Value of the enterprise
My opinion of this week(414):

Value of the enterprise

A number of new words have appeared in the news report concerning
struggle between LIVEDOOR and FUJI TV on control of Nippon Broadcasting
Corporation. Many of those new words especially about M&A have never been
heard before for general public. One typical example of such words is
"value of the enterprise".

The argument was which one LIVEDOOR or Fuji group will be able to
increase the value of business of Nippon Broadcasting Corporation.
Many of general public can hardly understand what those arguments
really means.

In summary, the value of enterprise means how the firm in question will be
able to maximize the profit per share of stock for shareholders. And in
order to attain that purpose, executives of the enterprise must gain
a good satisfaction of customers in their business by keeping a good
relation with their employees and many of their business partners to get
their corporation in the operation.

"What are you talking about? It's natural kind of thing, isn't it?" You
may say. Yes, that's right. The argument is nothing new at all. That is
the argument we have heard in many occasions while many of business firms
have attained a great success or failed and disappeared from the market
place. The main theme here is what is a business enterprise and what is
the value of enterprise.

In order for the enterprise to continue to exist successfully, they have
to keep good relation with customers and their vendors in order to
maximize the satisfaction of customers so that they can maximize the
profit for their shareholders. Combination of any of those elements are
very necessary to succeed.

It is wrong to accuse President Horie of LIVEDOOR for controlling power
to manage Nippon Broadcasting Corporation. He just followed the rule of
stock market to gain the control power. The lower and higher courts
confirmed it from legal point of view. But whether or not he will really
be able to increase the value of the corporation is a different matter.

He intended to control Fuji TV in one way or the other based on the fact
that Nippon Broadcasting Corporation is a big shareholder of Fuji TV.
But it seems this is already not working well by some Fuji's protective
measures.

What we like to see is that how President Horie will be able to increase
the value of Nippon Broadcasting Corporation as he explained in news
conference by introducing many of new concepts and know-how's of internet
business. This is what President Horie do first before he tries to control
Fuji TV.

2005/3/26
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(412):
Court Favors Livedoor, Slaps Injunction On Nippon Broadcasting

The Tokyo District Court on Friday granted Livedoor Co.'s request for a temporary injunction against Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. to block the issuance of equity warrants to Fuji Television Network Inc.
(Nekkei Newspaper March.11)

I watched this news on NHK TV last night and I believed that the court decision is quite right. The court judged that Livedoor's purchase of
Nippon Broadcasting System Inc's stock at outside hours is not illegal as far as the current law is concerned. The court further said Nippon
Broadcasting corporation may gain some good synergy effects by coalition with Livedoor in current social environment where internet become an
important communication media denying Nippon Broadcasting Corporation's contention.

This is just a start of pending suit and it will takes a long time to settle the issue following the decision by a higher court and the supreme court. This is very unfortunate situation for both arties.

I just wonder why both management of Fuji TV and Nippon Broadcasting Corporation cannot accept the undeniable fact that Livedoor is now No.1
shareholder of Nippon Broadcasting Corporation sharing 45% of the total stock. They may gain more than 50.1% of shares soon, the majority shares
of the corporation. Although they expect more favorable judgment in the following law suit, there will only be a little chance to eliminate the control power by Livedoor in one way or the other in the short-run and long-run at any rate.

I have another serious doubt about comments made by many top executives of business firms. Some of them have criticized President Horie of Livedoor
insisting he is against a business ethics for trying to control Nippon Broadcasting Corporation by sharing major shares of the firm. Why is such
approach against business rules or ethics? The approach is nothing wrong in the light of business rules and ethics in any means, isn't it? That is
the rule of capitalism itself but strangely enough, they call it something like a kind of evil money game. Are there any good money games and bad
money games in business world?

There is nothing wrong with President Horie's approach as far as I can observe.

