Yamato

Having to go to the southern city of Kaohsiung, I had to take a taxi to the Taoyuan High Speed Train Station to catch a train to Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung. At the Zuoying station - bought a burger to go Then it up the train My late lunch Burger Great packaging for burger will not dirty hands Another great packaging for fried chicken

Its been 3 years since my last visit to Taiwan. Used to visit Taiwan twice a year for work visiting suppliers. Now that they are fully opened its time to go again. Monday morning 6.15am at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Had breakfast at the Singapore Airlines lounge At the gate My ride Many mothballed aircraft still on ground Brunch on flight Arriving Taoyuan Airport

This is Ukraine’s deadly Jeanne d’Arc

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Tesla-earns-8-times-more-profit-than-Toyota-per-car?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20221108090000&seq_num=2&si=44594 Tesla earns 8 times more profit than Toyota per car Focus on few, higher-priced models puts EV maker in lead on net earnings A Model Y electric vehicle at a Tesla Gigafactory in Germany. The company has focused solely on EVs at the upper end of the market. © Reuters KAZUHIRO NOGUCHI, Nikkei staff writerNovember 8, 2022 03:28 JST NAGOYA -- Tesla earned eight times as much profit per vehicle as Toyota Motor in the July-September quarter despite being outsold more than 7 to 1, a Nikkei analysis shows, putting the American electric-vehicle maker ahead in quarterly net profit for the first time since going public in 2010. Tesla reported a $3.29 billion net profit in that quarter. Toyota earned 434.2 billion yen -- the equivalent of $3.15 billion based on the average exchange rate for the period of 138 yen to the dollar. Toyota's decline stemmed in part from extraordinary factors. The automaker is currently shouldering increased material and electricity costs for its suppliers. Higher materials costs, including such assistance to suppliers, pushed down quarterly operating profit by 450 billion yen ($3.07 billion), which was only partially offset by a 370 billion yen boost from a weak yen. It also booked one-time expenses of 96.9 billion yen from shutting down production in Russia. "The decreased profit in July-September does not equate to a decline in Toyota's actual earnings potential," said Kota Yuzawa at Goldman Sachs Japan. Toyota came out ahead in terms of operating profit, at the equivalent of $4.08 billion to Tesla's $3.69 billion. Still, Tesla has become one of the most profitable automakers in the world. Though its net profit fell short of Mercedes-Benz's in July-September, it outearned both BMW and Volkswagen. Its net profit margin came to 15% for the quarter. Tesla's success stems largely from the profitability of each of its cars. The Toyota group sold 2.62 million vehicles in the quarter, 7.6 times as many as Tesla's 344,000. But its net profit per vehicle came to around $1,200 -- just one-eighth of Tesla's $9,570. Tesla is believed to lead the industry in terms of net profit per vehicle sold, even ahead of players like Mercedes-Benz. Tesla vehicles at charging stations. (Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.) Tesla's profit per vehicle has grown especially quickly since April-June 2021. Investors have responded favorably to the gains, and the company's market capitalization was roughly triple Toyota's as of Monday at around $655 trillion. The gap is a result of the fundamentally different strategies pursued by the two automakers. Toyota offers a wide range of vehicles from gasoline-powered cars to hybrids, electrics and fuel-cell vehicles, and at a variety of sizes and price points. Meanwhile, Tesla has focused solely on EVs. The Model Y and Model 3 account for over 90% of its sales, which have nearly doubled in two years despite their relatively high price tags. Even the cheaper Model 3 starts at around $40,000 in the U.S. Confident in its strong brand appeal, Tesla has not hesitated to raise prices to pass on higher material costs to customers. It also started offering lucrative self-driving software as an add-on option ahead of rival automakers. "The biggest factor behind Tesla's profit growth is sales volume, then prices hikes and a rise in self-driving software sales," said Koji Endo at SBI Securities. Tesla has been installing so-called Giga Press casting machines to reduce the steps needed for assembly. In general, the use of such a machine could undercut quality but speed up mass-production. Teslas are also sold directly online in principle, a method that offers higher margins than selling via dealerships. Toyota's bZ4X electric vehicle. (The license plate number has been obscured) EVs are becoming widespread much faster than experts had anticipated. Boston Consulting Group in June said the share of EVs in global new car sales would reach 39% in 2030, upgrading the estimate it issued a year earlier by 11 points. The group cited tighter environmental regulations in the U.S. and Europe, lower costs and higher demand in revising the figure. Toyota has set the goal of selling 3.5 million EVs in 2030, but currently the bZ4X is its only mass-produced model. A top Toyota official said at an earnings briefing on Nov. 1 that the automaker is exploring other options for mass-producing EVs, while another betrayed a sense of urgency, saying, "We cannot lose out in EVs." Electric vehicles still face challenges. "In regions that are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, EVs are not the best solution to cutting carbon dioxide emissions," said a top Toyota official. Furthermore, charging infrastructure remains insufficient and further technological advances are needed.