Khuniri comments

Being an old reactionary, I hope that Japan “advances” to at least 140th. But Aso is an obnoxious blue-blood. If he did not exist, the “progressive” media would have to invent him.

Those who mention the current exchange rate should be reminded that Hawai’i was a popular destination when the yen was much “weaker” than it is now. The Japanese love affair with the islands will continue. (I speak as an absentee landlord with a red passport.)

Who among the commentators here is qualified to second-guess the police?

Even the fatherless, such as Risa Yamada, learn somewhere along the way: "Thou shalt not steal."

I wonder what percentage of the crooks get caught--and whether those near or close to the top are ever caught...

Captdingelheimer: Well put! I knew 出人, a self-seeking provocateur…I am one those Euro-Japanese, and though holding a red passport, do not look like Yamada Yukio. I remember when there was what can fairly be called discrimination. There has been a transformation…Are there still glitches? Yes…My elder daughter, back from years abroad, tried to open a bank account, showing her red passport and speaking her first language, Japanese. The clerk wanted to see her visa status…Annoying? Yes. But not the end of the world.

I'm with Meiyouwenti (没有問題) and don't understand the thumbs-down...I was in Ibaraki one afternoon many years ago, when I found myself in a kissaten called Halloween (in katakana). Back then, Halloween was all but unknown in Japan, so I asked the middle-aged proprietress whence the name. She looked anxious and asked whether it was somehow insulting. Iie, I reassured, her, saying I thought it rather kawaii. She said that her children had suggested the name...Halloween began as a, yes, pagan Celtic custom, celebrating the beginning of autumn. It then spread to America with Irish immigrants and became thoroughly Americanized, having nothing to do with All Hallows Eve. I remember how it was first introduced in Germany, much to the disgust of those around me...There's nothing inherently wrong with the custom itself, but even in 19th-century America it became an excuse for vandalism and mayhem...I support the mayor!

To Gene Hennigh: Didn't you learn the metric system in school? I think that American pupils all learn it--or at least used to learn it, before their curriculum was watered down and ideologized...kaimykahi's explanation is excellent...By the way, the size of Japanese bicycle tires are measured in inches, as I remember.

It's Sо̄ka-gakka (創価学会) 'value-creating society', not *Sokka-gakkai, so those who spell it incorrectly may not know what they're talking about...My family is well acquainted with ardent members of SKGK, and whenever there is an election the matriarch comes round to us, asking us to support their party. We listen politely and then vote otherwise. No harm done...The Unification Church is a very different kettle of fish.

Jonathan Prin, je suis d’accord avec vous! I adore la France, except for the Paris and the politics.

Those who blame it all on “xenophobia” art misguided. Our ex-daughter-law, Japanese, alcoholic, abusive, and adulterous, walked off with the daughter of our gullible son, also Japanese, knowing that the absurdly unjust law was on her side. Not being able to see his daughter, now for years, has sent him into a tailspin…All those we know, including former Ai-chan fans, are disgusted with the piggish ping-ponger.

For instance, a well-dressed older man is referred to as a ダンディ (dandi, or “dandy”) in Japanese. While the term is dated, it’s still comprehendible. The same cannot be said for クラクション (kurakushon, or “klaxon”), the outdated proprietary eponym for “car horn.”

"Klaxon" may be obsolete in English but not in French and Italian.

The Oxford English Dictionary's last entry for "klaxon" is as recent as 1973.

Another example of words for tools derived from brand names is ホチキス (hochikisu) 'stapler'.

When I lived in Korea, I was happy to add two years to my "real" age, as I wanted to appear older; being a cheolmeun saram (a young person) tended to put one at the bottom of the totem pole. Ah, but that was long ago! Sixtieth birthday celebrations were a big deal, as many didn't reach that age. Life expectancy since then has risen by more than twenty years.

Seigi-san, you can get your hair cut for a most reasonable price in Japan…And why should the barber be able to speak English? ここは日本ですよ！

The Korean in the 焼きそば sign is also amusingly wrong, as is, I think, the Chinese.

