Alphaape comments

Posted in: South Korean shoppers buy up salt before Japan's Fukushima water dump See in context

Hate to be "that guy" but I'm guessing she didn't do too well in geography. Fukushima is on the east of Japan. Busan is also on the east of Korea, but west of Japan. The currents around Fukushima don't flow directly to Busan. Unless she knows something like most sea salt comes from this particular area off Fukushima maybe she has a point. If it doesn't, then she needs to realize from the time they were popping nukes of Bikini Atoll a whole lot of "stuff" has been put in the oceans well before any water from Fukushima.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: All U.S. forces' personnel to take virus test after arrival in Japan See in context

It seemed like the USFJ and base commanders used to be more enlightened about Japan host nation considerations. What’s going on?

They still are. Need I remind everyone that back when this thing started, it was US military bases that were making people check their temperatures before entering the bases and filling out forms on if they felt sick. They made us stand in lines and limited the numbers of persons who could enter the commissaries and exchanges so that adequate separation could be held. When even went into tele-work mode even for the Japanese workers and granted them online access to email systems well before most local companies did.

We even got the vaccines and issued requirements well before Japan, and even allowed Japanese personnel employees the option of getting the US vaccine after we had gone through and got as many military and US civilians vaccinated. Even if they didn't we still required vaccinated folks to wear a mask on base if they work with Japanese nationals who haven't had a vaccine, and it is still a mandatory requirement that we wear a mask off base at all times, even if we are vaccinated.

We've been far more above board and putting measures in place compared to Japan, who just recently got their folks through prior to the Olympics. But, I guess from watching that large crowd at the temple last night on NHK, they will say it was a few Americans that were there celebrating the New Year that caused any outbreak if any.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Ibaraki health center warns people not to eat with foreigners to prevent spreading COVID See in context

The document said that: “There are many patients infected with COVID that likely caught it from foreigners.” In addition to warning people from eating with foreigners, they also recommended: “To please wear a mask when speaking with foreigners.”

Funny thing about this is that I'm a foreigner here in Japan, but I'm fully vaccinated. Most of the people working around the various military bases are including Military, civilian workers, and for some like me their Japanese spouses while her native country can't seem to get their act together.

What's even more amazing is that even though many Americans like myself have been fully vaccinated and thus really no need for a mask, we are told by our commanders here that in order to put any fears aside for the local community, we must still wear a mask when we are outside off base (on base it's optional) and if we work around Japanese citizens we must wear mask at all times (in other words, if there were 3 vaccinated workers (foreign) in one office space and one Japanese national who has not been vaccinated, masks still must be worn by all workers in the work space)

Maybe someone in the Japanese Central government may need to put out some clear guidance and quell some of these fears. It's most likely that if I were to still come down with COVID, I would most likely get it from a Japanese national than a foreigner since most of the ones I work with have been vaccinated.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Posted in: Some U.S. states accused of fudging or bungling COVID-19 testing data See in context

So just because someone may speak on a conservative podcast they should be disbelieved is what I'm reading. I will say this, you ever notice how people like Gavin Newsome and Mayor Garcetti don't speak to the press unless they are fully vetted and know what's being asked.

But along those lines, there is money to be made when the death certificate lists "corona" on it. It's not so much the for profit hospitals, but the state governments also get money, and they need it to make up from the money they are losing while kids are not in school (Federal money is also given out based on numbers of students in school per days).

What i get perplexed with is when states start to open up, and immediately the press reports a spike in cases. Just this weekend they did that with Georgia, and noted over a 3 day period an increase in cases. However, weren't we told that it takes up to 14 days so if there were an increase in cases, then those folks would have been infected while stay at home orders were in place. Also with increased testing that everyone was demanding you naturally would see an increase in cases. What is not being told is the numbers of cases of people recovering, nor based on the increased in testing the percentage of the population size.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Posted in: Another Year of the Man: Voters mourn women's losses in 2020 See in context

50% of the electorate are female... They also rejected her. Maybe, just maybe it isn’t just her lack of male genitalia that is her problem to the voters?

This is true.  Same thing for Blacks and other minorities.  They make up the majority of the Dem party in some places, yet two old white men are in the lead for the party, and Kamala Harris, Booker, Castro and Yang didn't make the cut.  It wasn't due to racism, but because they either lacked a clear vision on winning other than just bashing Trump or voters found them to be not trustworthy or just duds.

