GM India recalls Sail diesel variants

	September General Motors India, already in the news for the recent emission issue with the Tavera MUV, has reportedly recalled over 4,000 units of the diesel variant of Sail compact and saloon models for a ‘potential quality-related issue’ in some production batches. The fresh recall is for a problem that can lead to a likely slippage or breakage of the crankshaft hub bolt, which can potentially impact the performance of the 1.3-litre diesel engine. However, the recall is not related to the safety of the vehicle. The company, however, has clarified that the fresh recall has no linkage to the issues related to the Tavera recall, which had seen it call back 114,000 units of the MUV. An investigation into the Tavera issue is ongoing. GM India has in an announcement on its website said that “production of the Chevrolet Sail Sedan Diesel and Sail Hatchback Diesel has been resumed and the cars are conforming to all manufacturing and quality standards. The customers affected by this (recall) campaign will be contacted individually by our aftersales team and requested to bring in their cars to the Chevrolet Authorized Workshops to facilitate the vehicle inspection and/or necessary repair.”

Bharti Airtel, Softbank trial low-cost 3G using satellite

India’s Bharti Airtel and Japan-based telecoms giant Softbank have successfully concluded field trials of the delivery of 3G services using satellite transmission links, International Business Times reports. According to the article, although 3G connections already use satellites, they also rely heavily on base transceiver stations (BTS), which limits the usage to areas with available infrastructure. Expensive subscription fees are another major barrier for the development of communications networks using satellite transmission lines.

However, the new technology, validated through a field trial in Kenya, achieved both high speeds and low costs through the dynamic allocation of satellite spectrum for each base station depending on its respective traffic volume. Bayan Monadjem, Bharti Airtel Africa’s chief technical officer, said: ‘This technology is critically important to the development of mobile phone networks in rural areas in Africa and other areas where commercialisation of such operations is challenging.’

SAP Labs India bags CMO Asia award

Enterprise application software provider SAP Asia Pacific and Japan on Friday declared that SAP Labs India has won the CMO Asia’s ‘Best Organization for Women Talent Development’ award across Asia for its contribution to the empowerment of women in industry.

The award specifically recognises the efforts undertaken at SAP Labs India to engage women successfully and have cheered and supported the development of women professionally, the company noted.

CMO Asia is a peer networking body dedicated to knowledge exchange through leadership and networking amongst decision makers across industry segments.
CMO Asia’s ‘Best Organization for Women Talent Development’ identifies and recognises organizations that have provided valuable service by contributing to the empowerment of the modern woman in industry.

This is measured by the recruitment, retention, training and progression of women in all levels and sectors of the organization.
“CMO Asia’s recognition validates our commitment to the empowerment of our women employees,” said Bhuvaneswar Naik, Vice President Human Resources, SAP India.
Naik said, ”At SAP there is a strong emphasis to nurture and inspire young women employees to develop their skills, abilities and career, which has resulted in a significant growth of women leaders.”

According to officials, women constitute a sizable 33 percent of the workforce at SAP Labs India and the company undertakes several initiatives to help women employees in their career and personal life.
"These include Experiential learning –an initiative where eminent women speakers from all walks of life address women employees; Mentorship for Women in Leadership - a platform for women in the mid-management level to connect with successful leaders of the organization; Business Women’s Network – for building relationships and career development support, and SAPlings - an on-premise child care center," officials said.

SAP Labs India has earlier bagged several awards for its HR excellence and Diversity initiatives.
A few of the recent wins include ‘Creating a Conducive Work Environment for Women’ from the NCR Chapter of National HRD Networks, ‘Global HR Excellence’ award by World HRD Congress, the Zinnov award for the ‘Most Successful Attrition Management’ and the ‘NASSCOM Excellence Award’ for Gender Inclusivity.

Jayant Agro to form JV with Mitsui Chem, Itoh Oil

India' s leading castor oil and eastor based derivatives manufacturer, Mitsui Chemicals, Japan and Itoh Oil Chemicals, Japan have together entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement for investing in the equity shares of Vithal Castor Polyols in the ratio 50:40:10 respectively.

The joint venture will be focused on manufacturing castor oil based polyols through Vithal Castor Polyols. The details of the project are being worked out.
Shares of the company gained Rs 4.85, or 6.29%, to trade at Rs 81.90. The total volume of shares traded was 531 at the BSE (9.46 a.m., Friday). 

Japan's industrial output rebounds

Japan's industrial production rebounded by 3.2 percent in July from the previous month, the first increase in two months, the government said.

 

The data of output at factories and mines stood at 97.7 against the base of 100 for 2010, Xinhua quoated a preliminary report of Japan's ministry of economy, trade and industry as saying.

 

The index of industrial shipments rose by 1.3 percent to 94.9, while that of inventories was up 1.5 percent to 108.6.

 

Japan's unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent in July, down from 3.9 percent in the previous month, according to official figures released Friday.

It was the second consecutive month of improvement, a positive signal of the Japanese economy.

 

Japan's ministry of internal affairs and communication Friday said the country's consumer prices rose by 0.7 percent in July from a year earlier, registering a second straight month of increase.

The core consumer price index, excluding fresh foods, stood at 100.1 against the 2010 base of 100, the ministry said.

Samsonite plans to raise prices in Japan and India

Samsonite International (1910) plans to raise the retail price of its luggage in Japan and India by 10 percent and 7 percent respectively before the year ends due to their currencies sliding, chairman Timothy Parker said.

In the first six months, prices of Samsonite products in the two countries was hiked by 10 and 8 percent due to depreciation of the yen and the rupee. The luggage maker expects most Asian currencies to weaken further against the US dollar. "The price hike in Japan will begin next month at the earliest. That for India we have yet to decide," Parker said.
Meanwhile Samsonite plans to expand its 50 percent market share in China to 65 percent within five years, Ramesh Tainwala, president of Asia Pacific and the Middle East, said.

