China Rapidly Becomes Another Japan

The first census in a decade shows that Chinese population is rapidly aging, people over the age of 60 now account for 13.3% of the population, up nearly 3% since 2000. Nearly one in six people in China is over 60 years old.

Although in terms of percentage of aging population, China is still far behind Japan, the pace of aging in China has been alarmingly similar to that of Japan.

Merely twenty years ago, only 11.6% of the population in Japan was 65 years or older. Now, the ratio stand at 21%, the highest proportion of elderly citizens in the world.

In China, the aging trend is accelerating, according to Ma Jiantang, head of the National Bureau of Statistics. The 3% increase in a decade could seen a significance booster from now on.

One the other hand, the proportion of mainland Chinese people aged 14 or younger was 16.6%, down by 6.29 percentage points from 2000.

The quickly aging trend could bring many issues, such as an increased demand for care facilities, care services and personnel, heavy burden on young workers, and anxiety over post-retirement care.

Inside TEPCO Largest Nuclear Power Plant

While on an internship during a summer of late 199os, I was among lucky few to be chosen to spend a few weeks working for Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO in its headquarters in Tokyo.

The interns were invited to tour several power plants to learn about the power generation in Japan. One of them is a nuclear plant located in Niigata Prefecture on the side of Japan Sea.

TEPCO owns 17 nuclear reactors, 10 in Fukushima Prefecture and 7 in Niigata Kashiwazaki Kariwa. In 1997 all 7 units in the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant were in commercial operation with a total capacity of 8,212 MW, nearly doubling the combined the capability of Fukushima Daiichi and Daini and becoming the largest nuclear power station in the world.

Nuclear power is considered as a base load energy and it accounts for approximately 40% of TEPCO's total electricity output, said TEPCO on itswebsite.

Inside the Kashiwazaki plant, we are guided to walk through gigantic pipes carrying the sea water to cool the reactors. Large amount of sea water is absolutely necessary for a nuclear power plant, we learned, that's why most of them situated by ocean.

As the only country that has been a victim of a nuclear atom bomb, Japan has a strong feeling towards nuclear power. The construction of the plants have encountered fierce domestic protests. To persuade communities, TEPCO enlisted its safety measures, such as anti-quake structure, five barriers enclosing radioactive substances, etc.

The company, however, hadn't obviously foreseen a quake with the magnitude of 8.9. A Feed and Bleed measure to solve the current crisis is not working, and it will take three to five years to solve, said expert.

The point is, no matter how secure the design and how detailed a protection plan, there is always unthinkable. TEPCO failure is not in its design, but in its lack of crisis management and rapid response, which may take more than five years to heal and establish.

Japan Nuclear Mess, What does it mean to China?

Japanese Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant is going through what Chernobyl has down, which is to seal off the whole unit and officially called it quit. The seemingly unavoidable fate and chilling fact to other aspiring nuclear energy developing giants such as China will be closely watched.

According to a New Yorker blog entry by Evan Osnos, who made a point linking a life sentence to Kang Rixin, the head of China’s nuclear-power program and a senior Party apparatchik convicted of taking bribes and abusing his position to enrich others. China is experiencing the most aggressive nuclear-power expansion in the world.

One important thing pointed by Osnos' interviewee is, that Japanese nuclear facility is old and aging, while Chinese ones are all newly imported from nuclear energy leaders such as France. Besides, the Chinese designers and plant management are also receptive to other input such as Americans.

Would it so-called nuclear binge could be happening? It is up to anyone's guess. Who could have thought Japan, a leading nation in energy technology, will have to seal off its nuclear plant, just like what Ukraine did.

Monster Quake, Tsunami

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake shattered Japan and the 13 meter Tsunami had impacted many lives in this nation country.

One twitter I followed, said there is no way to get home, so he might as well working at the office. Some coworkers celebrated the fact that the building is still standing, by starting drinking beer. (a bit cold for that)

Another twitter said the Shinkansen he was taking to Osaka from Tokyo stopped, due to the loss of power. The train got stuck inside a tunnel and he is thinking to take a nap. (what else to do in the dark car and tunnel?)

However, considering the initial reports, I have to give credits to Japanese government, and Japanese people for their disaster response plans. Not only the country is in order and people started sorting out the aftermath, but the fact that size of monster could have easily destroyed people's spirit.

