Kansai technological research and development data-mapped
The Foundation of Kansai Research Institute has data-mapped and made public on the Internet the outcome and developments in technological research and development in the Kansai region by universities, public institutes and business corporations in the four strategic fields of biotechnology, photon, the environment and information and telecommunications.This represents an addition to data including Kansai technological development projects implemented by the Kansai Bureau of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). On the Web site, viewers can easily access data in various ways. The foundation hopes a great number of business corporations and researchers will make use of the data-map as a manual for obtaining data and coordinating research, thus helping to form the network-type "Center of Excellence" (COE) in the Kansai region, promote academic studies and research and development, and create new industries. URL http://www.keihanna-plaza.co.jp/KRI/COE/
Nara restores Syria's ancient tomb
Nara Prefecture and the Nara International Foundation-Commemorating the Silk Road, together with the Arab Republic of Syria, have completed the restoration of tomb "F" in the southeast necropolis of Palmyra after conducting joint archaeological research.Palmyra was one of the most prosperous oasis towns to be found on the part of the Silk Road that runs through the middle of the Syrian desert. It prospered markedly around the second century under the protection of the Roman Empire, with various facilities constructed in the metropolis.
In 1988, the Syrian Government exhibited relics and remains in the Nara Silk Road Exposition. The exhibition prompted the Syrian Government and Nara Prefecture to start a joint excavation of the southeast necropolis of Palmyra in 1990.
The recently restored tomb "F" was created by a prominent family in the second century. The types of burial carvings found in the tomb received high evaluation as works of art, and the tomb itself clearly reminds us that it was a solemn "underground palace." On August 28, a ceremony is scheduled to take place to mark the completion of restoration work there.
Shirahama-Honolulu beach city accord
Shirahama Town in Wakayama Prefecture and Honolulu City in Hawaii have signed an agreement on Goodwill Beach City Relationship, under which the two cities will work together to preserve the pristine, natural beaches of Shirarahama and Waikiki. The latest accord is the result of the two cities' talks aimed at deepening interchanges to protect white beaches and blue seas.Under the agreement, Waikiki Beach is planning to set up markers concerning the goodwill beach city relationship that will include pictures of Shirahama Town. The latest tie-up is expected to help promote the establishment of networks for environmental protection, the common goal of the world's seaside resort cities.
Tokushima's Awa Odori dance on Internet
Awa Dance, a summer festival in Tokushima, will be aired live worldwide on the Internet from 7 p.m. on August 12 (Saturday), with rebroadcasts scheduled for August 13 through 15.Awa Odori Internet Live 2000, the fifth of its kind, will be carried out by the Awa Odori Internet Live 2000 Managing Association, made up of the Tokushima Prefectural Government, the Tokushima Municipal Government, the Tokushima Newspaper and other organizations.
In addition to the live broadcast, participating businesses and groups will dispatch information through the official homepage (http://www.awaodori.net/live/) on August 12.
An English-language homepage is also available. Viewers are required to install software for reproducing moving images (Real Player free of charge) ahead of accessing the program (download homepage is http://www.real.com/player/ index.html?lang= jp&hts=yes). The festival will be postponed if it rains.
Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan
The Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan will be established to map out a new vision for the Asia-Pacific region and seek coexistence of multiple-culture societies.The conference will be made up of about 40 scholars and industrialists, who are interested in the Asia-Pacific region, with architect Tadao Ando, Makoto Iokibe, a professor at Kobe University's graduate school, and Toshitami Kaihara, chairman of the Board of the Hyogo International Association, as its advocators. The Hyogo International Association will serve as secretariat.
The conference aims to draw up visions for multiple-culture societies in the Asia-Pacific region through announcements of studies and discussions by its members, conduct exchanges and seminars, and honor those who have made great contributions to the development of the Asia-Pacific region.
