Japan Today

MarkX comments

Posted in: Entrepreneur launches support service for international school kids in Japan See in context

It seems a little funny that a school operating in Japan would not have at least one staff member that could communicate in Japanese with the parents of students. As for the course work, for the fees that Harrow and other schools charge, in some cases over 10 million yen per year, they should provide the tutoring necessary to help the struggling student. This article seems to be more of an advertisement for international schools in Japan!

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Posted in: The percentage of people between the ages of 60 and 64 who want to continue working past 65 is about 70%, and the percentage of people between the ages of 65 and 69 who want to keep working past 70 is about the same. If they continue to work as they desire, we can expect a further boost in the labor force. See in context

Mr. Nakamura, are you sure they want to keep working, or they have to keep working due to the almost nonexistent pensions they will receive? Some are lucky enough to have had public servant jobs that will pay out better, but many who use the national pension system will receive an amount that is not livable!

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Posted in: Heavy snowfall hits Sea of Japan coast area, disrupting traffic See in context

In Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, the amount of snowfall reached 129 centimeters in the 48 hours

I really can't imagine that much snow in such a short period of time. Having to clear it would be so difficult. I remember in 2014 we got a record 62 cm in 24 hours and it almost killed me having to shovel it all! Then it got cold and froze and the roads were treacherous for weeks.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese court upholds conviction of American who helped former Nissan chief hide income See in context

I bet some Nissan people wish Ghosn was still running the company now, and maybe they wouldn't be in the situation they are now!

-16 ( +36 / -52 )

Posted in: Arab nations reject Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan See in context

If this had been proposed by Biden, it might have gotten more traction as a way to clean up the area, get rid of all the Hamas tunnels, start to rebuild and then resettle the people. The problem with Trumps proposal is that once the people were out, he would turn the land over to Jared Kushner to build luxury condos on the seaside.

I do agree with some posters above how derelict the rich Arab nations are when it comes to helping the people of Gaza. Saudi Arabia could fund a total rebuild, but we never hear a peep from them. No they are just sports washing all their money with LIV and the World Cup.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Little-known porn 'white post' boxes fading into Japan's lurid past See in context

I've been here for 32 years and have never once seen anything like that, nor even heard of them. Must be a thing in big cities down south! Why not just put the stuff in the garbage? I know some people check to see if you have separated your trach correctly, but they still wouldn't know whose trash, would they.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

Posted in: We can expect it to do well as a system to provide food assistance to those in need while at the same time reducing food loss. See in context

Eons ago when I was a university student, I had a job at good old K-Mart as a stock clerk. I remember on Halloween night we had to start to put away the unsold Halloween candy, and there was also lots of breakage, bags dropped and opened etc. We put all the candy into a box, as it couldn't be sold or returned. I said to the manager why don't we put it in the entrance and let people take some for free as they leave. His response, "if we do that, then they will just wait for free stuff and not buy anything". We workers could take what we wanted and then destroyed the rest. I will always remember what he said!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: White House says tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will start Saturday See in context

So Bass, you are ok with Trump unilaterally breaking a trade deal that he himself forced on the other two countries only a couple of years ago. So then you will have no problem with Ontario shutting off the electricity to Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York states? Hey, it is only an agreement and we have to stop all those guns and drugs that flow into Canada from the US, right?

16 ( +21 / -5 )

Posted in: Ad giant Dentsu fined ¥300 mil over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging See in context

I'm sorry, but 300 million is a rounding error for a company the size of Dentsu. It should have been 10 times more. Also, the suspended sentence for 4 years is also too light a sentence. But this is Japan and corporate crime pays, with little or no punishment.

-2 ( +36 / -38 )

Posted in: Hokkaido city posts guards at tourist hotspot ahead of Lunar New Year See in context

Charge them a fee to enter, make money from it, don't sit and gripe about it! They will come anyway, why not profit from it.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Posted in: Weekly tabloid corrects story on Fuji TV official's role in TV host sex scandal See in context

I feel that Shukan Bunshu has done the same as a victim who claims someone did something to them, only to retract it. The damage is done. Now maybe this official did set up other "meeting" with so called "talents" but they didn't this time and it is what got the ball rolling against Fuji!

Someone mentioned before, can Fuji go after Nakai for all the damages they have incurred? I'd be looking for my pound of flesh from him.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Posted in: Trump should rethink revoking former officials' security details, Tom Cotton says See in context

Maybe Mr. Cotton is worried that once Trump is gone, maybe a democrat might revoke his special security detail. Even though I doubt they would do such a petty and childish thing. Notice he never mentioned Dr. Fauci though. I guess he is still enemy number 1 for republicans.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Posted in: We are in a crisis situation with infections occurring successively in the same areas and are concerned about the impact on egg prices. See in context

Is it the industrial type of farming that is causing all these cases of bird flu? Did bird flu occur before but we didn't know about it? For a while, officials were trying to blame migrating birds, but I think that is a bit foolish. Whatever the cause, it is making things more expensive, with no relief in sight.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Trump threatens Russia, others with tariffs if Ukraine deal not reached See in context

He has the concept for a peace plan! It will be coming with his health care plan any day now! But first we invade Greenland!

14 ( +19 / -5 )

Posted in: Japan gasoline price hits 17-month high of ¥185.10 on subsidy cut See in context

I've said this for a while, I know there has been a subsidy for gas, but the yen has remained low but fairly stable at a range of Y155-158, and oil has also stayed in a stable range, so why the big increases? Also, how can Iwate sell gas so cheap? They are next door to us and we are paying Y188/l?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Posted in: I would appreciate it if consumers could understand that farmers are struggling to make shipments. See in context

A lot of this is due to JA's failure, and incompetence and greed. Almost all agriculture is controlled by the bemouth and they decided what and when can be planted so as to ensure the highest prices! But that does not benefit the consumer! It is time to get rid of JA, let farmers produce what they want and help out the customer.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Posted in: Japan's tourism boom prices out business travelers See in context

And when you've got places all over Japan like Tottori that have breathtaking nature but depressing and shabby old shopping areas, with many shops shuttered, it's not encouraging for international visitors to hang around there.

