The total units made by eight major Japanese automakers for their domestic market fell 10.6 percent year-on-year in January to 714,580, the companies said.

Among the majors, Honda Motor Co.'s domestic production for January plunged 40.3 percent to 58,772 vehicles, Kyodo News reported.

Nissan Motor Co. January production was down 26.4 percent to 70,698 units, while Toyota Motor Corp. production slipped 5.7 percent to 278,804 vehicles.

Via: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2013/02/27/Japanese-domestic-auto-production-drops/UPI-55191362021177/

Fujitsu Ltd. said Thursday it will eliminate 5,000 jobs and merge its LSI chip business with that of Panasonic Corp. to boost global competitiveness.

The venture will design large-scale integrated, or LSI, chips and contract out their manufacture, according to a joint statement by the companies. The government-backed Development Bank of Japan has been asked to help finance the venture, they said.

Fujitsu, Japan’s biggest software services provider for companies, will take ¥112 billion in charges combined in the two quarters ending March 31 for the restructuring and will also transfer 4,500 workers at the chip unit.

Funding by the DBJ will come after government-backed funds have invested in struggling chip-maker Renesas Electronics Corp. and a liquid crystal display venture formed by Sony Corp., Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.

Under the plan, Fujitsu may move a production line in Mie Prefecture to a new chip foundry.

Fujitsu said it expects a net loss of ¥95 billion in the year ending March 31, compared with a previous forecast for net income of ¥25 billion, it said Thursday.

Panasonic, which is scheduled to announce a midterm plan by the end of next month, is restructuring as it heads toward a second straight annual loss. The company has eliminated more than 38,000 jobs since April, halted smartphone sales in Europe and closed plants making lithium-ion power cells.

Renesas Electronics Corp. is not involved in the latest merger due to discrepancies over the terms of the operations merger.

Via: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/08/business/fujitsu-to-ax-5000-jobs-in-merging-lsi-chip-business-with-panasonics/

Toshiba

Just wondering whether anyone has had any experience with using official GH2 batteries from different regions from where they bought their GH2 from.

I.e. Using a Japanese GH2 battery in an Australian GH2.

I only ask as there's two different GH2 battery models: DMW-BLC12 (America / Japan) DMW-BLC12E (European / Australian)

The power output is the same on both models. (7.2V 1200mAh 8.7Wh)

Thanks.

http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/tepco-fukushima-radiation-isnt-our-problem/

http://www.themilitant.com/2012/7613/761301.html