India and Japan: News and Discussion

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 25 May 2015 05:33

Not just India.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy ... technology
"Abe to try to sell Malaysia's Najib on Japan's high-speed train technology

Japanese prime minister to try to sell country's shinkansen technology for planned high-speed line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore"

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to pitch Japan's shinkansen bullet train technology in his talks today with Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak in Tokyo for a planned high-speed train system between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for which China and France are among rivals.

Abe also plans to offer increased assistance to Malaysia's coastguard as Beijing steps up territorial claims in the South China Sea, most recently by building artificial islands in waters contested with Southeast Asian states such as Malaysia and the Philippines, according to a Japanese official. During a three-day visit to Japan through tomorrow, Najib will have an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace today, take a shinkansen ride tomorrow from Tokyo to Sendai, northeastern Japan, and attend other events.

Abe is expected to stress in the upcoming meeting the safety and advanced technology of the shinkansen as Japan promotes high-quality and innovative infrastructure exports, particularly to the fast-growing Asia with enormous infrastructure needs.

"Safe and highly reliable high-speed rail systems have the power to reshape the flow of people and goods dramatically," Abe said in a speech on Thursday in Tokyo where he pledged a US$110 billion, five-year infrastructure investment in Asia with the Asian Development Bank in an apparent move to counter a China-led investment bank.

Earlier this month, Najib and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the two countries decided to push back an initial deadline of 2020 for completion of the 350km rail link due to the project's complexity.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 25 May 2015 07:57

A_Gupta wrote:http://www.hindustantimes.com/business- ... 6156.aspxv
India-born Nikesh Arora named Japan's SoftBank Corp president

SoftBank is a ~~one of the major~~ key investor in India's start-up eco system. Few key players such as Soft Bank, Tiger Ventures and others have literally fired up India's hi-tech start up industry in recent years. This is leading to reversal of brain drain atleast for senior management talent and given rise to 2x increase in salary in some hot sections of IT industry. I hope Softbank continues to be a key investor in this area.

Due to a lack of such start up supporting infrastructure, India could not develop a competitor to major US Internet companies in the areas of Internet Search and social media. At least Indian companies are fighting back in eCommerce very successfully and can retake the social media space if this trend continues. Search is a more difficult area to conquer without active state support like in China or Russia.

This trend has the chance to elevate Indian technological scene from being services driven (where we were just backoffice service providers and consultants to the world) to India a technological leader pushing the industry forward. Japan and Softbank are our key partners in this area.

member_27845 · Post by **member_27845** » 25 May 2015 08:09

[quote="A_Gupta"]Not just India.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy ... technology
"Abe to try to sell Malaysia's Najib on Japan's high-speed train technology

Japanese prime minister to try to sell country's shinkansen technology for planned high-speed line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore"

I am not sure if the prices would be competitive

You can get a bus ticket for 25-40 SGD ( SIN-KL ) and a low cost airline ticket for 50.00 SGD

To make it work the transit time needs to be less than 2 hours at approx 50.00 SGD fares

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 25 May 2015 08:32

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 406147.cms
"Thousands surround Japan's parliament, protest US base plan"

TOKYO: Thousands of demonstrators formed a human chain around Japan's parliament in Tokyo on Sunday, protesting the planned construction of a new US airbase on the southern island of Okinawa.

The protesters, who organisers said numbered about 15,000, surrounded the parliament building holding banners reading "No to Henoko", in the latest rally against the controversial base.

Henoko is a small coastal area on Okinawa where Tokyo and Washington plan to relocate the existing Futenma military facility, currently situated in built-up Ginowan.

"We must stop this construction," said one of the protesters, Akemi Kitajima, 66.

"The government is trying to force the plan no matter how strongly Okinawa says 'no' to it."

Okinawa is home to more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a defence alliance, a proportion many islanders say is too high.

The plan to move Futenma, first mooted in 1996, has become the focus of anger among locals, who insist it should be shuttered and a replacement built elsewhere in Japan or overseas.

But both Tokyo and Washington have repeatedly backed the plan, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month insisting it was "the only solution".

