`₍⋆・-・⋆₎´歌舞仲間

OHTANI SPEAKS OUT ON SCANDAL

Japanese star Ohtani Shohei has spoken up about the scandal everyone else in baseball is speaking about. He has kept quiet since his former interpreter was accused of illegal gambling and “massive theft.” But now, he's shared his side of the story.

Ohtani held a news conference at the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium to address the allegations that surfaced last week around his camp. U.S. media reported Mizuhara Ippei had amassed debts with an illegal bookmaker of 4.5 million dollars. The team fired him, and Ohtani's lawyers are accusing him of wiring money from Ohtani's bank account.

Ohtani says he didn't know about the debt nor about Mizuhara's gambling addiction until Mizuhara spoke last week to the team.

He says it's “really hard” to verbalize how he is feeling right now. But he says he's saddened and shocked that someone he trusted has done this.

日本では、「ギグワーク」（空き時間や短時間に働く働き方）のニーズが増える中、そうした人たちのための仲介サービスが拡大しています。

フリマアプリで知られる「メルカリ」は今月（３月）、この仲介サービス事業に参入しました。利用者はアプリを利用することで、面接や履歴書の作成をすることなく、最短で１時間の仕事をすぐに見つけることができます。

別の仲介サービス業者の「タイミー」は先月（２月）、ゆくゆくは正社員になる選択肢があるパートタイムの求人情報を掲載するサービスを始めました。

また、「シェアフル」は、利用者の過去の経験と実績に基づいて、正社員の求人情報を通知するアプリを立ち上げました。

矢野経済研究所は、日本におけるギグワーク（スポットワーク）の仲介サービスの市場企業は急速に成長するとみています。（調査によりますと）２０２３年度の市場規模は、前の年度（２０２２年度）より２７パーセント増えて８２０億円、５億６０００万ドルを上回る見通しです。

JOB-MATCHING SERVICES FOR GIG WORK SPREADING IN JAPAN

Matchmaking services for short-term workers are growing in Japan, in tandem with a rise in the number of people looking for “gig work” to fill their free time.

Mercari is best known for its flea market app. It entered the job search business this month. Customers can use an app to quickly find work that lasts as little as one hour. There is no need for interviews or preparing resumes.

Another provider, Timee, started posting part-time positions last month with an option for applicants to become permanent hires down the road.

Sharefull has launched an app that notifies users of permanent positions based on their past experience and performance.

Yano Research Institute believes the market for such services in Japan is set to grow sharply. It sees 27-percent growth for this fiscal year from the previous period to become worth more than 82 billion yen, or 560 million dollars.

ヒマラヤの王国ブータンの新しい首相は、ブータンは国民の幸福を重視しながらも、観光などの対策を通じて経済を押し上げる必要があると述べました。

ツェリン・トブゲイ氏は、１月の議会選挙で５年ぶりに政権が交代したあと、首相に就任しました。

インタビューに応じたトブゲイ首相は、「経済成長と繁栄の目的は、国民の福祉のためであるべきです。幸福は重要です。しかし幸福だけを（経済と）切り離して手に入れることはできません」と述べました。

ブータンは、国民の（精神的な）幸福感を何より優先するＧＮＨ＝「国民総幸福」という概念を追求していることで知られています。

しかしトブゲイ首相は、コロナ禍後、極めて重要な産業である観光業が回復せず、ブータンは厳しい経済状態にあるという認識を示しました。トブゲイ首相はまた、（経済の立て直しのため）海外からの投資を呼びかけました。

BHUTAN PM: HAPPINESS WILL COME FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH

Bhutan's new prime minister says the Himalayan kingdom needs to boost its economy through tourism and other measures while continuing to focus on people's happiness.

Tshering Tobgay took office after parliamentary elections in January. It's the first change of government in Bhutan in five years.

(Tshering Tobgay / Bhutanese Prime Minister)

“The objective of economic growth and prosperity must be for the welfare of people. And therefore, happiness is important. But you cannot have happiness in isolation.”

Bhutan is known for its pursuit of “Gross National Happiness.” It's a concept that prioritizes people's sense of well-being above all else.

But Tobgay said Bhutan's economy is suffering because the all-important tourism industry has not rebounded since the pandemic. He also called on investment from abroad.

