Probie comments

No. They should be spending it here.

Oh yes, everyone listen to the overweight, loudmouthed, transvestite about what is or isn't "embarrassing"...

What are they going to do then?

The only decent band in Japan is One Ok Rock.

This is going to be awful.

There is only one place that I could agree with giving aid, and that is for the Palestinians who are suffering under the occupation of Israel.

You're forgetting the Palestinian terrorist attacks...

I think they should be spending the money on the people directly affected by 3/11. It is disgusting when Abe talks about "humanitarian aid" to people in other countries when his own people are still suffering. How many houses would $200 million build in Tohoku?

Abe said the aid he had promised in Cairo Saturday was to help the displaced and those made homeless by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

What about sorting out the people who are still living in temporary housing who were displaced by 3/11? I'd say that is a better place to be spending the money.

“I strongly demand that they not be harmed and that they be immediately released,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem earlier Tuesday.

Or what?

I bet ISIS are shaking in their boots.

@lationz: Wuh?! I come from Australia, who's public toilets are multitudes cleaner than the ones I've seen in Europe and the US, but even they're way dirtier than the public toilets in Japan.. Where exactly are you referring to in Japan?

I'm guessing you have never been to the toilets in a train station here?

Probie, In the examples you mentioned, those people are free to make racist comments all they want, but I and others are perfectly free to denounce and ridicule them in response. As for being fired, I think companies also have the right to choose the people they want to represent them.

First: There is a difference between making racist comments, and actually being a racist.

Second: Free speech is free speech.

People are free to be angry about what people say, I get that. My point is that all of the media that usually denounce people as being racist- usually taking what they said out of context and blowing it up for click-bait (Take a look at the Anthony Cumia case as a perfect example of this)- are now championing "free speech". That, is hypocritical.

Which all leads to the point I made:

It's hard to distinguish between those who are actually 100% behind free speech; and those who are only against people saying things they agree with being okay.

Most of the people I have seen saying "Je suis Charlie" were the first to jump on peoples' right for free speech when that person said something they didn't like; and they'll do it again.

Either really stand up for free speech, or move on to the next slacktivist cause, because you're full of crap. (Not you. I'm talking about the hypocrites and the click-bait media of today.)

It's hard to distinguish between those who are actually 100% behind free speech; and those who are only against people saying things they agree with being okay.

I've seen many people say "Je suis Charlie", who have:

1- called people racist just because they took the side of what the facts say in the Mike Brown case etc...

2- for what happened with Paula Deen saying the "n-word" 30 years ago and getting her fired.

3- getting Don Imus fired for a dumb joke.

4- anyone who says that they don't agree with gay marriage= disgusting homophobe.

I could go on and on.

So, yeah. Since everyone seems to be all for "free speech", I guess we'll see no more of these witch hunts, and forced apologies anymore.

I believe in free speech. I do not believe in silly things like these campaigns. Nobody else really do either, since they always move on to the next slacktivist flavor of the month nonsense like #kony2012, or #bringbackourgirls.

Just stop.

Unruly and inconsiderate adults should be restrained and then banned from flying (for a certain period, or life). If they have to fly back to where they came from, they should have security sat next to them on the way back, then banned from flying after arrival home.

Ronald's Demise

You mean Donald, right?

With all these stories lately, it feels like someone has it out for McDs.

These are the same hypocritical people that rave about "French" cuisine made with kyo-yasai or other Japanese produce.

Genuine washoku calls for choice ingredients, grown in Japanese soil, nurtured with Japanese care and costing Japanese prices

I wish people would stop this myth that Japanese people do things so amazingly well and better than anyone else the way this implies. One old toothless Japanese farmer doing everything by hand is time-consuming and a waste of the subsidies we give them in taxes.

Also, why don't they use this philosophy in regards to Japanese-owned Italian/French/Mexican/etc restaurants in Japan? I'd love to be charged "mexican prices" for mexican food here.

They should have kept it locked away. Looks like a crappy movie anyway.

Since it's okay to release movies about killing living world leaders, I'm waiting for the movie about someone killing Obama. I'm sure there would be on outrage over that...

1. Ban: Climbing to the top of Mount Omine

There is one part of the mountain, called Mount Inamura (稲村ヶ岳) that is sometimes referred to as Nyonin Omine (女人大峯), or “Women’s Ōmine,” reserved for ladies. Let’s hope there’s a bar set up there with sake and hors d’oeuvres.

Well, if they have one "reserved" for them. What is the problem?

2. Ban: Entering the sumo ring, taking part in sumo competitions

If the went against men, they would get wrecked! And who would want to watch women?

They should be allowed to do it though.

3. Semi-Ban: Staying in capsule hotels

If you have even stayed in one, you would see why.

4. Semi-Ban: Becoming sushi chefs

This is dumb. Typical stupid BS from Jiro. The biggest a-hole in the food world.

I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Sony. Celebrities use the law to remove hacked photos and personal info from the web. Why isn't Sony entitled to the same due process?

Exactly. The same media outlets that were up in arms in outrage a few weeks ago with the celebrity nudes and mail hacks, seem to have no problem at all with this.

Yonekura is probably the most annoying woman on TV. I hate her. Can't act; dumb face- only "acts" with her eyebrows; has 2 faces (eyebrow positions)- "angry" and "surprised"; and is just annoying.

Most of you who criticise what's on TV are all knocking on abit and can't seem to get to grips with modern TV.

It's not about "modern TV". Japanese TV has always been awful. And always will because shows like this are considered good.

I love the awfully photoshopped picture with the dog!

Useful once you get it working. Infuriating before that.

Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement that the apologies were not enough, comparing Pascal to disgraced NBA owner Donald Sterling and demanding that she meet with black leaders immediately.

Well, they are similar. It seems that stuff you say in private and gets leaked by some dirtbag, gets you in trouble now.

Sharpton is a disgrace. I hate the man.

I'm surprised that she's only 23. I thought she was about 30.

With that message in the same stilted English, North Korea looking more and more likely now.

I don't know. All sounds too easy for it to be NK. Might just be a bunch of a-hole s***-stirrers messing around. If NK did it, but were trying to make it not look like they did, I'm pretty sure they'd do it perfect and not use obviously bad English in statements.

I'm not saying it's not NK, but I think we need more proof before we blame them.

It simply doesn't go well with the flavor of Japanese food, says the most vocal group opposing milk in school lunches.

Dumbest. Reason. Ever.

Rets not grobarization!

Are we going to get an article about foreigners and what they hate about "Christmas" in Japan? Because it has to be the most un-fun Christmas on the planet.

Educator - my thoughts exactly. He came home in a wheel chair, so one would suspect that his ankle(?) injury would have left him less than capable of performing well.

I thought the wheelchair was because of his head injury. Getting hit on the chin can mess up your legs, especially when you are as delicate as him; and it could have caused back pain too.

Sorry, but the first episode was such garbage that I won't watch the other two.

I agree.

The first half of the first one was basically an annoying, bearded musical.