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2015 16:36

http://www.manilatimes.net/japan-to-joi ... ll/186671/
"Japan to join major US-Australia military drill"

Japanese troops will take part in a major US-Australian military exercise for the first time in July, as Washington looks to bolster links among its allies in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) — its army — will send 40 personnel to participate in Talisman Sabre, a two-yearly drill that begins on July 7, which will involve around 27,000 servicemen, a spokesman told AFP.

“We will participate in joint exercises with the US Marines, rather than operating directly with the Australian military,” he said.

“But our participation is seen as part of efforts” to strengthen defense ties between Japan and Australia, he added.
...
...
...
In July last year, the United States, India and Japan held week-long war games in the Pacific.

Known as the Malabar Exercise, the annual event usually involves India and the US, but the participation by Japan’s navy was its third since 2007.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2015 16:43

"Nissan crosses 5 lakh milestone in cumulative export from India".
http://www.thestatesman.com/news/busine ... 65576.html

Buoyed by crossing of five lakh cumulative car export milestone from India, Japan's auto major Nissan is looking to enhance its status as one of the country's top automobiles exporters.

Nissan Motor India, the company's subsidiary here, which exported 1.2 lakh units last fiscal is looking to at least maintain the same number this year as the European and the Middle-East markets remained a concern.

"When we started operations in India eight years back we looked at the possibility of not only addressing domestic requirements but also for exports, as we needed to achieve economy of scale. Today we have justified that strategy," Nissan India Operations President Guillaume Sicard told PTI.

Nissan began exporting from India five years ago and it at present ships to over 106 countries. Korean auto major Hyundai is the largest car exporter from India.

Read more at http://www.thestatesman.com/news/busine ... okq67Mg.99

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2015 19:54

"Japan ready to finance India’s coal-fuelled projects".
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/rICaaV ... jects.html

At a time when multilateral funders such as the World Bank have stopped supporting coal-fuelled power projects, Japanese lending institutions and banks are willing to help India’s quest for providing power to people still living without electricity.

Of India’s installed power generation capacity of 267,637 MW, 61.73%, or 165,235.88 MW, is fuelled by coal.

With the country’s demand for electricity expected to double to 2 trillion units in the next five years, coal-powered generation will remain the mainstay in its energy mix.

Experts say by not lending to coal-fired projects, funders are keeping the poor away from a cheap source of electricity.

“Multilateral funding organizations, such as the World Bank, are averse to funding the coal-fuelled projects,” an Indian government official said, requesting anonymity.

The World Bank, in its energy-sector direction paper in 2013, had said it would provide financial support for new coal power generation projects “only in rare circumstances”.

Power, coal and renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal said on 15 May that he has held meetings with Japanese institutions and they are keen to finance the coal-based thermal power plants.State-owned NTPC Ltd, has received 25.8 billion yen in loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Of the Rs.67,170 crore debt with India’s largest power generation utility, 10.16% is in yen loans.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 May 2015 20:20

Japanese, Australian envoys visit war cemetery in Imphal
http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/233311065

apanese Ambassador to India Takeshi Yagi and Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling visited Manipur yesterday to attend the 71st anniversary of Battle of Imphal.

The commemoration programme, held at Maibam Lotpa Ching (also known as Red Hill), was organised by Manipur tourism forum along with Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation.

Both envoys paid their respects to the fallen soldiers at the Commonwealth War Grave Centre (CWGC) in Imphal.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 30 May 2015 10:20

Volcano Kagoshima Japan this morning 2015/5/29

Another video of the same event.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 01 Jun 2015 16:12

"U.S. Vows to Protect Japan From Cyber Attacks"
http://www.gizmodo.in/news/U-S-Vows-to- ... 500873.cms

U.S. authorities have vowed to extend their cyber defense capabilities to Japan, in order to help the country fend off digital attacks against its military bases and hard infrastructure.

The U.S.-Japan Cyber Defense Policy Working Group announced over the weekend that there is a "growing level of sophistication among malicious cyber actors, including non-state and state-sponsored actors." Japan has been slow to build its cyber defense capabilities though: its current digital defense unit has around 90 members, compared to over 6,000 people at the Pentagon, reports Reuters.

With cyber attacks from China and North Korea a very real threat, and "assaults on government websites... now being detected ever few seconds," according to Reuters, the U.S. is stepping in to lend a hand.

