TOKYO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- There are a multitude of talented people among Chinese students, and if it had not been for the Chinese students, Japan could not have achieved so much in its education for overseas students, said a Japanese education ministry official in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"Chinese students are often referred to as being well-grounded in their academic studies, outstanding in their theoretical level and fine in their personal qualities at universities here," said Yuichi Oda, who is in charge of student exchange programs in the higher education bureau of Japan's Education Ministry.
In colleges of Japan's universities, students from China command a large share, and they have played an important role in Japan's higher education, he added.
"In a sense, Japan's education for overseas students can not possibly make progress without the participation of those from China," the official said.
Chinese students account for more than 60 percent of overseas students studying in Japan, a marked rise from some 20 percent in 1983, according to Oda.
Chinese students began to study in Japan in 1972 when the two nations normalized their diplomatic relations, but the number remained small until 1978, he said. It hit a peak in 2005 when a total of 80,592 Chinese students were studying in Japan.
"There have been an increasing number of Chinese students studying in Japan since 1979 when the Chinese government-funded student exchange programs were launched," said Oda.
In July 2008, six Japanese government departments, including the education, foreign and justice ministries, launched a program aiming to attract 300,000 overseas students to Japan.
Under the program, relevant authorities will simplify immigration procedures, facilitate the internationalization of universities and provide support for overseas students in their daily life and employment.
"Japan heartily welcomes Chinese students to Japan and is looking forward to a greater number of Chinese students under the program," Oda said.
Eduation in Japan
When Japan opened herself to the world in 1868, one of the government's high priority was catching up with Western standards in science and education. The Japanese education system was reformed mainly according to the German and French model which experts regarded as most suitable and advantageous.
After the second world war, the Americans reformed the Japanese education system after their own which consists of six years of elementary school, each three years of junior and senior high school and four years of university or two years of junior college.
Compulsory education includes elementary school and junior high school. Over 90% of all students also graduate from high school and over 40% from university or junior college. At universities the percentage of male students is higher than that of female students while the opposite is the case at junior colleges. The number of graduate university students is relatively low.
The Japanese school year starts in April and consists of three terms, separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a one month long summer break.
A characteristic of the Japanese school system are entrance exams, and with them a high competitiveness among students. Most high schools, universities, as well as a few private junior high schools and elementary schools require applicants to write entrance exams. In order to pass entrance exams to the best institutions, many students attend special preparation schools (juku) besides regular classes, or for one to two years between high school and university (yobiko).
The most prestigious universities are the national University of Tokyo and University of Kyoto, followed by the best private universities.
http://www.japan-guide.com
After the second world war, the Americans reformed the Japanese education system after their own which consists of six years of elementary school, each three years of junior and senior high school and four years of university or two years of junior college.
Compulsory education includes elementary school and junior high school. Over 90% of all students also graduate from high school and over 40% from university or junior college. At universities the percentage of male students is higher than that of female students while the opposite is the case at junior colleges. The number of graduate university students is relatively low.
The Japanese school year starts in April and consists of three terms, separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a one month long summer break.
A characteristic of the Japanese school system are entrance exams, and with them a high competitiveness among students. Most high schools, universities, as well as a few private junior high schools and elementary schools require applicants to write entrance exams. In order to pass entrance exams to the best institutions, many students attend special preparation schools (juku) besides regular classes, or for one to two years between high school and university (yobiko).
The most prestigious universities are the national University of Tokyo and University of Kyoto, followed by the best private universities.
http://www.japan-guide.com
Japan sets aside $12m to enhance distance education through radio
By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi
He reminds you of one or two of those tough characters in the popular Japanese and Chinese films of the early 80s, in which karate and kung fu were effortlessly expressed, to the admiration of young secondary school children in major cities, who flocked cinema houses every weekend to watch the films over and over again. His oval, no nonsense typically Japanese face, when he is not smiling, is sort of a deterrent to potential troublemakers.
But Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa is not a karate or kung fu actor. He is the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, who, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Abuja last Tuesday, admitted that he has great respect and admiration for Nigerians. "I'm sort of an African Specialist," he told the newspaper gleefully. "I have been to Tanzania where I spent a couple of years. I was also in Kenya for a couple of years. Africa is my second home."
Besides, Uesawa affirms Japan's commitment to helping Nigeria overcome poverty. This underscores his country's policy, which focuses on three major areas: Education, Water and Electricity. Between 1999 and 2008, the Japanese government spent N2.1 billion on Education, N3.5 billion on the provision of bore holes, and N6.1 billion on rural electrification in the country. This is part of the N622.5 billion expended on various projects since 1960.
However, next year tends to be very exciting for the education sector as Japan prepares to spend about $12 million on the expansion of radio networks to enhance distance education. Responding to a question on his country's interest in Nigeria's education sector, Uesawa said: "We are giving a lot of assistance to your country. But we believe that Nigeria can afford to support itself, because you have money. For example, there's oil money and so forth. So, what Japan should do is to give supplementary support to Nigeria in her efforts on development issues.
