Beelzebub comments

North Korea sure has a strange way of announcing the start of the Christmas shopping season...

Headline sounds like a garbled diagnosis of bovine urinalysis.

There will definitely be more, and soon. These incidents tend to occur in batches. The tormented kids see the news coverage of a suicide brought on by bullying and come to the conclusion that it's the most effective way to turn against their own tormemtors -- the bullies, teachers, school, parents, etc.

Point 3: Japan currently has visa waiver programs to 61 countries. More than U.S. and Canada.

Yes, and it would appear that citizens from about half of that number are hustling on the sidewalk between the Roppongi and Iigura intersections.

limboinjapan@ I was referring to personal libeling and slander, not political issues.

I am appalled and horrified by the people with agendas who use Wiki -- particularly in Japanese -- to disseminate lies and calumnies. It's no better than 2-channel as far as I'm concerned.

Unless similarly intrusive checks are conducted at ALL foreign airports from which planes fly to US destinations, terrorists will find a way to get on board and blow themselves up.

Unless the US government can put the same security in force at all foreign airports from which flights bound for the US (and it can't), then this whole thing is a ridiculous waste of time and money.

A Chinese triad ganglord would have no problem providing evidence that he's rich.

Takarakuji should pay her an added bonus for her endorsement of their lottery, which is certain to sucker more people into buying tickets.

To natto and tofu can be added soya milk (tonyu). It's flavour is a little grassy to some, but it's like drinkable tofu and any supermarket or convenience store sells it. It will help you lose weight if you reduce your solid food intake.

There's nothing disrespectful in either the photo or the caption. Look at the body language of the man and woman. It would seem some posters in here can't resist their urge to be contentious no matter what the subject matter.

There seems to be a certain lack of understanding here. Japanese have a cultural affinity for strolling through cemeteries, like Yanaka, Tama, Aoyama and Zoshigaya, to name four Tokyo examples, mingle with the past and perhaps view the graves of famous people. Some may be interested for historical reasons, but I suppose there is also a sentiment that once a person is dead any negative feelings can be washed away. Anyway strolling through such places is a very Japanese thing, and I must confess to having done it myself a few times.

This product is also guaranteed to drive Ei-kaiwa teachers nuts. 'Is this a pen?' 'Yes, it's not.'

Peace, 100kg would be a wide receiver. We're talking about refrigerator-sized hulks here, easily over 130kg, with shoulders so wide they partially block the aisle.

What to do about people who are just huge, but not obese -- like NFL linebackers?

Wait, who are we talking about, Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos, Russians, ...?

I only saw one nationality mentioned in the sentence that preceded. Have you checked your eyes lately, sensei?

That's a lot of money to pay for a doorstop.

I feel genuine pity for the trees that were felled to make the wood pulp that wound up becoming Bush's book. What a waste.

That's nothing. I run into Her Highness all the time in chat rooms. Always wants to talk about her Welsh Corgi. A tad boring, but what can you do...She goes by the ID 'Queens_English'.

Akihabara’s maid cafe culture is closely aligned with Japan’s “otaku” subculture that is rapidly going mainstream.

Another word for this is 'rapidly dumbing down'.

Until 1945, Haneda-Taipei was a Japan domestic flight.

The region is too dangerous for outsiders to visit and independently confirm the attacks, and U.S. officials do not acknowledge firing the missiles, much less discuss who they are targeting.

During the Vietnam war, this is what they called a 'fire-free zone' toward which 'protective reaction strikes' were directed. As a cartoon in the Stars & Stripes explained it back then, as opposed to an 'air raid', a protective reaction strike means 'never having to say you're sorry'. Different wars, same strategy (and probably same outcome).

This is a reliable indicator that the bonen-kai season has already begun...

It's pretty clear that China's propaganda is for domestic consumption and it doesn't really expect foreign viewers/listeners to take it seriously.

American voters have long ago ceased to understand the process of cause and effect. Deliver tax cuts while waging two wars, and you're surprised you've got a deficit? Likewise for the health care plan. The voting public thinks somehow either of the two parties it empowers will magically defy natural laws (like the law of gravity). Is this stupid, or what?

Fancy a Hello Kitty tartan blanket?

I'm sure they'll be sold out within the first three days. What's a paltry 168,000 yen when Keiko-chan will be able to show off to her peers at the office that she can warm her lap with this cho-kawaii piece of pink wool?

I can't think of anything more suspicious than a package from the Middle East addressed to a US synagogue. It practically screams 'check me!' Surely such lack of subtlety suggests the sender intended it to be discovered?

The Walkman was a real godsend to Japanese rail commuters who wanted to screen out their fellow humans. Now they've got games, cell phones, iPods and god knows what else to enable them to crawl into their bubble and make the world go away. This is nothing but infantile thumb-sucking for adults and has very little to do with enjoying music.

One hundred and twenty five million people, and you succeeded in finding one who represents the epitome of self-absorbed narcissism. Congratulations, JT!