It might be true that the current world society sees huge clout by information technology and networking service such as the Internet and the social network service.
News broadcast and public opinion tend to move around the world rapidly
and change their mood and tones easily. It
seems able people in politics and business field who understand these features quite
well take remarkable leadership to proceed for their purpose and goals. When we see political scene in Japan and the U.S., Japanese Prime Minister,
Taro Aso seems to suffer formidable refutation from the Japanese public,
compared to the continuous overwhelming popularity to President Barak Obama
in both U.S. and the world. Fundamental differences
between the two leaders might exist.
First of all, President Obama is very good at utilizing information
technology and mechanism as seen in his presidential campaign to seek for
grass-root’s donation and establish feedback system for responding to
individual citizens’ requests. In
contrast, Mr. Aso has been traditionally relied on his inner circle composed of
specific political and business groups as well as his public appearance normally
organized by his belonging party’s administration. President Obama always appeals democracy or
democratic mind to take care of ordinary citizens such as in the rescue plan
for GM and reorganization scheme in the healthcare system. On the other hand, Prime Minister Aso has
made comments on the possibility to raise consumption tax rate much higher and
denied a reform plan of the Japanese postal system, which are apart from
ordinary Japanese opinion. In addition, while Obama has made important
decisions with rational comments smoothly, Aso seems to lose his ways with emotional
opinion and changing mind haltingly. The
most essential difference is the way to realize concrete measures on each
policy. Obama’s GM reorganization method
includes meticulous packages on industrial scheme and financial support for
resolution. On the contrary, Aso’s
declaration for industrial rescue plan seems to result in distributing large
amount of contributed budgets to designated private companies without
appropriate standard. While I do not
want to refer to personal character of the two leaders, I can clarify who can
contribute to his belonging society.
This phenomenon will be a good lesson even for private companies and
organizations. If companies’ presidents
emphasize unclear orders without rational reasons and concrete measures, their
belonging companies will fall into a chaotic situation and lose base for
further development. We should keep in
mind this close example of the Japan-U.S. leaders to be considered carefully in
our belonging company and organization. (Takashi Higashi, President, TCS)
Key articles on Japanese industry scenes selected by TCS
Headlines of the articles:
| ELECTRONICS |
Sounding Pen to Inform Designated Photos and Documents |
| ENERGY |
Tandem-Type Solar Cell Mass-Production System to Release |
| Organic Thin-Film Solar Cell Sample is Realized Based on Printing Technology | |
| Enhanced Power Generation Ability to Appear in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell | |
| Surface Glass-Use Metal Solution Heightens 5% of Solar Power Generation | |
| Extremely Low-Cost Organic Solar Cell is Realized | |
| MATERIAL |
Bending-Easy Shape-Memory Plastic at Normal Temperature |
| Plant-Oriented Sophisticated Nylon Using Nanotechnology | |
| MEDICINE |
Collagen of Fish Squama to be Utilized for Medical Regeneration |
| Measurement Technique for Human Blood Glucose Using Microscopic Pins onto Human Skin |
ELECTRONICS
Sounding Pen to Inform Designated Photos and Documents
June 17--Apollo Japan will start selling a pen in September which generates
sound at a close distance to related photos and documents. The pen
reads an invisible specific code and chooses recorded data. The company expects demand on photo albums
and learning tools.
ENERGY
Tandem-Type Solar Cell Mass-Production
System to Release
June
23--Ulvac devised a comprehensive mass-production system of thin-film solar
cell. The
developed system is so called a tandem type in which two layers of silicon
thin-films are sandwiched. The power conversion efficiency rate is 9% and
maximum output is 130W.
Organic Thin-Film Solar Cell Sample
is Realized Based on Printing Technology
June 19--Dai
Nippon Printing made a prototype of an organic thin-film solar cell by using
printing technology. The tested item is
installed a minute web of metal electrodes on the surface of a transparent
electrode. The 4% power conversion
efficiency rate is expected to be applied for notebook PCs and cellular
phones.
Enhanced Power Generation
Ability to Appear in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
June 12--NGK
Insulators announced that the company has realized 63% of power generation
efficiency rate of a solid oxide fuel cell, which is the world’s highest
level. The power output is 700W, operation
temperature-800 degrees centigrade and fuel usage rate-90%.The company targets commercialization for
business facilities after 3-4 years.
Surface Glass-Use Metal Solution
Heightens 5% of Solar Power Generation
June
4--Sustainable Technology devised a metal solution for surface glass of solar
power generation equipment which can enhance about 5% of power generation
amount. The solution is composed of titanium,
silicon and high electricity-conductive metal. The solution liquid is expected to be shipped 2tons per month for Chinese glass makers. .
Extremely Low-Cost Organic
Solar Cell is Realized
May 25--Tokyo University and Nippon Oil have developed a cheaper organic
solar cell than the existing silicon-type solar cells. The new cell
applies a low-cost organic material to realize less than one tenth the prices
of the existing cells. The power
generation efficiency rate is currently 2.5% per 4mm2.
MATERIAL
Bending-Easy Shape-Memory Plastic at NormalTemperature
May 20--NEC
developed a shape-memory plastic whose shape is changed at ambient temperature. The new plastic is composed of
polybutylene-succinate, a biodegradable resin and an organic polymer. It is soften in the hot water of 90 degrees centigrade and can be bent freely in tens minutes or so after being put into icy water.
Plant-Oriented Sophisticated
Nylon Using Nanotechnology
May
16--Toray invented a technology to produce nylon from rice straw and plant stem
by using own nanotechnology. The
developed nylon is realized in reaction of diamine anddicarboxylic
acid. Strength and heat resistance of the nylon are
similar to those from petroleum. The company targets its commercialization in 2013-2015.
MEDICINE
Collagen of Fish Squama to be
Utilized for Medical Regeneration
June 22--A research team of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Taki Chemical
succeeded to extract composite from fish squama for making a material of
regeneration medicine. The collaborative team removed collagen included
into the squama without making it hurt. The extracted collagen is expected to be
useful for producing cosmetic skin material and regenerating eye cornea and
bones.
Measurement Technique for
Human Blood Glucose Using Microscopic Pins onto Human Skin
May 29--Sysmex
invented a technology to measure blood glucose level without patients’ feeling
of hurt. An instrument includes 300
pieces of minute pins, each of whose length is 0.3mm. The pins open small holes onto human skins to
ooze skin cells’ tissue liquid to be measured.
* * *
(Source: Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun)
* * *
If you have questions and comments on the above, please click the below
envelope.
