InspectorGadget comments

Posted in: Russia withdraws from 2025 World Expo in Japan See in context

Nothing says staged photoshoot like having a group of kids standing on masking tape X's .

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Posted in: Woman arrested for failing to pay for 270-kilometer taxi ride in Iwate Prefecture See in context

So lets say 5pm to sunrise at 5am. 12 hours to travel 270km, which is about 23Km/h.

Something doesn't add up here. Either they stopped, and/or went via an indirect route. I don't think we're getting the full story,

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: What’s it like to work as a hearse driver in Japan? See in context

And unlike being a taxi driver, he'll never get complaints from the passengers.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Huge price hike for Japan Rail Pass triggers huge drop in foreign travelers who’ll buy it See in context

They should have raised prices, but in exchange allow you to use the JR Pass on non-consecutive days over a limited time period (eg 3 days travel over 7 days). This would encourage tourists to venture away from the 'golden triangle" of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and into places less seldom visited.

Doing so would assist with relieving over tourism in some areas, and spread the tourist dollar/yen around a bit more.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Malaysia searches Chinese ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks See in context

Cut up the Chinese vessel and send that for recycling.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan says it will destroy any North Korean missile that violates its territory See in context

I wonder if the US, Japan and Soth Korea would have the capabilities to jam communications with the rocket as it ascends, or even cause it's failure . . . .

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: China cautions Kishida against attending NATO summit See in context

"undermines regional peace and stability"

Ok China. So claiming all of the South China Sea, building heavily armed reclaimed islands in the area. Ignoring UNCLOS and the Permenant Court of Arbritration telling China they had no right to it. Commanding a fleet of 'fishing vessels' to harass anyone in their claimed waters etc etc etc None of that "undermines regional peace and stability"?

Hypocrisy

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Public safety chief kept eating at restaurant despite Kishida attack news See in context

So in practical terms, what was he supposed to do? Stop eating his lunch and do what?

He gets a call to say that someone had thrown a smoke bomb at the Prime Minister. No one as injured. The PM is fine and is carrying on with his day, The 'suspect' is in custody.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Massive price increase announced for Japan Rail Pass; cost to jump by up to 77% See in context

OK. Two thoughts on this:

Financially there is little pressure for JR to do this. Unlike most other coutries, inflation has been practically zero for decades. The costs involved with providing the service haven't been going up so they don't need to increase costs because of inflationary pressures. It would also seem unlikely that the shareholders would see increasing the cost of the RailPass as a way to an instant windfall, without requiring increases to the costs of other services across the board as well.

Secondly. This is probably part of a bigger tourism reset plan. Tourism numbers 2015+ years were starting to swell out of control (32M in 2019 from 8.5M in 2012). The key destinations were highly centralised (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto/Nara, Hiroshima) witb some seasonal overflow to skiing destination. The benefits/spending were also highly centralised, with little getting to more remote areas which need it most. Locals have long been complaining of overcrowding on transport and at local facilities and atrractions caused by tourist numbers.

I believe that the Japanese government is planning to focus more on quality, and loger stays/spend, than explosive short stay trips. The government still holds considerable sway with JR East/West and other railways so it wouldn't surprise me at all if this was part of the process.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Kyoto to abolish one-day bus passes to combat tourism overcrowding See in context

If the Kyoto authorities had any braincells to rub together, they'd run a tourist bus service on a loop around the top 10-15 attractions and sell one day passes to that.

It immediately removes the bulk of tourists from the normal commuter busses, and the tourists know they can just get on/off right next to their temple of choice.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Posted in: Japanese startup unveils space viewing tour on balloon flight See in context

Looks like the cockpit of a B-29

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Cozy tent for two See in context

For two?

Looks comfortable for one, but no more.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Woman who served in SDF sues gov't, assailants over sexual harassment See in context

You'd think at a time when the SDF is struggling to find new recruits, they would be trying to make serving in the military as appealing as possible to women.

Stamping out sexual harrasment and bullying should have been first on the list decades ago.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Kishida grilled in Diet over son's excursion during overseas trip See in context

that his son, Shotaro, who is also his secretary, 

I'm certain a rigorous recruitment process involving many suitably qualified candidates took place prior to his appointment . . . . . .

