Comments on: BizCast Japan #3: The Japan Brand, Tourism, Keidanren and Fujio Mitarai, and Tokyo’s Foreign Financial District http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:13:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: BizCast Japan #3 Released: Airlines, Keidanren, Tourism and the Foreign Financial District : Japan Economy News & Blog http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-512888 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:39:39 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-512888 [...] BizCast Japan #3 has been released over at Trans-Pacific Radio. In this edition of the show, Albrecht Stahmer and I discuss the “Japan Brand” initiative, troubles at Japan’s airlines, Fujio Mitarai’s first year as Chairman of Keidanren, efforts to get more overseas tourists to Japan, the project to create a district for foreign financial firms and workers in Tokyo, and more. If it sounds like your sort of thing, the audio can be downloaded or streamed live from the TPR site. [...] […] BizCast Japan #3 has been released over at Trans-Pacific Radio. In this edition of the show, Albrecht Stahmer and I discuss the “Japan Brand” initiative, troubles at Japan’s airlines, Fujio Mitarai’s first year as Chairman of Keidanren, efforts to get more overseas tourists to Japan, the project to create a district for foreign financial firms and workers in Tokyo, and more. If it sounds like your sort of thing, the audio can be downloaded or streamed live from the TPR site. […]

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-150369 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:24:02 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-150369 Cnote, This is something about to go up on Japan Economy News, but this is good for those who love the good old cross-holdings. The mega-banks aren't in a position to be white knights, but they can buy up a good chunk of shares to prevent funds such as Steel Partners and companies such as Rakuten from being able to acquire the firms they loan money to. In the end, this is better for the banks than anyone else, since they ensure that their customers remain "in debt" to them. Cnote, This is something about to go up on Japan Economy News, but this is good for those who love the good old cross-holdings. The mega-banks aren’t in a position to be white knights, but they can buy up a good chunk of shares to prevent funds such as Steel Partners and companies such as Rakuten from being able to acquire the firms they loan money to.

In the end, this is better for the banks than anyone else, since they ensure that their customers remain “in debt” to them.

]]> by: CNote http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-150232 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:49:51 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-150232 Question. This morning's Nikkei reported "3 Megabanks Lift Shareholdings To Protect Corporate Borrowers" [Combined shareholdings at Japan's three megabanking groups rose 4% or ¥380bil. on the year to ¥9.76 tril as of March 31 as they began a new round of stock purchases in response to requests from corporate borrowers] What exactly does this mean? Is this good or bad, for who? Question. This morning’s Nikkei reported “3 Megabanks Lift Shareholdings To Protect Corporate Borrowers” [Combined shareholdings at Japan’s three megabanking groups rose 4% or ¥380bil. on the year to ¥9.76 tril as of March 31 as they began a new round of stock purchases in response to requests from corporate borrowers]

What exactly does this mean? Is this good or bad, for who?

]]> by: CNote http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143618 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:43:07 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143618 I heard it on marketwatch.com's Andrew O'day's podcast I heard it on marketwatch.com’s Andrew O’day’s podcast

]]> by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143507 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:44:59 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143507 Cnote, Have you seen any links? Cnote, Have you seen any links?

]]> by: CNote http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143183 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:32:44 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-143183 According to Dow Jones Ford's Lincoln division has bumped Toyota to now lead quality with 19 models also a survey of the world's auto factories have placed the highest quality factories(?) in the US-not sure if this includes Japanese factories in the US or not. But apparently this is a leap frog move to get on par with Japanese firms. According to Dow Jones Ford’s Lincoln division has bumped Toyota to now lead quality with 19 models also a survey of the world’s auto factories have placed the highest quality factories(?) in the US-not sure if this includes Japanese factories in the US or not. But apparently this is a leap frog move to get on par with Japanese firms.

]]> by: Marc http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-139458 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:00:53 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-139458 Overall, I really enjoyed the discussion (haven't heard the others yet), but I think that's a lot of time given to the issue of the "Foreigner District" that a lot of people look at and just say it's dumb. There are a lot of underlying issues, and probably way more than can be brought up in 10 minutes, but isn't it just banging your head on the wall after a while? I don't think those in power are going to really get it, and even if they do, a real solution doesn't seem like something they want. It's as if being second fiddle to Hong Kong is part of their master plan. Overall, I really enjoyed the discussion (haven’t heard the others yet), but I think that’s a lot of time given to the issue of the “Foreigner District” that a lot of people look at and just say it’s dumb. There are a lot of underlying issues, and probably way more than can be brought up in 10 minutes, but isn’t it just banging your head on the wall after a while? I don’t think those in power are going to really get it, and even if they do, a real solution doesn’t seem like something they want. It’s as if being second fiddle to Hong Kong is part of their master plan.

]]> by: John S http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-134189 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:40:40 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-134189 I know you're kidding there, but if they really want that easy credit back, shouldn't they just make things easier for the consumer loan firms? But seriously, I have to say the Foreigner Business District plan is stupid to the point of being dangerous. I think they realize the underlying, true problems, and the fact that this is what's being discused either means that they think the public is too dumb to get the real issues, or that they don't plan on doing anything about them anyway. Or both. I know you’re kidding there, but if they really want that easy credit back, shouldn’t they just make things easier for the consumer loan firms?

But seriously, I have to say the Foreigner Business District plan is stupid to the point of being dangerous. I think they realize the underlying, true problems, and the fact that this is what’s being discused either means that they think the public is too dumb to get the real issues, or that they don’t plan on doing anything about them anyway. Or both.

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-131809 Thu, 31 May 2007 09:40:01 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-131809 <em>I guess it depends on how strongly you believe that big business’ wholesale short-changing of the domestic labor force will end up costing Japan its standard of living.</em> I think that can be fixed by giving out shitloads of free, easy credit. I guess it depends on how strongly you believe that big business’ wholesale short-changing of the domestic labor force will end up costing Japan its standard of living.

I think that can be fixed by giving out shitloads of free, easy credit.

]]> by: Adamu http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-131783 Thu, 31 May 2007 09:21:59 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/05/31/bizcast-japan-3-the-japan-brand-tourism-keidanren-and-fujio-mitarai-and-tokyos-foreign-financial-district/#comment-131783 Indeed, talking about the general business climate in Japan is a delicate matter (I guess it depends on how strongly you believe that big business' wholesale short-changing of the domestic labor force will end up costing Japan its standard of living), but considering for example how much a show like Marketplace spends talking about the environment, I think you guys have a pretty free hand to discuss what's on your minds, if not mine. Perhaps FSA only listens to building contractors, hotel managers, and English-only barber shops when making their decisions. And speaking of conflicts of interest, as an up-and-coming financial translator I have to say that plans to make Japan's finance industry more English-friendly are very welcome as the demand for translators will almost certainly increase. Indeed, talking about the general business climate in Japan is a delicate matter (I guess it depends on how strongly you believe that big business’ wholesale short-changing of the domestic labor force will end up costing Japan its standard of living), but considering for example how much a show like Marketplace spends talking about the environment, I think you guys have a pretty free hand to discuss what’s on your minds, if not mine.

Perhaps FSA only listens to building contractors, hotel managers, and English-only barber shops when making their decisions. And speaking of conflicts of interest, as an up-and-coming financial translator I have to say that plans to make Japan’s finance industry more English-friendly are very welcome as the demand for translators will almost certainly increase.

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