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Jun 2015 10:15

Not much Acche Din For SoKo:
Exports down 10.9% on oil prices, weak yen

Korea’s exports posted the steepest drop in six years, a government report said Monday, adding to recent signs of the export-driven economy’s slowdown.

Although the falling price of oil and products derived from it was a major factor, manufacturers also suffered big plunges in exports, including shipbuilding, steel and home appliances.

Exports and imports both fell for the fifth straight month, a monthly report released by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed. Year-on-year, exports fell 10.9 percent in May, hitting $42.4 billion, while imports plunged further, 15.3 percent, falling to $36.1 billion.

As imports declined at a faster rate than exports, Korea had a trade surplus of $6.3 billion.

It is the first time for Korea to post a double-digit decrease in exports since August 2009, according to statistics by the Korea International Trade Association, when Korea suffered a 20.9 percent plunge.

Last year, Korea also recorded minus growth in exports, but only in four months: January, May, August and November. Since January 2015, however, export growth has gone into the red.

The Trade Ministry said slowed global trade and a drop in raw material prices, including for oil, contributed to the overall plunge in Korean exports. It cited statistics by the World Trade Organization that said imports of 70 countries shrank an average 13 percent in the first quarter.

Among Korea’s top 13 export items, 10 saw decreases. Petroleum and petrochemical products fell by 40 and 22.8 percent, respectively.

The biggest plunge in exports among Korean manufacturing was seen in home appliances, which fell 34.7 percent, and shipbuilding, 33.4 percent. Automobile components and steel products also posted double-digit declines, by 13.7 percent and 19.2 percent, respectively.

There were only three items among the top 13 exports items that saw increases: wireless communication devices such as cell phones rose by 26.6 percent; computers climbed by 22.3 percent; and semiconductors grew 4.8 percent.

Because of the weak yen, Korea’s exports to Japan dropped 13.2 percent in May, the fifth straight month of declines.

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Jun 2015 10:16

Koreans like the Japanese less, and vice versa

A survey by Korean and Japanese newspapers showed a sharp worsening in relations between the two countries, with positive feelings toward each other down by a sixth compared to five years ago.

A majority of Koreans surveyed blamed ongoing historical issues with Tokyo for souring relations. In contrast, Japanese felt negatively about Korea for several reasons. Some blamed Korea’s national character and others blamed remarks by its politicians.

The JoongAng Ilbo and Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted a survey to mark the 50th anniversary of normalization of ties between Seoul and Tokyo.

Only 3.7 percent of Koreans surveyed said that relations with Japan were “good” or “very good,” down from 24.2 percent in a survey conducted by the newspapers in 2010 to mark the 100th anniversary of Japan’s colonization of Korea in 1910.

The JoongAng Ilbo surveyed 1,000 Korean adults over the age of 19 nationwide Friday and Saturday, and the Nikkei surveyed 923 Japanese over the age of 20 nationwide over the same period.

Some 78.5 percent of Koreans surveyed said relations were “bad” or “very bad” compared to 22.8 percent five years ago.

Likewise just 5 percent of Japanese thought bilateral relations were good, compared to 30 percent in 2010, and 54.6 percent thought relations were bad compared to 12 percent that year.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 15 Jun 2015 16:46

"Engineer overcomes Japanese superstitions to become nation’s role model "
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/en ... ole-model/

Reiko Abe became a civil engineer in Japan, but she couldn’t find a job. An ancient Shinto superstition, made part of Japan’s labor law, held that if a woman entered a tunnel under construction, she would anger the jealous mountain goddess and cause worker accidents.

Two decades later, Abe has become the face of Japan’s global engagement as the nation seeks to overcome its image as an economic laggard and a wasteland for career women. Television advertisements featuring her have run on CNN and the BBC. She’s been lauded by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (no relation) for showcasing Japan’s strengths abroad and symbolizing why the country needs to promote more women in a workforce where less than 5 percent of managers are female.

