nigelboy comments

Never said they were, you are assuming otherwise. You can not be sure it was taken into account, unless you blindly believe everything the government puts out here, and if you do, then there is nothing anyone can do to help.

Hmm. That makes sense. NOT

Then why would the same government ‘puts out’ figures and statistics that puts Japan in a negative light?

Birth rate, aging population, low inflation rate, suicide numbers, and government debt ratio versus GDP.

Must be Jekyll and Hyde thing.

And let’s not forget that while Japan’s mainland was aerial bombed to ashes and even Okinawa as result of ‘Typhoon of Steel’, the Korean Peninsula was pretty much untouched.

Post war, with everything in tact, the Korean people couldn’t get it together and the pristine land was destroyed as a result of them fighting among themselves (Korean War).

With the armistice agreement in place, guess who funded the reconstruction of Southern part of the peninsula? You guessed it. It was the country that was in ruins just 20 years ago.

They don’t teach this in Korea.

South Koreans were the second largest contingent of foreign visitors to Japan last year, just behind visitors from China, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Might want to mention that Korean tourists were dead last in consumption amount per person. Only 78,804 yen. By far the lowest.

 know for a fact, from my father-in-law (former JP) my brother-in-law (soon to be former senior detective), cousin (beat cop), and a host of others, that everyday crime, is NOT reported in the news, and in particular, underage crime, is almost never reported unless the crime is particularly heinous.

No kidding. No rational adult would think that ALL/MOST crimes are reported on the news.

These statistics and surveys are based in a large part, on REPORTED crime statistics, statistics put out by the government.

No kidding. That’s how criminal statistics comes from. I’m quite sure this EIS report took those into consideration.

UNDER-REPORTED

Perhaps now, someone could kindly provide us with ‘Figures of Under Reported Crimes In Major Cities’. Must be there since many posters in this site has stated this phenomenon for over a decade.

Note that the pressure is not from the Japanese government but conservationists. Does this mean Yahoo! was not breaking any laws? If not, where is the law enforcement on ivory smuggle via Yahoo! ?

Buying and selling ivory products within Japan is not illegal. Ivory inventory in Japan was obtained legally as per my post above. What’s happening here is the since China has outlawed it, there are Chinese nationals who are buying this from Japan and trying to smuggle it into China.

Something about these 3 things don’t add up. Of course traders are breaking the rules. There is no way the current stockpile is from 1989 or 1990. Also, if that were the case, how many elephants were killed to get such an enormous stockpile?

From Japan joining the Washington Treaty in 1981 to the actual ban on 1990, Japan imported 2006 tons. This is recorded in CITES trade data base.

Two more special import permits were granted by Washington Treaty Conference totaling 89 tons.

https://www.env.go.jp/nature/kisho/zougetorihiki/FAQ_on_ElephantIvory_JP.pdf

WTO rule prohibits artificial export control.

As opposed natural export control?Lol.

All Japan has to do is to show how incompetent Korea were in export controls and was not up to the standards set by Japan. Three years of refusing Japanese requests won’t help. 156 export violations won’t help. Removing Japan off of their white list would certainly make them look like a biggest hypocrite.

Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong said South Korea may reverse a decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan if Tokyo corrected what he called "unjust measures".

"I want to stress the ball is in Japan's court," Kim told a news conference.

Ball is still in Korea's court. It's quite laughable that this moron thought GSOMIA is a card they could use against Japan.

Japan will buy up to 73 of the Raytheon-made SM-3 Block IIA missiles,

As a footnote, this is a joint development with Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.

Abe was on the fence until the day he looked lovingly in Trumps eyes and said "Yes, master!" when Trump told him to buy 120 fighter jets.

This was already pretty much decided in December of 2013 in their Medium Term Defense Program where they wanted to replace the F-15 which was considered unsuitable for modernization. Trump had very little to do with it but he sure did make it sound like he made the deal happen. But then, who cares about relevant background and facts? It's how you present it that's most important to Trump because he knows that the voters are gullible. Didn't expect it would work on non-American posters here though.

This much is exactly right. Some people seem to be deluded into thinking that what they pay in, they get back out later. But no, that's not how a pay-as-you-go scheme works (and obvious when one considers one may die before receiving it all back, or living for a really long time). The answer is not to deny or complain about it this reality, the answer is to abolish the pay-as-you-go scheme and introduce one of better design that ensures all elderly are provided for adequately.

Statistically, that’s what’s been happening. What the older generations paid in is far less than what is paid out to them hence the deficiencies. Compounded by extended life expectancy, deflation, and population decrease (decreasing working population contributing the premiums )

Better design, as you put it, is simply levying more taxes.

f this is true, that is really ungrateful from Mr Abe's good friend "Mr.Putin"! Stabbing the back of your friend is deplorable!

If you comprehended what I wrote, the new missile is effective at short range meaning that the target is within Korean Peninsula.

Abe or no Abe, at this point, the Japanese population in general, don’t care what happens in that area.

Sorry to crush your hope.

Why are you linking a previous ICBM launch to that of the recent short range BM??

No real problem. Fiat currency, low inflation, no debt obligations to foreigners. Under those conditions, Japan's pension system IS sustainable.

