kaynide comments

Posted in: Japanese firm probed over sale of ship to Iran See in context

@Odladi - I would suggest you consider not the ship itself but the tech/computer systems onboard and how they might be repurposed. Guidance/GPS/navigational data can be quite useful for things other than a cargo ship, after all.

No disrespect meant, just a response to your "not seeing how X could lead to Y".

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Sour grapes: Japan battles to protect premium fruits See in context

I mean, yes it is just fruit. And yea, they failed to register a copyright, but I get it.

The fruit represents years of R&D that went into making it (essentially DNA manipulation), so it’s not out of the question to want royalties.

It’s not much different than developing a new medicine or machine part.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Posted in: How to find a foreign baby name that also works in Japanese See in context

The article is mostly on point, but regarding comments:

While I agree it’s good to pick names that are easier for one side or the other to pronounce, I find it quite stupid to bend over backwards to find a name that fits into Japanese life perfectly. Facts are, foreigners like myself already live here. People around the world have quite diverse naming systems, including middle names. Many of these names are deeply rooted in our traditions.

It’s on the Japanese to make room for these things if they want more foreign business/immigrants.

As for myself, my kids have an English first name and a Japanese middle. We haven’t had a problem with it (banks, schools, etc) and we live in the sticks.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Trial of English-speaking test for Tokyo high schools face opposition from some parents See in context

Also, to add!

if you have to explain that you are joking, or explain the joke itself, it’s not a very good joke is it?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Trial of English-speaking test for Tokyo high schools face opposition from some parents See in context

As a guy who just proctored the Eiken last Sunday, just wanted to say:

1) Your introduction is irrelevant outside of attitude score, which is generally easy to get if your not an idiot/rude.

2) 1 word answers are perfectly acceptable if they answer the question, and will get you a 3 or possibly 4 points depending on the question. Never will it get a 1.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Posted in: Japanese publishers to sue U.S. firm over manga piracy See in context

I mean, there is obviously a market for manga online.

The problem is that to get officially sanctioned manga in English in a timely manner is just way too slow. If these companies were smart, they would set up a Netflix-like service for fairly cheap and pay for fan-translators who typically do it for free to do it for them legitimately and for cash. If the fan-translators can get paid to do it, even a small amount, it would dry up freely available translations.

If it was “all you can read” for like 5 bucks a month I might be interested, otherwise what’s the point when I can just go to the bookstore for free.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Stores in Japan ask customers to prove they’re real Pokemon fans when buying cards to stop scalpers See in context

For me it’s a win win. I get that parents of kids who love Pokémon (like myself) Wont be able to purchase it..but maybe just being your kids and have them answer the quiz.

Alternatively…just wait until it comes out normally?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Chinese people vexed by Communist Party's image among Japanese See in context

As with any government, the citizens are ultimately responsible for what their government does. And as with any country, you can’t have it both ways.

When your government is being aggressive, engaging in abhorrent practices and disregarding safety considered common sense in most of the world, you can’t suddenly claim to be a victim of being bullied or shamed.

So, sure, while I have a good half dozen Chinese friends here in Japan, I am content to spend my money elsewhere when I go siteseeing.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Online manga piracy surges as people stuck at home during the pandemic See in context

@Chibakun:

Most of the illegal sights I have seen offer fan translations in languages that are otherwise unavailable to readers.

Simply put, if someone can’t read Japanese and wants to read a particular manga, they very likely couldn’t outside of these fan translations.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: If you’re reading pirated manga, one artist would prefer you just not read their work at all See in context

Not saying “go pirate stuff”, but:

1) What about reading for free at the bookstore? Or at the barbershop/izakaya/whatever that has a bookshelf for customers? Yes, I get there is a fundamental difference but at the end of the day, someone is reading manga/magazines/whatever without paying.

2) A significant chunk of manga isn’t even available in English, so outside of fan-translated stuff it would never even reach western audiences. Moreover many of said fan translations stop hosting when the manga does become available.