The irony? Abe, 51, had to leave Japan. After overseeing construction safety on Indian metro projects for seven years, she’s been promoted to head Oriental Consultants India, a unit of Tokyo-based ACKG. The company is working to extend subway systems in New Delhi and Mumbai and build them in cities including Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

Abe is also overseeing a mass-transit project in Jakarta, having previously worked on Taiwan’s high-speed rail, the metro in Ukraine’s capital, an undersea tunnel in Norway and an urban-planning project in Qatar.

Reiko Abe

Age: 51

Previous experience: Worked on Taiwan’s high-speed rail, the metro in Ukraine’s capital, an undersea tunnel in Norway and an urban-planning project in Qatar.

Current post: Leads company building subway lines in four Indian cities and a mass-transit system in Jakarta.

Source: Bloomberg News

“She’s a very bold and daring lady,” said G.K. Reddy, a contractor on the Bengaluru metro who has known her since 2010, describing how Abe clambered up a reinforced slope during a quality audit to test its safety. “I was shocked.”

South Asian projects can test the most experienced engineers. Boring tunnels below poorly constructed buildings is challenging because shaking the ground can topple them. The armies of laborers often are illiterate, speak a multitude of languages and lack skills.

In Bengaluru, the state-run company that contracted Oriental Consultants to help build the metro was comprised of 100 people who had never seen a subway, let alone built one, Abe said.

“You come across situations you’d never imagine in Japan,” she said. “You have to be physically resilient, tough and flexible.”

Reddy describes an “on-the-job and off-the-job” Abe. One is a tireless supervisor, often more demanding than her male counterparts, who demands quality and punctuality and berates those who don’t meet her standards. The other is a down-to-earth colleague who hands out juices and mingles with workers of all levels, overcoming her gender and origin in hierarchy-bound India.

“People like her. When she comes, they try harder,” said Reddy. “Not only India, but everywhere, you need more people like her. I hope one of my daughters will be the next Ms. Abe.”

Abe admits she’s quick to anger. When a client in the Middle East once refused to discuss the project’s finances with a woman, she stonily told him that was his problem, as she couldn’t change her sex.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 19 Jun 2015 09:21

For the first time, Japan may allow India to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors - Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Economic Times

Nothing to cheer for India because our negoiations are stuck in spite of push at the very top level. One also does not know if this policy would apply to all nations that buy Japanese reactors or there would be exceptions like nuclear-weapon states that have not signed the NPT etc.

In a significant development that could have positive bearing on proposed Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal, Tokyo is likely to change its policy to allow reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors.

In what could be a major shift in Japan's nuclear non-proliferation strategy, Tokyo for the first time has approved reprocessing of nuclear fuel by a country using Japanese-made reactors, official sources said from Tokyo.

Since the 2011 Fukushima tragedy, Japan had concluded civil pacts with six countries including Jordan, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam, but has not approved reprocessing of spent fuel generated by Japanese-made nuclear reactors. Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal has remained elusive despite several rounds of negotiations since 2010 and Narendra Modi's maiden trip to Japan as PM last year and his personal chemistry with his counterpart Shinzo Abe.

Bilateral negotiations, re-launched post Fukushima last September, got momentum after Modi became the PM with Japan as one of his foreign policy priorities. Japan has been consistent on its position on India's non-NPT status and tougher safeguards on reprocessing of spent fuel supplied to Indian reactors. Indian position has also been clear as it considers NPT as discriminatory, official sources said, adding India has signed nuclear deals with NPT signatories like USA, Canada and Australia.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Jun 2015 19:57

"CNR Rao receives Japan's highest civilian award"
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/cnr-r ... 08850.html

New Delhi: Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna CNR Rao was on Friday conferred Japan's highest civilian award for promoting academic interchange and mutual understanding in science and technology between the two countries.

He was presented with the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star' and certificate by Japanese Ambassador to India Takeshi Yagi in the presence of senior officials of the Department of Science and Technology, which Rao has helped shape up over the years.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 19 Jun 2015 20:06

Everything on the right side of the diagram is a big no-no.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 19 Jun 2015 20:24

There is nothing new in this "new Japan Civil Nuke Deal" -- this is the same position Japan has taken for years, and also the same kind of clauses Obama inserted into the Indo-US 123 treaty (and why US or Japanese reactors are not coming to India any time soon). Just like its US relationship, India will have naval cooperation with Japan and no nuclear civil cooperation.