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Retail/Thai-retailer-opens-Tops-Club-a-membership-only-supermarket?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20221107123000&seq_num=17&si=44594 Thai retailer opens Tops Club, a membership-only supermarket Around 70% of items on sale are imports, for which members can get a discount Around 70% of the items Tops Club sells are imports. (Photo courtesy of Central Retail) KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writerNovember 6, 2022 12:28 JST BANGKOK -- Thailand's Central Retail opened a new membership-only supermarket in Bangkok targeting the Southeast Asian country's growing middle class. The Thai retail giant also plans to spend 30 billion baht ($790 million) over the next five years in neighboring Vietnam, with the aim of more than doubling the number of supermarkets there. The company wants to become an industry leader in both countries. Central Retail opened Tops Club in southwestern Bangkok late September. For an annual membership of 999 baht, customers will have access to over 3,500 items, including daily necessities and fresh food, the supermarket sells in its 15,000 sq.-meter warehouse-style building. "Everything is brought together here to fulfill our customers' needs, as if they were shopping in famous stores overseas," Central Food Retail Group CEO Stephane Coum said in a statement. Some 70% of its products are imported from about 20 countries, including the U.S., Australia and South Korea. Members will get a 5% discount, like at U.S. membership-only wholesale chain Costco, and also free deliveries to Bangkok and nearby regions. Thailand's rising middle class is widely sought after by retailers. Thailand's gross domestic product per capita is around $7,000, according to the International Monetary Fund, positioning it as an upper- to middle-income country. Bangkok's per capita GDP is even higher at around $10,000. Since Central Retail first entered Vietnam in 2012, the operation has grown steadily, pulling in 38.6 billion baht in revenue last year to account for around 20% of its total figure. (Photo courtesy of Central Retail) Central Retail expects that an average Tops Club customer will spend two or three times more than those at regular supermarkets. The company hopes to be able to grab a big chunk of the high-end supermarket clientele by being one of the first to launch such a business. Meanwhile, the company plans to increase the number of supermarkets in Vietnam to more than 710 by 2026 from about 340 in September. "We always put ourselves in the center of consumers' lives and aim to generate 100 billion baht in sales in Vietnam alone by 2026," Olivier Langlet, CEO of Central Retail Vietnam, told Nikkei in an email reply to questions. Since Central Retail first entered Vietnam in 2012, the operation has grown steadily, pulling in 38.6 billion baht in revenue last year to account for around 20% of the total figure, according to the company. Vietnam is the company's biggest moneymaker outside of Thailand. By 2026, Central Retail's stores in Vietnam will offer a variety of formats selling both food and nonfood products. It plans to cover 55 of the country's 63 provinces, said Langlet, adding that it is aiming for 30% of Vietnam's total sales. In Vietnam, conventional small, family-run shops still make a significant share of the industry, but demand for supermarkets is expected to grow as the country's retail industry modernizes. The pandemic has pushed consumers toward supermarkets and other retailers that are able to secure a stable supply of products. Consumers are also able to buy in bulk in these chains, which was handy during the worst of the pandemic. Consumption is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels in Thailand and Vietnam, now that both countries have eased COVID-related entry restrictions, prompting retailers to jostle for more commercial facilities and supermarket space.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Indian-Dalits-leave-Hinduism-in-droves-in-blow-to-ruling-BJP?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20221107123000&seq_num=20&si=44594 Indian Dalits leave Hinduism in droves in blow to ruling BJP Thousands embrace Buddhism as Modi's party's rights record faces scrutiny Indian Dalits convert to Buddhism en masse at an event in New Delhi on Oct. 5. (Photo courtesy of Rajendra Pal Gautam's Twitter account) TARUSHI ASWANI, Contributing writerNovember 6, 2022 10:45 JST NEW DELHI -- Recent mass conversions to Buddhism by Indian Dalits have underscored anew the fears and frustrations of a community of about 200 million people considered to be at the bottom of the traditional Hindu caste system. "We refuse to be punished any longer," said Ramji Lal, 34, who attended a conversion event in New Delhi on Oct. 5. He was one of a crowd of around 8,000, according to organizers, who made a point of leaving Hinduism. Such conversions are seen as a protest by people commonly known as "untouchables" due to their descent, leading to a life of exclusion and often abuse. On Oct. 14, in the southern state of Karnataka, more than 100 Dalit men and women did the same, throwing pictures of Hindu deities into the Krishna River to renounce their faith. Converting to Buddhism is not new for Dalits. Indeed, the Karnataka event came on the anniversary of