Dylan Robertson comments

Whichever has the best wifi :)

I work for a Japanese company that is very good about encouraging people to go home early. At 17:40 every day, there is a recorded announcement telling people to go home early if they can for better work-life balance. Then, at 17:45 a chime rings signaling that the work day has ended. Many people stay later, but a good number are out of the office by 18:00, including me. I have to applaud them for this.

It's easy to scoff at this now, but eventually, these simulations will be so realistic it will be hard to distinguish them from reality. It may take 10 years, maybe 20, but it will happen. And, society will change forever.

I often see police stopping (what appear to be) Japanese men in Kabukicho and Shibuya quite often. They are almost always guys carrying some kind of bag, and the police are asking to see inside it. Often the person stopped is being quite rude and uncooperative.

I've only once seen them stopping a foreigner who appeared to be a gentleman of African background, but he seemed to be having a good-humored talk with them. I've never been stopped in 20-years living here.

In any case, regardless of what country you are in, if a police officer stops you, I recommend you be polite and cooperate. It's not worth the risk of what they could do to you otherwise.

Some very well written and thoughtful comments going on here on both sides of the argument. I am learning a lot.

Regardless of which side we stand on, many industries are going to be disrupted by equivalents of Uber and Airbnb in coming years. It will be interesting to watch.

So glad to be single hehe

I get so annoyed by smartphone zombies, but then I catch myself doing it from time to time. I've stopped going around with headphones on listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Even though I can see where I'm going, it's easy to get engrossed in what I'm listening to and not pay attention to my surroundings. Let's all make a commitment to be more mindful.

I think this will be a win-win for all concerned if it's executed properly.

Another reason to be vegan hehe

I don't see any problem. Let people live out their lives and enjoy the advantages of being single. Ask any couple that has had a long-term successful marriage. It's a lot of work. Most people simply aren't cut out for being partners or parents.

80-Something million is still a lot of people. With all the extra space that will open up, they can add more green spaces and create a nicer urban environment. Less fighting to walk through crowds. More peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, there will be many technological advancements such as robotics, human cloning, and reproduction not requiring humans to mate (they will be able to manufacture humans from DNA samples and grow them in artificial wombs).

There's always the option of carefully controlled and organized immigration that could meet the need for workers. Put in place better programs to help the foreigners assimilate.

I would advise any young Japanese person to learn English and go abroad for their career. There are so many more opportunities.

Leave the poor woman alone. She has done nothing wrong.

It's the guy's marriage, so it's his responsibility to uphold the vows and fend off other women who take an interest in him.

And, how on earth did they get the LINE records? Maybe the guy didn't have a password on his phone and his wife checked it?

Anyway, none of this has anything to do with her professional capacity as an entertainer.

@Alistair my thoughts exactly.

I hope Ms Silvester changes her way of thinking or that her business fails and is replaced by a more inclusive competitor.

I respectfully disagree. She is consulting to consumer brands. Most purchasing decisions for such brands are made by women. Therefore, it makes sense to hire mostly women. Women are generally more attuned to consumer trends. I'd do the same if I was in her shoes.

And, if I need to hire soldiers, who need to be able to light heavy objects and fight, I'm going to hire men.

We can't keep pretending both genders are the same but with just different genitalia.

As for her comment that women are more efficient workers, I also see her point. But, I think that if men had the luxury of making the same lifestyle choices, they would also behave in a similar manner. The men don't go home early because the can't - otherwise people will assume they are being lazy.