VCCI Dayori No.70

EMC on the Internet (No.9)

Wondering about "Junk"

Nobuhiko Tsunefuka

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 Since the Edo period (1603-1867) to the Meiji period (1867-1912), Akihabara area had many storehouses to save paddy and stalls to sell second-hand clothes that were transported via Kanda River. The area was flourished as a town of merchants and craftsmen. After the World War II, it has become a place to display the most modern technologies and was called "the Electric Town". We can see the history in the name of buildings such as "Radio Depart (Department store)", "Radio Store", "Radio Garden" and "TV Hall". Large-scale stores generate the main portion of sales in Akihabara area selling electric appliances, personal computer, and audiovisual products. However, the most attractive sites must be small stores that line up behind the large-scales shops. In the era of radio, they used to sell radio parts and kits. When TV was the most popular product, they provided TV parts and kits. Currently, what they deal with are the pars of personal computers. Akihabara freaks always check junk shops that carry second-hand electric goods parts. Right after the war, parts on the market were mostly the communication equipment parts released by the U.S. army. Recently, the majority is disassembled electric parts and parts from manufactures with excessive production. These shops may carry very unique parts and offers very good price. Therefore, they attract not only Japanese but also foreigners. In these days, this type of electric parts junk shops is decreasing in Akihabara. Instead, there is growing number of junk shops for personal computers and fast-food shops, junk food shops. Central Street shows a line of fast-food chain shops including hamburger, beef bowl, Chinese noodle, Japanese noodle Soba and Udon and donuts.

• History of Akihabara and Iwamotocho;

http://www.akiba.or.jp/history/0.html

Kanda River and Transportation Museum

• Junk food and fast food;

http://homepage1.nifty.com/echigoya/YK/junk/

 One of the popular trends is Slow Food that appreciates local cuisine and locally brewed alcohol that is positioned as opposite of fast food. Slow Food is the movement initiated by a NPO in Bra, a small town in Italy, in 1986. It is to free people from fast food that pursues only speed. Slow Food has grown into an international trend. The movement also spread to Japan and created many style of Slow Food activities. For example, some people practice self-sufficient life transferring from cities to the county, cultivating fields, enjoying dishes that uses fresh local ingredient and spend relaxed life. Some go beyond boarders with their pension to seek easygoing life in a foreign country with lower price level.

• Emigration and overseas retirement Visa system;
http://www.interq.or.jp/tokyo/ystation/world.html

 Many shops deal with junk parts and junk software, mainly game software. In Akihabara, a temporary junk software shops appear over weekends. Such shops are covered with maniac funs who are frantically checking items in a wagon. Issues about these types of junk software and junk personal computer parts are intellectual properties and securities. There are more and more occasions that the practical advice of information security consultants are appreciated. One of such advice is that hard disk with confidential information should not be only erased but physically destroyed to prevent the leak of the information.

Kanda River and Shinkansen (Bullet train)

• Junk art;
http://www.dugazig.com/pajamaja/ju/ju.html

• Security of junk personal computers;
http://pcweb.mycom.co.jp/news/2001/04/04/09.html

• Information security consultants;
http://jibun.atmarkit.co.jp/fengineer/special/tosepolicy/sepolicy.html

 PC recycle law was enacted in October 1, 2003 to promote the recycle of home-use computer. This is based on "Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources" announced in June 2000. JEITA launched the personal computer 3R promotion committee for the establishment of collection and recycle system, PC Green Label assessment of manufactures and product evaluation. The companies who passed the assessment can use PC recycle mark for their products.

PC Green Level	PC Recycle Mark

 Junk parts fun assembles parts and makes a junk machine recycling parts. A junk machine gives more pleasure to complete compared to a ready-made assembling kit. However, junk machine and kit module personal computer may be the source of trouble to neighbors. When a computer cover is not properly placed and EMI from module is too strong, it would affect radio and TV in the area. PC manias that produce their own machine should understand about EMC well to enjoy their hobby with a good manner. VCCI kit module working group is studying about the control of kit module products, what should be controlled and the measurement method.

Nobuhiko Tsunefuka 1943 Born in Tokyo 1968 Graduated form Department of Engineering Science, Osaka University -1984 Worked on developing Information Technology Device at Taga Works, Hitachi, ltd. 1991- Engaged in education on EMC related matters at Hitachi Institute of Technology 1999- Planning Manager,