The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Japan

  • U.S. allies rule out military solution in Syria

    U.S. allies rule out military solution in Syria

    Germany and Italy stressed Tuesday the need for a political solution in Syria, where the U.S. has intervened with missile strikes in response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians.

    Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), which comprises the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada, discussed the crisis with representatives from the European Union and several Middle Eastern countries.

    “We do not believe that the military solution is the right one,” said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the talks also involving ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.

    The ministers, meeting in the Tuscan town of Lucca, agreed that “Russia must not be isolated and, on the contrary, must insofar as possible be involved in the political transition process in Syria,” Alfano added.

    While the White House said Monday the U.S. was ready to repeat strikes against Syrian targets to prevent the use of chemical weapons, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson focused on diplomacy in talks with partners, Germany said.

    “Tillerson explicitly said they are seeking a non-violent, non-military way,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters, praising his U.S. counterpart for taking “a very realistic and clear stance.”

    The U.S. bombing of Syrian airfield on April 7 in response to the attack in the city of Khan Sheikhoun has confounded expectations that Donald Trump would be an isolationist president, and soured his relations with Russia.

    Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has condemned US actions as reckless and counterproductive.

    Iran, another main backer of the regime in Damascus, has expressed similar concerns.

    The G7 was attempting to put up a united front on Syria ahead of Tillerson’s Wednesday visit to Moscow.

    Calls Britain made on Monday to threaten Syria and Russia with further sanctions did not seem to make headway.

    Nevertheless, Gabriel urged Moscow to reconsider its support for al-Assad.

    “I believe that it is almost inconceivable that Russia wants to stand on the side of such a murderous regime as that of Bashar al-Assad for the long haul,” he said.

    North Korea’s illegal nuclear programme and the US decision to send warships to the Korean peninsula, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Libya, the threat from terrorism and migration were also on the agenda.

    The Lucca talks were also laying the ground for next month’s G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily, the first to be attended by Trump.

     

  • NEPC, Japan partner on packaging agric produce for export

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has  partnered Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to improve the quality of packaging of agricultural produce for export.

    NEPC Executive Director Mr. Segun Awolowo announced this at a capacity building programme in Lagos.

    The theme of the programme was: “Logistical packaging technology for agricultural products.”

    Awolowo said the synergy would reduce post-harvest losses arising from poor packaging. According to him, there is no shortcut to producers of vegetables and perishable products to be competitive in the global market without quality packaging.

    “About 50 per cent of fresh fruits are lost as a result of poor packaging, handling and preservation. The capacity building programme will assist the average farmer and exporter to gain better insights into issues related to global standards on packaging for export. Our resolve to collaborate with Japan and other stakeholders is borne out of the need to drastically reduce post-harvest losses among farmers, processors and exporters leading to revenue losses,” he said.

    Awolowo said the partnership aligned with the policy of the government to curtail the rejection of produce from Nigeria. He added that packaging and standards were global issues that determined product development and sustainability of its market.

    “Needless to point out that a good quality product without efficient packaging is as good as a bad product,” Awolowo said.

    Trade Commissioner, JETRO, Mr. Taku Miyazaki, said the collaboration was essential to the development of the agriculture sector and actualisation of the diversification agenda of the country.

    According to Miyazaki, there is huge potential in the country’s agriculture sector with Nigeria being number one producer of commodities, such as yam, cassava, groundnut and maize.

    “Nigeria is the biggest supplier of sesame to Japan for the purpose of producing edible oil. In 2016, Nigeria exported approximately 55,000 tonnes of sesame to Japan.

    “JETRO wants to contribute and encourage exportation of Nigerian agricultural products to the world through provision of logistical packaging technology,” he said.

    Miyazaki said the partnership would promote investment, enhance export and boost the trade relations between Nigeria and Japan.

