Posted in: North Korea-Japan qualifier in Pyongyang canceled by FIFA See in context
Presumably it was cancelled because the North Koreans thought they would lose and didn’t want the humiliation of home turf.
8 ( +10 / -2 )
Posted in: 2025 Osaka Expo tickets to cost ¥7,500 per adult See in context
I went to the world Expo in Aichi in 2005.
Complete and utter waste of money and time. Huge queues to get into anything vaguely interesting. Ended up traipsing around halls with stalls selling handicrafts from various countries ( Nepal and Peru come to mind) at elevated prices.
You would need to pay me to go to this next one.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Debate on relaxing mask requirement starting in Japan See in context
Just finished 2 weeks in the UK and the difference between the UK and Japan is huge. In the UK Covid is now regarded as endemic rather than an epidemic, so just part of life, like the common cold. I got Covid whilst I was in the UK and it was milder than a cold - no fever or cough, just a bit sneezy and a croaky throat for a couple of days. I am now in Thailand where I failed a PCR test so can’t fly back to Japan. No idea where I will be allowed to go home. Apparently you can fail a PCR test weeks, even months after having Covid….
14 ( +15 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan's skiing population continues its downward trajectory See in context
TrevorPeace , this is about Japan, not BC….
As a skier in Japan, I can unequivocally say that the reason for the drop in numbers in Japan is NOT the cost.
Passes are way cheaper than in North America.
With various discounts on offer, I very rarely pay more than 5000 yen ($45) and often pay half that.
The main reason for the drop is the rise in snowboarders, and sadly this article does not give stats on that. Snowboarding is vastly more popular among the young here in Japan. Another big reason is surely the drop in the number of people of winter-sporting age in Japan, perhaps 30% in the last 30 years, due to the ageing population.
15 ( +16 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan plans to extend COVID-19 state of emergency beyond May 31 See in context
Surprise, surprise... Total nonsense to give an end date to the SoE in the first place when we all know it is going to be extended
10 ( +10 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan's child population hits record low after 40 years of decline See in context
"Children aged up to 2 accounted for 2.65 million" - this is a misleading translation by Kyodo : it includes 2-year-olds so should be "children aged under 3"
9 ( +10 / -1 )
Posted in: Vietnam Airlines to resume flights to Japan from Hanoi and Saigon on Sept 18 See in context
"The flights will serve the increasing needs of passengers wishing to work, study and stay in Japan." ummmm.... if you are not already resident you can't come in....
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Fujisan beer, made with rice grown by water under Mt Fuji See in context
Actually not the second time for Asahi to produce Fujisan beer - it was their premium beer for many years but was discontinued about 15 years ago. Why they stopped making it I cannot imagine, as it was much better than regular Asahi - I used to buy it regularly then change to Ebisu
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Plunging births push Japanese diaper maker to switch to adult market
Posted in: 52-year-old man indicted for raping teenage daughter between 2013 and 2016
Posted in: 2 more deaths linked to Kobayashi Pharma dietary supplements
Posted in: Plunging births push Japanese diaper maker to switch to adult market