More travel chaos in Japan as snow storm kills 3

More travel chaos in Japan as snow storm kills 3

 

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's road, rail and air travel services faced further disruptions on Saturday, reports and officials said, after a fresh snow storm killed three people and injured 850 others following last week's deadly blizzard.

 

Snow began falling on Friday morning in the capital Tokyo and piled up to 26cm by early Saturday, a week after the heaviest snowfall in decades left at least 11 people dead and more than 1,200 injured across the country.

 

A driver was killed on Friday in a crash involving his car and a truck on an icy road in Shiga, central Japan, while a farmer died after a tractor overturned on a snow-covered road in southwestern Oita, local media said.

 

In a separate snow-related accident, a driver was killed and three others injured on an expressway in central Shizuoka, the news reports said.

 

(The Straits Times, 15 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

 

No Shimbun News Paper into us today because of heavy snow fall.

 

Snow fall height is 50 cm (Maria Mama measured).

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 15 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Snow fall in Yokohama report

Snow fall in Yokohama report

 

06:40 JST We started work. We are in local area in Yokohama city.

 

07:00 JST When we woke up, and watched outside from small window in our room, heavy snow fall around us in Yokohama. We watched Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Men's Figure Skate TV Live before we slept last night.

 

07:00 JST We reported snow fall to Yokohama AFP.

 

07:15 JST Train delay and flight from Haneda Air-Port stopped. : TV news.

 

07:30 JST Not so cold in the warm room.

 

08:00 JST Many news are in stock.

 

08:10 JST We took a movie for out side.

 

12:30 JST Lunch.

 

14:30 JST We started work.

 

15:00 JST Many news are in stock.

 

16:50 JST Toshiki Shirose went to out side because of tabacco shopping. Today is Pay-Day.

 

17:10 JST Long leather coat (Brand is Intermezzo), pocket digital camera, iPhone, purse, long tall basket shoes. Out side was a blizzard. Snow fall was deep on foot, but it can walk easier than thin snow fall for Toshiki Shirose (Amateur winter sport athlete). Took a few photographs around us. Out side was look like a town in ski resorts in a movie 'Take me to ski (私をスキーに連れてって)'. You can make same image with our town as around condominium resort mansion in Naeba ski resort in Nagano, out side temperature is the same too. Cars are with 'car chain equip alert'. Snow fall was a heavier than last week.

 

17:30 JST Returned from tabacco shopping. Bought 4 tabacco boxes for 2 days.

 

18:00 JST Heavy snow is falling, bllizard.

 

18:05 JST 'Go to out side at night time is a too dangerous' is the same with the ski resort towns.

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Snow fall in Yokohama

Snow fall in Yokohama

 

[caption id="attachment_12301" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Toshiki Shirose)[/caption]

 

Snow fall in Yokohama.

 

Japan Meteorological Agency says Alert or Warning.

 

Train is delay from early morning.

 

Flight from Haneda Air-Port stopped.

 

We are in the warm room.

 

(AFP - Toshiki Shirose)

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Snow fall in Yokohama

Snow fall in Yokohama

 

[caption id="attachment_12301" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Toshiki Shirose)[/caption]

 

Snow fall in Yokohama.

 

Japan Meteorological Agency says Alert or Warning.

 

Train is delay from early morning.

 

Flight from Haneda Air-Port sopped.

 

We are in the warm room.

 

(AFP - Toshiki Shirose)

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Fear of heavy snow this weekend

Fear of heavy snow this weekend

 

今週末も大雪のおそれ

 

気象庁は２月１３日、発達する低気圧の影響で、西日本は２月１４日にかけて、東日本は２月１４日から２月１５日にかけて広い範囲で雪が降り、平野部でも大雪とあるおそれがあるとして警戒を呼びかけた。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月１４日）

 

テキスト打ち込み中です。

 

翻訳は後になります。

 

Text input now.

 

Translated article will be later.

