounds.
* Teenage Brothers Detained for Murder of Mother
February 19, 2000
Police in Fukuoka Prefecture last night arrested a fourteen-year-old boy
and reprimanded his thirteen-year-old brother on suspicion of inflicting
bodily injury resulting in the death of their mother. According to the
police, the boys, from the Chikugo area of Fukuoka, got into a verbal
argument with their mother when they returned home and found drinking. The
argument escalated into physical violence after they asked her to prepare
their evening meal. The elder boy contacted emergency services when his
mother collapsed in the kitchen. The 49-year old divorced woman was taken
to hospital but died shortly after 7pm.
* Cohen Says 'No' to Heliport Limit
February 16, 2000
Yesterday, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen officially rejected a
Japanese proposal to impose a 15-year limit on U.S. military use of a
heliport in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. Defense officials from the two
countries decided in January to relocate the Futenma Air Base to Nago,
following years of local protest over noise pollution and poor relations
between base personnel and area residents. The new location, however, has
also provoked protests, forcing the Okinawan Governor and other Japanese
defense officials to consider ways of reducing the U.S. military presence
without compromising defense agreements.
* Kyushu Sports News
February 9, 2000
All eyes are on southpaw pitching ace, Shinsuke Ogura, who will be playing
in his second professional season with the Daiei Hawks. The pitcher has
been hurling balls at 144km/h, making him one of the first players in many
years to show this kind of potential.
* Eliminate Traffic with Bicycles
February 3, 2000
Fukuoka City announced yesterday that bicycle lanes will be introduced into
two major parts of the city in an attempt to reduce chronic traffic
congestion. The new lanes, which are intended to encourage people to ride
instead of drive, will appear on Island City, a man-made island being built
in Hakata Bay, and in the Kashi area, along the Nishitetsu Miyajidake and
Kagoshima train lines. While there are already bicycle lanes in the West
Ward of the city, in Imajuku and Muromi, these lanes were designed with
recreation in mind. The new plans mark the first time the city is using
bicycle lanes to fight traffic congestion.
* Kyushu Unemployment Third Worse
February 2, 2000
A report into the labour force released yesterday by the Management and
Coordination Agency shows the Kyushu region, including Okinawa Prefecture,
unemployment rate stands at 5%. The rate, 0.3% higher than the national
rate, puts Kyushu third behind the Kinki area at 5.6% and the South Kanto
at 5.1% in the regional unemployment figures breakdown. The national rate
of 4.7% is the highest unemployment figure posted since the report began in
1953.
* Mushrooms Render Deadly Gas Harmless
February 2, 2000
Members of the Kyushu University Agriculture Department Research team
working under Professor Hiroyuki Wariishi have been successful in rendering
the gas yperite, used widely by the Japanese military in China during WWII,
harmless using mushrooms. Oxygen from the mushrooms is used to breakdown
the yperite. The Japanese government is committed to disposing of the
remaining yperite gas by the year 2007. The success of the research is
receiving worldwide attention as the first time any research group has been
successful in rendering the gas harmless.
* Fukuoka Blue Note to Close Doors
February 1, 2000
In an effort to further eliminate its money-losing operations, Iwataya
announced yesterday that it will close shut down the Blue Note Fukuoka on
March 18. The New York-based Blue Note jazz club, which also has clubs in
Tokyo and Osaka has been the venue for over 600 local and international
acts since 1990, was created to give jazz lovers a place to enjoy real
jazz. In recent years, however, the number of famous musicians who
performed at the club fell as Iwataya sought to cut costs. As a result,
attendance rates remained low, averaging only about 65%. Iwataya has
reportedly lost over 1 billion yen since opening the club.