Interim net profit of the Denver-based company rose 3.39 percent to US$85.09 million (HK$663.70 million) from the same period last year.

Sales hit US$983.6 million in the first half, up 16.2 percent from last year, due to strong sales growth of 30.2 percent in North America, 15.5 percent in Asia, 5.2 percent in Latin America and 6.9 percent in Europe.
Parker said Samsonite has generated adequate cash flow and is looking for brands in casual outdoor accessories. Shares of Samsonite closed 1.04 percent higher at HK$19.48 after the results were released.

Air India likely to be allowed to fly Dreamliners to Japan soon

Air India is likely to be allowed to fly its Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Japan soon with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) removing India from the list of nations like Congo, Guatemala and Haiti which have significant aviation safety concerns.

Japan had earlier refused to allow Air India to operate the Dreamliners, replacing the Boeing 777 (Extended Range) aircraft, on the grounds that ICAO had expressed concerns over the safety measures.

Air India Dreamliners. Reuters

“We are quite hopeful that now Air India’s Dreamliner services to Japan will be on,” Civil Aviation Secretary K N Shrivastava told reporters here, adding that the Indian envoy in Japan had also raised the issue to allay the apprehensions expressed by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.

After carrying out a safety audit of aviation regulator DGCA earlier this month, the ICAO yesterday communicated to India that it no longer figures among the countries with Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) relating to airworthiness and operations, Shrivastava said.

The ICAO had in an audit last December found two SSCs and had asked India to take corrective measures. These steps were taken immediately by the DGCA, following which the ICAO team returned to carry out another audit this month and certified that India has successfully addressed and resolved the issues.

The DGCA would be facing another safety audit next month by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the decision for which was taken after the ICAO put India on the hot-list of nations having SSCs.

Both Shrivastava and DGCA chief Arun Mishra exuded confidence that the Indian aviation regulator would pass the FAA test as well, as the ICAO’s audit has already shown that India has “implemented corrective action plans to address the safety concerns satisfactorily.”

Japan to launch 'internet fasting' camps for kids with web addiction

Japan is planning to propose "internet fasting camps" in a bid to deal with more than half a million of the nation's children who are addicted to the web, it has been revealed.
The country's government spokesman told Daily Telegraph that they have estimated that the addiction affects around 518,000 children at middle and high schools across Japan, but the figure is rising.

A survey of more than 98,000 youngsters found that nearly 8.1 per cent of the respondents were "pathologically" addicted to the internet, and reported trouble sleeping and poor nutrition.
In the camps, kids will have no access to the internet, smart phones or video games and they will be encouraged to play sports and other outdoor activities at the days-long events.
Counsellors will be on hand to help them get a handle on their digital habits.

Japan Prices Rise at Fastest Pace Since ’08 in Boost for Abe

Japan’s consumer prices increased at the fastest pace since 2008 in July, adding to signs that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making progress in pulling the economy out of 15 years of deflation.

Consumer prices excluding fresh food climbed 0.7 percent from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said today in Tokyo. That exceeded the median estimate of 29 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg for a 0.6 percent gain. Industrial output rebounded a less-than-forecast 3.2 percent from the previous month when it fell the most since Japan’s record earthquake in March 2011.

The faster increase in prices helps efforts by Abe to shake households’ deflationary mindsets as the Bank of Japan rolls out unprecedented easing that helped spur a third straight quarter of growth. At the same time, challenges remain: the BOJ is still distant from a goal of generating 2 percent inflation and prices last month were partly pushed up by energy and imported-goods costs after a decline in the yen.

“Japan is moving into real inflation,” said Junko Nishioka, chief economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Tokyo and a former Bank of Japan official. “Today’s data is encouraging for the BOJ, and they are likely to keep monetary policy on hold.”

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.1 percent as of 10:16 a.m. in Tokyo, erasing an earlier rise. The yen rose 0.1 percent to 98.23 per dollar. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government debt was unchanged at 10:15 a.m. in Tokyo.

Early Stages

Excluding energy and fresh food, prices fell 0.1 percent in July, slowing from a 0.2 percent decline in June, today’s report showed. It was the smallest drop since February 2009, and less than a median forecast for a 0.2 percent drop in a Bloomberg survey.

The jobless rate was 3.8 percent, a separate government report showed today.

A sales-tax increase planned for April threatens to damp the economy’s recovery even as it would help to shore up the nation’s finances. Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Kikuo Iwata this week called for patience, saying it would take more time for the central bank’s unprecedented monetary easing to trigger “persistent and steady pickups in prices and wages.”

The BOJ’s loosening is “in its early stages, and I hope you will be patient enough to see its effects permeate the economy,” he said.

Wheat Prices

The yen’s slide of about 20 percent against the dollar over the past year and the shutdown of almost all of the nation’s nuclear plants after a crisis in 2011 have contributed to the jump in the costs of imported goods and energy.

Wheat prices in Japan, which imports 60 percent of its food, will increase for the third time in a year on a weaker yen, with imports sold by the government to flour millers including Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. rising about 4.1 percent on average in October, the ministry of agriculture said on Aug. 28.

A maker of Japanese sake, Nihon Sakari Co., announced on Aug. 27 its first price increase in 19 years from October, citing rising prices raw material prices and higher logistical costs.

Oil rose to the highest level in two years this week on concern that a conflict in Syria may spread and threaten supply from the Middle East. Gasoline prices at home stayed at 160.2 yen ($1.64) per liter for a third straight week, the highest since October 2008, the trade ministry reported on Aug. 28.

“Price are rising, basically because of rising energy costs,” said Masamichi Adachi, a senior economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Tokyo and a former BOJ official.

Sales Tax

Abe has summoned 60 economists, business leaders and representatives of consumers to discuss this week whether to lift the sales tax. He will make a decision by early October, taking into account views of those people and economic data, including revised gross domestic product data for the second quarter on Sept. 9. Preliminary data showed annualized growth of 2.6% from the previous quarter.