"We attach more importance to poverty reduction. One is Education, second is water, third is rural electrification. Those are the three important areas in terms of reaching the poor people in Nigeria, and all of them are aggregates of human resource development. However, education is one of the most important issues, not only for the sustenance of development, but also in the realization of a real democratic and fair society. In that area, our task has been to build schools. The Japanese motto is 'to take concrete action, rather than complaining of policy failure.' You have to take action. The victims are always the women and children. So our motto, that action should be taken, is most important. But in addition to building schools, education requires a complete, hands - on approach. It is all right to build schools, but what about the training of teachers? Providing technical assistance towards this is also very important. At the same time, if the poor children cannot go to school because of poverty, then poverty issues are also very important. Health issues are also important. After graduation, can students get jobs? So job creation is also important.
"I decided to start a new project, that is, to expand radio coverage. You know radio is very important. You have a huge country, and to reach every corner of the country, radio is a good weapon for Distance Education. We want to use this to expand the quality and quantity of education in Nigeria."
On the what the Japanese government plans to do for he country's education sector over the next five years, the ambassador stated: "I am determined to continue as we have done. We'll keep building schools. That's all. How to use the schools is up to you (Federal Government). Of course, we believe in the idea that education should be comprehensive and cross sectoral. We may add some technical cooperation, and we will also pursue the radio expansion project to enhance distance education to the tune of $12million. But we want to continue building schools, until we see a smile on every poor child. We have so far built 600 classrooms."
Japan is renowned for its technology, which is rooted in science, and Uesawa explains why. "Science is very important, in particular for industrialization," he affirmed. "But it has to start when children are still very small, in the primary school. Science is very important in Japan. Here in Nigeria, we have just recently started the technical cooperation for the enhancement of science education. It is a design for developing countries. For example, you know that for the science subjects, you have to carry out experiments. But many teachers say, 'we don't have the tools.' But what we suggested is that, they can still use what they have, like paper, which could be used for measurement. You can show air pressure to children, something like that."
On how the embassy monitors its projects in Nigeria, the ambassador said: "We are very strict because we have to send a report back to the Japanese Auditors. Before deciding to take up a project, we have to go through the project document, and then at least once, we send an officer to the site to see and evaluate the needs of the project as well as the operations of the project's management. And during implementation, we send our officers for inspection at least twice. And after the completion of the project, maybe a couple of years after, we still go to see how the project evaluation is going on. Maybe the NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) could get fed up with this process, but that is the way Japan operates. They have to accept this, otherwise we cannot be given anything."
Although, the ambassador declared that the Japanese government works directly with some Nigerian NGOs, the major mode of operation is to work with the federal government. "Our system is government to government," he noted. "So, our counter part is the federal government. When it comes to project planning, we have to think about the population, the importance, and so forth. We hold consultation with the federal government as well as the provinces." However, the embassy gives what he described as "small scale grant assistance" directly to the NGOs. "We have no intention of bypassing the government," he added quickly, "but sometimes, direct contact is very important. Again, building of schools is a very important area of the small-scale grants. Almost 40 per cent of the small scale grants is for education, and it's just $1.7 million."
Asked if the Japanese government would like to encourage the introduction of Japanese language into Nigeria's school system as the French government had done, Uesawa nodded, then said, "education is a part of culture. My government does not intend to pursue the introduction of Japanese language in Nigeria. We don't like to over ride in that manner. You can refer to the American system of education as a model, you may refer to the Japanese model, you may refer to the French model, but you should not copy. You have to create your own education system, based on your culture. That's our motto, so, we don't like to force you to learn Japanese language for the sake of learning Japanese technology or something like that."
On the level of trade between Nigeria and Japan, the ambassador averred that what both Nigerian and Japanese governments could do would not be as much as what the private sectors of both countries could do together.
His words: "The Japanese business men have very keen interest in investing and expanding their businesses in Nigeria. The natural gas is a very promising area. You have abundant natural gas, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is in popular demand worldwide. If you have abundant natural gas, Japan also has world-class technology. So, Nigeria and Japan can shake hands and make a lot profit from this, for the people themselves. This is a very promising one.
"Also, in the long run, Nigeria has a huge population, and this means a huge market, and huge market means that Nigeria could be a centre of excellence. Automobile manufacturing is also very promising. So far, Toyota Nigeria Company is importing cars from Japan into Nigeria. But in the long run, there could be the possibility to build a car factory here. But it takes time. Once it comes to business, we have to carefully look at the volume of sales here in Nigeria, which is not so high, at least not enough for the establishment of a car factory."