  • Nadal beats Verdasco to reach Indian Wells’ last 16

    Nadal beats Verdasco to reach Indian Wells’ last 16

    Rafael Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to set up a potential last-16 match against Roger Federer at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

    Nadal, seeded fifth, won 6-3 7-5 and will next face long-time rival Federer or American Steve Johnson.

    The Swiss beat Nadal in the Australian Open final in January to win his 18th Grand Slam title.

    Second seeds Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber are among those in action later on Tuesday.

    In earlier matches, unseeded American Donald Young beat French 14th seed Lucas Pouille 6-4 1-6 6-3 in the men’s draw.

    Japan’s fourth seed Kei Nisikori swept past Frenchman Gilles Muller 6-2 6-2.

    Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrio gis beat 18th seed Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3 6-4.

    In the women’s draw, American 12th seed Venus Williams beat Peng Shuai of China 3-6 6-1 6-3, and Czech third seed led Timea Bacsinszky 5-1 when the Swiss retired

     

  • Honda raises profit forecast due to robust sales

    Honda raises profit forecast due to robust sales

    Honda Motor revised up its net profit outlook for the current financial year by 31.3 percent on Friday thanks to cost-cutting measures and strong sales in China and the U.S.

    Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and power equipment.

    The company has raised its net profit forecast to 545 billion yen (4.8 billion dollars) for the year through March from 415 billion yen estimated in October.

    Japan’s third-largest car maker also predicted an operating profit of 785 billion yen for the year, up 20.1 percent from 650 billion yen forecast three months ago, while sales are estimated at 13.8 trillion yen, up from 13.4 trillion yen.

    For the October to December period, Honda posted a net profit of 168.8 billion yen, up 35.9 percent from the same period in 2015, while its operating profit grew 27.4 percent to 207.7 billion yen.

    The car sales were down from 3.2 percent to 3.5 trillion yen.

    “Global vehicle sales in the quarter rose 6.8 percent from a year earlier to 1.31 million units,’’ the company said.

  • Festac77@40: Over 45 countries to participate

    Festac77@40: Over 45 countries to participate

    No less than 45 African countries had indicated their interests to participate in the forthcoming celebration of Festac77 @ 40 that would start on April 1 across the country.

    Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, the Director-General, Centre for Black Arts and Africa Civilization (CBAAC) disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Anikwe said that: Japan, Canada, the United States of America, China and other developed countries outside Africa had also shown interests in participating.

    NAN reports that Festac 77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, was held in Lagos from Jan.15, 1977 to Feb.12, 1977and 59 countries participated.

    The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion.

    Several countries showcased their artworks at the National Theatre, the Nigerian National Museum and some places around the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), then.

    According to Anikwe, activities marking the celebration will hold simultaneously in no less than 10 states including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) where one of the anniversary’s mascots will be unveiled on April 1, 2017.

    “The anniversary’s mascots will be unveiled simultaneously on April 1 in Abuja, Abeokuta and Addis-Ababa in Ethiopia.

    “That of Abuja will take place at the International Conference Centre, which would be the opening ceremony.’’

    He said that the event would kick off on April 1 to end in December, adding that different cultural displays would be held in some states: Katsina, Enugu, Ogun, Kaduna, Akwa- Ibom and more.

    “ We are going to have a Durbar display in Katsina, there will be masquerade festivals in Enugu and the rolling out of 40 drums in Abeokuta, which is the symbol of Festac 77.

    “ All ethnic chanters will be on the ground and there will be the recitation of poems, staging of plays, and the singing of indigenous songs.

    “This celebration will coincide with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday anniversary that is why Abeokuta is playing a leading role.’’

    NAN reports that General Olusegun Obasanjo was the military head of state in 1977 when Nigeria hosted Festac 77.

    Anikwe said that CBAAC had been sensitising hotel operators the across the cities where the events would hold to upgrade their facilities.

    They should also ensure that during the celebration, their charges should be affordable for local and international tourists and we have gained their consent, he said.

    Anikwe said that the organisation had involved all the security agencies to ensure utmost security of lives and properties during the period.

