Japanese drilling ship "Chikyu" reached 2,132m under the ocean floor

Chikyu

Japanese scientific riser drilling ship, Chikyu reached the world record depth of 2,132 metre(6,995 feet) from the bottom of the ocean floor off Hachinohe, Aomori for the first time as a scientific research vessel.
It will excavate till 2,200 metre.
The ship attained the world record depth of 7,740 metre(25,394 feet) from the water surface in April this year.


-FACTS-
"Chikyu" literally means the planet Earth in Japanese.


海底下2132メートル掘削最深記録を達成　探査船「ちきゅう」　―日本経済新聞
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG06047_W2A900C1CR8000/

Number of child abuse cases hit the record of 248 during the first half of 2012

Japanese National Police Agency revealed that the number of child abuse cases exposed between January and June this year were 248, increased 95 from the same term of last year. The number of people disclosed were 255 which was 92 more than the last year.

Types of Cases
Physical Abuses - 175
Sexual Abuses - 68
Neglects - 5

Children died - 12
  Physical Abuses - 10
  Neclects - 2

Assailants
  Own Father - 36.9%(94)
  Own Mother - 19.6%(50)



児童虐待事件が過去最多　今年上期248件に　―日本経済新聞
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG05054_W2A900C1CC0000/

Over 90 percents of imports banned at the customs were from China

Chinese fake brand goods disclosed at Tokyo Customs

Ministry of Finance Japan announced that the number of prohibited import cases at customs houses in the country from January to June this year was 13,978, risen 22.3 percents from the same term of the last year.
94.3 percents of them were from China. Korea accounted for 77.4 percents among the countries of dispatch in 2001 on the other hand holds only 0.9 percents this time.


-FACTS-
Most of the prohibited imports from China are fake brand goods such as clothes, bags, shoes, watches and electronics.


上期輸入差し止め件数、過去２番目の多さ　偽ブランド中国一極化　―日本経済新聞
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFL040ER_U2A900C1000000/

SoftBank Wi-Fi is now available at LAWSON convenience stores

SoftBank Wi-Fi Spot at LAWSON

SOFTBANK MOBILE in August 24th announced that its wireless LAN service "SoftBank Wi-Fi Spot" will be available at every LAWSON convenience store.
The access points are already installed at 8,343 LAWSON stores(August22nd) among approximately 10,000.

Available SSID
1) 0001softbank - for SoftBank 3G network users with no encryption
2) 0002softbank - for SoftBank 3G network users with WPA2 encryption
3) SWS1day - for non SoftBank users, SoftBank Wi-Fi Spot (EX) 490 yen/day


-FACTS-
SoftBank Mobile is one of the three largest mobile phone carriers in Japan(1:NTT DOCOMO/2:au by KDDI/3:SoftBank). It holds the first place for a long time in the number of new contracts, though it is the third place in the total number of contracts.


全国のローソンで「ソフトバンクＷｉ－Ｆｉスポット」が利用可能に　―日本経済新聞
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFK23034_T20C12A8000000/

35 percents of driving license holders do not drive

A car with symbol of a newly-licensed driver

Research
Term: 2012/4/3 - 2012/4/7
Respondents: MyNavi News website membership users
Valid Responses: 1,000(requires log in)


Q: Do you have a driving license?

YES - 81.6%
NO - 18.4%


Q: Among the license holders, do you have a car?
(including the one of which the title is someone else)

YES - 62.4%
NO - 37.6%


Q: Are you a paper-driver(person with license who does not drive)?

YES - 34.6%
NO - 65.4%


Q: How long have you been a paper-driver?

Below half a year - 8.4%
Less than a year- 8.1%
Less than 2 years - 11.8%
Less than 3 years - 7.5%
Less than 4 years - 9.5%
Less than 5 years - 7.8%
Less than 6 years - 11.6%
Less than 7 years - 6.7%
Less than 8 years - 5.8%
Less than 9 years - 5.8%
Less than 10 years - 3.8%
More than 10 years - 13.3%


Q: Among paper-drivers, would you like to have a car?

YES - 29.8%
NO - 70.2%


ペーパードライバーが多すぎる件　―マイナビニュース
http://news.mynavi.jp/c_career/level1/yoko/2012/08/post_2152.html


-FACTS-
Living in Japanese cities where public transportation such as underground railways, trams, buses and taxies are well developed does not require personal cars. In addition, maintenance costs of car including parking fee is severe in cities like Tokyo.