CoolCali comments

Well duh? Did you just arrive here dude? Is doesn't take a "Director of ...." or a PhD to figure out that Tokyo is about as cosmopolitan as a hillbilly reunion.

First, the so-called anti-discrimination laws have to be honored and enforced by the keystones.

Second, the government has to actively acknowledge, encourage, and embrace the importance of foreign cultures in a tangible way.

Well no kidding? Geez, finally someone with the stones to actually say it like it is. The kasumagaseki is a dinosaur. Actually, he's not the first. I forget the J-title, but there is a book out there, in English, called "Straightjacket Society" that explores and explains the completely &#$%*! up system that has paralyzed Japan for the last 20 some years.

Nice article Peter, but with the tiniest amount of research you would have found that the birthrate in the USA is not much better than it is here. The US keeps the population pumped through.... anyone, anyone??? Yes, immigration.

Anna, you should have told him off. Why cater to this barely concealed racism and/or sexism?

Had something weird on the train happen several years ago. I was actually relating a story to my wife and friends and was using my phone as a prop. The idiot behind me thought I was talking on the phone. He leans over my chair and tells me to "shut-up!" It was perfectly pronounced English. I was impressed. So I impressed him with a slew of Japanese epithets about his mother, family, and state of mind. Needless to say HE shut up and moved. I really don't care what other people think, but if you are going to open your mouth and let someone have it, make sure you've got your ducks lined up. Chances are you'll never see them again anyway.

Um dude, he means the original.

Quick, get your harpoons!!!

Just stop bankrolling them to the tune of $60 billion a year and use the money to bail out California. After all, has California ever caused you to go to war? Has California ever sent assassins into your country? No??? Well stop being pro-zionist America.

Good on ya' Canada.... and now for the men.... U S A ! ! !

Totally agree. Japan pays but a small price for the biggest, baddest security guard on the planet. The black van wimps certainly aren't going to step up to the plate for Japans security. There aren't nearly enough HS grads to fill the ranks.

So, who ya' gonna call....? Mother green and her killing machine!

If you scroll down until you can't see the top, it kinda looks like a golden cow pie.

Eikaiwa teacher: Do you like baseball?

Student: Ahh, yes. My favorite is Angels.

ET: The Angel? Hmm... why do you like the Angels?

S: Matsui plays for Angels.

ET: Uhh... do you know who the best players are on the Angels?

S: Ehhtooo... nandake, ehhh...

ET: So does anyone here like rugby?

And so it goes...

Blah! You're all a bunch a killjoys that bag on video games, and making blanket statements. So, I'll make one: You all probably suck at them anyway.

I remember when my mother brought home the very first "Video Pong" in the early 70's for my birthday. I never looked back. But I'm no slob loser that can't keep a job, a wife, or have a family.

This all comes down to the individual. It's not the fault of the game, that these people fall into an endless spiral of self-destruction.

Think I'll go play some xbox with my daughter, later.

Another lame, misguided idea. Just what this country needs... more people moving to the Tokyo and Kansai regions. Ya gotta wonder if the left hand has a clue what the right hand is doing in this country. I mean, in one report we hear about how smaller communities are being drained of their human resources by big cities, then we have this misguided idea to pull even more students.

Get a clue Umehara, go overseas to recruit talented students for your ailing University. You're scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

Yeah, the J-govt. is between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The agreement was made and now it has to be implemented. It's quite simple. Mr. Hatoyama and his allies erroneously believe that 3 years later they can disallow it, much as that fool Kamei has basically lead the destruction of the J-post privatization. I like what Roos said the other day about the simple fact of the matter is that if the J-govt. doesn't abide by the agreement, then there will be no movement at all, of any troops.

I know I'm going off target here but bare with me...

I got it directly FROM coke at the Official coke museum in Atlanta. Why would they lie about it.

Wow, some people are real coca-cola lovers. You actually believe that by going to a multi-nationals museum for your "facts," legitimizes them? The fact is Santa was a Victorian creation, not pop art from the Coca-cola corporation until much later.

You know that not too long ago, Budweiser called itself the "King of Beers" in their museum, do you believe that to be true? Perhaps THEY still do.

What about the Olympic rings?

Did English people's anti-Muslim bias cause the Swiss to ban minarets or has the recent ban there emboldened the anti-Muslim fascists in the UK?

Actually the Swiss are incredibly conservative. This is a country that didn't grant women suffrage until 1971, I believe.

