Hakuho: the Gentleman Sumotori

(In English and in French)

Sumotori Hakuho sama whose real name is Munkhbat
Davaajargal is the fourth foreign wrestler to be
promoted to Sumo’s highest rank as "Yokozuna" (Grand
Champion) following Asashoryu and Hawaiians Akebono
and Musashimaru. He attended a remarkable press
conference luncheon in Tokyo yesterday at my press
club.

I tested his push and I certainly see a bright future
for this extraordinary young man, whose strength
endurance and power also accommodate a real kindness
and gentleman's behavior.

After the luncheon event, I came to chat with him, and
I asked him to give me a push same as in the Sumo
ring, my first ever attempt to confront in a kindly
manner a Great Champion. He naturally hesitated but
played a smart move and while I was literally
propelled away he also kindly caught me back with his
hands as you can see on this extraordinary picture
seized by a fellow journalist colleague. We went into
a long laughter after that, being filmed by a
Japanese TV.



Having experience of Martial or Combat arts like in
Judo,Tae Kwon Do or fencing I had never experienced
the speed and the push of sumo before: "Terrassant"!

Hakuho and his compatriot Asashoryu, who has won 23
titles, have dominated sumo in recent years and there
has not been a Japanese winner of a title since
January 2006 when Tochiazuma lifted the Emperor’s Cup.

Some sumo traditionalists worry that Japan is being
left behind in its own national sport. There hasn’t
been a Japanese grand champion since Takanohana
retired in January 2003. There is a move by some in
sumo to restrict the number of foreign participants.
Hakuho is one of nine Mongolians wrestling in sumo’s
top division and one of 15 foreign wrestlers in the
elite class.

“I’d like to see more foreign wrestlers allowed in but
it’s not my decision.” “The fans should be allowed to
see the best in the world,” said Hakuho, who won his
10th Emperor’s Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament
last month. While the rules are not clearly defined,
each sumo stable is allowed one foreign wrestler and
there are 53 stables.

Grand champion Hakuho wants to see sumo opened up to
more foreign wrestlers and hopes Japan’s ancient sport
will someday be included in the Olympics but knows it
is an uphill battle.

“I’d be really happy if it became an Olympic sport and
would try to do better than my father,” Hakuho said
that the International Sumo Federation has been
pushing to get sumo in the Olympics but its not on the
list of sports under consideration for inclusion on
the 2016 Olympic program.

Hakuho’s father won a silver medal in freestyle
wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

French

Le "bizutage" des académies de sumo était peu connu
jusqu’à ce que le champion mongol Hakuho ne lève le
voile sur ces pratiques taboues. Des bizutages de
titans où tout le monde envoie du lourd. «Je pleurais
tous les jours», avoue le sumotori qui aurait été
victime de longues séances de tabassage à ses débuts.
«Quand vous me voyez maintenant, j'ai l'air heureux,
mais à ce moment-là, je ne l’étais pas», raconte le
colosse de 1,92 m pour 154 kg, devenu l'un des plus
grands lutteurs depuis son arrivée au Japon à l’âge de
15 ans, et ses 60 kg d'alors.

Ses révélations interviennent au moment où un ancien
maître est jugé pour la mort de son apprenti sous les
coups. Certaines séances de tabassage pouvaient durer
jusqu'à 45 minutes. "Les 20 premières minutes sont
incroyablement douloureuses, mais après (...), même si
vous continuez à être frappé, vous sentez moins la
douleur», explique-t-il en choisissant ses mots avec
précaution comme "encouragement affectueux".

Celui dont le nom signifie «le grand oiseau blanc» est
l’une des plus grandes stars du Japon. L’un des deux
seuls yokozuna (le grade le plus élevé de la
discipline), avec son compatriote Asashoryu. Il
témoigne près de deux ans après la mort de Takashi
Saito, frappé à mort par son maître à coups de
bouteille et par trois sumotoris plus âgés armés de
battes de base-ball.

"Une minorité de lutteurs" conclut Hakuho.

Un moment unique passé avec notre Sumo favori,
authentique où l'on a vu que le géant et ses amis
athlètes savent aussi marcher sur des oeufs, avec
élégance. Il lui faudra prochainement démontrer ses
talents face au Sumo Asashoryu bien connu pour ses
tactiques un peu "raides" selon les spécialistes des
arènes.

(Reportage et agences)

Governor Ishihara Shintaro: Olympic 2016 Tokyo is better qualified than any other city!

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara believes that the Japanese capital is the most appropriate to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games because of its long commitment to peace.

