Japan Today

bogva comments

Posted in: Tourism boom sends prices soaring at Niseko ski resort See in context

My daughter went skiing to Niseko last month and she said it's really nice but expensive for Japanese skiers.

Anyway, shouldn't all those municipalities that complain from over-tourism and higher prices get a share from the pie? Aren't they getting higher income in the coffins from the hotels and restaurants that bring higher profits? If not, something is very wrong and they should adjust the local tax system, etc.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: 16-year-old boy arrested for attempting to strangle mother to death See in context

@kohakuebllsu - that's what I meant actually but was lost in translation. Although at 16 it would be difficult to live alone but there are share house and other means. The problem in Japan is that it's very difficult to get mental help and support from institutions (including municipality, hospitals and facilities).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: 16-year-old boy arrested for attempting to strangle mother to death See in context

I can sympathies with both the parents and the boy! Hugging is nothing nothing to do with this case. There are millions of Japanese kids that do great with the same manners.

There re teens with depression, behavior problems etc., but at that age they are expected to perform - study and get in good school. Often mothers can be very pushy and trigger violent reaction. Counseling and somebody outside of the family is necessary to talk to the kid - is is very difficult to find such help in Japan. Mother should step back or they should get him in institution otherwise there is no guarantee this will not happen again.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Climate change cooks up Japanese 'cabbage shock' See in context

Agree with several opinions here that doubt the reasoning for those extraordinary cabbage prices!

Producers complain of lower crops but confess they are 30% lower ! This shouldn't translate into 3-4 times (300%) higher prices!!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Masayoshi Son, Trump's Japanese buddy with the Midas Touch See in context

Son doing business! Like the previous time when he was shaking the hand of the Saudi prince. It's all business for him but somehow he is first in line to get close to the political leaders...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan's tourism boom prices out business travelers See in context

How about rising salaries in all sectors, Japan!!! Then some of the economic (and inbound tourism) burden would be offset!

My country was the poorest in Europe and many basic things went up 30-40% per year for the last 2-3 years. But salaries are nearly double now!

In Japan rice is 100% the price from last year and many basic foods are more than 30% higher. Salaries haven't changed a bit!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Osaka Expo participating countries question ticket booking system See in context

The ticketing system in Japan in general is monopolized and complicated. Look at booking a concert seat. In most countries you can chose your seat number in addition to the type of ticket. In Japan you buy S-seat and you find yourself on third balcony 5 rows below the ceiling.

Setting the date and the exact venues you want to visit at an Expo is too precise. Are they afraid of overcrowding at a certain pavilions? It should be much more lax.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan gov't mulls raising tax-free income threshold from January 2026 See in context

2026 is too late! The people and low income part-timers struggle now!

I wonder why Japanese are not rising voices and not openly demonstrating?

It hurts not only the immediately affected by limiting their income but also families that try to supress earning not to pass the threshold.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Gov't approves ¥39 tril economic package See in context

Give subsidies to the low income and the poor.

Rise the salaries for the working people - they don't need peanuts !!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Honda to end production of Super Cub 50 motorcycle in May 2025 See in context

I guess it's not about efficiency but about emissions. Still pity the are doing this as electric scooters are not fun.

My bike guy told me production is already halted and if I want to replace my scooter better hurry as only few good second hand options are available...

As a side note - I don't know about Honda but Yamaha Jogs are all 4-cycle and they don't use up oil.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Foreigner accidentally allowed to vote in Japanese election; ballot will remain valid See in context

Aside the foreign link I have always wondered how Japanese voting is legal at all.

My son went voting just with his smartphone leaving his purse with the driving license at home.

Showing the postcard can be anyone. Any woman can go twice and vote with my wife's and my daughter's postcard - am I wrong? How the ID is checked if someone doesn't have driving license - it seems only the postcard is the document. Absolutely useless paperwork - all they should have is lists with the voters with registered address at that municipality. I guess it's not that simple and the Japanese way gives you more flexibility to chose where to vote but it's very prone to fraudulent voting.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: What do you think of the names that Japanese automakers give to their cars? See in context

Naming is often silly trying to sound interesting and foreign to Japanese. It's not only cars but other products baring not one but often 2, 3 or more names !

Compare BMW 321 to Nissan Dayz Roox Highway Star ... phew (and go find which year that model is...) !

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Some 7-Eleven owners in Japan fed up with strategy, welcome foreign bid See in context

I don't get how is possible (not valid only for 7i) for businesses to always grow!

Especially wen population shrinks and inflation is rising. Can't they just live their life and provide good service?

I personally never chose which conbini to enter. But knowing they are franchisers I may choose certain shops...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan seeks more visitors despite overtourism problems See in context

I know there are thousands of places that worth visiting in Japan and the tourism opportunities are limitless.

But if I am visiting Japan and know I may never return I will want to see Tokyo-Kyoto-Nara, maybe Osaka. And time will be up! So what they are seeking are repeating visitors - good luck to that! Oh, and hope they don't forget to ask the locals first (even of those small villages to be discovered)!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Mayor considering increasing Himeji Castle entry fees for overseas visitors See in context

I personally think it's interesting to sneak inside Himeji castle - it's impressive architecture and the atmosphere is interesting. But 4000 yen??? It's close to a one day passport for attraction park where the amusement facilities cost and the personal are huge.