Needless to say, becoming major shareholders of a firm does not necessarily means succeeding in management of the firm. To succeed in business,
executives must integrate four elements of management game, i.e. money, human being, goods and software. Money, in other word, a capital is not
the only one element to succeed in business.

It is very strange and wrong that top executives of Nippon Broadcasting Corporation and Fuji TV have turned down the request by President Horie to meet each other to start some talks on possible tie-up between two major shareholders. There is no reason why they continue to turn down such very natural request as a big shareholders of the firm.

I believe that is seen as a serious betrayal for shareholders of the corporation. If I were a shareholders of the firm I would bring up to the
to court as representative suit insisting they are not making very necessary efforts as top executives of the corporation.

2005/3/12
Tadashi HAYASE

Economic sanctions
My opinion of this week(410):

Economic sanction

As a result of DNA analysis of skeleton, the born of Megumi Yokota sent back from North Korea was found an impostor. North Korea answered back to Japanese Government that kind of judgment was quite wrong without any scientific base. They further indicated they had no concern at all about economic sanction which Japanese Government suggested several times in the past.

Japanese Government's reaction against this is same old. They issued the statement saying they would possibly go ahead with several economic sanctions
if North Korea continues this kind of unfaithful attitude. Prime Minister Koizumi said in low-keyed way of speaking at news conference: "Well, we have
to keep trying to find out their true intent as I often said in the past." What is he talking about? There is no real intent as such. North Korea knows
that Japanese Government will never go on for economic sanctions. They knows Japan is just like a boy who cries wolf in fables of Aesop.

North Korea is a very strange country as a matter of fact. They suddenly declared they would leave from the six-party talks admitting they are keeping some number of nuclear bombs at the moment. China, the chairman country of six-party talks,dispatched startlingly a delegate to North Korea to find out their intention. Then, North Korea withdrew the former word very easily saying they would come back to six-party talks if some conditions meet.

Regardless such a big hostility shown to US, Bush administration is very cautious against North Korea. Bush started Iraq war just because Iraq might
have mass-destruction weapons including nuclear bombs. Contrary to it , Bush is very very discreet in taking some actions against North Korea.
United Nation is the same way.

A high ranking officer in charge of North Korea in UN warned Japan not to start any economic sanctions at the present. Why is this? Why are all world so slow in taking stronger actions against this rogue country. All know that this is a rogue country but no harm for a while. Is that the reason that they are so slow to take any actions?

Mr. and Mrs.Yokota and others whose families were abducted by North Korea are insisting most strongly to start economic sanctions against North Korea.
They insisted it although it involves a great risk about the life of their abducted families who may still live alive in North Korea. But they demanded
economic sanction to Japanese Government because it is the only way to turn around the deadlocked situation.

I just wonder if it is a real diplomacy. Why is apanese Government so weak against North Korea without taking any firm and concrete action against
such evils done by North Korea?

I understand the argument that any economic sanctions only by Japan will not be so effective. Then Japan should move more aggressively about
collective economic sanctions under the corporation of international world including UN. This is the best and the last alternative Japan could take to
solve the serious problem in front of us.

2005/2/26
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(409):?@
Topic: News
Money game or regulation game?

The hottest topic in this week was the purchase of stock of Nippon Radio Broadcasting Corporation by Livedoor. Livedoor won the advantage at first
over Fuji TV Corporation to control management of the corporation but Fuji resisted back in various ways later on. No body really knows what will
happen from now.

However, it seems that President Horie of Livedoor is overall in a difficult position at the moment. His strategy to realize business tie-up with Fuji TV
by having majority share of Nippon Radio Broadcasting Corporation which is a big shareholder of Fuji TV is quite reasonable as far as I understand.

But there are increasing criticism against it among mass media, political world and even in business world. The overall development is not quite
favorable for President Horie in this respect.