* School Trip Scandal Continues
February 1, 2000
In investigating complaints of exorbitant fees related to school trips the
Nishinihon Shimbun learned that 32 prefectural schools in Fukuoka have
conducted business with the same travel agencies for no less than five
years. The paper learned that the cost of the trips were almost always at
the upper limit of the budgets proposed by the schools and that the price
of the school trips were virtually the same, regardless of the date of
departure and number of participants. In the travel industry it is
considered common sense that the cost of a trip changes depending on the
season, date of departure and group size.
* Environmental Review Board Created
February 1, 2000
The Island City Environmental Impact Review Committee was inaugurated to
evaluate the potential damage to the environment caused by the on-going
construction of a massive man-made island in Hakata Bay. The committee
which is made up of environmental specialists will, among other issues,
look into whether previous studies into the environmental impact of the
project were accurate.
* Inquiry into School Field Trips Suggests Kick-backs
January 28 2000
Recent inquiries into the selection process of travel agencies who
plan school field trips for Fukuoka City and Fukuoka Prefectural
public schools suggest that some school officials may be receiving
kick-backs from travel agencies. Inquiries were launched after
parents complained of the high costs and lack of transparency in
the selection process. According to one teacher at a middle school
in southern Fukuoka, the teachers of the school collected estimates
from a number of travel companies and selected one, but were then
overruled by the principal who decided on another without giving
clear reason. At a Fukuoka City school, one teacher noted that even
though parents have repeatedly complained about the cost of trips,
the school continues to use trains for travel instead of buses
which are cheaper and more convenient. Reports from other parts of
the prefecture suggest possibilities of collusion as well.
* School Field Trip Probe Started
January 27, 2000
Following a Fukuoka prefectural report two days ago, Fukuoka City announced
plans yesterday to launch an inquiry into school field trip programs for
all public middle schools. Many parents have complained of exorbitant costs
and that the travel companies provide no transparency or options in their
programs. Based on the results of the inquiry, the City may reimburse
parents and force travel agencies make their plans public.
* Ski Trips for School Trips
January 26, 2000
A recent report shows that 78 of the 80 public high schools in Fukuoka went
on ski trips to Hokkaido and other northern regions last year as a part of
their supposedly educational field trips. While the Fukuoka Board of
Education stipulates that each school must decide for itself on some sort
of unique trip that would benefit students, members of the prefectural
assembly voiced strong criticisms, noting that the intent of the trips has
been compromised. Schools which leave everything up to travel agencies were
further singled out because "the trips run the risk of being the same as
any other," as one member remarked.
Personal note - all my schools went to Hokkaido
* Workers Raise H2 Rocket's Engine
January 20, 2000
Salvage workers yesterday succeeded in raising the main engine of the H2
rocket, which crashed into the Pacific Ocean after blasting off from the
Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture last November. The engine
was raised from an area some 380 kilometers north west of the Ogasawara
chain of islands and from a depth of about 2,900 metres below the surface.
The engine is to be transported to the National Aerospace Laboratory in
Tokyo for analysis that researchers hope will shed some light on the cause
of the crash.
* Flu Closes Schools
January 18, 2000
To prevent the further spread of the influenza virus Fukuoka Prefecture has
decided to cancel classes at 10 schools for up to 3 days. Elementary and
junior high schools in Kitakyushu have been hardest hit by the recent break
out of flu cases. Of 210 six graders, 89 were absent from school on Monday.
At one elementary school, 20 first graders out of 37 stayed away from
school. The Health Ministry suggests hand-washing and gargling upon
returning home is the best way to prevent catching the flu.
* More Bogus 500 yen Coins Found
January 18, 2000
Almost 3,000 bogus 500 yen coins were found in and around JR stations along
the Kagoshima line in Fukuoka, Oita and Saga prefectures. 2,233 coins were
discovered in Fukuoka and another 674 found in Oita at the end of the
Monday.
