Frank Thornton comments

Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.

Same problem the Gov is facing with marijuana. The Gov claims that it is illegal for Japanese nationals to smoke in countries/states that have legalized recreational marijuana but, I'd like to see how that holds up in court. Plus, unless the person admits to smoking, there is no way to prove it. In the blood means nothing. The person could've inhaled second hand smoke in a bar or something.

Just take care of the forest and use the cedar for what it was intended for. Stop importing similar types of lumber just because it's cheaper and start thinking about the future. More jobs in forestry.

For those wondering why the police officer was at the girl's house in the first place. This is quite common in Japan...

"Communication with residents (Door to Door visits, Newsletters, Liaison council) Door to door visits help police maintain a good relationship with the community and grasp the situation in an area. They are designed to give advice regarding crime prevention to homes and businesses as well as to listen to the opinions and requests of residents. When an officer visits a home or business, he hands out a “door to door visit card” and asks that it be filled out with the names of the family members or employees and emergency contact information in case of a crime or accident. During door to door visits, officers distribute information about crimes and accidents in the area, safety measures, and the like. Police boxes publish one-page long newsletters once a month, or every few months. They used to be handwritten before the prevailant use of personal computers. Each newsletter is designed to be passed around or distributed to households within the jurisdiction of the police box. Topics center on crimes, accidents and preventive methods, with pictures and graphs to be more interesting to the reader. Apart from interviewing residents during door to door visits and conversing with visitors, each police box has set up a police box liaison council. The council members, representatives of community residents, meets several times a year with police box officers in attendance. At these meetings, officers listen to the opinions and requests of the council members, and discuss various problems in the community."

On the news they just said that they're postponing vaccinations here in Hiroshima because they're running out. Reservations are expected to start again in August.

"caused anxiety to society by breaking police station equipment in order to run away,"

I think it was the "rape, robbery and other offenses" part that caused the anxiety. Not the "breaking police station equipment" part.

"those little jellies are full of sugar and little different to jellies made with gelatine"

Konnyaku contains virtually zero calories, no sugar, fat, protein, gluten or carbohydrates. What it does have is high quantities of a fiber that the body cannot easily digest.

The proper way to do this would have been to deliberately run into the woman and then immidiatly apologize and offer assistance. "Ah, gomenasai! Daijyobudesuka?"

they should agree about not getting a penny on the settlement

If the man and wife had equal employment opportunities, a "settlement" wouldn't be necessary.

As a matter of fact, the woman would do just fine on her own as compared to the divorced husband that would have to either move back with his mother or live off of "combini" food.

If he was drunk, they'll just air the footage of the CCTV on some brainless prime time TV show and the comedians will crack jokes about it and everyone will laugh. The drunk guy is so funny...

Nothing against Japan's imperial system. As far as I can tell, the vast majority of Japanese very much approve of it. And, nothing against the anti-imperial system demonstrations. They have their rights too (as long as they stay within the law) Would just like to make one thing clear. Not all "right-wingers" are pro-imperial system. Many disagree with the postwar family's way. Many disagree with commoners entering the family (such as Michiko and Masako). Many disagree with the way the Heisei Emperor and Empress knelt among the commoners and even spoke to them after disasters. I think the recent changes of the Imperial Family and hopeful changes in the future will help the imperial system keep up with moderns times.

The U.S. Forces Japan controls much of the airspace in that part of Japan making landing and take-offs a major pain in the @ss. Allowing commercial aircraft into the airspace would be a much bigger help.

A 19-year-old "man" that cannot be named because he's a minor... Come on! Which is it?

News said he was drinking tea, choked, panicked, tried to brake but stepped on gas instead.

I believe home brewing is illegal in Japan.

Just wait until he tries the katsudon.

Actually, it's not illegal to smoke marijuana in Japan. What's illegal is "possession and sale of marijuana". So, unlike "kakuseizai" (a 'stimulant' used in Japan) which they can arrest you for if they find traces in your urine, marijuana they cannot. The Japanese police have to catch you possessing it.

"ready to engage in dialogue at appropriate time"... When Hell freezes over?

Interesting. Would the the guys that are fed up with the "salaryman" life another option.

@gogogo

However, that not happening in Japan is not a Japanese automaker problem. Trump is barking up the wrong tree. It is the US automaker that is not willing to invest and blaming a "closed market" for its own failure to crack the Japanese market. I often hear of these "invisible tariffs" that the US cars face in Japan. I myself drive a Jeep that I bought brand new here in Japan in 2014. I would like to know what difficulties and tariffs I'm paying for. Sorry if I misunderstood your comment. Not meaning to attack you.

I can understand both sides of the story. Whaling has been around for centuries. So yes, it is a part of the "culture". However, I've been living in Japan for over 30 years and I have never heard anyone say "Hey! Let's go eat some whale!" Eating whale is more common in the whaling ports but not much anywhere else. Sort of like eating horse meat in Kumamoto. That said, I think whaling should be legalized. Meaning that the government support must stop. The way I see it, if it were 100 percent commercialized, then the whaling ships would have to pay for their own 4-month expeditions. There is no way in the world that it would be profitable at the current price/demand for whale meat. The industry is surviving only because of the government's support. Whalers would eventually decrease and the centuries old "tradition" will die.

Keeping the pressure on. Show that the US is prepared to go either way. "The ball is in your court." I totally agree.

Here we go again. NK demanding changes already because they smiled, shook hands and hugged. Nothing else has changed yet. The message was clear from the beginning... "When the president says that he will not make the mistakes of the past, that means the U.S. will not be making substantial concessions, such as lifting sanctions, until North Korea has substantially dismantled its nuclear programs,” a senior Trump administration official said Sunday. “If North Korea is willing to move quickly to denuclearize, then the sky is the limit. All sorts of good things can happen,” the official added. Japan also has the same views. Keep the pressure on. Now is NOT the time to be all lovey-dovey.

The news last night said that he said that he was 罵倒された which basically means that he was verbally abused. Very possibly with a "Bakayaro!!" or something like that.

Reading the comments, many people seem to misunderstand some things.

Yes. She was arrested. "Without trial?" Yes. That's how it usually works, isn't it?

"What about clamping down on Japanese people working overtime?" Technically, the student was arrested for violation of immigration law. Not labor law.

I do agree with the comments above that maybe the students wanted to work overtime. But, it is also the employer that hires the foreign employees' responsibility to control the hours worked. I believe it was the same when our company in the States was hiring foreign workers. The employer had to be aware of the various conditions.

I have no problems with the NK athletes' participation. They always do. However, I do not agree with the "special exemptions" from UN sanctions as we have seen in this Olympics. High-level delegation members subject to travel ban and asset freeze entering the country. Taking home luxury goods whose import to North Korea is banned. The docking of Mangyongbong (this is a Japanese sanction). Maybe the athletes should realize that their beloved country is being sanctioned.

"soybean choking risks for children..."

Or poking an eye out.... omg.

>

ONE YEAR LATER:

I'm pretty sure that's already part of the plan.

"visitors can see live martial arts competitions and other exotic shows"

A mandatory GPA should be set and students cannot participate in any club activities if the go below this line. JH is to prepare students for HS. HS is to prepare students for college. Need to get priorities straight. If the students were receiving a proper homework load, they wouldn't have time for both juku (cram schools) and 24/7 club activities.

As I have mentioned before, it's a never ending story. Whatever Japan does, it may be settled for a while (as it has in the past) until someone decides that the apology wasn't deep enough or the legal payment wasn't big enough and everything starts all over again.