mmwk2008 comments

Increasing the Helicopter Traffic within a residential, that already has a lot of similar traffic, is bound to lead to an accident one day! But in Japan, you can't sue like you can in the US.

As for the ticket price, forget it! 70K return vs 6K return.. hmm... what can you spend 64K on ? Even for Executives, the time saved doesn't really make sense. (Best case you'd save 2 hours in your commute to & from Narita.... but that's if you lived in Roppongi!). The better solution is to move the airport !

Wonder what bill she'll receive for this incident ? In Japan the families of people who jump to their deaths on Railway tracks immediately receive a bill for 2Million yen (~20K US$).

The Whaling issue is simply Japanese Nationalism, no more no less. Although they were defeated in the War, they see this as a matter of their National "pride" even if, most of the Whale meat is turned into Dog/Cat food upon arrival in Japan. Nothing unusual here though, the Japanese are just as Nationalistic as most other Countries.. more-so during times such as these. It's however somewhat contradictory that they do present themselves as an Environmentally friendly country and on the other want to destroy the Eco-system of the Seas (Tuna consumption for example).

I wonder, how would China handle Afgahnistan ?

Sorry for the Dutch Tourist!

It was interesting to see that his bow on Japanese TV wasn't as deep as those from other Company Exec's in similar circumstances. It just seemed the normal greeting type of bow. ( Bowing & Groveling in Japanese Society is the norm ). Perhaps becaue the problems (in the majority) only effected foreigners using his cars built overseas ... ?

All I know about what's going is what's being fed to me from the various International News Channels, and from those it seems that we're taking too long preparing to deliver Aid than actually Delivering it. News Reporters are able to find pockets of people in makeshift 'peoples' hospitals so why can't even first Aiders with Rudimentory Field Medical kits be deployed there too ? Some initial Aid, delivered to a few is better than none to everyone. I feel really sorry for the people in Haiti and angry also at the way Logistic issues are touted as the reason why Aid is just stock piling at the Airport. Also from the various reports & interviews that are being replayed, it would seem that there is more focus upon running the country in the longer term, than dealing with the immediate needs of the people.... what do you think ?

Tokyo sucks as a cyclist friendly town. I've been a cyclist for 30 years... so do know my Road Sense, sadly there are a number of drivers here (as in other countries) who shouldn't be on the road, what however, sets Tokyo/Japan apart from elsewhere is that should you get hit by one of these "people"/"idiots" - you're seen as partly to blame (20% by.. law). Furthermore the Insurance company of the driver will only offer to pay you a pittance for your bicycle - so for the pleasure of being hit by that Driver, you're out of pocket regardless whose fault it is or even how wealthy that driver is.

As for riding on the pavements.....

It is easy to pass Critism here yet for the Mother who has lost a child, she will always be asking herself if she could have done something differently - this happens to us all in such situations. Perhaps she left the child on the "spur of the moment" because it was complaining so much and causing here stress... who knows except herself ?

For the driver of the car - I can't pass any form of judgement since I've not got any information upon the road condition (full-of potholes, upon a hill, etc.. to make a judgement... was such information given out ?)

Personally, I would enforce holding of hands whilst crossing a Road with minors.. the Japanese (?) way of having someone hold their hands vertically in the air actually makes some sense, albeit stupidly when you see some adults doing so when in groups of other adults, but for kids - I'd encourage it.

Back in the UK, a long time ago, the Government introduced a road safety campaign called the Green-Cross Code, in which three simple words were reiterated time & time again: Stop, Look, & Listen. Perhaps the same could be done here ?

replace drunken guy with 18month old kid playing at barbecue... running around and falling off edge into water below...

Not enough information in the news story here, but I'll go out upon a limb here, and say (given experience), that I suspect, the Government is partly to blame here.. the pre-designated Public Barbecue Areas are not generally safe. You've got "Docks" like border to water areas, where people can fall into without being able to get out without having to swim to the nearest wall-bound ladder (and that's assuming its still functional). So by the nature of barbecues, people will be intoxicated (occasionally) and therefore not totally in control of their motions. It's like making all barbecues be at the top of the sheerest cliff-face in Japan with no fence.... bet the insurance companies would then argue that it was suicide rather than accidental death....

So what does Machinery orders cover... ? Parts to maintain existing machines, e.g. Machinery Consumables : Fax paper rolls ? Plasma cutting machinery tips ? or actual new machiens CNC Plasma machines, Fax Machines, etc..... ?

After personal experience of Japanese Insurance companies attempting to avoid payout, I'd say that he had a forced confession. No one, would knowingly cut off their fingers to claim insurance of 12MM ... that's stupid - especially in the business he's in.

It's progress, but slow. Next we need to have the virtual but visual without the headgear environment....

hey even one day we may end up with the holodeck's of StarTrek...

For those with kids, passing judgement upon this event is very difficult if not impossible. All that can be offered is Complete & utter Sympathy. If you're fortunate enough to be able to afford to have a wife/husband who can stay at home to look after the kids whilst the other works, then you should understand why they are so exhausted at the end of the day upon your return.... Give it a go yourself.

Wouldn't it be better to simply lower the rate a bit, and say that for every stay 2000 yen goes to Charity ?

At 5000 yen, it shows how much you're being overcharged in Japan for them to be able to afford such a stunt!

Actually, the accident did happen on my official route from work. Old guy came out of an ajoining junction and rear ended me, force of impact snapped my Carbon fibre frame, though I walked away from it, can't remember all the gory details so presumably momentarily knocked out. Since then headaches, lack of sleep, neck pain, etc. Has anyone any ever been in an RTA invovling car & bicycle and taken it to court in Japan ? Would appreciate any info.

Speaking from rather recent Experience, cycling in Japan is rather more dangerous than it seems, and if you do get hit be a car, the Police will only try to convince you that you're also to blame (or even totally)... and for compenstation from the Drivers Insurance company - forget it, you'll be offered a pittance to cover the loss of your bicycle.

Does anyone have any advice ? As I could surely do with some now...

Hello 'tmarie'

Do you guys not know about the three year law that makes firing people almost impossible?

I'm not aware of this one, could you provide some more info please, since it could be to the benefit of many here, given the current times...

Thanks