Nov 12

Dear Students,

In consideration of your development, I will no longer speak Japanese.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

1.  Lang-8
2.  Japan Times (If you want a grammar correction, just ask.)
3.  Anki (171-180)
4.  Eiken (Speaking) -  I have been an Eiken examiner for over 10 years.  I will call you to my desk, test you individually, and offer you advice for passing the speaking section.

5.  Homework

Article 1

A science ministry working group studying stem cells and regenerative medicine has updated its road map on induced pluripotent stem-cell research, aiming to create human organs including brains, lungs and kidneys via iPS cells within 10 years.

The group's updated plan, first compiled in 2009, calls for the distribution of iPS cells for regenerative medicine to start within the next two to three years. The announcement comes after Kyoto University professor Shinya Yamanaka jointly won this year's Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for his revolutionary work in developing iPS cells.

Article 2

Nissan Motor Co. said Friday it will spend about $358 million to construct a second auto assembly plant in Thailand as it ramps up production overseas, away from its costly domestic factories.

The new plant in Samut Prakan Province will be built close to Nissan's factory near Bangkok, and will eventually employ about 6,000 workers.

Japan's second-biggest automaker said it will initially build 75,000 vehicles at the new plant, scheduled to open in August 2014, before expanding annual output to 150,000 units. Nissan made 190,00 vehicles in Thailand last year.

"(It) will not only enable us to raise our competitiveness in the domestic market, but will ensure Thailand's position as a key strategic global export hub for Nissan," the automaker's executive vice president, Hiroto Saikawa, said in a statement.

Article 3

Fiscal discipline will be an integral part of any country's efforts to resolve debt problems, irrespective of the size of the nation's economy, a senior banker from Israel said at a recent symposium in Tokyo.

Joseph Bachar

Joseph Bachar, chairman of Israel Discount Bank group, said Israel's lessons learned from its experience in dealing with its crisis in the early 2000s will be relevant for the current debt woes in the much bigger economies of Europe or the United States.

Bachar, formerly director general of Israel's Finance Ministry, was speaking at a symposium organized by the Keizai Koho Center on Oct. 15 to discuss the global economy and Mideast issues.

"We are a very small country whose economy is equivalent to 5 percent of Japan in terms of gross domestic product, but its macroeconomic principles are not much different from those required in running a major economy," he said.