HJSLLS comments

Posted in: Nissan net profit plunges 87% for 9 months to December See in context

I remember when Ghosn started with NISSAN and the company was near bankruptcy. The company exhibited the same tendencies as now: blaming everything and everyone. Ghosn would had none of that and disciplined his meetings to stop the blaming and focus purely on the numeasurements. NISSAN has run away the very solution to it’s problem. Now, NISSAN is back to it bad habits and blame game. But this time it won’t be saved.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Nissan files ¥10 bil damages suit against Ghosn See in context

Yawn!

If Nissan handled this internally through accounting and internal audit, then Nissan would continue to have healthy profits and a trusted brand. Instead, Japanese Nissan managers were more interested in making a point about Japanese nationality by bringing in Japanese prosecutors.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Posted in: A Saudi look at Japanese arts See in context

Is this news? Two individuals who happen to be Muslim are photographed at an art exhibition and that’s considered news?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Ghosn used Nissan-Mitsubishi venture to inflate pay: lawyers See in context

Good grief, Nissan! Put an end to the leaks and send Lebanon your evidence (before the deadline expires) if you really want to try Ghosn in a court of law. Resorting to ‘he said/she said’ is futile and does nothing to improve your company’s image.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

Posted in: Woman arrested for slashing items in clothing store See in context

Was she terminated from her role and served a lawsuit for damages?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: No. of court interpreters falls in Japan despite increase in foreign defendants See in context

I’ve worked with real-time interpreters in Japan and must admit they can be incredible people. The truly professional ones take their jobs very seriously. The work is extremely stressful as people’s lives and big business can ride on the accuracy of their translations. And the work is quite mentally taxing. I object to not paying interpreters for the preparatory work they perform prior to an interpretation. It often requires interviewing the main speakers and reading volumes of documents to gain context.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: Fears of new virus trigger anti-China sentiment worldwide See in context

Let’s stop the madness of discriminating against Chinese and Asians. This is a regional virus that must be contained. Chinese nationals are just as worried about infection as everyone else, so not only is discriminating against Chinese and Asians wrong, it’s unscientific. Viruses can start anywhere in the world and do not care what its hosts looks like. If it spreads, anyone can potentially contract it, meaning xenophobia won’t help you. Only logical medical practices are the solution.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Prosecutors issue arrest warrant for Ghosn, 3 Americans over his escape See in context

The Japanese prosecutors are confused. There’s no misunderstanding about jumping bail. Ghosn knows that it was illegal and has no intentions of returning. No new revelations there. But the idea that Ghosn is guilty simply because he fled is preposterous. That’s like blaming a woman for escaping detention in Saudi Arabia for not wearing a burka. At some point you need to question the fairness of the justice system detailing the person.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

Posted in: Trump lawyers argue Democrats just want to overturn election See in context

The House of Representatives has laid out a very clear case of wrongdoing by Trump, even without additional witnesses. Yet, Trump’s defense lawyers say the evidence is flimsy and that the prosecutors have not met the burden of proof. That’s exactly why the Senators should vote to allow more witnesses to testify and for the White House to turn over requested documents - to fill in whatever gaps are missing. Trump and the Republicans don’t want that because it would likely corroborate all the evidence of wrongdoing already presented. Republicans want it both ways - the evidence is flimsy but we don’t want to allow more witnesses or turn over documents.

Meanwhile, the biggest tragedy will be if the Senate allows Trump to continue obstructing justice by ignoring subpoenas and all requests for documents by the House with impunity. If this happens, we can no longer call America a democracy, because no branch of government could ever investigate the President’s wrongdoing. That would effectively make the President a dictator and would be the day America ceases to be a democracy as we know it.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Posted in: Ghosn's aide Kelly stands high chance of acquittal: ex-prosecutor See in context

If Kelly is acquitted that would pretty much wrap it up for the Japanese prosecutors. It would show that the allegations against Ghosn and Kelly should have never resulted in detainment. In addition, others in Nissan were not detained for the same allegations. The inconsistency in how members related to this case are being treated and the fact that these financial matters should have been addressed internally in the first place is quickly eroding the prosecutors’ credibility worldwide. The prosecutors realized this, which is why we see defensive declarations from the prosecutors that Japan’s justice system is humane. But it’s too late. The prosecutors know Japan’s justice system is what’s on trial and that There Will Be Books!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Posted in: Apologetic ex-ministers, lawmakers keep quiet on details of scandals See in context

Japan’s justice system is on full display, clearly showing no consistency with people “suspected” of wrongdoing. I’m sure many are seeing Japanese prosecutors as completely disinterested in justice and simply serving as a mechanism to reinforce Japanese culture. Conform and you’re fine. Don’t and face the wrath of Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Osaka says she will block out negatives after 'toughest year' See in context

"I've been training my whole life for this (tennis)," she told reporters. "I shouldn't let outside noise -- no offense to you guys, love you guys -- but outside noise dictate how I'm feeling."

