Japan Today

Laguna comments

Posted in: Ishiba says Trump isn’t as frightening in person as on TV See in context

The proof is in the pudding. Trump is very frightening indeed.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Posted in: Eye on the ball See in context

Wow - babe!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Posted in: China hits back with tariffs on U.S. goods See in context

Where they're demand, there will always be supply. The US should look in its own backyard.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Posted in: Gov't pulls ads from Fuji TV after scandal See in context

"Non-consensual sexual acts" = rape..

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Romance across cultures and languages can be difficult — but never impossible See in context

I barely spoke a word of Japanese when I married my wife, and she had grade-school English. With the benefit of living in Japan, though, my Japanese ability quickly surpassed her English. We had 30 years of blissful (well, mostly) marriage until she died two years ago. Nothing can replace her.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Posted in: Some 7-Eleven owners in Japan fed up with strategy, welcome foreign bid See in context

I told my local 7-11 to stop selling me beer. Now I don't go there anymore.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Posted in: Lowered adult age sees rise in young Japanese struggling with debt See in context

I got a credit card at 18 and immediately ran into trouble. When I asked my (extremely rich) mother for help, she said, "Work it off."

That was the only lesson I needed, and I'm 60 now.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Biden dropped out − is the news media to blame? See in context

I'm getting long in the tooth. Many things which were daily activities years ago are now impossible. Giving up what one loves is difficult, but a wise man knows his limits. And after a lifetime of political service, Biden is a wise man.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Biden delivers solemn call to defend democracy as he lays out his reasons for quitting race See in context

Gorge Washington began the US tradition of bowing out after two terns, It later became a law.

The man is a true patriot and a hero.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Posted in: Biden wants to pass the baton to Harris: Here's how that might work See in context

So much for the "too old" argument. Nice to see the torch passed to a new generation. Not only is Harris well-qualified, she represents America.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Posted in: Japan finds a 'stealth' cure for zombie businesses: Let them fail See in context

Inevitable, but I'd like to add a point: small businesses tend to be owned by families who have owned them for generations. When the owner of a friend of mine went bankrupt, he committed suicide. There is a large difference between running a small business and working in the corporate world. Support is required.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Posted in: Disneyland workers vote in favor of strike authorization See in context

Used to work there as a "seasonal" employee - Disney would mail me a letter asking of my availability during the busy summer months when I was on vacation and the park was packed, and I had a guaranteed summer job without having to look for one. But I was just a dumb summer kid looking for pocket money. The careerists there are the ones who keep the place running - without them, the wheels would promptly fly off the cart. And my childhood pocket money does not translate to a living wage in sky-high Orange County.

Pay your people, Disney, or soon you'll have no people left.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: What is the best way for parents of children of mixed heritage to make sure their kids grow up bilingual? See in context

First and foremost is to communicate with your kids. Ensure a portion of time each day which you can devote to simply listening and speaking of topics which interest them.

My wife spoke mostly Japanese and I English, unless it was a crucial topic (or I was angry), in which case I spoke Japanese to ensure my point was taken. And there was no corporal discipline in this house (a break from my wife's childhood): instead, I'd sit seza in the genkan with the offender, draw out precisely the offense and how it was handled, and how a repeat might be avoided or handled better. That worked wonderfully - English became the language of logic and persuasion.

And read to your kids - A LOT. They'll make the connection between books and enjoyment, and when they're old enough, you can get the entire Dr Seuss collection and begin with "Cat In The Hat" - teaching a child to read is time-consuming and often frustrating, but if they've been read to frequently, they've got the concept down, which facilitates things greatly.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Nippon Steel hires Mike Pompeo to advise on U.S. Steel deal See in context

He's not "advising." He's "lobbying."

