Livvie comments

Posted in: Japan’s extremely harsh video game reviews may be the reason it gets some new releases last See in context

Well...I did see a long winded one star review on Amazon Japan for an automatic pet feeder...from someone who didn't own the product...but thought it was absolutely shameful that someone who owned a pet would ever think of purchasing one....So there's that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Taylor Swift wins top Grammy Award, Kendrick Lamar wins 5 See in context

Still trying to figure out why Natalie Cole didn't get a tribute? Didn't watch but I heard all they did was show a video clip. She won nine Grammy awards in her lifetime so they should've done something in remembrance.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Gov't panel discusses baby stroller use on public transportation See in context

I think having one car on the train with little to no seats and using that car as the designated baby stroller/ wheelchair accessible/large luggage car would be a great idea! Also I noticed that there has been an ongoing trend to buy foreign made strollers as fashion or status symbols. Nice if you can get them but if you buy the super road warrior buggy built for jogging or other such activities and then try to roll yourself into a Tokyo subway things could get troublesome! I saw a young mother pushing one of those gargantuan fancy foreign strollers with a baby that couldn't have been older than two months in it. When she pushed the buggy into the elevator she and the buggy took up three quarters of the space. Maybe getting a more compact stroller for those days when you know you'll be out all day or travelling during rush hour might make things easier for everyone? A few of my friends who are mommies have done the same. Some even avoid traveling during rush hour because they know that most Tokyo commuters have little sympathy for those with kids...feel so sorry for them. Not everyone can afford to buy and keep a car in this city.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Adele breaks record with million song downloads See in context

Lostrune2

Sadly they wouldn't have given her the time of day. As a female artist in Japan the pressure to look a certain way is too great. Unfortunately that pressure supersedes any amount of talent. Even if they do decide to give you a chance they would first tell you to lose 5kg and then use your size as a gimmick to sell you - even though your talent is more than enough to do so.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Five types of foreigner you’ll meet in Japan See in context

I am seriously stumped. Why do people think you must greet another foreigner if passing by? Perhaps you may not come by many foreigners in your daily life but I am sorry this isnt some sacred secret little country where we acknowledge each other based on thinking the other is a foreigner. You may think the other is a foreigner but is actually not one.

Hmm...I don't know about everyone else on this thread but a few of the people I've casually greeted or had small talk with for the simple fact that they were foreign I ended up becoming pretty decent friends with. You do have a point in saying that not everyone who "looks foreign" is foreign however. I have some exotic looking friends who don't speak a lick of English.

Also, did you greet everyone in your home country as you passed by?

Genmaken, yes, I did if we were the only people in the elevator, the only people crossing paths on the sidewalk, if we made eye contact, and the like. Common manners that my parents taught me and not only exclusive to foreigners living in Japan actually. I say hello to Japanese people and foreigners alike in all of the aforementioned situations and have made some very wonderful friends and business partnerships because I was "friendly".

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Women’s magazine lists traits of desirable guys See in context

The male version of this questionnaire is equally as puzzling. Apparently guys like a girl who was in the dance club in school but doesn't like to exercise much and is 48 kilograms....okay...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Fans vote for Rino Sashihara as new leader of AKB48 See in context

I would state my opinion, however I won't bother because it'll only get thumbed down by an AKB fan anyway if it isn't a positive glowing review on the group and/or winners. Oh well, on to the next article.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Posted in: Montblanc to sell $4,400 pen made of 'miracle pine' See in context

Only 20% of the proceeds??? Disgusting. If they were really trying to help they would offer more of the proceeds to the people who truly need it.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Don’t call them fat; call them Marshmallow Girls See in context

This thread...oh boy...

This argument is a losing battle. However please allow me to throw in my two cents!

People with weight issues will forever be labeled as "lazy", "disgusting", "a tax on the health care system" etc. Especially women. Just can't win. Not to mention the fact that it seems that the people who say these things about women in particular, aren't the pillars of health themselves. It is perfectly acceptable for a chain smoking, heavy drinking, overworked and sexually promiscuous louse to tell someone that they need to get in shape, from merely judging that person's physical appearance.

