The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Japanese

  • Russia accuses Japan of distorting prospects for peace deal

    Russia slapped down Japanese assertions that a deal was in the offing to resolve a decades-old dispute over a chain of islands, accusing Tokyo of distorting agreements struck with Moscow to break the deadlock.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making a push towards a treaty with Russia over the islands and is due to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month.

    However, Moscow has shown no willingness to concede control over the islands.

    Russia and Japan have been in dispute for seven decades over island territories captured by Soviet troops in the last days of World War Two.

    They are known in Russia as the Southern Kuriles and in Japan as the Northern Territories.

    Russia’s foreign ministry said late on Wednesday it had summoned Japan’s ambassador in Moscow to complain about comments made by Tokyo that it said “crudely distort the essence of agreements between Russia and Japan’s leaders on accelerating the negotiation process.”

    Read Also: Environmentalist warns of looming hunger in Niger Delta

    “Such statements cannot be regarded except as an attempt to artificially aggravate the atmosphere around the problem of the peace treaty, to impose one’s own scenario for its resolution on the other side,” it said.

    The ministry also drew attention late on Wednesday to comments made by Japan about the need to reach an understanding with Russians living on the islands about their transfer to Japanese control.

    The ministry also protested comments it said that Tokyo had made about Moscow refusing to pay compensation to Japan for “occupying” the islands.

  • Japan’s Abe to cancel Iran trip over U.S. pressure on Tehran- Kyodo

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has given up on a plan to visit Iran this summer, local media said on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly tough line against Tehran.

    “The visit to Iran would have been the first by a Japanese leader in 40 years, forming part of Abe’s scheduled tour through the Middle East from July 11.

    “But Japan has told Iran Abe would not be able to visit its capital, Tehran, in spite of arrangements it had been making for talks with President Hassan Rouhani,’’ the agency added, citing government sources.

    However, Motosada Matano, a spokesman for the Japanese prime minister’s office, told newsmen nothing had been decided about Abe’s overseas travel plans.

    Read Also: Japan’s PM Abe meets Trump, says confident can build trust

    The decision not to visit Iran was made in light of Trump’s push to isolate Tehran and choke off its oil exports, after he pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear pact in May.

    The U.S. has urged Japan and its other allies to stop buying Iranian crude oil entirely by Nov. 4.

    “Japan has traditionally had stable ties with Iran, on which it relied for decades as a key source of oil.

    “That’s why it has told the Trump administration it cannot further cut or halt crude imports from the country, for fear of risks to its economy,’’ it added.

  • 33 Japanese firms for Lagos fair

    33 Japanese firms for Lagos fair

    Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), a Japanese government-related organisation that promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and other nations, on Wednesday announced that the Japanese Pavilion at next week’s Lagos International Trade Fair 2017 will feature 33 Japanese brands.

    The 10-day Lagos International Trade Fair kicks off on Friday, November 3, 2017. And from the Japanese Pavilion, which is one of the biggest at the fair, the 33 Japanese firms will be showcasing their products and technologies to Nigerian businesses and individuals. It is JETRO’s fourth year of participation since 2014.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Trade Commissioner and Managing Director of JETRO Lagos, Taku Miyazaki, said many Japanese companies are keen to enter and expand their businesses in Africa’s biggest market, as Nigeria sees the sign of recovery from economic recession.

    The recession was responsible for the decline in trade between Japan and Nigeria. 2015 and 2016 saw decrease in both import and export. For instance, in 2016, Nigeria’s import from Japan decreased by 9.0 per cent to $326.1 million, while her export declined by 70.0 per cent to $849.6 million

    Although, Miyazaki attributed the decline to the continued lower gas price (for Japan’s import) and forex scarcity (Japan’s export), he said despite the decline, the number of Japanese affiliated companies in Nigeria increased by four in 2106.

    “This shows nothing has changed on the huge potential of Nigeria and how strongly Japanese companies are eager to tap into this lucrative market,” Miyazaki said.