He also said interesting things in these days of financial constraint: Asking to a Foreign Correspondent in Tokyo what Japan should do to avoid financial difficulties, the veteran journalist tells: "Japan should stop buying American treasury notes". Governor Ishihara answered "we do not need to buy American bonds." (Watch the Youtube segment clicking the title of this posted report)

[Recorded at the FCCJ, Tokyo, during a press luncheon where other topics were discussed such as Tokyo bid for 2016 Olympics.]

"The Olympics are the world's biggest event aimed at promoting peace and harmony for all humankind. In that sense, Tokyo is better qualified than any other city," Ishihara said in a press conference on Wednesday in Tokyo hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. As for the threat to its financial state, Japan's capital has the central government's guarantee to finance Tokyo Games. That is an important IOC precondition, but Ishihara said that Tokyo currently sees no need to make use of it.

Known for his radical nationalist view, Ishihara shrugged off the recent threat posed by North Korea's launch of what it claimed to be a satellite rocket. "I think there was too much fuss raised on this issue," the governor said.

He does not believe Pyongyang's act would be a threat to hosting the Olympic Games or to the safety of the people with the level of military technology that the Stalinist state may possess, he said. Ishihara referred to the reports from the United States and South Korea that no satellite was confirmed in the orbit.

Even if its technological development was more advanced, North Korea would not be able to make use of it because it would face retaliation. "They (North Korea) can't execute that technology," Ishihara said. "So how could that be the threat to Japan? The main purpose of North Korea was to restore the bilateral dialogue with the United States. There is no other motive." He also stated that he does not believe that the US would spend blood to defend Japan in case of serious emergency in spite of the US Japan military treaty.

Artificial fear

North Korea's launch of an "artificial satellite," as
claimed by Pyongyang, has ended in failure since the
second and third-stages of the missile plunged into
the Pacific Ocean, according to U.S. forces.

North Korea's missile launch leaves plenty of
questions unanswered, as the Mainichi shimbun writes
today (click the title to access the report). One
questions is that it took time for the Japanese and
their US allies' authorities to detect the rocket and
inform the population. Therefore announcements to
protect citizens came too late when the missile
already was flying above Japan's territory. What
could happen if next time is a real technical hazard or
a nuke payload?

Quotes of Japanese Defense Ministry

"When the missile's path was calculated, it turned
highly likely that the missile was flying at an
altitude beyond the firing range of the SM-3
interceptor missile (less than 300 kilometers), and
the missile was certain to fly over Japan," said a
senior Defense Ministry official. The point where the
missile was estimated to fall was also outside
Japanese territory. The missile's path was beyond the
range of the PAC-3 interceptor missiles (a radius of
about 20 kilometers) deployed at the SDF's two
exercise sites in Akita and Iwate prefectures."

Rather than a nuke bomb, Japan could well received
debris on the head as DPRK technology seems immature.
Therefore, further Self Defense plans required.

Defense Ministry: "the flight course of the latest
missile is almost the same as that of the Taepodong-1
that was launched back in 1998 but this time it veered
further south. The course this time is to the east of
North Korea, which is an appropriate direction for the
country to launch an artificial satellite, but at the
same time, Hawaii and ultimately the U.S. mainland
also lie in this direction. The firing of the missile
will no doubt lead to a strong reaction from
Washington, which is wary of the development of
long-range ballistic missiles that are capable of
reaching the U.S. mainland."

Then what?

"A satellite launch requires a complicated system.
North Korea's technology is only a patchwork of
individual established technologies including that of
the former Soviet Union's Scud missiles, and North
Korea apparently failed to integrate them as a new
system."
Shinya Matsuura, specialist in space development.

One victim

Kyodo News A Defense Ministry official jumped off a
headquarters building in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, in an
apparent suicide Monday morning, the ministry said. A
member of the Air Staff Office, the official started
working at the ministry Wednesday, the ministry said,
adding he was not involved in the false alarm Saturday
over North Korea's rocket launch.

Maybe not good timing to irritate the DPRK for the 6
party talks anyway, slow though that may be.

Pyongyang's rocket! MD and Japan's military capabilities questioned

Where is, if there is one, the 3rd stage of the North
Korea rocket-missile? South Korea and the US military
(NORAD) stated that the "satellite" (theoretically
advanced as being located on the top of the 3rd stage
Milky Way 2 Unha-2) never made it into space! Anyone
in the communication industry and business aware of a
request by Pyongyang to launch new telecommunication
services?

Anyway...

