Japanese Agency Research Articles

Financial Transfers from Japan to North Korea: Estimating the Unreported Flows

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the cutback in Chinese aid to North Korea (DPRK),1 Pyongyang for the moment seems to be left with only one potentially major source of concessional resource transfers: the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (known by the abbreviated Chosen Soren in Japanese, Chochongnyon in Korean). This organization of pro-DPRK Koreans living in Japan-estimates of whose membership range from about 100,000 to roughly 250,000-has been described as North Korea's money pipeline.2 In the view of most specialists, this money pipeline funnels very substantial volumes of aid to North Korea every year. In a presentation before the Japanese Diet in March 1994, for example, the director-general of the Japanese Agency for Public Security and Investigation stated that Chosen Soren was believed to be remitting Y60 billion to Y80 billion a year to Pyongyang3-equivalent to $650 million-$850 million at the exchange rates then prevailing. Those estimates are consistent with figures widely cited in the

The Mexican Financial Crisis: A Test of the Resilience of the Markets for Developing Country Securities

This paper reviews developments in private capital flows to developing countries since the Mexican financial crisis in December 1994. The paper points out that a strong recovery in these flows masks some significant changes in their characteristics, particularly in the type of borrowers back toward sovereigns and the currency denomination of new issues shifted away from U.S. dollars. Terms of new bond issues became significantly less favorable than before the Mexican crisis. One of the most striking developments was the sharp increase in bond placements by developing countries in deutsche mark and yen. It is shown that relatively favorable credit ratings assigned by Japanese rating agencies facilitated some developing countries to tap the yen bond market.

Infrastructure Management: U.S. and Japanese Systems Contrasted

Japanese public-works systems feature advanced technology, high rates of investment and a cooperative management culture. Public-works policy is guided by political consensus, a social contract to provide welfare infrastructure, and production infrastructure for economic goals. The Japanese have longer-range plans, more cooperation in research and development and regulatory policy, and more private-sector involvement than the United States. Coordination problems are mitigated by centralization, focus on group work, and personal relationships. Our individualism, adversarial public-private arrangements, and federal system discourage these approaches. The Japanese invest in infrastructure to stimulate the economy and to subsidize maintenance. Regionalization, land-use planning, and small-systems problems seem less daunting in Japan than in the United States. The Japanese have superb public-information material, indicating a commitment to gain consensus from each citizen. They are sensitive to environmental issues, and see them as a business opportunity. Women have fewer opportunities in Japanese agencies than in the United States. Lessons for the United States: invest in infrastructure in spite of economic problems; integrate decision making; improve coordination and cooperation; encourage public-private cooperation; cut regulatory red tape; be efficient and democratic in decision making; and learn from Japanese public-works management systems.

The Sense of “Nonsense”: Japanese TV Advertising

Abstract Various explanations for the well-known “soft-sell” style adopted in Japanese TV ads are examined. The common culturally based explanation is found wanting, as is an alternative explanation based on a theory of the persuasive role of social factors in Japan. A more complete explanation draws upon the peculiar institutional arrangements which exist in the Japanese agency world and the economic function played by advertising in the Japanese marketplace.

The Final Report of the 8th Committee (protective relationships of publishers) of the Copyright Council of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs

<i>The Final Report of the 8th Committee (protective relationships of publishers) of the Copyright Council</i> of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs

COCAINE IN JAPAN

Cocaine use is rising in Japan, and record quantities of the drug are being seized, Japanese drug-enforcement agencies said. The amount of cocaine smuggled into Japan in the first 10 months of last year was 66 times higher than for the same 1988 period, officials at the Health Ministry and police headquarters said, without giving figures. Police confiscated a record 30 pounds of cocaine and arrested 80 people in cocaine-related cases between last January and October. They seized 60 pounds of heroin and 934 pounds of marijuana in the same period.

Tennessee Emerging as Lab for Japan-U.S. High-Tech Cooperation

An intriguing experiment in Japanese- American high-technology relations appears to be unfolding in the state of Tennessee. There the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are exploring some joint research efforts with a unique Japanese high-tech agency under Japan's Ministry for International Trade & Industry (MITI). The Japanese agency is the New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization, abbreviated NEDO. Earlier this month NEDO officials met in Knoxville with key R&D figures from the three U.S. institutions to discuss at a one-day workshop ways the two groups could interact. Floating about, too, were ideas on what the relationship could mean in terms of better ways of tackling technology in a world with environmental regulations. The workshop was basically a show-and-tell session in which the Japanese officials reviewed such areas as MITFs and NEDO's role in international technology transfer, research projects ope...

