CIRP-HPC

On Thursday, June 14, Japanese officials arrested a suspect for the murder of a young student in Tokyo. The young, female victim was an exchange student visiting Tokyo from Ireland. Her body was found last month and now a 19-year-old musician from the United States is the prime suspect.

Authorities believe that the American suspect murdered 21-year-old Nicola Furlong at the Keio Plaza Hotel, located in Shinjuku. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is not releasing the name of the suspect because of his age. Considered a minor by law, his identity will not be revealed at this time.

Japanese police state that the suspect denies killing Furlong, but admits that he did put his hands on her neck and apply pressure, with no intention to kill her. The suspect is a musician and came to Japan to join a band in April. Police believe the murder took place in the midst of a sexual encounter.

Another American, age 23, was arrested earlier as a suspect. He is accused of buying alcohol for Furlong and another young woman who were her Irish friend. He is also accused on groping the friend during a taxi ride after buying her drinks.

When Furlong was found, she was lying on the floor with the suspect standing next to her body. A hotel employee found Furlong and called authorities. Initial results of the autopsy show evidence that Furlong was strangled.

The young woman was only visiting Tokyo for a concert, but she was living in Takasaki City as an exchange student. Further details are expected to be released in the coming months.

After the devastating tsunamis in the last decade, it’s no secret that much thought has been given over what could be done to lessen the loss of life should another tsunami occur. More than 15,000 people perished in the Japanese tsunami of 2011. Just this week, it was announced that Western Japanese authorities are working on the development of a lifeboat that would not capsize in a tsunami – it would in a sense, ride the waves, rather than be consumed by them.

Developers with the Shikoku Region Transport Bureau are responsible for this groundbreaking work. The Shikoku region, where the prototype boat will be done, is bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean, so this development is of particular interest to them – given the history of the region.

They are modeling the boats somewhat after those found on large cruise type ships, or passenger ships. According to a report at Chinadaily.com – “The planned lifeboat will be about 5 meters long and would be made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic. It will be set at public buildings in the coastal areas, such as schools, hospitals or local community houses and accommodate 20 to 50 people in case of tsunami…”

The boats would also be stocked with survival equipment that allow the passengers on board to have food, water, and other items for a few days should they be stranded. No doubt that this would be a great asset to nations who live with the threat of tsunamis.

The developers have said they hope to have a model out by the end of 2012, and will work with local ship builders to help bring the project to reality.

Electronic Cigarettes have hit the market and are growing in popularity. They have become an answer to prayer for many long time smokers. The best electronic cigarettes are creating a buzz among the smoking world because they were created to help people ditch tobacco without giving up nicotine. They provide the same sensation of smoking, but in a healthier way. Smokers are swarming to this new product in hopes that they will have better health or stop smoking all together. Electronic cigarette brands offer the best of both worlds. They provide a small amount of nicotine but not all the toxins that are in a traditional cigarette. They even look similar to a regular cigarette and sometimes can have a tobacco flavoring to provide a similar taste.

People are beginning to see the positive effects these new cigarettes are having not only on themselves but also on the people around them. They can smoke these in public and not feel like they are offending anyone. According to E Cigarette reviews, E-cigarettes do not put off smoke, so smokers are seeing the difference in the way they smell, their breath smells, their hair smells, and so on. Also, they are showing more respect for the people around them by not contaminating the air with toxins and poisons. These e-cigarettes are beginning to make a traditional cigarette a thing of the past.

If you can still get the same buzz you need but in a healthier and safe way, why wouldn’t you? Many people are finding these new cigarettes fun to buy and it’s saving them money. When you compare electronic cigarettes and traditional tobacco cigarettes, it’s easy to see how e-cigs are the cheaper choice. They are easy to buy and keep up for a fraction of the cost. Smokers everywhere are trying these e-cigarettes and never going pack to their old cigarettes again. They are seeing the way they are helping them feel better and have better health all around.

Electronic Cigarettes are not only healthier and cheaper; they are easier. You don’t have to worry about ashtrays and burns. They are easy to store and use. Some of these e-cigarettes heat up but cannot burn. That is why they have become much easier and even safer then the traditional cigarette. No more having to find somewhere to smoke or going out in the freeing cold to have one. They are accessible and can be used virtually anywhere. Because they are not harmful to those around them, they can be smoked in areas that traditional cigarettes are not allowed. They do not put off smoke so they are not considered like a regular cigarette.