And there are donation boxes as well. I don't remember how much it was for Vatican museum but the huge line before entry was 3 hours wait. Himeji is also at least an hour on weekends and you are breathing in the back of the man in front you most of the time on a dark stairways.

With the inflation and all I would say rise the price for all to 1500 no more!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Man City: How Premier League rule change could alter the face of English soccer See in context

Not MC fan but what Guardiola has done with players that eventually were not favored in other teams is mind blowing!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Amazon Japan makes payment policy change See in context

Despite having reputable job I was refused 3 times credit card. The last one my wife was with me at the bank (where I had account and received my salary) and she pressed them to tell us why I am rejected.

At first they refused stating security reasons but finally they gave up took out a thick book and basically the reason was I was not permanent resident at the time. After I got PR I haven't had problems obtaining cards.

Debit cards are getting off just recently - for example Post bank just started offering them a year ago or so as far as I know... And as said one can use Debit card in place of credit card without problem online or in stores.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Barrier at viral Mount Fuji photo spot to be replaced after holes found See in context

It's nice this story continue to entertain us!

Now seriously - Blue or even better Green screen is a great idea!

Now picture takers can superimpose themselves jumping or whatever in front of any background they wish!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: U.N. rights group says Japan needs to do more to counter human rights abuses See in context

The biggest problem with human rights in Japan is that the majority of the population doesn't know what that mean and more importantly the mainstream media do not put light on it.

TV programs and media jumped on Johnny's case once it was viral already.

This report will also not see coverage on national media - they have time to talk 30 minutes for Othani's match when it rained and there was no match but no time to reveal the problems in the society.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

Posted in: Red, yellow, green ... and white? Smarter vehicles could mean big changes for the traffic light See in context

There are a lot of whitish street lights close to signals in Japan. It's totally unacceptable color.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan Day Parade in New York See in context

I hate when I see cosplay and stupid characters representing Japanese culture. Come on - Japan is more than that!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Posted in: 3 killed, including 2-year-old boy, after truck hits 2 cars in Gunma See in context

If you have seen the TV footage you know the truck crushed totally the car in the opposite side lane. Horrific - hope they find the real reason for the truck doing that. RIP for the lost family.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Court orders ex-head of illegal manga site to pay ¥1.7 bil See in context

Now they have to go and sue all HardOff and second hand book shops for the kids are reading manga there without buying. And the resell price is lower on top of that.

Not saying hosting pirate site is harmless - they should make example of him I agree. But the sum asked is unrealistic.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: Over 100 hotels in Japan fall victim to Booking.com phishing scams See in context

Agree - probably Booking.com should train those establishments that have lax security guard.

For the users that were consequently targeted, hoovering over the address works on PC but not on a smartphone where you have to click and then it's too late. That might be one of the reasons why so many people fall into these scams recently. Even my wife got caught with Rakuten entering her details...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan's northeastern region jolted by M6.0 quake See in context

Despite no white dot where I am, I felt it quite well.

Very powerful indeed. It's a reminder we should prepare...

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Posted in: Niseko in Hokkaido to introduce lodging tax of up to ¥2,000 a night See in context

There is over-demand at Niseko and they can ask for whatever they think is necessary to improve the infrastructure. I wonder why they haven't done it when giving construction permits to all the foreign owned hotels! It's over built I hear and they should be sharing the burden on all the town growth!

kohakuebisu, ski gear can be much cheaper and now at Yuzawa the rentals are incredibly cheap! Some pensions include it in the price or 1000-2500 yen per day at most. Bigger resorts still keep the prices around 5-6000 yen per day but I guess coming all the away from somewhere distant this isn't the main burden!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: Tourists banned from private alleys in Kyoto's geisha district See in context

Most commenters here generalize out of the scope of what actually is happening!

And it is the locals and businesses that own these tea houses in the old area that do not want tourists disrupting there peace!

The signs to keep quite when entering those narrow streets were there in Japanese and English from before.

Now they step up and want to ban entering or taking photos. I don't like it but if those streets are really private then they have the right to ask the authorities to help them.

It's a global thing - many places worldwide are loosing their charm. The lucky people that could go and visit some years ago will have the memories. Once the popularity grows the charm is also diminishing...

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Posted in: A guide to Oita City's nature, culture and food See in context

Monkey Mountain is right across Umi Tamago aquarium and it is mentioned as Takasaki mountain!

Oita beach is a nice artificial summer spot and the seacoast to the south is beautiful.

Usuki stone Budas and Beppu onsens are also in Oita and deserve a mention or maybe even separate article!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Osaka's Qatar Open title bid ended by Pliskova See in context

What is Osaka's rank in WTA right now?

Playing against the best like equal is not small achievement after the long break!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan needs to reset after poor Asian Cup performance See in context

Pretty good analysis - bravo! The problem is we can't see a viable solution. Difficult to find either Japanese or foreign coach. And without a clear leader in the team any coach will have a tough job.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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