On how difficult it is for Nigerians to obtain Japanese visa, the ambassador said that Nigerians with genuine documents and intentions need not entertain any fear. "For Nigerians who want to go to Japan," he said, "I don't think it's difficult. But if you feel it's difficult, then there must have some difficulty about you (general laughter). But Frankly speaking, I always give instruction to my officers that, you don't have to be too strict. Just relax. You only need to follow the formality. We have a process. Our officers are very rational and swift. If the documents are correct, then it's easy for you to get the visa. But we have issued very limited students' visas. You know we have the language problem. However, we have one Japanese student studying at the University of Jos. Very few Nigerian students study in Japan, and about 100 Japanese nationals are living in Nigeria. But I think the number will increase, if security is guaranteed here in Abuja and other places. Once there is security, one businessman can come in with his entire family."
He reminds you of one or two of those tough characters in the popular Japanese and Chinese films of the early 80s, in which karate and kung fu were effortlessly expressed, to the admiration of young secondary school children in major cities, who flocked cinema houses every weekend to watch the films over and over again. His oval, no nonsense typically Japanese face, when he is not smiling, is sort of a deterrent to potential troublemakers.
But Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa is not a karate or kung fu actor. He is the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, who, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Abuja last Tuesday, admitted that he has great respect and admiration for Nigerians. "I'm sort of an African Specialist," he told the newspaper gleefully. "I have been to Tanzania where I spent a couple of years. I was also in Kenya for a couple of years. Africa is my second home."
Besides, Uesawa affirms Japan's commitment to helping Nigeria overcome poverty. This underscores his country's policy, which focuses on three major areas: Education, Water and Electricity. Between 1999 and 2008, the Japanese government spent N2.1 billion on Education, N3.5 billion on the provision of bore holes, and N6.1 billion on rural electrification in the country. This is part of the N622.5 billion expended on various projects since 1960.
However, next year tends to be very exciting for the education sector as Japan prepares to spend about $12 million on the expansion of radio networks to enhance distance education. Responding to a question on his country's interest in Nigeria's education sector, Uesawa said: "We are giving a lot of assistance to your country. But we believe that Nigeria can afford to support itself, because you have money. For example, there's oil money and so forth. So, what Japan should do is to give supplementary support to Nigeria in her efforts on development issues.
"We attach more importance to poverty reduction. One is Education, second is water, third is rural electrification. Those are the three important areas in terms of reaching the poor people in Nigeria, and all of them are aggregates of human resource development. However, education is one of the most important issues, not only for the sustenance of development, but also in the realization of a real democratic and fair society. In that area, our task has been to build schools. The Japanese motto is 'to take concrete action, rather than complaining of policy failure.' You have to take action. The victims are always the women and children. So our motto, that action should be taken, is most important. But in addition to building schools, education requires a complete, hands - on approach. It is all right to build schools, but what about the training of teachers? Providing technical assistance towards this is also very important. At the same time, if the poor children cannot go to school because of poverty, then poverty issues are also very important. Health issues are also important. After graduation, can students get jobs? So job creation is also important.
"I decided to start a new project, that is, to expand radio coverage. You know radio is very important. You have a huge country, and to reach every corner of the country, radio is a good weapon for Distance Education. We want to use this to expand the quality and quantity of education in Nigeria."
On the what the Japanese government plans to do for he country's education sector over the next five years, the ambassador stated: "I am determined to continue as we have done. We'll keep building schools. That's all. How to use the schools is up to you (Federal Government). Of course, we believe in the idea that education should be comprehensive and cross sectoral. We may add some technical cooperation, and we will also pursue the radio expansion project to enhance distance education to the tune of $12million. But we want to continue building schools, until we see a smile on every poor child. We have so far built 600 classrooms."
Japan is renowned for its technology, which is rooted in science, and Uesawa explains why. "Science is very important, in particular for industrialization," he affirmed. "But it has to start when children are still very small, in the primary school. Science is very important in Japan. Here in Nigeria, we have just recently started the technical cooperation for the enhancement of science education. It is a design for developing countries. For example, you know that for the science subjects, you have to carry out experiments. But many teachers say, 'we don't have the tools.' But what we suggested is that, they can still use what they have, like paper, which could be used for measurement. You can show air pressure to children, something like that."
On how the embassy monitors its projects in Nigeria, the ambassador said: "We are very strict because we have to send a report back to the Japanese Auditors. Before deciding to take up a project, we have to go through the project document, and then at least once, we send an officer to the site to see and evaluate the needs of the project as well as the operations of the project's management. And during implementation, we send our officers for inspection at least twice. And after the completion of the project, maybe a couple of years after, we still go to see how the project evaluation is going on. Maybe the NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) could get fed up with this process, but that is the way Japan operates. They have to accept this, otherwise we cannot be given anything."
Although, the ambassador declared that the Japanese government works directly with some Nigerian NGOs, the major mode of operation is to work with the federal government. "Our system is government to government," he noted. "So, our counter part is the federal government. When it comes to project planning, we have to think about the population, the importance, and so forth. We hold consultation with the federal government as well as the provinces." However, the embassy gives what he described as "small scale grant assistance" directly to the NGOs. "We have no intention of bypassing the government," he added quickly, "but sometimes, direct contact is very important. Again, building of schools is a very important area of the small-scale grants. Almost 40 per cent of the small scale grants is for education, and it's just $1.7 million."
