DenTok2009 comments

Posted in: 'Dragon Ball': Japan's manga powerhouse See in context

I was genuinely taken aback and deeply saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary Akira Toriyama, the brilliant architect of the enchanting world of Arale-chan. The delightful naivety and immense strength of the robot, coupled with the comedic genius of Norimaki Senbei, created a timeless masterpiece that never failed to bring joy to my heart. I couldn't help but burst into laughter at Senbei's transformation into a romantic leading man, especially during his attempts to impress his daughter's teacher.

Beyond Arale-chan, Toriyama's influence extended to the iconic Dragon Ball series, which I also held close to my heart. The early years, featuring the adventures of Son Goku and his master, were truly the pinnacle of storytelling.

As we bid farewell to Akira Toriyama, let us remember the laughter, excitement, and sheer brilliance he brought to our lives through his imaginative creations. His impact on the world of manga and anime is immeasurable, and the void left by his passing is felt by fans around the globe. Rest in peace, Toriyama-san, and thank you for sharing your extraordinary talents with us. Your legacy will continue to inspire and resonate with fans for generations to come.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan labor leader vows to fight for stable, better work conditions See in context

Japanese women are required to put on makeup. One woman told me that it's rude/offensive to be makeup free. If it's required then why aren't women given an allowance for makeup? I mean, why aren't companies giving some extra money to the female staff to purchase makeup and skincare potions? I told a few young Japanese girls that I would tell the company that I want a few 万円s; you better not expect me to go shopping at the 100 yen shops! (Nothing wrong with the makeup at 100 yen shops.) They all laughed.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Posted in: 17-year-old boy will not be prosecuted over 6-year-old sister’s death See in context

Some boys will grow up to be men who can not control their temper or always give in to the urge to do violence to others who are weaker than themselves. I've read quite a few articles here where the men, whether they be the father or latest boyfriend, beat up their child or the wife/girlfriend's child. I wonder whether those men came from single parent households. I wonder whether those men were neglected children.

In spite of my wondering, I hold those men accountable for their actions.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: There is no end to cases of illegal workers using forged residence cards, so we are stepping up crackdowns. See in context

Years ago, some Chinese guys and Russian girls and I applied for a seasonal job at a factory in the boonies. We (the Russian girls and I) met the temp staff agency managers in Tokyo to fill out the paperwork. The managers wanted to see passports and residence cards, plus wanted to take photocopies. We thought they were going overboard with the checking. I now know that they were just covering their behinds by making sure that the foreigners they signed up were all legal and that the company wasn't playing any games when it came to checking documents.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: Tokyo robot cafe offers new spin on disability inclusion See in context

@genkigaijingirl I guess the government, the medical community and the robotics industry have to a meeting of the minds conference to bring that about.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: What's your favorite coffee shop chain in Japan? See in context

I like Tullys and Be A Good Neighbor Coffee Kiosk at Roppongi 1 chome station because I feel comfortable either sitting on a stool or standing while I sip chai and doodle or sketch on their counter tables.

@Monty There's a coffee shop in Shibuya near the post office where there is smoking. I was surprised because I thought there was no smoking in all coffee shops unless it's closed off.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: I always tried to provide impeccable service and anticipate each passenger's wishes. I had great confidence in my job. But the company showed no sincerity at all. I feel betrayed. See in context

Yubaru ...the blood-bath of "ristora" salarymen following the collapse of the bubble...

I don't know about the "ristora" salarymen so I'll discuss this with the same guy who told me about Japanese companies not firing their workers.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: I always tried to provide impeccable service and anticipate each passenger's wishes. I had great confidence in my job. But the company showed no sincerity at all. I feel betrayed. See in context

@GW Firing full time staff can be very difficult here

I found that out when I was chatting with a co-worker about firing someone who wasn't up to par. He told me that the company, Japanese companies, won't ever fire someone because, who knows, something awful might happen. (Some comment about the news in America where some nut job goes berserk after being fired and goes back to the company to shoot his boss and/or co-workers. See, that's what might happen...)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Pet fair See in context

Aren't they afraid that their precious pooches may catch the coronavirus?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: ANA provides luxury meal experience on parked airplane in Tokyo See in context

Are flight attendants serving the meals? Traveling all the way to Haneda and donning their uniforms (and masks) to serve meals aboard the parked plane?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Chiba gov't workers punished for leaving work two minutes early See in context

@Joe Blow I don't know if that's how clerical work was done in the Edo period. The company I was referring to wasn't formed in the Edo period. It's not one of those companies that's been around for centuries. It seems whether temp or not, the staff are all similar in temperament. I was the oddball. I was grateful that they kept calling me back for several of their projects over the years.