And yet, no

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 727332.cms

And yet, this clueless C. Rajamohan starts off his article with a complete falsehood:

In a significant development that could have positive bearing on proposed Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal, Tokyo is likely to change its policy to allow reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors.

The whole sticking point has always been that reprocessing will not be considered without India giving up its right to keep its arsenal in good shape via testing down the line, and Japan's position has not changed from that original line. The current change in stance is no different from the original stance of the US w.r.t. reprocessing -- Rajamohan fails to mention that significant factoid in the article. Why is he sensationalizing this as some sort of huge development?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 20 Jun 2015 14:45

Three big changes that will give boost to India’s nuclear programme - Pranab Dhal Samanta, Economic Times

India's nuclear programme is set to get a huge boost thanks to three big changes. First, Japan has asked India for a dedicated nuclear reactor site, signaling that not only is it willing to shed all inhibitions of doing nuclear commerce with India but is also keen to be counted with the US, France and Russia as a power building nuclear parks here.

Second, India is giving big contracts for six reactors each to US blue-chip companies GE and Westinghouse. This is a big shift from India's long-standing policy of signing deals for two reactors at one go. The six-reactor deal with the two American companies will mean cheaper pricing for India.

Third, a critical component of the nuclear industry, the insurance structure, will be activated next month when Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) buys a nuclear insurance policy at Rs 100-crore premium from a consortium that includes General Insurance Corporation (GIC) and a group called Nuclear Risk Insurers from Britain.

The Japanese willingness to set up a nuclear park in India is a major foreign policy advance. This is because Japan is the only country that has faced a nuclear attack and is still willing to invest in India, which despite the Indo-US nuclear deal is still a nuclear weapon state outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meetings are slotted over the next few months to close Indo-Japan nuclear negotiations.

Tokyo's decision shows an even wider global acceptance of India's nuclear programme. Plus, Japan's government-driven investment plans have typically suited India most. Critical infrastructure projects, the Metro for example, took off on the back of the Japanese government's financial commitment. Capital-intensive nuclear programmes will benefit from Japanese involvement.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 20 Jun 2015 17:27

from the above

India is giving big contracts for six reactors each to US blue-chip companies GE and Westinghouse. This is a big shift from India's long-standing policy of signing deals for two reactors at one go. The six-reactor deal with the two American companies will mean cheaper pricing for India.

Why ? So that they can hold our balls and squeeze it whenever they want to ? Is the govt also looking it simply in terms of economics and not future planning ? What if Indo-US relations go downside after some years which is inevitable

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 20 Jun 2015 17:34

Rony wrote:from the above

India is giving big contracts for six reactors each to US blue-chip companies GE and Westinghouse. This is a big shift from India's long-standing policy of signing deals for two reactors at one go. The six-reactor deal with the two American companies will mean cheaper pricing for India.
Why ? So that they can hold our balls and squeeze it whenever they want to ? Is the govt also looking it simply in terms of economics and not future planning ? What if Indo-US relations go downside after some years which is inevitable

No. US will increasingly become economically tied to India. Even with China which is #1 strategic threat to US dominance, US is unable to do anything and has even put an end to its lectures on human rights and Tibet. And end of the day no US President would be able to do economic suicide. The payment for these nuclear plants, if not made in time by India due to sanctions or whatever could significantly impact (or even cripple depending on their financial health) the strategic (for US) nuke industry.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 21 Jun 2015 09:06

^^

Wrong comparison. From a volume perspective, China's trade with US cannot be compared with India's trade with US. China and India are not equal when it comes to their comprehensive national power which effects the way they deal with US. The same dependency which exists today for conventional arms will be extended to the nuke reactors. I hope they are not replicating what they have done to Arjun MBT to the thorium 3 stage program. So what exactly India is getting in return by giving US privileged access to Indian civilian nuke market ?

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 21 Jun 2015 18:23

What has changed now for India to sign up to Japan's terms and conditions under this current regime? (and thus the US's terms and conditions, given that Toshiba owns westinghouse)

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Jun 2015 17:16

SoftBank in tie-up for $20bn investment in Indian solar projects - Reuters, ToI

Japan's Softbank Corp is to team up with Bharti Enterprises and Taiwan's Foxconn to invest about $20 billion in solar projects in India as the country steps up efforts to boost the renewable energy sector.