The economy is moving in a positive direction in terms of being able to implement the sales-tax increase, Economic Minister Akira Amari told reporters in Tokyo today.

A higher levy would add to costs for households, even as income-growth remains stagnant, threatening to hurt consumer sentiment.

Wages (JNLSUCTL) fell or were unchanged in 10 of the 12 months through June, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Consumer confidence fell for a second straight month in July as the ratio of those who expect prices to increase in a year rose to the highest level in almost five years, according to a Cabinet Office survey released on Aug. 9.

Break-even Inflation

Even as Japan’s CPI rises, a market gauge of inflation expectations today suggested the BOJ will have a hard time achieving its target. Japan’s break-even rate, derived from the difference between government bond yields and those on inflation-linked debt, signaled inflation of 1.16 percent in the next five years, down from as high as 1.84 percent on May 15.

Elsewhere in Asia, South Korean industrial production unexpectedly fell 0.1 percent in July from the previous month, according to statement today from Statistics Korea. India’s GDP probably rose 4.6 percent in the three months through June from a year earlier, according to the median of 44 estimates in a survey.

Italian unemployment in July is forecast to rise to 12.2 percent, while the jobless rate in the European Union for the same period is expected to be unchanged, according to separate surveys by Bloomberg News.

Personal spending in the U.S. probably increased at a slower pace in July, while a University of Michigan confidence index probably rose in August, data are expected to show in the U.S. later today, according to separate surveys by Bloomberg News. Brazil will report GDP data for the second quarter.


Japan Prices Rise at Fastest Pace Since 2008 in Abenomics Boost

Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Customers browse in a book store in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan.

Customers browse in a book store in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

 Martin Schulz, an economist at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo, talks about Japan’s economy, fiscal and monetary policies.
Japan’s consumer prices increased at the fastest pace since 2008 in July, adding to signs that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making progress in pulling the economy out of deflation. Schulz speaks with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television’s “First Up.” (Source: Bloomberg)

The jobless rate was 3.8 percent, a separate government report showed today. The increase in industrial output followed a decline the previous month.

India's young population is its biggest advantage: HRD minister Shashi Tharoor

India's biggest competitive advantage over countries like China, US and Japan is its young population, minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor said on Friday.

"India has a dynamic, productive and youthful workforce which will be 64 per cent of the population by the year 2020, whereas China, US and Japan have ageing labour," said Tharoor at the launch of the Gen Next Workforce Study 2013.

By 2020, the average age of the workforce in US would be 40, in Japan 46 and in India it will be just 29, he said.

However, Tharoor added that proper training and education must be imparted to the young workforce.

"This generation is equipped with vast knowledge and we must educate and train them," said Tharoor adding that the Indian education system was a boon for the youth as it is "very flexible".

"The education scenario has changed today and it is very flexible. An engineer can turn into an economist and a doctor can become an IAS (Indian Administrative Services) officer," he said.

Stressing the need to "keep pace with the aspirations of young India", Tharoor said increased interaction between the youth and policy makers, through social networking, must take place.

Conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry ( CII) and Deloitte, the study aims to understand India's next generation workforce, their aspirations, values and expectations from work and workplace.

Minebea domestic subsidiary commences India operations

Small-size bearings and precision components maker NMB-Minebea, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minebea, Japan, today said it has commenced its operations in the country.

Until now, Minebea's marketing activities were being carried out through its representative office in Chennai, the company said in a release here.

NMB-Minebea India will be headquartered in Gurgaon with branch offices in Chennai and Pune.

"Our objective in entering the Indian market is to leverage the growth potential in the automobile, aerospace, medical and textile market which are fast emerging sectors. India offers us the added advantage of a broad producer canvas to choose from," NMB-Minebea India Pvt Limited Managing Director and Chief Executive Ashok Ashta said.

***** Ashok Leyland launches Neptune engines * Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland today announced the launch of indigenously developed 'Neptune' engines for its range of vehicles.

"Designed and developed in-house, the Neptune family of engines have been benchmarked for greater fuel efficiency, lower maintenance, longer life, greater reliability and superior NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) characteristics", Ashok Leyland said in a statement.

The 'Neptune' engine will be available in BS-III and BS-IV versions and ensures maximum vehicle uptime, lower life cycle cost and reliability.

The engines, ranging from 160 HP to 380 HP, will be deployed across a range of trucks and buses in a phased manner, it said.

India overtakes Japan to claim 3rd-largest online population crown

India with 73.9 million net users is the world's third largest internet population, overtaking Japan but behind China and the US, according to research firm comScore.

Rising number of mobile audience, devices and consumption habits reveal consumers are becoming more platform agnostic in their digital media consumption and switch devices to stay up to date on email, news, social media, said comScore's India Digital Future in Focus 2013.

"Riding on a 31 per cent year-on-year increase, India's online population grew to 73.9 million. With an extended online universe in excess of 145 million the market is at a tipping point for online businesses. India is the world's third largest internet population," the report said. The country overtook Japan by adding 17.6 million users in 2012, the ComScore report said.

Of the total 644 million home and work internet users in Asia-Pacific as of March 2013, China accounted for a lion's share of 54 per cent followed by India (11.5 per cent) and Japan (11.4 per cent).

Suzuki launches new brand campaign

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading two-wheeler manufacturers Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has unveiled on the eve of the 67th Independence Day an integrated brand campaign'Apna Suzuki, Apna Way of Life' in a significant step towards building a strong image for the brand.

Commenting on the campaign, Atul Gupta, executive VP, SMIPL says, “Suzuki seeks to establish stronger brand identification with Indian customers. Through this campaign, we intend to bring together the brand Suzuki and the Indian consumer. This is a very important chapter for Suzuki two-wheelers.”