Asked if the Japanese government would like to encourage the introduction of Japanese language into Nigeria's school system as the French government had done, Uesawa nodded, then said, "education is a part of culture. My government does not intend to pursue the introduction of Japanese language in Nigeria. We don't like to over ride in that manner. You can refer to the American system of education as a model, you may refer to the Japanese model, you may refer to the French model, but you should not copy. You have to create your own education system, based on your culture. That's our motto, so, we don't like to force you to learn Japanese language for the sake of learning Japanese technology or something like that."
On the level of trade between Nigeria and Japan, the ambassador averred that what both Nigerian and Japanese governments could do would not be as much as what the private sectors of both countries could do together.
His words: "The Japanese business men have very keen interest in investing and expanding their businesses in Nigeria. The natural gas is a very promising area. You have abundant natural gas, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is in popular demand worldwide. If you have abundant natural gas, Japan also has world-class technology. So, Nigeria and Japan can shake hands and make a lot profit from this, for the people themselves. This is a very promising one.
"Also, in the long run, Nigeria has a huge population, and this means a huge market, and huge market means that Nigeria could be a centre of excellence. Automobile manufacturing is also very promising. So far, Toyota Nigeria Company is importing cars from Japan into Nigeria. But in the long run, there could be the possibility to build a car factory here. But it takes time. Once it comes to business, we have to carefully look at the volume of sales here in Nigeria, which is not so high, at least not enough for the establishment of a car factory."
On how difficult it is for Nigerians to obtain Japanese visa, the ambassador said that Nigerians with genuine documents and intentions need not entertain any fear. "For Nigerians who want to go to Japan," he said, "I don't think it's difficult. But if you feel it's difficult, then there must have some difficulty about you (general laughter). But Frankly speaking, I always give instruction to my officers that, you don't have to be too strict. Just relax. You only need to follow the formality. We have a process. Our officers are very rational and swift. If the documents are correct, then it's easy for you to get the visa. But we have issued very limited students' visas. You know we have the language problem. However, we have one Japanese student studying at the University of Jos. Very few Nigerian students study in Japan, and about 100 Japanese nationals are living in Nigeria. But I think the number will increase, if security is guaranteed here in Abuja and other places. Once there is security, one businessman can come in with his entire family."
Malaysia-Japan varsity's first intake in July
PUTRAJAYA: The cabinet last week approved the formation of a Malaysian-Japanese University (Maju) to boost educational co-operation between the two countries.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the university would be placed under Mara.
The first intake of about 70 students for its technology engineering faculty will take place in July.
"The university had been a subject of discussion between the two governments since 2001," he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding on educational co-operation between his ministry and the Higher Education Ministry.
Present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Dr Zulkefli Hassan and Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Musa Muhamad.
Noh said the Japanese government would sponsor 15 Japanese professors to teach at the university. Its temporary campus will be the Mara Skills College in Beranang, Selangor.
"The curriculum and faculty's equipment will follow the Japanese university arrangements, but the medium of instruction will be in English."
He also said the government planned to upgrade the status of the Germany-Malaysian Institute (GMI) into a university.
He added that the ministry had set aside RM12.9 million to carry out entrepreneurship programmes in public universities next year.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, he said the government targeted the participation of 1.5 million Bumiputera students, youth, graduates and women in business.
Until last month, he said, 800,630 Bumiputeras had undergone training and courses organised by the ministry.
Khaled said a career and entrepreneurship carnival would be held every year to attract as many graduates as possible to be businessmen.
The carnival would also serve as an entrepreneurship outreach medium for companies interested in hiring the graduates upon completion of their studies.
He said an entrepreneurship subject with one credit hour had been introduced for every course in public universities.
"To complement the subject, we plan to rope in adjunct lecturers to give talks or workshops to our undergraduates as part of the syllabus."
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the university would be placed under Mara.
The first intake of about 70 students for its technology engineering faculty will take place in July.
"The university had been a subject of discussion between the two governments since 2001," he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding on educational co-operation between his ministry and the Higher Education Ministry.
Present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Dr Zulkefli Hassan and Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Musa Muhamad.
Noh said the Japanese government would sponsor 15 Japanese professors to teach at the university. Its temporary campus will be the Mara Skills College in Beranang, Selangor.
"The curriculum and faculty's equipment will follow the Japanese university arrangements, but the medium of instruction will be in English."
He also said the government planned to upgrade the status of the Germany-Malaysian Institute (GMI) into a university.
He added that the ministry had set aside RM12.9 million to carry out entrepreneurship programmes in public universities next year.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, he said the government targeted the participation of 1.5 million Bumiputera students, youth, graduates and women in business.