I haven't heard of Twilight Samurai.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Chiba gov't workers punished for leaving work two minutes early See in context

I worked at one company that strictly enforced the work time. Nobody was allowed to start doing any work till it was officially time. Everyone was at their desk and waited till the department manager said, "はい時間ですお仕事始めてください. " I was amazed that the company did this, even when we were on deadline. It was the same for clocking out. He would say, "時間になりました。あがってください." Everyone was supposed to have things done, so they could leave on the dot. I've never found another company like that one company.

Elsewhere (not in Japan), I've adjusted my start time or lunch hour on days I wanted or needed to leave a little early. My co-workers did the same.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: Man arrested for robbing convenience store says he did it because he was hungry See in context

@Desert Tortoise

I'm surprised McDonald's didn't hire him. As a teen, I remember working for McDonald's and then years later, working for Burger King, there was always an older man who was on staff. When I was younger, I thought the older man was working just to keep busy. I didn't really interact with him. But years later when I worked at BK, I chatted with the older man. He worked for an insurance company and life was good. Things happened, he lost his job, his savings wasn't enough to see him through, so he was grateful for his job at BK. It wasn't enough but, oh well.

In Japan, well, in the Tokyo area, the cleaning companies (janitorial, building, housekeeping) are willing to hire older men and women. I met and chatted with a few old men and women (well into their 70s and 80s) who aren't doing it to keep busy or for pocket money. They really need that income.

@kaimycahl

Agree. We have to be active and volunteer or donate what we can, whether it be time and/or money.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Arguments for 'right to disconnect' from work draw more attention amid pandemic See in context

I'm not an employer, so I'm all for work is work and off duty means my time is my time. I can understand that the employer's perspective is: if you are here just for the money, I don't want you. I want people who will put the company first. If that means, I have to contact you outside your work hours then you better answer.

When I was overseas, I enjoyed working, and I was there for voluntary and mandatory overtime. Here in Japan, it's just a job; I'm doing it for the paycheck.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Mariners president Mather apologizes for comments, including criticism of Iwakuma's English See in context

...His English suddenly got better...

I've been in some situations where Japanese women started off by saying something to the effect of "I'm not really sure whether I should take that class; perhaps my English isn't up to it..." blah, blah. Either being shy or just making sure that they weren't going over their comfort zone but ending up being in a class that was too easy for them. So... it could be that Hisashi Iwakuma liked having an interpreter because, well, he didn't have to pay the interpreter so why not? Plus, he wasn't sure of speaking "perfect English".

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Changing jobs in a pandemic no easy task See in context

Dirk, if “Ken Kimura” was a retail clerk on commission, he was damn good at sales. Working part-time selling suits in rural Iwate prefecture and taking home 200,000 yen is impressive. Poor guy, I hope he lands another good job.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Changing jobs in a pandemic no easy task See in context

It was part-time and low-paying – 200,000 a month

Ummm... working part-time and taking home 200,000 yen? That's maybe around 20 hours a week in the fashion industry? What did he do? Was he in sales?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese company develops 'floating image' no-touch touch panels to avoid direct button contact See in context

I wonder if the ATM keypad is a scrambling keypad. If not, hopefully that'll be one of the improvements before implementation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Oita woman loses lawsuit and pays damages without ever knowing she’d been sued See in context

the court ruled in her favor and awarded her 1.78 million yen

I wonder if he paid or will pay her. He's probably gone through her 300,000 yen.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Suga apologizes after LDP execs visit hostess bars during state of emergency See in context

Instead of apologizing, or in addition to bowing and all, "miss" a few paychecks. Man up and give up a few paychecks to feel the pinch. Businesses are suffering, people are struggling to survive. Politicians are enjoying dining out and entertainment. Why not just say, "Hey, I don't have to abide by the rules, but you do... ha, ha."