    He added that CBAAC had designed uniforms for the security agencies which they would adorn then for easy identification by officials, tourists and visitors.

    There would also be uniforms for children, artists and organisers made from Nigerian indigenous fabrics as part of promoting the made-in-Nigeria fabrics, he said.

    The D-G said that the event was going to be one of the most spectacular cultural events in the history of the country as participants would be transported from designated airports to their choice destinations.

    “There are plans for international tourists to be transported from the airports to their desired destinations during the celebrations because there will be activities in all the parts of the country.

    “ I am so glad to be among those that are planning for Festac77 at 40 because in 1977 was when I wrote the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE).  I can’t forget that in a hurry,” Anikwe said.

  • PETER UTAKA: Nigeria goal-den guy in Japan

    PETER UTAKA: Nigeria goal-den guy in Japan

    SINCE the launch of the J-League in 1993, only once has an African player breasted the tape as the top scorer when Cameroonian Patrick Mboma cracked home 25 goals for Gamba Osaka in 1997. But almost two decades later, Nigerian Peter Utaka is the continent’s hero in Japan – the Land of the Rising Sun – following his stellar performance for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

    Peter, the younger brother of erstwhile Super Eagles’ striker, John Utaka, this term shared the spoils with Vissel Kobe’s Brazilian Leandro having scored 19 goals each in the 2016 J-League season.  The Nigerian was, however, adjudged the best player by EA Sports on its ratings of the top 20 players in the J-league in the year under review.

    “It’s a huge joy for me to be recognised as a legend here and I really worked hard every day to ensure I justify my presence in the team,” began the vastly-travelled Utaka. “It was a wonderful feeling being recognised here in Japan. Though my primary assignment is to score goals, it never occurred to me that I would be the top scorer at the end of the season. The environment and the people really helped me in achieving this feat.”

    At 32, Utaka seems to be enjoying his halcyon days after stints with Odense Boldkulb (Denmark); Royal Antwerp, Westerlo Maasmechelen (Belgium); Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) Dalian Aerbin, Shanghai Shenxin (China) and Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan) but he reckoned he still has many years ahead of him.

    Utaka, who joined Hajime Moriyasu’s men from Shimizu S-Pulse on loan in January, was a shining light in an otherwise poor-performing Sanfrecce that finished 10th on the league table with just 26 points from 17 games.

    It would be recalled that the 32-year-old attacker won the top scorer prize in the Belgian second division with Royal Antwerp in the 2007/2008 season before repeating the feat in the Danish Super League with Odense Boldkulb in the 2009/2010 season.

    The former Beijing Guoan player, who is set to return to Shimizu S-Pulse in January, has also gone down in history as the second player of Sanfrecce Hiroshima to be so honoured since homeboy, Hisato Satō, scored some 22 goals to top the chart four years ago.

    He said: “The truth is that they respect and make me believe I am one of their best players on the pitch, they motivate and believe in me so much; and it’s that kind of people that can make you perform wonders.

    “They (Hiroshima) are a very big club in Asia, and I would have loved to win the league title with them but so unfortunate that we had some bad outings; we had injuries and lots of other things that slowed us down. But I am really humbled for emerging the top scorer at the end of the season and I hope to do more wherever I find myself again,” noted Utaka, as he spoke on other things. Excerpts…

    Record holder

    I think everything I have achieved in my career has come through hard work and diligence. I don’t set target for awards, rather, I find happiness scoring goals and making my team progress irrespective of my chances in the team. I believe so much in my teammates and they have always been there for me. Wherever I had played, my coaches know that I don’t go for personal glories but for all my efforts, I would always be rewarded. So, it has made me understand the beauty and gains of hard work ever since my days in Belgium. When I was moving to Asia, I had lots of European offers even till now. But that time, I wanted to have another taste of a new environment and that’s when I started my career in China. I thank God that it was another beautiful journey for me here at Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The Japanese league is an interesting one. You will be inspired among the players; there are other African players doing well here as well. A lot of people wanted me to have more than 25 goals scored by Patrick Mboma many years back but I’m very proud of the 19 goals that I scored. I’m proud of being the second African and the first Nigerian to win the top scorer award here in Japan.

