noriahojanen comments

Posted in: 'Work without limits': Japan's teachers battle for change See in context

Schoolteachers deserve overtime pay, and it should have been done so much earlier.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan declares plan to have preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles See in context

Someone please inform them that preemptive strike capability and counterstrike and strike-back aren't the same thing !

The Japanese government aims for preemptive capability. But local media and public discourses are still confusing and misleading.... It must be clarified anyway.

No doubt they all value and seek deterrence. The question is how it's achieved.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan aims to alleviate overpopulation in Tokyo area by FY2027 See in context

I'd suggest that the national government start first by bringing its administrative functions out of Tokyo. Quite many don't have to be in the capital. Most ironically the digital agency headquarters stay in Tokyo while it is campaigning the decentralisation via IT technology.

Personally I prefer to live in a mid-sized major city housing around 1 million or less. The major Japanese cities are almost the same as the capital of smaller counties (seen in Europe) with regard to its landmass, population, economy and sociocultural heritage. Tokyo may be the best for sightseeing or special events, but not long-term residency. Not to mention, Tokyo is also vulnerable to natural disasters.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Ukraine general says Russia digging in for long war See in context

A long war will only make things worse for Russia and ordinary Russians. The federation could be disintegrated into several republics. For example, Kadyrov of Chechen is already showing a sign of defiance against the Kremlin.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Tokyo makes solar panels mandatory for new homes built after 2025 See in context

The policy is not bad, aside from money issues. With batteries installed for each house or community unit, Tokyo can also minimise the impact of contingencies such as missile attacks on base infrastructures. The war in Ukraine proves such a backup highly critical.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Gov't panel reviewing Japan foreign trainee program holds 1st meeting See in context

It's already clear that the trainee programme is now outdated and irrelevant, away from its original purpose (of assisting the developing countries via tech transfer). Not to mention, it proves ineffective even counterproductive in reforms and innovations for Japan's labor market (adjustment).

As there are alternative visa schemes, the trainee programme can be scaled down or abolished altogether.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Posted in: Man gets suspended term for damaging Korean international school in Osaka See in context

Though it's missing in the news report above, the case has also partially been settled out of court, and I think the verdict reflected the fact.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Posted in: The next World Cup will jump to 48 teams. Is bigger better? See in context

It's a different World Cup, which requires a different strategy, course of action for qualified national teams.

Though the number of teams will increase, the number of matches will remain the same; meaning the Group Stage is short of a match. The weaker teams will have only two matches and go home.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Ukraine appears to expose Russian air defense gaps with long-range strikes See in context

Those series of cross-border attacks must have psychological impacts on Russia, not to mention its logistical damages.

I'm interested in how the Japanese government reacts to, or interprets the events. For its Parliament is currently engaged in the debate over Japan's capability of counter-attacking or even pre-emptive ones to the eminent threat from hostile neighbors.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan's World Cup performance to bring ¥16.3 bil in economic effects See in context

Excessive mask use restrictions are still missing some profits from social events or partying.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Posted in: One of Tokyo’s busiest subway lines is adding women-only cars See in context

Women only cars don't eliminate the same sex groping cases which are also often reported.

A smarter solution for Tokyo is to encourage the de-centralisation and de-population of key downtown areas where so many people are commuting in near-deadly packed train cars. With opportunity given, groping behaviors are also a physio-structural problem.

Tokyo should tackle the overcrowding problem as it has something to do with the quality of urban life, and the public safety as well.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan beats Spain 2-1 to advance to last 16 at World Cup See in context

By stasts Japan proved efficient. It possessed the ball at only 18%, attemped only 3 goals (of which 2 succeeded), 0 kick at the corner. Although their plays often disturb my stomach, the team ended up grasping the fortune by the forelock.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan beats Spain 2-1 to advance to last 16 at World Cup See in context

Congratulations!