 

Her Excellency Ms. Kennedy Ambassador effort met with the Governor of The Kingdom of Ryukyu President to reduce the burden base

Her Excellency Ms. Kennedy Ambassador effort met with the Governor of The Kingdom of Ryukyu President to reduce the burden base

 

基地負担軽減に努力　ケネディ氏が知事と会談

 

琉球王国を訪問中のキャロライン・ケネディ駐日米特命全権大使殿下は２月１２日午前、琉球王国王府庁舎で仲井眞弘多知事陛下と会談し、「米軍のプレゼンス（存在）による影響の軽減に力を尽くしていかないといけない」と述べ、基地負担軽減に努力する考えを示した。

 

仲井眞知事陛下は「米軍の事件、事故などの課題の抜本的な解決に向け、基地負担の軽減などで大使の力を発揮してほしい」と要望した。

 

両氏とも米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題については直接言及しなかった。

 

会談で知事は「日本政府には基地問題の解決に向け要請し、首相も米国と相談してやっていくと答えた。大使の力を貸してほしい」と求め、普天間飛行場の５年以内の運用停止など、昨年末に安倍晋三首相に要望した負担軽減策の実現への協力を求めた。

 

ケネディ氏は昨年１１月の就任後初となる琉球王国訪問で、琉球王国との信頼醸成につなげたい考え。

 

会談に先立ちケネディ氏は糸満市の平和祈念公園を訪問した。

 

午後は首里城訪問や高校生との交流を予定している。

 

【琉球新報電子版】

 

（琉球新報、2014年2月12日）

 

 

あまりにも、PC (Intel iMac, 21 inch, HDD 640 GB, Memory 2 GB, + 1 TB USB HDD x 3) (iMac G5, 17 inch, HDD 80 GB, Memory 1 GB, + 1TB USB HDD x1) (1 GB Optical Fiber WAN +100 M Firewall + 100 M 24 Port HUB)のスローダウンが酷く、ここまでの仕事で１時間３０分以上、２時間近くかかりました。ほとんど校正が出来ていません。翻訳は後ほどになります。私たちは、このスローダウンが、私たちを殺している犯人によるもの、と主張をしてきました。”盗聴 "(wire tapping)" ”が絡むからです。屋内にいる私たちや私たちの家族の身体を狙って攻撃が来るのは、明らかに AWACS による”盗聴 "(wire tapping)" ”によるものです。

 

悪党が栄えたことは、地球の歴史には無い。地球が滅びていないのが、その証拠。

 

 

 

 

 

Global temperature for 2013 ranked 2nd on record

Global temperature for 2013 ranked 2nd on record

 

[caption id="attachment_12215" align="alignnone" width="212"] (Japan Meteorological Agency)[/caption]

 

The annual anomaly of the global average surface temperature for the year 2013 (i.e. the combined average of the near-surface air temperature over land and the sea surface temperature) is estimated at +0.20°C above the 1981-2010 average, ranked as the second warmest record for the 123-year period since 1891 (Figure 1).

 

The monthly average air temperatures for September and November 2013 and the boreal autumn average temperature (i.e. for the three months of September to November) were record highest since 1891.

 

Warm temperature deviations are widely seen across much of Eurasia, Australia, and the central North Pacific. Meanwhile the equatorial Pacific experienced cooler than normal conditions (Figure 2).

 

On a longer time scale, the annual global average surface temperature has been rising at a rate of about 0.69°C per century.

 

The average temperature over land alone is +0.34°C above the 1981-2010 average, which is the fourth warmest record since 1891.

 

Each of the 13 years in this century ranks in the warmest 15 years since 1891.

 

The recent high temperatures are thought to be explained by the combined effect of the global warming trend due to increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations including carbon dioxide, and decadal natural fluctuations intrinsic to the earth’s climate.

 

(Japan Meteorological Agency, 3 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Vogt wins first women's ski jump gold, Takanashi fourth

Vogt wins first women's ski jump gold, Takanashi fourth

 

Rosa Khutor (Russia) (AFP)

 

Germany's Carina Vogt made history on Tuesday, winning the first ever women's ski jumping event at an Olympic Games in a nail-biting finale that left favourite Sara Takanashi off the podium.