    He listed Suntory Food and Beverage Nigeria as one of the four new Japanese companies, which will be bringing their locally produced soft drinks, ‘Lucozade’ and Ribena’ to the Japan Pavilion at the forthcoming trade fair.

    He also announced that Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria), which has a long history of manufacturing motorcycles in Nigeria since 1979, will use this year’s trade fair as the first appearance of their new motorbike model “Ace 110”.

    “Nigerians know our quality. But the challenge has always been comparatively higher price. So, we made our new model to be more affordable, which I would like many people to see at the trade fair”, he added.

    Other exhibitors include Canon Central and North Africa, Brother International, CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria, Suzuki Motor, Koncept Autocentre(partner of Isuzu Motors), Massilia Motors (partner of Mitsubishi Motors), Sims Nigeria (partner of Panasonic Marketing & Services Nigeria), and R.T. Briscoe Nigeria (distributors of Toyota’s trucks, forklift, etc.).

    The Trade Commissioner added that Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) producing high quality products and companies with new type of businesses will also be participating in the fair.

    He said, for instance, that Heiwa Foods Industry will be bringing their ‘Japanese Curry’ to Nigerians’ dinner tables, together with their Nigerian partner, Green Diamond.

    Miyazaki also said cookpad, a cooking recipe sharing social media, which is one of the most popular cooking websites among Japanese people, has launched its Nigerian page in March. They are eager to promote the brand at the trade fair to fascinate Nigerians.

    According to him, the activities of Japanese companies in Nigeria are contributing to Nigeruia’s economic development. “They create jobs, educate staff, transfer technology and share values of Japanese craftsmanship, which is the key agenda of the Federal Government and its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)”, Miyazaki said.A

  • Japanese firm chief visits Lagos

    To  boost his firm’s sales in the country, Managing Director of Brothers International (Gulf) Japan Mr Soichi Murakami has visited the Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Speaking at the event, Murakami said he was happy to be in the country, especially the Computer Village. He said he came to showcase his firm’s business lines and products. Noting that Brothers International is over 100 years old, he said the firm, which started as family sewing concern, has since diversified into the production of scanners, and printers, among others. He said it has presence in Europe and Asia, adding that its products are unique.  He promised to train technicians and engineers in the country.

    Murakami later opened an outlet owned by a sub-dealer of the firm Rolling Technology Communication at Awolowo House, Ikeja.

    Brothers International Sole Distributor Skysat Technologies Limited Managing Director Mr Izzat Debs said the products would do well in the market. He praised the Computer Allied Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) for their support, urging them to continue to do so.

    CAPDAN Vice President Boniface Ania said Murakami’s visit was not a waste as every investor comes to Nigeria for business,, noting that it is profitable to do so. He said the village has the highest number of graduates in any market in the country  with over 135 plazas, adding that the firm should assist his colleagues in empowerment initiatives.

  • Japanese investors fret over forex restrictions

    Japanese investors have expressed concerns over Nigeria current foreign exchange (forex) restrictions.

    Led by the Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and member, House of Representatives, Mr. Shunsuke Takei, the investors appealed to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun to intimate the Japanese trade and investment delegation on government’s measures to address the forex issues “which have not been resolved.”

    Takei made this request yesterday in Abuja when a delegation of Japanese Public and Private Joint Mission promoting Trade and Investment in Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to Mrs Adeosun.

    Takei led  32 private sector and government organisations to the Ministry of Finance for the engagement. 12 private sector firms on the delegation were from the banking, insurance and manufacturing sectors.

    Takei said the delegation was in Nigeria to look for investment opportunities given the country’s huge population and market as well as the new Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which has potential for growth.

    Japanese investors, he said “were desirous of investing in Nigeria, but were also concerned about challenges in the areas of security, legal and power environments.”

    Mrs Adeosun explained to the Japanese delegation that “Africa’s biggest economy is now out of recession and wants to grow again; the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) articulated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was designed to stabilise the economy and propel it into growth.”

    She told the Japanese mission that “the country is open and ready to continue to do business with the rest of the world and urged the big Japanese companies to invest in the country by setting up manufacturing plants, instead of shipping-in finished products.”

