grc comments

factchecker - couldn’t agree more, especially when comparing Japanese drivers to those in major SE Asian countries. I agree also with the comment about irreverence - ‘luckily only two people were injured :’. For goodness’ sake.

hapoythere - you sound as though you are against the death penalty. You are in a minority in Japan

It’s only right and proper that China be allowed to make an independent inspection. And it’s only right and proper that it make the unadulterated results of the inspection public

Asiaman7 well said

The yen value of exports will of course have been helped by the exchange rate. The trade deficit will be a drag on growth

Didn’t he say earlier something like ‘now I’ve paid the woman I look forward to continuing my career’? Really hard to know what people mean these days

The problem with gas price increases is that it knocks on to just about everything else - four-times-a-day delivery costs to tens of thousands of convenience stores being an obvious example. Expect Kuroneko to raise prices too.

What’s with all the knife crime?

If 1.75 million federal workers lose their jobs, won’t that hurt consumption and put pressure on whatever social security the US has? Or will it force wages down by increasing the supply of available labor?

Mr Kipling - it may not be long before he believes he can

Capuchin - good question, pertinently asked. A great introduction to the Japanese culture of atokara and go-te go-te

Clearly a spirited debate here. You know, there are good people on both sides.

Travelling around Asia I don’t see ‘Staff wanted’ posters in other countries’ 7-Eleven windows. But I DO see happy laughing staff. Perhaps because they pay them more than sen yen an hour?

It’s clear Nippon Steel is not popular with readers of this newspaper. My only concern is what happens if Trump allows the sale? Whom is he making happy, and whom feeling betrayed?

What’s with all the knife crime?

buffalo - 1 word, nope

J Lee - good points again. But I agree with posters who say this isn’t exactly news - and certainly not news to merit such high ranking on the front page

There are certainly a lot of souls that need purifying right now

Let’s also not forget it was 7-Eleven who sued a franchisee in Osaka (I think) for shutting his store in the early hours because he couldn’t find anyone to do the graveyard shift

Peter Neil - I consider myself more knowledgeable and informed because of the internet

sakurasuki - I think diagonalslip’s question was rhetorical. As in ‘Why, after twenty-five years in Japan, had I still not learned the Japanese for ‘consequences’?’

Newgirlintown - superb comment

He’a not exactly keen to build distrust is he?

Another unemployed man. How can there be a llabor shortage?

factchecker - you beat me to it. Why does Japan think all ethical and legal issues can be solved simply with money?

Engineers generally attribute the collapse of the Hanshin highway to inadequate structural design and to a lesser extent the materials used. Let us hope that all other structures designed and built in the 70s and 80s have now been retrofitted, and all subsequent ones built to the stricter standards brought in after the tragedy.

BeerDeliveryGuy- it’s so nice to see people adding value to a debate by employing facts. You don’t see that much these days

dbsaiya - good point, well made

itsonlyroclandroll - no, Japan is perceived to have a superior level of customer service. The reality ain’t so

travelbangaijin - hear hear