He added, “In a market where product differentiation is minimal, brand recall and connect are of paramount importance. We wish to make Suzuki an integral part of Indian consumers. The customer must recount the brand while making purchase decisions. This is a significant step towards building a strong brand image and to double our market share in the industry.”

Anu Anamika, national head, marketing, SMIPL says, “Apna Suzuki, Apna Way of Life is about the spirit of being Indian, celebrating together, sharing experiences and excitement. We have tried to scan across India and understand how Suzuki can become part of the Indian way of life.  This is an effort to bring excitement into the consumer's lives through our product range.”

Commenting on the TVC, she says, “The campaign has been conceptualized keeping in mind the essence of the Indian way of life, be it at home, with friends or our common passions as country.  The TVC traverses rural and urban landscapes and brings home the presence of Suzuki two-wheelers as an integral part of people’s lives.  The Indian audience connects with Salman on a personal level. As the narrator of the story, he brings together the many colours of Indian life and Suzuki’s presence in each of those moments.”

‘English Vinglish’ goes to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea

“English Vinglish”, director Gauri Shinde’s film on linguistic disorientation, is set for release in three unconventional territories namely South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Shinde said: “Every time I think, ‘Okay, it’s done now’, more surprises spring up. ‘English Vinglish’ has gone out of my hands. The baby has grown up and is travelling globally charting its own course. I am glad to see it acquire a life of its own. I feel like a very proud parent indeed.”

Gauri’s husband and filmmaker S. Balki produced the game-changer film that had a superlative performance by none other than Sridevi, who wore greasepaint for the movie after 15 years. The film was released last year.

Balki said: “‘English Vinglish’ is a true global film. It has connected with multi-cultures and is being loved in country after country. I am thrilled that it is now being released in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. These are massive film-going countries. Our film has proved that language can’t stop a film from being loved.”

Earlier the film was released in Germany. Kumar Ahuja, president, Business Development, Eros International, said “English Vinglish” is a universal story.

“Nearly a year after its release, the film continues to enamour people across the world. A lot of people living abroad in an English-speaking world are trying hard to learn English to be accepted by the adopted society.

“With newer markets opening for the film consistently, we see resonance with global audiences for the film. In these territories, especially in South Korea, audiences love Indian ethos and drama. We, therefore, expect the film to do good business in these territories,” said Ahuja.

Toyota to idle Bengaluru plant 8 days in a month

To avoid inventory pile-up due to dwindling demand for its passenger cars in India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd has decided to cut output through 'production holidays' up to eight days in a month at its Bidadi car plant near Bengaluru.

“We have an inventory of 3,000 cars at our factory.

"To avoid further pile up of inventory and adjust with the pace of demand for vehicles, we have started taking production holidays up to eight days in a month from the last quarter.

"There is no other choice for us,” Shekar Viswanathan, vice-chairman and whole-time director of TKML, told Business Standard.

Toyota has set up two manufacturing plants at Bidadi, about 35 km from here, with a combined capacity of 310,000 units a year.

The company sold around 190,000 units in FY13. In the current year, it expects the sales to be less than last year.

“We don’t want to make any predictions on sales this year given the current market sentiment.

"Car buyers are holding on to their purchases. Interest rates are set to go up further making things difficult for buyers and manufacturers,” he said.

Earlier, the firm had projected its sales for FY14 to be around 300,000 units level. However, considering the current slowdown in demand, it does not expect to be better than last year, Viswanathan added.

This May, Toyota sold 10,023 units -- a decline of 35 per cent over the same month last year.

In June, it sold 13,805 units, down 19 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) and 14,470 units were sold in July, a fall of 10 per cent, y-o-y.

“We will be producing less than what we sold last year.

"We have to catch up with all the four months’ sales loss seen this year between April and July. Only then can we think of achieving growth.

"We are currently operating only two shifts. We never reached three shifts in our second plant,” said Viswanathan.

He added the company was considering introducing early retirement for its older employees, while new recruitments have also been stopped.

Subdued demand for passenger cars and rupee depreciation have affected the company’s expansion plans, said Viswanathan, adding the company might delay setting up a diesel engine plant in India.

“Although we don’t want to delay setting up of a diesel engine plant, the parent company in Japan is yet to give final approval for it. Also, there is not much volume in diesel car sales.

"Once we achieve a critical mass of over 200,000 diesel vehicles annually, it makes economic sense for us to rush to set up diesel engine plant in India.”

A Taste Of Japan

It may be the land of mithai, but India’s no stranger to luxury chocolates from all over the world. A century ago, the maharaja of Kapurthala was a regular customer at Fauchon in Paris for champagne-filled truffles stamped with the royal crest. More recently, tasting clubs have sprung up, offering chocoholics a taste of some of the best chocolate around, even as premium brands like Patchi from Lebanon, Leonidas of Belgium, France’s Debailleul and the American Brown & Haley have found a place on Indian store shelves.


Now, there’s one more luxe chocolatier in India, this time from Japan. The Orient isn’t normally counted among regions known for good chocolate (the list usually starts with Switzerland and ends with Belgium), but Royce’ is a 30-year-old brand from Hokkaido that enjoys a cult-like following among connoisseurs. And that is what will ensure its success in India, believe Avani Raheja and Samir Gadhok of Burgundy Hospitality, which has brought the brand to India in an exclusive partnership. “Royce’ is already a familiar name to our target customers — those who travel abroad, buy from duty-free and appreciate good chocolate,” says Raheja, adding that the company will not advertise or “push” the brand in any way. Instead, she is counting on tasting sessions — both at the store as well as in targeted groups, such as wedding planners and event managers — to do the trick. “We will let our customers spread the word for us,” she adds.