3) There’s a ton of free manga, webcomics and general media already out there on the web. If you are telling me I have to go to a physical bookstore, find it, buy it, then hope I like it...yeeeaah no.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Russia banned from Olympics but door open to Tokyo Games for athletes as 'neutrals' See in context

@wtfjapan:

I agree it's not fair to the honest athletes. I don't really have a strong opinion on it, but above quote basically meaning "eh, it's no big deal" doesn't sit well with me. To me, it just says there will not really be any large outcry or push to change because they don't seem to care if they represent Russia or not. If everybody got hit there might actually be real change from within.

Of course just my 2.. maybe 1 cent(s).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Russia banned from Olympics but door open to Tokyo Games for athletes as 'neutrals' See in context

"We will be (competing) either under the Russian Olympic Committee flag or as neutrals. We have gone through this before at the last Olympics. There is nothing horrible about this."

And there is the problem. If the punishment doesn’t “sting”, there will be no incentive to change. As unfair as it would be to the honest athletes in Russia, they should not be allowed to participate as a neutral group.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Posted in: 13 teen boys caught peeping into girls’ hot spring bath during class trip See in context

Sure, what they did was absolutely inappropriate, and they should be made aware the reality of that.

BUT, have you seen manga or anime targeting that age? Even Doraemon has a common gag on peeping girls in the bath. When it becomes such a common thing to do for their characters, why would they think otherwise?

In the mind of a 13 year old boy, it's probably more up there with giving people a kancho.... just a funny thing boys do.

Life imitating "art" as it were.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: Why does politics divide a country into "us" versus "them" (using the U.S. as an example)? Why can't people on both sides come together on issues to unify their country instead of dividing it? See in context

Alternatively, I think the people up top know if you keep the population focused on one thing, they will readily ignore others.

Regardless of the party, the top in USA are under no threat of either party falling, so why not pit the population against each other while they line their pockets. We’re the actual threat that the top would lose their jobs (as was the case in Australia years back) things might be different.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Gov't says official translation for next era name Reiwa is 'beautiful harmony' See in context

You know how people say a joke isn’t funny if you have to explain it? Kinda getting those vibes.

Although I’ve gotten used to having my students look at me like I’ve grown a second head as I try to explain wasei go (eg cola isn’t considered a juice in USA), it is nice to turn the tables and have them explain to me for once.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: 5 recommended movies based on Japanese anime and video games See in context

The linked article ends with:

Remember: when watching film adaptations, it’s easy to fall into the trap of immediately comparing them to the original source material. However, it’s always good to view the film as a work of its own. Did you not like the film because it truly wasn’t a good film or simply because it was different from the video game or anime? While it’s true that new works are beholden to their originals, it’s always better to go into the viewing experience with a clear mind. Less expectation equals less disappointment.

I couldn't disagree more. If I'm going to see a movie based on a game, there are certain checkboxes I am going in expecting to see. I mean, how could you not go into a movie sharing the hype/title of a beloved franchise and NOT have certain expectations?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 7-Eleven store owners submit request for shorter business hours See in context

Alternatively, shut the store down and have the workers move to a different 7-11. Surely the market is over saturated...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: 'Shoplifters' director apologizes for French film awards no-show See in context

@talaraedokko

Or, as the article said, he was in LA for the Oscars and had prepared comments... except whoever was supposed to be there to accept the award wasn’t.

There was an unfortunate mistake, that’s all.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Writer for Hollywood version of anime 'your name.' says Japanese side wants Westernized viewpoint See in context

It wasn't a bad film, but a significant part of it involved the boy groping himself when in the girl's body, plus the up skirt shots of her underwear.

Just not in line with western (USA's) sensibilities.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Netflix announces it’s making a new 'Cowboy Bebop' live-action series; fans recoil in horror See in context

However, Netflix won’t be showing the 1998 Shinichiro Watanabe-directed anime TV series, nor its associated 2001 animated theatrical feature. Instead, the streaming service will be serving as the home to an all-new, American-produced, live-action "Cowboy Bebop" series.