    Being a spectacular goal scorer

    My primary job as a striker is to score goals for my team and in Hiroshima, we had a team formula that really worked for us, and every other team is adapting to the style. The formula is ‘play for all, and all for one person.’  It means that as a striker, I have to play with the rest of my team mates from back side while every other player must play for me to ensure I deliver and that system really suits me so well. It really made me score some spectacular goals. Being a spectacular goal scorer means that you have to be everywhere in the box. You have to be ready for every action and you have to withstand pressures from defenders and ensure your aim is achieved. And the simple secret about my goal-scoring in Hiroshima was that we have technically gifted players and they saw me as a leader. They played for me because I played for them, and that’s what made me so special.

    Life in Japan

    Don’t forget that I have travelled so well and I have stayed previously in China. I lived there and everything was fine. I wouldn’t have gone to Japan if I noticed I won’t be able to cope with their weather and culture. Football career is a travelling career and you must be ready to adapt as quickly as possible before you get down to the main business. As for me, love is good here. They are a very good people. No racism and once they want you, they do anything for you to remain with them and that’s why you see good players coming to end their career here because you will enjoy the very best of your life here.

    Representing African in Asia

    I am really flattered! I have always been representing Africa well since I started a professional career. I didn’t only represent Africa, I made my family proud. I am proud of my success and I am proud of being able to show what I can do in the J-league. We have clubs like Gamba Osaka, Urawa Diamond, Sanfrece Hiroshima, Tokyo and lots of big clubs doing well; you will agree that there’s a big league in Japan.

    It’s not over yet

    There’s no time for me to quit for now, as you can see that the older I get, the better I am. I am making use of my experience over the years to build a good goal-scoring legacy for myself. I am still agile to play for many more years. It will be unfair to quit football now, and frankly speaking, it will be as if the world is going to an end.

  • PETER UTAKA: Nigeria goal-den guy in Japan

    PETER UTAKA: Nigeria goal-den guy in Japan

    SINCE the launch of the J-League in 1993, only once has an African player breasted the tape as the top scorer when Cameroonian Patrick Mboma cracked home 25 goals for Gamba Osaka in 1997. But almost two decades later, Nigerian Peter Utaka is the continent’s hero in Japan – the Land of the Rising Sun – following his stellar performance for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

    Peter, the younger brother of erstwhile Super Eagles’ striker, John Utaka, this term shared the spoils with Vissel Kobe’s Brazilian Leandro having scored 19 goals each in the 2016 J-League season.  The Nigerian was, however, adjudged the best player by EA Sports on its ratings of the top 20 players in the J-league in the year under review.

    “It’s a huge joy for me to be recognised as a legend here and I really worked hard every day to ensure I justify my presence in the team,” began the vastly-travelled Utaka. “It was a wonderful feeling being recognised here in Japan. Though my primary assignment is to score goals, it never occurred to me that I would be the top scorer at the end of the season. The environment and the people really helped me in achieving this feat.”

    At 32, Utaka seems to be enjoying his halcyon days after stints with Odense Boldkulb (Denmark); Royal Antwerp, Westerlo Maasmechelen (Belgium); Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) Dalian Aerbin, Shanghai Shenxin (China) and Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan) but he reckoned he still has many years ahead of him.

    Utaka, who joined Hajime Moriyasu’s men from Shimizu S-Pulse on loan in January, was a shining light in an otherwise poor-performing Sanfrecce that finished 10th on the league table with just 26 points from 17 games.

    It would be recalled that the 32-year-old attacker won the top scorer prize in the Belgian second division with Royal Antwerp in the 2007/2008 season before repeating the feat in the Danish Super League with Odense Boldkulb in the 2009/2010 season.