social reformer B. R. Ambedkar's public conversion to Buddhism in 1956, a move that continues to reverberate generations later. "If you continue to remain within the fold of Hinduism, you cannot attain a status higher than that of a slave," Ambedkar said in a speech 20 years before he made the change, according to a collection of essays and speeches published on the Indian Ministry of External Affairs website. In 2013, organizers of a conversion event in the state of Gujarat claimed that 60,000 people abandoned Hinduism at once, local media reported at the time. The trend stands out given the Hindu nationalism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, and raises further questions about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) record on human rights, which is already under scrutiny for alleged discrimination against Muslims, an accusation the BJP denies. The BJP appears to have mixed views on such conversions, but after the Oct. 5 event in the capital, parliamentarian Manoj Tiwari tweeted that the event was "anti-Hindu," and criticized a Delhi legislator and minister from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for attending. The Delhi BJP chief urged the AAP, which runs the capital territory government, to sack the minister, Rajendra Pal Gautam, "for his attempt to stoke communal tensions and spread hatred along religious lines within the country." Gautam resigned soon afterward. The New Delhi event was organized by Mission Jai Bheem, a nonprofit group founded by Gautam that aims to establish a casteless, egalitarian society in India. Ishwar Singh, national secretary of Mission Jai Bheem, told Nikkei Asia that hatred toward Dalits forces them out of Hinduism. "Together, at least 8,000 Dalits accepted Buddhism. Does it not show the degree of our suffering?" he said. Singh argued that religious polarization in India under the current government demands bold steps by oppressed communities to claim their rights and freedoms. While the caste system has existed in India for centuries, Singh and others argue that the rise of the BJP has brought a parallel rise in crimes against Dalits, especially during Modi's second term, which began in 2018. A report by the National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ), a coalition of rights activists and academics, found that anti-Dalit crimes rose 27.3% in 2018 compared with 2009. In 2021, India reported six crimes against Dalits every hour, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, with the total number of cases increasing to 50,900 from 50,291 in 2020. A Dalit group holds a protest in 2020 after the death of a rape victim in New Delhi. © Reuters The past few months have seen several shocking reports: a Dalit man killed in Uttar Pradesh, with family members alleging that he was attacked for touching an idol; another man allegedly killed in Uttarakhand by in-laws over a cross-caste marriage; a teacher arrested over the death of a 9-year-old Dalit boy, who was allegedly beaten for drinking water from a pot used by upper castes in Rajasthan. Many feel the BJP government is not doing enough to stop such crimes and change attitudes, or is even perpetuating them. In 2018, in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur Dehat, 10,000 Dalits embraced Buddhism under Savitri Bai Phule, a member of parliament who quit the BJP alleging the party was engaged in "divisive politics." Still, in a community of 200 million, views among Dalits are bound to differ. Some support the BJP and disagree with the conversion movement. Jagdish Prasad Maurya, a Dalit who belongs to the BJP, feels there is "no need" to organize a mass conversion drive. Maurya, from Uttar Pradesh, feels the latest events were political and only designed to send a strategic message. "If they really wanted to accept Buddhism, why do it at an event, why not privately?" Countering such arguments, Prashant Kanojia, a political leader and former journalist who became a Buddhist a few years ago, said: "It is important to understand why large-scale conversions are taking place. Every year conversions are happening, but not at this scale." Quoting Ambedkar, Kanojia said, "It has been said that Hinduism is a building without a window. Meaning to say that if you are born into a caste, irrespective of your talent, merit, you will be forced to live a certain way, and if you're a Dalit, you're basically untouchable." Converts say that life may improve in some respects afterward, though society also reminds them of their origins. In any case, it is their way of saying no to a religiously ordained system of discrimination. Senior BJP officials, meanwhile, defend the party and say it looks out for Dalits. Alok Vats, a BJP leader, noted that discrimination is hardly confined to states the party controls. "Look at Rajasthan," he said, referring to a state ruled by the opposition Indian National Congress. "Are Dalits not suffering there?" "This whole conversion event [in New Delhi] was a drama by the AAP for political mileage," said Vats, an upper-caste Hindu. "This drama is only being tolerated because Hindus are accommodative." Vats insisted that the BJP has treated the Dalit community with utmost respect, noting that India's previous president was a Dalit from the party, Ramnath Kovind. Ordinary Dalits, however, suggest that such gestures have brought little change on the ground. Sonu Malla, 27, described life as a Dalit in 21st-century India this way: The upper castes "have labeled us permanently and they use this label to harass us."

