Posted in: Tourism boom sends prices soaring at Niseko ski resort See in context
I've never been to Niseko, or known anybody who has been there, but what is so special about it?
Marketing. They did a good job of it.
Many tourist places are nowhere as good as other “local” areas. IMO Hawaii beaches in Honolulu area very poor compared to the average beach on the east coast of Australia.
1 ( +12 / -11 )
Posted in: Tourism boom sends prices soaring at Niseko ski resort See in context
¥2000 per hour is still poverty level wages, so the guy who can’t pay that to his deserves his troubles.
Some of the Aussies skiing there , at the lowest end of the wage scale now, are making minimum $32 (¥3200) yen an hour as unskilled workers. Hence they can afford to travel to Japan.
Even cleaners in Australia now get $40-$60 an hour average! ( I just looked at Seek website)
Looking after elderly in Australia you can, and deserve over ¥5000 per hour.
Pay decent salary and you have no problems getting staff, and/or eating in a tourist area.
Japanese tourism caused a surge in pricing in Australia in the 80s and 90s, especially Gold Coast and Cairns.
Tourism and price gauging go hand in hand, everywhere in the world.
-1 ( +23 / -24 )
Posted in: Record number of online casino users detected by Japan police in 2024 See in context
Ban gambling along with pornography and make the world a better and safer place especially for women and the children.
hahahahahahahahaha what bubble do you live in?? Tosser!
3 ( +11 / -8 )
Posted in: Record number of online casino users detected by Japan police in 2024 See in context
The real number is probably 2 million plus!
good job J police!
-8 ( +3 / -11 )
Posted in: Japan to release 210,000 tons from rice reserves due to surging prices See in context
Greedy little fellows aren't they?
Sure are. And then you see how few rural people vote to elect the LDP in those areas who keep this system going, despite damage to economy.
-3 ( +9 / -12 )
Posted in: Japan criminalizes cannabis use as revised laws take effect See in context
The Party Pooper party strikes again!
9 ( +12 / -3 )
Posted in: Shibuya’s Hachiko statue will be covered up for New Year’s Eve, pedestrian barricades installed See in context
Party poopers….
but, no idea why Shibuya is so popular… it was a slum 25 years ago, still a slum today. Very, very Dirty place compared to 80% of Tokyo.
Another ward-ku-city has a golden opportunity now to host a multi day “Nee Yers event”. Family friendly in the day, more for adults at night.
Make money from selling a licnese to have your food truck there.. jumping castles etc etc
And that money helps cover waste removal, security and hiring some first aid responders for the inevitable, even if it sparing ankles in high heels or such.
0 ( +7 / -7 )
Posted in: Japan's latest tourism headache is American arrested for damaging Tokyo shrine See in context
I so want to kick this guys as hard as possible in the n#ts!!!
What a complete stupid thing to do!
-2 ( +10 / -12 )
Posted in: After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too See in context
Time for other business savvy Wards/cities to step in and organize an official event. They could take in millions of ¥ for their local businesses and such, if done right.
1 ( +4 / -3 )
Posted in: Gov't eyes ¥30,000 cash handouts to stimulate Japan's economy See in context
Given to the poor by a bunch of tax leeches who on top of their monthly salaries also get ¥1,000,000 a month for expensive that they need to provide receipts for, ¥1,000,000 a month they can spend anyway tbey want.
2 ( +5 / -3 )
Posted in: First artwork by humanoid robot sells for $1.3 mil See in context
Money laundering…. ???
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: One Direction's Liam Payne falls to death at Argentina hotel See in context
@Some Dude
i had no idea who he was just by the name, so I read the article. Now I do. Now the name, but never listened to their music, my daughter was born after their time. But I know enough after taking 2-3 minutes to read about a young man who died way too soon, and possibly because of alcohol. Sad.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Tokyo's Shibuya, Shinjuku join hands to tackle Halloween crowds See in context
Send in the clowns….
