NCIS Reruns comments

Posted in: Sumo showdown: Will this be Miyagino's last stand? See in context

Out of curiosity I input rikishi into Google Translate. It gave me "Sumo wrestler." It would seem to me that both are correct.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: High court commutes death sentence for yakuza boss to life See in context

The article did not mention that when Nomura received the death sentence he threatened the judge.

https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/yakuza-leader%27s-threat-to-judge-shouldn%27t-be-taken-lightly

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Posted in: Ceremony held to mark 79th anniversary of U.S. firebombings of Tokyo See in context

In its initial stages, the air raids on Japan using B-29s flying at high altitudes frequently failed to hit the desired targets and were suffering from high attrition due to the new bombers' mechanical problems and interceptions by Japanese fighters. The lost planes and their crews could not easily be replaced, so to cut losses, LeMay changed tactics, using saturation bombing with napalm incendiaries. It was a cold-blooded, practical decision that may have strengthened Japan's resolve to resist, while going through the Vatican and other intermediaries in attempts to wiggle away from the Allies' unwavering demands for unconditional surrender.

In a supremely ironic footnote to this tragic story, on December 7, 1964 (note the date), the Japanese government conferred on General LeMay the First Order of Merit with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_LeMay

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Moshi-Tora' speculates on how Trump's election might impact Japan's economy See in context

Listening to Trump speak, the first word that comes to mind is Demagogue, with a capital D. If a majority of Americans (or even a large minority) fall for his BS, it says more about the intellectual level of America than it does about Trump.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Posted in: Tokyo police mistakenly arrest Filipino man for allegedly overstaying visa See in context

It looks to me like he was detained, but not arrested. There's a difference:

One primary distinction between detention and arrest lies in their duration. Detentions allow law enforcement to quickly assess a situation. Arrests, on the other hand, involve a longer deprivation of freedom and trigger a legal process that may lead to criminal charges.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Magazine frets over 'prestigious' university's alleged plans for a 'China School' on campus See in context

Universities and churches are both giant receptors of money, often with strings attached.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Palestinians say Israeli troops fired at people seeking food; Israel says scene was deadly stampede See in context

Can't be anti-Semitic sine the Palestinians who make the Majority of Hamas Fighters are also SEMITIC, LOL

Here we go again. Antisemitic/antisemitism is a German construct from the 19th century and was meant to apply ONLY to Jews. The whole history is explained in wiki, here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Posted in: Hong Kong's plan for a new national security law deepens fears over eroding civil liberties See in context

‘War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.' Orwell certainly got it right.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese student at Yale urges Gaza ceasefire as U.S. universities quiet dissent See in context

Here's my advice: If you don't want your US visa status revoked, my advice is to keep your political opinions to yourself. (Japan has a similar policy of dealing with noisy foreigners whose political stance is at odds with the government's.)

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Posted in: Hotels, flights booked out as 'Swift effect' hits Singapore See in context

In 1965, I drove to Raleigh, NC to see Bob Dylan and Joan Baez perform in a local coffee shop. My admission ticket couldn't have cost more than $5. Popular culture has certainly evolved over the past 60 years.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: FX reaches back over 400 years for its next series, adapting hit novel 'Shogun' See in context

and a love story between Blackthorne and translator Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai).

Lady Mariko was an interpreter, not a translator. There's a difference.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Posted in: Sweden has around 62,000 persons linked to criminal gangs, police say See in context

They also have gangs from eastern Europe. The 62,000 figure is about double Japan's number of designated gang members, which makes it quite impressive considering the difference between the two countries' populations.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Watch that melted during atomic blast over Hiroshima sells for more than $31,000 See in context

China is even jailing Marxist student agitators.

China has a new Mao now, with his own set of rules.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: Former yokozuna Hakuho punished over protege's violence See in context

Former yokozuna Asashoryu was one of the worst in this regard. He used to amuse himself by shooting at the buttocks of his subordinates with an air rifle.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Trump pledges to defend Christianity against the left, which he says wants 'to tear down crosses' See in context

This is classic, textbook demagoguery that should put any thinking person on his or her guard.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Posted in: Solemn monument to Japanese American WWII detainees lists more than 125,000 names See in context

I suppose many Americans did feel sympathetic for the Nisei back then. My father was a graduate student on the East Coast at the time of the incarceration. Once I asked him about it and he told me, "We knew, and we didn't like it, but there was nothing we could do about it."

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Posted in: Crooked restaurants caught overcharging customers, serving mislabelled meat See in context

It may suggest too, like with so many of the labelling scams in the time I've been around, that great numbers of people have no great discernment about what they are eating or drinking, though they like to believe they are gourmets.

