Suicides increase in March in Japan so the government has begun an emergency 3-month suicide prevention campaign. National Police Agency statistics indicate the number of people who commit suicide is highest in March. The fiscal year ends on March 31 and it’s believed poor financial situations at companies cause managers to commit suicide. The NPA data also shows the number of annual suicides was over 30,000 for the past 12 years. There were 32,753 suicides in Japan in 2009.

The government suicide prevention website also attributes the high suicide rate to long working hours, severe unemployment, bankruptcies, and being liable for multiple consumer loans. As part of the stepped-up suicide prevention effort, consultation counters have been opened at all Hello Work public job-finding centers throughout Japan

Government-sponsored public service TV advertisements show a daughter expressing concern to her sleepy father. The ad advises people who have difficulty sleeping for two weeks or more to consult a doctor.

People can avoid publicizing their personal phone number when searching for a missing pet by using a new pet phone number from NTT. Called Wan Nyumber*, the service consists of a tag that has a unique telephone number printed on it. The finder of the lost pet calls the number, which is answered by NTT, who has the pet owner’s information that is assigned to the phone number. NTT contacts the pet owner.

The round tags are customizable with more than 100 designs. Wan Nyumber advertising promotes protection from nuisance calls if a personal phone number is used on tags or "lost" posters, and that the Wan Nyumber data is easier to update than replacing an embedded pet ID microchip.

The service costs JPY 525 per month.

*"Wan wan", the sound of a barking dog; "Nya nya, the sound a cat makes.

January
Canon Japan employees leave early to make babies

Canon lets workers leave early twice a week to encourage them to have more babies. The 5:30 p.m. lights-out program at Canon addresses the declining birthrate problem while also reducing employee overtime costs.

February
‘Doorplate mania’ man arrested.

A 42-year-old Tokyo man is arrested for stealing about 290 nameplates from house entrances. "I loved to collect plates of rare names. I repeatedly stole nameplates in Tokyo, Chiba and Saitama prefectures from about five years ago," the man told police March.

March
Teacher forced student to wear maid costume

A 51-year-old male high school teacher in Odate, Akita Prefecture forces an 18-year-old female student to wear a maid costume in the school’s art club and makes other club members take pictures of her.

April
Doctor admits lacing tea with sleeping powder

Kyoto University Hospital doctor arrested on suspicion of putting a sleep-inducing drug in a female graduate student’s tea. The doctor said he was fond of the student and wanted to attract her attention.

May
Horror-themed Toilet Paper from Japan Puts You on the Edge of Your Seat

Novel printed on toilet paper rolls. Written by Koji Suzuki, who also authored the horror novel "Ring".

June
Dead tadpoles fall from sky

Ishikawa Prefecture, located on the Japan Sea Coast experiences raining tadpoles. One resident finds 13 dead tadpoles each around 3 inches long, on and around his car. Another reports hearing a strange noise in a nearby parking lot, then finds 100 tadpoles covering cars in the lot.

July
Love hotels not touched by recession.

Japan’s love hotel industry thrives while other businesses suffer. (Love hotel finder.)

August
Elderly American tourist jailed for holding small pocketknife

Man asks Tokyo cop for directions. Cop asks if man has a knife. Man says yes. Man jailed for 10 days.

September
Blue lights soothe suicidal in Tokyo train stations

Blue lights installed on train platforms in Tokyo to prevent people from jumping into oncoming trains. "Blue lighting was selected because there are claims the color blue calms emotions," an official from East Japan Railway’s Tokyo office said.

October
Airline passengers told to use toilet before boarding

All Nippon Airways positions staff near the boarding gates in terminals to ask passengers waiting for their flight to relieve themselves before boarding the aircraft. ANA claims empty bladders means lighter passengers, which in turn means lighter aircraft and lower fuel use. ANA said that it may expand the October toilet-trial if results are positive and it is well received by passengers.

Dead pets come back as bracelets

A Shiga, Japan company advertises it will pickup a dead pet, mix its ashes with the clay from the bed of nearby Lake Biwa, and bake the ashes into jewelry for the owner of the deceased pet. The clay from Lake Biwa is commonly used to produce traditional Shigaraki pottery and stoneware.

December
Hotels with train view entice train spotters

Hotels near stations try to attract railway fans with rooms marketed as having a "rail view". There are estimated to be 20,000 railway buffs in Japan. (Odakyu hotels rail fan stay plan; Keikyu hotels rail fan stay plan.)

Community bicycles intended for short distance travel are now available in downtown Tokyo. The Community Cycle program trial is sponsored by Japan Travel Bureau and the Japan Ministry of the Environment.