Burgundy Hospitality, a start-up that aims to bring fine foods from around the world, spent over 18 months working with Royce’ on perfecting the supply chain in India. The reason: fresh cream is a critical ingredient in most Royce’ products, which means they have a very short shelf life of one to three months and spoil very easily. Gadhok and Raheja, therefore, turned to the premium ice cream supply chain for inspiration when preparing for Royce’s launch. One reason was the similarity in product — any temperature abuse, in chocolate or ice cream, will reflect directly in the quality and texture of the product, points out Gadhok. Also, he adds, “premium ice cream brands in India face the same paradigm as we do — both our products are high value, low volume and high sensitivity”.

How are they getting around that? The entire supply chain is under Burgundy’s control and the chocolate is imported and stored at -20° C. Royce’s Nama range, particularly, is very sensitive to heat, so it is sent home with buyers in a special thermo pack with a cooling gel inside to maintain the ambient temperature. The first Royce’ store opened in Mumbai last month with 19 varieties of chocolate, priced between Rs 484 for a bar to Rs 995 for 20 pieces of Nama. The selection will be updated every few months but some items will be staples — such as Royce’s nod to junk food: chocolate-coated potato wafers. Burgundy doesn’t want Royce’ to be a luxury-only brand: “We want to be everyone’s first choice of comfort food,” Gadhok says. Potato chips and chocolate, rolled into one — he’s making a good start.

Nissan unveils compact SUV Terrano

Nissan Motor India, a subsidiary of Japan’s Nissan Motor Co, today unveiled its compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) Terrano, marking its entry into the segment. The Terrano will sport a starting price tag of sub-Rs 10 lakh.

“Terrano marks our entry into the compact SUV segment, which is one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian market today,” said Kenichiro Yomura, President, Nissan India Operations.

Speaking at the unveiling event at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, Kenichiro Yomura: “It follows the same design language as our Pathfinder and Patrol SUVs and makes a strong statement, which is a key differentiator in this segment. We are confident that Terrano will appeal both to existing real SUV lovers and consumers looking to graduate to SUVs.”

The vehicle, which has been developed specifically for the Indian market, is the fourth vehicle to be produced locally from Nissan’s Oragadam Plant alongside Micra, Sunny and Evalia.

Pre-booking for the compact SUV would begin from September 1, 2013, and it would be available for sale from the first week of October.

“Terrano is set to venture into a new segment of its own; that of a premium compact SUV with sedan like comfort at an affordable price and best-in-class fuel efficiency. We are confident this new vehicle from Nissan will meet consumer aspirations and set new benchmarks in India’s SUV segment,” Nitish Tipnis, Director (Sales & Marketing), Hover Automotive India, said.

HAI is the national sales company for Nissan Motor in India.

Letter from Japan: that special taste of a dosa

I was happily surprised when I found the word ‘dosa’ on a menu at Indira, a small Indian restaurant a 15-minute drive away from my parents’ house in Tonami.

I don’t know why, but in Japan, in general, an ‘Indian’ restaurant means a north Indian restaurant. Their menus only have items that seem to be of north Indian-style – like chicken curries that are heavy on the gravy and naan.

I hardly see chappatis in Indian restaurants here. It is only of late that south Indian restaurants have begun coming up, and most of them are still only in Tokyo. So for south Indian food-lovers in Japan living outside of the capital, it is somewhat of a privilege to get a taste of south Indian food.

So how come the dosa on that menu, I wondered. It may be hard for you to believe, but my hometown doesn’t even have a cinema, let alone an Indian restaurant serving dosas.

To find out, I chatted with the chef, a good-looking Indian man who speaks fluent Japanese in the dialect of my hometown. He said he was originally from Kolkata and had worked as a chef in Chennai for more than 10 years. He had then worked in Malaysia and had finally settled down in Japan. He brought dosas into the menu as he saw a fellow chef serving dosas in another restaurant and realised they were very popular.

And there it was, a simple dosa in front of me. As far as I know, Indira is the first Indian restaurant serving south Indian food in my home prefecture, Toyama. Is this something to do with globalisation? It doesn’t matter. I just hope dosa will serve as a trigger and that someday, I will get idlis or even vada, bonda, curd rice and lemon rice in my hometown!

(Ms. Kondo, who lives in Toyama, spent some time in Chennai as a student)

TNAU inks MoU with University of Tokyo

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has inked two memoranda of understanding with University of Tokyo, Japan, in an effort to take forward academic and research linkages.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has inked two memoranda of understanding with University of Tokyo, Japan, in an effort to take forward academic and research linkages. One is with the university, for student exchange for academic programmes, while the other is with the Asian Natural Environmental Science Center (ANESC) of the university for faculty exchange, conduct of collaborative research, and exchange of academic information, besides others.

 

According to a release, TNAU already has linkages with the Japanese University in molecular biology and social sciences. In an effort to expand the scope of collaboration, Aki Kamoshita of ANESC, visited TNAU and facilitated the inking of MoUs. The MoU for the university was inked by K. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, and Hiromichi Nagasawa, Dean, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the other was signed by Mr. Ramasamy and Yasuo Fukuyo, Director of ANESC.

Yonex gets ready to serve in India with standalone retail chain

Japanese sports equipment brand Yonex will soon enter India with a chain of standalone stores to tap the country's growing appetite for sporting goods and apparels.

Singapore-based Sunrise & Co, distributor of Yonex products in several Asean markets as well as India and Sri Lanka, plans to open 20 Yonex branded stores in the country by March and scale it up to 50 outlets within a year, a person with direct knowledge of the firm's plans said.

Vikram Dhar, country manager for Sunrise Sport (India) Pvt Ltd, did not respond to a messages left at his office till late on Wednesday.

Two people familiar with the firm's plans said the first Indian store of Yonex - best known for its badminton, tennis and golf gears - will open in New Delhi's Select Citywalk mall within a month.
The stores will sell sports goods, apparels and accessories in the country.

Consulting firm Technopak Advisors values Indian sportswear alone at around Rs 1,900 crore and says it's growing at an annual rate of 14%.
Yonex is the latest in a slew of international brands looking to tap soaring demand for sports gear and apparel as well as increasing popularity of non-cricket sports in the country.
French sportswear and equipment firm Decathlon in February received the Foreign Investment Promotional Board's approval to invest around 700 crore to open tens of single brand stores in the country.