An unexpected but amazing game.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese folk dances approved as UNESCO intangible heritage See in context

The succession for the heritage tradition is a big challenge as the Japanese community is facing the aging population and its overall decline.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Posted in: Sociologist Shinji Miyadai seriously injured in campus attack See in context

Seems, he's still at large. Better give himself in before being caught.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Local assembly member arrested over murder of wife in Nagano See in context

The suspect has denied the charge while the police only have circumstantial evidence. Let's wait and see whether the case is brought to the court. Till then, let's respect the due process especially the presumption of innocence.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan gets 2 late goals to upset Germany 2-1 in their World Cup opener See in context

Doan's catch-up goal in the later half gave me relief, and I was only wishing the full time would come much sooner (to leave +1 point to both sides) :)

The second winning goal was beyond my expectation. Felt excited but somehow numb.

See how frustrated I was with 7-minutes (!) long injury time :)

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan sets up panel to review foreign trainee program See in context

It's a good first move for reform although the timetable seems a little bit long and slow.

A simple solution may be to abolish the traineeship altogether and put prospective foreign workers under the category of 特定技能 or "special skills" at the entry level. By doing so, legal adjustment would be minimal.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: Osaka man arrested for taking online job recruitment test for money See in context

Surrogate test taker ?

I like this new job title :)

No doubt it's illegal and criminal. But what he offered could be transformed as a valid educational/assisting service.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Indonesian quake kills at least 162, injures hundreds See in context

It's rightful and reasonable for the Indonesian government to decide to relocate its capital to Nusantara, East Kalimantan, away from the active tectonic area around Java.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Top court scraps comic magazine editor's guilty verdict over wife's death See in context

This is rather concerning because the charges by the prosecution were so detailed, and the Supreme Court is now apparently telling us that the evidence may not support the charge.

In this criminal case for jury trial, evidence had been present, deliberated and selected in a pre-trial conference procedure 公判前整理手続. Despite that, the top court verdict suggests that the evidence is not sufficient, which I think is highly exceptional and extraordinary. The top court could already have walked him.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Uber Eats delivery worker arrested for smearing curry on apartment door of customer who gave him low rating See in context

So the low rating proves accurate...

22 ( +26 / -4 )

Posted in: Do you think Christmas illuminations should not be displayed in Japan's cities this year in order to save electricity? See in context

Though it's a half solution, I opt for illumination displaying in shorter hours over its full cancelation.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: New research challenges WWII pro-Japan British 'spy' allegation See in context

A very interesting story about which I'd never heard before.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Ex-Japan PM Mori harsh on Zelenskyy over war in Ukraine See in context

As Mori's talk is not fully covered above, let me put it FYI:

森元首相「ロシア、核使うかも」

https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2022111801157&g=pol

Mori also noted that it is only Muneo Suzuki who would be able to persuade Putin. Ok then, send him away to Moscow in order to save many ordinary Russians from suffering.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Posted in: Tokyo court orders 2 to pay ¥500 mil over 'fast movie' uploads See in context

Why don't those production companies start making "official" fast movies or short films of around 10 min, and upload them to Youtube? There must be some growing demand while the companies may cut expenses.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Posted in: Foreign visitors in Japan surge after tourism reopening See in context

The kimono photo above looks nice.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Posted in: Vietnamese trainees call out unpaid illegal overtime at Japanese firm See in context

Specifically for prospective caregivers, there are more possibilities than the traineeship and 特定技能 scheme. The best is 介護 visa though it requires 3 year experiences and a license (taken by exam).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Vietnamese trainees call out unpaid illegal overtime at Japanese firm See in context

The traineeship program seems lose-lose, making both sides unhappy. It should be abolished partially or altogether. I assume it will probably be done so for some designated industries.

There is alternative visa scheme called 特定技能1号 which I think is better than the traineeship. In fact, more than 80 % of the 2nd year trainees have switched to this program.

Cons: You should prove yourself first by passing skill as well as language proficiency exams. The former varies by industry while the latter is usually N4 for JLPT. The scheme designates only the 14 key industries short of workforce, mainly manufactures.

Pros: You can switch jobs on the same visa if there is a problem. Out of the broker control, visa holders can freely and directly apply for a position while the host employers don't have to pay retainer fees to the brokers. You can legally work (paid-) overtime (the traineeship basically prohibits overtime work although there are many violations reported). 特定技能2号 or the upgraded version also allows family residency.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Foreign visitors in Japan surge after tourism reopening See in context

though it was still down 80% on 2019.

The entry requirement is still responsible for it, as visitors need to show proof of three shorts, and keep a mask on in crowded indoor spaces.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

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