Been very busy lately after the 2 long trip and a short trip to Singapore last week. Will continue my posts now. Went to a Japanese restaurant for great sashimi Presenting the freshly arrived seafood from Japan Starts the a drink of course Sashimi Grilled sea snails Yummy Grilled fish Steamed egg Tofu Snacks Dessert - sweet potato abd Hokkaido ice-cream with avocado

https://www.lpga.com/news/2022/new-number-one-thitikul-remains-a-humble-champion New Number One Thitikul Remains A Humble Champion 31 Oct 2022 It was just a matter of time, even if the timing turned out to be a surprise. The way the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings work, events from past years that are part of the formula roll off, even on weeks when the LPGA Tour isn’t playing. Because of that, with most players either enjoying some time at home or getting in some sightseeing in Asia before the TOTO Japan Classic, there was a change at the top of the Rankings. The new No.1 player in the world is 19-year-old rookie Atthaya Thitikul, a young woman everyone calls Jeeno, who is now the second-youngest player in history, man or women, to reach No.1 behind another teen phenom, Lydia Ko. For those who have followed Thitikul’s career, this accomplishment seemed inevitable. In 2017, she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship, becoming the youngest player in history to win a professional event. At that time, she was 14 years, 4 months and 19 days of age. A couple of months later, she made the cut at the Amundi Evian Championship, making her the youngest player ever to play the weekend in that major. Proving that her success wasn’t a fluke, Jeeno won the Asia Pacific Women’s Amateur a week before turning 15. That earned her a spot in the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s Championship in Singapore where she finished in a tie for eighth, the youngest player ever to finish in the top-10 in that event. At 16, she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship again, this time running away from the field. Esther Heinseleit finished runner-up that week, five shots back. Later that summer, Thitikul was low amateur at the AIG Women’s Open and was No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings by a healthy clip until she turned pro in January of 2020, at age 16. The month she turned 17, Jeeno finished fourth in the Women’s New South Wales Open in Australia. Then COVID hit and she went home to Thailand where she won five times on the Thai LPGA, finishing the season atop the money list. She stayed near home in Thailand until May of 2021 when, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, she finished second in the Honda LPGA Thailand, a shot behind Ariya Jutanugarn. That finish and an easing of travel restrictions prompted Jeeno to head to Europe for a season on the LET. Thitikul won four times in 2021, capturing the LET money title, Rookie of the Year, and was voted Player of the Year by her peers. She vaulted up to 18th on the Rolex Rankings. But more importantly, she earned a reputation as one of the kindest and most accommodating players in the game. Lewine Mair, who covered golf for the Daily Telegraph and Global Golf Post, called her “extraordinary on the course and off.” She also has a compelling personal story. “No one in my family plays golf,” Jeeno told Golf Digest. “As a child, I was sick a lot. It wasn’t anything serious, but I got colds constantly. A doctor told my dad, Montree, and my mom, Siriwan, that I needed to play a sport— either golf or tennis—so I’d be outside, and I could control my own schedule. We watched golf on TV, and I chose that over tennis. Tennis requires too much running. “My dad owns a carwash, and my mom is a hairdresser. They worked around their schedules to take me. I liked golf immediately. It was challenging and fun, and there were other kids to play with. At 10, I knew I loved golf and competing. I also realized back then that if I got good enough, I could support my family.” Now, she has two LPGA Tour wins and 12 other top-10 finishes. She is heavily favored to capture the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year title and is in the running for Rolex LPGA Player of the Year. Jeeno is also now the No.1 player in the world. Even so, the character and kindness others recognized early remains her greatest asset. “One thing that I have, like I really want to do, no matter where I am (whether it’s) No. 1 in the world, No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 100, 1000, I want to be same (person),” Thitikul said to media heading into the MEDIHEAL LPGA Championship. “I want to be the same as before, not changing myself. I want to have fun, not really taking (golf) too seriously. I don't want to think about myself like a superstar or act like I’m No. 1 in the world. “I don't really think about the ranking that much. I mean, like I said, it's the outcome that we can’t control. “I play golf because I want to take care of my family,” she added during the BMW Ladies Championship. “I want to feed my family. Whatever I am is fine. Even my family, they have a good life already. Ranking is not that important to me.”