Softbank, which has said it will invest $10 billion in India over time, said on Monday that the companies had a minimum commitment of generating 20 gigawatts of energy.

The rapidly falling cost of solar power, which is expected to reach parity with conventional energy by 2017, has ignited interest in its potential in India.

nash · Post by **nash** » 22 Jun 2015 18:54

add to above post :

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 843_1.html

"The cost of construction of the solar park is half of Japan. Twice the sunshine, half the cost, that means four times the efficiency."

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 05 Jul 2015 08:25

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 942123.cms
"India to walk BRICS tightrope on Japan"

NEW DELHI: India will be walking a diplomatic minefield at the forthcoming BRICS summit in Ufa, Russia. This year being the 70th anniversary of World War II, both China and Russia are keen to include a reference to the war and the victory over forces of fascism, imperialism and colonialism in the declaration.

This will put India in a bit of a quandary. While India was not an independent nation during the war, Indians fought on the side of the allies. That would put India on the side of China and Russia. But it's not so simple. A strongly worded reference to the opposing side would be a particularly damning one for Japan, which was on the losing side.

At this point in time, neither China nor Russia would have any qualms in slamming Japan for its historical crimes, with China taking a special interest in it.

However, Japan shares warm ties with India and is one of its closest international partners at present.

Unlike other Asian nations, India is almost unique in that it has virtually no pre-war history with Japan (except for Subhash Chandra Bose). In the present day, India is also one of the few countries to support Japan's journey to become a "normal" nation.

It will need all of India's diplomatic effectiveness to soften the blow to Japan. China-Japan and Japan-Russia relations are currently at a low point, so it's uncertain what India would be able to accomplish.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Jul 2015 01:34

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/j ... 395016.ece

Japanese Minister for Trade and Industry Yoichi Miyazawa said that Japanese companies were interested in the development of the new capital city of A.P.

Japanese multinational telecom company, SoftBank has expressed its readiness to establish an ambitious 20 Gigawatt solar power plant in Andhra Pradesh.

As part of ‘Make in India’ initiative, SoftBank will take up manufacturing of solar panels in the State.

Besides offering financial assistance for the proposed university on non-conventional energy resources, SoftBank also came forward to provide scholarships to engineering students who specialise in solar energy.

This was the outcome during a meeting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently touring Japan, had with SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Japanese Minister for Trade and Industry Yoichi Miyazawa said that Japanese companies were interested in participating in the development of the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. During his interaction with the delegation led by Mr. Naidu, he said that Japanese firms would be seeking equity participation with the organisation involved in constructing the new capital.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Jul 2015 01:42

http://www.tankterminals.com/news_detail.php?id=3248

Indian Oil Corporation, the country's largest fuel retailer, has awarded a contract to build two football stadium-sized LNG (liquefied natural gas) storage tanks at its upcoming Ennore LNG import terminal in Tamil Nadu to Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI).

"The LNG tanks will be the main facility at the first LNG receiving terminal to be constructed on India's East Coast," Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said in a statement.

This is also the first LNG storage tank order that MHI has received from India.

"Construction of the tanks is slated to begin in July of this year; completion is scheduled for the spring of 2018," MHI said.

The high-capacity LNG storage tanks will have a capacity to hold 180,000 cubic meters of gas each and will be installed at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that IOC will build near Ennore port, about 25 kilometers north of Chennai on the Bay of Bengal.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 12 Jul 2015 21:37

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/0 ... -olympiad/
Five Japanese students win awards at Physics Olympiad

All five Japanese students competing at this year’s International Physics Olympiad in India won awards — a gold medal, two silvers and two bronzes, the education ministry said Sunday.

The teenagers were taking part in the 46th annual physics competition in Mumbai that started July 5, ministry officials said.

The Olympiad drew 382 students from 82 countries, who competed by solving problems during theoretical and practical sessions.

Melwyn · Post by **Melwyn** » 16 Jul 2015 22:10

Japan’s Lower House Passes Bills to Give Military Freer Hand to Fight

Let the Power games begin...