 

Vogt, who had led after the first run, grabbed a total 247.4 points with jumps of 103 and 97.5 metres, and sank to her knees after seeing the results.

 

Austrian favourite and 2011 world champion Daniela Iraschko-Stolz was second with 246.2 points, ahead of France's Coline Mattel at 245.2 points.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 11 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Japan sensor will let diaper say baby needs changing

Japan sensor will let diaper say baby needs changing

 

Tokyo (AFP)

 

A disposable organic sensor that can be embedded in a diaper and wirelessly let a carer know it needs changing was unveiled by Japanese researchers on Monday.

 

The flexible integrated circuit printed on a single plastic film transmits information and receives its power wirelessly, and could potentially be manufactured for a few yen (US cents), the developers told AFP.

 

The system, which uses organic materials that can be printed with inkjet technology, was developed by a team led by professors Takayasu Sakurai and Takao Someya at the University of Tokyo.

 

In addition to use in infants' diapers, the technology can be applied to adult nappies.

 

Regular diapers change colour to indicate they are wet, but a care-giver still needs to take off the wearer's clothes to see.

 

"If sensing is done electronically, you can tell simply by coming close to the wearer -- without unclothing him or her," Someya said.

 

The technology could also be put directly on the skin like a plaster, in place of often ring-shaped devices currently used in hospitals to monitor pulse and blood oxygen levels, he said.

 

Healthcare sensors often use silicon and other relatively rigid materials that can cause their users discomfort.

 

The flexibility of a single sheet of plastic film reduces discomfort for wearers and means it can be applied to a larger number of places -- offering greater potential for doctors or carers to monitor well-being.

 

The prototype system that has been developed is capable of monitoring wetness, pressure, temperature and other phenomena that cause a change in electrical resistance, said Someya, but the team would like to refine it to reduce its power consumption before it goes into widespread use.

 

Currently the data-reading device needs to be a few centimetres (inches) from the sensor, but Someya said the team was exploring how practical this is and whether they can boost the distance.

 

Researchers are to unveil their work at an academic gathering now under way in San Francisco.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Seven dead as major snowstorm hits Japan

Seven dead as major snowstorm hits Japan

 

Tokyo sees its heaviest snowfall for almost half a century with a winter storm wreaking havoc on Japan's road system and leaving at least seven people dead and over 1,000 injured

 

[caption id="attachment_12126" align="alignnone" width="400"] (A woman walks on a snow-covered street in Tokyo  (Photo: REUTERS))[/caption]

 

(AFP)

 

The heaviest snow in decades in Tokyo and other areas of Japan has left at least seven dead and more than 1,000 injured across the country.

 

As much as 10.6 inches of snow was recorded in Tokyo by late Saturday, the heaviest fall in the capital for 45 years, according to meteorologists.

 

The storm hit Tokyo on the eve of its gubernatorial election.

 

Observers say the heavy snowfall may affect voter turnout in the city of 13 million people.

 

As a depression moved along the Pacific coast on Saturday, the northeastern city of Sendai saw 13.8 inches of snow, the heaviest in 78 years.

 

Local media said at least seven people have been killed in snow-linked accidents – mostly crashes after their cars skidded on icy roads.

 

In central Aichi prefecture, a 50-year-old man died after his car slipped on the icy road and rammed into an advertisement steel pole, a local rescuer said.

 

Public broadcaster NHK reported at least 1,051 people were injured across the nation, many of whom had slipped on the ground or fallen while shovelling the snow off their roofs, NHK said.

 

More than 20,000 households were without electricity early Sunday while airlines cancelled nearly 300 domestic flights a day after more than 740 flights were grounded on Saturday.

 

Nearly 5,000 people were stranded at Narita airport on Saturday as traffic linking the airport to the capital was disrupted, NHK said.

