Davin comments

Working as an engineer in the shipyards, I have noticed that the men who did not go to high school outperform the trade school and university grads all the time, in the critical thinking area, hands on, and problem solving. It seems more often than not, having an education does not mean you are more intelligent!

Yokohama recycles clothes! When you throw away clothes here, they ask that they be clean and in good shape when placed at the pick up point, any worn or dirty items must be thrown away with burnable trash. They have a large recycling center near the city hospital on the Seaside line. Yokohama Loves to recycle, almost to the point of madness!

@Zenny11

I could live with that, but I guess the Japanese would push to have Gucci bags labeled as a life essential!

I remember when it was 0% consumption tax and when they raised it to 3% everyone complained, then they raised it to 5%, then the cola machines went up 10 yen and I thought everyone I worked with was going to have a stroke. I explained to them that they had been spoiled to long, and that even now, they have one of the lowest consumption taxes and should be prepared for another raise in the tax.

First thing he needs to do is convince all the Japanese housewives that they do not need the 13,000 yen a month child allowance, as it only adds to the debt. Single mothers and the unemployed, yes, but other families who only hoard the cash, no! I have 5 Kids and have always been against any type of government handout, most of the time it is just a type of bribery when the elections are near. Austerity is the word that seems to have been lost over the years!

I watched about 30 seconds of 3D TV at one of the Stores near me. I will have to say that I could hardly see investing in something that makes me feel a little woozy after about 10 seconds!

When I first came to Japan almost 30 years ago, you had to go through a strict overseas screening, and they were a little pickier then about who they let come to Japan. They need to go back to the old standards, and after they arrive, any member that steps out of line needs to be sent back stateside after a first offense, no second chances.

I was surprised to find out how many of my children's friends ate only McD'S , Conbini bentos, cup ramen, and microwaveable frozen foods. Most of their parents never fix an actual meal for their children. I make sure we have a home cooked meal every night, with McD's maybe once a month,but only for lunch.It is the parents fault for kids getting no exercise and then getting fat, not McDonald's, they don't strong arm anyone by forcing them to go in and eat!

Sometimes I love being the "Angry Western Guy"! One thing I have learned in my 30 years here is that you should never think that you represent anyone but yourself. I am not going to let something eat at me, if someone makes me angry, I let them have it in the language of their choice! I also know many Angry Japanese Guys and Gals, who love to let loose with a few choice words when pushed!

I have always hated SMAP and all of the other Johnny's boys, Johnny seems to have more power than Yamaguchi Gumi. Is there a TV show without a Johnny's member in the cast? A bunch of talentless eyesores if you ask me!

The Wizard Of Oz - All of the scenes that are in color.

The timing of this "accident" seems very suspicious, and Obama sending in the S.W.A.T. teams makes him look as if he has no idea of what he is doing! Will they blame it on the Tea Party Members or Al-Qaeda?

Between morning club activities, school, afternoon club activities, juku, and then home for late night study time, I can see why they are tired! I feel for some of these children, because they will never know how it feels to be a kid! I always made my kid take at least two day a week off from bukatsu,and never let them go in for the early morning bukatsu, Kids need their rest!

"sue the owner of the apartment"

Suing the Japanese Government would get you absolutely nothing!

Maybe it was hot and she had the windows open, screens are not that strong and maybe he fell through. It is almost Impossible to watch any child every minute of the day, bathroom breaks, cooking meals, well you get my point. Also child proofing a home is an exspensive job to be done, sometimes things like this are just accidents, its not like she left the poor kid in the car to go and play pachinko!

”You must not live here. The whole country is already kooky”

I have lived here for over 25 Years! She is the fun kind of kookie, you can tell she has spent time overseas, she has learned how to loosen up, maybe a little too much, but I still say it is a good thing!

I think a little kookiness will be good for Japan!

"The girls fell from the car park roof"

Fell? Falling would be an accident, I think jumped is the word they are looking for!

Poor Girls and their parents, they should have moved the kids that were doing the bullying to a new school, then they could get a little taste of their own medicine!

If they are successful in cutting government waste, stopping the contracts for my buddies schemes and then offer job training to the unemployed, things may work out. But as in all Government, there are puppet masters behind the scenes, so who knows. I wish them luck, and hope they are successful, for my Childrens sake!

"David Aldwinckle can't do anything for anyone in Japan. He's considered a weirdo and annoyance by both the Japanese government and most ex-pats, who don't need his "help" anyway."

The above statement is 100% correct!

Debito needs to get a life, trouble only finds those who are looking for it, and it always seems to find him! He needs to go live in North Korea and protest there for a while!

mnemosyne23

That will not work with every kid, I have raised 5 kids and one of them just needed a good ole fashion butt whooping at 16, and I gave it to him, after that he behaved and we became closer, but it was a last resort after he had seriously injured two people!

lostbreed

http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20090816k0000e040038000c.html

Japanese article.

societymike

"crime here is still FAR lower"

Reported crime is lower, because the cops have ways of making you not press charges or wish you had not, I know I have been there a few times in my 25+ years here! Japan needs some gung-ho police like America!

I had a teacher grab and shake my daughter about 15 years ago at school because she forgot her red pen, after I finished with him, he never came near or spoke to my daughter again!

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic and refrain from posting outbursts about how tough you are.

In Japan life means about 20 years behind bars before you are released. The death penilty is handed down to mostly killers of multiple victims, so he will be free to kill again after he returns to wherever they send him in about 2029!