Posted in: Japan as a country has lost its vigor. The economy has remained stagnant and suicides have topped 30,000 or so per annum for many years now. See in context
It is not only Japan that is in this malaise. Just look towards the number 1 and the unseen number of unemployed there are. With the wake of China and India (which we rich nations woke), the system has been knocked over.
We can no longer live a comfortable life on the shoulders of other nations and unless we all reduce our expectations and focus on more important things as pure consumerism, there will only be one direction for us: down.
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Posted in: Yukina Kinoshita dispenses marriage advice See in context
“When you fight, the man should apologize.”
Japan's families are doomed with this kind of "professional" advices.
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Posted in: Scanners and pat-downs upset airline passengers in U.S. See in context
But luckily for us all, terrorist are very rare and more importantly they are incapable idiots. If they would be intelligent, they would blow up the long line in front of the security checks.
So what we do is paranoid. The money would be better spent on preventing the number one death cause: cardiac arrest ...
... or protecting us from lightening strikes as more people die during the thunder storm season than by terrorist.
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Posted in: Scanners and pat-downs upset airline passengers in U.S. See in context
All this security theatre serves only two purposes a) to serve as cover-your-ass tactic for the man in charge of security and b) to sell more placebo high-tech equipment.
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Posted in: Parents who are normally concerned should have the filtering service set up in their children's cell phones. Those who decline the service either have no interest in their offspring or do whatever the See in context
Guess most children know more about circumventing filter "services" than their parents know about having them set up. And as filter services only give a sense of safety they are not complete and not secure; education is the key.
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Posted in: For China to continue along its path of development, it needs a peaceful environment and a good relationship with Japan. See in context
That's not correct. China needs a prosperous environment in the area, except Japan. It's Japan who needs a peaceful environment with Japan to keep its standard of living.
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Posted in: Hear this See in context
And these twin sisters show why its time to say "good by Japan", your myths of strength and speciality no longer work: edition(dot)cnn(dot)com/2010/BUSINESS/11/11/obama(dot)twin(dot)sisters(dot)japan/
bye bye ...
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Posted in: Hear this See in context
These demonstrators had better go home and start learning Mandarin and Cantonese.
Sad, but true.
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Posted in: How should airlines handle obese passengers? See in context
So what should the airline do for ME when some wisp of a human in front wants to stretch out as if on a living room couch and lean their seat right back into my knees? (although my knees were ALREADY pushing into the back of his seat when it was UPRIGHT!)
There are a number of options: a) Fly an airline with more legroom (there are online lists) b) ask for the seat next to emergency exit on wings c) fly premium economy or higher.
If one is outside the human standard she will always have problems. If you are too long, you will not fit into a small car, beds come seldom longer than 2 meters, suits are too short, shoes to small.
Bottom-line: you are always charged more if you fall outside the norm; why should air travel be different?
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Posted in: The butterfly in the subway See in context
Clean and safe public spaces in Tokyo reflect and reinforce a level of social harmony and respect for others that are startling to Americans and Europeans.
The authors words mirror the sorry social state of the US best expressed as "Me, me and me first".
As for Europeans, I do not agree. Where I come from we still look after each other and we oppose what is called "Americanisation". I am more startled at the coldness and lack of human interaction one sees in Tokyo; in other words the growing problem of むえんしゃかい。
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Posted in: Anti-China protest See in context
Except that once you peel off the top layer of jingoism, you usually find that the average nationalist puts self well before country. They want others to do the hard work, make the sacrifices, provide the cannon fodder.
Well said. All this demonstrating is about making forget ones pathetic state of self confidence. As they have achieved nothing in life, they need the country to be great so that they can feel better.
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Posted in: Anti-China protest See in context
Interestingly all reports on this "demonstration" of 3000 (Google writes of 4000) report about women as the most unreasonable and nationalistic. And so is my Japanese wife.
But if they would be as nationalistic as they claim to be, they would have more babies so that Japan can once again conquer the world .. or at least produce more Nintendo games and Toyotas.
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Posted in: Anti-China protests held in Tokyo See in context
3.000 out of 30 Million living in Tokyo; is there any significance other than a cheap headline for media like JT?