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Apartment in Saitama explodes following bizarre series of events See in context

Glad that he'd had second thoughts and averted his demise. I've had my ups and downs now, the downs so low that I once considered suicide (overwork), but now that I'm older, I've stabilized. Trust me: things do get better with age.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: Trump recounts attempt on his life, then abandons unity theme in marathon convention speech See in context

Don't trust any seeming mitigation in Trump's remarks. He has been and will always be a fascist. A second Trump term would spell disaster for the US and US-Asia relations. As has often been said, when the US sneezes, Japan catches pneumonia.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Posted in: Is Fukuoka the best place to live in Japan? See in context

Damn. I "liked" bass4funk's comment.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan's top currency official warns of intervention, sees no limits See in context

The US economy is currently the wonder of the world (funny how Biden doesn't get any credit for that), but it won't last forever. Likely sooner than later, the FRB will lower rates and the dollar will fall - to where is anyone's guess.

I've been here long enough that I remember the yen at 80/$. It was timely as I was raising kids and earning much and could buy lotsa US goods which, 30 years later, I still use.

But in the immortal words of a stock broker when asked of his prognostication of the market, he said, "It will fluctuate."

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan's summers are getting too damn hot! And why it's likely they'll get even hotter See in context

It's been pretty good in Kumamoto so far: LOTS of rain (I'm worried about the farmers) and cloudy days. 1glenn, I gotcha. I grew up a short distance from the beach, and my mother didn't even have air conditioning.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Why U.S. vice presidential picks matter: Significant moments in history and transfers of power See in context

Dan Quale, funny enough, had vastly more experience than JD Vance.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan arranging to shoulder $3.3 billion in G7 loans for Ukraine See in context

Ukraine is a subject of intense interest for Japan due to its similarity to a possible CCP invasion of Taiwan. Making the conflict international sets a precedent that could well benefit Japan in future - not to mention altruism.

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

Posted in: U.S. judge dismisses Trump classified documents case See in context

There's politics and there's law. Each has their proper place in the US system. Whether Trump's removal of documents was legal is the question, and should be decided in a courtroom, not in a political forum where the answer comes down simply to partisan numbers.

What a bunch of clowns the current Supremes are. No wonder they're polling lower than any branch of government or political party in trustworthiness.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: 98% with mixed Japanese heritage experience microaggressions: survey See in context

finally rich - LOL!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Posted in: As Olympics take place in uneasy world, Japan hopes to match spectacular Tokyo performances See in context

Man, I hate how some turn a showcase of sport into that of nationalism. Enjoy the athletics and the stories behind the athletes! I grew up in the US a stones-throw from Mexico, lived in China and Taiwan for several years, and have made my home in Japan. Which country am I supposed to support?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Trump picks Senator JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his running mate See in context

Google all the negative things Vance has said regarding Trump and you'll find a lot. That Trump chose him despite that is surprising - but Vance drank the Kool-Aid about a year ago and has since become quite slavish. And he's from a swing state. Should anything happen to a President Trump, he would be a horrendous replacement.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Posted in: 98% with mixed Japanese heritage experience microaggressions: survey See in context

...and my drinking habits, unfortunately. "Oh, (name), you're buying beer again?!"

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: 98% with mixed Japanese heritage experience microaggressions: survey See in context

Alan Smithee, Ah, the looking-at-the-spouse gambit! How many times I'd gone through an entire conversation with some employee, my wife at my side, without ever making eye contact, questions directed at my wife and answers coming from me! Sadly for all parties involved, my wife has succumbed to cancer, so now they have to deal with me on my own. (But I seldom venture out of my neighborhood, where everyone knows me by name.)

17 ( +19 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan adopts policy against fully autonomous lethal weapons See in context

Fully autonomous lethal weapons? Bite the hand....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: 98% with mixed Japanese heritage experience microaggressions: survey See in context

I'm dealing with an issue now with City Hall. To my contact, I have explained multiple times that my children were born and raised in Japan and attended local schools K-12, though they went to college in the States (culture shock!). He can't seem to get that through his head and asks me repeatedly, "Can your children speak Japanese?"

I've learned not to get frustrated but amused. What a small world these people must live in!

21 ( +25 / -4 )

Posted in: The fraud we have discovered so far is likely just the tip of the iceberg. See in context

The first Social Security Card number was issued in 1936. I'll bet most all American citizens have it memorized. There is no need to physically show a card - I lost mine decades ago - but the ability to produce the number on the spot is sufficient. https://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/firstcard.html#:~:text=The%20best%20we%20can%20say,first%20day%20they%20became%20available.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites


©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.