Great statement. She’s an elite tennis player and learning how to ignore distractions that come by way of the press.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn used company money for private events: Nissan report See in context

If an employee (even the CEO) were to spend company money for truly personal expenses, the controllers department will flag this quickly because those purchases could not be expensed. Executives at Ghosn’s level, however, typically mix critical business networking with “personal” events. Whether Ghosn’s expenses were truly personal is a judgement call by the Board, accounting department and Ghosn.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Posted in: Moonstruck: Japanese billionaire's girlfriend applicants top 20,000 See in context

Most or all of these applicants do not know Maezawa personally. That may be fine for a casual date. But we’re talking about going to the Moon. If something goes wrong, they both need to implicitly trust one another. God forbid if they face a Titanic situation where one must sacrifice his/her life for the other to live. You don’t want to find out then that the relationship is not deep enough to agree on that decision.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn says French envoy told him of inside plot See in context

Hire a Japanese CEO next time. You picked a clown from Renault who cut down on quality of cars produced, besides being a thief and criminal he did a poor job! With customers being disappointed with the shortcuts made because of this clown.

@AlexBecu

What part about Ghosn rescued Nissan from near bankruptcy don’t you understand? If it weren’t for Ghosn, we wouldn’t be hear talking about this case, because there wouldn’t be a Nissan to talk about. And the entire educated world knows that.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Posted in: Ghosn's Japan lawyer: Questioning averaged 7 hours a day See in context

Japanese prosecutors and Justice Minister Masako Mori have repeatedly defended the nation's system as upholding human rights, noting Japan boasts a low crime rate. Mori said the system follows appropriate procedures under Japanese law, stressing that every culture is different.

The Japanese prosecutor attempts to justify Japan’s justice system by asserting that all cultures are different. This is a very weak excuse. Fairness is not arbitrary. There is a science to fairness. Research shows that even other animals know when conditions are unfair (see the Capuchin monkey fairness experiment). Achieving fairness requires numerous checks and balances and procedures that do not presume guilt. This again is the Japanese government believing that just because it says procedures are fair makes them so.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Posted in: Ghosn case adds to Nissan's financial problems See in context

Nissan has created a public relations nightmare. Any issues Nissan execs had with Ghosn’s spending should have been addressed within the firm to avoid damage to its brand image. But based on the coordinated actions between Nissan and Japanese prosecutors, there was clear intent to remove Ghosn above and beyond the alleged financial misconduct charges. The ruse has now backfired and Nissan is likely to suffer even more losses if investors lose faith in the company’s management and if consumers find the brand unappealing because of this event.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn case adds to Nissan's financial problems See in context

Bloomberg News has also reported that Nissan spent $200 million on lawyers, investigators and private detectives during the scandal, a claim that insiders dismiss.

"The figure is ridiculously exaggerated. You probably need to take one zero off," one source inside Nissan told AFP.

I love the line: “You probably need to take one zero off”!!

From $200M to $20M, I’m still falling out of my chair! But knowing legal fees in Japan, we ‘probably’ need to add that zero back in!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Lebanon may lift Ghosn's travel ban if files not received within 40 days See in context

I’m glad to see that Lebanon is bringing some sense of judicial normalcy to this situation. So far Lebanon has applied reasonable limits on both parties in order to re-establish fairness.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: Ghosn tells Japanese media he has plenty of documents to prove innocence See in context

Asserting that the Japanese "hostage system" aims to "crush the accused and not to seek truth through a fair and balanced dialogue," the lawyer said, "Mr Ghosn was one of many victims in this system."

Ghosn’s lawyer succinctly clarifies what is fundamentally wrong with Japan’s justice system. Mori’s assertion that Ghosn needs to prove his innocence reveals that Japanese prosecutors avoid the burden of proof. Instead we see a system that utilizes various types of emotional, psychological, and even physical abuse to force confessions from people “suspected” of a crime.

Japanese prosecutors can try to defend this system as “Japanese tradition”, but the fact is the system is unjust and needs drastic reform.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Posted in: Ghosn denies wrongdoing; says his arrest in Japan a conspiracy See in context

Kazumichi is completely right. Two main take-aways are:

Ghosn is doing what no one else has been able to do before — challenge the Japanese justice system and become a major force of change against Japan’s current prosecutor driven process. If he succeeds in making an impact, this will surely be Carlos Ghosn’s great second act (first to transform Nissan, second to transform Japan itself).

However, the effectiveness of Ghosn as a change agent will depend largely on the second take-away: What I’m hearing is that Ghosn presentation was light on evidence against the prosecutors’ allegations. I believe this was one objective Ghosn wanted accomplish. And this is definitely something many (including union members at Renault) were eagerly looking to hear. I’m sure this is the first of many presentations and interviews Ghosn will have, each of which will be opportunities to make his case. So we should all be patient and see how this end-game unfolds.