While living in Japan's most earthquake prone area, in Niigata and surrendering Kanetsu area, I was amazed by the buildings that were built to keep property damage to the minimum in terms of a earthquake. And Hinan Kunren (disaster drills) were held on a regular basis.

Probably with that mindset, Japanese people will be able to stand up again with so many natural disasters affected the country. This time should be no exception.

LoC Japan Exhibition and Events In September and October

The following events are to be held at the Libiary of Congress in Washington D.C. to mark the 80^th anniversary of the Library’s systematic approach to building the premier research and scholarly resource about Japan in the United States, this exhibition presents a selection from the Japanese Collections which contain more than 1.17 million items.

The series include a symposium on September 21, Exhibition walk through with curators on Oct. 2 and 16. The details are as follows:

Japanese Collection
September 20, 2010, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Asian Reading Room First floor Thomas Jefferson building
"The Japanese Collection at the Library of Congress: Past, Present and Future" features treasures from the collection. Contact: (202) 707-2990

Symposium

September 21, 2010, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Kluge Center Meeting Room First floor Thomas Jefferson building

Exhibition walkthrough with curators
Saturday, October 2 and October 16
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Asian Division Reading Room (Room 150)
Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress

A free public exhibition walkthrough with curators. Curators will talk about the Japanese Collections and additional information on the exhibits. No reservations are required.

Japan Goes Beyond Yasukuni? Kan Forgos a Visit

At the August 15th ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japan has stepped out of its war shadow, at least for now.

The Democratic Party of Japan government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan has decided not to visit Yasukuni shrine, his whole Ministers also got the message, no one from his 17-member cabinet went to Yasukuni. The first time in 25 years.

"We feel deep regret, and we offer our sincere feelings of condolence to those who suffered and their families," PM Kan said at a commemoration ceremony attended by the Japanese Emperor Akihito.

The conservative Liberal Democratic Party has strong words for Kan. Shintaro Ishihara, the outspoken Tokyo Governor criticized Kan following other countries' order. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe thought it violated the freedom of religion.

The road for Japan to move beyond Yasukuni is certainly not easy. Just on the same day, a right-wing member in his 20s weaved a Japanese knife on the streets near Japanese Diet and severely wounded a police security force.

Kan's decision has also won support from neighboring Korea. Korean president Lee Min Pak praised the move as one step forward. The usual critical Chinese government has not put out a formal response.

Japan Pavilion In Shanghai Expo

"Hi-Tech, Environment and Future", the three well-defined themes are well-received in Shanghai.

All the blogs I found online so far has all the good words on the Japanese Pavilion in Shanghai. It is also one of the most recommended must-see highlights, among the Chinese Pavilion, German (the Metal Ball with voice activation) and Saudi Arabia (being rich is certainly not a bad thing)

Inside Japan hall, you will find a Robot playing violin with traditional Chinese music, one-person concept car, life in 2020, etc.

The best review of all, "I waited three hours to get into the Japan Pavilion, but the wait is well worthy it". And, "it is not what you have seen, but what have moved you".

China Japan In Africa

Dear Readers and Friends,

As many of you know, I am off to Africa to spend 2 years in Ghana and leave on August 3rd. The last few weeks have been a stressful whirl of activities --I just finished packing out and saw the giant 20 foot moving track pulling away from the house this evening.

It has been a great learning experience writing and covering about Sino-Japan relations and I plan to continue to do so with my ultimate efforts. It is something I desire to do more and more.

Even more exciting is a new angle will be added to the topic, an African angle. I intend to see how China and Japan are spreading love in this continent, how locals view the two cultures, and whether the foregin aids and youth volenteers from the coutries are winning hearts and minds in Africa?

You are invited to onboard this journal, and I will update and share information on this blog, as I have been doing. However, I encourage you to be a part of it, any questions on your mind that you'd like to ask, anything you'd like to know about Beijing and Tokyo Policies are impacting African people's lives, and whatever in you mind?

However, as it is always has been, this blog has taken a chunck of time from me. I have every intention and will make every effort to update it on a regular basis, hopefully on a daily basis if I have something worthly to share. I appreciate your understanging and encouragment.


I look forward to the new adventure along with you


Brian Yang