General Edition Sunday, December 25, 2005 Issue No. 357
+++ INDEX
- What's new
- Services lineup
- News
- Candidate roundup
- Upcoming events
- Property
- News credits
Start a Company in Japan Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 4th of Feb, 2006 |
+++ WHAT'S NEW |
We wish all our readers and happy and prosperous New Year
for 2006. Thanks to your support and word of mouth,
Terrie's Take now has just a shade under 24,000 readers.
Why not include in your New Year's resolutions a promise to
introduce TT to at least one friend? As a measure of
thanks, our last posting for the year (we'll be on holiday
for the next 2 weeks) is a potentially life-saving one,
about a unique treatment of cancer using home-grown
technology and techniques.
*************
Your doctor looks you straight in the eye and says, "You
have cancer." Perhaps no other words strike greater fear in
a patient. Suddenly all your daily worries and professional
and personal goals pale with the realization you may die
soon. Of course, not all cancer is fatal, but it does
account for 30% of deaths in Japan and 23% in the USA.
Time to get your personal affairs in order and say goodbye
to your loved ones...
After diagnosis, you are likely to be in a state of shock.
So when your doctor suggests surgery, chemotherapy, or a
range of other radical treatments, through trust and
indoctrination you are most likely to acquiese and let
yourself be booked into hospital. The unfortunate thing is
that while we are being bombarded by the drug companies and
medical fraternity with messages that conventional
treatment is winning the war against cancer, in fact,
depending on the type of cancer, typical remission periods
are still 2-5 years, and at what cost to one's quality of
life?
Considered a "lifestyle" disease, cancer now kills more
people than it did 10 years ago. It is certainly Japan's
biggest killer, taking 300,000 lives annually and projected
to rise to 450,000 by 2020. With statistics like that, it
doesn't sound like our so-called advanced cancer
treatments are really that successful does it?
Nevertheless, investment in drugs and facilities is
booming, and according to the Nikkei the 111 hospitals that
already focus on cancer treatment will expand to more than
350 over the next 7 years. Furthermore, the market for
cancer drugs here is worth about JPY526bn (US$4.58bn)
yearly. For someone like Chugai Pharmaceutical, an
otherwise unremarkable mid-size pharma company, cancer has
made it the nation's second largest supplier of drugs in
the sector, earning the company more than JPY68.5bn
annually.
Little wonder, then, that alternative therapies and
treatments are quickly buried by the establishment.
So it was with interest that we recently met and
interviewed Dr. "Frank" Tsuneo Kobayashi, a 61-year old
alternative cancer specialist who over the last 30+ years
has been a thorn in the side of the Japan Medical
Association and conventional cancer physicians. Kobayashi
is a brilliant microbiologist and medical doctor, who
graduated from Tokyo University with a PhD in 1978. In the
course of his research, Kobayashi became interested in
oncology (cancer) and was struck by the similarities
between the growth of cancer cells and the human foetus.
During the 1980's and into the 1990's, Kobayashi started
working on a theory that he could monitor the progress of
cancer, from a very early stage, by measuring certain
chemical balances in a patient's blood stream. Although
these so-called "tumor markers" had been known to Western
doctors for some time, the small number of markers
identified were considered too crude and too insensitive
to be of practical use in cancer diagnostics.
Kobayashi found, however, that just as with a foetus, you
can monitor the elements of a multiplying cell formation
long before it develops and becomes detectable as a
full-blown organism/tumor. With the help of thousands of
test subjects, he came up with 11 specific tumor markers
which give him astoundingly sensitive and accurate feedback
on the development of a cancer in a patient. In fact he can
detect the presence of cancer long before it has progressed
to a stage (and often too late) to be picked up by X-ray.
You'll have to read Japan Inc. magazine (contact
[email protected] to order a copy) to get the full details,
but suffice to say, Kobayashi has successfully passed a
major double-blind study by a prestigious US organization
that proves his technology. Unfortunately, however
brilliant he may be, Kobayashi is not a marketing guy, and
thus his discoveries have been buried, leaving only a
persistent few to seek him out and undergo his treatments.
Importantly, he believes in not using the heavy artillery
in cancer treatment until absolutely necessary. Instead,
he uses his markers to start off with holistic remedies
first, monitoring the progress with regular blood tests.