Japanese agency's faith in HOPE

Japanese agency's faith in HOPE

Awareness Advertising—Japanese and US Agency Perspectives

This article presents the results of a study of the attitudes of US and Japanese advertising agency executives towards ‘awareness advertising’—the practice of multinational firms advertising their products in markets where these products are neither allowed to be commercially imported nor manufactured. The results indicate that while a number of advertising agencies have developed awareness-advertising programmes for their clients in several markets, not everyone is convinced about its usefulness. The respondents are generally in agreement that awareness advertising makes sense for certain kinds of products more than for others, but there is some doubt expressed about whether the benefits from such advertising would outweigh the costs. Several questions for further research on awareness advertising are suggested.

Survey of high-technology-transfer mechanisms in Japan and the USA

Based on the author's recent survey in Japan and the United States, this paper describes the principal ways how industrial researchers in those countries use certain new technologies resulting from university research. Personal communication and technical collaboration turned out to be key factors in the rapid diffusion of research results. However, Japanese government agencies and professional societies are much more active in organizing and energizing the civilian technology-transfer process than are their American counterparts.

Determination of Uranium in GSJ, CRPG, and CCRMP Reference Samples by Delayed Neutron Assay

Uranium concentrations were determined in 30 reference materials from Japanese, French, and Canadian agencies using delayed neutron assay methods. Many of these materials are new and have few previously reported values for uranium.

A survey of health effects studies of photochemical air pollution in Japan.

This paper examines various health effects of photochemical air pollution in Japan, primarily through the review of epidemiological studies. Health effects discussed include subjective respiratory symptoms, respiratory function testing, ocular effects, and hospital diagnostic tests. The downward trend in oxidant cautions and paralleled health effects, as reported by the Japanese Environmental Agency, are discussed. The methods determined by Japanese ordinance for measurement of oxidants, SO2, NO x , and CO are described.

Is Japan’s Defense Posture Adequate?

The Japanese National Defense Study Group has published two reports on Japan's defense, in 1976 and 1977, both under the leadership of Dr. Tsunoda Jun. The 1976 report dealt with basic principles, and the 1977 report with the application of those principles to Japan's present and future defense posture. The 1977 report emphasizes that the major threat to Japan's security comes from the Soviet Union, and discusses the pros and cons of various measures for dealing with this threat. The key to Japan's defense still remains the US-Japan security treaty, but changes in America's military posture present Japan with new problems, challenges, and alternative solutions. The report makes a cogent argument for improving Japan's defense both qualitatively and quantitatively. The reports are not official publications of the Japanese Defense Agency, although they do express the views of prominent former members of the Self-Defense Forces. At present, the membership of the Study Group consists of Hasegawa Saiji, President, Naigai News Company; Kitamura Kenichi, former Commander-in-Chief, Maritime SelfDefense Fleet; Muta Hirokuni, former Chairman, Joint Staff Council; Nakamura Ryuhei, former Chairman, Joint Defense Council; Nishimura Tomoharu, former Chief of Operations, Maritime Self-Defense Force; Shirakawa Motoharu, former Chairman, Joint Staff Council; Sugita Kazutsugu, former Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defense Force; and Dr. Tsunoda Jun, a leading authority on defense problems. The following is an edited translation of selected passages from the 1977 report, which was prepared by Dr. Tsunoda and originally published under the title Kokuboron-Showa 52-Nen Ban (On National Defense-1977 Edition) by Naigai News Company. These excerpts are published here as illustrative of the views of an influential segment of Japanese opinion on problems of national defense.

Tokyo Bay Traffic Advisory Service

The Japanese Maritime Safety Agency has established a Tokyo Bay Traffic Advisory Service Center at Kannon Saki at the entrance to the bay in order to promote the safe navigation of vessels. The Center is equipped with radar linked to a computer. The information and control service has been operational from 25 February 1977.Information will be broadcast to all vessels concerning the traffic schedules of very large vessels, the movement of fishing craft and of other vessels on the traffic route or in neighbouring waters. Transmissions are also made by v.h.f. individually to any vessel requesting information as to her position or the movements of other vessels.