Instead of organizing it as an event, in a location where they can control the crowds, sell permits for the food trucks to sell food and drinks, use the money from permits to pay for public toilets, and garbage cans.
Also Local town groups can sell food and drinks like they do at O-Edo bon festival and raise money.
Edo O-bon, A festival where heaps of people are drunk watching people in costumes dance around. Sounds pretty much try same. Also it is very noisy, but no one shuts it down. This year it had a LOT of tourists too. They sold out of all the booze!
I have attended the O-Bon festival for 25 years, and love it.
They could make a Halloween event that makes money and fun for everyone! But no…. Just be a party pooper!
2 ( +5 / -3 )
Posted in: Mother despairs over N Korea-abducted daughter on her 60th birthday See in context
I feel so sorry for her, and her daughter.
This is almost unimaginable a situation to be in.
That country needs a stiff, and unrelenting lesson in “shock and awe” diplomacy!
-3 ( +11 / -14 )
Posted in: 90-year-old woman found beaten to death at home in Yamagata Prefecture See in context
Humanity… oh the humanity.
worst species to ever have evolved on earth.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Ex-defense chief Ishiba elected Japan ruling party leader See in context
Same party, same policies.. nothing will change.
The multi-generational silver spoon, tax payer money sucking leeches will continue on as normal.
-6 ( +3 / -9 )
Posted in: Sightseeing boat company chief arrested for deadly 2022 accident See in context
No boat up that way, let alone ANY tourist boat should go out without life rafts for more than the maximum number of people. (when normal passengers panic, they may launch it with out everyone in it, so need more than enough)
There are very affordable, self activating knees with water, lights, radio, blankets, food and water etc. A few of those mounted on all small boat should be mandatory!
Whatever government department sets the safety standards needs a complete overhaul! It is not 1850 anymore.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Global police sting targets users of organized crime app See in context
Say what?
The problem IS the criminals, as they are committing big/deadly crimes.
@Woodylee … So drunk drivers are not the problem, it is the roads that are the problem? I think not.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan says Chinese aircraft carrier entered its contiguous waters for first time See in context
A torpedo in the stern would send the appropriate message… and then do what China does, deny everything.
8 ( +10 / -2 )
Posted in: Man arrested after throwing bottle from 8th floor at man picking up trash below See in context
Total tool!
Lock him up!
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan travel industry calls for offering free passports to 18-year-olds See in context
Can you give them free airfare, accommodation and food when they get there too?
Most 18 years don’t have a job, and those that do… barely earning ¥1000 per hour or more is not going to give much of a holiday.
Ridiculous statement in this day and age. But when affordable travel is good for the young. I paid for every by myself for my first overseas trip when 18, and that was with a very weak Australian peso. But things were different then in regards to cost of living. I could save a lot.
3 ( +11 / -8 )
Posted in: McDonald's ends hair color rules in Japan to attract workers See in context
Woohoo!!
I’ll go there today to buy a celebratory Big Mac meal!!
Cant wait to pick up my order in future from lovely old purple haired grandmother!
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: 3,000-year-old cedar toppled on typhoon-hit island in southwest Japan See in context
Did anyone hear it fall?
If a tree falls and no one hears it, did it really fall?
The tree did exactly what millions of other probable 3000+ year old trees we never knew about did over the past millions of years… it fell over, and it will die. As nature intended, to make way for new plants.
Better to lose a love than to never have loved at all. Same with this tree.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: As sweltering summers ravage crops, Japan bets on heat-resistant rice See in context
If you can’t feed them rice, feed them mochi..
…but seriously, the rapid decline of farmers in the next 20 years is going to be huge, and more of a worry.
Areas of Nagano I have been going to for 25+ years, that is number one reason for decline.
