Posted in: University student arrested for kicking stroller with baby in it See in context
It's pronounced "Ibaragi", not "Ibaraki". "Ibaraki" is a prefecture. If you write about Japan, just get it right, Japan Today.
-12 ( +1 / -13 )
Posted in: Police to probe Mizuho over loans to gangsters See in context
WHICH banks don't have deposits by dark hands though?
If they probe, probe it thoroughly, not just this bank, not just the account that's been revealed. Gangsters use different names and identities. Expose them as well. The banking system will be in chaos for a while, but it's worth a try. Other banks should stop shivering and voluntarily reveal the extent to which they have gangster money.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Elderly man busted for arranging sex for senior citizens See in context
Leave this kind! Raid those yakuza-related regular ranches! Where's your "Respect for the Aged"???
Seriously though, this is tantamount to denying that senior citizens also have the right to sexual pleasures. Unless they are extremely rich business or entertainment lords, who could find women (or men, for that matter) of all age ranges, they will have little choice. The society has been shy away from discussing senior sex and what to do with it. Until it has, just give it to them through ANY safe sources.
8 ( +8 / -0 )
Posted in: 'Lighten up,' French magazine tells Japan after Fukushima cartoon complaint See in context
I've never seen Japan take bantering well and easy. With every negative or satirical comment from outside, the Japanese say they are deeply hurt. How 9 year old! Or is bantering a sure sign of Western decadence??? I think not. Cultural maturity and tolerance it is.
The bottom line of all this caricature is that there are many people actually worried about it. The worry comes largely from the way the J gov and TEPCO have been handling the whole thing: not handling it and concealing it. The best way to refute the French cartoonist and others is to show them what's really happening in Japan and nothing further left to show. Show them and all of us that it's totally safe! Then they'll shut up (or not).
6 ( +7 / -1 )
Posted in: 'Lighten up,' French magazine tells Japan after Fukushima cartoon complaint See in context
I don't see anything wrong with the pictures. It's called freedom of expression. I know that suspicions are all around and there are many people who see it this way. Fair enough. No need to apologise. If you don't like it, you could just shrug it off as nonsense, because they'll write and speak their minds, no matter what you scream.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: John Paul II on brink of sainthood after miracle approved See in context
Would condom factory explosions count?
1 ( +4 / -3 )
Posted in: Japan baseball chiefs admit lying over ball change See in context
What are things in common among the following organisations, TEPCO, Olympus and NPB, ?
Seriously, it's not just about this association that we should be looking at. This sort of attitude, - the we-better-not-say-it-as-it-would-confuse-others attitude - taken as a Japanese virtue of being considerate of others, can hurt people more sharply and bring bigger trouble to others in the end. How many more examples do the Japanese need before they realise this attitude often doesn't help???
9 ( +8 / -0 )
Posted in: Former PM Hatoyama to leave DPJ See in context
Now he has NO friends, even nominal ones.
He's not much of a maverick, is he?
I wonder if his political career is as good as finished.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Buddhist monk arrested after exposing himself in video rental shop See in context
One of the most important teachings by Buddha is to get rid of all desires, isn't it?
Mamma mia, he couldn't wait until he got home. Just looking at the vid packages??? I have never been THAT aroused (have you?), or I don't recall such a strong feeling rising at all.
-2 ( +3 / -5 )
Posted in: Crown prince marks Japan's 400-year history with Spain See in context
400 year history??? No way, Jose.
Well, there was a period between 1639 and 1854 in which Japan was an isolationist.
Also, Japan cut its diplomatic relationship with Spain in 1624. The relationship wasn't restored until 1868.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Gov't cautious over yen's spike but says no need to panic See in context
95 yen to the dollar is still acceptable, methinks. I've read that most of the exporting companies will be able to make profits at 80 yen to the dollar maximum. Besides, the strong yen will buy them cheaper materials abroad, while petrol intensive industries can take advantage of better oil prices. Keeping the exchange rate within 90-100 yen to the dollar is sensible for these reasons.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Future idols collect 100 mil eco-friendly bottle caps See in context
Great way to mobilise otaku boys for social good.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Is it safe for minors to drink non-alcohol beer? See in context
Non-alcohol beer...Can it still be called "beer"?