    She said Nigeria welcomes Japanese investors in banking, insurance, manufacturing and other sectors. She said: “We will assist you to do well. Many companies came into Nigeria and are doing very well and there is nothing to stop Japanese firms from doing very well.”

  • Pope, Japanese, Israeli PMs, other world leaders greet new US President

    Pope, Japanese, Israeli PMs, other world leaders greet new US President

    Pope Francis, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and other world leaders, yesterday sent greetings to newly-inaugurated US President, Donald Trump.

    In his goodwill message, Pope Francis said: “I pray that your decisions will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation’s commitment to the advancement of human dignity and freedom worldwide.”

    America’s bitter enemy, Russia, said it looks forward to fixing relations that “fell apart”. Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, in a Facebook message said, “We are ready to do our share of the work in order to improve the relationship.”

    Japanese Prime, Minister Shinzo Abe issued a statement extending his “heartfelt congratulations” to President Trump on being sworn in to office.

    According to the Japanese PM, “Please accept my best wishes for your great success, as well as for health and happiness of you and your family,” the statement said.

    Abe also noted that he’s looking forward to meeting with Trump “at the earliest possible occasion.”

    Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau also offered his congratulations to President Trump in a statement.

     “We look forward to working with President Trump, the U.S. Administration, the 115th Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to restore prosperity to the middle class on both sides of the border, and to create a safer and more peaceful world,” Trudeau said.

    UK Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson looks forward to working with the new administration. In a twitter message, Johnson said: “Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump @POTUS on his presidential inauguration day. Look forward to continuing strong UK – US bond  — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 20, 2017

    Also speaking, Hillary Clinton wrote a message of hope. “I’m here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future. #Inauguration   — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 20, 2017

  • Mazda recalls 1.57 million cars globally

    Mazda recalls 1.57 million cars globally

    Mazda Motor on Thursday said it was recalling about 1.57 million vehicles worldwide over potentially lethal airbag inflators.

    According to the Japanese car maker, the latest recall includes the Delica, RX-8 and Demio subcompact, which is known abroad as the Mazda 2.

    “The recall covers 491,000 units in Japan and many were also being recalled in China and the U.S.,’’ a Mazda spokeswoman said.

    However the carmaker declined to provide breakdowns.

    Report says the airbags made by Takata can rupture explosively in a collision, spraying metal fragments at passengers as well as drivers.

    No fewer than 13 deaths and hundreds of injuries have been linked to the defect worldwide.

  • FCTA’s N76.5m for Japanese partnership

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has released  N76.5 million as part its counterpart fund for various projects in the Territory by the Japanese government.

    The partnership is coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said this while receiving a delegation of JICA led by its Country Senior Representative, Mr. Hiroshi Kodama in his office.

    The minister said that N46.5 million out of the N76.5 million is the counterpart funding for integrated solid waste management system in the FCT under the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

    Bello revealed that the balance of N30 million is to serve as its share for the water sub-sector projects including metering of water consumers in the FCT, adding that the project would greatly reduce water leakages on the main trunk line.

    According to the statement issued by the Deputy Director/ Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the Minister said it was very important for the city to have a comprehensive waste management system that would be in place for the benefits of all residents.

    He stated that the FCTA is working to expand access to the dumpsites and also create more access roads into the sites so that the refuse disposal trucks can go in simultaneously from three different entry points.

    According to him, this will ensure that waste is properly disposed at the dumpsites.

    He lamented that the absence of enough entering points to site has made some trucks to dispose wastes on the site indiscriminately.

    The Minister also harped on the need for waste to be properly sorted in the Federal Capital Territory for recycling and other purposes, thereby improving their economic values; adding that waste is wealth.

    His words: “It is very clear that for us to achieve proper waste management in the city, we have to have a system of sorting that will clearly differentiate between the plastics, glasses, metals, the soft waste that you can make into biomass as well as the other solid wastes. This as you know, we don’t have in the system.”

    Bello expressed the desire of the FCT Administration to also partner with JICA on waste management in the FCT Area Councils and satellite towns; saying it would serve as blueprint for practical waste management system in the entire Territory.