For Warren, she just comes across as a screeching harridan and that turns voters (male and female) off.  Yet Tulsi Gabbard can't get any support from the supposed Dem (woke) party leaders and they freeze her out of debates and don't treat her seriously.  Yet the women are not rallying around her.

Bottom Line: Warren was just a bad candidate, and she needs to face that.  After all, Hillary won last year.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: 4 years after daughter’s suicide, mother again blasts Dentsu in letter See in context

she again blasted her daughter’s employer, advertising giant Dentsu, for illegally making some of its employees work excessive amounts of overtime.

I feel for the mother's pain and suffering.  I am sure that the young lady felt that there was nothing that she could do.  But, there is always an option.  One could just quit the job and try to find another.  If things are to the point that one is going to kill themselves for job conditions, then being unemployed and looking for another job is probably not a bad idea. 

I fully understand the mindset sometimes seen in Japan, where seeing someone move from job to job is what they believe a bad indicator, but I guess I am looking at this from a non-Japanese perspective where you do your best, and if it is not working out try to find some other avenue of employment. 

Maybe there were some other reasons and the mother may know but doesn't want to say and uses this company as a crutch for her sanity.  But for those out there contemplating doing something like this because of work, killing oneself is not the answer.  Get help, and hopefully find another job.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: Woman arrested for snipping hair off bus passenger seated in front of her See in context

I am going to say that the hair cutter has some deep seated mental issues. 

Sitting in a two person seat by oneself is not rude if the bus is not full.  Even if she had her bags in the other seat, if someone came along and needed the seat, the girl could have moved her stuff, or heaven forbid, the other rider asks to be seated, breaking the code of silence.  Also if she is playing on her phone, not talking out loud on it, but scrolling though what's the problem.

I suspect the 51 year old had a long day at work, or was heading to a long night of work and was just fed up and took it out on someone she thought wouldn't respond.  I bet this is not the first time this lady has done something to someone before.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Yokohama legal firm refuses to return passport to Filipino woman See in context

You are not supposed to photo copy a US passport, yet hotels and other establishments here in Japan do so if you try to do something simple as get a cell phone.

I think this company is in the wrong for this, and need to give the passport back.  Like others have said, she could also just go to the PI Embassy and say she lost it or simply tell them.  I am sure that the PI government has rules about what can and can't be done to their passports.

I think a bigger picture that may be missed here is this company.  I  have known native Japanese people who had employers who were really into their "personal business" so much so that they couldn't take time off to go out of country to attend a wedding without showing an invitation, or they have a need to know what they would be doing on their personal leave time.  I get the need to be able to be at work while needed and not leaving others behind to cover for you, but also you earn leave and time off and it should be spent at your convenience and not just for "National Holiday periods" along with all the rest.  Company seems like one of those employees, needing to be in everyone's business because they have always done so.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Hong Kong police slammed as 'trigger-happy' after teen shot See in context

I can understand their need to protest, but like others have said, when you do so against a government that may not have a problem coming down hard you put yourself in play.  Surrounding one of the cops in a mob is not the way to go if you don't want to get shot.

One other note on this whole Hong Kong issue that I'm surprised no one has really been talking about (at least that I have seen) is the make up of the demonstrators, and do they actually "practice what they preach."  You see scores of young Hong Kong(ers) ( I guess that what you could call someone from HKG) protesting and demanding more rights and greater autonomy from China, yet I would imagine that those in those crowds who have domestic workers in their homes, have no problems only giving them just one day off a week and don't mind keeping them in a second class status and indentured servitude.  You will see many non-native Hong Kong types (Filipino, Thai, Indonesian, etc.) all over the place doing the domestic work with only one day of true freedom (Sundays) , and these protestors have the gall it seems to protest how they feel towards mainland PRC. 

Not a big fan of the way PRC conducts themselves, but at some points I don't really see these protestors living up to all they are marching about seeing how they treat "the help."

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Okinawa marks 74th anniversary of World War II battle See in context

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon." The Americans shot anything that moved and were known to blow up caves full of civilians. The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan. Neutralize the airfields and ports and head directly toward the "home islands."