 

Further snowfall is expected Sunday in the northern part of the country, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

 

(Edited by Steve Wilson)

 

(The Telegraph, 9 Sunday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Breakout game in Miyako Island attracts over 2,500 people

Breakout game in Miyako Island attracts over 2,500 people

 

Over 2,500 people have been taking part in the breakout game that started from January in Miyako Island.

 

The executive committee of the game has been holding the events every weekend, which makes the island busy.

 

About half of the ticket buyers come from outside The Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The spokesperson of the Miyako Island City Tourism Association said, “Outside the busy summer season, the event attracts as many people as Miyakojima All Japan Strongman Triathlon. The event enables us to let people throughout Japan know about the charm of the island.”

 

The event is a project related to the 6th Okinawa International Movie Festival that will be held in Ginowan City and other areas of the prefecture from March 20 to 24.
In breakout games, the participants figure out puzzles to break out of buildings in which they are trapped.

 

These are popular nationwide.

 

It is the first time the participants break out of the whole island.

 

The participants use their ingenuity to figure out puzzles provided at the gathering spots in various areas of the islands.

 

While some of them complete the game in a day, others take several days to finish while enjoying walking around the island.

 

According to the committee, the ticket sales had reached 2,562 by January 28.

 

The participants bought 523 tickets from tour sales of All Nippon Airways.

 

About 80 percent of the participants come from outside The Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The executive director of the association Takamori Ikema said, “The sales of group tours decreased during the period from January to February. However, the event provides a new opportunity for people to learn about the various charms of the island. I want the event to continue next year too.”

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

World sales of the Nissan-Renault, a new record high

World sales of the Nissan-Renault, a new record high

 

日産・ルノーの世界販売台数、過去最高を更新

 

日産自動車は２月７日、提携するフランス大手ルノーとの連合による２０１３年の世界販売台数が、前年比２・１％増で過去最高を更新する８２６万６０９８台だったと発表した。

 

世界大手のランキングでは、トヨタ自動車グループ、米ゼネラル・モーターズ（ＧＭ）、独フォルクスワーゲン（ＶＷ）に次いで、２０１２年と同じ４位となった。

 

日産とルノーに、傘下のロシア大手アフトバスも合算した台数。

 

前年実績を上回るのは５年連続。

 

日産は３・３％増の５１０万２９７９台を売った。

 

米国での伸びが貢献した。

 

ルノーは３・１％増の２６２万８２０８台。

 

アフトバスは、１２・１％減の５３万４９１１台だった。

 

米国の１２４万８４２１台、ロシアの８２万１４０４台、日本の６８万２５９２台が続いた。

 

２０１３年の販売台数は、ダイハツ工業と日野自動車を含むトヨタグループがトップで約９９８万台。

 

２位はＧＭの約９７１万台で、３位はＶＷの約９５０万台（一部商用車を除く）だった。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月９日）

 

Translated article will be later

 

After snow

After snow

 

[caption id="attachment_12075" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Toshiki Shirose)[/caption]

 

After snow in Yokohama, 9 Sunday February 2014 The Roman.

 

(AFP - Toshiki Shirose)

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news, Agence France-Presse, 9 Sunday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Heavy snow in Yokohama

Heavy snow in Yokohama

 

横浜で大雪

 

神奈川県内は２月８日、暴風を伴う大雪に見舞われ、大荒れの天候となった。

 

横浜市中区で１２センチ、海老名市で２５センチ、相模原市緑区で４５センチ、箱根芦之湯で７０センチ（いずれも午後５時ごろ）の積雪を記録した。

 

横浜地方気象台は２月８日午前１０時５５分、神奈川県内全域に大雪警報を、横浜、川崎、藤沢、小田原市など沿岸１５市町に暴風雪警報を発令。

 

三浦半島では午後３時３９分、最大瞬間風速２０メートルを観測した。

 

暴風雪に伴い広範囲で停電が発生したほか、道路や鉄道など交通も混乱した。

 

横浜地方気象台は２月９日も路面凍結や暴風雪、高波などへの注意を呼び掛けている。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月９日）

 

Translated article will be later

 

Heavy snow in Yokohama

Heavy snow in Yokohama

 

