A study by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that more than 10,000 people in northern Kyushu could be infected within 10 days of an outbreak of a new flu strain. They also point out that if people are encouraged to stay inside at an early stage in the outbreak, the number of people infected could be reduced by up to 85%. The institute thus hopes to stress that a fast governmental response would prevent the spread of infection.
The emergency room at Kurume’s St. Mary’s Hospital installed CT equipment in March that is capable of a full-body scan in 30 seconds. Their previous equipment required a full hour for a full-body scan. It already has been used for about 700 emergency patients. There are few of these scanners in use in Kyushu.
JR Kyushu reported that it earned 17.732 billion yen in recurring profit, a 4.7% year-on-year increase, in 311.253 billion yen in revenue, a 17.1% jump, on its consolidated account for the year ended March 2008. Both revenue and earnings have risen for six straight years, and both of these figures are record highs. The company’s revenues were boosted during the year with its purchase of a drug store chain.
The Saibu Gas Co. announced that it would begin in May to purchase biogas as one energy source that will help prevent global warming. Biogas is created by food product and waste disposal companies from the treatment of raw refuse. Saibu Gas plans to buy the surplus from these companies for supply its customers for home use. The price of the gas to be purchased has yet to be negotiated.
A survey by the Nishinippon Shimbun reveals that 58 hospitals and clinics in the seven prefectures in Kyushu closed their pediatrics ward during the period from April 2007 to April 2008. These closures occurred in all seven Kyushu prefectures. The reasons cited were the shortage of pediatricians and the decline in the number of children. In contrast, the number of institutions with an internal medicine ward rose by 35 in the region.
The Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry has formulated a new plan for boosting the regional economy based on an analysis of the current state and challenges facing industry. The bureau has set as a target of 10% for the region’s share of national GDP by 2020, and has factored in a decline of the working population. They also set as a target the expansion of the value of regional industry from a 928.3 trillion yen level in 2005 to 1,192.5 trillion yen by that time.
Kyushu Electric Power reported that current profit for its consolidated account for the year ended March 2008 plunged 39% from the previous year to 72.372 billion yen, despite a 5.3% rise in revenue to 1.482 trillion yen, a record high. Revenues rose due to growth in air conditioner use during the year, as well as the growth in large lot demand from the manufacturing industry. In contrast, soaring fuel prices caused the profit decline. Revenues have now risen for two consecutive years, while profits have fallen for three straight years.
Kyushu Electric Power, Saibu Gas, Nishitetsu Railroad and other local big businesses are increasing their involvement in the business of operating homes for the aged. Many are employing their unused land holdings to build facilities and reap profits from the aging of society. Facilities that also provide long-term care assistance usually require initial payments ranging from several hundred thousand yen to several million yen, but some companies are opening luxurious facilities that cost more than 100 million yen to enter. One example is the Saibu Gas facility in Fukuoka City near the Fukuoka Yahoo Dome, which has 122 units on 24 floors with Italian-made furniture and a natural hot spring. The entry fee is a minimum of 30 million yen, but two units costing more than 100 million yen are occupied.
The six Kyushu-Yamaguchi Prefecture regional banks have been recording valuation losses on their stock portfolios for the fiscal year ended March 2008, as well as revising their business projections downward. The banks’ holdings have been impacted by the subprime problem in the United States, and deteriorating business conditions for borrowers has resulted in an increase in operating costs. As a consequence, six of the eight financial institutions have sharply revised downward projections for consolidated net profit.
The Port of Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture announced that Yokohama-based Seino Logistics will begin a service combining small lots of freight from several shippers in the same container for shipment overseas. The company already conducts business at the Ports of Hakata and Moji in Kyushu. They are also eyeing the Port of Yatsushiro as a logistics base for their operations in southern Kyushu.
