borscht comments

Posted in: Woman, baby daughter die after being hit by train in apparent murder-suicide See in context

About adoption in Japan:

Japan is characterized by one of the highest adoption rates in the world

However, over 90% (some report 98%) are adult males adopted by the wife’s family to continue the family name.

Which means a paltry 10 or 2% are babies, maybe. Maybe some adult females are adopted?

Regardless, mental health is taking a backseat in Japan and needs improving. Not least to reduce murder-suicides like this unfortunate incident.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Manhunt,' about hunt for John Wilkes Booth, may make you wish you paid attention in history class See in context

All of the history in this article was taught in my junior high US history class and unlike the headline and creator- showrunner Monica Beletsky, I paid attention.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Posted in: Uber Japan partners with Kaga City in Ishikawa Prefecture to launch ridesharing services See in context

Does the Hokuriku Shinkansen go to Kaga from Osaka?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Michigan cop's mistake leads to $320,000 deal with Japanese man wrongly accused of drunken driving See in context

DesertTortoise

Thanks for the information. My knowledge of US taxes is, obviously, out of date. As I said, take my calculations with a pre-tax grain of salt.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Michigan cop's mistake leads to $320,000 deal with Japanese man wrongly accused of drunken driving See in context

Meiyouwenti

The US taxes the entire amount at around 50%. Michigan might have a windfall tax, too; often around 10% of the entire amount.

The $320,000 is reduced by $160,000 (US) which is reduced by $105,400 (lawyer); the entire amount could be previously reduced by $32,000 (Michigan).

Leaving Akima with either $23,400 or, if no Michigan tax, $55,400.

I’m not sure how much of the entire amount Japan will tax Akima.

But I’m no tax accountant so take this with a grain of salt (pre-tax).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Do you think the performance of the stock market in a country reflects the performance of the economy as a whole? See in context

The biggest falls in the US stock markets after 1929 and before 2008 was Eisenhower having a heart attack and JFK being assassinated. How do either of those events reflect the performance of the US economy at that time?

When asked about him losing over a billion dollars on the 2008 crash, Warren Buffett said, it'll be back. What did he do? Bought stocks cheap.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: What did you do in your down time before cell phones were common (if you are old enough to remember)? See in context

What is this down time you refer to? I was either in school, studying, playing and talking with friends, watching TV, doing chores, reading, playing by myself or siblings, traveling with the family, sleeping, or playing little league baseball poorly.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Elderly driver hits 2 pedestrians, killing one, near Nara temple See in context

 Todaiji, a Buddhist temple in western Japan designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, 

That's the most important part for a lead paragraph? That the site of the accident and death is a UNESCO site?

For those hauling out their pitchforks and torches bleating for people a certain age to be barred from driving:

At 70 people who renew their driver's licenses need to take a refresher course under the eye of a driving instructor. This includes, of course, a lecture on driving, a driving test, and an eye test that is more comprehensive than the normal driver's license renewal eye test. It includes checking peripheral vision and distance. After 75 people also have to take a dementia test which should be more stringent than it is.

When I turned 70 and took the refresher course, one of my classmates had trouble finding the door out of the classroom, then had trouble finding the car, then got in the passenger side. I didn't find out but I hope he didn't get his license renewed.

As the instructors were there to check driving ability and had no authority to stop someone on dementia-related skills, I fear he passed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Noto earthquake hypothermia deaths spark public awareness drive See in context

and cover your head and neck to prevent your body heat from escaping

Heat escapes from your body, not just out your head and neck. That's why our armpits get sweaty after hard work or high temperatures. You'd think a doctor would know that. Saying that, I usually wear a hat indoors, too.

222 deaths and 32 caused by hypothermia. Almost 15%? I'm assuming the hypothermia victims were trapped in their houses the first few days, like the 90-year-old woman. I'm hoping they weren't already in evacuation centers (i.e. school gymnasiums) where heat was optional.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: 39-year-old man arrested for luring 13-year-old girl on social media to watch movie with him See in context

I’ve got a couple of questions.

How did the police find the girl and man so fast?

Is a “lodging facility” different from a hotel? Is it a rooming or boarding house?

Does the girl never leave home on a Sunday without telling her parents?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: University of Tokyo to launch new 5-year program with 50% foreign students See in context

such as by taking part in company internships or studying abroad

They are already studying abroad. Do they mean go home?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Posted in: Woman arrested for assault after punching 77-year-old mother in the face See in context

I think she was arrested for assault rather than assaulting. But I’m not a journalist so what do I know?

Moderator: Thank you. It has been corrected.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Posted in: Foreign firefighters stifled by Japanese gov't bureaucratic restrictions See in context

each municipality must make an individual judgment on what activities amount to them exercising "public authority."

Here’s the real problem:

the city has to decide for themselves what constitutes public authority.

