scap comments

Posted in: Japanese convenience store Lawson unveils new type of egg sandwich See in context

Too bad about that nutrition-less white bread they use in those sandwiches. Why not healthy whole-wheat bread?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Two top Japanese universities drop in British magazine's world ranking See in context

Lack of internationalization has been mentioned as a reason in previous rankings. Harvard, for example, employs/recruits top scholars from all over the world, same for students, while Tokyo U. has few non-Japanese teachers and students.

-3 ( +11 / -14 )

Posted in: Relatives remember JAL crash victims on 36th anniversary See in context

Boeing paid a lot of money to keep the J. govt and others quiet, and no one was ever punished for the faulty repairs. J. govt also refused the help of the Yokota AF base crack night rescue team. I guess they feared a loss of face. Every time I hear Kyu Sakamoto's famous song I am reminded of the crash. A sorry affair.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan rejects South Korean protest over Olympics map See in context

Korea has enough reason to hate Japan after suffering under a brutal occupation for many years. I remember when a friend of mine in Korea, now in his 80s, showed me a big scar on his head. As a child, he was hit over the head by a Japanese kempetai soldier for speaking Korean--his own language! Just one incident.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

Posted in: As coronavirus infections mount, Japan at last expands testing See in context

The response to Covid-19 follows the same pattern as previous crises here in Japan: Too little too late and half-measures.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Naomi Osaka picks Japanese citizenship with eye on Olympics: NHK See in context

It seems obvious that her decision was a monetary one (sponsorships) . As a famous athlete, she is/was in a position to put Japan's outdated immigration law under a microscope by insisting on legally keeping both nationalities. A missed opportunity for modernizing this country.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Canadian English teacher filmed hitting 2-year-old child at daycare facility See in context

Is that really child abuse? A slap to the butt of a young boy who is rolling around on the floor disrupting the class? If that was my son acting like that I would thank the teacher for showing discipline. I must be old school (I am 78.) When I was a kid in the U.S., teachers used to hit us all the time for bad behavior, and the parents approved of it. No wonder kids are so wild these days.

-1 ( +22 / -23 )

Posted in: Japan, U.S. activists demand halt in building U.S. base off Okinawa See in context

Japan was sacrificed by the Japanese government during the war, and it is still being sacrificed today. I feel sorry for the Okinawan people. Let Japan defend itself (if it wants to); this is the 3rd richest country in the world, after all. When will the US stop being the world's policeman with over 800 bases around the world, including those in the US? I say get all US military out of Japan.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Posted in: Russia to move troops into new barracks on disputed islands near Japan See in context

I wonder how you say "jerking around" in Japanese. That is what Putin has been doing to Abe on the NT issue. Japanese diplomacy is weak to begin with. Russia will never return those islands--even though they are in the wrong--so the Japanese might as well face the fact.

If it had not been for Gen Douglas MacArthur, the Soviets would have occupied one half of Hokkaido as well. MacArthur told Soviet diplomats in Tokyo in 1945, "If one Soviet soldier sets foot in Hokkaido there will be hell to pay." Most Japanese do not know, and thus do not appreciate, what MacArthur did for Japan after the war.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Posted in: Rakuten and Walmart open first Walmart e-commerce store in Japan See in context

Most of Walmart's stuff is made in China so I wonder how that will work out.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Is U.S. military control of airspace to blame for high cost of flying in Japan? See in context

I think all US military should leave Japan. Why is the US still protecting Japan, one of the richest countries in the world, 73 years after the end of the war? Let Japan defend itself if it wants to. Same goes for Korea.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: Foreign divorced parents fight in vain for child custody in Japan See in context

From reading the above, I guess my case is unique. My ex Japanese wife demands that I stay involved with our two kids and does all she can to encourage that. For example, when I visit them in Hawaii, she wants me to stay at her house in order to spend maximum time with them. You could say we have a "friendly divorce." In addition, my present Japanese wife loves my kids and they love her. Fortunate me.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: 2 dead, including police officer, after man attacks Toyama police box See in context

It is strange that an experienced police could not defend himself against a young man with a knife. I thought all officers were trained in the martial arts. Also, why was the back door left unlocked?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Shinkansen rampage revives debate over safety and convenience See in context

Last time I rode the "Shinkansen" in China--and thousands use it every day--I had to go through a security check just like getting on an airplane. It was quick and not cumbersome at all. If China can do it Japan should be able to as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Knife rampage aboard bullet train kills 1, injures 2 See in context

In China, Bullet Train riders have to go through metal detectors and then receive body scans. I am okay with that.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Posted in: 'Amazing China' documentary more fiction than fact See in context

The Ethiopean govt. has allowed this to happen probably because Chinese officials are paying off the country's leaders.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Outrage as WWII sex slave memorial removed in Manila See in context

Money (Foreign Aid). It is as simple as that. The Philippines, being dirt poor depends on the money Japan sends to the country. That is why we never hear much war criticism against Japan from the Philippines. Now that China and Korea are rich, they are not afraid to speak out. Money talks.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: Top court finds charging subscription fee for NHK broadcasts constitutional See in context

Not surprising that those old conservative judges ruled in the governent's favor. They talked about independence in their ruling, but Abe's right-wing ilk influence NHK from behind the scenes.