But make no mistake about it, both Japan and Ghosn are now on trial in the court of public opinion.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan calls Ghosn's escape 'unjustifiable' in first official comments See in context

@Kazuaki

Although the article has the author’s interpretations, it is the prosecutors’ actions that tell all. The author simply reaffirmed what we have all been witnessing over the past year.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan calls Ghosn's escape 'unjustifiable' in first official comments See in context

Prosecutors argue that the lengthy detention is required to prove guilt beyond doubt and they are unwilling to charge a suspect if their case is not iron-clad.

This proves that the Japanese justice system follows a “guilty until proven guilty” philosophy. Japan will effectively hold you as a prisoner until can justify holding you as a prisoner, however long that takes. This effectively makes the prosecutor also the jury, deciding what is believable. And for prosecutors to withhold evidence from the defense team means the prosecutors decide what’s right and wrong. There is no contest of interpretations. Unfair system to any person accused and highly prone to corruption.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Posted in: Japanese media blasts 'cowardly' Ghosn after escape See in context

We have now reached the end-game. This court process is not over. It has simply moved to the court of public opinion. This is where Ghosn, perhaps singlehandedly with his new freedom to speak to the media, will become one of Japan’s greatest change agents. Ghosn will become the most vocal critic of Japan’s legal system. And with the Olympics just around the corner, Japan may do anything to avoid international condemnation. Ghosn has just checked Japan’s king.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn's escape prompts talk of more curbs in Japan's strict justice system See in context

Zones2surf hits it spot on... the fundamental problem with Japan’s legal system is the widespread belief, even among its legal experts, that anyone detained is guilty of something. All Japanese legal processes follow from this singular belief. And this belief is largely rooted in tradition, where authority figures are all powerful and can decide your fate unilaterally. Japan evolved with a lack of objective legal frameworks. What it adopted from the West are merely overlays places atop non-objective traditions.

Japan largely supports a dominant prosecution, because Japan is not truly after justice. It is after anyone who disturbs the perceived harmony of the Japanese culture - guilty or not.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Posted in: Ghosn's escape prompts talk of more curbs in Japan's strict justice system See in context

For those who don’t understand why Ghosn (or any defendant) should be entitled to an attorney during interrogations, the answer is simple - because the defendant has rights. The defendant’s attorney who is well versed in the law knows what prosecutors can and cannot ask a defendant- because the nature of questioning could, itself, presume guilt. The defendant’s attorney also serves as a balance of power to the prosecutor that prevents forced confessions or other forms or self-incrimination.

If you believe that everyone who is detained is probably guilty, then you would consider the defendant’s attorney as someone obstructing the interrogation. But if you truly believe a person is innocent until proven guilty, then you would consider the defendant’s attorney necessary during interrogations.

19 ( +19 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn's escape leaves Japan red-faced See in context

@Kazuyuki

Just because withholding evidence from the defense is tradition does not make it right or the least bit fair. If the defense is not given access to the same evidence as the prosecutors, what is the defense defending against? They are simply made to react to surprise evidence presented in court and allowed little time to prepare a response. The point of a court hearing is to allow both contesting sides to present their interpretations of what happened to an impartial judge or jury. The legal process is a science we should all strive to improve - not something you make up just to fit traditions. Exercise logic.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Ghosn's escape leaves Japan red-faced See in context

Ghosn's escape leaves Japan red-faced

And Japan left half of the world red-faced when it lured Ghosn to Japan under false pretenses only to arrest him on suspicion at the airport, interrogated him without the presence of an attorney, extended his detention indefinitely, re-arrested him on fresh allegations, banned him from seeing his wife, leaking one-sided accounts to the press, turning a blind eye to Saikawa’s involvement, and most infuriating of all, withholding evidence from the defense attorneys.

Japan has indeed created an environment of intimidation and abuse to produce a forced confession, all based on suspicions. When Ghosn realized that his own defense team could not access thousands of documents from the prosecutors to prepare for the trial, he realized this was a no-win situation. Any reasonable person would realize this could never be a fair trial given that the prosecutors were withholding documents from the defense team.

I am glad Ghosn took matters into his own hands, although we can not be certain if political maneuvering was not at work behind the scenes to create a situation where Japan allows Ghosn to escape. Perhaps we’ll learn in time.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Posted in: New York Jews scared, defiant as mayor decries anti-Semitism 'crisis' See in context

@vanityofvanities

To answer your question, it is because discrimination is utterly irrational.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: S Korean court rejects petition to repeal Japan sex slave deal See in context

Those who commit atrocities are typically eager to move on while the victim is left to pick up the pieces of their damaged lives. Many of the comments and downvoting reflect this hasty and apathetic attitude. Of course Korean children are taught to hate Japan. The atrocities committed during the occupation, starting from the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, are extremely painful memories that will be passed down from generation to generation, especially if Japan tries to downplay its wartime past, remove it from history books, or deny it ever happened. Unless Japan gets ahead of this problem, it will remain a fresh wound for many more generations to come.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

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