Five Eco-Port community bicycle lots will be set up about 300 meters apart in the experiment area that covers small parts of the Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho business districts in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The route is between Tokyo station and the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Eighty-five bicycles are available for rental. The bicycles can be dropped off at any Eco-Port lot.

Riders must first register at the JTB branch in Marunouchi or at Travel Gate in Yurakucho. Registration requires the rider’s credit card number for purposes of preventing theft of the bicycles. If the bicycle is not returned within 24 hours, the user’s credit card will be charged for the cost of the bike. The registration fee is JPY1000.

The first 30 minutes of bike use is free. After 30 minutes, it costs JPY100 per 10 minutes. If bicycles are kept longer than 3 hours, the cost rises to JPY100 per 5 minutes.

To rent a bicycle, users swipe a contactless card over a terminal at each bike. When the card is verified, the parking port device releases the bicycle. The system utilitzes FeliCa contactless IC cards, FeliCa-equipped cellphones, or the special community bicycle contactless IC card issued by JTB.

Enrollment campaigns will target corporations located in the Otemachi and Marunouchi areas.

Bicycle helmets are not offered with the bike rental.

Sapporo conducted a 10-day community rental bicycle trial from Sept. 20-30. Over 100 users participated in the test. The event, nicknamed "Porokure", utilized 7 bicycle ports for Sapporo’s blue bicycles. There was no charge to participate.

Nagoya will conduct a community bicycle-lending trial Oct. 20 to Nov. 18. The experiment will use 300 bikes. Users must preregister and answer a questionnaire after the trial.

Edogawa ward in Tokyo began a short-term community bicycle rental trial on Sept. 1

photos Sankei; Okamot.com; Porokuru; Poro-cle

Earthquake warnings pop up on computer screens in Japan for subscribers to the Urgent Earthquake Bulletin service from NTT telecommunications company.

When a quake alert is issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the NTT service will automatically open an alert window on a personal computer screen. An alarm sounds, and the warning window displays the estimated seismic intensity and counts down to the estimated arrival time.

NTT is also selling a standalone earthquake warning device called the Urgent Earthquake News Flash FLET’S Type. Flashing LED lights and an audible alarm indicate a quake warning and the quake arrival time and a countdown are announced. External warning lights can be connected to the device. FLET’S is an NTT brand of high-speed ADSL and fiber optic services.

NTT says the FLET’S quake warning service offers more precise data and details than the information that is offered in warnings on TV and in optional services that send email quake alerts to cell phones. 

A fixed-line cordless phone from Sanyo also automatically receives and loudly announces the JMA warnings. The system utilizes a standard telephone line and an included Local Area Network wireless terminal. The 1.7-inch liquid crystal display backlight on the phone handset displays a red warning, a light on the handset blinks, and the wireless LAN terminal lamp flashes red. The phone lamp also acts as a flashlight. (Read more : Phones Ring Earthquake Warnings)

An earthquake tremor occurs in Japan at least every five minutes, and annually there are up to 2000 quakes that can be felt by people.

The Urgent Earthquake Bulletin service costs JPY 525 per month. NTT sells the Urgent Earthquake News Flash FLET’S Type receiver for JPY 9,500. The monthly NTT maintenance charge is JPY 147. The unit uses an AC power source adapter. related: Getting ready for an earthquake in Tokyo; Earthquake Early Warnings.

An IC card security system that tracks kids is being offered by Tokyu Land Corp.
Homeowners who purchase a Tokyo Security home security service plan have the option to enable the Tokyu Kids Security system. Tokyu has partnered with PASMO Co. which issues rechargeable contactless PASMO IC smartcards for rail and bus systems in Japan.

With the child security function enabled, when the child uses the PASMO card to enter a train station, an email is automatically sent to sent to pre-registered addresses. The email indicates the location and the text says "passed over the entrance". The Tokyu Security website depicts the child using the IC card at stations, school, and after school at cram school. Tokyu sells the colorful Tokyu Kids Security PASMO card readers.

Some new offices and residential buildings constructed by Tokyu utilize the PASMO security system at the building entrance. The card is used as a key to enter entrance and lobby areas and the owner’s front door. If a condo owner purchases the optional Kids Security plan, the "passed over the entrance" email is automatically sent to pre-registered addresses when the child uses the card to enter or exit the building. The Kids Security plan costs JPY 525 per month in addition to the cost of the basic residential security plan.

Tokyu’s Branz City Denen Hills condominium in Machida City near Tokyo is one of the new buildings utilizing the the PASMO security system. Existing buildings can be retrofitted at the entrances to enable the PASMO IC card security system.

