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Posts Tagged ‘japan’

Steel in Japan: Bonds of steel

February 3rd, 2011 | No Comments

A welcome mega-merger

THE proposed merger of Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, with Sumitomo Metals, a domestic rival, was announced on February 3rd. The new steel firm would be the world’s second- largest, after ArcelorMittal of Luxembourg. It is a welcome sign that Japan Inc is adapting.

Steel provided the backbone of Japan’s post-war industrial rise. Its quality—Japanese carmakers swear by it—still makes it a symbol of the country’s manufacturing prowess. A move to tie up Japan’s number one and number three steelmakers is a sign that the nation’s bosses are at last responding to the urgent need for corporate restructuring. It is the country’s first steel-industry merger since 2002, and comes as rising raw-material prices and steely competition from other East Asian producers have exposed alarming over-capacity. …

US welcomes emerging Indiaâ€™s role in Asia Pacific

February 3rd, 2011 | No Comments

The US welcomes India’s greater involvement in East Asia and is committed to working with New Delhi as it increases ties with US allies in Southeast Asia and Japan, a senior US official has said. “Ultimately, we think that India’s role in the Asian-Pacific region stands to be one of the most important new developments [...]

Labrador can sniff out bowel cancer even in early stage

February 1st, 2011 | No Comments

Dogs can sniff out bowel cancer, even in its early stages, in breath and stool samples with 95 percent accuracy, scientists say. They used a specially trained Labrador retriever to demonstrate the findings. The findings suggest that chemical compounds for specific cancers circulate throughout the body, which opens up the prospect of developing tests to [...]

Update on STS9Â’s David Murphy

January 30th, 2011 | No Comments

HEAL UP, BUDDY, YOU GOT LOTS OF MUSIC TO MAKE!

STS9

As we reported earlier, Sound Tribe Sector 9 bassist David Murphy is currently in a fight against cancer. The band issued a new statement this past Friday night updating fans on Murphy’s status:

First and foremost, David, STS9 and their families can’t thank all of you enough for your incredible support through the past week since the announcement of David’s cancer. We’ve received thousands of notes, prayers, well wishes and support all the way from Japan to Antarctica. David went into a nearly 9 hour surgery Wednesday morning and has since been on a steady path of recovery. He’s awake, standing when he can, and overall in great physical form given what he went through just 48 hours ago. While the path to recovery is a long one, you can see the warrior that is our brother Murph every step of the way. He’s well aware of the outpouring of support for him and he’s simply floored by it, as are all of us. We are all blessed and honored to have so many people surrounding us in numerous ways through this challenge. We will continue to keep everyone updated as the days and weeks go by.

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Dates :: STS9
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Weekend News Recap

January 30th, 2011 | No Comments

SEVEN STORIES YOU JUST GOTTA KNOW ABOUT

Welcome back to our weekly digest of the top stories to hit JamBase in the past week, along with a little bonus stimuli.

1. Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax To Play Single Concert in SoCal.

2. Animal Collective U.S. Tour

3. Lotus Set To Tour U.S. and Japan

4. Inaugural John Hartford Memorial Festival in June

5. Bob Seger Announces 2011 Tour

6. Robin Trower Announces New Album and Extensive U.S. Tour

7. Willie Nelson Country Throwdown 2011 Tour

Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Vernon Reid, Medeski, Jack Bruce

January 28th, 2011 | No Comments

FOUR MONSTER TALENTS GATHER TO SALUTE VISIONARY MUSICIAN & BAND

Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute featuring legendary bassist of Cream and one-time Lifetime member Jack Bruce, guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour), organist John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood), and ace drummer Cindy Blackman brings their unique take on Williams’ revolutionary music to The Blue Note in New York City (Jan. 27-30), Yoshi’s in Oakland (Feb. 2-5) and Jazz Alley in Seattle (Feb. 7 & 8).

Lifetime was founded as a trio in 1969 by Tony Williams who featured electric guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young. Lifetime’s first album, titled Emergency!, was rejected by many jazz fans who came to know Williams’ music from his work with the Miles Davis Quintet in the Â‘60s, but many now consider it a fusion classic. Jack Bruce joined Lifetime on their second recording Turn It Over, providing bass and vocals, making the group a quartet. But Lifetime was short-lived, and Williams took the concept through various iterations, starting with the New Tony Williams Lifetime 1975. The last New Lifetime recording, Play or Die, was released in 1980. Williams, widely considered one of the greatest drummers of all time, continued to perform and record extensively until his untimely death in 1997.