* Japan's First Wholesale Meat Market
January 12, 2000
Yesterday, Fukuoka City officials announced that the newly constructed
'City Central Seaside Wholesale Market', which will offer high quality meat
at unprecedented prices, will open in April. The first of its kind in the
country, the market will obtain ISO 9000 certification in accordance with
international inspection and quality standards, and will also use an HACCP
sanitation system, which was developed by NASA in America to ensure that
food consumed by astronauts is free of any and all diseases. The market is
located in the Chuo district of the city and cost an estimated 15.2 billion
yen to build.
* Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Official Homepage
January 11, 2000
The government on Friday set up an official homepage on the Internet for
the G-8 Summit to be held in Kyushu and Okinawa in July this year. As well
as resources on the summit itself, the homepage provides minimal
information on the history and culture of Fukuoka, Miyazaki and Okinawa.
The page, which is in both Japanese and English, is aimed at introducing
the uniqueness of each of the three places that are to host the summit's
various meetings. The homepage address is
http://www.g8kyushu-okinawa.go.jp/
* Snowman From Miyazaki
December 24, 1999
A citizen's group, working to revitalize the area near Gokase Highland
Resort in Miyazaki Prefecture, is offering a snowman delivery service.
Gokase Highland Resort is famous as Japan's southernmost ski resort. Nine
members of the group collected two hundred kilograms of fresh snow and then
packed it into snowman-shaped polystyrene packages. The group is selling
the snowman for three thousand yen each and has received fifty orders from
various parts of the country already.
* Fiscal 2000 Budget Approved
December 21, 1999
A record budget for the 2000 fiscal year was approved by the cabinet
Monday. In the Kyushu-Yamaguchi region more than 5 billion yen was set
aside for the construction of the Fukuchiyama dam and another 400 million
yen was ear-marked for a project in Nagasaki. Despite this, projects that
are of more immediate concern, including work on the airport and highways,
are still being discussed.
* New Bullet Train Unveiled
December 21, 1999
JR Nishinippon unveiled its newest shinkansen, the Hikari Rail Star. The
grey and yellow 8-car train with a top speed of 285 km/h will travel from
Hakata to Osaka in 2 hours and 45 minutes, 32 minutes faster than the
Nozomi Shinkansen. The train will make 18 round trips between the two
cities beginning in March of next year.
* Reassessment of Public Works Projects
December 18th, 1999
A committee in Kitakyushu City set up to reevaluate public works projects
as part of administrative and financial reforms, yesterday made a proposal
to the city's mayor that 14 projects be reassessed. The projects cited
include land reclamation for a man-made island in Moji-Ku and the
development of an area as a sports park in Kokura Minami-Ku. On receiving
the proposal the mayor expressed his intention to see results reflected in
the budget for the next fiscal year.
* Scam Targets Housewives
December 18th, 1999
An investigation by police in Fukuoka yesterday brought to light a scam in
which several housewives handed over a total of more than 1.5 million yen
to a man claiming to work for a loan company. In all three cases reported
so far, women were telephoned during the day and told that their husbands
had taken out loans with the caller's company. The caller then threatened
that something terrible would happen unless the money was returned in an
hour. Another case in which the requested sum of money was not delivered
has also been reported. Police are calling for people to be wary of
suspicious phone calls.
* 400th Anniversary of Dutch-Japanese Relations
December 17 1999
The Dutch Embassy on Friday revealed details of events to be held next year
to mark the 400th anniversary of exchange between the Netherlands and
Japan. More than 400 events of varying scale will be held in Nagasaki,
Usuki City, Oita Prefecture and other cities connected to the history of
relations between the two countries. One such event, Holland Week, will
start on April 19th with a ceremony in Usuki City to mark the day in 1600
when a Dutch sailing vessel ran aground on Japanese shores. The
Netherlands's Crown Prince Alexander will attend the event. Other events
will include exhibitions, musical performances and a flower exposition.
* Nichinan City Tangled up in Fraud Case
December 15th, 1999
It was revealed yesterday that Nichinan City in Miyazaki Prefecture
established a contract with the failed Nichinan Shinyo Savings Bank which
would have earned them 40 times the normal interest rate on a 1.8 billion
yen deposit. The former branch manager in charge of the deal is believed to
have embezzled 3.4 billion yen and is at the center of the bank's collapse.