Shunji HIRAIWA, Shizuoka prefecture University, Japan:
"North Korea is likely to judge that its negotiating
position has been strengthened now that is has both
the 'nuclear and missile cards'. So they are likely
to take a very tough stance toward the international
community."


Stoic South Koreans and Japanese watching news on the
DPRK missile launch


Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors (PAC-3)
located at the Ministry of Defense Tokyo, Japan, March
29th.


A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile launch
at the JSDF' Araya military exercise ground, Akita
prefecture, North Japan


Pyongyang said the rocket would be launched to put a
satellite into orbit. Tokyo had authorized the
Self-Defense Forces to shoot down any part of the
rocket if it appeared to be falling onto Japanese
territory. Japan did not try to intercept the North
Korean rocket Sunday following its launch from North
Korea's northeastern coast, the Defense Ministry said.

Japan's military preparedness and confidence seriously
questioned in case of an enemy offensive targeting the
archipelago, as seen on Sunday after Pyongyang's
launching of a rocket, in spite of an impressive
defense budget effort. 5 billion euros paid by
Japanese for a Missile Defense shield that still
raises lots of questions vis-a-vis the US Japan
military alliance. Lots of questions to be answered!

False alarm

After a false information of a DPRK rocket launching,
proved erroneous later on Saturday, we saw nervous
behavior, hysterical medias alarms and suddenly
retracted explanations, added to the confusion. It
gives to the Japanese public the impression that the
US Japan military alliance appeared not ready "to face
the enemy". Responsibility stays in the failures in
the line of command and the monitoring of threats and
the answer to confront such threat.

Massive deployment for Japan and US forces

Three MSDF Aegis destroyers, including the Kongo, were
deployed to the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
Five U.S. Aegis destroyers based at the Yokosuka
Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the USS Chafee,
which recently completed a joint exercise with South
Korea, were deployed. Another destroyer, making a
port call at Yokosuka from its Hawaii base, will
monitor developments in the Pacific. Of the nine
destroyers, seven are equipped with interceptor
missiles. Several Japanese and American submarines
are also believed to be operating near the Korean
Peninsula.

EP-3 electronic surveillance aircrafts are patrolling
the skies over the Sea of Japan from their base in
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 20 are in Naha base in
Okinawa on the JASDF base. Since February, the United
States has put three observation aircraft in place at
Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, including an
RC-135S Cobra Ball, which is an airborne intelligence
platform used to track ballistic-missile launches. The
Defense Ministry also completed installation of FPS-5
radar on Shimokoshikijima island in Kagoshima
Prefecture in March. The radar began operating
Wednesday and was to transmit information about the
launch to the Aegis destroyers and the units operating
the PAC-3 missiles. In the end: North Korea spent
about just $30 million to launch a rocket across the
Pacific April 4, but it still needs foreign aid to
prevent a mass famine... while Japan and US spend
massive $ and Yen amounts for... nothing sure!


Added threat?

Iran involved according to Gordon Chang, author of
"Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World"
(Random House, 2006)

Quotes:

"So far, Obama Administration's policy has been all
carrot and no stick, and, from all appearances, it
will remain that way for some time. This approach
obviously failed to prevent yesterday's launch and
promises no breakthrough in the future. North Korea
has been trying to build nuclear weapons and the means
to deliver them since the early 1980s and maybe even
as early as the mid-1960s.

Ineffective American diplomacy has only given the
world's most militarized state the one thing it needed
most to develop the world's most destructive weapons :
time. Unfortunately, the consequences of feckless
American diplomacy will not be limited to North Asia.

As a spokesman for South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak said after the launch, North Korea's act
constitutes a "serious threat" not just to the Korean
peninsula but also the rest of the world. He's right
because North Korea is not just about Korea.
Yesterday's test also impacts Iran. The atomic
ayatollahs of the Islamic Republic are surely
interpreting ineffective American diplomacy in Korea
as a big green light for their own weapons ambitions.

How are the two regimes connected? On March 29,
Sankei Shimbun, the conservative-leaning Tokyo paper,
reported that 15 Iranians were in North Korea to
provide assistance for the then-impending launch. Ten
Iranians were in North Korea for the Taepodong-2 test
in July 2006 according to the Los Angeles Times, and
the State Department's Christopher Hill, then
Washington's point man on Korea, confirmed their
presence (he later retracted his confirmation). There
are also reports that Iranians witnessed North Korea's
1998 Taepodong test.