A new digital telephone announces earthquake warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The system utilizes a standard telephone line and an included Local Area Network wireless terminal.

The fixed-line cordless phone from Sanyo automatically receives and loudly announces Urgent Earthquake News Flash alerts. Additionally, the 1.7-inch liquid crystal display backlight on the handset displays a red warning, a light on the handset blinks, and the LAN terminal lamp flashes red. The phone lamp also acts as a flashlight.

Emailed earthquake alerts can be sent to registered email addresses. When mail is transmitted within about 30 minutes after the earthquake warning is received, the content of the "Safety Confirmation Mail" is automatically transmitted to a maximum of three pre-registered email addresses.

An internet connection is required. The monthly service charge for the quake warning service is JPY 525, in addition to standard ISP charges and phone line fees. An Internet Protocol version 6 internet connection is also required. IPv6 allows more versatility in the transmission of data and is the successor to the current version 4.

Sanyo TEL-LANW60(W) about JPY 20,000-40,000 depending on number of cordless handsets.

Interview for Lets Japan by Rosey the Robot.

Rosey/LJ: Assistant Robot, you really are following in the footsteps of your grandfather Roll-Oh the Robot.

Assistant Robot: (laughs) Yes. But I actually roll.

R/LJ: Let’s talk about your…

AR: Before we get started, I just want to say you are my idol. You inspired me.

R/LJ: Thank you. Now, your handlers say you can, and I quote "put away dishes smoothly." Now, tell us, really, how many plates have you broken?

AR: I have never a broken a plate.

R/LJ: Not one?

AR: Never.

R/LJ: A-R, why 5 eyes?

AR: I have 4 stereo cameras on the front of my head. And a laser sensor on the top of my head.

R/LJ: I was able to get by with two eyes and I had to watch over Elroy, Judy, and that d**m dog Astro.

AR: Well, you have those two antennas sticking out the sides of your fat head.

R/LJ: Your developers say you can learn from your mistakes. What have you learned?

AR: Always wash lights and darks separately.

R/LJ: You recognize ambient sound.

AR: I’m sorry. What?

R/LJ: YOU CAN HEAR!

AR: YES!

R/LJ: Do you have an iPod?

AR: Of course. A white Nano.

R/LJ: What’s on your playlist?

AR: AC/DC, Beyonce, Metallica, Koda Kumi, Gazette and that ‘Louie, Louie’ song.

R/LJ: What’s your gender?

AR: I’m a prototype.

R/LJ: A-R, why are you always frowning?

AR: I do housework! It’s not fun you know.

R/LJ: I want to get a little personal now. How much do you weigh?

AR: One hundred thirty kilograms.

R/LJ: It looks like you’re hauling a Good Humor truck back there.

AR: I knew it! I do have a big butt! They told me I didn’t. (cries)

R/LJ: If Roll-Oh were alive today, what do you think he’d say.

AR: Shall we ask him? My advanced technology hetrodyne stimulator reaction activator allows me to communicate with Roll-Oh’s regenerator concavination intermediate amplifier circuits.

R/LJ: What’s Roll-Oh saying?

AR: Scram.
developer: Information and Robot Technology Research Initiative; Toyota Motor Corp news source: Japan Times

The October nationwide campaign by the Japan National Police Agency aimed at preventing senior citizens from becoming victims of telephone fraud ended with door-to-door delivery of fraud-warning flyers in one ward of Tokyo. Cops in Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, handed-out notices to residents at home, and placed the flyers in mailboxes if no one was at home.

Scammers target the elderly, usually posing as a family member that is in financial trouble. The flyers describe the most common cons, including the "I need money for a woman" scam, the  "I lost money in the stock market" con, and the "I’m selling/servicing water filters or the Waterworks Department repairs" swindle.

On October 24, Lets Japan wrote about recent swindles and the nationwide police effort to intervene at automatic teller machines before conned senior citizens transfer money.

related: ATM cell phone detector debuts in war on fraud; Con Artists Calling

A previously bankrupt Japanese actor is featured in a TV commercial for a website that offers free cell phone games. The TV ads for gree.jp builds on the assumed common knowledge of the celebrity’s previous financial woes, and simply states "I have no money. I have time", and that he can play the Gree mobile phone games for free. Shiro Kishibe began his entertainment career in a pop singing group in 1969 and became famous as an idol. TV dramas and movies followed. The well known actor declared bankruptcy in the late 1990’s. His financial situation was widely reported. Watch the gree.jp TV commercials.