    The former Beijing Guoan player, who is set to return to Shimizu S-Pulse in January, has also gone down in history as the second player of Sanfrecce Hiroshima to be so honoured since homeboy, Hisato Satō, scored some 22 goals to top the chart four years ago.

    He said: “The truth is that they respect and make me believe I am one of their best players on the pitch, they motivate and believe in me so much; and it’s that kind of people that can make you perform wonders.

    “They (Hiroshima) are a very big club in Asia, and I would have loved to win the league title with them but so unfortunate that we had some bad outings; we had injuries and lots of other things that slowed us down. But I am really humbled for emerging the top scorer at the end of the season and I hope to do more wherever I find myself again,” noted Utaka, as he spoke on other things. Excerpts…

    Record holder

    I think everything I have achieved in my career has come through hard work and diligence. I don’t set target for awards, rather, I find happiness scoring goals and making my team progress irrespective of my chances in the team. I believe so much in my teammates and they have always been there for me. Wherever I had played, my coaches know that I don’t go for personal glories but for all my efforts, I would always be rewarded. So, it has made me understand the beauty and gains of hard work ever since my days in Belgium. When I was moving to Asia, I had lots of European offers even till now. But that time, I wanted to have another taste of a new environment and that’s when I started my career in China. I thank God that it was another beautiful journey for me here at Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The Japanese league is an interesting one. You will be inspired among the players; there are other African players doing well here as well. A lot of people wanted me to have more than 25 goals scored by Patrick Mboma many years back but I’m very proud of the 19 goals that I scored. I’m proud of being the second African and the first Nigerian to win the top scorer award here in Japan.

    Being a spectacular goal scorer

    My primary job as a striker is to score goals for my team and in Hiroshima, we had a team formula that really worked for us, and every other team is adapting to the style. The formula is ‘play for all, and all for one person.’  It means that as a striker, I have to play with the rest of my team mates from back side while every other player must play for me to ensure I deliver and that system really suits me so well. It really made me score some spectacular goals. Being a spectacular goal scorer means that you have to be everywhere in the box. You have to be ready for every action and you have to withstand pressures from defenders and ensure your aim is achieved. And the simple secret about my goal-scoring in Hiroshima was that we have technically gifted players and they saw me as a leader. They played for me because I played for them, and that’s what made me so special.

    Life in Japan

    Don’t forget that I have travelled so well and I have stayed previously in China. I lived there and everything was fine. I wouldn’t have gone to Japan if I noticed I won’t be able to cope with their weather and culture. Football career is a travelling career and you must be ready to adapt as quickly as possible before you get down to the main business. As for me, love is good here. They are a very good people. No racism and once they want you, they do anything for you to remain with them and that’s why you see good players coming to end their career here because you will enjoy the very best of your life here.

    Representing African in Asia

    I am really flattered! I have always been representing Africa well since I started a professional career. I didn’t only represent Africa, I made my family proud. I am proud of my success and I am proud of being able to show what I can do in the J-league. We have clubs like Gamba Osaka, Urawa Diamond, Sanfrece Hiroshima, Tokyo and lots of big clubs doing well; you will agree that there’s a big league in Japan.

    It’s not over yet

    There’s no time for me to quit for now, as you can see that the older I get, the better I am. I am making use of my experience over the years to build a good goal-scoring legacy for myself. I am still agile to play for many more years. It will be unfair to quit football now, and frankly speaking, it will be as if the world is going to an end.

  • Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets Coach, Peter Dedevbo, has remained bullish despite the 6-0 walloping by Japan in Nigeria’s first match at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

    Dedevbo, who acknowledged the superiority of the Japanese side, insisted that the Sunday’s result will not mark the end of the road for Nigeria in the tournament.

    He is optimistic that his girls will bounce back to pick maximum points from the remaining two matches in the group stage, and charged the players to put behind them the horror of the first game and focus on the Canada and Spain challenge.