People are finding electronic cigarettes to be a way to quit smoking too. Because they do not have as much nicotine, they can easily step down to smoking less and them not need to all. These new electronic cigarettes are becoming an item to try and have. Check out one of the great electronic cigarette affiliate programs to learn more.

Hitachi power tools are known as a high quality choice that will not disappoint. Known for their durability, carpenters especially like the Hitachi nail guns, capable of sinking nails into even the hardest wood. Part of the diverse Hitachi group, Hitachi Koki Company Ltd has been around since 1949. They have a wide range of nail guns, for various uses, and they give you the option to choose different sized nails. Hitachi, based out of Japan, has tools for concrete, masonry, cordless tools, drills, fasteners, metalworking, outdoor power equipment, pneumatics, saws and woodworking. They also offer three models of generators to help run the power tools.

Technology advancement and discovery are one of the biggest benefits Hitachi can offer. A different department that was under the parent company invented a ultra-high speed motor with the purpose of being used in medical centrifuges. Hitachi Koki then turned around and used the same technology for a line of their power tools. They have lead the discoveries in metal casting and plastics technologies, which has made lighter but more durable power tools.  Because of the companies dedication to research and innovation they have pioneered many tools and processes including the use of rare earth magnet motors in cordless tools, Collated Automatic Screw Driver, Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Cordless Impact Driver, Pneumatic Concrete Nailer, Cordless Screw Driver, Metal Stud Cutter, Portable Rebar Cutter/Bender, and the 10 minute rapid charger.

This worldwide company, having offices in 26 different countries, is known for its sharp blades and high performance cutting tools that are good for quick and easy cutting. For contractors having reliable tools is vital, and saves lots of money and manpower (which in return also saves money). When you don’t have to stop to fix or buy new tools, it saves valuable time.

Just at Lowes.com alone, Hitachi tools averaged 4.5 stars in customer reviews. Professionals and home handy men alike praise Hitachi not only for the high quality but also for their power and precision.  If you need good power tools, don’t settle for less than Japan’s world famous Hitachi.

As you plan your trip to Japan there are a couple of things to plan for: post-earthquake conditions, customs and transportation. The first thing you will want to do is check the local travel alerts from your country in regards to Japan. Travel alerts should cover what cities are back up and functioning and which are still dangerous from the damage. There are also concerns from nuclear radiation leaks. Some areas such as Tokyo are back up and running, even though you will have to deal with problems from the energy shortage, until your travel alert says otherwise.

Japan uses the railway system as a major method of transportation, especially in major cities. You can buy a pass from one of the dozens of railway companies that will get you where you need to go. They can take you to the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, open markets, and traditional tea rooms among other tourist destinations.

The Japanese culture is clearly visible to travelers through the housing options and food.  Researching the table etiquette before you get there will help you blend in and get the real feel of Japan during your trip, especially if you will be eating with native countrymen. You will have to learn how to use chop sticks as it’s still the most frequently used utensils, however you can plan on forks for western food and spoons for certain dishes. Some etiquette tips include: Don’t pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks and don’t stand the chopsticks up in food (like you may in rice).

Typically when you enter an inn you have to take off your shoes at the front door, and there are also certain rules to wearing the provided robes outside your room. One commonly known custom is that in Japan is it proper to bow as a form of handshake, and the deeper the bow means the more respect you are showing the person. Japanese culture is concerned with non-verbal cues and meanings, so make sure to research this before planning your trip. Knowing these customs ahead of time can help you from the very beginning when you make reservations.

In March 2011, Japan was rocked by what has been referred to as the Great Tohoku Earthquake. Still dealing with small aftershocks the country of Japan is focused on rebuilding and getting back to life. Sometimes getting back to life means starting over again from scratch, which is the case for many of the smaller towns and businesses whose boats were lost, buildings destroyed, and supplies dwindled.  Even for the buildings that are functional and in-tact, the effect of the quake can be seen through the low use of energy and rolling blackouts that the country is experiencing. The major city of Tokyo, a couple weeks after the earthquake, seems to be back to normal but the trademark neon lights and big screens are noticeably shut off.

One of the biggest impacts is and will be the lasting effect on Japan’s nuclear energy interests. After the meltdowns and leaking radiation of the nuclear plants Japan is currently trying to mend the plants, and in the future will probably have to change the way it looks at energy. Japan’s economy has changed drastically, with some saying the estimated the total cost of the earthquake to be close to $300 billion. Before the earthquake Japan was already spending 200 percent of the income it was bringing in, so as Japan continues on they will not only have to think of how they will come back from the damage of the quake but their economy entirely.