Purchase of broadcasting firms by other business firms is common daily practice in US. But in Japan, since this matter brought up, there were a lot
of criticism from people in politics. For example, Secretary General Hosoda and LDP Secretary Takebe commented that such money game does not fit to
Japanese society by itself. What do they mean by that?

This kind of comments remind us the fact that Japan is still a very restricted society in general. Many of mass media which are competitors against Fuji TV are taking the same kind of stance as to their news report on this issue. It is a very strange phenomenon from my point of view.

The most extraordinary comment was the one made by Chairman of Fuji TV. He said: " Is money a almighty in capitalism ? It is not reasonable to bring up business tie-up through such money game." I really don't understand what he means to say by that. What is wrong with a money game? How business
firms are managed or controlled is basically the process money game itself. It is quite natural that whether or not any firms really succeed even after
such money game depend on many other strategic actions they will take in along with money game.

The fact that there existed many of such strange comment made by politicians and even business executives tell the fact that Japanese broadcasting business is still protected in many ways by government restrictions. They keep monopolistic positions in various ways thanks to several regulative measures taken by Government.

We don't know what will happen from now on this issue. There are so many complicated matters involved with this issues. The most important point of this issue is very clear. Which rule of game are going to be played mainly to decide the issue? I believe the principle rule of money game is to be
applied any how rather than the rule of regulation as some politicians implied.

2005/2/19
Tadashi HAYASE

Nursing care
Topic: News
My opinion of this week(408):

Prevention of nursing care

NHK's Closeup Today on Thursday introduced how some local public offices
are now trying to practice prevention of nursing care for elderly people.
They are helping elderly people to make muscle training so that they will
be able to do many things by themselves that they rely on public nursing
care before.

Yes, such thing as a muscle training is a typical example of prevention
of nursing care. Japan is rapidly aging. Unless the Government would
take some fundamental action, Japanese nursing care insurance system
will surely break down. Prevention of nursing care is to reduce a number
of elderly people who need public medical and nursing cares. They are
physically trained so that they will be able to live life without or
less public nursing cares.

Such kind of prevention cares are necessary not only for saving cost
but also for happiness of people. People must feel happier by doing
things by themselves rather than several care services.

It is fine that the country or local government offices are now trying to
do a lot of such prevention programs. But more basic preventive actions
must be started by each individual elderly people. Their strong will and
motivation for health seem to be more important in along with any of such
public help.

Physical strength is not only one in question. Elderly people are now asked
to have stronger mental and intellectual capacities as well. The question
is how they can build up such mind and spirit in younger days so that
they will be able to spend happier elderly life.

2005/2/12
Tadashi HAYASE

Strange and abstract words in politics
Topic: Politics
My opinion of this week(407):

Strange and abstract words in politics


In My opinion of last week, I wrote many empty and unproductive discussions done at Diet. Prime Minister Koizumi's wording has been?@questioned which is a part of the reason why discussion at Diet lacks?@a sense of tension and sincerity.

There are many strange and abstract words used in discussion done at?@Diet. Such wording exists, of course, in other Japanese society, but especially used very often in Diet and political world.

For an example, Hara san pointed out one of such example at recent ML.In order to call each other at Diet, lawmakers often say "Hara Sensei" rather than just "Mr. Hara " or "lawmaker Hara". "Sensei" means teacher in English and it seems quite alright to express a kind of respect by calling that way. But it mostly goes too much. There exists no such use
of words in other Japanese societies except very professional fields such as medical and law.

Yes, lawmakers are elites and professionals but they are representatives elected by people. Lawmakers and high rank bureaucrats should be servants for people. People have been bothered by a feeling of strangeness against such circumstances in political world where they call each other such
way. There were many arguments to stop to call that way but they never stop it so far.

Another examples of strange wordings in political world are more important as a matter of fact.

Why are there so many empty, nfruitful,unproductive discussion going on at Diet? It is because they always lacks concreteness and real substance.