Agree with you. I have actually seen evidence of this on a TV show some years ago, when a 4-person panel did a blind test on three types of rice. Two were brand-name varieties -- I forget the types -- like Akita Komachi or Koshihikari grown in Niigata, etc. The third was a "generic" rice purchased in bulk by restaurants. The rice varieties were all steamed under identical conditions. None of the panel members could discern any real difference and either 2 or 3 of them -- sorry, it was a long time ago -- actually stated they preferred the rice that turned out to be the generic variety. And as for shabu-shabu, the boiled meat gets dunked in vinegar or sesame dip on the way to your mouth, so it's hardly surprising most customers can't tell what type of meat they're eating.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Crooked restaurants caught overcharging customers, serving mislabelled meat See in context

I think since most restaurants are honest, some people let their guard down, or would be reluctant to raise a stink if they are with friends or clients and want to avoid an embarrassing situation. Also, police are loathe to intervene in cases of simple overcharging; they would only take forceful action if a customer were physically threatened or otherwise intimidated.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Putin says he prefers 'more predictable' Biden over Trump See in context

That's one endorsement Biden does not need.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Australia to ban doxxing after pro-Palestinian activists publish info about hundreds of Jews See in context

Another problem: If you're dealing with a list of hundreds of people, what are the chances that some of them aren't even Jewish? I mean, Australia doesn't exactly require them to go around with yellow stars of David on their lapels. Antisemitism acts are bad enough, but the morons who would attack someone from a doxxing list probably won't take the trouble to differentiate.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Taylor Swift reaches LA in journey from Tokyo to Super Bowl See in context

Frankly all this hype is a big turnoff. Thanks for nothing, MSM.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Posted in: Dog that bit 12 people not vaccinated for rabies See in context

The owner registered the remaining four dogs after the city issued a guidance on appropriate pet ownership on Thursday, and he also plans to have them all vaccinated.

Nope, the city should ask the court to take away the other four dogs and permanently ban him from owning more.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Putin, in rare U.S. interview, says Russia has no interest in wider war See in context

but the important thing is that you don’t have any right while sitting on a chair to speak insultingly to the heads of states of any states.

Since we live in countries with protected free speech, we not only have a right, but that right is enshrined in our constitutions. Do you understand what I'm talking about? Slava Ukrainii!

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Posted in: Chinese coast guard vessels enter disputed waters in East China Sea See in context

The islands are strategic in the sense that a military presence there can flank U.S. and Japan forces on Okinawa. China will need to control them if they plan to encircle Taiwan ahead of an invasion.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan to allow longer stays for digital nomads to boost consumption See in context

The taxes they would have to pay here, AND their home country, makes this sound like something only a few might use.

Most countries don't tax their citizens on income earned abroad. The US does, but allows for a tax credit, so the amount of tax they paid in Japan could be deducted against the total, and if they're lucky it's enough to avoid double taxation. There would be no escaping having to pay separate accounting fees, however.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: China overtook Japan as world's top vehicle exporter in 2023 See in context

The bigger question not answered, who is buying these made in china, chinese cars?

Many people have never heard of Xiaomi, China's second mobile phone brand after the famous Huawei. It has the world's second largest market share after Korea's Samsung. As for passenger cars, incremental progress suddenly turned into a flood and I suppose China caught the crest of the wave of new demand.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Watch out for the human vultures who prey on the departed See in context

Ah yes, the notorious "gomi yashiki." My place is probably borderline. (At least it doesn't overflow into the yard.) If I don't get rid of more clutter by the time I shed this mortal coil, someone's probably going to be stuck with a big bill for cleanup services. I doubt if my old Seiko watch has any resale value, however.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: China overtook Japan as world's top vehicle exporter in 2023 See in context

I own a Suzuki-brand scooter built in Jinan, China. It might not incorporate the state-of-the-art, but it has required no maintenance since I bought it and starts right up on cold mornings. It covers all the basics, and that's good enough for me.

Like Japan after WW2. China developed its motor industry with motorcycles and scooters. After it determined the quality and reliability of China-built two-wheelers were up to Japanese standards, Honda revived its "Benly" line of scooters with commercial models imported from China.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: China overtook Japan as world's top vehicle exporter in 2023 See in context

I remember around 1966, when the US magazine Consumer Reports summed up its review of a Subaru mini-van by writing, "It was a pleasure to squirm out of the Subaru, slam the door and walk away." A decade later, following the Mideast oil embargo, Americans were buying up the gas-thrifty Japanese cars in droves. If the Chinese can compete in terms of value-for-money, with no sacrifices in reliability, crashworthiness and passenger safety, then more power to them.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: 3 foreign-born residents sue over racial profiling by Japanese police See in context

I have never met a Japanese just randomly stopped and checked not once in well over 30 years!

Antique@ I have seen it, especially during the six months after AUM gassed the Tokyo subways.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

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