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/atthaya-thitikul-reaches-world-no-1-rookie-season-lpga Atthaya Thitikul reaches world No. 1 in rookie season on LPGA By Colby Powell October 31, 2022 at 10:46 AM Atthaya Thitikul has reached No. 1 in the world prior to her 20th birthday, joining Lydia Ko as the only two players in LPGA history to accomplish the feat. Ko first reached No. 1 at 17 years old. Thitikul is 19 and still in her rookie season on the LPGA. The only other player to reach No. 1 as a rookie was Sung Hyun Park in 2017. Thitikul jumped Jin Young Ko to move to No. 1. Ko has spent a total of 152 weeks at No. 1, leaving her just six weeks short of Lorena Ochoa’s record. "It means a lot for my team, my family, my supporters and myself,” Thitikul said. “It is such an honor to have my name at the top amongst the biggest names of the game. It is very special to get to the top but it is much harder to retain it. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players both on and off the course. I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country." A two-time LPGA winner this season, Thitikul becomes the second player from Thailand to hold the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings, joining Ariya Jutanugarn, who first accomplished the feat in June 2017. Along with the two wins, Thitikul has recorded 12 additional top-10s this season, including three at major championships. Prior to joining the LPGA, Thitikul became the youngest player ever to win the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol in 2021 while also securing Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors. At 14, Thitikul also became the youngest player to ever win a professional golf tournament with her victory at the LET’s Thailand Championship in 2017.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Thailand-Singapore-tourists-jump-in-line-as-Japan-opens-borders?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20221026090000&seq_num=5&si=44594 Thailand, Singapore tourists jump in line as Japan opens borders Southeast Asia travel industry eyes recovery with weak yen fueling strong demand Thai Air Asia's reservations for flights to Japan are on the rise ahead of the holiday season. © Reuters TARO SAEKI, YOHEI MURAMATSU and YUICHI SHIGA, Nikkei staff writersOctober 26, 2022 04:49 JST TOKYO/BANGKOK/MANILA -- With Japan fully reopening its borders this month, Southeast Asian airlines and travel agencies are preparing to meet surging demand from tourists eager to visit for the first time in years. Thai AirAsia, an affiliate of AirAsia's Malaysian parent Capital A, began flying between Bangkok and Fukuoka on Oct. 12, after Japan lifted nearly all of its COVID-19 travel curbs. "We are excited to start the service before demand starts to jump toward the end of the year," Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya said. The first flight to Fukuoka was 95% full. Klongchaiya said reservations were on the rise ahead of the holiday season, and the carrier will add a fourth flight a week starting Sunday. Flag carrier Thai Airways International will resume daily flights to and from Fukuoka on Sunday and Sapporo on Dec. 2, both coming after a hiatus that lasted more than two and a half years. About 1.32 million visited Japan from Thailand in 2019, more than from any other country in Southeast Asia. Many Thai travelers now want to explore new destinations beyond Tokyo and Osaka. Singapore Airlines will launch a new flight to Haneda Airport on Sunday -- its fourth daily flight to the Tokyo area. Budget unit Scoot will also expand direct service to Japan, including a second daily flight to Osaka and a third weekly flight to Fukuoka. People are eager to visit countries they have been unable to over the past few years, Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Jo-Ann Tan said. The carrier logged its first net profit in two quarters in April-June thanks to increased traffic. But its performance in East Asia had remained sluggish, given entry curbs in China and Japan. Interest is growing in the Philippines as well. "We have seen a surge of inquiries," said Stefanie Alapag, assistant general manager for corporate travel at Rajah Travel, adding that "50% of our Asian inquiries right now are really for Japan." A four-night trip to Tokyo is currently priced at around $2,000 -- not including airfare. Costs have increased because of higher hotel prices, she said. Asia-Pacific airlines will suffer an $8.9 billion net loss in 2022, more than those in any other region, according to projections from the International Air Transport Association in June. Thai Airways is cutting staff and fixed costs after filing for bankruptcy protection, while Garuda Indonesia is restructuring. With travel to China slow to recover, many carriers see increased service to Japan as a way to lift earnings. The Shinjuku district in Tokyo is popular among tourists seeking to shop, dine or enjoy nightlife. Japan received 1.02 million visitors in the first nine months of 2022, according to preliminary data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. Southeast Asia and India accounted for 37% of travelers, followed by 26% from East Asia and 18% from the U.S., Europe, Australia and the Middle East. It has since become much easier for tourists to visit Japan, with the country scrapping a requirement to book packaged tours and resuming visa-free travel. A weak yen is providing tailwinds as well. One Singaporean tourist, who was visiting Japan for the first time in three years, said current exchange rates made it more fun to eat and shop through Tokyo. Thai travel agency TTN Corporate Group received about 70 bookings for trips leaving October and about 100 for trips leaving November after Japan lifted the packaged tour requirement, a company representative said. The rush is fueled in part by favorable exchange rates -- around 3.9 yen to the baht, compared with around 3.4 yen at the end of 2021. Incomes in Southeast Asia have remained strong despite the pandemic. Gross domestic product per capita in the Philippines and Vietnam has remained above $3,000, a threshold for increased spending by the middle class, meaning many there can afford to travel once restrictions are lifted. But concerns remain over Japan's ability to welcome back tourists. In a survey by Teikoku Databank this month, some companies said they could not operate at 100% capacity due to staffing shortages. "We're sending corporate employees with customer service experience to hotels for a few hours at a time to help out," Hotel Okura Tokyo said. The company expects occupancy to double on the year in November and December. "Some of our facilities are seeing occupancy rates drop," a representative at a leading business hotel chain said, blaming a staff shortage. Additional reporting by Mayuko Tani in Singapore and Ella Hermonio in Manila.2