He committed suicide in September. In an attempt to cover up missing funds
with other deposits, he reportedly approached city finance managers with
the offer. Although the City was not ultimately affected by the bank's
sudden collapse, city finance managers are being severely criticized for
not being more suspicious of the offer.
* Fukuoka School System Restructuring Announced
December 15th 1999
Yesterday Fukuoka Prefecture announced it will eliminate a total of 17
public schools by 2008 because of dwindling student population. However,
the number of 'general education' schools, where students can choose from a
large range of subjects, will increase from 1 to 8. The Fukuoka Board of
Education commented that they want to create a more flexible and varied
education system with this new breed of schools.
* Space World Probe Points to Negligence
December 2, 1999
An investigation into the cause of an accident last year at a theme park in
Kitakyushu City has led police to suspect criminal negligence on the part
of safety maintenance workers. The accident at Space World occurred when a
wire on the park's "Atlas Tower" ride snapped sending seats plunging to the
ground and injuring 12 people. The police investigation revealed that the
wire had not been replaced within the recommended period and pointed to
metal fatigue as the cause of the accident. If the case for criminal
liability is strengthened, papers will be sent to the prosecutor's office
by the end of the year.
* Kidnapped Boy Returned Unharmed
November 27, 1999
The only son of the Kumamoto Kyushu Bank branch manager of was kidnapped on
his way to school Monday morning. Yutaro Kishi (7), a second grader at
Hanaen Elementary School, was abducted at about 8 am by a man in a dark
car. The kidnapper called the boy's home, and threatened to kill him if his
demand of 30 million yen was not paid by the following day. The kidnapper
specified the drop of point, but released the boy unharmed six hours later.
Shortly after midnight on the 30th police arrested a 49 year old
construction worker who was rummaging in the garbage where the ransom was
supposed to have been left. The suspect who has admitted to committing the
crime, conducted business with the boy's father in the past.
* Report on Past Kidnappings According to the National Police Agency there have been 222 cases of kidnapping since the end of the war where ransom was the motive, including six in 1999. Since 1983, there have been 13 abductions of minors involving a ransom, more than half of which occurred in western Japan, and four in Kyushu alone. Of the past 222 cases, only seven remain unsolved. Although the hostage was murdered in 32 of the cases, since 1993 all abductees have returned safely.
* JR Kyushu Revenue Losses
November 25, 1999
Japan Railway Kyushu announced 77.6 billion yen in total revenues,
marking a 1.2% decrease from the same period last year and the second
consecutive decline. A spokesman stated that a sluggish economy and
ever increasing competition from highway buses and airlines for the
decrease.
* More Debate on Okinawa Heliport
November 24, 1999
Yesterday, in the Ryukyu Forum, sponsored by Asahi Television,
Okinawa Governor Inamine remarked that debate over the Japanese
government's proposal to set a 15-year time limit on the future U.S.
Marine Corps heliport would continue despite the U.S. government's
strong opposition. Under a 1996 accord, the U.S. agreed to scale
back its military presence in Okinawa and to return the Futenma air
base in five to seven years providing that an alternative heliport
site could be found. Inamine announced on Monday that Henoko in
northern Naha would be that site, but added that the U.S. should only
be able to use it for 15 years.
* Corruption Continues in Saga Stop-light Scandal
November 24 1999
Saga police recently announced that despite major crackdowns a year
ago, corporate bribes involving traffic-light makers and
construction companies have continued. Justice officials recently
released the names of 4 traffic-light makers and 3 construction
companies who landed a total of 220 million yen and 160 million yen
respectively in contracts through bribes and lavish entertainment
of industry offcials . Police estimate that contracts worth a total
of 700 to 800 million yen have been illicitly obtained since 1996.