This exactly! The area I live in has some remarkable scenery and natural beauty! But it is spread out, and there is no good public transportation, so you'll need a car, or taxi, which is pricey and not so convenient. Also, there are just not the facilities that foreign tourists want. The hotels are old, from the bubble era but have never really been updated. The newer hotels are all business type, which are pretty small and budget minded. Finally a lot of places don't have menus of staff who can communicate in other languages leading to a lot of problems.

So don't talk about funneling people to local areas they are not equipped or ready for these tourists. Thus Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto are in such demand!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Fuji TV network to open independent probe into alleged sexual misconduct by Nakai See in context

The fallout from Johnny's just continues to pervade the Japanese entertainment industry. I guess so many people in and out saw what Johnny was able to get away with and the industry turned a blind eye to it, that they too thought they could get away with the same thing.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Posted in: Japan's tourism boom prices out business travelers See in context

That’s the inflation for you. Narrative pushed for 30+ years that it is a good thing.

Weiwei, exactly, we kept hearing deflation is bad, people put off buying goods, the economy stagnates. Well, I think people were buying, traveling and things were humming along much better than they are now. For the poster who said that Tokyo hotel rates are cheap compared to other international cities, most of the places you mentioned, the remuneration is much higher so even the locals can still enjoy their own countries!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Posted in: Osaka Expo participating countries question ticket booking system See in context

They haven't sold enough tickets but there is a lottery to get into some pavilions? Why don't they just sell different types of tickets. Access to all things or just into the site. They could make a lot more money and people would pay more to full access.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Posted in: Japanese carmakers brace for Trump tariffs with tie-ups, supply shifts See in context

But the bigger problem for these Japanese car manufacturers is that many of the cars are made in Canada, or partly made in Canada and then they have to pass into the US and with Trump threatening 25% tariff on Canada, that will cause even more problems! Look up Allison Ontario, there are a lot of Japanese car makers with factories there. Every time a part goes back and forth from Canada to the US there will be the tariff!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Roki Sasaki's MLB deal could spur chaos in Latin America See in context

If he goes to the Dodgers it will be really disappointing. But if he goes to the Padres with Darvish and Matsui, it would make for a great rivalry. Of course as a Blue Jays fan I'd love to see him in Toronto, but their management team is so bad, I don't think I'd wish them on anybody!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: IOC long-shot Watanabe hopes 'crazy' Olympic idea sparks debate See in context

I know it will never catch on, but it is not a bad idea! Costs would be far less, and as he said, you wouldn't have the time differences when the games are on the other side of the world. Great to see Japanese thinking outside the box!

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Posted in: JR Central to test pet-friendly shinkansen car See in context

I know people love their dogs and treat them as children, but I don't want to ride on a train with a number of barking, yelping dogs. I would also be concerned about the health factor, even though they say they will provide pet toilet sheets, it might not be enough or the owner may be too slow to put the sheet down, then it will spread all over the car. Also, will they limit the size of the dog? Can you bring a Great Dane on board. What if the dog bites somebody? No thanks.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Posted in: I feel a sense of crisis over the current situation in which many people are addicted to gambling and commit crimes. Illegal online casinos must be eradicated. See in context

Hey Noriko, how about we get rid of all the legal gambling like pachinko, horse races, boat races, bicycle races, all which can be bet on just using a smart phone!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Japanese firms set for 5th year of record profits on AI boom, BOJ shift See in context

I just have to laugh at this headline! It was only a few days ago we read that if the gov't goes ahead and raises the minimum wage to , oh my god, Y1500 so many companies will have to shut down! Now we are told about record profits and huge pay raises. It just goes to show that Japan is being divided into the few lucky ones who work for the largest companies that the gov't favors, and then the rest of us who are just trying to get by!

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Posted in: The government is formally still committed to a target of welcoming 60 million annual foreign tourists by 2030, but this will only be viable if they can be spread out – both geographically across the country, and throughout the year including the off-peak season. See in context

You can't force people to go where you want them to go. They will go where they want to. And for now that is Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. I'm not sure how you can break this cycle, there are lots of great places, but the problem is getting there, places to stay and enough English speaking personnel.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Real change won't happen unless more men step up to share in parenting duties. See in context

Obviously this woman hasn't done a lot of research on Japan for her to come to this conclusion. There is no way in hell most of the men I know would ever be able to take 12 months parental leave from their company. Many I teach can barely take a few personal days without being looked down upon.

As for stepping up on parental duties, I see far more young fathers doing much more for and with their children before.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Posted in: Nippon Steel to sue U.S. gov't over decision to block acquisition of U.S. Steel See in context

YankeeX, very good point comparing the Canadian deal to take over 7and I holdings and it being classified as a national risk to this deal. And as you said, taking over any company with a name like US steel at this time was wrought with problems.

These next 4 years are going to be tough for many countries but especially Japan, Trump will force them to invest and build factories in the US, but they won't be able to buy or take over almost anything.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Posted in: Are you financially better off than you were this time last year? See in context

I wonder if a lot of the people who are doing well might be paid in US dollars. As for the rest of us the weak yen, rising food and energy prices and the lack of salary increase is a real albatross around the neck of many workers.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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