Japan Today

Knox Harrington comments

Posted in: 77-yr-old woman dies after being knocked down by cyclist listening to music See in context

But then this is the smartphone zombie generation.

Irrelevant.

Japanese bicyclists are the most selfish, situationally unaware people on this earth. That, plus they all ride mamachari which most of them seem to have learned to ride 1week ago. In short - they all suck.

This time it was a youngster, but I battle the old fools - the ones wo don't see, don't hear, don't care (because they're old and the think they can act as they want because of age) on a daily basis. Riding on the damn sidewalks, against traffic, oblivious to what's going on around them.

I feel sorry for the old lady. No one deserves to die because of some hetakuso clown misusing his bike.

This is an attitude problem, and nothing will change here. It never does.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Man wielding knife gets into argument with passenger on train See in context

It's just the typical oyaji wants to get angry about nothing bullshit people encounter on a daily basis.

Yep, I think this is it. This mentally old fool, with one or two chips on his shoulder wanted to take action. Any action. He probably feared getting knocked out if he went at it unarmed, and so he brought a knife on a train and pulled it out...

I can bet my breakfast he searched out this fight.

4 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: M8.5 earthquake strikes near Ogasawara islands See in context

I kept saying things like "F@ckin A this is a long one". But my wife said "You know, if it's a big earthquake you should be praying, not cursing."

Praying or cursing, both are equally useless. Cursing is more fun, though so I'll stick with that. A powerful quake will do us all in if it wants to. No words or hopes can change that.

This quake had those little rapid vibrations at first. Like a nervous kind of quake. Then came the jolts. I, too worry more about the safety of the building I live in than if I have water or toilet paper packed. If this place comes down on top of us, we are seriously screwed...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Taiji fishermen vow to continue dolphin slaughter See in context

Everything ends, no matter what these clowns want or hope. I know in Japan, it might take a million years, but even fools must at some time realize the futility of their quest for dolphin meat.

These people are like the people who used to sell ice by going and cutting it from frozen lakes. Their business went out of fashion when people learned how to instead produce ice. And, eventually, the fridge/freezer came along making ice producers obsolete. It is a hopeless and pointless struggle, brought on by foolish stubbornness and deluded ideas of some sort of 'culture'. It will end, sooner than you think.

Much like bullfighting, dolphin hunting doesn't rhyme with the times.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Working to death in Japan: Health warning over 'no overtime' law See in context

For Yamashita, who was blinded by his condition, burning the candle at both ends to meet the demands of a high-pressure job was hardly worth the reward.

Of course it wasn't. They all feel like that when what happened to tens of thousands before them, suddenly happens to themselves. As if it comes as some sort of surprise...

Japan's work culture is a pretentious one. Working long hours probably felt great when people re-built their contry and things went up, up, up, but those days are gone. The big problem here is that Japan. Cannot. Change.

No matter how many small steps they take and how many superficial reforms they propose, the mentality feels extremely old fashioned to me. Working like an idiot (ie long hours, not efficiently) is still something that is looked up to. I have talked to young people, who explained their dads come home around midnight from work, and these yong people tell this with some sort of awe and respect in their voices. As if it would be something to be proud of.

The inertia in this place is what's worst of all.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan to give Y55 bil to Pacific island nations to fight climate change See in context

How about providing them with action plan for reforestation and environmental rehabilitation.

While I think that approach is good, the Japanese have already shown that they don't understand reforestation when planting all those sugi trees, resulting in epidemic hayfever problems of this nation.

I, too concur with Burning Bush's assertion that this is a way for Japan to make themselves look good on the international stage, while certainly taking care of the big corporations. The electronic firms, and the construction industry will benefit from this.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Shin-Koiwa Station going all out to prevent human injury and death See in context

Already in place are sections of the platform illuminated by blue lighting.

The platform also plays music in an attempt to calm potential jumpers. This strategy has been in place since at least 2011.

...large video screens have been installed at the station...

Japan in a nutshell. Do not deal with the root cause of the problem, instead try to use technology (ie employ domestic companies who benefit from this financially) to make people stop jumping in front of trains.

Japan is one cold and unforgiving place. I am sure some human touch and somewhere for people to express their feelings and fears would go a long way to reducing these suicides and attempted ones. Not posters, blue lighting and big-ass tv screens with scenes of nature on it.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Posted in: Hero lady apparently saves guy from groping accusations by posing as girlfriend See in context

Should have know things were fishy when the guy wrote the woman hugged him. Not in a million years would that happen here.

Correct. No Japanese people hug. Ever.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Murayama urges Abe to follow his lead on war apology See in context

Murayama, with his statement, has the air of a leader. I'm sure the man loves his country as much as the next guy, but that he also understands the value of speaking honestly and acknowledging that Japan did many wrongs in history. If Japan had more such leaders, I'm sure this wouldn't be such an issue now.