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Posted in: Megumi Yasu appointed 'takoyaki' ambassador See in context
Yasu, known for her love of cooking, tried her hand at making some octopus balls herself after which the gathered press asked her who she would like to have feed them to her
Always the same dumb question of the press.
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Posted in: Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka lights up for last Christmas See in context
Kitsch.
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Posted in: Niki Caro talks wine, whales and how to enjoy a full-bodied life See in context
And if you did get everything you want, would that be a good thing?
Interesting women; and no it would not be a good thing to get all one wants, the history of Rome tells us.
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Posted in: Mail bomb plot just narrowly averted, officials say See in context
The myths and demons the neo-conservatives have created are hunting us.
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Posted in: Tokyo motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run See in context
Spot on Japanoob; let JT do the speculation.
Has anyone seen anything that helps?
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Posted in: As Japan begins to unravel in a sense, young people realize that the previous paradigm doesn't work. But they aren't sure what comes next. They've seen what amounts to a betrayal in Japan. See in context
I am not convinced of this western understanding. A lot of young people are looking exactly for the cosy relationship with their company, the life-long employment the Japan Inc. is famous for.
Furthermore my centuries long experience in Japanese companies showed me that most Japanese had not been the tough guys they are portrayed now. Out of obligation they had put in long overtimes, just as they do today.
What has changed are the chances these young people get, with nearly 70% of all workers under 35 in low paid unsecured temp-jobs. That doesn't necessarily mean that the people have changed, but that the industry is failing them with insufficient possibilities for a "proper" job.
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Posted in: Japan's young generation pursues stability over promotion See in context
When I say some 20 something year old, driving around in his car with a manga figure, I just had to laugh!!
I have a 40 year old Japanese friend (father of two kids) who does the same. He even gets all exited to see new manga figures in the convenience store and "must" buy them.
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Posted in: U.N. biodiversity meeting ends with agreements to protect ecosystems See in context
Do these idiots every study science?
The meeting is not about protection of ecosystems but to protect cheap access to fish stocks, clean water and other resources we over consume.
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Posted in: China says Japan distorted facts in island dispute; no meeting between Kan, Wen See in context
Why did JCG captured the Chinese fishing boat?
It was a direct order by Maehara.
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Posted in: Japan, China agree to make efforts to improve bilateral See in context
Japan also asked China to unblock the export of rare earths and reopen talks on the joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea, Maehara said,
An EU investigation has found no evidence of the claims by Maehara, hence there is no blockage of rare earth materials, neither pure nor pre-processed.
It's safe to say that the Japanese foreign minister is becoming a real problem for the government with his constant claims that later turn out to be "on shaky ground" at best.
Furthermore one can only wish JT would not only reprint "news" from certain sources, but actually get involved in investigative journalism checking all claims before printing.
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Posted in: Japanese ship intercepts ballistic missile in test off Hawaii See in context
When are we leaving this medieval display of muscle play behind and start seriously talking to each other. All I see is the American driven neo-conservative mystification of illusive enemies.
In some generations people will look back and wonder what the logic of all this aggressive war talk and display of power was, like we now look back to the times before WWII.
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Posted in: Man arrested for throwing used condom at woman See in context
Biohazard attack!
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Posted in: We’re not Japan. In America, the bet is still that we will somehow find ways to get people spending and investing again. See in context
We’re not Japan.
Japan, it seems, has become the negative role model for the whole world.
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Posted in: Washing machine with built-in dryer See in context
a drum washing machine that features superior cleaning power to other drum-style machines
That's a bold statement; any proof?
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Posted in: Japan, India sign deal to boost trade, investment See in context
That wouldn't have been possible 10 years ago. Japan is in a desperate situation, but hope dies last.
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Posted in: Solomon Islands PM contender vows to abolish China security pact
Go to Japan and make a name there, Bon Jovi did!
Posted in: Visa fees for international artists to tour in U.S. shot up 250% in April
Posted in: U.S., Japan, S Korea finance chiefs vow to work closely on forex
Wish Pacific Islands would fully ally with NZ and protect themselves against the superpowers
Posted in: Solomon Islands PM contender vows to abolish China security pact