In February, North Korean scientists were spotted in
Iran for the launch of an Iranian missile. Moreover,
American intelligence sources indicate Iran tested a
North Korean missile for Pyongyang. The North Koreans
possibly provided missile flight-test data to Iran.
Iran has been financing the North Korean program
either by purchasing the North's missiles or by
sharing development costs and receiving missiles in
return. Iranian support explains how a destitute
North Korea has the funds to carry on a sophisticated
weapons program." (WSJ)



En français:

La Corée du nord dit être parvenue dimanche à placer
un satellite en orbite, a affirmé l'agence de presse
officielle du régime communiste KCNA — en fait, la
tentative de mise en orbite aurait échoué, a indiqué
l'armée américaine, en affirmant que «l'engin a
atterri dans l'océan Pacifique», une information
corroborée par la Corée du Sud. Les Etats-Unis, (la
Coré du sud) et le Japon, qui soupçonnaient un essai
de missile déguisé, ont obtenu une réunion d'urgence
du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU.

Si la Corée du Nord décrit son satellite comme un
satellite de télécommunications civil, Washington et
ses alliés affirment en revanche qu'il s'agit d'un
missile à longue portée Taepodong-2

Pour Tokyo, Washington, Séoul et Londres, ce tir
intervient en violation de deux résolutions adoptées
en 2006 par le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU sommant la
Corée communiste de «s'abstenir de tout nouvel essai
nucléaire ou tir de missile balistique». Le président
américain Barack Obama souhaite d'ailleurs obtenir la
ratification par le Sénat du traité d'interdiction
complète des essais nucléaires (CTBT)

L'hexagone a également condamné le lancement de cette
fusée, estimant qu'il «menace la paix et la stabilité
régionale», selon un communiqué du ministère des
Affaires étrangères. Nicolas Sarkozy a ajouté
dimanche: «C'est une provocation, c'est un régime qui
se met hors la loi internationale. Je condamne avec
la plus grande fermeté cette provocation», a-t-il
déclaré. Sarkozy: «Il n'y a qu'une seule réponse,
l'union de la communauté internationale pour
sanctionner un régime qui ne respecte aucune des
règles internationales . Ma position pour la Corée du
Nord est la même que pour l'Iran: ensemble la
communauté internationale va isoler ces régimes, doit
se prononcer sur des sanctions renforcées tant qu'ils
n'ont pas compris qu'ils n'ont pas à avoir une
attitude agressive sur le nucléaire militaire».

Moscou livrera sa réaction officielle une fois que ses
experts auront fini d'examiner le lancement
nord-coréen, a de son côté déclaré le porte-parole du
ministère, Andrei Nesterenko. «Le lancement de la
fusée a été surveillé depuis Moscou. Il n'a
clairement pas dévié de sa trajectoire. Mais tout
cela doit être étudié par des experts militaires»,
a-t-il ajouté, cité par l'agence Interfax.

Japanese aircrafts carrier? No... destroyer!

In spite of not being allowed to build carrier, Japan
just commissioned its first aircraft carrier since
World War II. Quotes:


The new, helicopter carrying destroyer, the Hyuga, is
a 610 foot long, 18,000 ton warship that operates up
to 11 (mostly SH-60) helicopters from a full length
flight deck.

"Although called a destroyer, it very much looks like
an aircraft carrier. While its primary function is
anti-submarine warfare, the Hyuga will also give Japan
its first real power projection capability since 1945.
The Hyuga is the largest warship built in Japan since
World War II.

The Japanese constitution forbids it to have aircraft
carriers, which is the main reason it is called a
destroyer. That, and the desire to not make the
neighbors anxious. East Asian nations still have bad
memories about the last time Japan had lots of
aircraft carriers. The Hyuga also has 16 Mk41 VLS
(Vertical Launch System) cells for anti-aircraft and
anti-ship missiles.

There are also two 20mm Phalanx anti-missile cannon
and two triple 12.75-inch torpedo mounts. There is a
crew of 350 and a top speed of about 60 kilometers.
Vertical takeoff jets like the Harrier and F-35B could
also operate from the Hyuga. A second Hyuga is under
construction and a third is planned.

The last Japanese warship to be called the Hyuga was a
World War II battleship that entered service in 1918,
and was converted to a hybrid battleship/aircraft
carrier in 1943. The new Hyuga will be used for
peacekeeping missions as well, and for that role its
many helicopters will be most useful."

According to a blogger, "The last time the Japanese
Navy sailed the Hyuga, it was a battleship turned into
an aircraft carrier and was sunk in June 1945 off the
island of Kure by Curtiss Helldivers of VB-87 flying
from USS Ticonderoga."

"Ucroa", la top-modèle japonaise qui valait 3 millions de $

Nouvelle star japonaise des films de science-fiction?
Actrice Robotcop pour faire frémir les audiences? Une
nouvelle Yoko Ono venue droit de la BD à présent en
chair et en os?