>>No. 2319

アメリカのドナルド・トランプ前大統領は、共和党の指名争いからライバルが次々に脱落するのを見てきました。そして今、最後の（ライバル）候補者が身を引きました。ニッキー・ヘイリー元国連大使は、党内で十分な支持を得られず、（選挙戦からの）撤退を表明しました。

ヘイリー氏は１年以上にわたって選挙戦を戦ってきましたが、党幹部がすでに「指名獲得が確実」としていた候補者（のトランプ氏）に屈しました。

ヘイリー氏は、「党内外でドナルド・トランプ氏を支持しなかった人たちの票を獲得できるかどうかは、彼しだいです。私は彼がそうすることを願っています」と述べました。

ヘイリー氏は、指名候補を選ぶ代議員の支持を得るための競争において大きく後れを取っていたにもかかわらず、トランプ氏を支持することを拒否しました。

ヘイリー氏の撤退を受けて、アメリカの有権者は「彼女は善戦しました。そして今、残念ながら彼女は次に進むときでしょう。選挙はとにかく彼女に有利に展開していませんでした」と話していました。

トランプ氏は、ヘイリー氏は「惨敗した」として、ヘイリー氏の支持者に自身の選挙運動に参加するよう呼びかけました。

HALEY CEDES REPUBLICAN RACE TO TRUMP

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has seen one rival after another drop out of the race for the Republican nomination. Now the last hopeful has stepped aside. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley left after failing to win enough support within the party.

Haley had spent more than a year campaigning. She's conceded to a candidate party officials have already labeled the “presumptive nominee.”

(Nikki Haley / U.S. Former Ambassador to UN)

“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, and I hope he does that.”

Haley declined to endorse Trump, even though she'd fallen well behind in the race for delegates who'll choose the nominee.

(U.S. voter)

“She put up a good fight. And now it's, I guess, unfortunately, time for her to move on. The math just isn't working for her.”

Trump says Haley “got trounced.” And he invited her supporters to join his movement.

>>No. 2317

世界中の漫画ファンが、日本の偉大なアーティストの死を悼んでいます。漫画の歴史において最も人気のある作品の１つである「ＤＲＡＧＯＮ ＢＡＬＬ」を生み出した鳥山明さんが先週（３月１日）、亡くなりました。６８歳でした。

鳥山さんの漫画家としてのキャリアは、１９７８年に始まりました。その２年後、鳥山さんは「Ｄｒ.スランプ」という作品の連載を開始しました。

また、１９８４年には、超人的な力を持つ少年を主人公にした「ＤＲＡＧＯＮ ＢＡＬＬ」の連載を始めました。願いをかなえる（ドラゴン）ボールと、さまざまな敵との戦いをめぐる孫悟空の冒険は、世界中のファンを魅了し、累計発行部数は２億６,０００万部に上りました。

中国・上海のファンは、「鳥山さんの作品では正義感が描かれています。それは私が友達を作るのを助けてくれました。漫画界にとって間違いなく大きな損失です」と話していました。

また、アメリカ・ニューヨークのファンは、「子どものときによく作品を読んでいて、とても楽しかったです。悟空みたいになりたいと思ったものでした。鳥山さんに敬意を表して、もう一度作品を読むかもしれませんね」と話していました。

WORLD MOURNS 'DRAGON BALL' MANGA ARTIST TORIYAMA AKIRA

Manga fans around the world are mourning the death of a Japanese master artist. Toriyama Akira created Dragon Ball, one of the most popular works in the history of the genre. He died last week at the age of 68.

His career in manga began in 1978. Two years later, Toriyama began a serial titled “Dr. Slump.”

In 1984, Toriyama launched “Dragon Ball,” featuring a boy with superhuman strength. Son Goku's adventures involving wish-granting balls and battles against a variety of villains fascinated fans across the globe. The series sold a total of 260 million copies.

(Fan from Shanghai)

“His works feature a sense of justice. They helped me to make friends. It's definitely a great loss to the manga world.”

(Fan from New York)

“I used to read them a lot when I was a kid, and it was very fun. And I used to wanna be like Goku. I might read the books again just in his honor.”