Finland-based Amer Sports plans to open its Wilson branded stores in the country on its own after terminating its distribution arrangement with Kishore Biyani's Future Group, which was locked in a legal battle.
Two persons with direct knowledge of the situation said Amer wanted to snap ties with Biyani's group to go solo ever since India allowed brands that sell products under a single label such as Sony or Reebok to own 100% subsidiary in the country in late 2011.

Future Group's Planet Sports markets several international apparels and sports equipment brands including Converse, Speedo, Prince, Callaway, Puma and Spalding.
Yonex is also the equipment partner for the Indian Badminton League, an IPL-style city franchisee-based badminton tournament that took off in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Netaji's family observes 'Declassification Day'

Scores of admirers of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Sunday visit Japan's Renkoji Temple to mourn his "death anniversary", but his family in Kolkata has decided to observe "Declassification Day" from this year demanding that all the secret files related to his death be made public.


Seeking declassification of all the secret files and documents related to the mystery about the fate of the nationalist leader, who went missing in 1945, the family has started observing August 18 as "Declassification Day" from this year.

Netaji's grandnephew Surya Kumar Bose, who has recently visited Renkoji temple where Netaji's purported ashes are kept, said, "His admirers from different parts of Japan pay a visit to the temple each year to pay homage to the leader."

"So far, we have never observed the day as we don't believe that he died on August 18. There is circumstantial evidence to prove that he was in Russia after that date in 1945. But now we have started observing this day as declassification day to put pressure on the government to make public the hidden files on his life," the family spokesperson Chandra Kumar Bose told.

To mark the occasion, they held a public meeting in Kolkata where they appealed all political parties to come forward and support the cause.

Under house arrest by the Britishers, Netaji had escaped from India in 1941 to seek international support for India's freedom struggle. After organising the Indian National Army with Japanese help he went missing in 1945, giving birth to India's most debated mystery.

He was last seen at the Bangkok Airport on 17th August 1945, since then no news of his whereabouts has been confirmed.

The Mukherjee Commission formed by the Centre had rejected the opinion that he died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.

Even Suresh Bose, one of the older brothers of Netaji and a member of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Inquiry Committee, had stated on oath before his death in 1972 that his brother was alive at the time.

"There was never any direct evidence for Netaji's death. On the contrary, all circumstantial evidence show that he was on his way to Soviet Russia, the only place he could hope to find sanctuary," says researcher Anuj Dhar, whose controversial book "India's biggest cover-up" started the momentum for declassification.

In an earlier disclosure under the RTI appeal made by 'Mission Netaji', a Delhi-based research trust, the PMO had admitted that it was holding 33 secret files concerning Netaji.

"If all these files are made public, we would not only know what happened to him after 1945 but it would also add a fresh dimension to India's history as information about his life and times are missing," Bose, Netaji's grandnephew said.

Earlier this year, the Bose family wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Odhisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and even met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention in the matter. None of them have so far come forward in helping the family.

Visa on Arrival scheme popular with Japanese tourists

Visa on Arrival (VoA) scheme continues to be popular with Japanese tourists as maximum visitors from the Asian country availed the scheme in July.
A total number of 1,154 VoAs were issued in July this year as against 941 during July, 2012, registering a growth of 22.6 per cent.

While 327 Japanese tourists availed the scheme followed by New Zealand (251), Indonesia (173) and Philippines (172), only eight visitors each from Myanmar, Cambodia and Luxembourg utilised the facility in July. However, the scheme did not get any response from Laos.

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, the Visa on Arrival Scheme has been launched for 11 countries - Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar.

During the period January to July 2013, a total number of 10,482 VoAs were issued as compared to 7,662 VoAs during corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 36.8 per cent.

Visa on Arrival facility for tourists will now be available at four more international airports across the country, besides the four existing metro cities.
"The Home Ministry has issued orders extending Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility to four more airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Hyderabad and Bangalore with effect from August 15," said a senior Tourism Ministry official.
Currently, the VoA facility is operational at four international airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Canon shifts focus to keep up with trends

Two years ago, 60% of the total camera sale of Canon came from compact cameras, while the rest came from the DSLRs

 

Faced with a shrinking demand for compact cameras and retail printing equipment, Canon India is trying to reinvent itself. Apart from stepping up its DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera marketing, it is also adding various services to its portfolio.

The Indian arm of the Japanese Canon Inc., a global pioneer in imaging solutions, clocked around Rs 1,851 crore of revenue last year. Half of it came from the sale of cameras. Alok Bharadwaj, the executive vice-president says that even though the company registered a 21 per cent growth in 2012, the overall sale is expected to remain flat this year because of the poor economic environment and decreasing demand for compact cameras.

Two years ago, 60 per cent of the total camera sale of Canon came from compact cameras, while the rest came from the DSLRs, that were more expensive and deemed as cameras for pros. Last year, the erstwhile bestselling segment contributed only 50 per cent and is further expected to shrink to 40 per cent, with DSLR sale gaining pace.

The company will invest more in DSLRs as they become popular. On the cards, Bharadwaj says is "re-configuring its 108 exclusive showrooms to focus more on the DSLR experience, in line with the current trends." The option of celebrity-based marketing is also being explored.

Canon will also shore up its services. Canon's office imaging segment, which contributed around Rs 400 crore last year is projected to grow by 15 per cent with the addition of a range of new services. The category caters to large enterprises with equipment such as multi-functional printers, scanners and copiers, and their attendant servicing.

Besides hardware sale, Canon had document management services, that brought in Rs 100 crore in 2012. It has since added digitisation services in order to take up digitising old records and using software for indexing and cataloguing. It is also planning to launch print- room management services where large enterprises could outsource management of their entire print rooms - along with cloud services for SMEs - that will include direct-sales team management, sales automation, warranty management and technical e-learning services on a pay-per-use model.