Moreover, the conference will be held annually at the Awaji-Yumebutai International Conference Center on the Awaji Island that has been restored as an international park city after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
The first conference will be held on August 9. On August 10, an international symposium will take place to commemorate the International Year for the Culture of Peace, with Koichiro Matsuura, secretary general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Philippine writer Francisco Sionil Jose taking part.
Tanzanian exhibition at WTC Osaka
The World Trade Center Osaka, together with the Tanzanian Government, will hold the Tanzania Exhibition-Land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar on August 15 through September 16 at the WTC Gallery in Osaka City's Suminoe Ward.During the event, Tanzanian business corporations will put on display coffee and other export goods. At the same time, pictures of savanna animals and colorful "Tingatinga" art works will be introduced as part of the African country's diversified tourism information and culture.
Moreover, workshops on African music and savanna animals will be set up, along with those on African-style hairdressing service to be offered by African women living in the Kansai region.
Kansai in Focus: Kansai municipalities promoting natural energy
Municipalities in the Kansai region are stepping up efforts to promote natural energy-based power generation. Specifically, they have set up large-scale wind and solar energy power generation systems one after another. In addition, a greater number of municipalities have begun to extend subsidies for wider use of solar energy power generation systems in households. Other interesting projects include utilizing biomass, such as thinned lumber, livestock waste and edible oil waste.Natural energy sources are drawing strong interest worldwide as a way to counter global warming. Kansai municipalities hope their environmental policies will be better understood and help revitalize their economies.
A large-scale wind turbine generator was completed in Kibi Town, Wakayama Prefecture, this May. The facility, equipped with one huge windmill, is capable of generating 230 kilowatts of electricity, equivalent to the power consumption of 80 households. The electricity will be used largely for sprinkling water in cosmos fields and illuminating the windmill, with the remainder to be sold to Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO). Revenues from the power sale are projected to exceed 7 million yen per year.
Kyoto Prefecture is scheduled to establish a wind turbine generation system in Ine Town in the Tango region in the autumn of 2001. At the top of a mountain, six 75-meter-high windmills will be installed. With a total generation output of 4,500 kW, the facility will become Japan's largest wind turbine generation system among those set up by municipalities. The generated electricity will be sold entirely to KEPCO, with annual revenues projected to reach 100 million yen.
Kusatsu City in Shiga Prefecture will build a 95-meter-high windmill in a municipal aquatic plant botanical garden along Lake Biwa by the end of fiscal 2000. The facility will be capable of generating 1,500 kW. The city also positions the power generation system as a symbolic facility aimed at attracting tourists. The location of wind energy power generation is limited, however, by wind conditions. One headache, however, is that the constraint makes wind energy power generation costs two to three times higher than those of thermal power generation.
Meanwhile, Kobe City introduced a new system to subsidize use of solar energy power by households in fiscal 2000. The system calls for the municipal government to extend subsidies so that effective interest rates on loans will be kept at 2% per annum. For the initial fiscal year, subsidies will be supplied to about 50 households. Shiga Prefecture will start providing subsidies of up to 1 million yen in the current fiscal year to those day nurseries and other public facilities which will have solar energy power generation systems of output of 5 kW or less.
As for biomass, Shiga Prefecture will build a lumber power generation plant with an output of 5 to 10 kW in Taga Town in Shiga Prefecture by the end of fiscal 2000, using thinned lumber in order to meet electricity demands at public parks. Shiga Prefecture will also conduct a feasibility study on power generation by using energy stemming from the fermentation of methane gas from livestock feces and urine, waterweeds, introduced species of fish and garbage. Kyoto City is using edible oil waste it has collected from households as an alternative energy source to gas oil. In the current fiscal year, the municipal government started designing a refinery plant to put it to practical use at a daily output of 5,000 kiloliters in two years' time.
Use of natural energy sources such as wind, solar and waste energy power is increasing steadily, reflecting the diversified sources of electric power generation. Nonetheless, these energy sources account for only around 2% of total energy supply in Japan, making it essential for local authorities to extend systematic support for the development of new energy sources. (R)