GJP2006 comments

I tuned out to Japanese TV years ago and now it is all I can do to stop my child from watching it! I need to be more vigilant before his mind turns to mush...

These Mercer stats are for expats sent abroad on expat packages. So then, the rents in Azabu and other exclusive areas are going to factor in, international school costs for kids, etc. This has no relevance to most expats living a local lifestyle. As many of you have pointed out, one can maintain a reasonably comfortable lifestyle here, especially if one is willing to commute and live in Saitama or Chiba - rents are much less expensive.

Knowing how to put on a case for a jury is not the same as being trained as a critical thinker.

I beg to differ - critical thinking skills are essential for putting together a coherent and compelling case for a jury - as well as the emotional appeal you cite.

Older JCP members wonder if the new recruits are even aware of Marxism’s background.

I am sure most aren't and this is likely yet another "trend" in Japan. There is not much "soul" to be found in modern Japan and I think that is why folks are attracted to cults and fringe groups infused with ideology and propaganda they don't understand. In no way do I mean to take away from the right of workers to organize and bargain, I just don't think many folks get that here on the deeper level. Who knows? Perhaps that will change.

I have many of the same concerns other have expressed here. Judges in Japan are the elite of the elite - they are chosen from among the best test takers, or those passing the bar exam ;-). They are notorious for being detached and completely unaware of what is going on in the life of the average Japanese - imagine them sitting with a group of folks with whom they have nothing in common and then imagine this group of laypeople will be unlikely to challenge the wisdom of the esteemed "sensei" and so who knows what will happen. I think it is for show as many things in Japan are and that is really a shame when one is dealing with the criminal justice system and such serious matters.

I am also interested to see how legal professionals in Japan work within the system as Japanese attorneys are basically trained as technicians and not as critical thinkers trained to put on a case for the jury. We shall see.

The US economy is turning south and in a few years there will be equalization between the US and its southern neighbor. I guess that is appropriate given the excessive way Americans have lived. So, our standards of living (Mexico and the US) will meet and future generations will never know the lifestyles of their parents and grandparents. I am just surprised that it happened so fast. I guess we could call it a "failure" of the Cheney Administration - I don't know; I think it was inevitable.

I recall a comment from President Dick Cheney a few years ago when confronted with the failure to create well-paying and stable jobs in the US, etc. He said something about those folks making money on eBay...I couldn't believe it - or, rather maybe I could. I think if you haven't been a part of that working poor - without health insurance, it is so easy to dismiss others who have been there as Cheney did and USAR did - totally clueless.

I just read an analysis of the unemployment rate in the US and some put the figure closer to 10% and then of course, there are the working poor and underemployed and part-timers, etc. Good stable FT jobs are hard to come by in the US these days.

I just won't pay that much for monthly fees. I see not incentive to switch and I am a Mac fan and user.

Once many years ago, I listened through my door and watched through the peephole as one of these sales creeps harassed a female university student living next door. I think he was trying to force his way into her apartment and she even let out a few screams. I opened my door and rang her bell to check on her and let her know that I was watching him. Now when they come to my door they take one look at me and assume I wouldn't subscribe to a Japanese paper and move along. Many of these guys give me the creeps.

As I was walking through Tokyo's sauna subway tunnels today I had to laugh as I can just imagine all the spectators and visitors here for the 2016 Olympics and sweating and complaining because Tokyo's lack of air-conditioning and ventilation in its subways.

Landowl, I get the gist of what you are saying and I agree, in an ideal world, there would be no crime committed by service members in their host countries - but of course, we don't live in that ideal world. I also believe that life on base and the perceptions and experiences are vastly different than for non-Japanese civilians here. I am not trying to discount your experience, yet for foreigners living and working among the general population here, many of us are more keenly aware of the perceptions of foreigners in the media as criminals, etc. and so, I suppose I am more removed from the reality that you experience on the base and witness up close. I think in a broader sense, in a country with nearly 130 million, acts of US service members are very minor compared to the overall crime rate in Japan

This doesn't surprise me, in fact, most US service members in Japan, and most Japanese citizens, are law abiding. The media and local populace as well as politicians here just explode and exploit a crime by a service member but couldn't care less about other types of violence such as rape against women in general and committed mostly by Japanese men in this country.

How many Japanese people go abroad and demand to have tatami rooms!

None, because most Japanese who travel abroad sleep in beds when in Japan. Tatami sleeping is and has been on the decline in Japan. While many of us here would welcome a cozy futon, I can see as someone else pointed out, this is a working trip for most foreign delegations and perhaps their rooms weren't sufficient for work. Also, for some folks with physical/mobility issues sleeping and sitting on the floor is just not possible.

was as low a point in politics as I can remember.

Give me a break - this has got to be a joke - a low point in politics because a candidates wife made an off-the-cuff remark referring to being proud of the political process? Then, I assume another low point would be when McCain stated that he didn't, "...really love America until he was deprived of her company." as a POW. Let's not be dramatic here. I can think of low points in US political history (the entire nightmare of the Bush Administration comes to mind)and Michelle Obama's comment isn't even on the radar.