The idea of a tribute band “really started a long time ago with the tragic death of Mr. Williams,” Vernon Reid wrote in his blog at livingcolourmusic.com on the eve of the Japan dates. “I’ve had the great fortune to work with the extraordinary bassist Jack Bruce of Cream, and during a tour with him started to chat about Tony Williams and Lifetime and their close personal relationship. I thought of Cindy Blackman, a true devotee of Mr. Williams whose work in that regard is not as well known as her long association with the rock star Lenny Kravitz. John Medeski’s organ work evokes the mysterious power of the vastly under-appreciated Larry Young.” Reid went on to cite John McLaughlin of the original Lifetime band as a major influence on his guitar playing, “mainly from the later Mahavishnu period, the seeds of which were sown in Tony Williams Lifetime.”

Cindy Blackman also expressed her excitement at being involved in the group, exclaiming “Tony Williams is my drum hero! The Tony Williams Lifetime influenced not only Miles Davis but Mahavishnu, Return to Forever and the next three decades of electric music to the present.”

For Jack Bruce, paying tribute to Williams is a homecoming that is more than welcome. “One of the greatest highlights of my musical career was playing with Tony’s amazing band,” he said. “Together I believe we can rekindle the spirit of a more joyous and optimistic era.”

Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Tour Dates

Four Nights at THE BLUE NOTE in NEW YORK CITY
JANUARY 27, 28, 29 & 30 | Sets at 8PM & 10:30PM

Four Nights at YOSHI’S in OAKLAND
FEBRUARY 2, 3, 4 & 5 | Sets at 8PM & 10PM

Two Nights at JAZZ ALLEY in SEATTLE
FEBRUARY 7 & 8 | Sets at 7:30PM & 9:30PM

AMB Property Corp. and Prologis may Change GLPâ€™s Japan landscape – UBS

January 28th, 2011 | No Comments

Global Logistic Properties (MC0.SG) is flat at S$2.12 in muted trade, shrugging off news AMB Property Corp. (AMB) and Prologis (PLD) Thursday confirmed the two companies were discussing a potential merger of equals. UBS analysts Michael Lim and Adrian Chua say if the deal proceeds, “it would create a global industrial powerhouse.”

Jan 28: Singapore stocks may see weak start; CapitaLand in focus

January 28th, 2011 | No Comments

Singapore shares may be see a weak start on Friday after rating agency Standard & Poor’s cut Japan’s long-term debt rating, sending the yen (JPY=) lower, but gains on Wall Street overnight may provide some support.

Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> closed 0.03% lower on Thursday at 3,219.83 points. Here are some stocks and factors to watch:

The changing face of Japanese retailing: The co-op strikes back

January 27th, 2011 | No Comments

Small grocery stores use Tesco tactics to beat the supermarkets

YASUNAGA KOJIMA’S grocery shop, near Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, has been in business since his grandfather started it almost 100 years ago. He lives above it with his wife. Outside he sells YEN99 ($1.20) bunches of bananas and other fruit, undercutting even the discount convenience store across the street, which sells everything at YEN105.

His customers, many of them pensioners, cherish such bargains. They come in, on average, twice every three days, and buy just enough to put together a few meals. Some economists consider such stores an anachronism, and blame small retailers for the meagre productivity of Japan’s service sector. But Mr Kojima’s store is no culprit. It is part of a 1,800-strong community of local co-operative stores harnessing the latest technology to win a retail war against the supermarkets. …

The coal boom: Burning ambitions

January 27th, 2011 | No Comments

What is good news for miners is bad news for the environment

IN RICH countries, where people worry about air quality and debate ways of pricing carbon emissions, coal is deeply unfashionable. Elsewhere demand for the dirty rocks has never been stronger. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reckons world consumption will increase by a fifth over the next 25 years, assuming governments stick to their current climate-change policies. A new age of coal is upon us.

The IEA estimates that China, which generates more than 70% of its electricity with coal, will build 600 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power capacity in the next quarter-century—as much as is currently generated with coal in America, Japan and the European Union put together. Nomura, a Japanese bank, thinks that may be an underestimate. It reckons China will add some 500GW of coal-fired power by as early as 2015, and will more than double its current generating capacity by 2020. It expects Indian coal-fired power generation to grow too—though more slowly. …

Lotus Announce US/Japan Dates & New Music

January 24th, 2011 | No Comments

TOUR STARTS FEBRUARY 3 IN NEW YORK CITY

Lotus

Lotus kicks off a short
February tour with a 3-night stand in New York City Feb 3-5. Two intimate shows at Mercury Lounge are followed
by a massive show at Terminal 5 with electronic boundary-pushers Daedelus and Tobacco opening. The tour
continues south highlighted by a 2-night stand at the renowned 9:30 Club in Washington DC. Daedelus will open
several dates on the tour and innovative hip-hop artist Mr. Lif will join the 2/11 bill.

