magpie comments

Let me add and tired ofthe DPJ failing in their efforts and letting someone like Ozawa (who should be in jail and thrown to rot) take over the plot for so long. For failing to address and issues affecting the economy and the country and for pissing about in foreign policy. If Abe is right wing so be it. I'm japanese and have lived in HK due to wrk for so long, that I'm sick and tired of this posturing by China on Japan and Senkaku (not Diaoyu...SENKAKU). If Abe is willing to stand up to revilitilise Japan and let him have a go. Like I said, 6 months agao I would said no way to him, but the alternativeof the DPJ again, no thanks.

So he's cozing up to the US, so what? Article 1 of the Security Treaty of 1951 expressly states that Japan grants, and the United States of America accepts, the right, upon the coming into force of the Treaty of Peace and of this Treaty, to dispose United States land, air and sea forces in and about Japan. Such forces may be utilized to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East and to the security of Japan against armed attack from without, including assistance given at the express request of the Japanese Government to put down largescale internal riots and disturbances in Japan, caused through instigation or intervention by an outside power or powers.

With such language, why wouldn't he reach out to the US??? Like any prime Minister in Japan has done so since coming into office.

Not really Thomas, what I'm trying to say is that on paper it's not much different from many a politician.

What's wrong with Abe's policy guys?

TRADE, FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY

Strengthen Japan's alliance with the United States and bolster the defence budget and military capabilities to better protect Japanese territory.

Revise the constitution to make clear Japan's right to maintain a military.

Oppose Japan's participation in talks on the US-led trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, if Japan is required to accept unconditional removal of tariff barriers.

ECONOMY, FISCAL POLICIES

Achieve nominal economic growth of 3 per cent or more with top priority on exiting deflation and a strong yen.

Set a clear-cut inflation target of 2 percent. In order to achieve this; create a framework for strengthening cooperation between the government and the Bank of Japan, including the possible revision of the BOJ law to carry out bold monetary easing.

ENERGY

Decide on Japan's best energy mix within 10 years.

Complete decisions on whether to restart idled nuclear reactors within three years.

EDUCATION

Revitalise Japan's education system to achieve top level academic capability, cultivate morals and respect for Japan's history and culture

6 months ago, I would have been the first to slam Abe and the LDP in any election. However the ineffectualness of the DPJ, means that at this moment I would rather give Abe and Aso and other LDP politicans the opportunity. I actually rate Aso as a thinker and for all his criticisms as Prime Minister, would you rather have him as Finance Minister or Jun Azumi or Koriki Jojima, the two failed Finance Minister's under Noda?

Oh well, they all look alike to me pretty but when they stand in line, bland. As for stewardesses, SQ, Singaporean Airlines!

Thing is, he's half so a much more open target!

tmarie, I normally like your posts, but on this one I'm sorry. Xenophobic as japan may be, he's one of us, and I think fans will agree that Darvish is one athelete who can achieve more for Japanese pride in the longer run than one WBC. I'm still a bit torn for the fact that I always feel representing your country is a huge achievement and something to strive and place at the forefront. That said, I accept that a pitcher's arm is different in many ways to an outfielder or a football player. I'm proud that Darvish represents all that Japanese baseball players on the MLB stage and would keep rooting for him anyways.

I'm a little torn here. Yes Texas pays your salary, but for an athelete, representing your country in a world tournament must also mean a lot. In football, playing for your country in the world cup has often been refered to as the pinacle of their sport. maybe I'm old fashioned. In ay case, all the best to Japan, and I hope Yu has a great season coming up.

Little girl, rest in peace. my the good lord watch over you now. I'm sick of news articles like this. At one point I use to think that the social welfare system failed society by not watching out for people with mental illnesses such as depression. However reading another article like this has definetely caused me to lose all hope.

This story is just grotsque and disgusting. They're not crazy. This is with intent. Death penalty or at the very least life imprisonment with no parole please.

LoL, maybe the crap commercials in Japan with hollywood stars will be broadcast in Europe too!

Yes also teh RX-78 and none of that ZZ new gundam stuff. Call me a geek, but this is the cartoon series that set alight the world of anime for me. Amuro ray and his MS RX-78 vs Char Aznable's Red Zaku! What childhood memories!

A great talent with the ability to put true meaning behind words and feelings and emotions into screenplays. Rest in peace and long may we remember your works.

22yr old guy...14yr old girlfriend...I am assuming that given the 14yr old accused her boyfriend and her 14yr old friend of "cheating with her boyfriend", there will also be a slew of charges as mentioned by Mirai Hayashi above. Who on earth can possibly think that a 22yr old dating a 14yr old is normal????

Man,,,Kanade you're right, deja vu...I'm sick and tired of reading about parents slashing their kids. I'm sick and tired of domestic disputes enedng the wrong way. I'm SICK and TIRED of this country, this culture not recognizing that there are people who need real help.

Nobody grows up wishing or wanting to kill someone. Call me simplistic but i don't think we're wired to naturally want to do damage to someone. Somewhere along the line, these people have come across something which re-wires their brains or emotions.

Spanisheyes37

I apologize if I sounded crass. Bi-polar is a tough one and I'v seen it first hand as well. I do pray that everyday you find strength.

Tmarie: I'm not saying it is depression for sure, but what I said was there is not enough in the article for me to determine. If it were depression, I could understand how if left untreated or unsupported his daughter's state may have led him to the actions he took. That is not to say his actions were right.