7 ( +7 / -0 )
Posted in: Heatstroke risk won't stop Japan's aging farmers as temperatures soar See in context
All the over 65 farmers deserve to retire from day to day field work, and at the very most ve the “boss” that can teach and mentor the younger farmers… even better, after 40-50 years of farming, they deserve their retirement way more than a desk jockey in Kasumigaseki.
But almost no young person these days, in most first world countries have zero interest in being a farmer.
Huge problem is starting already with lack of farmers in Japan. Next 10-15 years 50% or more of them will most probably pass away just not be able
to physically be a farmer.
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: Canada imposes 100% tariff on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, matching the US See in context
Chinese cars are flying out of the car yards in Australia these days after a very slow start at decade ago when quality wasn’t quite up to par.
1 ( +4 / -3 )
Posted in: 87-year-old man arrested for dangerous driving resulting in death See in context
Over age 70 and you should only be allowed to drive a car with the safety features that prevent this.
My car has complete 360 pedestrian, bicycle, anti collision etc and it works.
It literally will not you drive into something at any speed.
Out of control mamma-chari riders looking at smartphones, scooters and such are less of a worry too with such systems.
Not going to always save you at 100kph, but in the described situation above it would have worked perfectly and prevent any impact.
4 ( +9 / -5 )
Posted in: Rice shortage See in context
The article fails to mention how every year there less farmers and this is ramping up very quickly now.
As of the latest data, the number of rice farmers in Japan is declining significantly, reflecting broader trends in the country's agricultural sector. Currently, the total agricultural population in Japan, including rice farmers, has shrunk by around 60% since 1985. Specifically, the number of people primarily engaged in agriculture, which includes rice farming, is approximately 1.75 million. The majority of these farmers are older, with around 63.5% of them being 65 years or older, making the average age of farmers in Japan over 68 years old.
This aging population is a major concern, as it not only reduces the labor force but also contributes to the abandonment of agricultural fields, particularly in highland and mountainous regions. The situation is expected to worsen, with the number of farmers continuing to decline and the average age increasing, unless significant reforms are introduced to attract younger people to the farming sector.
The Japanese government has been trying to address this issue by scaling up agricultural operations and considering measures such as introducing visas for foreign workers to alleviate the labor shortage. However, the challenges are immense, and the future of rice farming in Japan is uncertain as both domestic demand and production continue to decline.
For more detailed information on this topic, you can refer to sources like Nippon.com and the Mitsubishi Research Institute's reports on the current state of Japan's agricultural sector.
12 ( +13 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan to use navigation systems to alert wrong-way drivers See in context
There are always No Entry signs on EVERY exit I have driven all over Japan.
They could implement sensors that detect a vehicle going the wrong way up the exits and lower a boom gate, with warning lights in both directions etc (so those exiting don’t hit them too). Even more dramatic.. from 100-500 meters before the exits, lights and LED signs etc telling the oncoming traffic to slow down, and or stop as a vehicle is approaching.
Seeing as so many drivers spend a lifetime ignoring stop signs, red lights , speed limits and so on, signage and lights is not enough obviously.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Temperatures forecast to remain high in September, October See in context
And how many swimming pools will close at the end of August?
With kids back at school it is good for elderly to go to the pools in September.
First of all the water quality will be much cleaner with less sunscreen and hair etc. Then there is the social aspect of elderly enjoying sometime together as well as the physical benefits to their health of walking and/or swimming in the water.
If the government made a “keep cool Grandma & Grandpa” campaign for September it would be booming… once they can convince the pools to stay open in 30c weather.
9 ( +10 / -1 )
Posted in: Baby in state of cardiac arrest after minivan and truck collide in Saitama Prefecture
I'm sure the 2000/hr bedmakers aren't complaining.
Posted in: Tourism boom sends prices soaring at Niseko ski resort
Posted in: What is the cheating culture in Japan really like?
Actions of an addict. Perhaps a few days in juvie - does Japan have such a facility? - will sort…
Posted in: 14-year-old girl arrested for assaulting mother over smartphone use