Mademoiselle Ucroa

Ucroa est japonaise, elle mesure 1,58 mètre, pèse 43
kilogrammes. Brune, coupe au carré bien nette, la
taille d'une japonaise comme des millions d'autres
d'une vingtaine d'années. Elle a invité les
journalistes lundi à Tsukuba, dans la banlieue de
Tokyo. Ambition? Devenir une top-modèle. Son
cachet? 3 millions de dollars!

Cette jeune dame est... un robot-humanoïde. Elle
sait être gracieuse, sourire et parler.

Elle est la première représentante de la quatrième
génération de plates-formes humanoïdes de recherche
conçues par l'équipe de roboticiens de l'Institut des
technologies industrielles avancées. L'AIST a investi
200 millions de yens (1,6 million d'euros) et passé
trois ans à concevoir cette créature à visage humain
qui fera ses premiers pas prochainement sur les
podiums des défilés de mode.

Le directeur de ce programme, Shuji Kajida: "Notre
projet était de concevoir un être qui ait une
apparence proche de l'humain, remue de la même façon
et puisse interagir avec lui; elle est vêtue d'une
combinaison métallique pour signifier qu'elle est d'un
autre type et éviter un sentiment de malaise que
susciterait une trop grande ressemblance avec une
femme".

La demoiselle a un joli minois, n'a pas une carrure de
boxeur, sa poitrine est plus proéminente, elle est
plus mince et marche plus élégamment.

Shuji Kajida: "Nous avons analysé la déambulation d'un
mannequin pour créer les différentes postures. Elle
parle la même langue que les Japonais, sait se
présenter et accepte de répondre à quelques questions
comme quel est ton nom? Combien pèses-tu? Cette
humanoïde compte 30 articulations, dont ses mains avec
quatre et son visage, huit: paupières, mâchoires
inférieure et supérieure, yeux".

Les chercheurs de l'AIST, affirment vouloir en faire
un top-model reine des défilés de prêt-à-porter, mais
la destinent dans un premier temps au secteur du
divertissement. Leur souhait est de lui confier la
tâche moins gratifiante de tester des machines de
sport et autres appareils pour le compte des humains.


Evolution...

Les Japonais, machos dit-on, poussés par les pouvoirs
publics, attendent-ils des robots, y compris des
femmes, qu'ils fassent à leur place ce qui est
pénible, sale, dangereux ou ingrat? Le Japon est une
société vieillissante qui comptera de moins en moins
de personnes actives préférant confier leurs travaux à
des robots qu'à des personnels humains étrangers en
mal d'emploi...

Japan fleet to combat pirate-infested waters

From "international peace cooperation activities" as
conducted in Cambodia or Africa in the 90's to near
war scenario and military operations today. Japan
stretches the Fundamental Law to fit military options.
One step to enforce the fundamental mission of the
JSDF means that for the first time in its history the
JSDF's core purpose necessarily involves missions
outside of Japan.



Japan's coast guard officials capture men playing a
role of pirates, kneeling down in front, during an
anti-piracy exercise off port of Kure, Hiroshima,
western Japan (February 2009)

Guarantee free SLOC & oil imports to Japan:

The JMSDF special units such as the SBU and Coast
Guards officers will be part of the forces sent to
combat pirates in the Horn of Africa by Japan. First
policing action abroad since World War II for Japan's
Self-Defense Forces, with the dispatch of Maritime
Self-Defense Force destroyers on an anti-piracy mission
off the coast of Somalia, whose major missions
overseas have so far been largely rear-area support,
such as refueling, transportation and reconstruction
missions.


Pirates speed boats

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and
the Japanese government face legal problems on how to
handle attacks by pirates against ships that either
have Japanese personnel, cargo or are under foreign
control instead of being under Japanese control as
current Constitution Article 9 regulations would hamper
their actions when deployed to Somalia.


The Sazanami a Takanami class destroyer with a Mk-48
Vertical Launch System.

On February 4, 2009, the JMSDF sent a fact-finding
mission led by Gen Nakatani to the horn of Africa
region prior to the deployment of the Murasame-class
destroyer JDS DD-106 Samidare and the Takanami-class
destroyer JDS DD-113 Sazanami to the coast of Somalia.
Both JMSDF vessels are units of the 8th Escort
Division of the 4th Escort Flotilla based in Kure,
Hiroshima Prefecture.