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Tears-and-relief-as-Japan-fully-reopens-to-foreign-travelers?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20221011190000&seq_num=2&si=44594 Tears and relief as Japan fully reopens to foreign travellers Weak yen has tourism sector hopeful for a bonanza People arrive at Narita International Airport in Chiba prefecture on Oct. 11. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita) RURIKA IMAHASHI, Nikkei staff writerOctober 11, 2022 17:18 JST TOKYO -- An elderly woman sat impatiently in her wheelchair in the arrival lobby of Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday morning. When her elder sister came in from a flight from Seoul, they hugged for the first time in three years in a long tearful embrace. The 76-year-old South Korean resident of Tokyo had been kept apart from her sibling by Japan's strict entry rules imposed at the onset of the pandemic. Their reunion will be just one example of a family reunited after Japan fully opened its borders on Tuesday. The country has resumed visa-free entry for individual travelers and has waived its entry cap of 50,000 per day. Travelers from most countries are exempt from quarantine and on-arrival COVID tests, although they still have to submit either a vaccine certificate or a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of departure. "We are finally here after so much waiting," said Markus Fruehwirth, a 29-year-old from Austria who will spend four weeks in Japan. He had to cancel his original plan of studying Japanese at a language school in April 2020. Fruehwirth said he plans to visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, and will go to hot springs and tourist spots such as Tokyo's Ghibli Museum. With many people still wearing masks in Japan even though it is not strictly required, Fruehwirth said: "I don't have a problem with wearing a mask if it's needed. I don't have any issue with that." Foreign visitors exchange money at Kansai International Airport on Oct. 11. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama) The number of international travelers between January and August this year stood at around 820,000, down 96% from the same period in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Karen Carl Morrison, a tourist from the U.S., said she would spend just five hours in Japan on Tuesday before flying back to the U.S. "Originally, we were going to come to Japan for three weeks, and we booked flights months ago," Morrison said. However, she couldn't get into Japan at that time and so changed her flights to spend time in Thailand and South Korea. "This is our last day. We're flying home. But we have five hours. ... We are very happy to be here for at least a little bit of time." She planned to visit a Don Quijote discount store, a popular tourist destination. The weak yen is acting as a tailwind, as it makes travel and spending in Japan cheaper. The Japanese currency is worth 145 per dollar, a steep fall from 115 yen at the start of the year. The travel industry has high hopes. In 2019, foreign travelers to Japan spent around 4.8 trillion yen ($33 billion), a record high for the seventh consecutive year. According to Airbnb, as of Sept. 23, the top places of residence of guests who searched for accommodations in Japan on its app were South Korea, the U.S., Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. The destinations most frequently searched for were Osaka, Tokyo, the Tokyo areas of Shinjuku and Shibuya, and Fukuoka. Some areas are already seeing a rebound in inbound business. Taiwan-based online travel startup KKday said the number of reservations for activities available in Japan between Sept. 1 and 30 increased by up to 20 times compared to the previous month. "For now, tourists tend to book activities in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka," a representative told Nikkei Asia. But some businesses are still in wait-and-see mode. A representative for sightseeing bus operator Hato Bus told Nikkei Asia that the company is considering when to restart foreign-language tours, available in English and Chinese, which have been suspended since April 2020. People arriving at Kansai International Airport are welcomed by local government officials in ninja costumes on Oct. 11. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama) Although full reopening is giving a glimmer of hope to the travel industry, the rebound may be somewhat restricted, as travelers from China are unlikely to visit Japan anytime soon. The country shows no signs of easing its strict zero-COVID policy. In 2019, Chinese visitors accounted for 30% of tourist arrivals in Japan. "It will take time for the travel industry to recover fully," noted Wakaba Kobayashi, an economist at the Daiwa Institute of Research. Given the previous high ratio of Chinese tourists, "It will be difficult for Japan to achieve a similar reduction in the rate of decline in arrivals even if COVID border restrictions are relaxed to the level of other Group of Seven countries." Additional reporting by Kentaro Iwamoto.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Thailand-shifts-to-European-U.S.-tourists-to-rely-less-on-Chinese?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20221012123000&seq_num=8&si=44594 Thailand shifts to European, U.S. tourists to rely less on Chinese Tourism head touts sunny weather to those facing surging heating bills Thailand hopes to receive at least 10 million tourists this year. © Sipa USA via AP FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writerOctober 11, 2022 19:40 JST BANGKOK -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, has a new pitch for Europeans and Americans facing a harsh and expensive winter: Save on high electricity and heating bills by coming to enjoy Thailand's tropical weather. The recently launched marketing campaign aims to promote Thailand as a year-round destination at a time when prices and heating bills are surging in Europe and the U.S. Attracting tourists from these markets, who tend to stay longer, will be key to TAT as it aims for 600 billion baht ($15.7 billion) in revenue and 10 million tourists this year -- all without Chinese arrivals. "We have to focus more on the quality. What that means is the ones who can come frequently and the ones who come to Thailand