Mitsuwa launches monthly Shokuiku cooking classes at Torrance store

 Entertainment
Feb 172014
 
Mitsuwa launches monthly Shokuiku cooking classes at Torrance store

Shokuiku cooking class Torrance, CA – Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese supermarket chain in the U.S., held the opening ceremony for its Shokuiku cooking class followed by the first Shokuiku event on 2/8 (Sat). Over 40 families had participated in the 4 segments of omusubi (rice ball) cooking classes held in Mitsuwa Torrance store on 2/8 (Sat) and 2/9 (Sun). This marked the start of its serial cooking classes to be held on the first Sunday of each month. Shokuiku cooking class “Shoku-iku” is a concept of promoting healthy lifestyle through food. Store manager Mr. Kishimoto said, “In an effort to support healthy living habits, Mitsuwa will hold monthly cooking classes to promote a healthier lifestyle”. Parents and kids will enjoy family-bonding moments together through free cooking classes. Japan Rice and Rice Products Export Promotion Association (JRE) sponsored this first Shokuiku event.  Representatives from JRE welcomed the crowd by introducing the importance of rice and rice culture in Japan. The next Shokuiku cooking class will be held on March 2nd, featuring easy-to-make sushi. This goes perfectly with the March 3rd Japanese Girl’s Day. It is a traditional Japanese holiday for families to get together to pray for the well being of young girls, and sushi is one of the traditional foods to be served on that day. If interested in future Shokuiku classes, be sure to sign up at the Mitsuwa Torrance store. About Mitsuwa Marketplace Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese supermarket chain in the U.S. carries a wide variety Read More …

Japan to beef up support to Mindanao peace process after annex signing

 News
Jan 272014
 
Japan to beef up support to Mindanao peace process after annex signing

Japan on Sunday committed to strengthen its support to the Mindanao peace process following the signing of an annex that would lead to a comprehensive peace pact between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced during his visit to the Philippines in July last year, Japan will strengthen its support to the Mindanao peace process through the assistance for community development, capacity-building in transition period, sustainable economic development in Mindanao, and other methods,” Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida said in a statement posted on the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Saturday, government and MILF negotiators signed the annex on normalization that would pave the way for a comprehensive peace agreement. Kishida said Japan “heartily welcomes” the successful conclusion of the peace effort last weekend in Kuala Lumpur. “Having a firm belief that the peace in Mindanao will lead to the peace and stability in this region, Japan has extended its support to the peace process for years. It is great pleasure that Japan contributed to the progress of the peace process,” he said. Kishida also commended the efforts made by the Philippine government, the MILF, and the Malaysian government as facilitator. “Japan strongly hopes that the parties concerned will continue their efforts to steadily implement the transition process including the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority towards the realization of the Bangsamoro Government,” he said. — BM, GMA News

China to reorganize military defense setup

 News
Jan 022014
 
China to reorganize military defense setup

In this Dec. 26, 2013 photo, Chinese People’s Liberation Army navy personnel salute in front of a new Type 052C guided missile destroyer Zhengzhou during its commission ceremony in Zhoushan, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. China is considering reorganizing its seven military regions into five to respond more swiftly to a crisis, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported. AP PHOTO TOKYO—China is considering reorganizing its seven military regions into five to respond more swiftly to a crisis, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The news comes amid rising tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims in the region, with China and Japan squaring off over a chain of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Each of the new military regions will create a joint operations command that controls the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as a strategic missile unit, the daily said, citing senior Chinese military officials. The revamp would mark a shift from the current defense-oriented military that relies mainly on the Army to one that ensures more mobile and integrated management of the Army, Navy, Air Force and strategic missile units, Yomiuri said. “It is a proactive measure with eyes on counteracting the Japan-US alliance,” the daily quoted one of the officials as saying. Tokyo and Beijing are locked in a territorial row over the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus. The United States, while insisting it does not take sides on sovereignty disputes, has said the Read More …

YEARENDER: Typhoons blow away early gains in DA’s food sufficiency program

 Economy
Dec 312013
 
YEARENDER: Typhoons blow away early gains in DA’s food sufficiency program

MANILA, Philippines – The series of strong typhoons that entered the country in the second semester of the year dented the production of several industrial and staple crops, prompting the Agriculture department to review its flagship program on food staple production and institute various interventions for the subsector. Significant expansion opportunities in the fisheries and animal industry sectors, however, have opened this year as the Philippines remained free from, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease and early mortality syndrome (EMS) that devastated the poultry, livetstock and shrimp industries of neighboring Asian countries. After the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in November, the Agriculture department conceded that self-sufficiency in rice would not be attained this year. Under the FSSP, self-sufficiency entails covering the annual domestic per capita consumption of 115 kilograms per year while still providing for the 90-day buffer stock requirement. After the super typhoon pummeled Visayas, the country is seen to attain a sufficiency level of 97 to 98 percent this year. To beef up the country’s buffer stock, the National Food Authority Council approved the importation of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from Vietnam which would be shipped in tranches until the end of the first quarter of 2014. Even before Yolanda demolished rice cultivation areas in Visayas, Typhoon Santi battered  in October 214,640 hectares of rice lands in central Luzon, putting pressure on the country’s rice production target of more than 20 million metric tons this year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Agriculture Secretary Proceso Read More …