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Is it safe for minors to drink non-alcohol beer? See in context
Why will the partying minors go for non-alcohol beers though??? I guess they will go straight to the real beer, the happosyu or the daisanno biru.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: No rise in cancer seen from Fukushima nuclear disaster: U.N. See in context
Encouraging news, but the UN report is silent on how long it usually takes before radiation affects human bodies. Besides, "UNSCEAR’s findings appeared to differ somewhat from a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in February which said people in the area worst affected have a slightly higher risk of developing certain cancers." The WHO report seems to say, "Not yet, but one day they may..."
5 ( +6 / -1 )
Posted in: 210 kilos of rice stolen in 8th such theft in Ibaraki See in context
Yesterday, there was news saying that 97 water taps were stolen in Saitama, and today, so much rice disappeared in Ibaraki. What's next? Yes, rice cookers.
7 ( +8 / -1 )
Posted in: 97 faucets stolen from four sites in Saitama See in context
Well, check Yahoo Auction or Rakuten one now, cops?
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Does inequality help growth - or hurt it? See in context
What sort of inequality are we talking about?
As long as most people are rich enough to enjoy their lives, while others being super-rich, they'll be ok, in spite of occasional grudges about that inequality.
Many people are increasingly worried, because they've seen some evidence that some people work hard but can't live decently in Japan today. This is not the kind of inequality that people will not tolerate.
So, yeah, some types of inequality are bad, while extreme equality doesn't work.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Bad eggs See in context
Making this stepping poster takes, say, 1-2 hours? Then you step on it for, what, 15 minutes? Time well spent, indeed.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: Former World Bank chief warns of Japan 'sugar high' See in context
Yes, JeanValJean, but structural reform without economic recovery would mean what Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Greece are stuck in right now. It's easy to say that sugar high is bad, but I believe that salty low is worse. Let Japan be a little fat first and get it to exercise!
It's funny that an American official is warning this. The US went on a spending spree that would have shocked even Keynes a few years back.
0 ( +2 / -2 )
Posted in: Former World Bank chief warns of Japan 'sugar high' See in context
It was Keynes who said that the time for austerity is during a boom, not a bust. That also applies to structural reform. If what Keynes is right, then let Japan reap gains from economic recovery first and then get on with structural reform (admittedly, there's a chance that the LDP will just surf on the recovery wave and forget about needed reform though).
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: Hashimoto says comfort women system necessary for wartime troops See in context
Hashimoto is sounding like Ishihara, so he should be called Hashihara.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: TEPCO seeks permission to dump groundwater from Fukushima plant into ocean See in context
With the LDP in power, TEPCO has as good as got the permission.
How does TEPCO justify doing all this? Has it been just saying that there's no space for that anymore???
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Fitting finale See in context
You haven't obviously seen much of Eden Hazard all season, USNinJapan2. You didn't read about the row carefully, either.
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: Fitting finale See in context
Kagawa was dropped for major games against, for example, Chelsea, Real Madrid and so on. He merely played against minnows. Did he prove so much as you say?
Look at Hazard or Benteke. They did so much better than Kagawa.
-2 ( +1 / -3 )
Posted in: Fitting finale See in context
Kagawa did OK this season. He's got to cut down on his back passes and take more on opponent defenders.
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: 47 prefectures, 47 unique souvenirs: Which one will win? See in context
Tochigi gyoza is soooooooooooooooooooooooo overrated, at least, now. It used to be better.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Abe, Saudi leaders discuss Syria, stable oil supply See in context
Saudi Arabia condemning Syria's human rights violation??? What???
0 ( +2 / -2 )
Posted in: Smartphone users who text while they walk becoming a hazard See in context
Warning these people of possible dangers often falls on deaf ears. They either say, "I have done nothing wrong!" "I've been careful enough!" "None of your business!" or "I haven't brought any trouble to anyone, have I!"
In other words, they don't think they are doing anything wrong, zero, although they answer it's dangerous, if asked. Strange enough, these two opposing feelings can coexist in many minds.
2 ( +5 / -3 )
Posted in: Smartphone users who text while they walk becoming a hazard See in context
Some people use their mobile phones while on bike.
On a similar note, I've seen many kids reading comic books while pedaling. Have you?
3 ( +5 / -2 )
Posted in: Trump makes first big foray into Ukraine diplomacy, speaking to Putin, Zelenskyy
Posted in: Trump makes first big foray into Ukraine diplomacy, speaking to Putin, Zelenskyy
Maybe they should try an exotic sex position
Posted in: Why so many marriages in Japan are sexless – and what you can do about it
I look forward to the day when Victoria Nuland is put on trial for all the death she created.
Posted in: Trump makes first big foray into Ukraine diplomacy, speaking to Putin, Zelenskyy