Until last month, he said, 800,630 Bumiputeras had undergone training and courses organised by the ministry.
Khaled said a career and entrepreneurship carnival would be held every year to attract as many graduates as possible to be businessmen.
The carnival would also serve as an entrepreneurship outreach medium for companies interested in hiring the graduates upon completion of their studies.
He said an entrepreneurship subject with one credit hour had been introduced for every course in public universities.
"To complement the subject, we plan to rope in adjunct lecturers to give talks or workshops to our undergraduates as part of the syllabus."
Japanese Diet Rich In Fish May Hold Secret To Healthy Heart: Omega-3 Fatty Acids From Fish Appear To Prevent Clogged Arteries
If you're fishing for ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, you might start with the seafood-rich diet typically served up in Japan. According to new research, a lifetime of eating tuna, sardines, salmon and other fish appears to protect Japanese men against clogged arteries, despite other cardiovascular risk factors.
The research, published in the August 5, 2008, issue of Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), suggests that the protection comes from omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in oily fish. In the first international study of its kind, researchers found that compared to middle-aged white men or Japanese-American men living in the United States, Japanese men living in Japan had twice the blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids—a finding that was independently linked to low levels of atherosclerosis.
"The death rate from coronary heart disease in Japan has always been puzzlingly low," said Akira Sekikawa, M.D., Ph.D, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, and an adjunct associate professor at Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. "Our study suggests that the very low rates of coronary heart disease among Japanese living in Japan may be due to their lifelong high consumption of fish."
Japanese people eat about 3 ounces of fish daily, on average, while typical Americans eat fish perhaps twice a week. Nutritional studies show that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish averages 1.3 grams per day in Japan, as compared to 0.2 grams per day in the United States.
Earlier studies by Dr. Sekikawa's team showed that Japanese men had significantly less cholesterol build-up in their arteries when compared to white men living in the United States—despite similar blood cholesterol and blood pressure readings, similar rates of diabetes and much higher rates of cigarette smoking. It was unclear, however, whether Japanese men were protected by strong genes, a high-fish diet or some other factor.
To answer that question, the ERA JUMP (Electron-Beam Tomography, Risk Factor Assessment Among Japanese and U.S. Men in the Post-World War II Birth Cohort) Study enrolled 868 randomly selected men aged 40 to 49. Of these, 281 were Japanese men from Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan; 306 were white men from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and 281 were third- or fourth-generation Japanese-American men from Honolulu, Hawaii.
All study participants had a physical examination, completed a lifestyle questionnaire, and had standard blood tests to evaluate cardiovascular health. Laboratory tests also measured total blood levels of fatty acids and the omega-3 fatty acids that come from fish (specifically, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids).
In addition, researchers used two techniques to measure the level of cholesterol build-up in the arteries. In the first test, ultrasound waves gauged the thickness of the walls of the carotid arteries in the neck, a test known as intimal-medial thickness (IMT). In the second test, an electron-beam CT scanner measured calcium deposits, or "hardened" cholesterol, in the arteries of the heart, a test known as coronary artery calcification (CAC). Both have been shown to identify people at high risk for heart disease.
Dr. Sekikawa and his colleagues found that the total level of fatty acids was similar in the three groups, but the percentage represented by fish-based omega-3 fatty acids was two-fold higher in Japanese men living in Japan (9.2 percent) when compared to white men (3.9 percent) and Japanese-American men (4.8 percent) living in the United States.
The researchers also found that levels of atherosclerosis were similar in Japanese-American and white men, but markedly lower in Japanese men living in Japan. The average IMT was 37 µm less in Japanese than white men after age and cardiovascular risk factors were taken into account, while the average risk-adjusted difference in the proportion of Japanese and white men with positive CAC tests was 11 percent. Both gaps were highly significant, but became statistically insignificant when differences in omega-3 fatty acid levels were taken into account.
In Japanese men living in Japan the investigators also observed that IMT values went down as omega-3 fatty acid levels went up, an inverse relationship that was found to be statistically significant. This relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels and IMT remained significant even after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. (In Japanese men, CAC also went down as omega-3 fatty acid levels went up, but the relationship was not statistically significant.)
No significant inverse association between omega-3 fatty acid levels and atherosclerosis was observed in whites or Japanese-Americans once cardiovascular risk factors were accounted for.
"Our study clearly demonstrated that whites and Japanese-Americans have similar levels of atherosclerosis, which are much higher than in the Japanese in Japan," Dr. Sekikawa said. "This indicates that much lower death rates from coronary heart disease in the Japanese in Japan is very unlikely due to genetic factors."
The importance of the fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in reducing risk for heart disease is powerfully underscored by this cross-cultural study, said William S. Harris, Ph.D., senior scientist and director of the Metabolism and Nutrition Research Center, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls. "Japanese men in Japan have equally bad or worse cardiovascular risk profiles as Americans, but less heart disease? How can this be?" said Dr. Harris, who was not involved in the ERA JUMP study. "What really distinguishes the Japanese men from the Americans is the fact that blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids are twice as high in Japan as they are in the West.
