omik comments

Why the negative title to this story? "Family Absolved of being Welfare Cheats," seems to be more appropriate.

As long as Korea is footing the bill.... let them waste the money.

The "take down" has begun -- thus this article!

"However, its obscenity laws still forbid the depiction of actual genitalia, which usually appear censored or pixellated in images and videos."

Guess the cops had better get ready to round up the monks and vendors at the next fertility festival at Kanamaru Shrine next April -- according to the article, there seems to be a gross violation of law. Google it and one will see numerous photos of the male genitalia....

She should get the same sentence as he received: 12 years.

Two million yen transferred within what time? A law abiding individual residing overseas transferring $5,000 a month for a stateside account for living expenses could exceed that limit in four or five months.

It is interesting to watch how low they can go...

I am curious as to whty the victim's son and widow did not sue JR: tracks not sufficiently fenced off, lack of sensors to detect intrusions into the railway, etc. The technology is readily available to help prevent such accidents. It is not too late to counter sue.

Good start... he will be broke before his contract is up.

As previously commented, it is a cultural thing here and that’s the culture, accept it or go someplace else! The teacher involved broke the rules. She knew what the rules were, or at least what the atmosphere was and what the rules were going to be when she got her first tattoo in 2012 and decided to go against the flow again in 2013. Rules of employment (of any employer) are rules; you either comply or go work someplace else. Seems this particular teacher was being contrary and pushed the envelope and is now paying the price

People Power? The law passed. Obviously the politicians who pushed through the law have no respect or concern about people power. If the people want to really show their power -- do so in the next election -- vote out all those who supported the law!

Love the sensationalism… everyone playing into the big Y6 tril headline… amuses me. The fact is the tax is going up 3%, that is three yen more per hundred yen of taxable expenditures, period!

Calling this a "water crisis" could be just "watering" this down: http://rt.com/op-edge/fukushima-radiation-threat-level-288/

If one looks at the history and frequency of Mt Fuji eruptions, it is about 300 years overdue. Given the subtle signs over the past 20 years or so and other natural events occurring worldwide, it should be something of concern.

I wonder if there is an investigation underway regarding the "extraction" of confessions from four innocent people. This should be a wake-up call to the public as well to the Japanese government. I hope this situation is not going to be ignored.

I have been in Japan for 29 years and for 29 years it has been the same old story. The pain and anguish that the parents and families of the abductees are going through is unimaginable. One has to wonder if the Japanese or US government would still be involved with meaningless and never ending talks with one “Japanese negotiator” after another if even one of the abductees were family of an elite politician or of royalty. It is a sad situation and extremely frustrating watching the same rhetoric year after year.

As I stated in a different post last week: China -- smoke and mirrors; wait until the bottom falls out!

gogogoOct. 11, 2012 - 10:53AM JST -- Hit the nail on the head!

China -- smoke and mirrors. Wait until the bottom falls out....

"...or how wrong the egg, I will stand on the side of the egg..." that alone says a lot about Mr. Murakami.

If these islands are so important to the Chinese, the question must be asked why the Chinese did not raise concerns when the islands were returned to Japan by the US in 1972 along with Okinawa. One could interpret silence as concurrence or at least no issue.

The issue can be resolved by selecting five prominent historical scholars, one from five neutral countries, and have them research the issue and put forth a verdict on true ownership of the islands. Of course getting the two sides to agree on which countries and which scholars would be a comedy show in itself along with all the underhanded shenanigans to buy influence.

It takes a study to figure this out.... Wow!!!

Finally a country with the fortitude to take action and follow through.

“It’s important to make that kind of announcement,” Francois Gere said. “I think it’s made of the same stuff” as former U.S. President George W. Bush’s tough line on al-Qaida.

This says it all....

Stabbings in the news almost everyday lately. Should outlaw knives in Japan. All food should be sold in hitokuchi portions thereby eliminating need for cutting. Another tragic incident. This mother/child relationship can never be repaired.

Inattention to driving IS relevant to this discussion. I agree with sharky1...smoking and cell phone use should be equally illegal while driving.

"'Sikes is not seeking fame or fortune,' said Gomez." Yeah, right!!! If this guy isn't looking for money why does he have a mouth piece? Anyone really think that lawyer is his spokesman for free?

How much garbage can one stomach? “As Secretary Napolitano has said, once the suspect attempted to take down Flight 253, after his attempt, it’s clear that passengers and crew, our homeland security systems, and our aviation security took all appropriate actions.” The passengers and crew's actions have nothing to do with the "homeland security system." The only reason why the passengers and crew were able to do anything was because the explosive device failed. If it had not failed, there would be a lot of funerals in progress about now for the passengers,crew, and probably a few people on the ground at the time and place. Homeland security and related security systems all grossly failed and no amount of political rhetoric and whitewashing is going to allow any intelligent individual to believe otherwise.

If this case was properly investigated, his cop buddies with whom he was drinking and allowed him to drive and the bartender (assuming he was drinking at an establishment) should also all be arrested.

Torture. Disposed of evidence. Fabricated evidence. Dissenting judges. Denial of retrail, despite the exposure of the aforementioned.... now where were those "checks and balances"?