and stay longer," Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the tourism authority, said in a Tuesday press conference. Those targets are well below Thailand's pre-pandemic peak of 40 million tourists and revenue of 3 trillion baht in 2019. If Chinese tourists return in full force by year's end, Yuthasak said Thailand could see up to 12 million tourists. But the governor has low expectations that China will reopen before late January. "We cannot wait for that but we work with many regions and our neighboring countries in Asia, especially [South] Korea and Japan," he said. To replace China's big spenders, Thailand undertook a big push to attract Indian and Middle Eastern visitors looking to escape the high summer, typically low season for Thai tourism. So far, more than 500,000 Indians have visited Thailand this year, second only to the 634,000 Malaysians who only have to cross the border. Yuthasak credited the numbers to Thailand's full relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. The kingdom has received about one million tourists per month since May, recovering faster than its neighboring countries that also rely on tourism. Entry requirements such as vaccination certificates and medical insurance have been dropped. The government on Oct. 1 closed its pandemic command center, officially treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The tourism authority hopes that both long-haul and short-haul visitors will extend their stays by at least 20% next year. That would lead to an increase in spending per trip of about 30%. The TAT believes that tourists will be motivated to stay longer, given that airfares are more expensive now than before the pandemic. Visa-exempt tourists can now stay for 45 days after the government approved a 15-day extension, valid from Oct. 1 to next March. The challenge, however, remains in the logistics of bringing people to Thailand. Airline seat capacity remains at 30% of pre-pandemic levels, which has led to a more than doubling in airfares. "It's not easy. If you bring a plane back, it's not like a car that you can jump-start the battery," said Yuthasak, who added that TAT is working to show airlines the pent-up demand. Seats available for the winter travel season stand at 573,538, an increase of 74% from the summer. The hospitality industry is also contending with a labor shortage, as migrant workers have not returned to Thailand en masse. The tourism ministry has set a target of 55% occupancy for hotels, incentivizing businesses to stay open as long as TAT can bring in 10 million tourists. Domestic tourism may also take a hit as popular destinations for Thais reopen, including Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, while the government's We Travel Together subsidy campaign ends this month. Yuthasak noted long lines at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday, the first day of Japan's full reopening to tourists. "We are preparing a campaign that is aimed at reducing the cost of transportation mainly because we have high prices of gasoline and LPG in Thailand," said Yuthasak, referring to liquefied petroleum gas. "So if we reduce the cost of transportation, we can make them continue to travel." There will be opportunities for Thailand in the reopening of Japan and South Korea. Yuthasak said TAT has focused on attracting younger and female visitors -- instead of older male business travelers -- from Japan and South Korea to activities such as golf, diving, and health and wellness treatments.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-to-tighten-gun-control-rules-after-mass-shooting Thailand to tighten gun control rules after mass shooting BANGKOK - Thailand will toughen its gun possession and drug laws, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, following the nursery massacre of 36 people – including 24 children – in the kingdom’s worst mass killing. The country was left reeling after an ex-police officer forced his way into a small nursery in northeastern Na Klang last week, murdering 22 children at the nursery and their teacher before killing his wife, their child and himself. The attack was carried out with a knife and a legally acquired gun, and while Thailand has a huge number of firearms in circulation – one estimate suggesting there are as many as one in seven firearms per person – mass shootings are rare. Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said on Wednesday the government would require tougher qualifications for new gun owners, as well as ramping up checks on existing firearm holders. “Our new qualification will include mental health reports, we will be examining whether we need proof from doctors,” he told a press conference, without giving further details. Gun applicants are already required to undergo a background check and must present a valid reason for ownership – such as hunting or self-defence. “For example, if officials want to possess a gun, their supervisors have to ratify that that individual has no record of alcohol abuse or bad temper,” Mr Anupong said. Village leaders or local officials will play a role in granting the tougher gun licences, he said. Currently gun owners do not have to reapply for licences during the lifetime of a firearm. But now, approved gun holders will have to undergo a review every three to five years, Mr Anupong said. “Because as time changes, people change,” he explained. Parliament will also discuss an exemption penalty for illegal gun holders, Mr Anupong said, adding that individuals will be able to hand unauthorised firearms to the authorities without facing prosecution – though he did not indicate when they must do so by. Those who still possess illegal weapons will face harsh penalties, he said. Mr Anupong added that his ministry would work with police and the health department to increase drug screening and awareness, as well as encouraging addicts into rehabilitation. “If everyone in town knows that drugs exist but local authorities don’t, they will be transferred,” he said. The nursery attacker, 34-year-old sacked police sergeant Panya Kamrab, was dismissed from his post earlier this year on a drugs charge, with locals saying they suspected he was a methamphetamine addict. However, preliminary tests found that he did not have any drugs in his system at the time of the assault. AFP