Once again, Lotus has proven itself a festival favorite. The band has revealed it will join the exciting line-up at the
inaugural Snow Ball Festival in Colorado in addition to appearances at Snoe.down, Wanee, Summer Camp, Wakarusa,
Mountain Jam and more. Lotus is also pleased to announce their fourth trip to Japan for performances at the Green
Room festival and other select club dates in May.

Lotus has released a collection of select recordings from their 2010 fall tour. Click here to grab that. Look forward to a number of digital releases of live,
studio and remixed tracks in the next several months in anticipation of Lotus’ next studio album. To kick things off,
Lotus’ Luke Miller has remixed the new single by Toro y Moi, “Still Sound.” Click here to download the
track.

TOUR DATES

2/3: New York City: Mercury Lounge

2/4: New York City: Mercury Lounge

2/5: New York City: Terminal 5 # $

2/10: Morgantown, WV: Metropolitan Theater

2/11: Washington, DC: 9:30 Club # ^
2/12: Washington, DC: 9:30 Club #

2/15: Raleigh, NC: Lincoln Theatre

2/16: Savannah, GA: Live Wire

2/17: Atlanta, GA: Variety Playhouse #

2/18: Asheville, NC: Orange Peel #

2/19: Richmond, VA: The National #

3/4-6: Vail Valley, CO: Snow Ball Music Festival

3/24: Pawtucket, RI: The Met Cafe

3/25: New Haven, CT: Toad’s Place

3/26: Rutland, VT: Snoe.down Festival

4/14: Live Oak, FL: Wanee Festival

5/16-22: JAPAN TOUR

5/27-29: Chillicothe, IL: Summer Camp Festival

5/27-29: Geneva, MN: Bella Music Fest

6/2-5: Ozark, AR: Wakarusa

6/2-5: Hunter, NY: Mountain Jam

#Daedelus

$Tobacco

^Mr. Lif

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Japan to strengthen economic ties with Russia

January 24th, 2011 | No Comments

Japan plans to develop economic cooperation with Russia, the country’s prime minister, Naoto Kan, said on Monday, RIA Novosti reports. “We will broaden cooperation with Russia in the economic sphere, including the development of natural resources,” Kan said during the opening session of the Japanese parliament.

SGX Joint venture Chi-East completes roll out in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore

January 24th, 2011 | No Comments

Chi-East, the “dark pool” joint venture between Singapore Exchange and Nomura’s (9716.T) Chi-X, said on Monday it has completed the roll-out of its trading platform for securities listed in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

All of Chi-East’s initial participants — Instinet, Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Nomura and UBS (UBSN.VX)— have successfully matched trades on the platform, the firm said in a statement.

Parkway Life REIT announces 16.6% rise in 4Q distributable income for $14.4m

January 24th, 2011 | No Comments

Parkway Life Real Estate Investment Trust (PLife REIT) says it registered a 21.1% increase in gross revenue from $17.7 million in the previous corresponding period (4Q 2009) to $21.5 million for the fourth quarter (4Q 2010) ended 31 December 2010.

PLife REIT says this was primarily due to the full quarter revenue contribution amounting to $0.9 million from the eight Japan nursing home properties acquired in November 2009, and recognition of revenue contribution amounting to $2.5 million from the 11 Japan nursing home properties acquired in June and July 2010.

Japan responds to China: Rare action

January 20th, 2011 | No Comments

Corporate Japan adjusts quickly to a shortage of rare earths

TWO decades of economic impotence have convinced many observers that Japan is cautious and slow to change. But the country can move quickly when sufficiently provoked. China is hoarding rare earths—17 elements that, although plentiful in nature, are costly and time-consuming to extract and have highly toxic by-products. Four months ago, during a minor territorial dispute, China was accused of suspending shipments of these elements to Japan entirely. Since then, Japan Inc has sprung into action.

Rare earths are used in high-tech products from computer chips and televisions to cars and missiles. China has one-third of the world’s reserves but accounts for 97% of current production, having squeezed out other suppliers with low prices in the 1990s. It is restricting exports to induce foreign technology firms to place operations inside China. The quota for January to June this year was cut by 35%. …

Japan says Singapore agrees to â€˜open skiesâ€™ accord from 2013

January 20th, 2011 | No Comments

Japan said it had agreed to liberalize aviation with Singapore starting in 2013 through an “open skies” accord.

The transport ministry made the announcement on its website today.

