The Yomiuri Shimbun
The government's attempt at publicly recruiting nonbureaucrats for executive posts at independent administrative institutions has ended up with only about half the posts filled by private sector officials, and one-third by former central government public servants, it was announced Wednesday.
For the 49 executive posts at 27 independent administrative institutions and corporations with a special semigovernmental status, 24 posts, or 49 percent, were filled by private sector appointees, and 16 (33 percent) were filled by former central government public servants.
The remaining nine (18 percent) have yet to be filled as the government was unable to find candidates other than former public servants suitable for the posts.
The government will readvertise these posts.
Public recruitment for directorial posts is designed to eliminate the so-called amakudari practice of retired high-ranking bureaucrats taking up executive posts at corporations and government-affiliated organizations. As the example of the case of independent administrative institutions shows, it is difficult to fill such executive posts with officials from the private sector alone.
(Jan. 1, 2010)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Separate surnames bill readied
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009
Kyodo News
Legislation would allow married couples to keep family names
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba has decided to submit a bill to an ordinary Diet session to be convened in January to revise the Civil Code so that married couples can choose whether to have the same family name or keep their own surnames, sources said Saturday.
The envisioned bill is also likely to amend the current provision under the Civil Code that prohibits women from remarrying within six months of a divorce, the sources said.
Chiba has already conveyed her intention to the prime minister's office and begun discussions with other relevant Cabinet members, they said.
The government and the ruling parties are expected to start coordinating on the issue from the beginning of next year.
According to the sources, Chiba hopes to get Cabinet approval for the amendment around March, following consent from the Justice Ministry.
Under the planned amendment, the family name of any children of married couples who opt to have separate surnames will likely be unified with that of either of the parents, the sources said.
As for the provision barring women from remarrying after a divorce, the bill is expected to lower the period to around 100 days instead of the current six months, they added.
The Civil Code adopted the provision prohibiting women from remarrying within six months of a divorce to avoid possible confusion in determining the father of the child if the woman became pregnant during such a period.
However, the regulation has been criticized as outdated and discriminatory as men are free to remarry anytime after a divorce.
The planned revision is also likely to scrap another discriminatory provision in which a child born out of wedlock is entitled to receive only half the inheritance that a child born in wedlock can, the sources said.
In 1996, the Legislative Council, an advisory panel to the justice minister, recommended that the government introduce a system allowing married couples to choose separate surnames.
Although the Justice Ministry once compiled a bill to revise the Civil Code, it abandoned the idea of submitting it to the Diet due to opposition from the then ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan, to which Chiba belongs, repeatedly submitted to the Diet when it was in opposition an amendment bill to allow for separate surnames for married couples, but it was scrapped each time.
South Korea grillings
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said Friday she will visit South Korea next month to inspect its system of recording the interrogation process of crime suspects.
South Korea introduced visual and audio recordings of the interrogation of suspects in January last year.
During her visit from Jan. 6 to 8, Chiba will exchange views with South Korea judicial authorities at the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice.
Kyodo News
Legislation would allow married couples to keep family names
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba has decided to submit a bill to an ordinary Diet session to be convened in January to revise the Civil Code so that married couples can choose whether to have the same family name or keep their own surnames, sources said Saturday.
The envisioned bill is also likely to amend the current provision under the Civil Code that prohibits women from remarrying within six months of a divorce, the sources said.
Chiba has already conveyed her intention to the prime minister's office and begun discussions with other relevant Cabinet members, they said.
The government and the ruling parties are expected to start coordinating on the issue from the beginning of next year.
According to the sources, Chiba hopes to get Cabinet approval for the amendment around March, following consent from the Justice Ministry.
Under the planned amendment, the family name of any children of married couples who opt to have separate surnames will likely be unified with that of either of the parents, the sources said.
As for the provision barring women from remarrying after a divorce, the bill is expected to lower the period to around 100 days instead of the current six months, they added.
The Civil Code adopted the provision prohibiting women from remarrying within six months of a divorce to avoid possible confusion in determining the father of the child if the woman became pregnant during such a period.
However, the regulation has been criticized as outdated and discriminatory as men are free to remarry anytime after a divorce.
The planned revision is also likely to scrap another discriminatory provision in which a child born out of wedlock is entitled to receive only half the inheritance that a child born in wedlock can, the sources said.
In 1996, the Legislative Council, an advisory panel to the justice minister, recommended that the government introduce a system allowing married couples to choose separate surnames.
Although the Justice Ministry once compiled a bill to revise the Civil Code, it abandoned the idea of submitting it to the Diet due to opposition from the then ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan, to which Chiba belongs, repeatedly submitted to the Diet when it was in opposition an amendment bill to allow for separate surnames for married couples, but it was scrapped each time.
South Korea grillings
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said Friday she will visit South Korea next month to inspect its system of recording the interrogation process of crime suspects.
South Korea introduced visual and audio recordings of the interrogation of suspects in January last year.
During her visit from Jan. 6 to 8, Chiba will exchange views with South Korea judicial authorities at the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/asia/26cherry.html
The New York Times
Original text by AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: December 25, 2009
TOKYO (Agence France-Presse) — Japan’s weather agency said Friday that it would stop forecasting the start of cherry blossom season, an annual headache that has embarrassed forecasters in the past.
The agency has been trying since 1955 to predict when the cherry trees will bloom, a rite that draws millions who picnic under the petals. In 2007, the chief weatherman was forced to bow in apology after a wrong forecast. The agency will continue observing cherry trees to declare the official opening of the flower season, an official said.
Original text by AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: December 25, 2009
TOKYO (Agence France-Presse) — Japan’s weather agency said Friday that it would stop forecasting the start of cherry blossom season, an annual headache that has embarrassed forecasters in the past.
The agency has been trying since 1955 to predict when the cherry trees will bloom, a rite that draws millions who picnic under the petals. In 2007, the chief weatherman was forced to bow in apology after a wrong forecast. The agency will continue observing cherry trees to declare the official opening of the flower season, an official said.
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