Captcanuck comments

The islands are over populated and have 100 million too many people as it is. Anyway, They have spent too many years staring at their belly buttons and having meetings instead of making changes. Just think about all the cheap land thats gong to be available in a hundred years!

I thought it was strange when I first moved here years ago when a Japanese person asked me if it was hard to remember to take my shoes off here before entering a home. In my 50 years I have never wore my shoes in a house and have never met anyone who did. It would be considered rude and unsanitary. Sounds like a stereotype about foreigners. The bottom of your shoes probably contain some nasty bacteria that I wouldn't want spread throughout my home anyway.

How about dealing with the huge debt that is going to destroy this county? Where is the strong leader to address this issue that affects everyone here. A coalition is not going to address this issue, neither is Noda. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/land-of-the-rising-sum-japans-toxic-mountain-of-debt/article2372141/

Not a chance Mistric. I hate crowds with a passion. Money is not that important to me. You push me on the train you are going down. Hence I stay away from crowds. I live in a smaller town here. I belong in the forest with a fishing pole in my hands and fresh venison hanging in the shed. Why am I living in Japan? At the moment I am doing what I have to do for my family. My wife is Japanese and I put her and my daughter ahead of my own needs. This is as it should be. Long story short, I am just not a city fan. And yes, I would turn down a million bucks to live in Tokyo. To each his/her own.

Couldn't pay me a million bucks a year to live there. Japan as a whole is crowded enough. Tokyo would drive me insane. There is absolutely nothing there to interest me. World's Greatest City? Guess it depends on what you want. If I absolutely had to live in a city it would be Vancouver. Surrounded by mountains and only a short drive to camping in the wilderness.

Women need to increase their presence in the workforce instead of having babies in their 20's and never working again. It would address the shortage of workers and stimulate the economy. Granted, it is going to take some time before the establishment treats women as equally as men in the workforce. I have no idea how the government expects to pay for this and the aging issue (elderly care) in Japan without pushing ahead with raising the consumption tax. It's also time to increase tobacco and alcohol taxes to help pay for some economic stimulation.

hahaha have to agree with you karakaze on the high pitched mickey mouse voice the women do. Drives me nuts. The fact that Japanese men find this attractive should ring alarm bells of parents with young girls, but it doesn't. A society wide attitude adjustment might help get rid of the high number of pedophiles here. The police searched for 5 min for the guy who flashed my daughter and then went back to their police box. Back home the whole neighborhood would have searched every nook and cranny in the area with baseball bats but here it is accepted as normal. Here's an idea, how about pulling off the shelves all the porno manga involving girls in school uniforms? Remove the naked women in the daily newspaper? etc etc Women need to start standing up for themselves and stop trying to please the men. They are capable of being much more than Minnie Mouse.

"Early morning sun in summer"

Obviously you lived in your basement in Canada. I worked in the oilfields in the middle of Alberta and the sun starts to rise up just after 3am and goes down after 11pm. I still can't get used to it being dark at 7pm here in summer. Now if you state it seems awfully bright here I would agree. My eyes have a difficult time here with the bright sunlight. I hate summers here anyway and don't spend anytime outside except to go to the airport to leave to Canada for the month of August. And yes, it is way too crowded and noisy here. I also want to punch people in the head when they don't stop at the crosswalk for my daughter and I. Drivers in Fukuoka drink a cup of Stupid every morning before they get behind the wheel. Ok, done venting. Now I will have a cup of coffee, a crispy creme doughnut, pretending it is actually from Tim Hortons and settle in to watch the Hockey game on my PC.

Wow anglootaku, you really think Japanese tv is better than western tv? I don't know what you are watching but I have never seen so many transexuals, tranvestites etc in a variety show in my life. My wife, who is Japanese just loves this stuff but it disgusts me. Tell me why 'Mattress Deluxe' is so popular? Yes I am aware I am playing with his/her name. And if I never see another food tasting/rating show again I will be extremely happy. A show such as Before and After that runs Sunday evening is worth watching but most of the rest? I don't think so. I don't think every western show is great either but I don't have to watch the same people in a different show every night either. Thank God I have a man cave to retreat to watch DVD's, hockey or listen to my stereo. It is my oasis in the desert. Oh, and by the way, the news here may be less depressing but that is only due to falling in line with what the government wants them to say. Stray outside the line and say something that irks the politicians and you (reporter, news station etc) will not be a privileged member of the press club with its perks anymore. Heaven forbid if a reporter offends anyone. I prefer a 'tell it as it is' journalism.

"Stagnant Japan Tour"

There is a high likelihood that many of the female 'suicides' are actually murders. Less than 3% of suspicious deaths (which include suicides) are autopsied in Japan. My wife's best friend was murdered by her husband and he claimed it was suicide. The police did not even come to the house to look at the body, instead taking his word for it. We saw the body just afterwards and his story didn't fit. The body was cremated the next day and all evidence destroyed. Sadly, it is a convenient way to kill your wife by claiming suicide. The Medical Association of Japan needs to put pressure on the government to make it a law to perform autopsies in all suspicious deaths including all 'suicides'. The system is stuck in the stone-age.

Bought a Harley when I first came here. Sold it a year later after realizing Japan's road system and lack of 'cruising' highways aggravated the hell outa me (paying big bucks to ride on a toll highway is not my thing). Japan's road system is just not set up for cruising. Got tired of riding 40-50 km max and stopping at a signal light every 10 seconds. Bought a Kawasaki Versys, which is much lighter and more suited for short commutes as well as the mountain trails I explore and camp on. First non-cruiser I have owned in more than 20 years and lots of fun.

"annexation of the peninsula'? I am sure Koreans use a different word entirely.

Japanese politicians need to find a backbone and move Japan forward before it is left completely behind and becomes a completely backward, inward looking country, adrift from the global community. Japan will soon be alone and without military and economic allies. Reform or start learning Chinese, you are going to need it when China comes calling by the end of the century. Japan can not survive as a nation without joining the global community.

Indeed, Japan is doomed to a slow death unless it becomes less protectionist and more global. Not only in terms of business but in view of education overseas etc. The total of Japanese studying abroad is declining at a rapid pace while other Asian students are more globalized and bringing that expertise back to their home countries after studying and working abroad. They are in much demand in their home countries. Japan needs to spend less time looking inward and branch out before it becomes a colony of the giant next door in the next 100 years.

My family has decided to eat only Aussie beef from Costco or local (Kyushu) beef from now on. Wonder how many children are going to end up with cancer in the future, not necessarily from eating beef but because of haphazard safety measures and more coverups. Won't be feeding my daughter food/dairy from that area. Overcautious? Maybe, but it's my job to be so as a parent.

I don't see any difference and I try to avoid Japanese radio. Both have 300 members in each band and no talent. These are bubble gum bands suited for young girls only. Drives me nuts to see the same thing here with guy bands (who all look like girls anyway). Hard for an old hard rocker to like this kind of stuff., though my daughter disagrees with me. Thank God for Ipods and Internet Radio.