Question itself is very general : "Can you do it?" Most of answer made by ministers and high rank bureaucrats are more general :"We will take it
into consideration" "We will do as much as possible", "We will make the best effort" and so and so forth.

Any of such general answer will never be allowed in private business corporation. If any of executives continues to make such kind of reply to his boss, they will loose their jobs.

Prime Minister is loosing popularity among people these days because of lack of accountability. He have not explained what he is doing and trying
to do more concretely and specifically to people of Japan. Popularity rate for Koizumi Cabinet has now dropped to 33%. But people cannot find a candidate for a new Prime Minister to replace Prime Minister Koizumi. Why are there no great political leaders exist in Japan who can talk his political conviction, grand designs to build a new nation more concretely with more specific time schedules?

2005/2/5
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(406):
Topic: Politics

Empty argument at diet

In regular Diet session, Prime Minister Koizumi's stance to answer to
questions from opposition parties has been criticized in many ways. His
kind of evasive and deceitful reply to various basic questions made by
opposition fronts have been criticized in one way or the other in the
past.

In connection with several questions from Katuya Okada, the President
of Democratic Party Prime Minister Koizumi made a very irresponsible
answer. All lawmakers of Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party
stepped out from the main hall of Diet to boycott the general session.

House Speaker Yohei Kono delivered an unusual admonition to the prime
minister to make sincere responses to opposition questions. This was
the first case in long parliament history in Japan. But there are no
sign for the prime minister to improve his basic stance for debating
at Diet even after this. He shows no sign of regret and reflection.

He has been very popular with his very straightforward expression on
any policies since he became the prime minister. But he is not so any
more.

Koizumi's unique language intrigues the public any more. His
half-hearted and often thoughtless remarks have made the people doubtful
about his ability to communicate effectively and make correct political
decisions.

Koizumi once said that his failure to deliver on his policy promises is
not a big issue. He also dodged questions about his past working records
related to public pension premium payments by saying, "There are various
kinds of life." He looked like singing a very famous Japanese popular
song "Jinsei iroiro" (there are various kinds of life.)

Concerning the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, he said, "How
can I know which parts of Iraq are combat and dangerous zones and which
parts are noncombat and safe zones ?" He continued to say "The area
where the SDF troops are operating is a noncombat zone." What a perfect
logic it is!

In response to criticism at this time, he insisted that the style of
discussion at main hall of Diet and at each committees session is to
be different each other. He might have meant to say, it's quite alright
to answer that way as far as discussion at general session at main hall.
But all above irresponsible answer have been made at committee sessions
so far.

In summary, Prime Minister Koizumi seems to lack very basic sense
of debating which is the most important capacity as a lawmaker and as
an administrator. Japanese parliament system has learned a lot from that
of England. We know how debates are made at the parliament in England.
The ruling and opposition fronts debate very seriously on any issues
on the same platform. Provided that Prime Minister of England had made
any of such evasive and deceitful reply to questions from opposition
parties, he would be put in serious trouble. That is not happening in
Japan.

I just wonder why it is allowed in Japanese Diet. How can we afford to
keep such irresponsible Prime Minister and empty Diet as we see today?

2005/1/29
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week
Topic: Education
Ministry of Education in confusion

On Wednesday this week, the headline of Asahi Newspaper reported that N.Nakayama, Minister of Education expressed his policy to decrease hours
spent for integrated study in total curriculum in elementary school education so that some more hours for basic study on Japanese, math,social science and science will be secured. Integrated study was introduced by Ministry of Education in 2002 in order to improve children's ability to solve problem.

I am not sure about why the Ministry started introducing such integrated study at that time. That might have been based on a research presented by a certain international educational organization. The Ministry found out the fact from the international research that Japanese children were surely superior in each basic studies such as in math and Japanese but they were basically inferior in problem solving capabilities.

That's no good, the Ministry thought. Many professional people in education advised the Ministry to change curriculum at elementary schools and to create integrated education by decreasing study times of those basic studies. They decide to make more free and integrated leaning hours by stopping cramming of such basic studies. That is what they started in 2002.