{jcomments on}

Daihatsu takes exchange rate hit

January 18th, 2011 | No Comments

Currency exchange rates and how they move are not to be taken lightly in the automotive business if you are trading – either in parts or vehicles – across the world. They can provide a tailwind that makes your firm look better than it really is, or they can provide a headwind that undoes your good work.

Two recent stories we have published illustrate their importance. Daihatsu – majority-owned by Toyota and a specialist in small cars – is taking a hammering in Europe due to the strength of the yen. Margins on small cars are tight to begin with, but the strong yen has clearly wiped out any prospect of profitability on the brand’s models being shipped from Japan to Europe. It has now decided to give up.

One thing that would have helped Daihatsu (besides better and more exciting models, a clearer brand image, maybe keeping the Charade model name and not replacing with Sirion) would have been an assembly facility in Europe, preferably low-cost, perhaps somewhere like Bulgaria or Turkey where local demand could have been supplemented by substantial shipments to the EU.

I can’t help thinking that Daihatsu is a brand that has under-achieved under Toyota. It has basically been left to get on with mainly supplying the Japanese domestic market with midget cars. An overseas product and selling strategy was there, but surely it could have been better? The impression I have is that Daihatsu and Toyota have never been as close/integrated as they might have been.

JAPAN: Daihatsu will be out of Europe by 2013

Singapore Exchange to scrap lunchtime trading break

January 18th, 2011 | No Comments

Singapore Exchange, operator of the city’s derivatives and securities exchange, decided to scrap its midday trading break from March 1 after bigger rivals Hong Kong and Japan moved to reduce lunch breaks.

“Investors are constantly seeking trading opportunities, and continuous all-day securities trading will provide more avenues for participants to invest, hedge and arbitrage their investments,” Chief Executive Officer Magnus Bocker said in a statement today. “This will make Singapore one of the most accessible markets in Asia and in the world.” Eliminating the break could boost trading volumes by between 8 percent and 10 percent, Bocker said in July.

Japanese business: Over here!

January 13th, 2011 | No Comments

Japan’s government is trying to attract business investment. Really

WHEN the Japanese government revealed a hefty “new growth strategy” in June, the response was sceptical. Yomiuri Shimbun, the country’s biggest newspaper, relished reporting the “21 key national strategy projects” and “about 330 policy items” up for change. They ranged from promoting clean energy and overseas infrastructure projects to attracting medical tourists and foreign firms.

Since then the ruling Democratic Party of Japan has continued to falter. The popularity of the prime minister, Naoto Kan, has sunk as low as 21%, curtailing his ability to push reforms. And the government has placed the most controversial ideas on hold, at least publicly. Yet substantial changes are quietly taking place, a few of which have already borne fruit. …

One Ford, two VWs

January 12th, 2011 | No Comments

Post-Detroit, a question arises. On one hand we have Alan Mulally and his One Ford policy otherwise known as ‘if it’s been designed right overseas (see Fiesta, Focus, C-Max) don’t tinker with it for the US (see Gen 1 Focus and successors on same platform; Mondeo-based Contour/Mystique)’.

We’ll also see this applied in reverse to larger cars when the Australian Falcon switches to front-drive and shares a platform with the bigger cars designed in and for North America.

On the other hand, there’s VW, which has shunned its new European Passat for a unique, larger model for, and built in, the US.

So, whose approach is right?

We’ve been here before, of course, with Japanese Toyota Camrys widened for the US and quite different Honda Accords for Japan, Europe and the US. VW is only the latest to make a mid-size car unique for the US though Toyota and Honda also sold their ‘wide’ Camry and Accords in other markets.

Posts Tagged ‘japan’

Steel in Japan: Bonds of steel

US welcomes emerging Indiaâ€™s role in Asia Pacific

Labrador can sniff out bowel cancer even in early stage

Update on STS9Â’s David Murphy

Weekend News Recap

Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Vernon Reid, Medeski, Jack Bruce

AMB Property Corp. and Prologis may Change GLPâ€™s Japan landscape – UBS

Jan 28: Singapore stocks may see weak start; CapitaLand in focus

The changing face of Japanese retailing: The co-op strikes back

The coal boom: Burning ambitions

Lotus Announce US/Japan Dates & New Music

Japan to strengthen economic ties with Russia

SGX Joint venture Chi-East completes roll out in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore

Parkway Life REIT announces 16.6% rise in 4Q distributable income for $14.4m

Japan responds to China: Rare action

Japan says Singapore agrees to â€˜open skiesâ€™ accord from 2013

Daihatsu takes exchange rate hit

Singapore Exchange to scrap lunchtime trading break

Japanese business: Over here!

One Ford, two VWs

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