There are many dreadful nations from which any of us would seek to escape, were we there. But even relatively just, peaceful, and prosperous nations cannot absorb an endless supply of refugees. And let us not forget that those who manage to flee tend to be the relatively privileged. I expressed this same view, with reference to the irresponsible and cynical “policy” in America, and had my comment removed. The excuse? Off topic. No. Not politically correct. I speak as a Japanese citizen…

Yes, just what Japan needs…I hope the well-heeled visitors bring us lots of crickets…

My guess is that among the 61%, most can’t spell, without relying on spellcheck, which they may not be able to use either…AI is simply a tool, a tool that can be misused—by humans, Machines are not conscious and never will be.

Teenagers can be breathtakingly stupid—gullible and impulsive. These kids may be rehabilitated, but the necessary measure will be terribly harsh: no smartphones for the next seven years.

"Seigi

In Europe, parents would just call this as a 'phase' in a teenage girl's life..."

There are irresponsible parents in (northern) Europe, particularly in the supposedly "educated" upper-middle classes, who put their unmarried daughters on the pill at a young age. But even they do not condone prostitution.

I have four grown children and, to date, four grandchildren. That does not entitle me to feel morally superior to some of the commentators here, though I do think: Thank goodness that they, being so happily wrapped up in themselves and so very smug, will not become parents.

My wife and I own property in Hawai'i and pay taxes on it. When, decades ago, we lived there, we enjoyed going, for example, to Hanauma Bay, where we would snorkel. One parked one's car and walked down to the beach. Now one is lucky even to be able to park just off the highway, and then one must pay. Non-residents must pay another fee, a hefty one, to go down to the beach, and one needs a reservation to boot....We don't particularly care, as our "beach days" are long over, but there are two sides to this story. Yes, there are "bad tourists," but then laying guilt trips on those who are sinful outsiders from the Hawaiian paradise is an old and all too familiar game.

Whenever I journey overseas, I prefer Japanese airlines, as Japanese flight attendants are both kind and competent. Though an aging male, I am not unaware of how charming they are as well, but that should be all the more reason to treat them,　with full respect.

Men and women are profoundly the same in their humanity and profoundly different in so many specifics, whatever contemporary ideologies may claim. Most of the commentators here seem to presuppose that Japan should become an American clone—or forever live in shame. No! Japanese women are neither weak nor stupid. If the silly people who “rank” countries in their Alice-in-Wonderland way place Japan next time at #105, hurray!

Why “polyamorous”? It suggests that Shibuya is promoting an ideology and is not simply a sex criminal. That would further suggest that he is somehow a victim of prejudice and discrimination. No. If he did what he is alleged to have done, he is one bad dude. End of story.

"Refugee-averse Japan..." Given the opportunity to escape from poverty and/or war, millions upon millions of people would attempt to go to (relatively) rich and peaceful countries. But to paraphrase Dirty Harry, those countries have to know their limitations. Japan clearly does not wish to wind up like "border-security-averse" America.

I remember the mood at the time of the reversion. It was not a “right” vs. “left” question, though one sensed that for some people there was more fervor for the cause of reversion in the abstract than for the actual welfare of Okinawa’s citizenry. Fortunately, that is not true of the imperial visitors, past and present.

I’m a retired prof at a prestigious university, so I can’t be accused of either ignorance or sour grapes when I express hearty agreement with those skeptical of the ratings racket. I’d sooner trust a chap in dark glasses evaluating telephone scam artists.

Glad I’ve switched to non-alcohol beer, though my wife says that too is expensive. The only thing that could drive me again to drink is the shrill cry of the neo-Prohibitionists—allied with the usual Japan bashers.

The problem is not “religion”; the problem is people. People are are prone to greed and hunger for power. There are those who think that if the beliefs they happen to reject would just go away, we would all live in some sort of utopia. Ah, such touching faith in flawed humanity!

What does “overcoming challenges in the region mean”? One is sorely tempted to wax cynical here…