Order based on the law's Article 82, which stipulates
that the SDF may take necessary actions at sea to
safeguard Japanese lives and property in situations
that exceed the capacity of the Japan Coast Guard.
Simultaneously a bill will enable the deployment of
the SDF abroad as needed to deal with pirate attacks
on the high seas.


The Samidare carry Standard SM-2 missiles in its
amidships vertical launch cells.

Once the order is given, two destroyers, the 4,650-ton
Sazanami and 4,550-ton Samidare of the 8th Escort
Division of the 4th Escort Flotilla, are to leave
their base in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Saturday
afternoon.

A total of roughly 400 MSDF personnel and eight coast
guard officers will board the ships, each to carry
onboard two SH-60K patrol helicopters and two
speedboats, according to the Defense Ministry.
Members of the commando-style MSDF Special Boarding
Unit will also board the ships to deal with encounters
with Somali pirates, who are said to be armed with
such weapons as rockets and automatic rifles.

The fleet is expected to take two to three weeks to
arrive in the gulf, making it likely that the escort
mission will begin around early April. The destroyers
will escort Japan-linked ships, Japanese registered
ships, foreign ships with Japanese nationals or
shipments on board, and other ships operated by
Japanese shipping firms.

Coast guard officers will be at hand aboard the
destroyers to process judicial matters, including
collecting criminal evidence and handling crime
suspects, in case the destroyers run into pirates. In
such encounters, MSDF personnel may fire warning shots
to ward off pirates. But under the maritime policing
provision, they cannot harm the bandits except under
limited circumstances, such as for self- defense.
Japan also plans to deploy MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft
to the gulf in several months to watch over the vast
sea.

More than a dozen countries, including Russia, China,
the US and the European Union have deployed their
naval vessels to waters around the Horn of Africa on
anti-piracy missions under the authority of U.N.
Security Council resolutions. Piracy has been rampant
in the waters, accounting for 111 cases last year, or
more than double the cases reported a year earlier.
That accounted for roughly one-third of all pirate
incidents in the world.


And here is the JMSDF SBU badge, the Japanese forces secretive Special Boarding Unit.

The Special Boarding Unit is a special forces unit
established by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense
Forces on March 27, 2001 in response to a previous spy
ship incursion that occurred on the Noto Peninsula in
1999. The unit was created to perform similar roles to
those undertaken by French GIGN or American Navy SEALs
and the British SBS. Their field involves maritime
anti-terrorist duties, including operations where arms
are known to be involved. However, their duties and
responsibilities overlap with those of the Special
Security Team, the Japan Coast Guard's counter
terrorist unit. SBU is a special forces unit and
highly classified subject and opacity surrounds their
role in case of combat with pirates.

"In the Chinese Navy"... a new power player on high seas

Tension in China seas as Beijing sends warships.
(Quotes from FAS, IPCS and reporting)

"China’s long standing land based survival strategy is
likely to become history soon." 'The Chinese Navy’s
decision to send warships to the Somalia coast last
January, soon after UN Resolution 1851 on 16 December
2008, coincided with its first public confirmation, on
24 December 2008, that it was “seriously considering”
building an aircraft carrier.


Image above: Chinese submarines which normally stay
close to shore journeyed on 12 longer patrols last
year.

These announcements reflect the Asian giant’s growing
interest in the maritime domain. Despite a coastline
stretching approximately 14,500km in length, China has
traditionally focused on inland security.

China’s recognition of its need to have a far-reaching
maritime sphere stems from its decision to protect its
interests as well as its desire to seek great power
status.

For Beijing, (as for Tokyo) protecting the sea line of
communication (SLOC) is essential as China is the
world’s second-largest oil consumer and the
third-largest importer.

These announcements reflect the Asian giant’s growing
interest in the maritime domain. Despite a coastline
stretching approximately 14,500km in length, China has
traditionally focused on inland security.

Among the Asian Navies, the Chinese Navy has the most
powerful submarine-fleet. According to the Military
Balance 2008, China has about 70 submarines including
three ballistic-missile submarines (SSBN) which are
involved in conducting frequent patrols far from the
mainland.'

Consequences:

The intelligence naval battles intensifies in China
seas between China and the USA, as with Russia and
Japan, rising tension, implicating frequent hide and
seek dangerous naval games.

News media reported half a dozen incidents just within
the past week in which U.S. surveillance vessels were
monitored in Asia waters including dozens of Chinese
Y-12 maritime surveillance aircraft and on Sunday the
US MoD (Pentagon) stated that five Chinese vessels had
blocked and surrounded the U.S. surveillance ship,
Impeccable, in Asia international waters. One of the
ships came within 25 feet of the U.S. boat, according
to the Pentagon.