JeffLee.

I’m afraid you lost them. Doesn’t matter that Kyle Bass was proven wrong again and again.

This is the reason why all NK missile launches head toward Japan and not the ROK, because Japan is the weakest, softest target around Norht Korea.

This is false. The ‘new’ missile that NK recently launched are believed to be SS26 Iskander type developed by the Russians. The tactical advantage is the low trajectory and the ability to maneuver in flight. However, these characteristics can only be efficient on targets that are rather short distance wise. (I.e. South of Korean Peninsula). When it’s targeted longer, it simply operates like any other BM with predictable trajectory.

@Yubaru - So, you are basing your opinions on the US system and complaining about US taxes subsidising retirees? Is the US system like Japan's scam? I think not! I too keep my taxable income low to avoid this scam. I go to the pension office and very easily gain an exemption. I have a private superannuation fund I have been paying into for over 30 years which will pay me a handsome dividend in a few years when I retire. This is why I have been fighting so hard not to pay my retirement funds into this scam that I only receive 20% of my funds back. My super fund will pay me +20% of my investment, not minus 80%.

Actually, the whole pension system is like that. Premiums paid by the working population goes to pay the retirees.

In the case of kousei nenkin, the basic scenario is that the premium amount you paid through your working days (let’s say 40 years between 25-65) versus the distribution days (let’s say 20 years between 65 to 85) is half. If you live beyond that, you would have received more than the double you contributed and counting.

In your case, you got the refunded premiums at discounted sum( MHLW thanks you )to only be invested in an annuity which is solely depended on the net principal you put in.

In June, a report by advisers to the Financial Services Agency said a model case couple would need 20 million yen on top of their pensions if they lived for 30 years after retiring, fueling doubt about pension sustainability.

And the same report states the “model case couple” on average has 20 million yen in financial savings.

https://www.fsa.go.jp/singi/singi_kinyu/tosin/20190603/01.pdf

pg. 16

The report was intended to encourage population to diversify the retirement portfolio as opposed to simply relying exclusively on pension payments.

What suspected leaks?? South Korea admitted they found 156 export violations to North Korea from South Korea. Japan doesn't have to prove anything, the South Korean government admitted it!

To be fair, 156 export violations are not to North Korea but a transshipment violation from South Korea to other nations under Multi Export Control Regime.

From 2015-March of 2019, 29 cases of NSG (Nuclear Supply Group), 70 cases of AG (Australia Group), 2 cases of MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), 1 cases of CWC (Chemical weapons convention) and 53 cases of WA (Wassenaar Arrangement). The first four (102 cases) is related to WMD.

This information only came to surface after a Korean lawmaker revealed it.

Suspected leaks are not the same as proven leaks. Japan has still not provided any definitive evidence, but continues to throw out accusations.

None needed. The "white country" status is given to Japan and Japan only. If you want it back, the first course of action should have been to answer to Trade ministries request instead of rejecting the meeting for three years. The next course of action is to beg, plead, and bow down.

Meanwhile how many such leaks were stopped by the Japanese government? Are the numbers even known? (as if there were any point in asking)

I don't know. But could you provide some sort of materials regarding this?

Yup. The actual line that's producing DRAM and NANDs.

Sorry. What I meant to say is that the full production line of HF is already in place. What you indicated there is simply a trial run and nothing more.

Supply insecurity is a cost in inself. Because Japanese supply is insecure, Korean supply is now cheaper because it doesn't have supply insecurity.

That's not how accounting works. If you're paying more, it impacts the bottom line, negatively. Simple as that.

And produced in lab quantity, like a bottle at the time

Packaged in ５kg～20kg bottles, 200 kg drum, 15kg-100kg pressured container, and 1 -18 ton containers.

Korean HF is already used in production.

That's good news. I'm assuming it's the FULL production line, right?

And this low cost was the only reason Samsung and SK Hynix used Japanese HF, not because it could only be sourced from Japan. This is why Samsung announced they would completely stop using Japanese material from its process within a year, because Japanese materials can be replaced at higher cost.

So production costs will be higher in already a down industry. That's really smart.

Your memory is failing. It was Japan that surrendered to China after just 2 weeks.

You're confusing the actual export controls of rare earths from China to that of release of the Chinese trawler. Moving goal posts.

You don't know what you are talking about.

Actually, he/she does. HF 12N purity is unsurpassed and is vital to the end user's production efficiency.

What Samsung and SK are doing are essentially lab like test and announcing it to calm the fears of their end users as well as their shareholders. Anybody with a decent knowledge of this industry knows that the actual lab results to actually streamlining the manufacturing of this quality level material is a total different spectrum. Companies like Morita Chemical and Stella Chemifa has been doing this for over 100 years. As a result, their products offer superior in quality at low cost due to streamlined manufacturing process.

Abe administration expected Korea to raise a white flag and surrender in a month, exactly the same way Japan surrendered to China in 2 weeks when China put an export control on the rare earths back in 2012.