GDP growth is estimated to lower by 1 -1.5% from the last quarter of 2010, and the Nikkei 225 stock index plunged 6.2 percent in Tokyo. Originally, after the earthquake a financial crisis that would affect the entire world was expected. The re-building alone is estimated at the tens of billions.  Many larger companies are trying to salvage what is left and some. Meiko Electronics makes circuit boards for smart phones and now they are working on plans to possibly manufacture elsewhere, as they already manufacture 80% in a different country.

Now that the geography of Japan has changed, fishermen are trying to figure out what this means and if they can even keep working anytime soon, as docks and boats are gone and debris fills the shores. They are still trying to go out, but are left with much less than what they used to catch before. The best way to put it is that Japan is rebuilding its structures, but it’s still in the planning stages for the future.

Since the March 11^th earthquake in 2011 (known as the Great Tohoku Earthquake), Japan’s economy has changed drastically, with some saying the estimated the total cost of the earthquake to be close to $300 billion. Before the earthquake Japan was already spending 200 percent of the income it was bringing in, so such wide range damage to the economy will only hurt worse. GDP growth is estimated to lower by 1 -1.5% from the last quarter of 2010, and the Nikkei 225 stock index plunged 6.2 percent in Tokyo. Originally, after the earthquake a financial crisis that would affect the entire world was expected. The re-building alone is estimated at the tens of billions.

The south and west Japan’s industrial clusters seemed to be spared the hardest of the economic hits. The Bank of Japan expanded an asset buying program by easing monetary policy to preempt further worsening of Japan’s economy. The nuclear plan meltdowns are going to have serious effects on Japan’s energy market. Companies like Toyota have reported more than 75 percent profit decline since the earthquake. Toyota was said to have scaled back 52 percent of its operations. For auto makers, the set back primarily came from transportation and damages to suppliers’ businesses rather than from damage to their own factories, which was minimal.  Toyota wasn’t the only Japan based company cutting back, Sony and Fujitsu has been doing the same.

Costs from the earthquake are still being totaled as companies are forced to cut back production or services based on lack of materials, manpower or even location. Rolling blackouts from Japan’s trying to help devastated areas are not going to help businesses. Insurance companies have not taken much a hit, as not even one-fifth (the ratio decreasing the farther you get from major cities) of homes and businesses in Japan had earthquake insurance. Eqecat, a risk modeling firm, estimates that the total loss that is not covered by insurance is somewhere between $22 -$30 billion.

The real long term change to Japan’s economy has yet to be understood, and probably won’t for years to come as the country re-builds and possibly re-thinks the way it has been doing things.

Japan’s people have always taken great pride in the creation of tools.  The Japanese tool industry is primarily known for their samurai swords. So it’s not a big surprise that they are also known for their high performance cutting tools.  They are known for their durability, because of the attention to detail and pursuit of technological advancement.

The Hitachi power tools company is part of a larger parent company, which lets them pioneer more than other companies that stick to just tools. A different department that was under the parent company invented a ultra-high speed motor with the purpose of being used in medical centrifuges. Hitachi Koki then turned around and used the same technology for a line of their power tools. They have led the discoveries in metal casting and plastics technologies, which has made lighter but more durable power tools.  Because of the companies dedication to research and innovation they have pioneered many tools and processes including the use of rare earth magnet motors in cordless tools, Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Metal Stud Cutter, Portable Rebar Cutter/Bender, and the 10 minute rapid charger.

The Japanese technology and tool company Kyocera produced a cutting insert called the “Sensor Tool” system. This system gives commands to the machine’s controls based off of the tiny cracks, damage, and wear and tear on the edge of the cutting blade. The Japanese have also been leading the world in the development of ceramic cutting tools which are a new light weight alternative. You can find many of the high performance Japanese tools sold worldwide and online.  Hitachi has offices in 26 different countries. You can buy many of their tools at your local hardware store.  They are truly a global name when it comes to high performance cutting technology.

To really see the difference you can look online at the customer ratings between Japanese cutting tools and the other ones on the market. Most of the time the Japanese cutting tools are rated high in value, as the customers feel they get great quality and it’s worth every dollar they spend.