@ YuriOtani  You are somewhat off in your description of the battle.  IJA had told the civilians the US forces were intent on raping and looting, and they (IJA) used them as shields and also fostered the "Bushido" code on them telling them it's better to die than face the Americans.  Much like what happened to many of the Japanese civilians in Saipan when we took it from Japan.

As with many Japanese you have a different view of what really happened, based on what you were educated with.  I can show that in a simple example, in regards to the Battle of Manila that happened before the Okinawa assault.  The battle for Manila was house to house fighting similar to what was going on in Europe, with the IJA making the Allies pay for retaking the city.  However, back in 1942 when Manila was taken by the Japanese, the US forces declared it an "Open City" which meant that all military was moved out to spare the civilian populace the bombing.  End result was that Manila was spared then.  However when the tides were turned, no such sanctuary was given by the Japanese commanders and as a result, severe fighting ensued.

Same as with Okinawa.  IJA commanders decided to fight it out rather than let the people off the hook from the bombardment.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: Olympics bring human trafficking scrutiny to sport See in context

I remember when the World Cup came to Japan in 2005 and they cleaned up Hinedecho area of Yokohama.  I am all for stamping out the exploitation of children and people who may be forced to do that kind of thing, but there are some, like it or not who did chose to work in that industry who get caught up in these clean ups and that makes them more vulnerable to be exploited by those who traffic in persons.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Kyoto police officer arrested for swindling Y11.8 million from elderly man See in context

To deal with the increasing number of scams in which people pretending to be an elderly person’s relative, call them and ask for cash, saying they are in financial trouble,

Never understood this in Japan.  If a relative of mine was in some type of financial trouble, then it's up to them to get themselves out.  I understand parents helping their children out, but from what I have read, these are really old people and their adult children are calling and asking for help, and they don't recognize their own children's voices.  To me that seems strange, and let's me know that there is not much family cohesion in Japan as they like to portray.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan to ban free plastic bags at stores to fight marine pollution See in context

The ministry expects the retailers to charge between several yen to 10 yen per bag. Harada said the price should be effective in reining in the use of plastic bags.

Where's the money going?  How can my local Seiyu turn over the money collected from plastic bags to what company, and what is this company going to do to ensure that somehow pollution is curbed, when there are laws against littering?  This is simply a money grab.  It all adds up, 10 yen multiplied by thousands a day and you get the picture. 

Should there be less pollution, sure.  But charging for a plastic bag is not going to do it.  As some mentioned here, cities like San Francisco ban plastic bags, yet pass out free hypo needles to the addicts lining the streets and they leave them all over the place.  How is that saving the planet?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Ex-top farm ministry official says Kawasaki attack prompted his murder of son See in context

Kumazawa joined the predecessor of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1967, and became the ministry's top bureaucrat in 2001.

This is a really big story that needs more attention.  Along with this accomplishment as well as being an Ambassador, this guy was well above the average Tanaka in the streets.  Yet, even with this background, he probably didn't consider the fact that his son may have had a mental issue and the best place for him was to be committed to an institution, rather just kill him and try to get sympathy for "saving" everyone from a future attack.

With that kind of logic and reasoning at the top of Japan society, this place is in some serious trouble when it comes to mental health perceptions and issues. IMO

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Pentagon tells White House to stop politicizing military after USS John McCain incident See in context

What's funny is I watched his speech live on AFN.  I noticed that he did somewhat of a roll call of all the ships and commands that were in Yoko and in the audience.  I immediately recognized that he omitted the McCain since they have been pier side since they got towed back from their collision around Singapore.  That being sad, you may not like it, but it is his prerogative to say what he wants.  Probably not a good morale booster for the crew of the JSM, but then, I've been to places back when we had Presidents that were "liked" and we had to not be readily identifiable as USN personnel when we made port visits due to anti-American sentiment.

Those who are clutching their pearls and catching the vapors because of his views on McCain probably didn't want him to win against Obama, and probably had some not nice things to say about him then. What changed?

As far as claiming that Trump avoided Vietnam, yes he did, but so did Clinton, "W" and other talking pundits and government leaders back then so what's the point.  There were some "not so famous" folks back then who managed to either go to school or get married and avoided the draft and didn't get sent.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: More details emerge over Kawasaki stabbing rampage, killer See in context

Another salient fact is that his parents divorced when he was 11 years old, and he was sent to live with distant relatives.