TCBY has been doing this in Japan since at least 1991.

TCBY folded several years ago - at least on the main island of Honshu - are they back?

I discussed this topic a few weeks ago with a functionally bilingual Japanese man, who studied abroad for many years. I proposed to him that a reason Japanese are not as proficient as other second language speakers of English could very well be cultural. It's residual cultural resistance to all things foreign. These are the lingering burdens that have prevented most Japanese from fully embracing foreign ideas, concepts and languages. I am not talking about brand goods and other trendy items - I refer to the essence of a culture and that encompasses language. Japanese are plenty smart and intelligence and educational levels are certainly not issues; though educational methods likely play a role.

Obama needs to support free and fair elections in the US and stay out of Zimbawe's mess. haven't we already had a painful lesson in interventionism these past eight years?

I don't know that Tokyo is adequately prepared to host the Olympics (or the Special Olympics which typically follow). The continuing lack of access for physically challenged folks is a real issue here and the infrastructure is already bursting at the seams with commuters and improvements have not kept pace with the need. I also think the language barriers continue to be surprisingly significant for an international event of this caliber. Outside of the gaijin ghettos, Tokyo is not an international "user friendly" city.

timorbordwe - sorry, I just assumed the enthusiasm and intensity this particular year was well understood. I predict we will have an unprecedented turnout - perhaps 65-70% of eligible voters...

Re: McCain - political expediency is what this boils down to. The right thinks that a war hero will trump an inexperienced Obama and so they go with this hero because he is seen as a winner. They can hold their noses and pull the lever even though they disagree with McCain on a host of other issues and don't believe him to be a true conservative. Also, the Republicans didn't field a very strong group of candidates this year and so McCain won by plugging along and presenting himself as Mr. Reliable who will keep Americans safe - security a big issues for Republican primary voters. So yes, he is being pushed by (some) of the same forces - many have yet to rally around him as they did for Bush. The age issue - it is slowly emerging and has been raised by the media with respect to the choice of a running mate. It is also evident by watching and listening to McCain - he seems to be a walking gaffe machine these days and so inevitably, the age issue comes up. The guy also doesn't appear all that physically agile - like say, Reagan who was always very robust and fit into his late 70s. Just some thoughts...

seimei's point: Perhaps then the government could use the PUBLIC money for something more important like... say... health care or a couple of hospitals or some new textbooks for schools.

Of course that makes sense. The argument for public financing is to rid the process of special interest group contributions so that candidates are not beholden to those special interests (oil companies, trial lawyers, pharmaceuticals, etc.), if they get elected - only to the public. Of course, Obama has pledged not to accept special interest funding and as a result, he is raising small contributions from regular folks - so in essence, he is running a campaign funded by the public.

Real quick question, why are debates about US politics so intense considering the fact that a large part of the population don't vote?

I am not sure I understand your question. Yes, a large percentage (close to 50%) of the voting age population in the US don't bother to vote but I think the excitement generated this particular year has been generated by several factors: millions disillusioned with Bush and Co and how the US is now seen around the world; the Iraq War, the dynamic competition on the Democratic side between Clinton and Obama and now of course, the first person of color nominated by a major party in the US - this has combined to generate unprecedented enthusiasm and has brought in thousands of new registered voters.

I don't think he committed firmly to the issue - or signed any pledge. His campaign staff filled out a form and checked yes indicating that he intended to accept public funding. Now, he is certainly entitled to change his position at this time - he still does believe in the concept of public funded campaigns. You have to remember that the Republicans have hundreds of these 527 groups running attack ads against Obama and it will escalate over the next few months. He and his staff looked at the present reality and made a call. I don't think folks in the US really care too much about this and of course it is the 10 20 and 30 dollar donor (the public if you will) funding Obama's campaign. McCain is worried of course because he doesn't have the fundraising prowess that the Obama campaign has and knows he will never be able to generate the fundraising or election enthusiasm that Obama has.

On the federal immigration question - well, no. You see, immigration is regulated at the federal level and thus far, gays and lesbians are not allowed to sponsor their same sex spouses for immigration purposes. The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in the mid-90s and specifically prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages and granting federal benefits such as social security, immigration, etc. I expect this to change soon; there is a bill in the US Congress which would allow a US national to sponsor a same-sex partner for immigration purposes. If a Dem is elected in November and the Congress remains under Dem control it is sure to become law. One poster mentioned an interesting issue and that is the federal taxation issues. I would guess such couples would have to file separately and then jointly on the state level.

much preferable for gay marriage to have been legalized via the ballot box rather than legislated from the bench

Some rights should never be up to the ballot box and that is why we have a judiciary to balance state and citizen interests. Some of the most controversial racial and voting rights issues would never have been won at the ballot - it took courageous and bold justices to make the call.