Just as there are people who are thin, not because they have eating disorders, but because their metabolism stops them from gaining a lot of weight, there are plenty of people who aren't thin and are still physically active, but will forever be questioned about their lifestyle and eating habits. How many All You Can Eat Sweets Cafes do you see abroad? How many in Tokyo? Right? And they are all filled seemingly healthy looking Japanese women. I had a female friend who was quite slim, and when I saw her eat most of her meals weren't really meals. It was ice cream, a slice of cake, a cookie, a piece of curry bread from the convenience store, So, does that make her better because she looks "healthy" on the outside? Is it okay for her to continue eating the way she is eating because it helps her stay slim? No. But if you saw her sitting next to a "marshmallow" girl in McDonalds, where would your look of distain be directed to? The big girl right?

Yes there is a problem with obesity in the world, but do you really think shaming them by calling them names will motivate them to get healthy? For some people, yes. For others, it actually ends up exacerbating the problem, and that's when you see cases of people just shutting down and shutting themselves up in their homes, slowly eating themselves to death because they can't deal with the ridicule anymore and food is the only thing that makes them happy.

Just some food for thought (pardon the pun)

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan and the rise of the male parasol See in context

There are quite a few people in Japan, male AND female, who are allergic to the sun. At first I found the full body sun armour crazy and unnatural, but then when I became good friends with someone who can't even drive her car without gloves on because she breaks out into hives I changed my perspective. Yes, there will always be someone who will put up a parasol or wear black gloves up to their elbows for the sake of keeping pale and beautiful, but there's always someone who wears it because they really have no choice. If I were a man and had to choose between wearing a bee keeper hat or using a parasol on the walk to the office...I'd choose the parasol. Preferably in a chic navy blue or black pinstripe to blend in with my salary man suit.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Posted in: Last 'dojunkai' apartments to be demolished in June See in context

I loved the Dojunkai Apartments in Omotesando and wanted to live in them so badly before they tore them down! Ended up moving to another historical building up the street in Harajuku but moved after the 3/11 earthquake. There were so many cracks that appeared inside and outside the building after the earthquake and all the aftershocks it was quite unsettling. The building was built in the early sixties so I can only imagine what kind of damage has been done to the remaining Dojunkai apartments! Still I think they should stop building soulless concrete buildings like Omotesando Hills and at least preserve a small part of the building for history's sake.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Shake See in context

I saw the Air Force Two with all the bodyguards on the tarmac today at Haneda and knew something was up!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Rising star Ishikawa starting to fade See in context

I'm not sure why his girlfriend Yuri has to be part of his entourage??? Doesn't she have school or a job to go to? Is she his caddy or something?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Slow juicer for more nutritious fresh juice See in context

Or just look for the Korean company's "Hurom Slow Juicer" that Sharp copied to make this more expensive version of. I have a Hurom that I bought on Rakuten last year. Love it. The quality and colour of juice that comes out of this thing will make you never want to buy anything sold in a bottle again. It was a little pricey but certainly not $400. Not only that, the company I got it from threw in a whole bunch of ohmake- a big box of carrots and apples, some kind of organic powder for cleaning fruit, and bags specially designed for keeping produce fresher longer! It was a great deal!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Two Russian women arrested for not paying taxi fare, assaulting driver See in context

Sigh, that's one more taxi driver who won't stop to pick me up (or any foreigner up) from now on. Though I do suspect that this may have been a dispute over the cost of the fare? 1500 yen from Roppongi to Hiroo seems like a lot, and maybe the ladies were upset because they felt they were being ripped off?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Posted in: Safety tips for foreign women in Japan See in context

This missed the most important piece of advice: "Avoid Renting a Flat at the First Floor". There are plenty of Japanese men in each and every neighborhood who will be stealing your pants and bras from the balcony of the first floor. They prefer them unwashed but may be content with the washed ones on the laundry rope too. Just don't live on the first floor!

