sapphire 12 comments

Posted in: Japan's consumption tax raised to 10% amid swelling welfare costs See in context

If at all, it should have been the other way round.

Higher tax for take-out than for eat-in.

With the current taxation, take-out is encouraged and with this an increase of plastic garbage.

Rather than aiming to reduce plastic waste, Japan is encouraging its increase.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Posted in: More details emerge about anime studio arson attack that killed 33 See in context

Why was the roof door locked?

I visited a friend a number of times who stayed in a mental hospital (closed station) in Chofu, and being an Engineer, before leaving the Hospital through the basement, once followed the green "Emergency exit" signs. Just to see how a mental hospital with locked up "mentals" handles these exits. Of course, the steel door leading to the outside of the building was locked (but had the green sign on it...)

The next time I visited, I mentioned this to a nurse on the nurse station, and she replied that in case of a fire or emergency "the guard man will come with the key and open the door"...

I can't even start to imagine how it must feel to have made it almost to the top and then you stand in front of a locked door that you can't break. OMG.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: All Japanese customers banned from restaurant…in Japan?!? See in context

During my 27 years in Japan, I've never seen Japanese share a bowl of 600 Yen ramen. And I've never experienced Japanese pulling out a sandwich in a 8 seater ramen shop. And this is in Okinawa, one of the most expensive vacation places in Japan, at least during the high season. So one would assume that Japanese Tourists there a not among the poorest in the country. To be honest I have difficulties believing that story and reasoning. Fake news ?

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Posted in: 50-year-old cyclist dies after being hit by car in tunnel See in context

Just yesterday night I had an idiot cyclist ride against traffic towards me, in the dark, without lights and in black clothes. Some of them are begging to be hit by oncoming traffic.

What angers me most is that then the car driver gets most of the guilt and penalty. Makes me always wish that these guys fall down a steep hill and break their neck all on their own.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Posted in: 33 women sue Tokyo Medical Univ over rigged entrance exams See in context

"The unfair treatment of female applicants at Tokyo Medical University was aimed at preventing a shortage of doctors at affiliated hospitals in the belief that women tend to resign or take long periods of leave after getting married or giving birth."

That's a typical Japanese thing, isn't it. Action that is basically understandable and meant-to-be-good intentions, but the whole thing not very well thought through.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Suicide leading cause of death among Japanese children aged 10-14 See in context

Every single suicide of a child is one too many.

How does this compare to other countries.

Leading cause of death there by starvation, traffic, school shootings ?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Posted in: Former Nissan exec Kelly released on bail; being examined in Ibaraki hospital See in context

"Kelly was arrested after his car was stopped on the expressway..."

Jeez, the more details get to be known, the more interesting it becomes.

This concertation of events really starts to make good material for a TV drama or movie.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese tourist dies climbing Australia's Uluru monolith See in context

If only we could read what this man actually died of.

Fell down(under), got hit by stones, heart attack, got stabbed, got lost, what ?

Poor news reporting here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Police officer shot dead in koban; 19-year-old colleague arrested See in context

It is really disturbing that a guy who is not even allowed to buy alcohol at 19, is given the responsibility to carry a gun. In public. Lucky, we didn't meet this one while he was on official duty.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Should saying thanks at a Japanese convenience store go without saying? See in context

I like this admittingly bit automatic conversation. It makes the encounter at the register in a "Convini" or other shops more personal.

More embarassing, if you work there, may be to yell "Irashaimase" every time a customer enters your Ramen shop or Izakaya.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Tokyo school hires guards after Armani uniform furor See in context

I think we can rest assured that for this folk 800.-USD is like 80.-USD to other people.

Also, these uniforms are often handed down and sold to the next generation in the schools. At least in our case. All in all not that expensive compared to the Millions of Yens that have to be spent during a kid's school life, when attending private schools.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Posted in: George Lucas apologizes for calling Disney 'white slavers' See in context

I am amazed that this movie already made a biilion USD within such a short time. A record breaker for sure.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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