That happened over 40 years ago and this guy was 51.  That is no excuse for him to decide to do this.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese tourist, husband charged in Hawaii sex assault case See in context

Wife saw this story in Japanese media and they are saying that the victim knew the couple, and that they all had been in some type or "relationship" in the past and that the victim was trying to break it up with them and I guess the guy wasn't ready to let go.  There is more to this story than meets the eye, but that still doesn't excuse this couple from holding someone against their will if they had said no.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Trump to inspect Japanese destroyer with Abe in late May See in context

The same "tour" could have been held on the Kaga's sister ship, the Izumo. Seeing as how neither Trump nor Abe care much for protocol or political niceties, it doesnt matter.

The name is part of JMSDF and Japan's history and we have to deal with it.  There are many US warships named for victories and defeats that have made similar visits.  What about the USS BATAAN, named after the defeat in the Philippines and the forced march of US and Filipino troops to prison camps, or the USS CHOSIN, and I could go on and on.

The fact that he is visiting a JMSDF ship is a good thing and should be seen as that.

The "Art of Losing $1 Billion" author is visiting - I'm sure the Japanese are thrilled

Business losses back during the Reagan admin and he wrote about it. It was the talk of the news 30 years ago and now it's news?  How about this, Hillary lost upwards of $768 million (from Washington Post) in one year and lost, so a billion over a decade is still a better rate.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese tourist, husband charged in Hawaii sex assault case See in context

One thing not clear from the article, where were they tourist from? Either US tourists visiting Hawaii or a couple from Japan visiting. May seem trivial but I think it would be important in regards to investigating whether they have done this thing in the past.

I had to rethink my post and having done so I am going to say that they were probably tourist from the States visiting Hawaii and not coming from Japan. I say this based on the fact that the husband is a Black man, non-Japanese and if he would have pulled something like this here in Japan, I am going to say that even the J-police with their long history of passing the buck on crimes like these would have really stepped in.  Not trying to make light of this situation but this is based on what you can read here at JT.  A foreigner does something bad, and normally there is follow-through with the police.

I certainly hope they both get the book thrown at them, but I am sure the wife will find some way to get out of this by claiming to be under duress.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese tourist, husband charged in Hawaii sex assault case See in context

Read the article in the link and this occurred on May 1.  Right in the middle of Golden Week.

Madden - i guess they figured she was a tourist who didnt speak English (hence her translating his requests); so she wouldnt go to the police, and just stay quiet about it.

I'm going to say you are absolutely correct.  I'd even venture to say that if they pull their records of travel they probably made numerous trips to Hawaii and other places that Japanese like to travel and pulled this stunt.

One thing not clear from the article, where were they tourist from?  Either US tourists visiting Hawaii or a couple from Japan visiting.  May seem trivial but I think it would be important in regards to investigating whether they have done this thing in the past. 

Along with the victim, who I think was very brave and smart to go to the police the other victim in this case is the couple's kid, and with parents like these this is one time I hope child services steps in and removes the kid to a better place.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Role of women in spotlight as imperial family members dwindle See in context

For someone who is supposedly a descendant from a "sun goddess" they sure treat women pretty bad.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Man kept mother’s body at home after her death last June See in context

his mother said that his mother died last June, Sankei Shimbun reported. Her decayed body was found by Nabata's 47-year-old son on Saturday night when he came to visit his father and grandmother for the Golden Week holidays.

I think the bigger issue is that since last year the son had not seen his dad.  I am going to go on a limb and say he probably didn't call much either since if he would have called he could have said "how's grandma" and let me say hello.  If dad would have given some other answer I would think that at some point he would at least made a trip up to pay a visit.

Yet the image we like to be presented about Japan at times is that is has a strong family ethic, and blood lines matter hence the relatively few adoptions in this country.  But the real picture it seems is that's just a farce, and blood lines really don't matter.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Incoming emperor's life filled with breaks from tradition See in context

A wet nurse is a nursing female who recently gave birth but uses her birth milk to feed other babies either because the mother is unable to do that themselves or rich enough to pay for it instead.