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Posted in: U.S. intelligence included in state secrets leaked by MSDF captain See in context

So why would a former Admiral have any right to request a briefing?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Canadian polar bears on southern edge of Arctic dying at fast rate See in context

JT. Please fix the headline *"Canadian polar BEARS on southern edge of Arctic dying at fast rate"*

Moderator: Thanks for pointing that out. It has been fixed.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Russia deploys defense missile system on Kuril island near Japan See in context

This deployment comes a year after Russia set up the Bastion systems on the island of Matua, in the central part of the Kuril ridge, the ministry said in a statement.

Matua Is (with the closest battery) is about 750km from Rausu, Hokkaido, the nearest Japanese town. The improved version of the Oniks-M missile has a range of 800Km. Japan is only barely in range, even if they decied to use this for land based targets. This is primarily designed as an anti-ship system.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Free Skating winners See in context

Crikey. She's tiny.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Emperor found to have enlarged prostate See in context

I don't get it. With a country so obsessed with privacy, news of the Emperor getting a prostate exam, then having an enlarged prostate are widely published news.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show Russia it's open to talks: Washington Post See in context

Smart move.

Firstly it paints the Russians in a bad light when they don't come to the table in good faith.

Secondly, Putin's reign depends on him maintaining is position as the strong man of Russia. Any weakness or perceived weakness in his strategy dents this image. If the Ukrainians drive the Russians back, or the carnage gets too much for the Russian people, Putin can negotiate, rather than reaching for the WMDs or a full mobilization.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: New Zealand women lawmakers outnumber men for first time See in context

I don't think anyone in NZ really notice. It has become normal.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: Chinese JETs cherish links to Japan despite soured ties See in context

dagonToday  07:28 am JST

It would be interesting and hasten their integration if Western JETS were also required to have similar abilities.

They are in a different role. If they are working in a Co-ordinator for International Relations (CIR) role then all JET participants must have have passed N2, regardless of nationality.

Assistant Language Teachers have no Japanese language requirement, as their role is almost always to assist with English language instruction, who requires a Degree in any subject which was taught in English. The assumption being if you can pass a degree taught in English, your language ability should be good enough to teach Elementary - SHS students.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese gov't investigating mistreatment of pregnant foreign trainees See in context

These trainee schemes are viewed as nothing more than cheap foreign labour to be exploited. In many cases the 'Trainees" are just desperate to leave their home countries for economic reasons, than for trainining purposes.

If this was truely a training scheme. it would be tied to the aquisition of formal qualifications in the chosen field, rather than arbritraty work experience. I've never heard of this as being a requirement.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Posted in: Chemical tanker, cargo ship crash near southwestern Japan See in context

The Chinese crew told the coast guard the tanker had suddenly veered toward them, the official said.

Typical response from the Chinese side rather than letting the investigation occur. "Nope, not us. It was all their fault"

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Posted in: Over 100 Japan lawmakers had links with Unification Church: survey See in context

Tip of the iceberg.

The discussion is only about the Unification Church at the moment. How many other weirdo fringe groups have connections to Japanese politicians?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Kishida shaken as list of lawmakers linked to Unification Church grows to 20 See in context

after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for a self-check and review to appease a wary public

Self-check eh? I'm sure that all the lawmakers will be dilligently reporting all their connections . . . .

20 just sounds like the ones who aren't embarrassed about their associations. The ones who are embarassed will be trying to hide/distance and obfuscate their way out of this.

Tip of the iceberg.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Posted in: Remembering JAL crash See in context

All caused by a botched repair by Boeing. Compounded by Japanese authorities calling off the USAF who were hovering over the site so the Japanese rescue teams could go in. By the time they got there, almost all of the survivors had perished.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Air_Lines_Flight_123

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Disclosure of employees' birthrate sparks blowback at Japanese firm See in context

Ugly and not classy at all.

Focus on the efforts of the company to support those with kids (regardless of sex or orientation) rather than benchmarking females employees and their offspring.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Posted in: 3 Chinese navy ships circumnavigate Japan as Tokyo remains on alert See in context

Japan should just say "We'll be watching, but you're free to do that in International Waters. Why? We abide by international conventions and treaties . . . . ."

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Visit from a princess See in context

Royalty in other countries would be hugging and making the kids feel loved. This kind of photo just reinforces the enormous gap between the Japanese royal family and ordinary people.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

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