Aoi’s blog

  ～450g of mayonnaise is 559 yen～ Kewpie announced on the 26th that it will raise prices of a total of 118 items, including mayonnaise and dressings, by approximately 4 to 18%. This is due to rising costs of raw materials like chicken eggs, packaging costs, processing costs, and labor costs, making it difficult to absorb the increased costs through their own efforts. Mayonnaise products are subject to 30 items, and for a 450-gram product, the reference retail price will rise from 520 yen to 559 yen including tax. Dressing products include 27 items, while food for nursing care includes 52 items. Seasonings and ingredient foods will see price increases starting from shipments on September 1, and foods for nursing care will see increases starting from shipments on October 1. The Kewpie products I buy are not just mayonnaise, but also dressings, so as someone living alone, the price increase is very tough. I sincerely hope that the financial situation will improve, and the prices will ...

 A Taiwanese semiconductor design startup is making aggressive moves in the deployment of AI specialized products. Neuchips is collaborating with manufacturers that develop enterprise PCs and software to leverage its developed chips, proposing ways to use generative AI on the terminal side. They are also looking to expand into the Japanese market.  Neuchips' 'Raptor' is a 7-nanometer process processor characterized by its energy-saving patented technology. By utilizing the expansion device 'Viper' that can be installed on motherboards equipped with this, you can use generative AI functions. It can handle LLMs (large language models) with 14 billion parameters at just 45W.  Expansion into the Japanese market is also anticipated. Mr. Chen stated, 'Japan is seriously aiming for the implementation of generative AI in the world,' expressing hope for the future. I found it to be a very interesting article because generative AI is convenient and is a function that ...

 ①First of all, what I learned from Mrs. Duquette's lecture is the importance of her effort, knowledge of alcohol, and communication through many people and projects from various countries.　From the accumulation of those experiences, I learned about the knowledge of alcohol and it’s culture, which led to the establishment of 「Niigata Sake Lovers」to promote Niigata sake to the world. I have realized once again importance of active communication across countries and the continuous accumulation of efforts and experiences. I also thought that I want to incorporate this ambitious mindset and proactivity into my future life. ②What strongly remains in my memory from the lecture was the discussion about sustainability through reuse. It made us reflect on where we usually dispose of our food wase and helped me realize the importance of reuse in our daily lives. I also want to treasure resources and reconsider ways to utilize them to see if they can be reused. ③What　particularly made me thin...

JR Hokkaido announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2025 on the 9th. The group's consolidated net profit was 4.6 billion yen, an increase of 1.2 billion yen compared to the previous year, securing profitability for the second consecutive term. Against the backdrop of inbound demand, revenue from rail transport grew, and both the hotel and retail/food service sectors also saw increased revenue and profits.  In Hakodate City last year, related events for the movie 'Detective Conan', which was set in the city, were held, leading JR Hokkaido to analyze that the increase in Shinkansen usage was also influenced by the 'Conan effect'. I felt that thanks to movies and plays, if they positively infuluence transportation, it would circulate money and lead to the revitalization of the economy. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/12831e66456e4c87c6ff3ffa140c06ec01053144

  The price of rice continues to soar. The stockpiled rice that was supposed to help control the price is also not reaching us effectivity. Where does the problem lie in the system?  As the rice planting season arrives in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, farmers are flooded with inquiries from contractors even before planning seedling. According to the Rice Industry Organization composed of rice sales operators, the price forecast for staple rice over the next three months is slightly increasing. Price is expected to continue rising in the future. Amidst the continuing high prices, the government has released approximately 310,000 tons of stockpiled rice. However, it has not been reaching consumers effectively. The government is considering easing the participation criteria in order to encourage more vendors to take part in the bidding. On the other hand, experts point out that there are further areas for improvement in the bidding format. Rice is something we eat every day,...

''To what extent are we considering a 'specific minimum wage ' for the nursing care field? A member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan appealed for  improved working conditions for nursing care workers at the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee  on April 23. Minister of Health,Labor and Welfare,Fukuoka Sukemaro, carefully chose his words in response, saying , ''We would like to consider it after confirming the options and actual situation of labor and management". The specific minimum wage is a system that is limited to certain industries and adds to the minimum wage set by each prefecture, and there is currently active debate in the Diet about whether or not to introduce it to nursing care workers. I have experience caring for grandmother so know difficult it can be ，but I would like to see a rise in the salaries if those who do this every day as a job. https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA248WK0U5A420C2000000/