My great-grandmother was a "wet nurse" back in the deep south in the 20's and 30's when my grandfather and his brothers were born.  As was the custom back then, it was normally nursing Black women who had that job.

Best of luck to him.  First thing he should do is get rid of IHA.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Trump slammed for silence on white supremacist threat See in context

The debate over bigotry quickly shifted to Trump after the atrocity in New Zealand.

Trump had nothing to do with this attack in NZ.  As a matter of fact, the whole issue of "white Nationalist" have nothing to do with NZ.  For those who don't know, NZ and AU have a long history of mistreatment to the native populations of those lands well before the USA had even broken away from England.  It wasn't until sometime in the late 50's or 60's that in Australia they stopped the forced taking away of children from aboriginal families.  So there has long been an issue of bigotry in NZ and AU where the shooter was from that doesn't need any from the USA.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Posted in: Cabinet approves bill to lower mobile phone fees in Japan See in context

AU and Softbank said they already comply 8-) Hahah !!!

I agree fully.  When I moved back to Japan I tried to use my unlocked Android at AU and DoCoMo and they gave me the "hiss" and it couldn't be done yet the very same phone was able to roam on those networks when I would come to visit.  Finally had to settle with Softbank but they kept trying to sell me a different model insisting that my phone doesn't work.

Compared to other nations in the area, Japan is pretty slow in meeting consumer needs.  I can go to a place like Thailand, and buy a tourist sim for 7 days complete with a Thai phone number and 10 GB data for roughly less than $10 USD.  Can't do something that simple in Japan without requiring some type of contract, passport, etc.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese school bans non-white masks for students See in context

Always thought it was funny watching all the Japanese of a flight to Hawaii from NRT wearing masks during the flight, but once the plane sets down in Honolulu the masks come off while in the airport.  Then on the way back to Japan all the Japanese begin to put the masks on at the gate and wear them in the airport back in Narita.

Never mind the entire time on vacation, no mask was worn.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Woman arrested over murder of 68-year-old father See in context

So much is missing from this story.  She was unemployed but did she have a husband and family?  I say this because sometimes I have seen that these types expect the parents to continue to supplement their family's income even though they have work (or another family).  Or was this one of those ladies who never went out on their own and expected the father to continue to take care of her.

Either way, a tragedy that a life was lost over money.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Former Japanese porn star Sola Aoi announces pregnancy; hits back at trolls See in context

Imagine the teasing in JuniorHS & HS

Again, I was no saint as a lad and looked at a mag or two but by the time that situation comes along that will be over 15 years from now.  Are some kids really going to be going through some 30 years of porn looking for someone's mother?  Again kids will only know what the adults tell them.

BTW, I am sure those very same kids who may be doing the kidding, will probably want to know where there mom and dad's are when they are supposedly "working" from what I have seen here in Japan.  The porn industry is in business because business is good here.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Sapporo blast occurred after 120 spray cans were emptied See in context

Similar experience myself.

I can go even better to those who have been hit by the "cleaning fee."  Three years ago I moved out of a house I was renting and the agent made me pay for a clean up fee after I had actually done some repairs and upgrades on the house since if I would have left it alone it would not have passed the base inspection for rental.  In essence I saved the owner a lot of money on upgrades.. After cleaning out a two story house by myself, paying a large amount to haul off trash, etc.  I left disgusted.  What did the owner immediately do?  He tore down the house and rebuilt.  He had to just dig into my pockets one last time to get a base "sucker" to foot the bill for what he was supposed to do.

You don't have someone clean out a house and then decide to scrap and rebuild, you have to know that well before hand.

I wonder, what was the mental condition of the guys who emptied out all these cans in a closed room.  Huffing comes to my mind.  Guys were probably high as kites when they turned on the hot water.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Sapporo blast occurred after 120 spray cans were emptied See in context

In the past, consumers in Japan were advised to puncture spray cans before discarding them but an increasing number of municipal governments have banned doing so in recent years due to the risks of explosions and inner liquid splashing into the eyes.

If the people were told this was the way to dispose of spray cans then I don't think you can blame the ones who did this for lack of common sense. 

I'm not sure I get the use of the cans and how some think this was a cover up.  Can someone explain that to me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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