The sale of IT peripherals to retail customers such as SMEs (inkjet printers and faxes) is seeing depressed growth in a sharp contrast to the office segment. Technology research and consultancy firm Gartner says the overall multi-function printer market declined by 8.9 per cent in volume in January-March, 2013 over last year. Zalak Shah, research analyst with Gartner says companies are looking to optimise their current fleet with multi-function products.

Canon's focus on services for enterprises will work as Shah points out companies are focusing on cost optimisation and deploying technology in a better fashion, which is making them change from a "hardware-only mode to a more services-oriented outlook." She adds that clients are looking at product deals which have software management bundled in. Bharadwaj reminds that the proliferation of electronic transmission of data has reduced the printing needs of companies as well as individuals, making the company focus more on providing services around its products.

Japanese massage can economically liberate India's blind

To help India's blind become financially independent, a vocational training course in therapeutic massage will soon be launched in several cities including Delhi, officials said Saturday.

The first two institutes will be set up in Ahmedabad and Dehradun by January 2014 followed by Delhi.

The massage, developed in Japan over several centuries, helps cure stiffness, joint pains and poor blood circulation, among others.

In the joint effort between the National Association for the Blind (NAB), National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH) and Tokyo-based Special Needs School, the students would receive special training from Japanese trainers on how to become successful healers.

A live workshop was held at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre here Saturday, where visually impaired Japanese trainers gave instructions to a group of blind Delhiites aspiring to learn the therapy.

"Looking at the benefits and development of these new therapies, we look forward to partnering with these institutes and setting up a similar training centre for the visually handicapped at our hospital in New Delhi," H.P.S. Ahluwalia, chairman of the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, told IANS.

Head trainer Saburo Sasada said that over 20,000 blind people in Japan are earning their livelihood by learning therapeutic massage.

"Many Asian countries like Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia have adopted this training to help their visually impaired population," he said.

India and Japan: Partners in Regional Stability?

While much can be done to strengthen the relationship, Japan is a major economic partner to India. The two are uniquely well paired to shore up each other's weaker suits. Together, says Laldinkima Sailo, they would also make a formidable team for boosting India's neighbors. This would make the region more stable — if China doesn't see ties as a threat.
    

hile the India-China relationship may be one of the defining relationships for Asia in the 21st century, a closer collaboration between India and Japan could become one of the most important partnerships for the region. India's belief is that China's strategic planning is aimed at India, but Japan is China's greater focus. Contrary to widespread belief in India that a large part of strategic planning in China is aimed at India, it is Japan that is the greater focus for Chinese analysts. In Chinese media, it is also Japan, rather than India, that is the target of choice when nationalistic fervor is to be raised. But that doesn't mean the Chinese would not be prepared to envelop India in purported Japanese-made schemes. Liu Zongyi from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, writing for China's Global Times accused Japan of attempting to forge alliances with India and other neighbors to "encircle China" while India was warned of getting close to Japan at "its own peril." Chinese encirclement fears notwithstanding, cooperation between India and Japan could underpin the stability and security of the region. India and Japan are complementary in some obvious ways: India is an emerging economy with a huge potential market. It is, however, constrained by inadequate capital and technology, which is precisely what Japan can provide. On that road toward closer relations there are bound to be disappointments. One example is Japan's lowered enthusiasm for a civil nuclear deal, which is well understood by Indian diplomats. Japan is already the second largest foreign job creator in India. With the Fukushima incident still fresh in public memory, it does not help that India has not signed on to the non-proliferation treaty. That makes any potential civilian nuclear deal a difficult sell in the only country that has suffered the full effects of the atomic weapon. At the same time, the Fukushima incident points to new indirect avenues of collaboration. As the Japanese public demands lower dependence on nuclear energy, the Japanese government will look for fossil fuels to meet the energy demands, mostly from the Middle East. To this end, maritime security will be critical to ensure the safe passage of cargo ships in the Indian Ocean and on to Japan. Greater cooperation between the two countries' navies and coast guards could over time encompass sharing of defense technologies. This would be a way of taking forward the 2008 Declaration on Security Cooperation. India and Japan could also collaborate on the development of Myanmar. As Myanmar seeks to balance its dependence on China, Japan and India are natural potential partners, along with other ASEAN countries. They have a strategic interest in seeing the country move to greater democracy and economic development. China's investments are, predictably enough, mainly in Myanmar's resource extraction industries. Japan is keen to develop a high-speed railway system in India. In contrast, Japan has expressed interest in helping to develop the country's infrastructure and manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, India has displayed competence in the telecom, information technology and pharmaceutical sectors and could help there. The current hot topic of Myanmar aside, the "low hanging fruit" of the India-Japan partnership continues to be the expansion of trade and investments between the two countries. It is expected to reach $25 billion in 2014, dwarfed by trade between Japan and China at over $300 billion. The 800 odd Japanese firms operating in India also pale in comparison to the approximately 22,300 Japanese firms in China. Even so, as an Ernst and Young 2012 study noted, Japan is already the second largest foreign job creator in India, after the United States. While a majority of the earlier investments went to the auto and auto parts sectors, new investments are more diversified and include pharmaceuticals, securities and food. Japan has also invested in the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project and is keen to develop a high-speed railway system in India. A Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) survey on "Ranking for Promising Countries for Overseas Operations over the Long-term" by Japanese companies placed India at the top, while Myanmar came in at number 8. Japanese businessmen and policy makers still find doing business in India an enormous challenge. Recently, Japan signed a memorandum of understanding to enable the import of rare-earth minerals from India. This move that will help Tokyo reduce its heavy reliance on China for the key resources used to manufacture high-tech products. Japan imported around 90% of its rare-earth supplies from China last year and is hoping to reduce its dependence amidst Beijing's curb on exports following tension between the two countries. For all the potential, many Japanese businessmen and policy makers still find doing business in India an enormous challenge. Large numbers of Japanese companies cite the lack of adequate infrastructure, difficulties in employment and personnel management, increases in procurement and production costs and poor quality control mechanisms as some of the major difficulties. Maruti Suzuki, the flagship India-Japan joint venture in the car industry, has faced immense labor problems since the summer of 2012. India needs to fix these crucial gaps if it is to continue attracting foreign investments. Of course, Japan also needs to do its part, mainly by opening up its market to Indian goods and services, providing for a two way exchange. The tasks that lie ahead for Japan are clear. Shinzo Abe seeks to put the Japanese economy back on a better footing. For that, he will need to tone down his anti-China rhetoric. With Abe's rhetoric, China may view cooperation as a ganging up of Japan and India against its rise. Otherwise, China, which continues to be a major trading partner for both Japan and India, may view the cooperation as a ganging up of Japan and India against China's rise. The development of strong bilateral relations between India and Japan can have significant effects that go into the building of Japan's proposed "arc of freedom and prosperity" across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Asia and East Asia. If not, there is a danger that the Annual Summit Meetings of the Prime Ministers of India and Japan, such as the most recently held on May 2013 in Tokyo, may end up as little more than an annual ritual in niceties.

