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Tag: Japan

  • Japan’s Restaurant Look To Cater To The Halal Food Industry

    Japan’s Restaurant Look To Cater To The Halal Food Industry

    TAITO WARD — In a sushi restaurant in Tokyo, a group of customers is shuffling in. They first take a quick glance at the menu to check if there’s anything that might go against halal rules.

    The restaurant is only one of many in Japan that are looking to the halal food market to expand their business, as visitors from predominantly Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia are increasingly visiting Japan.

    However, there are also difficulties they face in catering to these customers.

    “In Japan, places where they handle halal seasoning are very limited,” said manager of Sushi Ken Masao Ito. “I have had difficulty getting my hands on them. The fish itself is not a problem. (But) another problem is processed food.”

    However, they have managed to find alternatives. At Sushi Ken, the seasoning is made in-house. The radish roll tastes a little different, but is still delicious. At another Yakiniku, or grilled meat restaurant, its owners are doing even more to obtain halal certification.

    “They have to change all their ingredients, items,” said chairman of the Japan Halal Foundation, Mohamed Nazer.

    The restaurant has even prepared a whole new kitchen to be able to serve halal meat. According to its manager, the cost of doing so has been high, though he stopped short of unveiling the exact amount.

    “If things work out, we would like to be a halal meat wholesaler to expand business,” said manager of Pangu, Hiroaki Sato.

    The restaurant eventually earned a stamp of approval, a boon for Muslims diners as a mosque is located nearby.

    ‘MUSLIMS CAN ENJOY WITHOUT ANY WORRIES’ 

    Taito ward now has 17 restaurants with halal certification, a huge step up from when there were only Indian restaurants serving halal food in the past. This change is in part due to subsidies of up to US$820 offered by the local city government, part of a scheme that started in October.

    They used to have only Indian restaurants serving halal menus. This change is partly due to subsidies of up to 820 US dollars offered by the local city government, thanks to a system launched in October.

    “When you travel, you want to enjoy the food of that country, the regions, and if that cannot be done here in Taito ward, it’s sad,” said director of tourism at Taito City office, Takuji Kwai. “We offer lots of delicious food. So we decided to create an environment where Muslims can enjoy without any worries.”

    A growing number of local governments are also trying to encourage more of their businesses to cater to Muslim visitors. The halal exhibition in Japan is one that has seen success, with an increase of 80 exhibitors last year to 120 this year.

    “Japan is not a Muslim country so the market is very small,” said chairman of the Japan halal Expo Executive Committee, Yoshichika Terasawa, Chairman. “It’s gradually expanding. But it depends on Muslim visitors to Japan. I hope more food suppliers (and) exporters go to the cities to find their new market, the Muslim market.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Japanese Company Says It Does Not Need To Follow Singapore Employment Law Under “Special Agreement”?

    Japanese Company Says It Does Not Need To Follow Singapore Employment Law Under “Special Agreement”?

    We received a letter from an unfortunate Singaporean who was dismissed from her job at a Japanese company without any notice or benefits. The company let her go to replace her with a new batch of foreign workers despite having worked there for the past 2 years. The company also told her that it was not obliged to render any employment benefits under “special” agreements negotiated by the company’s Japanese Embassy in Singapore, as such, she was not given any medical, dental and leave benefits for the past 2 years of her work.

    Does the Ministry of Manpower know about such “special” agreements between Singapore and foreign countries? How many Singaporeans have suffered under these “special” arrangements?

    Read her full letter below.

    Dear Ms ——-,

    I am writing to inform you about my unfair dismissal due to the absence of an independent Union to represent Workers’ interests as well as MOM infrequent audit checks on companies operating here.

    I was gainfully employed as a production operator at Tanesei Trading Pte Ltd for the past 2 years but was dismissed last Wednesday without any notice or benefits to make way for a new batch of foreign workers ready to come here.

    When I approached the HR, I was informed that the company was merely responsible for contributing our CPF and was not obliged to render any employment contract under “special” agreements negotiated by the company’s Japanese Embassy before the company began operations here.

    Hence, I was not only without any medical, dental and leave benefits for the last 2 years but also missed out on the 13th month bonus which the company also said the bonus was revoked by parliament close to a decade ago.

    In view of this, I hope the government will look into some of the blatant practices and breaches by lots of companies here.