Could you imagine in the USA an agent coming to the door saying that because you have a TV antenna you have to pay a fee? That agent might be met with a shotgun and a demand to "get off my property."

Alas, this is Japan, a land of complacent sheep. I am not so much against the fee as I am the system they use to collect it.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Mongolian Hakuho smashes sumo record with 1,048th win See in context

Congratulations to the foreign wrestler, although conservative sumo purists must be unhappy about the record. He is fortunate he is in sumo, not baseball where things similar to the Randy Bass incident happen regularly to foreigners about to break a Japanese record.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japanese tourists in flu masks frighten British supermarket shoppers See in context

I agree with the "antisocial" posts. Many women seem to be trying to hide themselves with a big mask right up to their eyes and a big hat pulled down over their face. I think it is more psychological than it is health-related. I have female English students who wear big masks to class every week for 16 weeks! Weird.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Putin-Abe summit brings big Japan-Russia economic projects See in context

As expected, Putin did not budge an inch on the NT issue, so what kind of "cooperation" are we talking about. Putin's treatment of Abe is the classic definition of "jerking (somone) around." More failed Japanese diplomacy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Coca-Cola No. 1 in Japan with drinks galore, but not Coke See in context

Coke and Pepsi are artificially flavored and colored sugar water. I drank them for years, which may be one reason I now have high blood sugar. Wish I had know better. Now, it's green tea for me, and lots of it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 79-year-old truck driver, going wrong way, killed in expressway crash See in context

I am 75 and had the "old age" test last year. I thought it was a pretty thorough test, both practical and mental. I saw some old people at the testing center who appeared both mentally and physically frail.

The problem is, I suspect, the testers are reluctant to fail people, even when they do poorly on the tests.

This is similar to the mentality you find in the schools, i.e. pass all students onto the next grade every year, even those who deserve to fail. This is benevolence to an extreme, which, in the case of driving can result in the death of others..

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Posted in: Honda to build new factory in China See in context

So much for "Abenomics."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese seek bargains as economy limps, Abenomics loses shine See in context

Abenomics has always been "smoke and mirrors." Whatever happened to the "third arrow?" All the govt. knows how to do is throw money it does not have around--like it it doing right now in Africa. Vested interests make structural reform too difficult. Japan's passive populace just shrug their shoulders; meanwhile, this country continues it downward spiral.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Would you like to see a referendum held on Okinawa so that Okinawans themselves can decide whether or not they wish to host U.S. military bases? See in context

I can't believe that so far about 40% have voted "no."

Okinawa was sacrificed by the J. Govt. during the war and it is still being sacrificed, with 70% of of U.S. bases there, on what is 6% of Japan's land area.

Japan is a rich country. Let it defend itself if it wants to. The U.S. has about 800 bases around the world, trying to be the world's policeman. Letting the Okinawan people decide is a wonderful idea, but it will never happen as right-wing Abe is just a puppet of the U.S.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Posted in: Ichiro's milestone raises familiar questions about context See in context

The encouragement and support Ichiro got from U.S. fans as he was breaking records was impressive. It was an example of good sportsmanship. Would a foreign player get the same support here? I doubt it. In fact, in the past, Japanese baseball has tried to prevent foreign players from breaking records held by Japanese. The classic incident was when Randy Bass was approaching Oh's home run record at the end of the 1985 season. In the last few games he was walked every time by Oh's Giants. Other similar incidents followed over the years. How about that for sportsmanship?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: China says Nanjing more worthy of remembrance than Hiroshima See in context

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. That said, China does have a point. Even if a lower number, say 50,000 men, women and children were massacred in Nanjing, that is enough to call for a Japanese PM to visit there and bow his head. But, since Japanese are so busy paying the "victim" card, and the LDP and PM are basically right-wing, this will never happen.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Read my lips: Abenomics is losing its gloss See in context

Abenomics has always been "smoke and mirrors." Whatever happened to that 3rd arrow, structural changes? The vested interests shot it down, that's what. Japan badly needs an "outsider" leader, but not in the mold of Trump. The country's decline continues.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Do you think North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday is as big a deal as the international community is making it out to be? See in context

It is not a big deal. If that country were foolish enough to attack S.K. or the U.S., they could be wiped off the map in less than a week. Abe will make it a big deal as it furthers his right-wing agenda.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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