asianyetgaijin comments

Well, come to think of it, it's not all that bad. At least I can buy some Xmas presents now and ship them to US and Oz so my family can get them in time, without costing me extra for EMS service haha

Why? It's not even thanksgiving yet...

Is there any data that said that HIV in Japan came from Africa? As far as I know, the HIV-1 subtype spreading in Japan is different than those that are spreading in Africa. Blaming Africans for HIV infection rate in Japan does not make sense. Period. I agree with smithinjapan. Focus on awareness and education on the subject, and stop denying that it is not a problem. Because it IS a problem.

Fishy, what do you mean 'they don't tell you when you have HIV positive?' If you meant the onset of the disease, there's no way they know when the onset might occur. The HIV window period can last from 2 weeks to 15 years. And it will be difficult for anyone to determine when an HIV-sero-positive had sero-onversion. The best guest can be made by the patient though, based on when he/she started/had the risky behavior for HIV infection.

womanforwomen,

I have to disagree with you. Sometimes divorce is better than maintaining a rotten relationship. Even Noriko and Chris can be an example for this. Do you think it is good for their children to see their parents fighting all the time? I remember I read somewhere how Chris called Noriko 'stupid' etc. I don't think it is good for their children to witness that. Imagine if they live at the same house and the children have to witness that everyday. There were time in my life when I wished my parents were never divorced, but in the end, I am happy that they did. My father has always been a good father, but to my mother, he was a bad husband, they just didn't get along. I am glad I didn't have to witness all the fights (and worse, the silence) all through my childhood. My mum was so much happier when they finally split up. And in a way, it made my relationship with my mum better. And when I grew up, I realize how hard it must be for her to deal with a husband she could not get along with, AND take care of us. After the divorce, I guess she was happier, and her relationship with us was gradually better. I realized, she was not a superwoman, but no one is.

I wish people would just stop siding with Chris and blaming Noriko, OR siding with Noriko and blaming Chris, and focus more on forcing Japan to change the law about visitation right/joint custody/sign the Hague Convention. Every mother/father has every right to be involved in their children's right and every child has every right to have their mother/father in their life (with the exception for unfit mother/father, of course. If the kids are happy to live in Japan so let them live in Japan with their mother but Japan must guarantee Chris's right to visit them so Noriko can never ban him from seeing his own kids. It wasn't right for Chris to force Noriko to stay in the US so he can 'eat his cake'/ 'kidnap' his kids, etc, but it wasn't right for Noriko to flee to Japan without notifying anyone, broke the court order, etc. Japan might see Chris as a criminal, for 'kidnapping' his kids, but they should see that Noriko isn't an angel either...

While I agree that it is a bit premature, but I will say, Congratulation Mr. Obama.

At least it is better than what they pulled in 2008, giving the prize to Luc Montagnier and left Robert Gallo out.

Well done Obaachan! and as for the thief, what a looser...

This is a bad example of Japan vs Non-Japan children custody/visitation battle, and to be made as International hot-issue. Nevertheless, hopefully this case will wake everyone up and can bring more similar-cases to the surface, and in the end, will force Japan to sign the Hague Convention. I truly hope all the negative comments toward this case will not be used by the Japanese as an excuse NOT to sign the convention. I wish all the fathers/mothers who are banned from seeing their own children the best of luck. And at the same time, if this is going nowhere, probably it is time for you to just move on. This is a battle worth fighting for, but your own life, your own happiness is also worth fighting for. I can only imagine how hard it is, but sacrificing too much without any hope that it will work in the end, is just not worth it.

Michaelgtodd and Bobbafet, I wish you the best of luck. I have a question though. Why does it have to be 'all up to the wives?' You support them financially, you show good gesture of wanting to know your children and involve in raising them, yet you still have to make all the sacrifice just to be involved in your children life. Or just to see them. Some people don't deserve to become a parent, and probably the children are better off without them, but this is not the case. I can not imagine not knowing my own father when I grew up. Especially since I know how much my father loves me. Probably women/men who thinks that it is OK to deny their children from having their father/mother (who loves them) in their life for their own selfish reason, don't deserve to become a parent. And the children are better of without these women/men. They need to stop treating their children as a possession, and start treating them as a human being.