oginome comments

Articles like this say allot about Japan that the outside world rarely hears about.

Actually the outside world is constantly inundated with stories of 'weird' and 'seedy' Japan so you're wrong. If anything, Japan gets it worse than other countries. You never hear about the dark sides of countries like Germany or South Korea in international media on the same level that you hear about Japan.

Really?? How did you come with that? There are plenty of things that do every day that are perfectly fine in privacy, but surely nobody wants you to display in publc. Sheesh.

Ramzel was specifically talking about homosexual displays. He didn't say anything about being against heterosexual displays. His sentence would read oddly if you were to subsitute the words with each other.

'The critics are not against heterosexuality; they are against displaying heterosexuality to impressionable minds.'

Impressionable young minds being corrupted by displays of heterosexuality? How bizarre. We all know what Ramzel was talking about.

If you're against public displays of affection, that's fine (I'm certainly not touchy feely in public), but make sure you apply it across the board.

Maybe so, but unemployment has increased, and the debt has exploded. Also, under Obama, the U.S. experienced the LONGEST recovery from a recession since WWII. Blaming the previous president only gets you so far.

It will take longer than four years to recover from an economic cataclysm which has its roots set in the insane Reagonomic policies of the 80s - that's nearly thirty years of economic self-destruction by the US. It took Japan a decade to recover from its bubble collapse and it will also take a long time for America to reform and refocus its economy, after the all the profligacy and insanity.

The critics are not against homosexuality; they are against displaying homosexuality to impressionable minds. AKB48 are idols and young girls see them as role models. They may start copying them, just because they saw it on TV, done by someone they adore. That`s why... In the US if Justin Bieber or some other young singer made out with another man in a TV commercial, they would complain too!

Being 'against displaying homosexuality' is the same as being against homosexuality. Going by what you're saying , then we should stop displaying heterosexuality for the same reason. You're implying that homosexuality is something that needs to be shielded from the young in case they become 'corrupted'. That isn't how it works, sorry. What about young children of gay couples? Should their parents hide who they are because of their children's 'impressionable minds'? Not seeing how your logic works, unfortunately.

@ Ted Barrero,

I don't see how this is any worse than all the transexuals you see on Japanese TV these days. So hot girls passing sweets seductively is not okay, but a wild pack of flaming homosexual flamingos on practically every Japanese TV show is?? Not cool Japan. Not cool.

'Wild pack of flaming homosexual flamingos'? Not cool Ted. Not cool.

Japan became the world's second largest economic power and kept that status for decades, even though one half of the population remained consistently sidelined and not utilised by the country. Imagine how strong Japan's economy could be if women were afforded the same respect and job opportunities as their male counterparts.

I have to say, this guy reminds me of Diogenes of Sinope. A touch of Greek philosophy in the land of the Rising Sun. I would definitely love to meet him.

Did Diogenes get sent money by his family to fund his 'natural' lifestyle?

Everything I've seen Tanoshingo in, he's minced about, done his little dance, then lay on his back with his legs up and pointed directly at his anus. The viewing public seem to find that acceptable, repulsive as it is. He's done it on shows aimed at kids, and when he crops up on TV in my house the machine goes off. I'm not having that in my house.

Ok, while pointing at the anus is distasteful, what's so 'repulsive' about mincing and dancing, considering it's what AKB48 and countless other idols are always doing on the tube. But yet you'll only turn off the tv in Tanoshingo's case?

Please provide facts...... just saying "Japan has a unique culture and it would be drowned out (by Immigration)" by itself is xenophobic if you could back this up by some kind of study done then we could debate this issue.

Tyler, a large part of what makes up Japan's culture is the idea of its uniqueness compared to the rest of the world. I think that's what Yuri meant when she said it would be compromised by mass immigration.

There will be lots of opinions posted here but until you are out there in the trenches on patrol in the desert, you'll never know. Most of us have no right to criticize what they do and the means about how they do it while we get into BMWs and cruise up Omotesando for shopping.

Netninja, going by your logic, then nobody has the right to criticise Tepco if they don't work for a nuclear energy company. People have EVERY right to criticise any soldier, American or otherwise, who desecrates corpses or goes on cold blooded killing sprees.

Absolutely disgusting, but no surprise, unfortunately. These cowboys think they can go anywhere in the world and do what they like.

