Japanese companies are becoming calory conscious

45 year old Keiji Okuda works in Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (TYO: 6752). For the last few years, he has stopped riding trains and walks for forty minutes on his way to office. He also goes to the gym three days a week and eats buckwheat noodles for lunch. Over the years, Keiji Okuda last 42 pounds. Keiji Okuda is the new breed of Japan’s white collar workers who are conscious about their health. Yes, now you can stop picturing major CEOs and executives with large waistlines. Good physique is becoming a major image element in the corporate world. More over, because of the growing medical expenses, big Japanese companies are introducing various dieting, weight loss and exercise programs and imposing new regulations on their employees to maintain better health. CNN.com reports:

Many corporations have lunchtime aerobics sessions and cafeterias with low-calorie food, are handing out free pedometers and taking other measures to fight the latest imported buzzword: "metaboh," short for "metabolic syndrome" _ the cluster of symptoms linked with obesity, high cholesterol and blood sugar, large waistlines and risks of heart disease.

The government initiative, which kicked in April 1, requires companies to have workers aged 40 to 74 take up the battle of the bulge by requiring waist measurements at health checkups _ part of the nation's larger efforts to guard against the ballooning costs of medical care, estimated at $285 billion a year.

Obesity and fatness is still not a big issue in Japan like it is in the USA. The major reason behind this is the Japanese foods such as rice, fish, and vegetables which do not add many calories. With the import of fast foods, and western foods that require meats, are creating obesity and increasing weight.

Employees of the companies that do not shape up will be penalized by the government. The company will pay bigger portion of the annual $95 billion health care insurance for aging people.

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Hello Kitty is Japan's good will torism ambassador

Well, I used to see this cute cat’s face on pencil boxes but little did I know that Hello Kitty is a famous Japanese cartoon character. It is immensely popular among little girls and women in Japan, Hong Kong and China. Hello Kitty has been chosen as goodwill tourism ambassador to promote Japan’s tourism. This famous moon faced cartoon character was created by Sanrio in 1974. It first appeared on a plastic coin purse. Since then, Hello Kitty has charmed every one. Currently, its face is engraved on 50,000 products that are sold in 60 countries. Fashion icon, pop culture icon, business phenomenon and now another feather of success on Hello Kitty’s crown; the good will ambassador of Japan. On 19^th May, the Tourism Ministry of Japan declared Hello Kitty as its goodwill tourism ambassador for China, and Hong Kong. AP reports:

Last year the number of foreign tourists traveling to Japan hit a record high of 8.35 million, up 60 percent since the government began the marketing effort in 2003.

Arrivals from China and Hong Kong, who accounted for 16.5 percent of visitors to Japan last year, are poised this year to become the second-largest group of tourists after South Koreans.

At a press conference, Sanrio Co. President Shintaro Tsuji called Hello Kitty's new appointment "an honor" and pledged to "work hard to attract many visitors."

Japan's other goodwill tourism ambassadors include Korean singer Younha, Japanese actress Yoshino Kimura and Japanese pop/rock duo Puffy AmiYumi.

Although this is the first time the tourism ministry has tapped a fictional character for the role, the foreign ministry in March inaugurated blue robo-cat Doraemon as Japan's "anime ambassador."

Hello Kitty was born on November 1^st. She lives in London with her parents and twin sister Mimmy. They have lots of friends at school. Hello Kitty loves listening to music, travelling, and most of all making new friends. If Hello Kitty is your favorite character and you want to know more about her, you can visit the Sanrio official website.

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Japan: annual copyright fees on iPod Sales?

Japanese government has decided to introduce annual copyright fees on the sales of iPods, hard disk recorders and other portable music device. In 2005, Japanese recording industry made a serious effort to introduce “iPod tax” but it was not successful as government committee members could not reach a unanimous decision. The money collected will be given to singers, song writers and record publishers. International Herald Tribune reports:

The Agency of Cultural Affairs has not yet decided the amount of the fee, but it would likely be around 100 yen (95 cents) per device for an annual total about 1 billion yen (about $9.5 million), according to the Asahi Shimbun. The proceeds would go to recording companies, songwriters and artists.

Older devices, such as minidisk and DVD recorders, are already subject to a copyright fee.

Representatives for the agency and Apple Japan Inc. could not be reached for comment, as offices were closed Tuesday for a national holiday.

Electronic makers of Japan are not happy with this decision. In 2005, they vehemently opposed the effort and this time it will repeat. Earlier, the government did not want to include hard disk recorder in the proposal. It was included less than a month.

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