China criticized the United States on Tuesday, blaming
a U.S. Navy ship for violating international law
during a tense confrontation near a Chinese submarine
base.


A Chinese sailor used a long grappling hook to try to
snag a cable that the Impeccable was using to tow an
underwater listening device known as a Surtass array.

“The U.S. claims are gravely in contravention of the
facts and confuse black and white, and they are
totally unacceptable to China,” said Ma Zhaoxu, a
Foreign Ministry spokesman.

The latest incident allegedly occurred in the Asia
international waters only 75 miles south of a naval
base near Yulin on Hainan Island from where China has
started operating new nuclear attack and ballistic
missile submarines.


US Impeccable

The U.S. Navy on its part is collecting data on the
Chinese submarines and seafloor to improve its ability
to detect the submarines in peacetime and more
efficiently hunt them in case of war.

Such case with the USNS Impeccable which is equipped
with the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System
(SURTASS), a passive linear underwater surveillance
array attached to a tow cable.


SURTASS was developed as a floating submarine
detection system for deep waters, and the Navy wants
to add an active Low Frequency Array (LFA) to improve
long-range detection of submarines in shallow waters.

Among Chinese submarines the USNS Impeccable was
monitoring is "probably the Shang-class (Type-093)
nuclear-powered attack submarine", a new class China
is building to replace the old Han-class, and which
has recently been seen at the Yulin base, according to
the FAS quotes.


A commercial satellite image taken September 15, 2008,
shows two Shang-class submarines present at the base,
the first time that two Shang-class SSNs have been
seen at the base at the same time, according to Fas.

The Impeccable incident came just a week after the two
countries resumed high-level talks between their
militaries. The dialogue had been broken off last
year by the Chinese over a $6.5 billion American arms
deal with Taiwan.

The dispute also comes in the wake of a recent visit
to China by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Her
recent visit in Beijing was part of a tour of the
Asia-Pacific region, including Japan and Indonesia in
her first overseas trip for President Obama’s
administration.

And just after Mrs. Clinton left China, the State
Department angered Beijing with a broad set of
criticisms of its human rights record in 2008.
Followed by criticism on trade issues between the US
and China...

I am heading soon to the strategic islands of Okinawa
to have a look at these dangerous naval games with an
"Umi no Kuni" viewpoint angle.

A suivre donc.

A day in Tokyo with i-MiEV "Green" car!

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will work with PSA
Peugeot-Citroen on its new electric car, the i MiEV,
aiming to sell the car in Europe from the end of 2010
or early 2011. Peugeot will sell the car under its
own brand.

I want to hear more about it. And contrary to what one
can read, hear or see on TV, Japanese Executives ARE
opened to press interviews. Yes they are. They do it
all the time.

If you want one with one of Toyota, Nissan, or
Mitsubishi Presidents, just email me and I will give
you a number. Actually Japan is one of the rare
country where we can interview any VIP in any activity
and I already met the president of Nissan Renault,
Toyota, Mitsubishi and others several times and in
several occasions. How? Japan has its rules, it is
necessary to take an appointment first... instead of
running to the factory door and wait like the singing
bird that the door opens.

So many catastrophe scenario! Car industry reality is
currently dull but lots remain to be understood about
how the car industry is already engaged into a revival
plan through the new technologies and friendly use. It
will take time but solutions are right ahead.

Today Japanese car industry already is focussing on new
engines and new models for Green cars, trucks, lorries,
and City buses. Less energy consuming, friendly to
the environment. Question is : why they did not think
about it before? Besides, it is so quiet!

New synergies are considered about batteries. By the
way, is a car battery part of the vehicle or part of
the fuel service...?



Following is an extract of an article on Japanese
automobile industries published in renown Ward's Auto
review from the USA. Interview of the top man of
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation: President Osamu Masuko
who confirms that "Mitsubishi remains committed to
electric vehicles. In July, it will launch the i-MiEV
in the Japanese market. By year-end, it will begin
exporting the car to right-hand-drive markets and then
in 2010 begin shipping left-hand-drive vehicles."

Quote 1

"Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko is
hoping to work his magic a second time. Having
engineered a dramatic reversal of the auto maker’s
fortunes after assuming the presidency in January
2005, the 60-year-old Masuko now faces what could be
an even greater challenge as the global economy sinks
deeper into a protracted recession. After reporting
record earnings of ¥108.6 billion ($1.2 billion) in
fiscal 2007, Mitsubishi is targeting a slim operating
profit of ¥5.5 billion ($55 million) in the fiscal
year ending March 31. Second-half fiscal year losses
are projected at ¥20.4 billion ($224 million).