If the patient doesn't respond, he moves to more aggressive
therapies before finally administering cytotoxins of the
type used in conventional medicine, but in typical fashion,
even then, he applies them in small localized doses using a
variety of alternative methods -- such as hyperthermia,
the internal and external heating of the body.
Like most alternative physicians, Dr. Kobayashi is not
without controversy, however, his single-minded approach to
helping his patients beat cancer has so far met with great
success. He has treated more than 2,000 mid- and late-stage
patients in the last 25 years, with an average remission of
7 years -- indeed, a number of these patients are still in
rude health several decades after treatment. In 1999, a
medical journalist declared in the Yomiuri Weekly magazine
that Kobayashi was a leading light in cancer therapy in
Japan.
You'd think that Kobayashi would be running an expensive
clinic in the Ginza by now. But instead, he continues his
practice from a humble converted office building in Taito
Ward, preferring to stay focused on research and patients
rather than personal aggrandizement. As a result,
treatment courses still run a modest JPY1,200,000 to
JPY2,000,000. Of course that does not include travel and
lodging. If you or someone close to you has cancer and
would like to try an alternative approach, you can contact
Dr. Kobayashi at the below address. He speaks English and
checks his email daily.
Dr. Tsuneo Kobayashi
ISPO Clinic,
7-9-3 Asukusa Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Ph: +81-3-3873-4171
Fax: +81-3-3873-7003
Email: [email protected]
...The Information Janitors/
+++ SERVICES LINE-UP |
Contact [email protected] if you want your company here.
- Personal International Investor -- a convenient source of ideas and information on how to invest profitably as an expat in Japan. Every Thursday, 48 weeks of the year. Completely free.
http://japaninc.typepad.com/personal_intl_investor/
- Advertise with Japan Inc newsletters. JIN and Terrie's Take cost just 2 yen per person to reach 51,000 people. Great for last minute offers and event advertising.
[email protected].
- Get a low-cost office in Tokyo, at the Venture Gas Station incubator. Just JPY80,000/month, in Minami-Aoyama. Spaces closing fast -- enquire now.
[email protected]
- J@pan Inc. magazine has gone quarterly. Subscriptions now just JPY3,600 a year. Sign up at
http://www.japaninc.com/mag/subs.html
- Find new bilingual sales staff -- a specialty for DaiJob.com,
[email protected]
- Anyone can buy a .JP domain...online...real-time...in English! Register now at:
http://www.JapanRegistry.com
BiOS is Recruiting Thanks to a slew of major new customer support contracts, BiOS is recruiting bilingual IT support staff and engineers. If you are looking for a promotion from your current position, contact us. If you're graduating soon, we're also recruiting trainees with language and PC skills. |
+++ NEWS |
- New VC fund
- Trade Surplus Jumps
- Deep Impact not invincible
- RE companies make big stock gains
- Japanese developers back in Hawaii
-> New VC fund
In a sure sign that the investment environment is heating
up in Japan, yet another VC was formed last week. Usen,
the fiber cable carrier, NIF SMBC Ventures, and esnetworks
have said that between them they will create a JPY3bn fund
to help venture firms ramp up for an IPO. The fund, which
will eventually be raised to JPY10bn, will look at
companies able to go public within 7 years of investment.
Of the partners, Usen will provide marketing and management
support, while esnetworks will provide accounting and
administration assistance. (Source: TT commentary from
nikkei.co.jp, Dec 21, 2005)
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Nni20051220D20JFA11.htm
-> Trade Surplus Jumps
Thanks to booming exports, lower oil prices, and a weak
yen, Japan's trade surplus moved upwards for the first time
in 8 months this November, notching up a surplus of $5.1bn
for the month, up 0.6% from November last year. Exports in
particular were up a robust 14.7%, with exports to China up
a surprising 25%! One of the key players in the export
drive is Toyota, which plans to produce 9.6m cars in 2006,
making it the largest auto maker in the world, surpassing
General Motors. ***Ed: Not only that, while GM lost $4bn in
the January-September period, Toyota is making record
profits.** (Source: voanews.com, Dec 23, 2005)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-12-23-voa15.cfm
-> Deep Impact not invincible
It took a Frenchman and a 4-year old colt to prove to a
stunned race audience of 162,000 at one of Japan's most
prestigious racing events, the Arima Kinen, that Deep
Impact is not invincible. Deep Impact, the triple crown
horse which has won his last 8 starts and which has won
attention from around Japan, was beaten by half a length by
Heart's Cry, ridden by Christophe Lemaire. ***Ed: According
to news reports, there was a "stunned silence" after
Heart's Cry crossed the line. Perhaps a reminder to us all
-- especially those of us punting on the other great
gambling forum, the stock market -- that there is no such
thing as a sure thing.** (Source: yomiuri.co.jp, Dec 26,
2005)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20051226TDY24002.htm
-> RE companies make big stock gains
Nikkei says that of the 20 fastest-rising stocks on the
Nikkei Stock Average, 7 of them are real estate related.