Tahoochi: There is no justification for murder, taking a life, but depression can do that to someone in its worst form. Society as a whole is not compassionate enough to the needs of those who suffer from it, and if left alone, these are the unfortunate consequences in its worst possible outcome.

The law is not the problem (heavy penalties for drug smuggling are fine. It is the manner in which the justice and the police system work. If you haven't read Hotel K by Katheryn Bonella, it is a great read on Bali and the prison.

http://books.google.com/books/about/Hotel_K.html?id=GSVeFrNSGkAC&redir_esc=y

Jeez....how low can a government get? This must be a new benchmark....

I'm torn in two minds here....He whistle blew to save the company? To protect the shareholders and to make sure the men who committed the crimes are caught? Well ok, I assume he managed to get the last point across. but by taking the case to court and suing for 10years worth of salary, isn't he just prolonging the damage on the share price and the ability of the company to move on?

The other part of me says, good on ya, I'll drink a pint of bitter to that!

Tahoochi

shouldn't they be responsible to do everything in their power to make the children happy? (as opposed to conforming to society's 'norm'?)

Forgive me for pounding on this point, you're right about "everything in their power" but when depressed in a serious manner, you have no power. It is truly a senseless void. You feel helpless do anything. I've seen people who can't even get out of bed from their depression. Not intending to sound like a joke (some mornings I can't get out of bed for all the wrong reasons!), but truly when depressed, they are in a powerless state so overcome by this sense of helplessness.

Serendepitious,

I don't know the answer is all I can say. I'm not here to judge the man as I know too little of the situation. I think if I hadn't seen depression or heard it explained to me by someone who has, I think I would've passed judgement quickly. All I know is that people who do suffer from depression and do not receive care or support have often had little success in beating the disease back (and yes I do think it is a disease). Maybe he hoped that someone would stop him? I don't know.

Tamara

thank you for your kind words. Depressions is without a doubt the most frightening thing to watch. Society doesn't tend to understand or I should say too few do. Those hat suffer, feel the stigma even in this modern day and in "Westernized" societies or so we call them. I can't judge why this father did such, but I don't think (or at least I hope) that no parent is capable of doing such without remorse.

If depression were the cause, may her death not be meaningless and may people realize that we are not all strong and impermeable, but that we do need care and support. All of us in more ways than we know.

SpanishEyez37

I really hate the excuse that ''depression'' made someone kill their child

Have you ever seen depression in its worst form? Have you suffered from depression? I hate to say this, but if you haven't think twice before making such a comment. We all hate it when death and suicide happens. I pray to god depression is a state that none of us will ever see, as the way it consumes someone into pitch darkness is frightening. As terrible as it sounds, if that were the case that the father suffered such, I pray that he may someday overcome it and find a means to make amends with himself. The reality is he would be consumer with the guilt for life I suspect.

I've learned not to judge people through my own faults. it is deeply unfortunate as to what happened and I can only offer my prayers for the little girl. The father will have to know and live with the consequences of his action which will no doubt eat into him foer the rest of his life.

The article is short and does not give a clear picture. What kind of disability did she have? What was the father's own state? What did the mother do all along? The reason i ask is that I wonder if the father was so depressed 9ie medically in depresssion) that he could see no alternative. For those of us who have not experienced it or seen it first hand, depression is one of the most worrying illnesses. I have been told that it's like you have a box or a book in your mind/brain (ie the thought of suicide or giving up). Once that box is opened or the book is read, you cannot stop and it draws you so far inside that you cannot stop. Everyday you think about that box/book. it occupies your mind 24/7. There are days when you dthink but don't open/read it, and there are days when you will give in.

Peer support is critically important as it often takes someone to help close that thought and banish it away. Thus I ask what was the mother like. My experiencehas been that Japanese people do not understand depression. They see the issue and fear the taboos around the subject. it is real and it is a pity.

Who's Nolan Ryan?

Oginome, listen I take your point that not all people are up to speed on American culture, but if you're going to comment, why not google search him or wiki him first? if you did you would have noticed that Nolan Ryan is probably one of, if not the best pitcher in baseball history (not american,baseball, but baseball). not a criticism, but a gentle suggestion.

Anyways, re Darvish, the whole of baseball is curious as to how he'll do and rightfully so. Here is a japanese pitcher who has dominated in Japan and has the chance to come to the states in his prime. His self belief is high and he has the tools to do well. i for one applaud Darvish as I thought he would never go to the majors, but gald to see him there. My only wish were that he were playing for Da Cubs, but heck, Epstein will probably prefer to be other players than Darvish

Concur with scatbar. Nagabuchi was excellent as always.

They have about 20+ No1 singles JT...some of which were actually pretty good. Sekai hitotsu dake no hana? Lion Heart? Yozora no muko?

He passed away too young. I never saw him fight live, but to this day, I remember being mesmerized by the Thrilla in manila HBO Documentary. Smokin joe you'll always be a hero.

The unfortunate victims are Mr Woodward and theose nameless people who have worked their life for Olympus. Even if the company survivies, it will never be the same. This was once a company which made japan proud, maybe not som,uch for caemras but for their endoscope business. We focus on Mr Woodward for being wronged, and kikukawa and co for beingcorrupt in hiding such losses and blaming Woodward; but have pity for those working for Olympus who had no knowledge that the senior management were hiding such losses. They are the ones, who may now end up paying the real price by losing their jobs...

My god how she has truly blossomed ! Agree with smithinjapan she is a hottie!

Agree with comments made by sfjp30 and Godan, "wear and tear" is a major issue the way these kids pitch, but Darvish is one player whom I would love to see in the MLB. I'm glad he changed his mind.