TOKYO — The lower house of Japan’s Parliament passed legislation on Thursday that would give the country’s military limited powers to fight in foreign conflicts for the first time since World War II.

The lawmakers acted despite broad public opposition to the legislation, which has set off Japan’s largest demonstrations since the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident four years ago.

Opposition lawmakers walked out of Parliament to protest the package of 11 security-related bills, which was championed by the conservative prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and supported by the United States, Japan’s longtime ally and protector. Demonstrators chanted noisily on Thursday outside Parliament, despite a gathering typhoon.

Continue reading the main story
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A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Jul 2015 18:13

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bilatera ... off-782961

New Delhi: With Japan invited to join the Indo-US naval exercise 'Malabar' after eight years, a similar activity with the Japanese Navy scheduled for later this year is likely to be called off.

Though no decision has been taken so far, defence sources said there was no point in doing a repeat exercise given the time and cost involved.

"A joint invite from India and US to Japan has been drafted. Japan will surely join the Malabar exercise scheduled for later this year. Hence, there is no point in doing a separate bilateral exercise with Japan soon after," the sources said.

Multatuli · Post by **Multatuli** » 21 Jul 2015 22:50

Japan demands China halt oil exploration in part of East China Sea

Japan called on China on Tuesday to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea close to waters claimed by both nations, concerned that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese territory.

...

The platforms are being erected on the Chinese side of a median line delineating the exclusive economic zones of the two countries, the Japanese ministry official said.

Tokyo worries that the platforms will tap into gas fields that overlap the median line and could also be used as radar stations or bases for drones or other aircraft to monitor air and sea activity near the disputed chain of islets, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

...

"China has rapidly moved ahead with land reclamation on seven reefs in the Spratly Islands and on some is building infrastructure including runways and harbors. Beginning with the U.S., this is a concern for the international community," it said.

China claims most of the 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mile) South China Sea, with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also staking claims.

Japan has no claims in the area but fears Chinese military bases there would bolster Beijing's influence over a region through which $5 trillion in trade passes every year, much of it to and from Japan.

China has said its construction work in the South China Sea would be used for defense as well as to provide civilian services that would benefit other countries.

Japan and the Philippines have conducted two joint naval exercises in and around the South China Sea. In June, Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino said they would begin talks that could give Japan access to Philippine bases.

Japan has also said it may begin air patrols in the South China Sea. China said it would see that as interference.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/ ... 4420150721

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 22 Jul 2015 07:54

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002300706
"Shinkansen tech pushed for India"

NEW DELHI (Jiji Press)—A final report on a feasibility study released Monday recommended that India adopt Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train technologies.

The report was handed to Indian railway minister Suresh Prabhu, marking the completion of the feasibility study conducted jointly by the Indian and Japanese governments for the project to construct a 500-kilometer-long high-speed railroad in western India.
...
The total investment for the high-speed rail corridor to connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad would be 980 billion rupees, according to the report. Trains on the railroad are projected to travel as fast as 320 kilometers per hour, reducing the journey time between two cities from the current seven hours to two hours and seven minutes.

The Indian government aims to turn the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, the country’s first high-speed train project, profitable in 13 years after its planned opening in 2023.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Jul 2015 11:43

India-Japan defence ties set to grow stronger - PTI

Defence ties between India and Japan are set to grow stronger with both coming together for Malabar naval exercises in October and exploring possibility of having joint air exercises.

Japanese defence sources expressed satisfaction at the growth trajectory in the defence ties saying, "the direction is right. We need to work on it more".

"Japan is happy to be invited for the Indo-US naval exercise 'Malabar' slated for October in the Bay of Bengal," the sources told PTI, adding that the next step hopefully will be joint air exercise.

It is not just the cooperation at the level of forces that both countries are looking at. "There is a huge opportunity present in the defence manufacturing too especially in the context of Make in India," Indian defence sources said.

The importance that Japan puts on defence ties with India can be seen from the fact that the Japanese Embassy has added two more defence attaches here {New Delhi} - one each from the Air Force and Coast Guard -- this year.