MMC’s Masuko perplexed over the yen’s sharp
appreciation against most major currencies. Analysts
remain skeptical about Mitsubishi’s prospects, with
many seeing the auto maker as too small to be a global
player; too dependent on exports from Japan; and too
vulnerable to exchange-rate fluctuations, with a solid
but thin model lineup. Yet, projected losses for the
second half of the current fiscal year are
substantially lower than most of its Japanese rivals,
and the auto maker holds ¥257.9 billion ($2.8 billion)
in cash, enough, it believes, to weather the current
downturn. More relevantly, Masuko is confident
Mitsubishi, which sold nearly 1.4 million vehicles in
fiscal 2007, can lower its break-even point to
slightly below 1 million units on an annual basis by
second-half fiscal 2009, after reducing swollen
inventories during the first part of the year."



Quote 2:

"Ward’s: Will Mitsubishi change its product focus and
brand concept away from sporty and fun to drive in
light of growing demand for smaller, more
fuel-efficient cars?

Masuko: To some extent we have no choice, as
consumers, as you alluded, have become more aware of
environmental issues than in the past. Thus, we will
introduce a global small car with a 1.0L engine in
2011. In July, we will launch the i-MiEV in Japan and
begin exporting the car by year-end. Then in early
2010, we will launch a compact SUV. While we roll out
these new models, other vehicles in our lineup will
undergo periodic facelifts and minor changes.

Ward’s: Does Mitsubishi have any plans to produce a
hybrid or plug-in hybrid?

Masuko: In fact, we now plan to develop a plug-in
hybrid and hope to announce something in the near
future. Basically, our strategy will be to adopt
batteries for small cars like the i-MiEV and plug-in
hybrid technology for larger vehicles."



Quote 3:

"Ward’s: Some analysts suggest Mitsubishi needs to
find a new partner if it hopes to survive the current
environment. Do you agree?

Masuko: As I’ve said many times before, the era of big
alliances – what I call the 4 Million Club – is over.
At least for Mitsubishi, there will be no more Daimler
Chrysler (AG)-type alliances. That said, we will
cooperate with other auto makers and suppliers on
platforms or technologies. Some examples: Last June,
we entered into a technical collaboration with PSA
Peugeot Citroen to work together in the field of
electric power-trains. PSA has sold more than 10,000
electric vehicles. Also with PSA, we are building an
assembly plant in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, to
jointly produce a C-segment car from 2011.

Earlier, we entered into an OEM supply agreement with
PSA, whereby Mitsubishi supplies Outlander CUVs, both
Peugeot- and Citroen-badged, and they supply 2.2L
diesels for those vehicles. This past December, we
announced a joint project with Proton (Holdings,
Malaysia’s largest auto maker) to help develop a new
jointly badged car that Proton will then produce. And
in March, we will open our joint venture lithium
battery plant with GS Yuasa. This is the sort of
thing I have in mind."



Simple, I guess it is time to plug-in!

(Courtesy of the author)

Quantité record de combustibles nucléaires en route pour le Japon

La plus importante quantité d'un mélange uranium et
plutonium (le MOX) jamais transportée quitte Cherbourg
pour le Japon. Ce déplacement fait partie d'un
programme de coopération entre la France et le Japon,
pour développer l'électronucléaire japonais.

Deux bateaux britanniques, chargés de transporter le
combustible MOX sont partis de leur port d'attache
de Barrow au Royaume-Uni vendredi midi, selon
Greenpeace, qui ajoute que le "Pacific Pintail" et le
"Pacific Heron", sont les deux navires spécialisés
dans le transport des matières nucléaires.

En plus de deux mois, 1,8 tonne de plutonium ont
transité par voie maritime, soit une quantité
permettant de fabriquer 225 bombes nucléaires,
s'alarme Greenpeace.

L'organisation de ce transport sensible entre l'Europe
et le Japon prévoit des dispositifs de protection
conséquents, affirme Areva, sur son site internet,
pour éviter les vols ou le sabotage. Les deux navires
sont armés et naviguent ensemble.

Le partenariat énergétique franco-japonais prévoit que
d'ici à 2010, 16 à 18 réacteurs japonais
fonctionneront avec du MOX. Le Japon, seconde
puissance économique mondiale, et puissance
exportatrice, est dépourvu de ressources naturelles,
et donc a de très importants besoins énergétiques.

Un transport considéré comme sensible par les
autorités japonaises étant donné la nature du
chargement.