Japan city votes to destroy tsunami ship landmark

A stranded fishing boat that became a symbol of the devastation of Japan’s 2011 tsunami has long divided a northeastern coastal city—between those who wanted to keep it as a monument of survival and those who wanted a painful reminder gone.

Last week, the city announced it will be torn down after a heated debate and citywide vote. The soul-searching over the ship highlights how the aftermath of the tsunami disaster continues to torment Japan two years later.

The 330 metric ton (360 ton) Kyotokumaru was swept by the towering tsunami from the city’s dock for about 750 meters (800 yards) into a residential district.

It has become a landmark for Kesennuma, a port city of 70,000 people, and a testament to the destructive power of the tsunami set off by the magnitude-9.0 earthquake on March 11, 2011, which killed nearly 19,000 people.

The nearby smashed buildings and debris were cleared, but the 60-meter (200-foot) tuna-fishing boat has stood, majestic but oddly jarring, on dry ground for more than two years.

Opinion on the ship had been so divided it had been put to a vote by the city residents last month. Of the 14,083 responses, 68 percent, or 9,622 people, voted to have the ship destroyed. Only 16 percent voted to keep it.

Yoshimi Abe, a 72 year-old housewife and Kesennuma resident, was among those who wanted to get rid of the ship.

It’s just a constant reminder of the terrible disaster,” she said. “When I walk by it every morning, my heart aches.”

The house that Abe grew up in was destroyed by the tsunami, and she now lives in temporary housing.

In contrast, Shigeru Saito, 80, voted to keep the boat, which he saw as a plus for drawing business.

“My son owns a store in the temporary market near Kyotokumaru. Many of his customers are out-of-town visitors who drop by to see the ship,” he said.

For now, Kyotokumaru still towers over the flattened neighborhood, its blue and red paint rusting, propped up with iron beams and fenced off with yellow tape. It’s surrounded by bouquets of flowers left by people. They pray and take photos. Some just stand and stare.

Much of the tsunami-hit region’s rebuilding remains untouched. Fears grow about people, especially young people, leaving. Some areas will be ghost-towns for decades because of the radiation from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant that went into multiple meltdowns.

The Fukushima fishing company, which owns the Kyotokumaru, has signed a contract with a nonprofit organization that recycles ships. The dismantling is likely to start in the next few weeks.

Kesennuma Mayor Shigeru Sugawara was disappointed the landmark would soon be gone.

“I wanted to leave a visible symbol of what happened here for generations to come,” said Sugawara. “The decision has been made, and there’s nothing much more we can do.”

Toyota to idle Bengaluru plant 8 days in a month

To avoid inventory pile-up due to dwindling demand for its passenger cars in India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd has decided to cut output through 'production holidays' up to eight days in a month at its Bidadi car plant near Bengaluru.

“We have an inventory of 3,000 cars at our factory.

"To avoid further pile up of inventory and adjust with the pace of demand for vehicles, we have started taking production holidays up to eight days in a month from the last quarter.

"There is no other choice for us,” Shekar Viswanathan, vice-chairman and whole-time director of TKML, told Business Standard.

Toyota has set up two manufacturing plants at Bidadi, about 35 km from here, with a combined capacity of 310,000 units a year.

The company sold around 190,000 units in FY13. In the current year, it expects the sales to be less than last year.

“We don’t want to make any predictions on sales this year given the current market sentiment.

"Car buyers are holding on to their purchases. Interest rates are set to go up further making things difficult for buyers and manufacturers,” he said.

Earlier, the firm had projected its sales for FY14 to be around 300,000 units level. However, considering the current slowdown in demand, it does not expect to be better than last year, Viswanathan added.

This May, Toyota sold 10,023 units -- a decline of 35 per cent over the same month last year.

In June, it sold 13,805 units, down 19 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) and 14,470 units were sold in July, a fall of 10 per cent, y-o-y.

“We will be producing less than what we sold last year.

"We have to catch up with all the four months’ sales loss seen this year between April and July. Only then can we think of achieving growth.

"We are currently operating only two shifts. We never reached three shifts in our second plant,” said Viswanathan.

He added the company was considering introducing early retirement for its older employees, while new recruitments have also been stopped.

Subdued demand for passenger cars and rupee depreciation have affected the company’s expansion plans, said Viswanathan, adding the company might delay setting up a diesel engine plant in India.

“Although we don’t want to delay setting up of a diesel engine plant, the parent company in Japan is yet to give final approval for it. Also, there is not much volume in diesel car sales.

"Once we achieve a critical mass of over 200,000 diesel vehicles annually, it makes economic sense for us to rush to set up diesel engine plant in India.”