Otaru comments

Sarge - no I never did have candy corn and my parents would dress me up in ridiculous costumes. I'm traumatized for life!!

I didn't care for the new Halloween movie , but the original was brilliant.

I never liked halloween anywhere I have lived.

Thank goodness for all those NASCAR watchin', Bud swillin' rednecks who are dumping their "domestics" for a Toyota! God bless the USA! I love them.

Wow. Agreed.

So why aren't they selling to other nations ?

boobug what?? Of course we are selling to other nations. The US just happens to be the largest market for autos, electronics etc. The market has been producing too many products for years now due to this "easy money" situation in the US that is now being corrected. Japan and other countries will now need to make adjustments to their production levels. I don't see any blame here just a realistic adjustment. As for food, prices have risen in every country, self sufficent or not. I'm not sure what you are getting at? Japan produces goods, that's what we do, keep getting better at that.

I love watching the big donut conveyor/cooker machine at KrispyKreme. Never had a rum donut, sounds delicious.

This is a very worthwhile program, I hope they have success.

Ayaya is only 22? I thought she was older.

I hope they didn't install seats like JAL has. Too small!!

I don't visit Tokyo that often but "ugly" is never how I would describe it. It has a beauty to it, especially for someone seeing it at night. I think that art would have not been a very viable trade in Japan up until recently. Practicality was of more importance in a society struggling to survive.

I don't like Green Apple anything. yuck :P

I had to hitch hike once from Akigawa back to Otaru when my truck broke down. An old farmer picked me up. He didn't say much to me on the way, we talked about beer so I bought him some of his favorite as a thank you. Other than an emergency, I don't think I would hitch hike in any country...even Canada!

well he is a Japanese policeman so we should forgive him for his bumbling approach.;)

My patients grows short with generalized comments like this.

This is common practice with temporary workers. They are brought in to fill a deficiency in labour. Less production=Less need for labour. How would a company or government explain to it's citizens that it is somehow obligated to keep this foreign labour over employed citizens?? Don't think that would go over well. At least they are here legally unlike the problems the US has with its foreign "workers."

Does this mean the Saitama assembly site will stop producing LHD for the USDM?

Tsunku is pure genius. Congrats to the glasses girl, it must be very exciting for her.

lol @ Loki520....."sushiest" :-)

It was really the onions that made this sandwich epic. When I was young I always looked forward to McRib and Shamrock shakes!

lol....Americans :-)

I would have been excited to see this! Happy to see she is still performing. Those Morning Musume girls work pretty darn hard for what they really make. btw...what's Sunshine City?

Toyota is suffering the same fate as the US automakers because of the same lack of foresight and motivation for profit. The biggest sales drops were in the most profitable vehicles -Trucks. Luckily toyota has a diverse product line of quality vehicles and should recover better than most. Glad to see the 0%. I think in the 80-90's auto manufacturers actually made more money financing a vehicle than profit from manufacturing it. I know GMAC did for a fact.

Yoshinoya is definitely oversaturated in an oversaturated market. Too many stores offering the same product.