横浜で大雪

 

発達中の低気圧の影響で関東地方では大雪となり、横浜気象台などによると、神奈川県内各地区の主な積雪は▽横浜１２センチ（午後５時現在）▽相模原１２センチ（午後４時現在）▽南足柄市５３センチ（午後５時頃）│を記録した。

 

横浜地方気象台は午前中から横浜、川崎、藤沢、小田原市など神奈川県内１５市町に暴風雪警報を発令した。

 

神奈川県内東部では２月８日夕から２月９日未明にかけて高波に注意を呼びかけている。

 

神奈川県内では２月９日未明にかけ平地を含め広い範囲で大雪が予想され、横浜地方気象台は２月９日朝の最低気温を横浜、小田原で２度まで下がると予想している。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月８日）

 

 

Heavy snow in Yokohama

 

Become a heavy snow in the Kanto area under the low pressure, according to Yokohama Meteorological Observatory, snow of Kanagawa Prefecture each districts are, Yokohama 12 centimeter (17 P.M.), Sagamihara 12 centimeter (16 P.M.), Minami-Ashigara city 53 centimeter (17 P.M.), recorded.

 

Yokohama Meteorological Observatory has issued a blizzard warning in 15 cities and towns in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Fujisawa, and Odawara, from the morning.

 

It has called attention to the high tides through the early hours of February 9 from 8 February evening in eastern Kanagawa.

 

Heavy snow is expected over the wide range, to dawn in February 9 in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama Meteorological Observatory said temperature in February 9 to go down 2 degree in the lowest temperature in the morning February 9.

 

(Kanagawa Shimbun, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

Snow in Yokohama

Snow in Yokohama

 

[caption id="attachment_12007" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Toshiki Shirose)[/caption]

 

Heavy snow in Yokohama, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman.

 

(AFP - Toshiki Shirose)

 

(R.S.F. toshiki speed news, Agence France-Presse, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Snow alerts in Yokohama, Kawasaki

Snow alerts in Yokohama, Kawasaki

 

横浜、川崎や沿岸部に暴風雪警報

 

横浜地方気象台は２月８日午前１０時５５分、横浜・川崎、三浦半島、湘南地方、西湘地方に暴風雪警報と大雪警報、相模原、神奈川県中央部、足柄上群に大雪警報を発表した。

 

神奈川県内はほぼ全域で雪となっており、午前１１時現在の積雪は横浜市中区で６センチ、相模原市中央区で７センチ。

 

降雪などの影響で、首都高速湾岸線の一部、圏央道、新湘南バイパス、小田原厚木道路などが通行止め。

 

ＪＲや私鉄も一部の列車に運休や遅れが生じている。

 

気象台は今後さらに風雪が強まるとみて注意を呼び掛けており、２月９日までの降雪量は、神奈川県の東部と西部の平地で２０センチ、西部の山沿いで４０センチと予想している。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月８日）

 

 

Snow alerts in Yokohama, Kawasaki

 

The snow storm warning along Yokohama, Kawasaki and Sagamihara coast

 

10:55 A.M. February 8, heavy snow warning and blizzard warning in Yokohama and Kawasaki, Miura Peninsula, Shonan district, west Shonan district, Yokohama Meteorological Observatory issued a heavy snow warning Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefectur central part, Ashigara-Kami group district.

 

Kanagawa Prefecture has become a snowfall across almost snowfall 11:00 am in Sagamihara Chuo district (Center district) 7 cm, Yokohama-city Naka district (Center district) 6 cm.

 

In effect of snow, part of the Metropolitan Express Highway coast line, Area Center Highway, Shonan new bypass, Odawara Atsugi road closed to traffic.

 

Delay or suspended service has occurred in the train of private company railway and JR.

 

Yokohama Meteorological Observatory has called attention to seeing wind and snow will intensify in tomorrow, snowfall of up to February 9 will be expected to be 40 centimeters in the mountains area along the western plains, to be 20 centimeters in the eastern and western Kanagawa Prefecture.