I wonder how true is this video’s analysis

Many Thais love their chicken rice. As a matter of fact many Thai chicken rice stalls like to call their chicken rice as Hai Lam Chicken Rice or even Singapore Chicken Rice. I thought it is not necessary to do that because Thai chicken rice is unique by itself as their sauce is completely different. One of the most popular chicken rice shop in Thailand is in Pratunam and I am sure many tourists like to visit the stalls there to try Thai chicken rice. I was nearby there today on some chores and thought I'd go there for my bunch and take some phots to post here. This shop probably sells hundreds of chickens a day It was only 10am and already quite busy, cannot imagine lunch and dinner crowd Menu Reasonably priced Tender and juicy chicken (pretty big serving) Bitter gourd soup My 205baht (S$7.80) meal Verdict: One should not compare this to Singapore's chicken rice as I said before its different. Personally I still prefer the Singapore chicken rice. But if compare to other Thai chicken rice I have to say I had tasted better ones. This shop had probably been made popular by tourists.

Since I had made some comparison of fuel prices now that I am back I thought I make a comparison too with Thai and Singapore fuel prices

Last few photos in NYC Cutting hair costs US$35 as for cut and shave will be US$65. My cut and shave in Thailand is 100m baht or $4 Common sight in MYC Noticed many traffic enforcers are of the Indian descent Colourful Shop selling bonks Police came to chase these roadside vendors away Noticed all corner shops are of the Indian descent

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Electronics/50-000-turntables-amp-up-tunes-for-affluent-vinyl-fans?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20221011090000&seq_num=11&si=44594 $50,000 turntables amp up tunes for affluent vinyl fans Success of niche manufacturer Esoteric rescues parent Teac from financial abyss Esoteric's Grandioso T1 turntable uses a magnetic driver for contactless rotation. (Photo by Shuhei Yuzawa) SHUHEI YUZAWA, Nikkei staff writerOctober 11, 2022 00:03 JST TOKYO -- High-end Japanese audio equipment maker Esoteric has launched its first analog turntable -- at a sticker price normally reserved for new cars. The Grandioso T1, released last month, sets itself apart by using a magnetic driver and platter to achieve contactless rotation. Unlike conventional turntables, it reduces vibrations that would disturb the playback of a record. The device does not come cheap: its suggested retail price starts at 7.15 million yen ($49,500). Esoteric's parent company Teac, an electronics maker, invited this reporter to the company's headquarters to take a listen to the turntable. The equipment was hooked up to Teac speakers priced at 40 million yen. The Grandioso played a powerful instrumental piece, and the ear was able to pick out the most minute notes. Although the experience was overwhelming, it was hard to tell whether the credit goes to the turntable or the high-end speakers. A request was made to play a song this reporter was more familiar with, so Teac put on "Wrapped in Kindness," an early release by Yumi Arai that was featured in the Studio Ghibli feature film "Kiki's Delivery Service." The occasional crackle heard during the listening added flavor to the experience. Teac gave a demonstration of the new turntable, hooked up to a 40 million yen speaker system. Turntables found at cafes and similar establishments normally sell for hundreds to a few thousand dollars. The target market for the Grandioso will be wealthy customers overseas, and the machines will be sold through dealerships. Esoteric "has achieved increases in sales and profits for six consecutive years," said President Hiroshi Oshima. The company's success owes largely to growing shipments outside of Japan. Overseas markets now account for over 60% of overall revenue, with many customers in mainland China and Hong Kong. In 2020, Esoteric signed its first distributorship deal in South America. Esoteric's performance has contributed to an upswing in Teac's earnings. After five straight years of net losses through fiscal 2016, the company returned to the black for the next five years through fiscal 2021. Teac's medium-term plan released in May set out a strategy of taking the lead in a specific niche, then expanding into related products. It targets operating profit of at least 1.1 billion yen in fiscal 2024, up 70% from fiscal 2021. This is a difficult time for the audio equipment industry, with Onkyo Home Entertainment filing for bankruptcy in May. Developing a strong lineup of high-end products, along with carving out a unique niche with equipment for streamers and content creators, will be key to ensuring continued growth.

Finally the non-stop flight to Singapore 18 and a half hour Salad Rice and lemon chicken Ben & Jerry The second meal Prawn salad Dimsum Fruits and chocolate mousse Arrived in Singapore about 5.40am then caught a flight back to Bangkok at 7.50am. Arriving in Bangkok finally at 8.40am

Flight home was 10.30pm so basically had an entire day in NYC. I decided to go lunch alone as wife don't want lunch. Bar Classic Menu Gin and tonic Started with crab cake Delicious Here comes my wine https://i.imgur.com/qvn7PiX.jpg[/img] A Faust Oysters Rockefeller Main course New York Steak Finally dessert

Once again craving for spicy food so our last dinner in NYC was another spicy restaurant Mala House This is a pretty new restaurant only 6 months old Starter Spicy pork Dou miao Spicy fried chicken Spicy beef So tender the beef

So it was our last night in NYC we are here again to catch our flight back to Bangkok and also to return the car. From collecting the car to returning it, I did 1,973 miles or 3,175 km - NYC to Boston to White Mountains to Qubec to Montreal to Toronto to Niagara Falls to Scranton back to NYC. All was good.

Post deleted. Double posted.