    Yours faithfully,
    Ms B.M. Lim

     

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

  • Japan Offers $4.7 Million To Help Rohingya Refugees

    Japan Offers $4.7 Million To Help Rohingya Refugees

    TOKYO (AFP) – Japan on Saturday offered US$3.5 million (S$4.7 million) to help the Rohingya boat people who have fled Myanmar where they faced severe discrimination.

    Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan remained committed to helping national reconciliation efforts on various fronts in Asia, including between Myanmar’s government and “ethnic minority groups”.

    “With regard to non-regular immigrants, including women and children trying to cross the Indian Ocean, Japan has decided to extend US$3.5 million” through global agencies such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he said in a public address.

    The money will go to providing food and shelter as well as to fund data analysis of their maritime movements, the foreign ministry said.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Izwan Mahbud Outstanding In Lions Draw With Japan

    Izwan Mahbud Outstanding In Lions Draw With Japan

    Four-times Asian champions Japan were held to a surprisegoalless draw at home by a resolute Singapore on Tuesday (June 16) in a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

    Japan expectedly dominated possession and peppered the Singaporean goal at the Saitama Stadium, particularly in the second half, but poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Izwan Mahbud meant the visitors grabbed an unlikely point.

    Keisuke Honda came closest to breaking the deadlock in the lop-sided contest with a 73rd minute free-kick which cannoned off the corner of post and cross bar but bounced clear to safety.

    Izwan produced his best save in the 55th minute when he scooped a strong Shinji Okazaki header off the line at the second attempt, while he also did well to palm away a close range Honda header in the 68th minute.

     

     

    Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic, appointed in March, cut an increasingly irate figure on the sidelines as time wore on. The coach pulled off the under-performing Shinji Kagawa and Takashi Usami and threw in striker Yoshinori Muto.

    Muto though failed to make a mark with Honda leading the charge. The AC Milan playmaker’s rasping long range drive in the 78th minute bending just wide off the goal as Izwan and his team mates held firm against further waves of pressure to pick up the precious point.

    Singapore’s German coach Bernd Stange, under-fire after some poor results including a 2-2 friendly draw at home to Guam in March, had said pre-match it would be a “world sensation” if his 154th FIFA ranked side could hold Japan to a draw.

    The surprise point moves them top of joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying Group E on four from two games after they won 4-0 in Cambodia in their opener last week.

    Japan next face Cambodia at home in September while Singapore are away to Syria, who beat Afghanistan 6-0 in their opener on Thursday.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Iskandar Jalil First Singaporean Artist To Receive Prestigious Japanese Award

    Iskandar Jalil First Singaporean Artist To Receive Prestigious Japanese Award

    Renowned local potter Iskandar Jalil was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Haruhisa Takeuchi on Tuesday (Jun 9).

    Twelve Singaporeans have received the award since 1967, but Mr Iskandar is the first local artist to receive the prestigious award. The award bestowed by the Emperor of Japan, recognises Mr Iskandar’s contributions, through pottery, in building cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Singapore for over 40 years.

    “He has been a friend of Japan for so many years, and we are also very much appreciative of his work and his attitude to the younger generation – to inspire the younger artists to try to do their best,” said Mr Haruhisa Takeuchi. “It is very much a delight for us (to confer this award), and a privilege as well.

    “Over the years, he’s been a frequent visitor to the potteries in Japan, and through his activities both in Japan and Singapore, there has been happy interaction between the two cultures through pottery. So I think that’s been very significant.”

    But in his acceptance speech, Mr Iskandar said the focus should be less on winning awards, and more on creating a new generation of artists.

    He added that the way in which pottery and crafts are taught needs to be changed – urging young artists to not just dabble in the craft, but to take on apprenticeships lasting 30 or 40 years. “There is no shortcut. You work with a master potter, with the university, and you improve a lot that way. But it takes a long time,” he said.
    “If we Singaporeans are in a hurry, it’s difficult for them to understand then and achieve what they want. Whereas in Japan, you have to learn the basics. There is always the rule, the methodology, the way it should be done.”

    The Japanese ambassador and Mr Iskandar with their spouses and Minister of State for Culture Community and Youth Sam Tan, with the Patent of Decoration. (Photo: Loke Kok Fai)

    Mr Iskandar also hoped that people and institutions would be able to appreciate people for their potential, rather than forcing them into fields they cannot perform in. “It’s about understanding what the material can do for us, then can it be successful. We should understand our students, what they can do, what they should do.”

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com