VERY important point. I learned my lesson after I caught my drunk and aroused landlord peeping through my living room window one summer night.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Police to investigate former AKB48 singer's 'child porn' picture See in context

Exactly tmarie! Not to mention the fact that she is not a mother, and the publication is not a parenthood magazine or anything of the sort. It was meant to be published in a magazine that is primarily read by young males, as the article states. She is looking at the camera very suggestively while a young boy is cupping her breasts. It may not be child porn in some people's eyes but it is most certainly inappropriate. Ugh. They probably wanted a little boy because they thought it would look innocent and tiny kid hands would make her breasts look bigger.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Posted in: Falling snow from Tokyo Skytree crashes through roof of home See in context

Could be mistaken but I believe CN Tower in Toronto isn't really in a residential area so it may not be as big of an issue. Sky Tree is smack dab in the middle of Shitamachi so you know how densely populated the area is. Maybe they should have built it near Tokyo Bay instead ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Geeks seek love at masked match-making event See in context

I agree with you Neil, it is a little crazy but as long as it keeps people from staying locked inside their apartments reading manga and not being able to find love or even friendship because of social ineptness I say go for it.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Posted in: Apple's iTunes to sell rival Sony's Japanese songs See in context

Sales, CD or iTunes or otherwise are still important to an artist's livelihood. It cost money to tour, to hire the musicians and feed them, book rehearsal studios for weeks at a time, hire people to rig the lights, set up and tear down the sets, to pay for the hotels, to print the tickets and promote the show. Once the build a fan base and those fans start coming to shows on a regular basis then the artist can begin to make money off ticket sales. But the bigger the production, the smaller that profit margin gets. Nowadays record companies are not willing to put much money towards a major tour unless they know that the artist is selling. Once they know that people are buying their work then the record company will sign the cheques. Which means if people aren't buying the music or corporations aren't willing to use that artist's music in commercials, etc., they won't have the money they need to put on the show they want. It's even more important when that artist is independant and there is no middle man.

Anyway it's about time Sony opened up and started offering their music on iTunes and other outlets. I think not doing so hurt their business and their image a bit.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Tokyo court dismisses Prada sexual harassment suit See in context

Some of the comments on JT really astound me sometimes...

All I can say is this - as long as she is still able to fit in the clothing that Prada required her to wear, and looks good in said clothing, it doesn't matter how "fat" she is.

Last week I went to the wedding party of an acquaintance who works at another uber-famous fashion house and I had the unfortunate experience of sitting next to her colleagues, who were the most unfriendly, unpleasant people I've met in memory. They took my friends' seats without even asking and then scoffed at them when they took their seats back, talked amongst themselves with their noses stuck up in the air and ignored everyone around them. By the end of the night one of them got drunk enough to come up to me and say " I noticed SOMETHING sitting over there (in reference to me!) but I didn't realize who you were." If the people I sat next to are anything like the people Ms. Bovrisse worked with, I completely sympathize with her. Having said that, getting a judge (especially in Asia) to side with you on a case based mainly on issues regarding physical appearance seems like an impossible feat.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Posted in: Cool Japan? With new resident system for foreigners, 'Cold Japan' fits better See in context

@ Badge213 - Thanks for the info. I am self employed, single, have private health insurance and am not a permanent resident. I also have a tax accountant that processes all of my returns and files my receipts every year, I pay my taxes, and am requested to bring my tax returns and proof of payments to immigration every time I renew my visa. I haven't once been asked about my contributions to the National Pension plan. So either it is already being taken out of my income when I pay my taxes, or I've slipped through a huge loophole, or I should be expecting someone from the government knocking at my door any minute.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Cool Japan? With new resident system for foreigners, 'Cold Japan' fits better See in context

Well after spending over five hours at immigration on Tuesday trying to get my new visa and residency card, I really can't see how this is going to make things easier or better. You no longer need to purchase a reentry visa but they don't even stamp your passport anymore. Your visa is the new card. Not only that, after waiting all that time and finally getting the card in hand I was told by the clerk that they don't do address registration and that I need to go to my ward office to do so. So now I have to head over to my local kuyakusho just to get them to write my address on the back of my new "state of the art" residency card with a black marker. Now that's progress. If next year they start forcing us to pay into the pension/health plan I'll be bidding this country adieu.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Ryoko Yonekura to be first Japanese actress on Broadway in 54 years See in context

