JIN-492 -- Two months down... time for a new PM?

-----------------------------------------------------------
Every PBXL wireless phone comes standard with:
a big color screen,
a 03 Tokyo number,
voicemail,
and more!

Everything you expect from the best office phone system
on the market.

Call today! 03-4550-2557
Get your new phone system in 3 steps: http://www.pbxl.jp/plans

PBXL is Hosted Business Telephony
Monthly seminars at Cisco HQ: http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt
More about PBXL: http://www.pbxl.jp/aboutus2
-----------------------------------------------------------

J@pan Inc Newsletter
The 'JIN' J@pan Inc Newsletter
A weekly opinion piece on social, economic and political trends
in Japan.
Issue No. 492 Wednesday November 26, 2008, Tokyo

It is quite a feat that despite the firestorm in the global markets,
Taro Aso has managed to again turn the Japanese media to the
inadequacies of yet another prime minister. It has been building for a
while, but this week has seen a burst of negative stories in the press
basically giving a summary of all the dumb things the PM has managed
to do over the last few weeks.

Aso has managed to fall out of favor with a wide variety of people
ranging from doctors to a cross-section of his own party through a
range of actions ranging from considered maneuvers to offensive
gaffes. Also, Aso's much-hailed love of manga has been turned around by
opponents to further cement the PM's image as an unfit statesman – his
inability to read relatively straightforward kanji correctly is apparently tied
to his otaku ways.

He has made repeated mistakes in speeches such as calling 1929 "Black
Monday" instead of "The Great Depression" and has lost his temper at
press conferences when quizzed on his actions. Also his calls to
freeze the privatization of the post office, one of former Prime
Minister Koizumi's most hard-fought reforms, has riled many within the
LDP.

Also the PM's move to spend about 2 trillion yen for cash benefits to
citizens has largely been seen as a bribe to keep the public happy,
rather than any kind of real answer to the problems facing the economy.
The LDP is famous for its pork-barrel politics and people just generally
take the money and get on with their lives rather than turning around,
proclaiming the latest PM as some kind of savior.

Also a lack of support from the LDP, caused by what was largely seen
simply as a lack of communication, has not helped the situation. On
October 30, Aso announced at a press conference that he would
distribute 1 trillion yen to local governments. The money is to be
distributed via additional tax revenue allocations following the
integration of road-related tax revenue from the central government.
Many within the LDP didn't understand this, causing a backlash from
some party members with vested interests in road-related public works.

In the Yomiuri Shimbun an aide was quoted as saying: "As we were busy
dealing with various matters, we weren't able to convey the message to
senior party officials in advance."

Some within his party have already started talking about the post-Aso era.

"I would say that up to 70 percent of my colleagues have reached the
conclusion that we will not be able to win the coming election with Mr
Aso in charge and that already his power to lead has gone," LDP
politician Ichita Yamamoto told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

So what would be worse for the economy – tossing out another PM, or
sticking with the current one? Aso won the leadership ballot by a
landslide but most people generally considered the whole thing just a
show for the press and the public. Now, many of those paraded around
for the public (always to left and right of Aso who was always at the
center for photo ops, remember?) are now being touted as contenders
for the PM position.

Nobuteru Ishihara, son of Tokyo mayor Shintaro Ishihara, Yuriko Koike,
who, if elected, would be Japan's first female PM and Yoshimi Watanabe,
the former minister of financial services, have been mentioned as
possible replacements for Aso.

But if people weren't fed up with the LDP before, they surely will be now.
It's lucky that the country runs itself, but with all the economic
turmoil facing
the country, you know, it would be nice to have some real leadership
for a change…

Michael Condon
Editor-in-chief

-------------Japan Inc is worth every penny!---------------

J@pan Inc is Japan's only English-language business magazine.
Authoritatively chronicling business trends in Japan, each
beautifully designed full-color issue brings you in-depth
analysis of business, people and technology in the world's
second largest economy. Don't miss another issue! JPY 8,000
for 1 year (12 issues) JPY 15,000 for 2 years (24 issues)
Visit http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions to subscribe.