"The take home message from this important study is this: Traditional risk factors lead to traditional amounts of artery-clogging plaque but only when the background diet, perhaps the lifetime diet, is chronically deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Increase the omega-3 intake and heart disease rates in the West should begin to move closer to those in Japan. While it may take a high omega-3 diet from birth (as opposed to popping a few fish oil pills) to reach this goal, Dr. Sekikawa and his colleagues tell a compelling story that we would do well to heed."
A follow-up study has recently been funded and will test the association of omega-3 fatty acids with the progression of atherosclerosis in white men, Japanese-American men, and Japanese men living in Japan.
When It Comes To Emotions, Eastern And Western Cultures See Things Very Differently
A team of researchers from Canada and Japan have uncovered some remarkable results on how eastern and western cultures assess situations very differently.
Across two studies, participants viewed images, each of which consisted of one centre model and four background models in each image. The researchers manipulated the facial emotion (happy, angry, sad) in the centre or background models and asked the participants to determine the dominant emotion of the centre figure.
The majority of Japanese participants (72%) reported that their judgments of the centre person's emotions were influenced by the emotions of the background figures, while most North Americans (also 72%) reported they were not influenced by the background figures at all.
"What we found is quite interesting," says Takahiko Masuda, a Psychology professor from the University of Alberta. "Our results demonstrate that when North Americans are trying to figure out how a person is feeling, they selectively focus on that particular person's facial expression, whereas Japanese consider the emotions of the other people in the situation."
This may be because Japanese attention is not concentrated on the individual, but includes everyone in the group, says Masuda.
For the second part of the study, researchers monitored the eye movements of the participants and again the results indicated that the Japanese looked at the surrounding people more than the westerners when judging the situation.
While both the Japanese and westerners looked to the central figure during the first second of viewing the photo, the Japanese looked to the background figures at the very next second, while westerners continued to focus on the central figure.
"East Asians seem to have a more holistic pattern of attention, perceiving people in terms of the relationships to others," says Masuda. "People raised in the North American tradition often find it easy to isolate a person from its surroundings, while East Asians are accustom to read the air "kuuki wo yomu" of the situation through their cultural practices, and as a result, they think that even surrounding people's facial expressions are an informative source to understand the particular person's emotion."
These findings are published in the upcoming issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and the results are replicated in a collaborative study between Huaitang Wang and Takahiko Masuda (University of Alberta, Canada) and Keiko Ishii (Hokkaido University, Japan)
http://www.ualberta.ca/
Second time a charm for reunited couple
Michael Claxton, 61, and his wife, Rieko, 43, are living proof of the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
After a falling out, the career-minded couple decided to separate when their daughter, Kasumi, was just 3. Though they remained married they lived half a world apart — in Tokyo and Sweden. Nine years later — last December — all three reunited in Tokyo.
Rieko, who has lived in Hachioji, Tokyo, since she was 13, calls it a miracle they are back together. A Briton born and raised in London, Michael has lived and worked in four countries. But he decided it was time to live in Japan to be with his daughter, now 13, with happy results for all.
Michael is a freelance portrait, fashion and model photographer and Rieko, whose maiden name is Makino, is now a busy freelance translator following a long career at a travel magazine and a translation agency. The three share a house with Rieko's parents.
Michael has a son, 25, in Sweden from a previous marriage.
Why did you come to Japan?
Michael: There is no short answer, but I grew up with some Japanese things in my aunt's home. I was fascinated by Japanese art when I was in art school and Japanese philosophy, the holistic approach. The fascination with Japan since I was a child grew and grew over the years.
I came to Japan in July 1991. I had come to a watershed in my life and career in Sweden and the only thing that I had not done in my life, and very much wanted to do, was to come to Japan. I secured a one-year contract at a language school in Akasaka, Tokyo, and came over!
How did you two meet?
Michael: A good friend, an English guy working here, held a party at his house in Yokohama. We met there.
When did you get married?
Rieko: We got married on Dec. 24, 1992, when we went to the Kitano branch of Hachioji City Hall to submit a marriage certificate. We had a great party at the Fujiya Hotel in Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture) on Jan. 15. We did not do anything outside Japan.
Who from your family came to the party?
Michael: No one. My mother had long since passed on and my father was too old for the trip. Many of my friends did, however.
Did your father support your marriage?
Michael: Yes, although he never liked Japan. At some point during World War II, he was stationed in Malaysia. He and I had many heated discussions about Japan's pros and cons, but once he met Rieko for the first time, in Copenhagen, he had no problem. He would probably never have gone to Japan or bought a Japanese car, but he was never against Rieko.
Rieko: My parents were OK. When I was studying, I brought many foreigners to my house, so my parents were pretty used to it. And my father was always interested in foreign culture. My mother does not interfere with me. She told me 'It'll be fine' when Michael left — and he returned to us.