>>No. 2315

ミャンマーでは、１か月前に軍が国民に兵役の義務を課すと発表したのを受けて、徴兵を逃れるために、隣国のタイに出国しようとする若者が増えています。

ミャンマーの軍事政権は先月（２月）、１８歳から３５歳の男性と１８歳から２７歳の女性を対象に、最長２年の兵役の義務を課すと発表しました。

この発表を受けて、徴兵の対象となった国民がミャンマーからの出国を目指し、ヤンゴンにあるタイ大使館などの在外公館には、長期滞在のビザを求める多くの人が殺到しました。

タイ北部の都市チェンマイの大学では今月（３月）、英語科の入学試験が行われましたが、１００人の定員に対して２１００人の応募がありました。応募者のほとんどがミャンマー人でした。

この大学に応募したヤンゴン出身の３２歳の男性は、「私の双子の兄や全ての友人たちが民主派勢力です。軍に加わり、彼らを撃つつもりはありません」と話していました。

軍は４月に、最初の５,０００人を徴兵するとしています。

MYANMAR YOUTHS TRY TO AVOID CONSCRIPTIONA

A growing number of young people in Myanmar are trying to flee to neighboring Thailand to avoid compulsory military service announced by the junta one month ago.

Myanmar's junta said last month that men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must do military service for up to two years.

The announcement prompted citizens subject to the call-up to try to escape Myanmar. Many swarmed foreign missions, including the Thai embassy in Yangon, to obtain long-term visas.

A university in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai received 2,100 applications to take entrance exams earlier this month for 100 places at its English-language department. Most of the applicants were from Myanmar.

(32-year-old applicant from Yangon)

“My twin brother and all my friends are on the side of pro-democracy forces. I have no intention of joining the military to shoot them.”

The junta said it will call up the first batch of 5,000 people in April.

A rare specimen has been identified at a Japanese national museum, thanks to the work of a junior high student. She led a study on a taxidermy piece that's now been identified as the hide of an extinct Japanese wolf.
Thirteen-year-old Komori Hinako's curiosity was piqued when she saw the specimen at the National Museum of Nature and Science four years ago. It was labeled “wild dog,” but the girl thought it closely resembled a creature she'd seen in picture books.

(Komori Hinako)
“At first glance, I was like, 'This is a Japanese wolf.' The wolf has these whiskers, which are just amazing.”

Japanese wolves are believed to have gone extinct about a century ago. With the help of experts, Komori determined the one displayed here was likely a Japanese wolf that was kept at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo just before the animal died out.

紅麹の健康効果と安全性への懸念
紅麹に含まれるモナコリンKは、コレステロールの生合成を阻害する働きがあります。しかし、ヨーロッパ食品安全機関（EFSA）は、紅麹サプリメントの安全性に懸念を示しています。モナコリンKの含有量が製品によってばらつきがあること、シトリニンの混入の可能性があることが理由です。EFSAは、紅麹サプリメントの使用を推奨していません。

どうなるサンバイオ

創薬ベンチャーのサンバイオ（4592）が“激震”に見舞われている。

3月25日に開かれた厚生労働省の薬事・食品衛生審議会の再生医療等製品・生物由来技術部会（以下、専門部会）。サンバイオの脳疾患治療薬「SB623」（発売後の製品名「アクーゴ脳内移植用注」）の承認に当たって事実上の前提条件を議論する場だったが、その審議結果はサンバイオにとって文字どおり衝撃的な内容となった。

一言でいえば、「アクーゴ」の承認審査の「差し戻し」だからだ。厚労省のリリースを意訳して解説すると、以下のとおり。

● 有効性と安全性の観点からは、臨床現場に提供する（承認・実用化の）意義はある● ただし、現時点のデータからは治験（承認申請に使用した臨床試験段階の）製品と（審議過程にある現時点で提供されている）本品とが同等・同質だとは判断できない● したがって、今後追加データを提出すれば、改めてPMDA（医薬品医療機器総合機構、厚生労働省所管の独立行政法人）で承認審査し、その後でこの専門部会で承認可否を審査するこれでサンバイオが最後まで粘った3月中の「アクーゴ」承認取得の目は消えた。ただでさえ遅れてきた承認がさらに遅れることは避けられない。

厚労省や専門部会の外部専門家たちが要求する条件（追加データ）が具体的にはわからないが、最悪のケースでは、サンバイオが同等性・同質性について納得できる新たなデータを得るための試験や、細胞の生産などのやり直しをする必要が発生し、年単位の時間がかかることもありうる。

