Posted in: Trial begins for woman over death of 2-year-old granddaughter due to neglect See in context
I hope they get the maximum sentence!
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Foreign firefighters stifled by Japanese gov't bureaucratic restrictions See in context
What's the point of becoming a firefigher if they can't fight fire? Firefighters are supposed to save lives! Why limit what they can do because of their nationality? Makes no sense!
12 ( +13 / -1 )
Posted in: Video of Sri Lankan who died in detention in Japan shown to public See in context
Such a disgusting video. What did they think? That she was faking feeling ill? And to think this happened in Japan is sickening.
The "boss" and everyone who denied her treatment should be punished to the fullest extent.
But this is Japan and she was a foreigner so they will get off lightly.....
17 ( +33 / -16 )
Posted in: Croatia reach World Cup quarterfinals with penalty shoot-out victory over Japan See in context
So sad to see Japan lose. They fought so hard but looked like were "lost" during overtime. I think they could have beat Croatia. They should have beaten Croatia...
I think they now know that they should practice penalty kicks. Other than Asano's kick, the shots were pretty weak. Croatia definitely had an upper hand in this area.
But...hats off to them for having beaten Germany and Spain. Otsukare sama desu!
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: Costa Rica scores late to beat Japan 1-0 in lackluster game See in context
Bad job by Moriyasu. What was he thinking?!
I hope he takes out Yoshida and Ito the next game and let Kubo play!
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Trial of English-speaking test for Tokyo high schools face opposition from some parents See in context
While I applaud Japan for wanting to incorporate English into their education system, they do a poor job because they don't hire qualified English teachers. It's mind boggling to me that Japanese teachers who don't really speak English but hold a Eiken 1st degree "outrank" ALT teachers who speak English.
I went off on my son's school (principal, his English teacher and the head of the English dept) last year because the English teacher was terrible. He had been teaching at the school for years and the students didn't know any better (neither did their parents). Unfortunate for him, English is my first language. The stuff he was teaching my son was ridiculous. For example, [ _____ a good day] should be "Have" but he told the class that it's "Be." He made unbelievable mistakes like that often. I tried to talk to him but he didn't understand anything I said and the little he did understand, he couldn't answer in a complete sentence in english. Lucky for my son (and all the students, if you ask me), this teacher transferred elsewhere.
If the hiring staff doesn't speak English, the schools will most likely continue to hire unqualified English teachers.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting woman on her way home See in context
I wonder if he'll still be able to teach.
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: Car driven by 97-year-old man kills woman, injures 4 in Fukushima See in context
Japan really needs to change the driving requirements. How many more people must die/get injured? Attending a seminar on "safe driving when they renew their licenses" or undertaking dementia tests is obviously not enough. Knowing the safety rules doesn't mean you can react in time. I think they should take an actual driving test every year after 70 years old.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan to ask for electricity saving from Dec 1 to end of March to avoid power crunch See in context
Just turn off the downtown illuminations (Xmas is around the corner...) and this alone should save a bunch of electricity!
6 ( +7 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan to cut household electricity bills by 20% to fight inflation See in context
I will welcome whatever discount they're offering. We try as a family to do our share of consuming electricity but...Japanese houses aren't well insulated so cold weather does drive up the electricity bill (and gas bill).
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Man arrested for trying to kill convenience store owner over cup of coffee See in context
Maybe the customer is a regular cheater and the owner decided to finally do something about it. Still, the owner's life is not worth the coffee price!
9 ( +10 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan starts COVID vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years See in context
I know people who didn't get side effects from the vaccine and I know people who did (myself being one and I refuse to get vaccinated again). I know people who are fully vaxxed but suffered big-time after getting the actual COVID. I also know people who aren't vaxxed and only got mild symptoms from COVID.
I, personally, don't think kids (definitely not babies!) need to get the vaccine. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone needs to get the vaccine. As long as these shots aren't mandated, it should continue to be a personal choice.
13 ( +18 / -5 )
Posted in: Father arrested for leaving 4-year-old daughter in car parking lot to discipline her See in context
I'm glad a passerby notified police and that the girl was safe.
Unfortunately, knowing the Japanese system, nothing will be done against the father and this girl will be taken back home.
4 ( +5 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan steps up push to get public to sign up for digital IDs See in context
I don't have my card yet but I'm uncomfortable with my number written on the card itself and having have to carry it around in lieu of my health insurance card. I think this will only give way to identity fraud, if my actual number is stolen. Also, I really don't want to carry both cards - the MyNumber card and the Zairyu card.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: International Criminal Court head keen to set up 1st regional office in Japan See in context
Not sure how I feel about this. Would this help or make things worse for the already mistreated foreigners here in Japan?
-4 ( +0 / -4 )
Posted in: Woman arrested on suspicion of assaulting 79-year-old father See in context
There's gotta be more this story.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: 27-year-old man arrested for assaulting mother See in context
If you don't like being told to get a job, then go get a job! What a loser!