Japan firms to expand in Asia, Oceania

 Economy
Dec 292013
 
Japan firms to expand in Asia, Oceania

MANILA, Philippines – Most Japanese companies with operations in Asia and Oceania including the Philippines intend to expand their business in the next two years, according to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The JETRO’s survey of Japanese-affiliated companies in Asia and Oceania for December 2013 showed that 58.1 percent of 148 Japanese firms based in the Philippines plan to expand their business in the next two years. Meanwhile, 38.5 percent want to maintain the existing level of business and 3.4 percent will reduce their operations here. For the whole of Asia and Oceania, the survey showed that 59.8 percent of the 4,536 Japanese firms are planning to expand in the next two years, while 36.3 percent will maintain current level of business and 3.9 percent will cut their operations. “The most commonly cited reason for business expansion was a ‘sales increase’ at 85.4 percent, followed by ‘high growth potential’ at 46.8 percent,” JETRO said. In the Philippines, it noted that the proportion of firms responding “easy to secure labor force” as a reason for the planned expansion, was relatively high at 12.8 percent. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In terms of sales outlook, Japanese companies with operations in the Philippines are more optimistic of growth in profits in 2014 than this year. The survey noted that 46.7 percent of Japanese firms in the Philippines expect their profits to rise this year compared to 2012, while 51 percent see their income growing next year over 2013. Read More …

Honda’s new crossover launches in Japan, headed for US in 2014

 Entertainment
Dec 272013
 
Honda’s new crossover launches in Japan, headed for US in 2014

The Honda Vezel will roll into US dealerships in the second half of 2014.©Honda (Relaxnews) – A new compact SUV available with a choice of fuel or hybrid engine, the Honda Vezel hits the Japanese market Friday, December 20. The Vezel is expected to arrive in the US in the second half of 2014 before heading to Europe in 2015. The Honda Vezel runs on a 1.5L fuel engine, paired in the hybrid version with an electric motor and the brand’s Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive transmission (i-DCD). This hybrid drivetrain was developed as a replacement for a 2.0L engine. The Vezel enters the market as Honda’s first hybrid equipped with the Real Time All-Wheel-Drive system, which works to ensure optimal distribution of power to all four wheels. This option is also available on the standard fuel-engine version. Honda plans to market the crossover in the US from the second half of 2014 and in Europe from 2015.

Miss Philippines is Miss International 2013

 Entertainment
Dec 192013
 
Miss Philippines is Miss International 2013

Miss Philippines’ Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013 The Philippines’ Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013 on Tuesday, adding to the string of victories of fellow beauty queens in the country. The four-hour finals night of the 53rd Miss International pageant was held at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall in Tokyo, Japan, gathering over 60 candidates from around the world. Placing second to Santiago is Netherland’s Nathalie den Dekker, followed by New Zealand’s Casey Radley. Completing the Top 5 were Colombia’s Cindy Aguilar and Hungary’s Brigitta Otvos. For the final round, the remaining five contestants each gave a 30-second speech on the subject, “What I will do if I am crowned Miss International.” “The whole world saw how my country suffered,” Santiago said, referring to the devastation caused by super typhoon “Yolanda” in parts of central Philippines. “One by one, other countries helped. I would like to thank who helped my country in our darkest hours. You have opened my heart and eyes on what we can do to help each other.” “If I become Miss International, I would uphold international camaraderie. I will work to sustain the spirit of sympathy and spirit of hope. As long as we work together, there is hope.” One of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the Philippines, and said to be the most powerful typhoon to ever make landfall, “Yolanda” killed at least 6,000 and injured over 27,000 after it hit central Philippines on November 8. At least 3.4 million Read More …

Post-Yolanda rebuilding to cost P130 billion – Aquino

 Entertainment
Dec 182013
 
Post-Yolanda rebuilding to cost P130 billion – Aquino

TOKYO, Japan – Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III along with fellow regional leaders offers a toast during the Luncheon Meeting hosted by Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and industry (JCCI) at the Golden Room of the Keidanren Kaikan in 1-3-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo on Saturday (December 14, 2013) at the sidelines of the ASEAN – Japan Commemorative Summit. At the summit, the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan will primarily set the future (long-term) direction of ASEAN-Japan relations, to cover politico-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines will need nearly $3 billion to rebuild parts of the country destroyed by the deadliest typhoon in its history, President Aquino told reporters in Japan on Friday. He added that scores of towns and cities across the central islands that were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda needed national government help to clean up debris and restore damaged infrastructure. “The task is really daunting, is it not? That’s why we are saying it will take about P130 billion ($2.94 billion) to put everybody in at least a better situation than where they were,” he said, according to a transcript released by Malacañang palace. Yolanda smashed across the central islands with peak winds of 315 kilometers (195 miles) an hour on November 8, unleashing tsunami-like storm surges that killed thousands of people on the islands of Leyte and Read More …

Aquino calls for mechanism to combat Climate Change in wake of ‘Yolanda’

 Entertainment
Dec 182013
 
Aquino calls for mechanism to combat Climate Change in wake of ‘Yolanda’

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday (December 15) from Tokyo, Japan where the Chief Executive attended the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. (MNS photo) TOKYO, Japan (Mabuhay) – To avoid a repeat of the devastation brought by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday called for an international mechanism to combat climate change. Speaking at the session of the ASEAN Japan Commemorative Summit here, the President said the consequences of global climate change do not discriminate between economic powerhouses and developing states. “It is incumbent upon all of us, especially for the countries that have the capacity to contribute significantly in combating climate change, to come up with an equitable mechanism that every nation, every corporation and every individual will adhere to. I have personally witnessed the degree of devastation brought by Haiyan. And it is my belief that we all have a crucial role to play in ensuring my nation or any nation for this matter does not once more suffer through a tragedy of this scale,” he said. Yolanda tore through the Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 6,000 dead in its wake. While President Aquino thanked the ASEAN and Japan leaders for the help they extended to those affected, he also lamented less industrial nations such as the Philippines “bear a disproportionate amount of suffering from the effects of climate change.” “As we all know, our respective nations cannot be caught in Read More …

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