There were a lot of confusion at education job site at the beginning. Teachers were embarrassed with this new policy but they must have overcome many problems and troubles involved with this new policies. The new curriculum seems to go more smoothly now together with five days a week
schooling in each schools under the slogan of "Yutori Kyouiku" (education with relaxation and hope).

Then we saw another research report presented by an international organization recently. According the report, Japanese children were now very inferior in some of those basic studies such as math, Japanese and so on. There were, of course, many criticism about it from various sources saying that it was because of change of education system in 2002 by Ministry of Education. May be so, or
may be not, as far as my observation is concerned.

But the reaction of Ministry of Education seems to be in a big hurry without much of discussion and advisory process at this time. The Minister of Education expressed to change the policy again. There are many criticism about such confusion and lack of consistency in such very important education policy. I certainly agree with it.

No body will deny the importance of basic studies and to come back to it in a way. But then what will it happen now to the integrated study they started before? Do they just decrease some hours for the study to increase hours for basic studies? Yes, that is what Minister Nakayama said.

I think Minister Nakayama is wrong. According my idea, both integrated study and each basic studies must be done at the same time at any rate.
Problem solving capacities must be learned in any of those basic subjects as well. Any good teachers can do it. They might have done it in the past
regardless there existed integrated study hours or not. They will be able to do in the future regardless any change of national educational policy.

Minister Nakayama should have said. "There is no change of our policy on the importance of integrated study. I would like to ask all teachers to improve basic study capacity of children while pursuing problem solving capability same manner as in the past. "Many good teachers at education sites must have thought when they hear such word. "Why not? It is our job to do."

I guess there will be another big issue coming up in education field sooner or later. In the world of globalization and advancement of information
technologies, there will be another international research on literacy level of English and PC of children in each countries. What would Minister of
Education say when he finds Japanese children are ranked rather low in such fields in research?

Well, I never say that is another responsibility of Ministry of Education. All I want to say is that Minister of Education should mention at least the
importance of educating children English and PC in addition to many of those basic subjects in question.

When it comes children's education, it is not only the matter of what is to be done at school. They are to be educated many ways plus to learning at school namely at home or some other schools. Parents will participate in giving many more necessary education in accordance with their
needs.

I believe parents of families know it and do them in one or the other without waiting the word from Ministry of Education.

2005/1/22
Tadashi HAYASE


note 1: Ministry of Education : Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

note 2:Integrated Study:http://www.math.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~jaise/

UN Security Council
Topic: News
My opinion of this week(404):

Condition of increasing ODA

According to the recent news by Kyodou Tushin, it was disclosed that the advisory commission of Annan, the Secretary General of UN requested Japan and Germany to increase the fund of ODA if they
were to be elected as new permanent members of UN Security Councils.

Japan is now decreasing the fund for ODA for their financial difficulty. But Anan advisory commission requested to increase the fund to 0.7% of GNP of Japan and Germany. Japan is currently spending 0.2% of GNP as ODA fund. It will become really a big burden for Japan that faces very big financial debt.

The topic was discussed at ML(mailing list) , and Ueda san and Hara san wrote several questions and concerns about the validity of such request.
I fully agree with them.

The very basic question to be raised is how present permanent members of Security Councils are paying ODA fund. Are they contributing the same way
as suggested by the commission? Never, as far as we see the current situation. Why do they put this condition just to Japan and Germany?

Before talking about ODA, we have to take a look at the contribution of fund for UN. Japan is already sharing about 20% of total fund necessary for UN operation. Except US, any other permanent member countries of Security Councils are paying very small percentages of fund. Why is this?
How do they decide this contribution ratio?

There is another very strange fact about UN. As Hara san wrote in ML, there still remains enemy clause in UN convention and Japan and Germany
are listed there as enemies. The clause has not been deleted yet. Why is this?

