Asakura Cowboy comments

Posted in: Man arrested after driving car into group gathered round motorbike See in context

Never understood the attraction of motorbikes (or cars) myself. I guess it's a speed thing, but most of the bosozoku around my area drive along so slowly on rather pathetic looking mini bikes or even scooters that it makes me laugh rather than angry. The noise is annoying, but that's about it. I certainly don't feel threatened by them.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Escapee eluded manhunt by hiding in attic of vacant house See in context

Good material for a film-a comedy perhaps, certainly as far as the police 'manhunt' is concerned.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: A new challenge: Changes to elementary school English education in Japan for 2020 See in context

Any improvement is good but it seems like it's always too late-they should've done this years ago. It seems like just a knee-jerk reaction because of the Olympics. Anyway, are they going to train the home room teachers how to teach English? If so, when will they have time? They are busy enough already. I expect in most cases the ALT's will be doing most of the teaching (which is not a bad thing).

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Is pachinko headed for extinction in Japan? Studies reveal huge drop in players, hall operators See in context

I hope it's true, but a brand new one opened on the main road near me recently and an existing one expanded, so business must still be good around here. Every time new prime real estate becomes available I breathe a sigh of relief when it's NOT a pachinko parlour. The people coming out of them to make a phone call mid-play don't look happy either most of the time. I guess it's an addiction just like any other.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Sony to restart vinyl record production after three-decade hiatus See in context

Good plan, I love vinyl, but new records cost the earth. Best I can hope for usually is picking up some good stuff cheap at Hard Off or somewhere like that and occasionally get a new release if I'm feeling rich!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Abe adds visits to Britain, Scandinavia onto Russia trip See in context

All expenses paid. By us.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: FEATURE: Falling childbirth rate changing Japan's cram school business See in context

We are doing our best to keep our 5th grader out of juku, but he still needs to do extra studying on top of his regular primary school homework because what he learns at regular public elementary school is not sufficient to get into a 'good' junior high school. It sucks but that's just the way it is here so we have to deal with it in the best way we can.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Aiko starts high school See in context

Hope she can get seconds at school lunch.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Foreigners in Japan face significant levels of discrimination, survey shows See in context

"Then again, the endless stream of foreigners interviewed on TV gushing about hanami, ramen and washlets will no doubt drown it out"

Yep. I was just thinking about that kind of thing the other day when that travel programme about Japanese people living abroad was on. They highlight these 'amazing' Japanese people who live and work abroad in out of the way places. Why don't they have a programme about non-Japanese who live and work in Japan? If more Japanese people could see how well many of us gaijin fit in and contribute to Japanese society, maybe there'd be a bit less discrimination. The only time they seem to focus on non-Japanese people on TV is if they are gushing about all things Japanese (except for the established gaijin talento who just pretend to be Japanese anyway). I think they are scared we night bash Japan or something-not that they'd broadcast it!

20 ( +25 / -5 )

Posted in: Graduation day See in context

What's the point of a graduation ceremony if you just continue on at the same school?

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Posted in: The new look See in context

I know it's hayfever season but this is ridiculous...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Honda admits to failure before UAE World Cup qualifier See in context

I think Milan thought it would be a good way to get a foot in the Asian market. I remember thinking how far they had fallen when Honda went there and got the number 10 shirt. Really overrated player. I don't know why he doesn't come back to Japan and play in J1. At least he'd get regular football and the chance to nail down a place in the national squad. He must be one of Milan's biggest flops, based on the media hype beforehand.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Kazuyoshi Miura breaks his own record as J.League's oldest scorer See in context

Awesome. Well done King Kazu.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Hugh Jackman returns as clawed mutant Wolverine in 'Logan' See in context

The last one set mostly in Japan was good. My boys especially enjoyed the fact it had both English and Japanese. Looking forward to the new one, though a bit sad it'll be the last one with Jackman as Wolverine.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Tokyo won't see Rio-style golf pull-outs, says Park See in context

The Zika Virus was just an excuse for many. I'm sure we'll see plenty of golfers opting out. Despite the 'success' of the Rio tournament, majors will still take precedence.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Vardy lifts Leicester to post-Ranieri win See in context

Fans should've boycotted the game to protest Ranieri's sacking and demanded his reinstatement. Just because they've won one game doesn't mean they'll survive. Just proves that the players forced him out though. Disgusting. Now they will be derided by all other fans and rightly so. Who'd be a Leicester fan right now?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: 9-year-old girl beaten by man on way home from school in Yokosuka See in context

There's nothing wrong with kids walking to and from school by themselves or with friends. I did it, why can't my kids? Sure, there are crazy people out there and isolated incidents like this, but you could just as easily be involved in a car crash while driving them there or picking them up. I think it's good for the kids actually as it teaches them a bit of independence, plus it's good exercise.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Posted in: In 2015, Japan accepted 27 refugees, including three Syrians, after some 7,500 people from 69 countries sought such status in Japan, according to the justice ministry. Do you think Japan should take i See in context