Not to be a stick in the mud or "that guy" but actually the original anime is available on Netflix.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan gov't launches 1st survey on 'overtourism' See in context

For foreign tourists, why not start holding alternative events during peak foreigner season? It's not like the JP govt doesn't know/have access to the information. (eg. Expect Americans in the summer)

For Japanese tourists...Oh, I dunno... could start with allowing staggered vacation time as opposed to fixed Golden Week and/or Obon.

Oh, and get rid of the "lucky" Mondays. I'm going on a trip this month on the 28-29th for 1/3 the price it would have cost to do the exact same thing on the 7/8th. My wife got all kinds of crazy over it... "Can't take the kids out of school on a Monday!?? What are you thinking???" Me "To save $500 bucks? Absolutely we can."

Simply allowing..no.. encouraging the Japanese side of things to take vacations whenever they wanted would alleviate a lot. My wife just getting those 2 days caused all kinds of hemming and hawing at the department store she works.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Mother indicted after 1-year-old son dies after falling off electric bicycle See in context

Horrible news for her and her family.

Condolences to them, but at the same time there is a reason why there are laws on the books. Simply holding an umbrella in your hand, in use or not, can carry a fine of around 50,000 yen and potential jail time. Not usually enforced of course.

Therein lies the problem. In a country where fewer and fewer children are born, why don't the laws to protect them have bigger teeth? I can't count how many times I see a kid bouncing from seat to seat in a K-car, completely unrestrained. Makes my skin crawl.

Point is not to be overly harsh on parents, but to have the penalties be severe enough and that safety is just routine for bike or car travel.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Dental care before cancer surgery might be good idea See in context

A good friend of mine, a doctor in his 60s mentioned to me that he was trained to use oral care as a base for choosing who to save in emergency situations. The gist was all else being equal to try and save whoever had the best teeth/oral care.

He mentioned some of the above information/mouth being clean of bacteria...but he also added that individuals with good teeth tend to take better care of their body/will follow through with instructions post op.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese high school kids develop jellyfish sting cream See in context

Good on them! I did a quick google search and while this kind of product already exists (eg. Sea Safe line of lotions), it doesn't seem so popular. Wonder if vinegar is just that much more effective and/or cheap?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Gregory Peck's grandson to play Spock in new 'Star Trek' See in context

@Cla68: Not sure where you're coming from bud, unless it's meant to be a joke?

The main lead of Discovery is a black woman- with a secondary major character being a chinese woman. Quite a few major characters in the show are women, of varying skin color and (as typical in Star Trek) the cast is generally diverse.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Posted in: Child statue in protective suit in Fukushima criticized See in context

But he admitted that his earlier explanation of the artwork -- such as calling the clothing "protective gear" and the device on the statue's chest a "Geiger counter" -- may have led to misunderstanding."

...What's to misunderstand? If not a protective suit with a radiation counter, what is it supposed to be?

Not the biggest fan of the art style, but I very much appreciate it NOT being a generic cutesy mascot or anime-girl.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Posted in: New Netflix series 'Insatiable' faces fat-shaming, homophobia accusations See in context

Ah, "nothing wrong, per say" I mean.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: New Netflix series 'Insatiable' faces fat-shaming, homophobia accusations See in context

@Strangerland: Nothing per say with building up a story... but whatever this particular story is about, it should be represented in the first episode fairly well. Shows like Stranger Things build up, but it's right there episode one that the show is going to be a little bit scary, a lotta bit nerdy and full of nostalgia.

Other shows like Battlestar Galactica (the "new" one) also develop over seasons with various arcs and mysteries, but right away you know it's a show about survival against an overpowering enemy.

Again, didn't see this particular series so I really can't comment too far, and I certainly don't know what the show is supposed to be about in any kind of detail. Whatever it is though, should have been on display even if only to show where the show plans to go overall.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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