When and why did you leave your wife and daughter?
Michael: I went back to Sweden in 1999 and originally the plan was for me to take Kasumi with me. However, things didn't turn out that way.
Rieko: One of the points was that he was unhappy with me working so much. But we had other basic disagreements as well.
Michael and Rieko: We can tell you this much. No third person was involved!
How did your feelings change during the separation?
Michael: Rieko and I understood each other better when we were apart. We met occasionally, in places like Paris and Tokyo. Each time I talked to Kasumi, on the phone or face to face, we got on so well I felt like it was only just a few weeks since we had last met, even though it was actually months or years.
Rieko: At first, I felt really good because I could work as much as I wanted. I felt Kasumi needed a father. Playing a mother and father role is tiring.
Michael: Everything fell into place in every way; it seemed like my destiny was telling me that we should be reunited, that my daughter needed me. I wound down my business in Sweden, retired as chairman of the Swedish-Japanese Society, said my goodbyes and packed my bags. And now, here we are!
What language do you speak with your daughter?
Michael: I speak English with Kasumi. Rieko speaks Japanese. Kasumi replies to me in English except when she's angry! I want her English to be as good as her Japanese.
Rieko: During the nine years Michael was in Sweden, Kasumi and he spoke frequently on the phone and met sometimes during her school holidays. They always spoke English.
What is your plan for your daughter's education?
Michael: I don't have a plan because I don't know enough about the Japanese education system. I leave those decisions to Kasumi and Rieko. However, she has a strong artistic talent. I went to art college in London. Maybe she will, too.
Rieko: As Japan represents only half of her cultural background, I want her to study in England. A boarding school is an option.
Michael: I don't like boarding schools. For my generation, they just have a negative image. But if Kasumi really wants to, I guess it is OK.
What is your future plan?
Michael: I envisage myself living in Japan as long as Japan will have me, working as a portrait and model photographer and holding photo exhibitions occasionally (Michael recently participated in an international art exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama). When I become too old to work with photography, I want to study the tea ceremony and calligraphy.
After a falling out, the career-minded couple decided to separate when their daughter, Kasumi, was just 3. Though they remained married they lived half a world apart — in Tokyo and Sweden. Nine years later — last December — all three reunited in Tokyo.
Rieko, who has lived in Hachioji, Tokyo, since she was 13, calls it a miracle they are back together. A Briton born and raised in London, Michael has lived and worked in four countries. But he decided it was time to live in Japan to be with his daughter, now 13, with happy results for all.
Michael is a freelance portrait, fashion and model photographer and Rieko, whose maiden name is Makino, is now a busy freelance translator following a long career at a travel magazine and a translation agency. The three share a house with Rieko's parents.
Michael has a son, 25, in Sweden from a previous marriage.
Why did you come to Japan?
Michael: There is no short answer, but I grew up with some Japanese things in my aunt's home. I was fascinated by Japanese art when I was in art school and Japanese philosophy, the holistic approach. The fascination with Japan since I was a child grew and grew over the years.
I came to Japan in July 1991. I had come to a watershed in my life and career in Sweden and the only thing that I had not done in my life, and very much wanted to do, was to come to Japan. I secured a one-year contract at a language school in Akasaka, Tokyo, and came over!
How did you two meet?
Michael: A good friend, an English guy working here, held a party at his house in Yokohama. We met there.
When did you get married?
Rieko: We got married on Dec. 24, 1992, when we went to the Kitano branch of Hachioji City Hall to submit a marriage certificate. We had a great party at the Fujiya Hotel in Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture) on Jan. 15. We did not do anything outside Japan.
Who from your family came to the party?
Michael: No one. My mother had long since passed on and my father was too old for the trip. Many of my friends did, however.
Did your father support your marriage?
Michael: Yes, although he never liked Japan. At some point during World War II, he was stationed in Malaysia. He and I had many heated discussions about Japan's pros and cons, but once he met Rieko for the first time, in Copenhagen, he had no problem. He would probably never have gone to Japan or bought a Japanese car, but he was never against Rieko.
Rieko: My parents were OK. When I was studying, I brought many foreigners to my house, so my parents were pretty used to it. And my father was always interested in foreign culture. My mother does not interfere with me. She told me 'It'll be fine' when Michael left — and he returned to us.
When and why did you leave your wife and daughter?
Michael: I went back to Sweden in 1999 and originally the plan was for me to take Kasumi with me. However, things didn't turn out that way.
Rieko: One of the points was that he was unhappy with me working so much. But we had other basic disagreements as well.
Michael and Rieko: We can tell you this much. No third person was involved!
How did your feelings change during the separation?
Michael: Rieko and I understood each other better when we were apart. We met occasionally, in places like Paris and Tokyo. Each time I talked to Kasumi, on the phone or face to face, we got on so well I felt like it was only just a few weeks since we had last met, even though it was actually months or years.