    “In the satellite towns, the waste is just being dumped on the streets in the water drainage systems. I have tried for the last eight weeks to move round the satellite towns to work on public awareness, to explain that you don’t just pick your waste and put it in the drainages. The municipal agents are not collecting it and the waste is just solidifying and piling up on the drainage system. Then the rains come, the drains are over flooded,” he added.

    The minister thanked JICA for the solar powered project it is carrying out at the Lower Usuma Dam water treatment plants; stressing that it is a big relief to the Administration.

    “We spend a lot of money to buy diesel for the generators there, since they have to work for 24 hours. If we can get some relief by using the solar system, that is a welcome development,” he said.

    Speaking earlier, the JICA Country Senior Representative, Mr. Hiroshi Kodama noted that JICA has several knowledge and skills particularly in the area of agriculture that it is willing to share with the people of the FCT.

    Kodama recalled that last year; JICA organized a workshop in Gwagwalada on rice cultivation technology especially on improved parboiling technology aimed at improving the quality of rice production in the Territory.

    He said, “For the farmers, we at JICA have a new marketing technology that we call SHEP, (Small Holder Horticulture Empowerment Project).”

  • NVBF secures Japanese Olympic body’s assistance in training coaches

    The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has secured the services of a volleyball coach through the help of the Japanese Olympic Committee to help in updating Nigerian coaches’ knowledge.

    Adisa Beyioku, Secretary-General of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that the coach was due to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday evening.

    “The coach is coming courtesy of a form of assistance to the NVBF, and it is a programme courtesy of the Japanese Olympic Committee. It is to help in developing Nigerian volleyball overall, but basically in training our coaches over one week in Abuja.

    “These coaches, whom we expect to be between 150 and 200 in number, will then go on to coach others across the country,’’ he said.

    The NVBF secretary-general said the coaches training programme was being supported by the Japanese government which is taking care of the Japanese trainer’s expenses on accommodation, feeding and transportation.

    “We are indeed grateful to the Japanese for this assistance, because it is something we cannot really quantify, being a sort of transfer of knowledge.

    “Even if we are able to quantify it, it is something that is enormous in financial terms, and we are very grateful for that,’’ he said.

    Beyioku said the NVBF would be expecting each volleyball association in the country’s 36 states and the FCT to send their head coach to the coaching seminar.

    “Also, all military and para-military bodies and organs who have volleyball teams, as well as tertiary institutions across the country, are being expected to send in their head coaches.

    “They are expected to arrive in Abuja on Monday, ahead of a pre-training meeting with the coach and NVBF officials,’’ he said.

  • Firm launches new Japanese NGK plugs

    A firm, Asahi Brands Limited, a member of the Kewalram Chanrai Group, has launched the new NGK spark plugs in Nigeria.

    The plugs, made in Japan, will be distributed along with those made in NGK’s factory in Brazil.

    The group’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Victor Eburajolo, at a briefing to launch the Japanese brand, said Asahi would continue to distribute the full range of only genuine NGK plugsý through its six branches and authorised dealers

    “We’ll educate the public on how to identify genuine NGK plugs from fake ones. Asahi is associated with NGK from the last three decades and holds the number one position in the spark plug market.

    “Asahi will source for NGK plugs from all NGK factories, including Brazil and Japan, and ensure that only genuine ones are sold,” he said.

    Managing Director, NGK Spark Plug Middle East FZE, Mr. Hisataka Sato,  said the company offers the highest quality products for virtually every vehicle.

    According to him, a genuine NGK plug has a lifespan of between 40,000km to 100,000km depending on the type, all of which are available in Nigeria.

    “NGK is the world leader in spark plugs and known for its high quality and wide range of products. All plugs come direct from NGK plants and assure 100 per cent genuine supply,” he added.

    NGK’s Manager Yoji Kawanishi said the company, based in Nagoya, Japan, employs over 10,407 people and operates seven liaison offices, 12 sales offices, 13 production sites and two technical centres worldwide.