Japan doesn't need refugees, it needs skilled foreign workers, preferably relatively young people so they can settle down and raise families here, therefore assimilating into the population and contributing to society. You only have to look at Europe to see that allowing thousands of refugees in causes countless social problems. Why would Japan want that?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: Piko Taro dances with candy, beetles, lemons and Japanese idols in new versions of 'PPAP' See in context

Totally agree HollisBrown. It's not harmless fun, because it makes a mockery of English and gives Japanese people (mainly kids) another reason to 'laugh it off'. Those of us who are not English teachers don't have to deal with students who repeat these ridiculous catchphrases over and over again in class for months because they think it's real English or the teacher will laugh or be impressed or whatever. Then there's all the kids at kindergarten who yell it at me whenever I drop my son off purely for the fact that am 'eigo jin'. Imagine if I made up a silly song in Japanese and posted it on YouTube. I bet it wouldn't be a hit. In fact I bet lots of people, not only Japanese people would be offended and accuse me of mocking the Japanese language and Japanese people. I might even get called a racist. It's just yet another reason not to take English seriously by laughing at it. And to say it's just a job, the same as any other is ridiculous.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Posted in: Antlers floor Reds to win J.League title See in context

So glad to hear it will revert back to the 'one stage' i.e. normal system next year. As I said in a previous post it would be ridiculous if Kashima won after finishing 11th in the second stage and what happened?! True enough, the rules were set and everyone knew that, so I suppose you could say Kashima exploited the situation by saving themselves for the playoffs, but you have to feel for Urawa. I'm pretty sure only Kashima fans would say they were worthy champions over the whole season. Roll on next year!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Urawa Reds beat Kashima 1-0 in 1st leg of J.League final See in context

Good. It would be ridiculous if Kashima won after finishing 11th in the second stage. That's why the two stage system is so stupid. Kashima already knew they would be in the playoffs after winning the 1st stage, so basically couldn't be bothered in the second. Bring back the previous format please!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Autumn glory See in context

I have a student who drove all the way from Kochi to Kyoto just to see the autumn leaves in Arashiyama, so it must be quite a sight. However I will never understand why Japanese people do this. I can see autumn leaves every time I go for a run. For people in big cities where they trim the trees I can understand why they might want to go to the countryside to enjoy nature in autumn, but not in a small city like Kochi where you can see trees everywhere if you just get out of the city a little bit. Plus, the popular places are so crowded, it kind of defeats the object. For us westerners I suppose we are so used to seeing different coloured leaves in autumn even in the city that it's not particularly special for us.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Posted in: England's Premier League sells China TV rights for around $700 mil See in context

Disgusting the amount of money being thrown around just to televise football matches. It's no wonder the national game is in such a state. I wonder how much of the money will be reinvested in grassroots football in England to nuture homegrown talent and improve the lot of the national team? Very little I imagine. No doubt transfer fees and wages will continue to shoot up and encourage more and more foreign mercenaries to play and manage in the Premier League. Top flight football is almost unrecognisable from when I used to stand on the terraces as a boy for 3 quid 50 a game.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Artelligent Christmas See in context

Shame she got married again. I thought maybe I had a chance...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Now for a major, says Japan's golf sensation Matsuyama See in context

Great win. No reason why he can't win a major as he has the talent and is still young.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Short and sweet See in context

Another mockery of the English language to annoy the hell out of English teachers for the next few months just after the 'novelty' of "Why Japanese people!" has finally worn off. I wish that someone would come up with a catchphrase or song which was actually real English for once! It's yet another excuse for the Japanese to treat English as a joke and to laugh it off rather than actually seriously doing something about learning it.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Posted in: To ask or not to ask: The etiquette and law of using convenience store restrooms in Japan See in context

Convenience stores are a god send for runners like me. They've saved me from having to 'go wild' a few times on long runs and I can't say I've ever asked permission to use them. Difficult to hide contraband down your running shorts anyway...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese director Kitano awarded France's Legion of Honour See in context

Another meaningless award for people who are already rich and famous. Waste of time and money.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: X Japan's Yoshiki looks at what could have been See in context

Trouble is most of these Japanese rock groups butcher the English language so much that the majority of them will never be popular outside Japan (or possible Asia), even if their music is up to scratch. I love Dragon Ash's music (sorry different genre-though they started out making rock albums) but their attempts at English lyrics are laughable. Sticking to singing in Japanese is much better unless the vocalist can really nail the English.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: M6.6 earthquake strikes western Japan; knocks out power, injures 20 See in context

Good luck Jonnydesu72!

10 ( +10 / -0 )

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