"At present, there are only four countries other than India to which Japan sends its attaches from the three services and the Coast Guard. This shows how much importance we attach to the defence and maritime cooperation between Japan and India," Japanese Ambassador to India Takeshi Yagi said.

Amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan had in March during the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sought enhanced cooperation with India in defence and security sector including in the field of maritime security.

Japan has been witnessing conflict with China over control of private islands in South China Sea. A territorial dispute even exists between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing refers to as the Diaoyu Islands.

India considers relations with Japan very important, which is evident from the fact that Parrikar chose Japan as the first country to visit after assuming office of Defence Minister.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 26 Jul 2015 12:08

^^ For starters how about some forward movement on the Shin-Maywa purchase? Seems to be stuck for ages..

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 26 Jul 2015 13:55

^^^^^

Small change in the current scheme of things. If Malabar invite was great, air exercises is even greater. See the news on the attaches. Then Make in India of defense stuff.

Quantum leap.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Aug 2015 10:37

Super 30 student gets scholarship from Japan - IANS

Another student from Super 30 in Bihar, Kunal Kumar, has been awarded a scholarship by a Japanese university for pursuing higher education.

Super 30 founder-director Anand Kumar said on Tuesday that Kunal has made it to the University of Tokyo for an international programme.

“It is a big break for him,” Mr Anand said.

For Kunal, son of a low-wage earner, it is a dream come true.

Till four years ago, he was struggling even to get a proper education. His father had no job and he gave home tuitions to make a living.

Kunal, who is on cloud nine, said his life changed after getting into Super 30. He got into IIT, Guwahati after clearing the JEE.

“Tokyo University’s Yashino Haroshi had also come several times to Patna and discussed with me how more deserving students could benefit from the collaboration,” he added.

Earlier this year, another student of Super 30, Abhishek Gupta, was selected for studying in Tokyo after clearing JEE Mains.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Aug 2015 07:12

Honda Says India A Key Strategic Market With Exports Pushing Growth
http://www.forbes.com/sites/abehal/2015 ... ng-growth/

With automakers continuing to bet big on India, Japan’s Honda is just one of the latest foreign carmakers planning to ramp up operations, saying India is a key strategic market for the company, with exports helping to push growth.

...
Despite some car markers suffering as a result of high domestic interest rates on auto loans, Honda has managed to maintain sales figures through this year. Most recent figures indicate 18.44 percent year on year growth, with July 2015 sales at 18,606 units versus 15,709 of July 2014.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 30 Aug 2015 22:19

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-te ... nt-2120129
Tens of thousands protest outside Japan parliament

Tens of thousands rallied outside Japan's parliament today to protest against planned new laws that could see troops in the officially pacifist nation engage in combat for the first time since World War II.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 31 Aug 2015 08:23

Quite interesting.
PM to attend meet on Indic thought - Nistula Hebbar, The Hindu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that he will visit Bodh Gaya to attend a conference on Hindu-Buddhist thought, thereby raising the profile of an event being seen as a new kind of “track two” on Indic thought and philosophy. He had earlier cancelled a visit to the temple while in Gaya for a political rally early in August.

Mr. Modi will visit Bodh Gaya on Sept. 5, the last day of the conference, which starts on September 2. The conference titled, ‘A Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness’, is being organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), which finds itself in sympathy with Sangh Parivar ideology and has contributed many officials and Ministers from among its office-bearers to the present government, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra.

Apart from the VIF, the International Buddhist Foundation and the Japanese think tank Tokyo Foundation are involved in the event.

The idea was first articulated during Mr. Modi’s visit to Japan last year, where it was felt that there needed to be an assertion of Indic thought over the prevailing dominance of Abrahamic religions and philosophies.

Speakers at the conference include not just the Prime Minister, but External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, writer Sudha Murthy and various Dharam gurus of Hinduism and Buddhism.

sum · Post by **sum** » 31 Aug 2015 08:32

The idea was first articulated during Mr. Modi’s visit to Japan last year, where it was felt that there needed to be an assertion of Indic thought over the prevailing dominance of Abrahamic religions and philosophies.

NaMo is the baap of all BRF-ites put together, it seem like!

And we are ready to brutally savage him for xyz not done or abc issue not yen implemented without even giving him time