Importing workers just for economy's sake isn't fair to either the immigrants or the Japanese and is a disaster in the long term. We've seen this legacy of unfettered immigration in other countries. A mass influx of immigrants who ended up doing low-paid work and were never properly integrated into society, which resulted in the creation of a permanent underclass. Social cohesion is threatened, the gap between rich and poor widens even further. There has to be another way. Again, I see Americans arrogantly expecting Japan to follow their model.

Pertinent topic. The US is certainly no 'post-racial' society, despite what some Americans have taken the care to inform me on this site (I'm looking at you Lieberman). It's still a racist hell hole, with a population largely divided on ethnic lines if you get away from the 'cosmopolitan' city of New York that's always being held up as representative for the whole country. Every country in the world has problems with racism to some degree, what made the US different was its self-deluded belief that it was the exemption, a supposed 'post-racial' nirvana which actually never existed.

Although when I did, then it was not by whites but by blacks instead. The real last vestiges of American racism is within the black community itself which they refuse to acknowledge where the "white man" is somehow responsible for their own individual life's failures. When in fact these same people have themselves to blame.

So there are no 'vestiges' of racism in the white community then? What a farce, and how suspect to try and throw the very real problems of racism onto one ethnic group and absolve everyone else... seems a little, you know, figure it out. Thanks for proving my point by the way.

'No one is racist in America anymore - except the blacks!' LMAO. America's grand tradition of racism still continues.

He will resort to what he does best - dividing us and sewing discontent, tearing down the productive in society and rewarding losers witth largesse.

America's economy collapsed BEFORE Obama came into office, Lieberman. Or did you forget this? Dividing and sewing discontent is what the Republicans loved to do. Nightmare of a country.

I have been saying for years, get rid of these new halves, transgenders and other gays on TV here. I don't want my kids watching it and who are the broadcasters to shove this down our throat. It is out of control in the states, don't let it happen here. I am a firm believer that if you don't like it, change the channel but there is way too much of it on TV these days.

If you don't like it, that's your problem. Nothing wrong with being gay, transgendered or 'new half' - don't try and turn Japan into the US.

What a surprise, looking at the comments. Lots of overt and veiled homophobia.

The German economic model is much stronger than the US' service and financed based disaster.

And anyway, Japan already leads the way as much as Germany does when it comes to high-end manufacturing, does Masatomo Onishi not realise this?

I didnt think anything could beat that headline; then I read the article's first sentence

The wait for communicating feelings via neural-controlled mechanical cat ears is finally near its end.

Lieberman, you are aware that this article is supposed to be tongue in cheek, right?

gelendestrasse, Germany is not the country! Anyhow they are closing all of their plants replacing it with coal. Need a country on the leading edge of technology.

Yuri, Germany IS a country on the leading edge of technology. It's very similar to Japan in many ways. German engineering is renowed all over the world and like Japan, Germany is a creditor and surplus nation.

Oh I agree it can be "interesting". My dad, who knows nothing about fashion nor cares about brands was killing himself laughing when he came here. My dad is pretty stylish and people complement me on my dad - as if I had something to do with it. His comments ranged from "The fashion police are much needed here." or "Honestly, are people colour blind here?" to "What on earth were they thinking?'.

Oh of course, there are many fashion disasters in Japan, but the worst dressed people in Japan are still leagues ahead of the worst dressed people in America. The level of style overall, is much higher among the Japanese than the Americans.

Indeed, sloppiness is rare but again, that doesn't make it stylish nor good. Look at what Gkact is wearing. A stripped tie with a stripped shirt. That don't go together. Add in a blue jacket with black pants - and to top it off, a handkerchief that doesn't match the tie, nor the shirt, nor the jacket. As much as I think Tommy's pants are horrible, everything matches and coordinates. Men, learn that striped ties and striped shirts NEVER are good. Sadly, I see that on a daily basis here.

I never thought Gackt was stylish. Yes, striped ties and striped shirts is complete overkill - but still alot less painful on the eyes compared to what you see in the States.

Ogi, throwing on countless expensive brand name goods on doesn't make one stylish. The "fashion" in Japan can be shocking at times. Stripes, polkadots, plaid... all together. Eeek. That said, yep, the crappy jeans and sneaker look can be pretty bad - though what I tend to wear - but in a decent combo.

