Posted in: Japan begins accepting Palestinians injured in Gaza for treatment See in context
It's a good move but just two people isn't that impressive.
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: Japan hot springs facing water shortages as tourism booms See in context
The increase in "tourism" numbers reflects the move for most Japanese to vacation at home, in Japan since the pandemic. Raising prices across Japan hurts Japanese more than tourists, who will return home after their visit to Japan.
2 ( +6 / -4 )
Posted in: Gene Hackman had likely been dead 9 days when found: sheriff See in context
He died. She took pills to kill herself. The dog died of malnutrition.
-3 ( +1 / -4 )
Posted in: 2 women to play inaugural men's golf tournament in Japan See in context
Good luck to them. It would be cool to see them do well.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: S Korean police summon Japanese woman for kissing BTS member without consent See in context
The rules established by the "me too" movement state that he has to wait 20 years to bring this up and destroy her life.
-1 ( +4 / -5 )
Posted in: Musk stars at Trump's first cabinet meeting See in context
The cabinet members were asked by a reporter if they agreed with Musk. That's when Trump cut them off, interrupted and declared that everyone loved Musk. Then posted it online. This, of course means that there is already dissension.
12 ( +12 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan asks Taliban to respect human rights during talks in Tokyo See in context
Not even a "stern talking to"? A polite "request" for the Taliban to be nicer? I'm sure that will work.
2 ( +12 / -10 )
Posted in: Births in Japan likely to fall below 700,000 for 1st time in 2024 See in context
I don't see the reason that most comments on most stories have only negative votes; even the most mild comments.
-4 ( +8 / -12 )
Posted in: Japan department store sales in 2024 top pre-pandemic levels of 2019 See in context
Inflation is everywhere. On a side note, why do most comments on this website have a lot of negative votes? A lot of angry readers?
-2 ( +2 / -4 )
Posted in: Better train etiquette in Japan: Tips for tourists to ride like a local See in context
At least on the local trains in Kyushu these guidelines don't seem to apply to middle and high school students. It seems every backpack needs its' own seat as well as the student. More than once I have had to politely inform them to move the backpack so my wife can sit.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: ¥500,000 box of cherries See in context
This might be a different take on this story: I don't believe it. Look at the press coverage of this supposed event. What is the point other than to advertise or seek publicity for the product? I don't think any money changed hands. Its just too ridiculous.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Searchers detect undersea sounds in hunt for missing submersible See in context
I have not seen in any of the reporting anything that indicates that this vessel had been tested at such depths. Surely there must have been dozens of tests proving the safety of the vessel before putting FIVE humans in for a dive. Also not mentioned is the lack of communication methods between the vessel and , well, anyone. Yes, it is difficult so far underwater. But SOMETHING must work. Morse code? Hoping for a miracle rescue but it seems we should have had contact by now for that to happen.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Foreign visitors to Japan in 2022 up 15-fold to 3.83 million See in context
Spent most of November in Tokyo and Kyushu. Tourists must be confused to see the obsessive mask wearing everywhere. Everywhere but inside crowded coffee shops and restaurants, where the unmasked mingle unprotected or with a tiny plastic barrier at their tables. And everyone wonders why the high numbers of positives.
-1 ( +4 / -5 )
Posted in: Japan's 'Little Trains that Could' battle for survival See in context
The only people that think reducing train service is a good idea never ride them. It is a great way to commute and to get around as a tourist. These small train lines are a treasure-it really is just a marketing problem. Now if we can get the students and young adults to share the seating during busy hours that would be nice. Our local route rule and others seems to be: Two seats for each student to stretch out and two more seats for their backpack!
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Jolie details Brad Pitt abuse allegations in court filing See in context
Given the opportunity to be there most people reading this would think, "How cool is this that I am riding in a private jet?!"
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: China locks down 65 million as holiday travel peak looms See in context
I think the numbers are much higher than China cares to put out there.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan reports 220,955 coronavirus cases; 23,129 in Tokyo See in context
Again, the aged suffer the most from this, and they are the least represented in the online community, so we get a skewed sense of their complacency owing to the absence of their digital voices.
Perhaps the wisest comment on the subject in a while.
4 ( +5 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan reports 139,687 coronavirus cases; 21,958 in Tokyo See in context
JT doesn't publish the number of tests taken, so we don't have an accurate look at what percentage of those tested are positive. The number of positives reported really depends on the number of tests taken, including all those at-home rapid tests that aren't included and those infected that do not test at all, recover and move on. These figures here are just a vague indication of the spread that folks can use to decide how they want to change their behavior towards protection, or not.
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 3,663 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 36,903 See in context
Still lacking the important data of how many tests were taken.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 3,011 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 28,510 See in context
The numbers reported do not reflect the number of tests taken, and therefore do not show an actual useful number (% positive). Are the 3011 cases out of 2 million tests taken or 3020 tests taken?
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 3,357 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 30,481 See in context
3357 positives out of 4000 tests taken?
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 2,403 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 19,353 See in context
I have to say it again; These numbers do not reflect the actual number of tests taken. Holidays, bad weather, etc can reduce the number of tests taken, and thus the reported totals.
-5 ( +1 / -6 )
Posted in: Get ready to pay more: Over 40% of Japanese firms to raise prices within a year: survey See in context
I'm not sure I buy all the reasons (supply chain, covid, Russia) for the inflation. Let's see how it plays out here and in the U.S. when consumers vote with their dollars and a percentage of unchosen businesses fail. The old plan was bailouts, even if the consumer simply opted out of the product. Not sure if that will work this time. A free market should lower prices sometime soon, right?
-2 ( +2 / -4 )
Posted in: Haneda Airport upgrades security with 12 Hi-Scan 6040 CTiX screening systems See in context
Just make sure the TSA pre-check folks get their bags and shoes scanned as well.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 3,161 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 26,865 See in context
Why aren't the number of tests taken reported? Isn't it important?
3 ( +7 / -4 )
Posted in: Travelers crowd trains, airports as Golden Week holiday begins See in context
"Now at the start of GW my wife has the same thing and the same negativ
I had a negative on a rapid test back in January and a positive on a PCR the next day. Rapid seems not as accurate. If you did rapid, try PCR.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Amber Heard's lawyers revised article Johnny Depp sued over See in context
I'm not sure why this trial is receiving such coverage. Other than his odd behaviors, it's just not that interesting a case/story.
-2 ( +1 / -3 )
Posted in: Man dies after standoff with police in Tokyo apartment See in context
" Gunshots were heard twice from the apartment, the police said.
This, as well, indicating the shots may have been self inflicted. I'm guessing this was a based on a release from the police where no follow up questions were possible.
-2 ( +1 / -3 )
Posted in: 64-year man arrested after forcing son to hang himself See in context
It sounds like they agreed to a dual suicide pact and the dad chickened out. "Forced" might imply that Dad tricked the son and planned not to go through with it.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Tokyo reports 3,479 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 24,258 See in context
What is the situation in Japan with home test kits? They're everywhere and free in the U.S. now. Some media are reporting that these home test kits now outnumber test sites that actually report results. It appears the numbers of positives might be much higher than reported numbers. This doesn't mean more deaths or give reason to close down; just curious the current validity of "reported" numbers.
-1 ( +2 / -3 )
If you make a claim and say there is evidence for it, it becomes valid to challenge you to provide…
Posted in: Spring allergies are back. Here's how to check pollen levels and keep from sneezing
Posted in: Ukraine presses for ceasefire as Russia reported to offer concession
Posted in: Japan mulls expanding imports of tariff-free U.S. rice
Posted in: New Trump task force vows to root out 'anti-Christian bias'