gurepu comments

Waaa, irresponsible!!

Can't speak for all of Japan but Tokyo definitely seems to be on its way downhill lately. Two females or under 25 in your vicinity means you'll have no peace on your morning train ride. Three females or more over 50 means you'll be debating about getting off early and catching the next train. Catching the same train as an entire girls school on their way to school in the AM will have you wondering if its time to leave Japan-tomorrow. There is guaranteed to be at least one male picking his nose on any given car at any given time. If there are less than 5 people on any car, there is guaranteed to be at least one male with bad hair playing his ipod too loud. If there are more than 5 people, everyone's ipod will be at a respectable level. Parents with children are the new obaasans, never failing to block a door. I could go on but I have a train to catch. Noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver in Tokyo. If you have the common sense to wear them and still be aware of whats going on around you.

Whenever cases like this come up there always seem to be two camps, and nowhere in between:the foreigners who come forward with similar stories that they've encountered numerous times, and the foreigners who have had nothing but good experiences in Japan and therefore immediately assume the others are lying or the cause of the problem and claim they are the ones to blame.

I've been the victim of a similar crime once, and several less serious situations many times. I sometimes wish I could see pictures of victims of such violence and extreme discrimination in Japan, and pictures of those who have nothing but positive experiences here. I think it might give some insight into things. I know most people aren't going to agree with this, but I think if you are a big, intimidating-looking, "American" male (doesn't matter where you are actually from) there is actually more chance you'll be discriminated against or assaulted by a drunken ojisan, than if you were a small blonde-haired young female (or male).

I'm making huge generalizations here, I know. But I think there is something to that. For me there definitely has been. I don't do anything particular to look intimidating or to attract negative behavior, but there's been no shortage of it. And I have plenty of friends who do nothing in particular to look sweet and innocent in the Japanese eye, and have had a wonderful life here.

Thanks for the heads up. I realize the quotes are all still there.... What I meant is that I miss it being on the front page by default. The quotes are great-they really sum up "Japan today" and the controversy they create in the comments is part of what makes the site what it is. The comments seem to be dead now that you have to click around for the quote of the day. I don't mind clicking for it, but it seems like others do!

It will take some getting used to, like any new design. The overall layout really seems like a step in the right direction. Congratulations on a great job. But, like others, I'm having real issues with the font. I'm finding myself less inclined to use the site now because its too much of a hassle to get a quick overview of the information I want. I can't read that font on my monitor and increasing font size with my browser throws everything too much out of proportion to even be bothered. I also miss the quote of the day. It was the main reason I visited the site every morning. I could learn to live with the picture if it were remotely interesting. Seeing a new actor promoting a new product everyday got old a long time ago.

Moderator: The Quote of the Day link is right above the Picture of the Day.