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan to start random PCR testing to ascertain extent of infections See in context

How about random testing of commuters on the Yamanote line or Marunouchi line during the rush hour? The usual "申し訳ありません... ご協力お願いします..." while giving the China treatment to commuters. (Grabbing people and forcefully extracting their DNA.)

I'm really curious about whether people already have/had COVID-19 and are all right. All right as in don't/didn't know so no visit to the hospital or pharmacy.

My friend had it and his son had it. He was all right, but his son had trouble breathing. They quarantined for two weeks and are fine now.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: If I were president... From climate change to hunger, celebs state their priorities See in context

argh... illegal immigration, combat illegal immigration

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: If I were president... From climate change to hunger, celebs state their priorities See in context

I think if I had wealth and power instead of being POTUS, one of the ways I would combat illegal immigrants would be funding education (sort of like Oprah did for girls in South Africa) and vocational skills (like Tippi Hedren did for Vietnamese refugees) in their country.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Posted in: Company PET partners with Kyoto temple to offer genuine funeral services for beloved pets See in context

@cleo 15,000 yen is a reasonable price for flowers, urn and embroidered urn cover. 150,000 would be extravagant but an affordable splurge. 1,500,000 is WTF?!? My friend wouldn't spend 1,500 on death costs; he would put the pet in a burnable trash bag. (That's what he told our mutual friend plus he said, what I think is true, you don't need to have a priest or monk or religious leader say prayers or chant something.) Good thing he doesn't have a pet. Although at one time he did, well, actually it was his daughter's, but she didn't live with him...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Company PET partners with Kyoto temple to offer genuine funeral services for beloved pets See in context

@NipporiNick I think it's around a million yen or more. A friend's wife had a funeral service for her dog. Another friend commented that if his wife did that, he would divorce her. I told him that the guy must be all right with his wife spending that much money on their pet. He said that the dog was the wife's pet and the guy was complaining to him because she didn't consult him at all.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan greets new year with crowds despite pleas from leaders to stay home See in context

Look! Everyone has a mask on (well, one girl has her nose out) and with that, all is good. Ha, ha... Those people who went out were probably thinking, "Got my mask on. Everyone else will have their mask on. It's going to be all right. Kami-sama will protect me."

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Posted in: Married couple arrested for assaulting 2 employees at train station See in context

zichi, do you think self-employed here in the article and in Japanese means someone who is a temp or is an Uber driver?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Married couple arrested for assaulting 2 employees at train station See in context

hooktrunk2, Strangerland, zichi,

Thanks :) Self-employed worker sounded odd to me. He's self-employed. Ok. He's a self-employed worker. Huh? I wondered whether self-employed worker (自営業者) in Japanese meant something specific. From selling lemonade in front of your house or passing out Avon brochures to friends and neighbors versus having the skills that enable you to be your own boss and not work for another (artist, plumber, masseuse... professional tennis player) versus not only offering such services but also employing others all fall under self-employed worker (自営業者)? I imagine I'd proudly state that I'm an artist or plumber or that I'm the boss or that I run my own business or just say "self-employed" rather than go for "self-employed worker" when asked what do I do for a living.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Married couple arrested for assaulting 2 employees at train station See in context

What's a self-employed worker? If you're self-employed, doesn't that mean you run your own business?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: Single elderly being turned away from apartment rentals See in context

He might've paid his pension. Wasn't there a scandal about employers who deducted pension from their employees' pay but didn't actually send those monies over to the JPS? My neighbor who's been here for a couple of decades mentioned there was a brouhaha but doesn't know how it was resolved.

I agree about funding the pension program through income tax revenue; that should also be the case for the health insurance program. It's crazy that health insurance is based upon last year's taxes. Why not deduct per paycheck based upon that paycheck? That's one way some people go through their savings... being billed for those programs. Yeah, yeah, you can fill out an "unable to pay" form for the pension program but still...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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