10 ( +10 / -0 )
Posted in: Emperor opens festivals marking 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return See in context
My friends and I visit Okinawa once every couple of years and I always find it "weird" that I, an American, get a different treatment (in a good way) from my Japanese friends. They say Oki people hate the bases being there (I'm sure a lot do) but when we go shopping on Kokusai Dori, I usually get a discount but my Japanese friends don't. So now, if they find something they want, I just go buy it for them!
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan's sperm donation law spurs controversy See in context
It does cause harm to the child. Imagine how a kid would be treated if other kids found out they had "two mommy's".
If parents teach their own kids that having one parent, two moms or two dads is okay, then these "kids" won't be mistreated. If they do get mistreated, it's only because "normal" parents taught their own kids that it's not okay to have one parent, two moms or two dads.
10 ( +12 / -2 )
Posted in: Japan's sperm donation law spurs controversy See in context
I agree that this issue should no longer be in the gray area; the law should apply to all those who want a baby, regardless of their status: married, single, lesbian or gay!
13 ( +13 / -0 )
Posted in: School leaflet asks students to write down, turn in their social media passwords See in context
This happened to my son last year; except it was a teacher, not the school, asking for each student's personal email address & password. Some kids turned it in the day it was asked but most of the kids were like, "No way!" and informed parents when they got home. I'm one of them. Needless to say, I complained like hell (as did many parents). Teacher apologized and said it was a misunderstanding. He said he wanted to install an app on the kids' phones to help with school projects. Uh huh, yeah, right.
Unfortunately, this teacher is still around.....
9 ( +11 / -2 )
Posted in: Which is more popular in Japan: British English or American English? See in context
I'm not sure which is more popular but Japanese schools teach British English. We speak American English at home so the kids get confused because there are differences. For example, my son got marked wrong for writing "on the weekend" versus "at the weekend". It can be very frustrating. I had to tell the teacher (Japanese) once that "on the weekend" might not be British English but it's not incorrect English so mark it correct.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: Ex-Nissan exec Kelly wants boardroom, not criminal, trial See in context
After landing in Japan, he got in a van. The driver asked if he could pull over and make a call. Suddenly the van door opened, and several men rushed in, identifying themselves as prosecutors and a translator.
Kelly was taken to a detention center, handcuffed and searched, then led to an interrogation room, and questioned by prosecutors, initially without a lawyer present.
He was kept in solitary confinement for 35 days and interrogated daily.
Only in Japan can this be legal. Japan has a 99% conviction rate because of stunts like this. They mentally wear down the "criminal" to confess to a crime or have fake evidence stacked up against them...especially if they are foreigners.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: Tropical depression drenching earthquake-stricken Haiti See in context
Feel so bad for them. They can't seem to catch a break with these powerful quakes. And to add bad weather is just heartbreaking :(
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Japanese lawyer comments on legality of tattoo ban at hot springs See in context
Japan just needs to get with the times. Tattoos might have been associated with yakuza back in the day but it isn't anymore. If tattoo equals yakuza, then why are there so many ink shops?
Tats are a personal choice and so is looking at them. I can see how some might feel uncomfortable looking at them. But I don't think discriminating against those with tats is reasonable. They should be allowed to bathe too.
If onsens don't change their way, then the ones that allow tats will be reaping in the big bucks next year during the Olympics!
7 ( +7 / -0 )
Posted in: Gov't postpones debate on imperial succession as divide surfaces See in context
Why am I not surprised that Fumihito is announcing himself to be first in line to the throne? (I'm not a fan of this guy...)
I really hope that they change their ways and allow succession by women or by members in the maternal line.
0 ( +2 / -2 )
Posted in: Department store reviews plan for staff to wear menstruation badges after outcry See in context
What an absurd idea!!
How about those going through menopause? Should they wear a 更年期 badge?
And...men don't get menses but there are PLENTY of men who have PMS symptoms! They should wear a badge too!
Again, what an absurd idea!
-2 ( +2 / -4 )
Posted in: Stepfather gets 13 years in prison over fatal child abuse See in context
Not a very long sentence but I guess it's long for the Japanese judicial system. I'm glad the wife didn't get off easy. I hope they both feel remorse for what they did and find a way to rehabilitate themselves to be better human beings.
8 ( +9 / -1 )
Posted in: Man says he abused stepdaughter because efforts to discipline her didn't work See in context
He said he came home one day and found her sleeping instead of doing an assignment he had told her to do. He got pissed off. He got on top of her and punched her face repeatedly. Then he threw her in the bathtub and made her sit in cold water...
Makes me sick and so upset! What a loser!!!
I seriously hope he gets the harshest punishment (not the death penalty). He needs to pay for what he did!!
5 ( +6 / -1 )
Posted in: Parents arrested after 3-year-old daughter found dead at home See in context
What is wrong with all these parents?!
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Haitian gang slaughters at least 70 people as thousands flee
Posted in: Harris visits North Carolina to survey Helene's aftermath
Says the guy who everything he had ever posted about he saw on the internet. Says the guy who still…
Posted in: Harris visits North Carolina to survey Helene's aftermath
Posted in: Harris visits North Carolina to survey Helene's aftermath