It's rather silly how Muslims would demand Christians to allow them to observe their religion and customs in a predominantly Christian soil, while Christians cannot request the same liberties in a Muslim country.

Tolerance should beget tolerance, I agree, and the Muslims at one time did allow non-Muslims free practice as long as they payed their taxes, didn't evangelize, or in any way try convert Muslims. They were far more tolerant than say Europe in the not so recent past. But seeing how they have been treated by Judeo/Christian countries recently... well one can see how tolerance is so easily lost.

Oh sorry, you must work for the coca-cola company.... google boy.

A long time ago, in the world I live in, before there was coca cola...

A Visit From St. Nicholas, more commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, has been a classic since its first appearance in the Troy Sentinel in 1823. The poem was published anonymously and, as excitement over the verses grew, everyone wanted to know the name of the author. In 1837 Clement Clarke Moore, a biblical scholar in New York City, allowed his name to be attached as author and, in 1844, he included the piece in his own book, Poems. Moore explained that he had written the poem on the Christmas eve of 1823.

Nope, actually the English get the credit for the modern Santa. Your life seems to revolve around pop culture a bit too much. And no kidding about the International Red Cross. Don't insult me with your wikipedia knowledge base.

Oh really Saint Nicholas? You don't say? Damn, never would have figured that one out.

Wahahaha! Tough luck Mao(se)-chan! Never liked than over rated munchkin anyway.

Now we can see talent and beauty in the form of Miki Ando. The hottest thing on ice in Japan. Certainly better than the skating chin: Shizuka Arakawa

Japan needs to learn from the likes of Ankgor Wat or the Egyptian pyramids, where tourists are free to roam

Or not... while it might be nice to have unrestricted access to places that are truly interesting, like those you mentioned, it is hardly feasible. The pyramids, Ankgor wat, and Machu Pichu (I've been to the last two) will all probably be stopping such unrestricted sight-seeing because of the damage it causes.

I do agree that if the J-govt wants to attract 10 million tourists (excuse while I get back in the chair, laughing too hard)they will have to do more. For example, multilingual tour guides (like in Korea, Cambodia, several European countries), or recorded tours in foreign languages (like in the USA, Canada, and well, Japan's own kabuki theater in Tokyo).

Why are all options from a single country? I think the logo of the Red Cross is more recognizable than all those in the poll.

Yeah, the Red Cross, especially the one the crusaders wore as they marched into the Holy Land.

And to answer your question... a single country? What rock are you living under? Santa Claus is hardly an American image.

Why don't they name this evil mother? Name and shame her, I say.

For once I agree with you.

Because Japanese never grow up.

Glad my wife lived overseas in Europe for 12 years before coming back to Japan. She grew up and out of the childishness that is so pervasive in this country.

String her up, use her for a pinata, then throw that piece of garbage away.

It's a shame Naito was beaten like a red-headed step child in this one. He should have been training harder and not doing so many talk shows. I can't stand that punk Kameda and his whole loser family, but he looked hungry.

I do not like him. Boxing is a sport for the brainless.

We do not care. Please offer something constructive.

I don't why there is even a flyweight category. People don't remember the flyweight champion of the world - just the heavyweights, like Ali and Frazier, or even the welterweights, like Duran and Ray Leonard.

For the same reason YOU are allowed to comment on this or any other site brainiac... go figure.

diggerdog, if memory serves, he was in Mexico the past two years training and boxing during his suspension, so he took your dare and well...

yes neverknow2, the world hates us, and I guess that is why people are clamoring to come to America, and not the land of blunders, oh I meant the land down under. Who was the last Oz boxing champ? Hmmm... guess without a case of beer you all couldn't fight your way out of paper bag. (Mod: if you dump my comment, you outta dump his.)

I saw the match, and was hoping the old man would win, but by the time it was half over, it looked liked Naito was finished. The wife walked in about the 6th round and couldn't believe dudes nose. Anyway, now the media circus begins with everyone trying to get a piece. Hope his handlers are smart enough to see him through this and choose only 1 or 2, or else his reign as champ will be a short one.

I'm going with Rumsfeld here. The Democrats make it sound as though Binny was holed up in a specific location, surrounded on all sides.

Of course you are sarge. You polish the floor under his desk while working on your knees.

Gotta agree with USADude, next story please, this one is old, sarge needs a new pair of kneepads.