Comparison and Evaluation of Several Nitrogen Dioxide Air Quality Standards

In 1973 the Japanese Environment Agency promulgated the extremely stringent NO/sub 2/ standard of 0.02 ppm/24 hr which is 5 to 7 times more rigid than those of the Western countries. For instance, the NO/sub 2/ standard in the U.S. is 0.05 ppm/yr (calculated to be approximately equivalent to 0.13 ppm/24 hr); in West Germany, 0.05 ppm for long term exposure, 0.15 ppm for short term exposure. The vehicle density and population density of large cities in Japan and the U.S. were compared. As a guideline for environmental standards, the WHO Task Group has recently reached a consensus that the minimum exposure level consistent with protection of public health may be afforded by an NO/sub 2/ level no greater than 0.10 to 0.17 ppm (190 to 320 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/) maximum hourly exposure. Therefore, the Japanese NO/sub 2/ standard is 3 to 5 times stricter than the WHO guideline. (RHR)

Incidental Catch of Cetaceans with Salmon Gillnet

Using data on number of cetaceans caught per 1000 "tans" (= approximately 50 m) of salmon drift gillnet, incidental catch rates by salmon research vessels of the Japanese Fisheries Agency averaged 0.476. The maximum was 1.42. The average ranged between 0.37 and 0.65 from 1962 to 1971, indicating negligible effect on porpoise populations. These figures are much lower than the average incidental catch rate (6.66) in the United States salmon drift net research. The main catch is Phocoenoides dalli.

Ice Condition in the Southeastern Okhotsk Sea between 1964 and 1967

In every February from 1964 to 1967 the patrol ship Soya of the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency conducted oceanographic and ice observations in the southeastern part of Okhotsk Sea. The emphasis is laid on the results of 1964 to 1967.A large water area bounded by the southern ice edge and Chishima Retto (Kuril Islands) was observed every year. Discussions are given to the vicissitude of this water area in relation with meteorological and oceanographical conditions, especially with the influence of warm Pacific water intruding into the Southern Okhotsk Sea.

Review of the oceanographic programs of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations

The Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations (POFI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has, since early 1950, been engaged in oceanographic surveys of the tropical and subtropical central Pacific, and since last year the northern temperate central Pacific. These studies support POFI's exploratory fishing program, stressing the location of areas of enrichment and increased productivity in the upper layers. The tabulated data from the cruises, together with vertical sections of the measured fields and brief descriptive texts, are published as Special Scientific Reports of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the tropical central Pacific, standard oceanographic work is nearing completion, with reports published on seven cruises crossing and defining the equatorial current system (lat. 15°N–10°S, long. 140°W–180°). Similar reports on seven cruises in Hawaiian Islands offshore waters and three cruises to temperate waters north of Hawaii (lat. 25°N–40°N, long. 140°–170°E.) are in preparation. Plans for 1955 include a reconnaissance oceanographic cruise to the equatorial eastern Pacific in cooperation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Peruvian Hydrographic Office, and participation in NORPAC, a joint survey of the entire Pacific north of 25°N. latitude during July, August, and September by POFI, SIO, the State of California, University of Washington, Pacific Oceanic Group of Canada, and Japanese agencies.

Far Eastern Commission

In the period from January 1 to April 15, 1948, the major policy decision approved by the Far Eastern Commission dealt with the prohibition of military activity in Japan and disposition of Japanese military equipment. On February 12, 1948, the Commission directed that the possession of arms, ammunition, and implements of war by any Japanese should be prohibited, save that which might be authorized for Japanese civil police agencies and licensed hunters. The development, manufacture, importation or exportation of arms, ammunition and implements of war, the manufacture of aircraft of all kinds, and the construction of naval combatant and auxiliary vessels were similarly prohibited. In addition, reestablishment of any of the military ministries and their subsidiary service groups – such as the Naval General Headquarters and the Imperial High Command – was prohibited, together with ex-officers clubs, para-military organizations, or even associations of ex-officers ostensibly founded for legitimate purposes but being disguised forms of military organizations. All senior officers andc career officers in the Army, Navy and gendarmerie were prohibited from employment in the government service or educational institutions unless performing services essential to demobilization and repatriation.