The average moved from 15,000 to 16,000 in the first 23
days of December, a blistering rate of growth. At the top
of the growth companies list was Pacific Management Corp.
(8902) a property management company with its fingers in
REITs and other capital-based activities. The Real Estate
sector of the Nikkei is now at its highest level since
August 1990, followed by the construction sector, which is
at its highest level since November 1996. ***Ed: The rise
is of course triggered by expectations that real estate
prices will increase significantly next year. Apparently
AIG stated last Tuesday that it would pay triple the
officially published land prices for an office building in
metropolitan Tokyo.** (Source: TT commentary from
nikkei.co.jp, Dec 21, 2005)
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Nni20051221D21JFN03.htm
-> Japanese developers back in Hawaii
With a hint of deja vu, real estate developer Tatsumi Group
has announced that it plans to build a 17-story, 120-unit
residential high-rise in McCully, Hawaii. Tatsumi is based
in Osaka and appears to be riding high on the current RE
boom. The project is being funded exclusively by Japanese
banks and will feature studio and one-bedroom units for
sale to "local Hawaiian customers" (Ed: oh, really, no
Japanese?), with prices between $299,500 to $449,500.
***Ed: Hmmm, our guess is that behind all the politically
correct statements, Tatsumi boss Shinomiya in fact just
likes a good round of golf on his trips between the US and
Japan, and can see an opportunity to ride the wave of young
investors in Tokyo looking to spend their windfall profits.
Shades of 1990... Two years out, we bet there won't be many
local residents in those towers.** (Source: TT commentary
from starbulletin.com, Dec 23, 2005)
http://starbulletin.com/2005/12/23/business/story03.html
NOTE: Broken links
Many online news sources are now removing their articles after just a few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we apologize for the inconvenience.
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+++ CANDIDATE ROUND UP |
DaiJob, Inc's executive placement team, AMBITION Consulting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DaiJob has great candidates. Contact Alex Burr at
[email protected], or Ph: 03-3499-3040 for details.
-> Senior Project Manager
Male, Early 30s, Business level Japanese, Fluent English
Experience:
- 10 years IT experience
- 5 years in Japan working with foreign and Japanese firms
- ex-Big 4 consulting firm manager
- Strong technical background and business sense
- Full ownership of service delivery cycle
- Managed team of 15 people (onsite and offshore)
- P/L responsibility
- Pre-sales for services and licenses
* Looking for JPY15m. Available with one month notice.
--------------------------------------------
-> Business Project Manager
Male, early 40s, Native Japanese, Native English
Experience:
- 10 yrs management in wide range of industries
- Sales skills focused on developing sales strategies
- Completely bi-lingual and bi-cultural in English/Japanese
- Enjoys resolving businesses challenges faced by foreign entities in Japan
- Extended experience in consumer/corporate market space
* Looking for JPY11m. Available immediately.
--------------------------------------------
-> Logistics Supervisor/Manager
Male, mid 30s, Native Japanese, Fluent English
Experience:
- 8 years experience in logistics (freightforwarding)
- Also, direct importing, export, inventory management
- Managed several major IT and electronics company accounts
- Solution sales experience for better logistics programs
- Project management experience, (scheduling, budgeting, cost & quality management)
* Looking for JPY7.5m, Available Jan. 2006.
+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
No announcements this week.
IT events announcements are priced at JPY50,000 per week. |
+++ THIS WEEK'S PROPERTY |
No properties this week.
E-mail us at [email protected] for more details on any property listed here.
MAGAZINE INTERNSHIP The J@pan Inc magazine currently has an internship opening for a web programmer. |
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END
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+++ ABOUT US |
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Copyright 2005 Japan Inc. Communications Inc.
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