Rieko: At first, I felt really good because I could work as much as I wanted. I felt Kasumi needed a father. Playing a mother and father role is tiring.
Michael: Everything fell into place in every way; it seemed like my destiny was telling me that we should be reunited, that my daughter needed me. I wound down my business in Sweden, retired as chairman of the Swedish-Japanese Society, said my goodbyes and packed my bags. And now, here we are!
What language do you speak with your daughter?
Michael: I speak English with Kasumi. Rieko speaks Japanese. Kasumi replies to me in English except when she's angry! I want her English to be as good as her Japanese.
Rieko: During the nine years Michael was in Sweden, Kasumi and he spoke frequently on the phone and met sometimes during her school holidays. They always spoke English.
What is your plan for your daughter's education?
Michael: I don't have a plan because I don't know enough about the Japanese education system. I leave those decisions to Kasumi and Rieko. However, she has a strong artistic talent. I went to art college in London. Maybe she will, too.
Rieko: As Japan represents only half of her cultural background, I want her to study in England. A boarding school is an option.
Michael: I don't like boarding schools. For my generation, they just have a negative image. But if Kasumi really wants to, I guess it is OK.
What is your future plan?
Michael: I envisage myself living in Japan as long as Japan will have me, working as a portrait and model photographer and holding photo exhibitions occasionally (Michael recently participated in an international art exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama). When I become too old to work with photography, I want to study the tea ceremony and calligraphy.
Rieko: I can live anywhere as long as you are there. (smiles)
NOTICE of establishment of Drug Discovery Consortium in neuropsychiatric area
Tokyo, Oct 23, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; President: Masayo Tada) has announced a plan to establish "Neuropsychiatry Drug Discovery Consortium; NDDC" this November jointly with five departments of Graduate School of Medicine and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Osaka University, a national university of Japan, (Headquarters: Suita City, Osaka; President: Kiyokazu Washida).
Today there are good many patients with symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorder represented by schizophrenia or depression, and, given their considerable influence over quality of life, more effective therapeutic modalities are badly needed to cure such diseases.
For psychiatric medication, drugs originated from discoveries by "serendipity" (which means scientific discoveries by lucky chance) have traditionally been major remedies over the past nearly five decades. However, as a result of rapid progress of recent basic studies on mental diseases, circumstances are now being built up where new drugs could be discovered based on genetic level or molecular level studies of pathogenic mechanism, and it is hoped that revolutionary therapeutic medicines with unique features that conventional medicines do not have will be discovered.
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma places importance on central nervous system (CNS) area
as one of the priority research areas, and among antipsychotic agents, the company
markets such proprietary products as LULLANR and LONASENR, and, in addition, is
developing a lurasidone (generic name) globally. In October this year, the company set up "Funded Department of Molecular Neuropsychiatry (Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma)"
at Graduate School of Medicine of Osaka University for the purpose of contributing to translation of basic research results to clinical practices in the field of psychiatric diseases.
At Osaka University, genetic risk studies on psychiatric illness are underway jointly by Graduate School of Medicine and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In parallel with such genetic level studies, those of cellular and whole organism levels are also conducted under the comprehensive research programs.
Today there are good many patients with symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorder represented by schizophrenia or depression, and, given their considerable influence over quality of life, more effective therapeutic modalities are badly needed to cure such diseases.
For psychiatric medication, drugs originated from discoveries by "serendipity" (which means scientific discoveries by lucky chance) have traditionally been major remedies over the past nearly five decades. However, as a result of rapid progress of recent basic studies on mental diseases, circumstances are now being built up where new drugs could be discovered based on genetic level or molecular level studies of pathogenic mechanism, and it is hoped that revolutionary therapeutic medicines with unique features that conventional medicines do not have will be discovered.
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma places importance on central nervous system (CNS) area
as one of the priority research areas, and among antipsychotic agents, the company
markets such proprietary products as LULLANR and LONASENR, and, in addition, is
developing a lurasidone (generic name) globally. In October this year, the company set up "Funded Department of Molecular Neuropsychiatry (Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma)"
at Graduate School of Medicine of Osaka University for the purpose of contributing to translation of basic research results to clinical practices in the field of psychiatric diseases.
At Osaka University, genetic risk studies on psychiatric illness are underway jointly by Graduate School of Medicine and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In parallel with such genetic level studies, those of cellular and whole organism levels are also conducted under the comprehensive research programs.
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma has extensive R&D experiences in the field of CNS, while Graduate School of Medicine and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Osaka University have a grand track record in their integrated researches on pathogenic mechanism of psychiatric disorder. These industry and academia jointly form "Neuropsychiatry Drug Discover Consortium", under which various collaborative studies will be implemented with the hope of greatly contributing to development of science and technology in medical care as well as accelerating translation of basic researches to clinical practices in the field of psychiatric diseases. Future participation from other academic groups in this Consortium is under consideration.
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