    “We are down but not out, and this is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition. It would be fool –hardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament.

    “I must acknowledge the fact that the Japanese side was good, even though I didn’t envisage the goal margin. The outcome means that we will return to the trenches and re-strategize.”

    Japan powered to victory through strikes from Mami Ueno and Yuka Momiki, who netted a hat -trick and brace respectively. The duo’s attacking force resulted in an own goal by Nigerian defender Mary Ologbosere. Yuka Momiki was named the Live Your Goal player of the match.

  • Japan pledges technology transfer to Nigeria

    Japanese companies are committed to  the development of local technologies that will boost trading activities among small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria, the Trade Commissioner and Managing Director of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Taku Miyazaki has stated.

    Miyazaku spoke at the ongoing 30th Lagos International Trade Fair 2016.

    According to him: “We will encourage technology transfer especially among SMEs in Nigeria so that they will be able use the technology for greater productivity and innovativeness.

    “We will train more youths in Nigeria on how to build local technologies that would be of immense benefits to SMEs”.

    He said that local businesses are hampered by absence of local technology that would have expanded their operations, a vacuum he said Japanese firms are prepared to fill.

    He noted that local public technology centres in Japan have demonstrated notable success in fostering the development of SMEs Nigeria.

    Local technologies, according to the Japanese envoy, galvanise small and medium enterprises, adapt to market changes, increase productivity and improve global competitive advantage.

    Miyazaku said that no country can develop without developed small and medium scale enterprises, which he said are the main drivers of growth and development in any society.  He said Japan remains a firm believer in the economy of Nigeria despite the severe recession.

    “Although Nigeria is in the midst of a severe economic recession, many Japanese companies are still eager to tap into this attractive market or expand their business here in Nigeria.

    “These companies are not just making and selling their products in Nigeria, they create jobs, educate staff, transfer technology and share values of Japanese craftsmanship.”

    Highlighting the massive Japanese investments in Nigeria, he said some of the exhibitors are not only selling their products but also producing in Nigeria.

    According to Miyazaku: “CFAO, Yamaha Motor Nigeria started assembling its motorcycles in Lagos last year. “Olam Sanyo Foods, a joint venture of Japanese Sanyo Foods ad Olan international in Singapore, is also producing instant noodles Cherie and Mama gold” in Lagos.

     

     

     

    “Panasonic and Suzuki Motor have Nigerian partners to assemble their products locally. And West African seasoning has a long history of packing and selling Ajinomoto in this country”.

     

     

  • Japan, India sign civilian nuclear accord

    Japan and India on Friday signed a civilian nuclear accord to open the door for Tokyo to supply New Delhi with fuel, equipment and technology for nuclear power production.

    India looks to atomic energy to sustain its rapid economic growth.

    It was the first time Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, concluded such a pact with a country that is not signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

    The accord stipulates that nuclear fuel and equipment provided can only be used for peaceful purposes.

    A separate document signed alongside the nuclear agreement has a clause allowing Japan to terminate the pact if India conducts a nuclear test.

    Friday’s accord was signed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s meeting with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

    India says the NPT is discriminatory and it has concerns about nuclear-armed China as well as its long-time nuclear-armed rival, Pakistan.

    India is in advanced negotiations with U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric, owned by Japan’s Toshiba Corp, to build six nuclear reactors in southern India.

    This is part of New Delhi’s plan to ramp up nuclear capacity more than ten times by 2032.

    Japanese nuclear plant makers such as Toshiba and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, it is crucial to expand their business overseas as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster chilled domestic demand for nuclear plants.

    The nuclear agreement with Japan follows a similar one with the United States in 2008 which gave India access to nuclear technology after decades of isolation.

    That step was seen as the first big move to build India into a regional counterweight to China.

    Modi earlier on Friday praised the “growing convergence” of views between his nation and Japan, saying strong ties will enable them to play a role in Asia and the world.