Good for her! It's nice to see Japanese actors that are willing to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. The drama/movie scene in Japan really stifles growth IMHO. How many times can you play a cute but feisty flight attendant/lawyer/police officer/school teacher/you fill in the blank before you get tired of it? Or before they get tired of you once you start to show signs of aging? I wish her all the best.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Mystery singer does covers of AKB48 and Shinji Harada See in context

Methinks this is a marketing ploy...

and shame on Japan Today for trying to pass this off as entertainment news. 90% of the article is just quotes from comments on her YouTube channel. Nevertheless I hope her intentions are true and I wish her the best.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Google versus Facebook for dominance of the web. Who has the upper hand? See in context

Facebook is so bent on making everything more "social" that it's becoming more and more difficult to maintain privacy. Every time they revamp their site I end up feeling more exposed. Google doesn't really have a strong footing yet in the realm of social networking but there is some promise. I don't think Facebook will face total abandonment like MySpace did but I do believe that more and more people will delete their accounts over privacy concerns. Including myself.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: China outperforming Japan in campus romance See in context

I've lived in Japan for a long time now and must admit that I found the quiet aloofness of J-guys cute at first...but after ten years of "Does he like me? Is he using me for English? Make a move already!!", I've pretty much thrown in the towel. It was fun and exciting in high school. I'm a grown woman now!

I guess it doesn't help that I'm back home on vacation and ogling all the handsome average joes here either!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Tokyo Station Hotel to begin accepting reservations for weddings, banquets on Jan 30 See in context

I've always loved this piece of architecture and can't wait what they've done to it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Should prefectures outside the Tohoku area accept tsunami rubble for incineration or disposal? See in context

Are we referring to debris from Tohoku including contaminated debris from near the power plant?

Or just debris from other parts of Tohoku?

If they can confirm that the debris is not radioactive debris from around Fukushima Dai Ichi then there's no problem, but after hearing stories about contaminated tea, baby formula and other products, hundreds of kilometers away from Fukushima...no. At some point some company would get careless. Tohoku does not equal radiation, we mustn't forget that. However we cannot forget how careless the people in charge have been so far in the handling of this disaster.

I voted no, but really like Fadamor, said there should have been a "It depends" option.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Singapore singalong See in context

A few years ago they won some award for their "innovative and aggressive" dance routine from one of their music videos. At the time I paid little attention, looked up the video on You Tube and was unimpressed. Then one day I saw them perform a medley of their songs with SMAP on TV. SMAP did aforementioned dance routine while the ladies stood in the back waiting for their turn and wiped the floor with them. SMAP. Not a SMAP fan either, but they took that choreography and did it the way it was supposed to be. You know you're doing something wrong when some men pushing 40 who are supposed to be paying tribute to you, end up doing what you do ten times better than you. Sad.

Then one day I saw an AKB show on cable. Watched a bit of it to try and give them a second chance. There were, as expected, lots of mini skirts and boots and hand movements, typical idol stuff. Then the camera panned out to get a full shot of the entire troop. Every single girl had a wireless microphone, every single one of them was "singing" into their microphones. Yet there were only four floor monitors on stage. None of them had ear monitors in their ears. Really now. 48 of them all singing at the same time, dancing and singing at the same time, and they can all hear themselves? They can all dance and sing and stay in key, even the ones in the back?

bicultural, you are absolutely right. Akimoto has used this formula time and time again to make a whole lotta money! I just can't understand why people have been falling for it for so many years. I really don't get it. Yeah the pop world is full of girls and guys with marginal talent, and some of them I actually like. I've just never been able to get into AKB. I do appreciate Akimoto Sensei's skills as a J-Pop songwriter and producer but the material would sound so much better if given to someone else.

I don't really have a problem with people who like them either. I just feel that the media and record agencies end up with tunnel vision, because they see how much money these girls are making and then the people with true hard earned talent, innovation, and ambition end up getting pushed to the wayside because they can't look, act, or sell like these girls do.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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