-----------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------

Creative and Web Services

O Creative provides multilingual creative solutions for
print and web.

Based in Tokyo and London, O Creative specializes in logos
and visual identity, branding, brochures, internal and
external corporate communications solutions, multilingual
web sites, web hosting, IT support, search engine optimization,
online marketing, content management systems and customer
relations management systems.

For more information, please visit our website at
www.o-creative.com,
or contact us directly at info@o-creative.com

-----------------------------------------------------------

------------- Looking for English Magazines? --------------

Subscribe to your favorite English magazines today -- TIME,
Newsweek, National Geographic, Scientific American, People
and many more.

eigoTown.com is now offering subscriptions to English magazines
at great prices.

Visit: http://magazines.eigotown.com
Credit cards and PayPal accepted.

-----------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------
BE THERE WHEN THE MUSICAL YEAR KICKS OFF!

Speaking at MIDEM / MidemNet 2009

* David Eun, VP Content Partnerships, Google Inc
* Jay Marciano, President, Madison Square Garden Entertainment
* J.Y. Park, Founder and President, JYP Entertainment
* Jim Balsillie, co-CEO, RIM/Blackberry
* Amit Kapur, COO, MySpace
* Dr. Tero Ojanpera, EVP, Entertainment and Communities, Nokia

MidemNet: 17 - 18 January 2009 View MidemNet Programme
http://novagenus.com/novacast/elaunch.aspx?I=MidemNet2009A
MIDEM, the world's music market: 18-21 January 2009.
9 000 key professionals from 90 countries

The earlier you register, the less you pay.

Register now at: www.midem.com

-----------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------
Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo-Seminar
-Wednesday, December 3rd

Speaker: Maria Mercedes M. Corrales, Representative Director
CEO and COO of Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd.

Join EA-Tokyo's holiday seminar to hear Maria Mercedes
(Mercy) M. Corrales.

Mercy joined Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. in January 2006
and now overseas the operation of the publicly listed company
with approximately 800 coffee shops in Japan.

Prior to Starbucks 'Mercy' worked for 31 years with Levi
Strauss and Co where she held a series of key executive
positions in a number of international markets in Southeast
Asia, North Asia (including Greater China) and South America.
>From 2001 through 2005, Mercy was President and Representative
Director of Levi Strauss Japan K.K. and led the publicly traded
Japanese entity to a highly profitable and successful business.
Mercy has built a reputation for strong leadership in building
world class teams, excellent business and brand management
skills, and deep understanding of different cultures and
operating environments.
Mercy has been chosen as the Business Stateswoman of 2008
by the Harvard Business School Club of Japan.

Please sign up early while seats are available.
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 3rd, 7:00 pm
Location: Shinsei Bank Head Office - 20th Floor
Language: English
Website: http://www.ea-tokyo.com

-----------------------------------------------------------

----------------- Web Hosting in Japan --------------------

With prices comparable to those available in the US, and a
full range of hosting services, there is no need to put up with
slow-downloading websites hosted overseas anymore.

With nearly 10 years experience in the Japanese market,
Tsukaeru.net provides great value for money to both the
Japanese and English speaking clients.
We provide low cost shared hosting accounts from just 210
yen per month,to fully managed complex hosting.

Customers moving from our competitors receive
up to JPY10,000 cashback on completion of migration.

http://tsukaeru.net/en
Isao 050-3533-8241

-----------------------------------------------------------

---------- Metropolis and eigoTown.com Party --------------

November 29, 2008 - Join over 300 party animals
8:00pm - 11:00pm @ Feria, Roppongi.
Alcohol, food and music!
After 11pm, stay on as long as you want!

Check it Out:
All-you-can drink

Cost: 5,000yen
Show this email at the door to get in for 3,500 yen

DJs + Single people

www.metropolis.co.jp/party
Nearest stn: Roppongi

CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME

-----------------------------------------------------------