財務的にも苦戦するサンバイオにとって、まさに「悪夢」のシナリオが降りかかってきた、といっても過言ではない。株式市場では翌26日、ストップ安気配で値がつかない状態が続き、大引けの15時ちょうどに制限値幅いっぱいの前日比100円（16.4％）安となる510円で値がついた。

ベンチャー創薬は難しい。

People in the Marshall Islands are marking 70 years since the U.S. conducted a hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
The test happened on March 1, 1954, exposing people to radiation. They included many islanders as well as crew members of the Japanese fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru. People on fishing boats from other areas of Japan were also exposed. A number of Japanese attended a ceremony in the capital, Majuro, on Friday.
A representative of the islanders who were forced to relocate from Bikini Atoll says that their sacrifice and suffering must never be forgotten. The president of the Marshall Islands pledged to continue negotiations to seek compensation from the U.S. government.
The U.S. conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands through 1958. Islanders exposed to radiation are suffering from health problems even now.

A Japanese woman who spoke up against sexual harassment has been honored for her bravery. Officials at the U.S. State Department praised Gonoi Rina for shining a light on “an otherwise taboo subject.”
Gonoi joined 11 other recipients of the International Women of Courage Award for a ceremony at the White House.
She'd been serving in the Ground Self-Defense Force when three sergeants sexually assaulted her at a training facility. She filed a complaint, but her superiors dismissed it. Gonoi resigned, took the men to court, and won her case.
She inspired more than 100 other SDF members to step forward to say they, too, were victims.

(Jill Biden / U.S. First Lady)
“You've spoken out for yourselves and for others in the face of fear and risk, and those who have tried to steal your voices away.”

Experts from around the world have gathered in Geneva to discuss restricting the use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, or LAWS. The meeting comes amid mounting concerns over their use in Gaza.

(Nakamitsu Izumi / UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs)
“It is up to you, the States, to take a preemptive and preventative approach, to shield present and future generations from the consequences of the use of autonomous weapons systems.”

The artificial intelligence-driven systems are typically able to select and attack targets without a human operator. The technology is described by some as “inhumane.”
Officials say the parties involved will spend the next three years discussing whether to introduce restrictions.

Doctors at Japan's Kyoto University Hospital say they've successfully conducted the world's first simultaneous lung and liver transplant from living donors.
Professor Date Hiroshi discussed details of the surgery on Monday and gave an update on the post-operative progress. He said the surgery in November was conducted on a boy under the age of 10, who had a serious congenital disease.
Date's team said the patient received parts of his parents' lungs and his grandfather's liver. The doctors said the surgery took more than 18 hours.
The boy left the hospital earlier this month, after he regained the ability to walk on his own. The team also said his parents and grandfather have already been discharged.
The hospital says it was the world's first case of simultaneous lung and liver transplant to be conducted with living donors. It says outside of Japan, there have been at least 20 cases of a similar surgery involving brain-dead donors.

Many buildings in Tokyo have plenty of wow factor. But come sundown, few scream “Look at me!” quite like one skyscraper in Shinjuku.
The Metropolitan Government Building is now the largest permanent projection mapping display in the world. Shows kicked off on Sunday and run five times per night from 7 p.m. They feature everything from Japanese culture and traditional arts to some of the capital's other landmarks.
The project has been certified by Guinness World Records. And Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says she hopes it becomes a new tourist attraction.
The shows run for about 10 to 15 minutes, with different themes on weekdays and weekends and holidays.

Doctors here in Japan have started prescribing a new weight-loss drug to patients who suffer from obesity. But there are concerns people could use it for cosmetic purposes, making it harder for those who need it to get access.
This woman regularly meets a doctor to treat her obesity.
　
(Ono Hiraku / Associate Professor, Chiba University Hospital)
“A new medicine called Wegovy went on sale today. So let's give it a try.”

The drug was developed by Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, mimics the effects of an appetite-regulating hormone.
Japan's public health insurance system covers the use of Wegovy for patients diagnosed with obesity, as well as high blood pressure and other symptoms. But a growing number of people are turning to diabetes drugs containing semaglutide for cosmetic purposes. Experts say using the medicine without doctor supervision can be dangerous.