kevinintokyo comments

It would be good to give us more selection of products. My worry is that if Japan does accept they will find ways to block many items to protect their domestic market (Fruits, Produce and Energy drinks like Monster and others).

Watching same celebrities over and over does get boring. I find that my family also does not watch TV like we used too. I was expecting more interesting channels to come on after the digital switch. They added a few channels where they sell face cream and a few other useless shows. I know in America traditional TV watching is dying quickly. People want to be have service were they can stream and pick exactly what they want to watch.

I stay on the road when it is safe and do not worry about cars as much as the mopeds zipping in and out of traffic on either side. When I do use the sidewalk I stay vigilant and ride and pass slowly when it is safe. Everyone says to build bicycle lanes, in reality most of the roads in Japan are not even big enough for cars to drive safely.

I know that AKB 48 is the brain child of a famous producer, but this is a very creepy idea. Is this the reality that the only way to make money off of these singers is to use perversion? Will they target the younger version of AKB48 next (sorry I do not know the name of them). Too creepy. I have seen a lot of hard core 30 + year old male fans that follow this group. They are a strange bunch of men that still live at home and have not successfully made it into a society and live with their parents.

As always zichi brought good info along with a new comer to me, Jeff Laitila. Please bring us in Japan realistic information. This seems to be a new guy that was volunteered to drink 350 - 500 ml of decontaminated water from the plant. It is my understanding that this type of poisoning could take many years to conclude if their is any affect. I hope that things get better but with weekly news that new hot spots are found in Tokyo and surrounding neighbors it is difficult.

@zichi, always appreciate your positive responses to serious and not so serious problems as this may or not be. I look forward to your next post.

She knew the rules and she got caught. Almost everyone knows how Malaysia and many other countries in Asia deal with smugglers. She is not innocent and will most likely be executed. For goodness sake she had 3.5 kilos of meth on her. It is sad and hope that it spreads the message not to mess around smuggling.

I am worried they will find more. And also does anyone feel that digging up some top soil and throwing a blue tarp on top of the affected spot offer much protection? It appears to be more of a band aid and hopefully soon the spots will be properly dealt with.

This is a rare event in Japan and I am glad the baby was found safe. I said this the last time I saw this story in Japan. They should allow a no ask safe point drop for mothers that are scared and do not want to keep their babies. I am an American and there are laws in the US that allow women in such circumstances to take their new born babies to hospitals, police, fire and rescue with no questions asked. The baby can be given to one of these institutions and do not have to give any more information. The baby is properly taken care of and put into the States custody. It may not be the best solution but better than leaving a baby to potentially die. Just my thoughts on the subject. Once again glad the infant was found OK.

Oh for goodness sake not this again. Talk about beating a dead horse. Can Korea get over it and move on.

@zichi, like always thank you for the pictures and information.

It is rare to hear about murders in Japan. The one's that do happen seem to have a high rate of being mutilated. This is still a much safer than my home country were you would here of murders a couple times a week in the D.C. metro alone.

God darn American technology. :) Glad no one was hurt, saw them send out some local military to quickly pick up the debris and throw it in the back of a convoy truck.

It is the Japanese way, use 10 people to do a job ineffectively or hire one with proper equipment to do it effectively.

It may work if it is tethered and strong enough to take blows from huge floating masses being washed inland. The tether would have to be properly secured and have to be a few hundred meters long to allow for movement and impacts. Just a thought to a fairly inexpensive idea to give those that are not able to make it to safety after a strong earthquake.

You would probably be washed out to sea and then what.

@ Patric Spohn I have lived id in Japan for five years and am not prone to such kinds of problems and mad because only one city in Kumamto (per you update) would exempt the help of a mother in distress. It is very rare but very unfortunate. Japan like many 1st world countries need to deal with such kind of local problems. I am sorry for the loss of a child and hope Japan takes note.

The Rolls has never been very sexy, but when you can afford such kind of ride with a full time driver taking you to appointments it is sexy. Or you could be a up coming RAP star in the US and drive it yourself :(. It is only a car.

Would it help if Japan set up safe haven for mothers to drop their new born babies at hospitals, fire, ambulance without retribution. The US does this and I hear of some cases where newborns are dropped off and taken care of. This is a very rare occurrence in the US and even less in Japan. Just something the Japanese should think about.

The whole idea of removing 100 million cubic meters of soil would be almost impossible. I agree with GW how do you clean the tree covered mountains, roads, houses. Any way it 's still all talk like always. Someone has to take charge of the situation and will have to make hard choices that are not going to make the Fukushima Government happy.

Agreed with @Samantha Zoe Aso interesting day. I hope all is well with our neighbors North of Tokyo that got a quake a few minutes ago.

Me and my wife were discussing this and she agreed. If a big typhoon is coming companies should give there employees a chance to leave early on the companies dime or there own. I watched as several thousand were stranded trying to get home. I wish the companies in Japan were a little more compassionate for there employees time and stress. Just got an update on TV a moderate earthquake up North. All in all it was not that bad just an inconvenience.

Asagao so true, The Australian notes are impressive, almost plastic like. It would be hard to replicate such kind of texture thus reducing such kind of incidents. I also agree that people accepting money should be able to tell a real notes from one copied on a home printer on B4 paper. Just my opinion.

My children's school has already made calls to parents in South Tokyo. They are very vigilant and will notify parents of any early closures. It looks like this will hit close to Tokyo. Everyone be safe.

Thank you zichi for stating the truth. The US has so many problems at home that need attention.

This is sad, they may cause a panic on beef thru out the country. As you have seen Australia and New Zealand have stepped up on the commercials for Beef. The Government of Japan has to be careful before releasing such articles. I usually buy beef from Australia and the US but will be more vigilant on the beef I buy from Japan. I feel sorry for the Fukushima farmers and hope the TEPCO will reimburse them for the current and future losses.

The news said at 6 pm that the mother went to shop for 5 minutes while she left her child in the car. Why would you leave a child (potentially handicapped? I am not aware of the details) in the car for any length of time to shop? I am from America and sometimes these turn out to be accidental or malicious type deaths that the parent tries to hide. I hope that I am wrong and this young child is found alive and healthy.

A good sit down Mexican restaurant with imported draft beers.

They changed the article from ghost town to town of death. It must have been translated wrong. But no matter, he spoke his mind and did not sugar coat it. The towns around Fukushima are just that DEAD. I was watching a documentary on the towns and the houses and businesses were just left in a matter of days. The area is uninhabitable and Hachiro-san said nothing that was not true.

Two hours??? Wow that's kind of funny. I agree he should have been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Only in Japan.