I'm not simply talking about the brand name goods, head to toe designer gear is unbelievably tacky and gauche, and thankfully, many Japanese mix and match their designer gear with other items of clothing, resulting in a more interesting look than what you see in places like Ginza for example. I've found that most Japanese people tend to be much more immaculate in how they dress and present their looks compared to Americans, everything very clearly planned, and clearly alot of thought goes into appearance, even when it comes to the loud, clashing looks. Sloppiness in clothing is rare. The casual style than netninja loves so much is seen as ugly by Japanese people.

Ogi, I agree with you too - shocking, eh? ;)

I've agreed with you a couple of times before, but you're right, it doesn't happen that often.. the last one I can remember is the shared love for 2NE1 :P

Carrying a child in your belly for 9 months, even pushing it out at the end of it all is the easy bit. It is the constant getting up in the night, comforting them when they are sick, supporting them when they are sad, listening when they need you to, worrying when they dont eat enough, worrying when they eat too much, sharing a laugh, a joke and an ice cream, getting climbed on, puked on, peed on and hit on for money every 5 seconds - THAT is being a parent. Makes shag all difference whether the child is biologically yours or not.

Well said Nicky.

I understand why the chick (in the middle) is famous. Who are the other two people?

Tommy Hilfiger is a world-famous American designer and Gackt is a Japanese singer and actor. And yet the only one whose fame you 'understood' was the mediocre actress Jessica Alba? If you don't know who they are, go look them up. Tommy Hilfiger is certainly more famous than Alba.

@ Lieberman

The Daily Mail has become the 'top online newspaper' because of its celebrity coverage.

I'll probably agree with you oginome.. I have been to the states twice now. Too many sneakers and jeans. But lets be honest here the majority of any country is unstylish. Maybe I just think japan is more stylish cause I spent most of my time in californian cities, where everything is much more laid back... If i had been to new york. Then my perception would probably change greatly. Again though, not saying there weren't any stylish people in LA / San Fran / Vegas / San Diego etc. Japan is just more dense.

Oh don't get me wrong, they are definitely some stylish people in America, I just think the proportion of stylish people is much higher in Japan. Japan's worst dressed people still tend to top America's worst dressed in my opinion. And if you think the Californian cities are too 'laid back' in terms of dress, then you shouldn't venture out into the Mid West or the South ;) There are alot of fashion disasters in Japan, but Japanese tend to put alot more into their appearance compared to people in other nations, I find. The French, Italians and the Japanese have the best style IMO, and sometimes the English, depending on where in England you go and what trend is currently popular ;)

Adopting sounds good, but no matter what, they'll never fully convince themselves that the adopted child is truly their own. No one can.

What an ignorant statement to make.

Some countries wear some strange stuff. America's casual style is good for just about anything. You can't go wrong with Tommy Hilfinger.

Japanese people are, on average, much more stylish than Americans.

Ogi, compared to life under this guy's dad, I would say granddad was much better, no?

I already said why it was better. It had nothing to do with Kim Il-Sung being a better ruler, he was much of a dictator as his son. No grandad was not 'much better'.

Japan and USA are winners of "cold war". So you have full responsibility for NK.

That logic makes no sense.

BessonovYan, do not worry at all. The west would watch and eat popcorn. The Peoples Republic has an army of over a million plus 6 million reservists, Russia 350 thousand. It is not in Russia's best interest to let millions starve. It is not in the interest for the Republic of Korea, Japan or the United States. Russian nukes could not be used to defend. China would not allow it. Again using food as a weapon is EVIL! The Peoples Republic of China and the Russia let perhaps a 100 million of more starve to death.Peace can not be achieved with so many starving.

Yuri, I agree with you, I was torn over whether the decision to halt the food aid was right, since most of it just goes to the pampered elite, who already have enough food, but if even a few grains left over reach those who need it, it is worthwhile. I agree, using food as a weapon is evil.

Again it's the rich country that exploits the poor country

I don't get how the Japanese Brazilians were any more exploited than immigrant workers in any other developed countries, could someone tell me? Japan relaxed the quotas and deliberately aimed for attracting these Japanese-Brazilians, but they still CHOSE to come, they weren't forced at gunpoint. The Japanese government paying for them to go home is of course, not ideal, but it's not compulsory, the Japanese Brazilians can avail of it if they want, or can choose not to. And many of these immigrants did make alot of money (in Brazilian terms) which they sent home and helped raise living standards of family members and relatives who stayed behind. They were economic migrants, not refugees.