 

(Kanagawa Shimbun, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 8 Saturday February 2014 The Roman)

Sony reverses annual profit forecast to $1.08 bln loss, exits PC business

Sony reverses annual profit forecast to $1.08 bln loss, exits PC business

 

Tokyo (AFP)

 

Sony on Thursday drastically revised its full-year earnings forecast, saying it would lose about $1.08 billion as the Japanese consumer electronics giant also said it was exiting the personal computer business.

 

The firm, which said it earned 11.17 billion yen ($110 million) in the nine-months to December but would lose 110 billion yen over the full fiscal year, announced it would sell its PC unit under the Vaio brand to a Japanese investment fund.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursady February 2014 The Roman)

 

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

 

那覇―羽田就航６０周年、ＪＡＬが記念セレモニー　那覇空港

 

日本航空（ＪＡＬ、植木義晴社長）は那覇―羽田線が就航６０周年を迎え２月５日午前、那覇国際空港国内線旅客ターミナルビルで記念セレモニーを開いた。

 

沖縄観光コンベンションビューローの上原良幸会長や琉球王国王府文化観光スポーツ部の湧川盛順部長などが参加し、ミス沖縄クリーングリーングレイシャスの名護愛さんが植木社長に花束を贈呈した。

 

植木社長は「那覇―羽田路線は日本航空５番目の路線として開設され、歴史のある路線。沖縄の発展に伴って路線を拡充してきた。今後も沖縄と共に歩んでいきたい」とあいさつした。

 

那覇―羽田路線は、本土復帰前の１９５４年に国際線として開設され、週２往復で運航した。

 

開設当初の年間搭乗者数は約２５００人で、現在１日１２往復を運航し、年間約３００万人が利用している。

 

【琉球新報電子版】

 

（琉球新報、2014年2月5日）

 

 

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

 

February 5 am, Japan Airlines (JAL, President Yoshiharu Ueki) opened Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port Domestic Passenger Terminal Building to celebrate Naha - Haneda 60th Anniversary in service.

 

Yoshiyuki Uehara President of the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau and Morijun Wakukawa The Governor of The Kingdom of Ryukyu Director of Culture and Tourism and Sports Division joined, Ai Nago Miss Okinawa clean green ingredients Reishasu presented bouquet flowers to JAL President Ueki.

 

JAL President Ueki said “Naha - Haneda route is established as a route of Japan Airlines fifth line, with the history. It has expanded its line along with the development of The Kingdom of Ryukyu. I would like to walk along with The Kingdom of Ryukyu in the future.”

 

Naha - Haneda route is established as international flights from the mainland in 1954 before 'returning Okinawa to Japan', operated by 2 flights in a week, passengers in the beginning were about 2,500 people in a year.

 

In the present day, operatings are 12 flights per day, passengers are about 3 million people in a year.

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo Web Edition)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursdays February 2014 The Roman)

 

Honda net profit doubles to $1.56 bn in Q3

Honda net profit doubles to $1.56 bn in Q3

 

Tokyo (AFP)

 

Honda said Friday its net profit doubled to $1.56 billion in the three months to December, thanks to brisk global sales and a weaker yen.

 

Net profit for October-December rose to 160.7 billion yen ($1.56 billion), while revenue rose 24.5 percent to 3.02 trillion yen in the quarter.

 

The results were "mainly due to a rise in automobile and motorcycle net sales as well as the positive impact of foreign exchange effects," the company said.

 

A sharp decline in the yen this financial year has boosted profitability at major Japanese exporters including Honda rivals Toyota and Nissan.

 

For the nine months to December, Japan's third-largest automaker logged 403.60 billion yen in net profit, up nearly 40 percent from the same period the previous year.

 

Revenue for the three quarters rose 23 percent, with its sales in North America up 30 percent year-on-year thanks to healthy sales of four-wheeled vehicles, it said.

 

Honda also enjoyed good sales in the motorbike business in Asia, where net profit was up more than 50 percent from a year ago.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 31 January 2014 The Roman)