False. China put on the export control in 2010 when at that time, Japan was importing 23,422 tons from China. (80%). With outsourcing from other countries and technology advancement by the Japanese firms, by 2012, Japan only imported roughly 12,000 tons total with only 49% of that coming from China. In the latter part of 2012, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth High Tech, Ltd. , the largest supplier of rare earth materials in China, shut down one of their plants because of reduced demand. It's China that waived the white flag.

 normally would not commend Obama, but on trade it sure looks like Trump is the dumb one. He pulled USA out of the TPP, only to now go back and negotiate a very similar deal with each individual countries. US farmers and industries left out in the cold in the mean time. No wonder Japan has offered to buy excess corn. Japan has a win here, USA has a win also but a bit unnecessarily late to the party.

On top of that, once U.S. left the TPP negotiating table, Japan was quickly able to implement a rather conservative tariff schedule from the FTA/EPA agreements in place with the participant nations, which U.S. had long protested.

But good ol’ Trump will twist this as a huge victory for Americans and the ignorant masses will of course, follow.

Because when Trump says "jump" to Abe he's already nipping at the man's heels and begging for a treat. I've never seen a leader in my life bend over backwards more for the slightest bit of attention from another. And the funny part is some people think Abe is strong -- he is not. Has sold out Japan for the idiot Trump, how knows so well he can just walk all over Abe that he doesn't respect him in the least. He can't even make eye-contact with him, and when Abe was lying down after a face plant in a sand trap at golf, Trump didn't notice because he was off making conversation with Matsuyama.

In other words, your judgment is based on appearance rather than actual substance. Sort of like those gullible Trump voters who voted for him and will vote for him in the next election.

Trump may be a moron, but wow does Abe make him look like an actual dealmaker. Now our tax increase has been ensured because Abe was SO eager to appeal to Trump he bought all the fighter jets demanded of him.

I guess it helps that Trump makes it as though it's a "very big" trade deal with his press conference and tweets but the reality is that it ended up being TPP type parameters. But I guess to some people, details don't matter for it's the "appearance" that's important, much like the Trump supporters.

As to the "bought all the fighter jets", this was already pretty much decided in December of 2013 in their Medium Term Defense Program where they wanted to replace the F-15 which was considered unsuitable for modernization. But hey. Who cares about relevant background and facts? It's how you present it that's most important to Trump because he knows that the voters are gullible. Didn't expect it would work on non-American posters here though.

's interesting to see how your focus shapes your reality. 

A “27% of municipalities concerned over surge in foreign visitors in Japan: survey” title is more news worthy and pessimist than “50% of municipalities not concerned over surge in foreign visitors: survey"

Good point. Not really newsworthy if you analyze the details. As a footnote,

“The survey was conducted between May and July, covering 1,741 municipalities nationwide, “

‘1,741 municipalities nationwide’ is Kyodo’s magic number in regards to surveys. Other surveys have the exact same number.

So in addition to the 'contains no GMO soya' on packets of tofu and bottles of soy sauce, we're now going to get English muffins with 'contains no GMO corn' labels? Is all Japanese processed food going to be drenched in high-fructose corn syrup?

Cleo. I’m afraid Japan and it’s food manufacturers have been importing and processing GMO corn since it’s inception. (Cooking oil, corn syrup, feed)

Soy ingredient dominant products, on the other hand, are different due to labeling protocols.

With whose money?

Private sector.

“Shinzo Abe gently contradicted Trump remark that Abe is buying all the corn. Abe: private sector will, not govt.

Trump then gently contradicted Abe with jab at US business.

"Japanese private sector listens to the Japanese public sector. It’s a little different in my country.”

It’s essentially a show by Trump to appease his followers and nothing more. The amount that Japanese private sector will buy is “excess” but the U.S. government has already bought that as a fix measure. Most likely, Abe would waive the tariffs to the Japanese importers(Private sectors) to get this done. The Chicago corn futures hasn’t moved (price and volume) that much so this is insignificant in terms of numbers.

On a footnote, Japan is the biggest importer of corn in the entire world.

Is this the fault of the foreigners or the fault of the local and federal governments for failing to limit the amount of tour buses? Japan wants the tourist dollars but complain about the tourist’s presence. What a bunch of petty hypocrites!

Is there a blame passed on to somebody on this survey that I’m not aware of. Did the municipality that answered the survey place any blame?

hey want to blame foreigners for traffic jams? Most foreigners who come to Japan use public transport.

Foreigners who come to Japan uses tour buses. Too many to be in fact in Kyoto causing unprecedented traffic jams. Other rural areas which has limited access roads are experiencing this as well.

Abe: "Please, Trump-kami, look into my eyes just once. Kami-sama, onegai."

Wondering how you got that interpretation seeing that the basic framework agreement is essentially TPP standards which Trump withdrew because he wanted to destroy Obama’s legacy. During that time, Japan essentially were setting tariff schedule on ag products against Australia and Canada. As a result, U.S. ag producers were ticked off because their original tariff was in place while the signatories of TPP were importing based on their newly agreed tariff schedule.

Besides, it’s Trump that wanted this deal done in the first place hence the quick agreement on the above last year even issuing a joint statement. Trump needs it more now ASAP because of the continued trade dispute with China.