Sam Watters comments

Posted in: Chinese professor at Japanese university missing after visiting homeland See in context

Those lucky enough to get out of China should think twice before ever going back. A former Chinese student of mine returned to China after living in Hokkaido for a number of years and has never been heard from since.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: LDP amends party rules to toughen penalties for fund violations See in context

Expulsion from party. Loss of all benefits and privileges. Handed over to prosecutors. THOSE are tough penalties. When the LDP announces those, it will likely have Japan’s trust. Until that time, don’t waste our time.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: North Korean leader Kim 'drives' new tank during mock battle See in context

If only we could show comic strips on this website! Just imagine the fun we could have with Kim!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: China demands Japan start Fukushima treated water compensation system See in context

World demands China start Wuhan Covid-19 compensation system.

You nailed it!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Posted in: Hiroshima grapples with 'Oppenheimer' Oscars success See in context

Some people will like the movie, some will hate it but all should have the opportunity to watch it.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Gov't OKs bill to introduce joint custody after divorce See in context

Immense sympathy. I can’t imagine what type of soul would down-vote your post/story.

Thank you.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Gov't OKs bill to introduce joint custody after divorce See in context

Read the first statement carefully:

The Japanese government on Friday approved a bill to allow joint custody after divorce 

The Japanese government also allows and even encourages businesses to raises wages and look how that turned out. This bill is likely little more than window dressing to stave off criticism. I recently went through a divorce that took three years to settle. In order to maintain the relationship with my child, I had to lose my house, ¥25,000,000 in savings, pay another ¥15,000,000 until said child becomes an adult and pay all court costs that amounted to over ¥3,000,000. Despite this, I still have to see my child on the sly but am grateful that our relationship is intact. During this process, I often to spoke to police officers, lawyers and even a judge who were sympathetic to my situation and they all said the same thing: in a custody battle between a foreigner (especially a man) and an ethnic Japanese citizen (the “ethnic” point is important because I do have Japanese citizenship) the foreigner’s chances of winning a court order and having it enforced exist in theory alone. I hope this bill passes and I hope it is enforced but I am not optimistic.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: Major French union threatens strikes during Olympics See in context

Having a major case of schadenfreude here. After what the IOC and the Japanese political swine did to the Japan, I would love to see the Games disrupted in a non-violent way and then have the IOC lose face and money.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Kishida pledges strong determination in repatriating abductees from N Korea See in context

Must be that there is an election scheduled for the near future.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Posted in: Official Tokyo Marathon T-shirts get recalled for English spelling mistake See in context

Keep it! It’s, well, funish!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Kishida apologizes for LDP political funds scandal See in context

Kishida, meanwhile, pledged Thursday to amend the political funds control law to ensure similar scandals do not occur again by introducing guilt by association, which would force lawmakers to step down or ban them from running for reelection if their staff members are convicted.

I’m not a fan of Kishida but this measure would have some teeth. If he can get it through, I will be impressed but I won’t hold my breath.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Teacher fined over 2019 deaths of Japanese teens in Australia See in context

This case is why when asked to travel overseas with my university students I politely refuse.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Another exec with Japan's top oil company Eneos fired for sexual harassment See in context

Change is coming slowly in Japan, which consistently ranks near the bottom in international gender equality

This is not so much about men treating woman as equal as it’s more about men not acting like swine.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: Teachers on leave for mental illness in Japan hit record high See in context

Recognizing the situation as a "serious challenge," the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry will promote workstyle reform, including reducing paperwork and addressing long working hours.

The Hashimoto-led government said the same thing…in 1997.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Posted in: Chinese ships warn Japan SDF planes to leave airspace near Senkakus See in context

These couple of Islands are nearer to China : if looked at under water.

Alaska is closer to Russia and Canada but it is still part of the United States. The Senkakus, like various other pieces of land and sea, do not belong to China just because China says so.

27 ( +28 / -1 )

Posted in: Former Tokyo Olympic official says he's not guilty of taking bribes See in context

He seems to have miraculously healed; when he was entering court he was in a wheel chair.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

Posted in: Hong Kong leaders start legislative push to tighten national security laws See in context

China continues to destroy a once great country.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Posted in: Foreign-born Miss Japan sparks debate on what it means to be Japanese See in context

 I would gladly take Japanese citizenship if I could keep my US passport. Japan is shooting itself in the foot over and over.

@Redemption. Actually there is a method to keep both!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Foreign-born Miss Japan sparks debate on what it means to be Japanese See in context

This is the same racist bs people used to say to my half-Japanese children on the train. It’s still bs. Way to further Japan’s globalization, David.

@John. I wonder if David is just the messenger here…? I have had Japanese citizenship for over 17 years and still I am consistently told, by other Japanese, that while I have Japanese citizenship am not a true Japanese. I’m not passing judgment as both sides have legitimate arguments and it doesn’t bother me as I do not let others define me but accusing David of hindering Japan’s globalization is bit over the top. Japan is very open to globalization…when globalization suits Japan.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Posted in: Beppu City takes flak for displaying Ohtani-donated gloves, instead of giving them to kids See in context

There have been other cases where municipalities displayed the gloves at their offices until they were ready to send them to schools.

Outside of putting them in a box and writing an address on the box, I can’t think of what else needed to be done. But then these are bureaucrats so…

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Man sentenced to death for Kyoto Animation arson attack See in context

The Kyoto District Court on Thursday sentenced to death the perpetrator of a 2019 arson attack on an animation studio that killed 36 people

A just and fair verdict. Sometimes compassion for the criminal torture for the victims and society in general. This is such a case.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

Posted in: Yoshiki auctions off beloved crystal piano to support Noto Peninsula earthquake victims See in context

Classy move. Classy musician.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Record 87% of Japanese 'do not feel friendly' toward China: survey See in context

A record 86.7 percent of Japanese "do not feel friendly" toward China

I’m surprised the number is that low.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Posted in: Feedstuff will run out in another week or two. I feel bitter about being unable to be responsible for their lives. See in context

I’m sure there must be a way to get feedstuff to the Noto peninsula. Couldn’t it even be airdropped in a worst-case scenario? Brought by ferry? It seems some creative problem solving is needed here.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: N Korean leader Kim calls for change in status of South; warns of war See in context

Why don't you or the media ever acknowledge North Korea has a defense agreement with China and Russia and Iran are supportive

I think it would be more accurate to say that China uses Kim and NK as a buffer between it and the West and that Russia will gladly trade with NK but neither country will risk military conflict over the useless rock that is North Korea nor its worthless ruler.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Posted in: N Korean leader Kim calls for change in status of South; warns of war See in context

Try as I might, I just can’t be intimidated by this fat, little midget.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: Vote counting starts in Taiwan's critical elections watched closely by China See in context

Congratulations to the Democratic Progressive Party!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Man arrested after assaulting father with sake bottle See in context

All kinds of violence in Hokkaido in this young new year. What is going on with the water over there?

Really bad economy, shrinking wages, increased duties at the office, pressure to care for elderly parents and a government that is disconnected and shielded from these harsh realities. The average person can only take so much…

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Posted in: Man arrested after fatally hitting mother, child with car in Tokyo See in context

The driver must have ran completely over the mother or child or been traveling at a very high rate of speed. Either way, terrible way to die…

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: N Korea fires two missiles into sea in resumption of weapons testing See in context

 “Any attempt by the hostile forces to use armed force against (North Korea) will face a preemptive and deadly counteraction.”

Best response: -yawn-

4 ( +8 / -4 )

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