And, having no experience in deciding for themselves, having grown up with the education system here, they’re stifled. Or stymied.r

-1 ( +11 / -12 )

Posted in: Guy next to infamous Japanese fugitive on wanted poster arrested thanks to media coverage See in context

this poster was widely displayed in media coverage and we can only imagine Kin was constantly seeing it alongside his own face whole country to see.

something is missing in this sentence. For might be needed. And maybe the?

I’m not a journalist so I don’t know.

Moderator: Thank you. It has been corrected.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Kyoto arson defendant's doctor calls for ways to resolve isolation See in context

Obviously the good doctor’s aim at beginning a discussion about isolation in Japan has fallen on deaf ears on Japan Today’s comment board.

Isolation is a big problem in Japan and other places. Caring or talking to other people is an important function for humans; if someone talked to Aoba, lives could have been saved.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Posted in: Some schools reopen, garbage collection resumes in Japan's areas hardest hit by quake See in context

community centers an other makeshift facilities

I think you’re missing a D in this phrase

Moderator: Thank you. It has been corrected.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Man fatally shot at Starbucks in Ehime Prefecture; suspect at large See in context

shot him in three times the chest and fled.

He probably shot him in the chest three times and fled.

Everyone 'guessing' it might be gang-related must not have read this sentence:

Police believe the shooting was gang-related.

Moderator: Thank you. The sentence has been corrected.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Posted in: Man arrested over murder of 85-year-old woman in February 2023 in Fukushima Prefecture See in context

Police said Komatsu was seen loitering near the house

Well, it was actually Komatsu’s house so it would have been natural she loitered nearby.

Perhaps the police meant Kimura?

Moderator: Thanks for pointing out that mistake.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Former senior vice justice minister Kakizawa arrested over vote-buying allegations See in context

Why are we all of sudden hearing about all the illegal activities?!?

Because Kishida wants to be re-elected PM and he’s doing by eliminating the competition.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Man arrested after attempting to strangle girlfriend to death See in context

Kitakyushu has a million plus population but Iizuka, where this strangling took place, is about 100,000, i.e. a small rural town famous for abandoned coal mines. And not so close to either Kitakyushu or Fukuoka city, the 7th largest city in Japan. In other words, no comparison and please, Marc, learn to read.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Japan to start offering residency to 4th-generation descendants See in context

would Japan accept that deposed dirtbag dictator Alberto Fujimori who used to rule over Peru?

Not only did they accept him but they gave him citizenship so he could hide out in Japan but he opted to go back to Peru rather than stay here.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: What are your fondest childhood memories of Christmas? See in context

Not childhood, but one year while in college I went for a walk and ran into a friend from high school. We talked as we walked back to her place where we drank eggnog, talked about her future, and a bit about me. Good time, relaxing and comfortable.

It was only when I got home did I realize it was Christmas Eve.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Police panel proposes up to ¥12,000 fine for cycling violations See in context

But serious offenses that require a lengthy investigation which may result in possible indictments and criminal punishment create a burden for both police

Wow, a burden for the police to enforce the law. What’s their day job, anyway, catching politicians who accept bribes?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: For readers in international marriages, what are some of the biggest challenges you have had to face? See in context

Convincing the in-laws and neighbors that we aren’t in an ‘international’ marriage but two humans from different countries who met and fell in love.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Posted in: Man arrested for keeping body of 94-year-old father at home See in context

Hard to live off a dead relative’s pension when the relative died Earlier this month.

Income went to the 94-year-old who spent it as he wished, which could have been for food and utilities for him and his son.

No word in the article about whether the 64-year-old son was ‘unemployed’ or retired and had a pension, too.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Married manga artists tell story about life with disability See in context

with fights and quarrels lasting until dawn almost daily, 

Then, why did they get married? Didn’t they know each other before they married?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Tokyo's Shibuya district raises alarm against unruly Halloween, even caging Hachiko statue See in context

If the powers that be in Shibuya ran it like a festival with oyaji-organized dances, oyaji-organized music, and oyaji-organized contests for Best Costume complete with Governor’s Choice prizes, it would die within two years and the crowds would disperse to the Yamanote line like they did in the past.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Posted in: Bankruptcies had been low thanks to the interest-free, unsecured loans extended during the height of the pandemic, but failures are on the rise due to a delay in earnings recovery from the pandemic and higher costs. See in context

Is the feasibility on the borrowers ability to pay back the loan or on the feasibility of the business making a profit?

I see businesses open and I have to wonder if the owners have done due diligence. Then a year later they’re closed and the space for rent again.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan SDF planes head for Djibouti to prep for Israel evacuation See in context

How many Japanese nationals are in Israel?

I hope the SDF takes other nationalities, too, like South Korea has done. I also hope everyone is safe.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: No. of foreign residents in Japan rises to record 3.2 million See in context

The one thing I'm afraid is if war with Taiwan and China starts all those Chinese living in Japan might behave like the inside army.

That’s exactly what the US government thought about the Japanese living in the US during WWII, even if they were US citizens.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

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