The present permanent member countries have veto power and have provided a big influence in international politics and securities all over the
world. But there is no assurance whether or not same veto power would be granted for any of those new candidates for permanent member countries
for Security Councils including Japan and Germany. It seems that veto power is very vested interest only for the present permanent members countries. Why is this?

Well, we know and understand the process of birth of UN. But the times has changed greatly since their birth. Then, why is there no change at
all today as far as organization of UN including such very important function as Security Council? How can Japan get along with this organization which
contains various contrarieties from Japanese points of views?

The condition to increase ODA fund is a big hurdle , of course, for Japan to gain a permanent membership of UN Security Council.

But before talking about it, the very basic question is to be asked. "Is it necessary for Japan to become a permanent member of Security Council? "
"What for?"

Once Japan become a permanent member of Security Council, it is obvious that some big military contribution will be requested without any doubt.
How can Japan meet such need? How can Japan overcome this issue under the present constitution?

There is almost no such basic argument about it in Japan as far as I know.

2005/1/15
Tadashi HAYASE

Feast of the Seven Herbs of Health
January 7 is the day, Feast of the Seven Herbs of Health. We traditionally eat rice gruel mixed with the seven herbs of Spring to pray good health
throughout a new year. Needless to say, to eat such rice porridge mixed with such vegetables is good for health rather than to eat plain rice porridge.
We can get some sets of materials to cook at supermarket on and around January 7.

As a matter of fact, however, our family have never cooked and eaten such kind of porridge in recent years. It is because we know that it is no good
any way in taste regardless how we cook those basic materials.

Well, I know we should not say that. It is rather a lesson and not a recipe which is in question. We do understand the lesson at any rate.

However, when it comes to what is good for health, we keep learning many sorts of information in our daily life through TV and many other source.
We can get so many information what materials are good for health and how we can cook them in order to enjoy those food. We can enjoy testing
various new cooking materials and many new cooking recipes in addition to some basic and traditional method. People must be enjoying new version of
Nanakusa Kayu, seven herbs porridge in these days.

Such warm days lasted until the very end of the last year but it snowed a lot at the year eve. I really hate a cold weather but welcome it
another way. I occurred to think the time finally come to start cooking so many "Nabemono" ( winter cuisine served in the pot: note bellow) .

When it comes nabemono, any nabemonos usually contain more than seven. It contains all sort of different vegetables, bean curd,fish, chicken, beef,
pork and so on. Their combination is limitless. There is no limit on seasoning as well. All sort of Japanese and sometimes even foreign seasoning
including, soy, sauce, soy bean paste, Japanese sake, wine and so forth are used to get good taste for nabemono.

Various basic nabe dishes, such as sukiyaki,shabu-shaabu, yose nabe, kaki-nabe and so forth are tried together with so many different combination varieties in accordance with the materials and seasoning prepared in each case. We enjoyed finding some new tastes through new combination of those materials and seasoning.

In many of nabemono, some fat meets such as pork are included from time to time. But it mostly consists of low fat materials such as fish, chicken
bean curt and so many different kind of vegetables.

I happened to watch TV news the other day that there are almost 40 million people who face dieting problem in US. Japanese eat a lot like Americans
but they don't have such serious dieting problem as Americans because of Japanese food. Americans should learn more about Japanese food including
those low fat and healthy nabemono.

One problem about nabemono, it costs high. All those materials, especially fish and vegetables are all so expensive these days. Price of food is
generally very high in Japan.

Another problem is that Japanese live long compared with other people in the world thanks to so many healthy Japanese food. I don't know whether or not
it is a problem or a good thing as far as present circumstance in our society is concerned.

2005/1/8
Tadashi HAYASE

note:I found so many explanation about this in internet.

http://www.masterstech-home.com/The_Kitchen/Articles/NabemonoArticle.html
http://www.bento.com/re_nabe.html