Gaijinocchio comments

The issue is now under the rug and out of sight (only in Japan of course!)

Only until the next abductions.

Dropping charges and no changes or real conclusion assures that this will just happen again and again, with Japanese and foreign alike. Perhaps the next big case will have more sympathetic characters and a clear-cut "villian"

Hasn't this already been done in the form of having roommates?

no deal on relocating U.S. troops on Okinawa can be expected during President Barack Obama’s visit this week

The original agreement Japan signed took about 11 years, I think. What's another 11 to reach a new agreement, eh? By then the LDP will inevitably return and reinstate the original.

This guy really REALLY loves animals.

...It looks like the Maki Horikita just put on a leather jacket over her actual outfit.

"HEY you're wearing leather now! YOU WIN!!"

Many people wonder why women do this job. Well, the truth is that some really like it, especially those who like to talk and drink alcohol.

I know 4 former hostesses here in Japan. All 4 are on medication for mental illnesses. All are alcoholics. One tried to take her life.

Unfortunately, in other countries the cop would have shot and killed the suspects

Shot? Perhaps. Killed? Don't think so.

It's almost 2010, cops everywhere have spray, tasers, bean-bag bullets and other non-lethal weaponry. No need for lethal weapons unless it's authorized, an innocent might get hurt or, in this case, a suspect takes the officers weaponry and uses it against him.

That said, I love how it's always just foreigners and not specific like Americans, Peruvians, Chinese, Nigerian, or British men. That means we're all equal in Japan!

If the trains ran 24/7, then 3/4 of the taxi drivers would be out of a job!

I prefer older Japanese movies, especially black and white movies and those based on books like "Sunna no Onna" and the first "Gojira" movie even if they're low quality by today's standards.

Japanese movies now are more for making money with insipid and banal cliches and special effects instead of furthering the art. For example, "Rookies: Graduation". You don't have to act when you scream into the camera for half the movie.

I think life reflects art, and since movies are the most accessable here, after manga, it shows what Japan wants nowadays, good looks but no substance or character.

how did the 8 year old boy get involved with those psychos in the first place??? did they kidnap him on purpose???

The 8-year old used the older boy's bike without permission, prompting the assault and attempted murder.

He shrugged off News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch’s remark to shareholders last Friday that since the White House began criticizing Fox News commentators their ratings have risen.

The White House should know there's no such thing as bad publicity. They're only fanning the flames, ensuring Fox News will continue their drivel.

Instead of denouncing Fox News, they were better off recommending respectable organizations they consider news. Personally, CNN and Al Jazeera-English are the best.

“We think he is an important historical figure, but in a horrible way."

So lets put him on a huge billboard to attract German and Jewish tourists, instead of say another non-horrible historical figure, complete with the caption Hitler is not dead!!

BRILLIANT!

“’The Manga Cookbook’ is the world’s first, and only, English-language cookbook that uses step-by-step comic illustrations

It's surprising that with the overseas popularity of manga, anime, and japanese food that this hasn't been made until now.

he promised not to take his children back to the U.S. “in this manner,”

About time indeed, but the "in this manner" clause means we haven't seen the last of the Savoie family.

And yet, this would not be an issue at all if Japan agreed to the Hague convention, so long ago.

1,126 HIV and 431 AIDS reports, the largest number of yearly reports to date.

This may be the highest, but it still seems low. How many cases go unreported?

work in the rice-growing industry.

Are they going to China?

I can't help wondering if many of Japan's large companies in the future will solve this problem the same way.

Hong Kong has the advantage of being one of the world-famous 4 tigers and a superior English system, opening thousands of doors to foreign talents.

Japan on the other hand...is losing it's place as the second largest economy (to China), depopulation, and has these new breed employees.

I don't think that it's a disparity between old and new employees that's the problem, it's society as a whole here. Thinking outside the box is heavily discouraged and when there's confusion, they have to get someone else to tell them what to do.

I see it in schools, the post office, the bank, and now I see it in the workforce. There needs to be societal changes; deep-seated problems have arisen now that the bubble's mask of money has dissipated.

Whenever you think he is not doing good, just remember the man he replaced.

Interesting statement. Comparing Obama to "the man he replaced" Obama does indeed seem like Mother Teresa or Ghandi, and therefore deserving of the Peace Prize!

I ate 1/2 a bar of dark chocolate yesterday evening and today my cheeks and forehead have broken out in acne!!

after the show the trio went to Shimada appologized profusely

I think it should've been vice versa. I thought it was rude to show anger in public in Japan, let alone on National TV!

From the comments: Shinsuke Shimada hits women too? I'd put this woman-beater away for awhile, but in Japan he gets top billing.

Her image onscreen and recorded voice constitutes a “live” performance worth an 8,500 yen ticket.

Nothing virtual could ever compare to a true "live" performance, especially at that price!

Elanex probably markets mainly to large, global companies that can't afford to have mistakes in contracts and such.

You'll likely still see awkward "potato flies" "flesh fish" "I play a big dream" and the like in everyday advertising here.

The girl told police he offered to give her some sweets if she would put out her hands. When she extended her hands

This is a textbook example of what not to do when a man offers you candy. Stranger = danger?

Doesn't Japan realize that most people aren't really into these sort of acts?

Since when has Japan truly cared about other's likes and dislikes? They exist because somewhere there's money to be made...mostly in Akihabara; however, I agree they're not very good.

Looks like the bottom right girl is a little slow on recognizing who's actively taking the picture.

I don't understand why he still governs one of the largest cities on the planet.

It's very clear that the IOC members were nonplussed by the U.S. using Obama star-power or Japan using their New Government Hatoyama star-power. In fact they came in 4th and 3rd place!

It's clear the IOC is about fairness, and not some political body or meeting, trying to promote good sportsmanship, since South America has never hosted the games and it's now their turn.

Chicago had the cards stacked against it in the first place and all Obama and his wife did was show up, like he was 'asked' to and make a speech, so I don't understand why it's a blow specifically to Obama? On the same logic wouldn't it be a blow to Hatoyama, too? It was a fair vote to a continent that has never hosted the games, why all the blows?

Bail it out, but then have the DPJ run it from then on. Fire the senior executives, who are largely responsible, and replace them with fresh, new, business-oriented, uncorrupted minds.

It's given that JAL will need more bailouts in the future, and the special task force will be 99.9% ineffectual.

It's also given Japan won't let another company save or buy JAL, so to save the tax-payer and potentially MAKE money and jobs from changes, the government should take control, if only for awhile until this national treasure can once again be independent

What's going to happen to us from now on?

Simple. As a business, you're going to have to adapt to a change in the market or suffer.

Fujimori insists he has no money and says he lived off the generosity of his friends in Japan.

Whose names should be made public and tried in an international court for aiding someone charged with "crimes against humanity"

Fujimori is the definition of "mad with power"

Japan has about 30,000 suicides a year. Let's say these miniscule lights are effective at preventing a generous 7,000 people from commiting suicide from the trains.

Japan now has about 23,000 suicides a year. It's still the size of a small town each year. It's still among the highest in industrialized nations.