It is pathetic to see how defensive the Japanese are. It reeks of insecurity and minority complex when the government (and people in general, including commenters here, no less) try to re-write history, and dupe their fellow man into believing in a history that is not accurate. Japan of today is not honest and forthcoming about history and that is why China and Korea pounce on this issue. It is too easy.

15 ( +17 / -3 )

Posted in: 15-year-old boy turns himself in after killing mother, grandmother See in context

...about his attitude toward life.

Guess they were on to something, huh?

Japan has some serious issues, let me tell you. People here don't seem to fare all that well, despite the fake smiles and frequent Disneyland visits. In fact, living here as a local seems pretty tough, with all the expectations of conformity and adaptation. As Disillusioned said above, many people, not only kids, snap easily, probaly due to enormous stress.

This boy obviously had some issues with mental health, and it would have been good if they were dealt with before this tradgedy occured. I witness crappy parenting on a daily basis, and can't say I'm all that surprised that some kids grow up to become mentally ill. Many kids are completely ignored, with both parents, hovering over their ridiculous keitai games instead of communicating. In general, open communication and interaction amongst people here is a damn joke. Only scolding each other leads nowhere...

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Posted in: Japanese aquariums still rely on controversial dolphin hunt See in context

CH3CHO,

Why cannot some people agree to disagree?

It's about decency. I used to think the treehuggers and their ilk were ridiculous. As I grew older, I realized it is unfair and unsustainable keeping captives, wheter they are animals or humans. It is simply not the right thing to do. An animal that is used to roam free ought not be confined to a tiny (by compasison) concrete bunker.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Japanese aquariums still rely on controversial dolphin hunt See in context

Also, aquariums, in Japan or elsewhere feel kinda antiquated.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Japanese aquariums still rely on controversial dolphin hunt See in context

Of course they do. Japan is 50 years behind the times, so who is surprised by this?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Posted in: Gov't to release names of 'black companies' See in context

This whole debacle is quite easy: if there are laws in place against this practice of exploiting workers, enforce them. I think one warning would MORE than suffice and these companies should be named as soon as possible. They should have all to lose from being exploitative companies.

If this so-called government really had any intention of punishing companies that constantly break the law, they would have come down on them like a sumo wrestler, without any warning.

But they don't.

Japan is one hell of a corrupt nation with most of ehat is being done merely lip service. Add to that the mentality that corporations are above individuals and you have a nice mix of non-action.

I find the whole place pathetic and can't wait to leave.

As the man said: "Good night, and good luck."

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: Woman, holding newborn baby, jumps from building See in context

Reading this kind of news hurts. I just can't believe how the thinking goes when committing such an act of... Evil? There seems to be something here about family that is disturbing to me. If one goes, all should go, if one is guilty, all is guilty etc, all very old- fashioned feeling.

...nothing is ever that bad to end it all and kill others.

Except in Japan, where people kill themselves in droves. I feel the Japanese have a slightly fatalistic, resignated attitude to many things in life, that many times expresses itself in the overuse of shoganai instead of a "can-do" attitude. Quite tragic.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Posted in: Japanese man leaves $100,000 watch behind at Newark airport See in context

What a tasteless, butt-ugly piece of time showing this was. Leave it to a "real estate entrepreneur" to have the money but no taste whatsoever. Wonder if he and his "friend" have the same matching track suits, gold rings and the branded man-bags as well...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Posted in: Ex-cop on trial for attempted kidnapping of 10-year-old girl See in context

Fantasy vs. reality. Do Japanese men have any grasp of what's what?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Posted in: Blogger lists three things foreigners do that impress the Japanese See in context

I have to say I find the Japanese to be unimaginative, if not rude when being customers. Many people, especially the oyaji, believe they are like a mini-tenno when shopping even the smallest, cheapest thing. That generation is from the "bubble" ages when customers really were king. Some examples of unfriendly (and downright boring gestures) might include: not holding out you hand enough when receiving goods/change, somehow expecting staff to bend over (literally) to give your stuff to you. Not saying hello. Not saying thank you. Going into a tantrum when things are not done the way they'd like.

I, too used to subscribe to the idea that Japnese customer service was good, buy I'd take the grumpiness/genuine friendliness at home any day over these constant displays of fakeness. A customer who acted like this in any other country would soon be set straight, something I hope the islanders quickly realize when they take the plunge and step outside into thebig, scary world around them.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: 21-yr-old man held for fatally beating 4-month-old daughter See in context

Goodness!

There seem to be an abundance of these sociopaths around here. Only a mentally ill person would even THINK it would be a good idea to hit a baby. This screams educational failure to me, boyh from parents and teachers. Unfortunately, I believe there are a lot of these people in Japan - people who don't really have a grasp of what's right or wrong. I also bet the writing was on the wall in this case, but, considering there are no social services whatsoever operating in Japan, no one gave a hoot. Now they do.

