Sexism in Japan 23 Sep 2014

I am a Japanese. I had have English lessons from Filipina teachers in Cebu City. I talked about sexism in Japan with a teacher on a discussion question in a lesson. I answered that women and men are equal in Japan. The answer came from my experience.

I myself have not ever seen sexism in Japan, but it is reality that stiff sexism exists in Japan. I realized it from a research by Akira Kawaguchi and Chizuko Ueno.

I will have English lessons in Cebu City again. I write this essay to be a material for the lessons in the future.

The research revealed that some (almost?) Japanese companies have got profit from sexism. The employment system discriminating against women allows the companies to employ women as temporally staff on low wages, even if the women has excellent skills. The discrimination against women is a rational attitude for companies which pursue profit.

However, this unfair employment system prevents the companies employing productive women, because excellent women can leave a sexism workplace for better one. And it makes the companies' productivity lower in long term. That sort of unfair companies will be defeated and withdraw from the market, especially the global competitive market.

Some people claim that there is no sexism in Japan. I suppose they have not ever seen sexism in Japan like me.

My mother died when I was 4 years old. I had been raised by my father. I have not ever seen sexism in home.

I had worked as an engineer for several companies. I saw a skilled female engineer was promoted, but I have not ever seen something that looks like a glass ceiling. An engineer is required her or his skill rather than gender. And I am so impatience that I quit my jobs too quickly to see a glass ceiling. Of course, female and male engeneers got the same wages for the same jobs.

I suppose that some people claiming that there is no sexism in Japan have experiences similar to mine.

Sexism has various aspects. The research sheds light on an aspect of sexism. We Japanese need to overcome sexism.

参考文献

上野千鶴子 ネオリベと女性差別が少子化を生み出した 文藝春秋オピニオン 2013年の論点100

上野千鶴子 比較ジェンダー・レジーム論の構想 ジェンダー社会科学の可能性 第1巻

私は川口章さんの「ジェンダー経済格差」を読んでません。上野さんが言及してるのを読んだだけです。

EUR/GBP forex on 16 July

I sold EUR/GBP at 0.79114 on 16 July. I paid 4.0338 HKD of rollover interest. I took 326.7365 HKD of profit from closing the EUR/GBP position at 0.78991.

Now, EUR/GBP is from 0.79054 to 0.79204.

I'd like to try EUR/GBP forex again.

At HSBC Cebu Branch

I applied for opening an account at HSBC Cebu Branch. The following is my questions and the relationship manager's answers.

I'm a Japanese. I'm a Premier customer of HSBC Hong Kong.

Do you waive or refund the fee for international money transfer between HSBC Hong Kong and HSBC Cebu?

Yes.

Do you waive the maintenance fee for my account at this branch?

Yes.

Can I use internet banking?

Yes.

Do you issue a ATM card today?

No. We need to get an approval. It takes a few weeks.

Do you post my ATM card and security device to my address in Japan?

Yes. We charge posting fee for it.

Can I use investment service?

Yes.

Can I buy unit trust?

Yes.

My trip to Dalaguete

My Filipino friend and I met at Metro Gaisano Colon at 13:00 on December 26.

26 Dec. 2013 14:47

My cell phone with a Smart SIM isn't available. But SUN is available.

15:30

Smart is available in Argao.

15:42

Smart isn't available!

16:03

Rodulfo's mother is 

Consen.

19:02

Smart isn't available at Ocean Bay.

19:27

I look at Orion and Milky Way clearly. Insects are singing. This is what I want.

Old Americans were relaxing on lounge chairs. One of them was reading a book on a Kindle.

Most of guests are old Americans. Some are Filipina. There's no Japanese except me.

27 Dec. 2013 06:21 AM

A Filipina girl are using SmartBro on the beach. My Smart buddy doesn't work.

The Shale Gas Revolution and the Philippines

I believe that the Shale Gas Revolution and reducing energy price are good to Philippine economy.

In comparison to China, the Philippines failed to develop manufacturing industry because of lack of infrastructure. The Philippines has developed service industry like call-centers and English language schools.

Service industries in the Philippines requires educated human resources. However, employment for many uneducated people is insufficient. It can be said “anemic”.

I hope Philippine politicians will make the use of the chance that will come with the US economy flourishing by the Shale Gas Revolution. Filipinos can get jobs which are contracted with American customers.

The Shale Gas Revolution and China

Shale is a kind of rock which exists in deep underground and it contains natural gas. No one could ever get gas from shale before, but Americans have developed the way to obtain it. The US will use the gas and quit importing crude oil.

This is what you called, “The Shale Gas Revolution”. Shale gas reduces energy prices. There are three forecast about the US and China economy correlated with it.

One sees that reducing energy price removes restraint on economic growth of China. China can get energy at low price and raise their economy. It will also raise America’s economy as well.

Another sees that the reducing energy price makes manufacturing industry grow again in the US. It means that manufacturing industry will come back to the US from China. China’ s economy will go bust.

Other sees the Shale Gas Revolution overestimated its role. Jim Rogers said that it won’t affect the world economy so much.

It’s hard to know which opinion is right. Especially, I want to know about momentum of China’s economy. I think Chinese economy will rise by the Shale Gas Revolution because Chinese politicians seems to prepare for it. They are committed to a consumption-led economy. I believe it is a good opportunity to invest in China.

Investment services at HSBC Hong Kong

I've applied for investment services at HSBC Hong Kong. The following is my questions and the relationship manager's answers.

(1) Which investment products are included in my total relationship balance. I want to know about company stocks, unit trusts, FX and gold. Is the deposit of FX included in? -> Yes.

All investment products are included as today's value.

(2) How much are the maintenance fees for investment accounts of company stocks, unit trusts, FX and gold? 

Different maintenance fees for different products, will discuss with you when we meet. 

Company stocks

If you have no stocks, there is no charge for HK stocks. -> I've opened.

You will be charged 5 dollars per month for US stocks. -> I don't open for a while.

Unit trusts

No maintenance charge. It charges an initial charge.

FX

No charge. You can already trade it.

It just exchanges foreign currencies without leverage.

FX is different from margin FX at HSBC Hong Kong.

Margin FX leverages its deposit.

Gold

No charge. You can already trade it.

(3) Can I use the iPad application that tells me an economic outlook?

No. It is an iPad application for HSBC Private Bank.

HSBC Premier is different from HSBC Private Bank.