I feel sick.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Posted in: Sony posts Y126 bil loss See in context

Does Sony has any clue what it's doing?

Seems to me they rely too heavily on the old guard (Japan style since the beginning of time). Perhaps it would be a good idea to engage some of the younger, fresher Sony people to get some fresh perspective?

The days when the bosses at Sony decided what would sell are probably over, since I'm sure, in good, Japanese fashion, there are about a million risk-averse yes-men around, and that mentality is death.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Posted in: Hundreds protest in California ahead of Abe's visit See in context

TheOkinawan,

Are you saying that, since "any school system" won't tell the absolute truth, we should all just give up and let obvious attempts of history falsification slip through our fingers? Great attitude. Always the same argument with you guys - "The others do it, so we do it."

marcelito,

Wait no more. As expected, NHK follows what the dear leader has mandated ,and reported nothing about any pesky protests.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Golden Week See in context

Japanese people do things together.

Again.

Does nobody resist this? Or are they all so overworked they can't muster the power to say no to this mass hysteria? Me, if I could, I'd take some week off when nobody's around, save some cash and save my sanity. Seeing all these people together makes me want to run away...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Man arrested for making over 5,000 silent calls to fire department See in context

Just one of Japan's many disturbed, self-entitled old oyaji. This one with a short Fuse as well, it seems, haha...

Nothing new to see here. Move along.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Tokyo defends foreigner rules See in context

Yes!

A perfect display of Japanese mentality. O-MO-TE-NA-SHI...

If the Le Guide had any balls whatsoever, this place would lose its stars immediately. This kind of BS should not be tolerated. Hell, I think I'll write the Guide Michelin and promote this idea.

Disgusting, archaic, not to mention racist practices like this does not belong anywhere in 2015.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Abe tells Harvard he's trying to improve status of women in Japan See in context

The moral of this article is everyone here hates Abe no matter what he says or does even if the article is read or unread.

Abe is as likable as a car crash, that's why, Dude. The guy's got no charm, no sense of rethoric, can't smile, and, most of all, when the words leave his mouth, you can feel they are dishonest ones, only meant to dupe the uneducated masses of which Japan has pleanty. He can do no right because he chooses to do no right.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Posted in: Abe tells Harvard he's trying to improve status of women in Japan See in context

Aah, what a shock it must be for this guy to leave his little islands and enter a country where people are taught and encouraged to question authority and not just accept what they are fed by the erai people. Bet he got a little tummy ache when that question came along.

I always get my hopes restored when young people all over the world show that they are thinking creatures. I wish the same could be said for Japan...

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Posted in: Sunkus store manager arrested for attempting to rob Lawson store See in context

Educator,

He should have gone full r-tard, like some other of the local heroes here, with mask, obasan sun visor and a hat.

I know there are many people that are not that clever around here but this...? It takes the cake. Certainly, this must be a cultural thing, right?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Police inspector questioned over groping incident on Osaka train See in context

Touched her behind "for several minutes"? That sounds a little weird. What did she do - just stood there and waited for him to stop? What did fellow passengers do? Keitai? Fake sleep?

If this clown is guilty of being a disgusting old oyaji pervert (I bet he is), he should go down, and do so hard. This society had better soon start dealing with their mentally ill instead of just covering the uncofrotable up over and over again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan's view of WWII history rankles some U.S. veterans See in context

No, Japan got what was coming to it. Japan is responsible for everything that happened to other countries and to its own citizens during the war, whether they want to admit it or not.

That's the bottom line. Japan got what it had coming for wanting to be the master race of Asia. The sad thing is that I feel Japan still doesn't get it. They act all tough and scream and shout on their little island, when what they should do is open their arms and embrace the world. As of today, they don't. I have not met any Japanese who can discuss the war in an open and expressive way, without always, always, adding a big "but". I find it pathetic. This has to do with the educational system actively misguiding people and not telling them the whole truth, instead wanting to instill "pride" into the people. It's BS.

7 ( +9 / -3 )

Posted in: Japan's view of WWII history rankles some U.S. veterans See in context

Interesting piece - I'd like to hear much more from old boys like this, before it's too late.

For all their talk about kindness, you can sense that they're disappointed in how Japan carries itself today. They are so for a reason, for Japan has not, does not and will not truly repent what they did during the war. That's why I think it's important to hear from these POW's and the people who actually experienced the War.

Today's educational agenda in Japan seems to be that of forgetting (or lying) so the kids won't know. Only the very, very curious (a rare breed here) will get to know a more balanced view of history than that of Abe's dream of an ustkushii country.

Lester Tenney is right to want an apology from Mitsui and other Japnese companies using slave labor during the war. They made money, and got rich, on the backs of prisoners and they should save enough balls and decency to AT LEAST apologize.

They never will.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

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