scoday comments

Say what you want about "Easy Breezy" but I still say that line to the day and it's been over a year (?) since I first heard it. I think she was trying to be funny, she is a bit of a geek after all.

Her stuff wasn't popular in most of the U.S. but in places like SF her concerts were sold out and no not ^just attended by all the Japaneesey students we have studying here. Thanks Utada.

Religion... The opiate of the masses..

Since when do we believe any figure that the Chinese Government "officially" reports. Their gymnasts were of age in the Olympics, no really...

Overall the service is so so... Not very fantastic. I was travelling with my 5month old baby & would like to loan a baby troller. Everywhere i asked, they dont have it. They make me walk from this information counter to the other counters to ask for one while carrying my baby. Japan doesn't like babies silly, you think that is bad - just have your infant get sick while in Japan. Enjoy riding around from hospital to hospital to try and get someone to see the child. Population is on the decline sad to say..

Burakumin... My wife is not a hostess, if she were a hostess, or a prostitute, or a strip club dancer I would certainly expect immature, ill mannered 'boys' to show up out front, through windows, in doors, etc.. Furthermore, my point was to highlight the fact that the article says "bar" worker, it is pretty common knowledge that Filipina women in Japan predominantly work in the sex trade. If that makes you uncomfortable I am sorry. Just to spell out my comment, the Japanese news is decidedly anti-military no matter how you swing it.

If the article had said "Filipina hostess bar worker had house broken into" most would have scanned the article and probably just rolled their eyes. My comment had to do with a particular culture being employed in a particular industry and pointing out that this woman was not simply mixing drinks and some crazy man broke into her house. I do sincerely apologize if my point escaped your grasp and you took it the wrong way.

Related to the article if you don't understand being passionately in love and trying to rekindle something that isn't there I feel bad for you. I don't know about you but I have pulled my fair share of idiotic, immature stunts in the name of "love."

(Incidentally I do agree with your last line. The standards for U.S. Service Members has certainly dropped way below what I would consider acceptable.)

So I read a few of these, I am long since out of the military, strangely enough living in the U.S. with a Japanese wife (nope never stationed in Japan) and I had to 'chime in here.'

First of all this is a Filipino woman in Japan thus there is about a, what - better than 50% certainty she is a Hostess Bar employee. Secondly, I don't care what people say, I have to agree that in my early twenties I was doing some crazy stuff for love. Sorry, after age 11, 12, 13, I was not considered independent. Not sure where TJRandom grew up, but it is my experience that in Japan as well as most of Asia that the male (and female) children stay at home well into their 20's so lets please put this in perspective.

Finally as for the woman in Okinawa who said they live in fear. Honey, please, do we want to discuss that Russian submarine that was parked in your backyard just the other day and it had a little "problem" that killed 20 people. Do you want the U.S. to stop paying attention to said Russians? Do you want us to leave and put Japan at the Mercy of China, Korea and our old pals the Russians? If you want to talk about living in fear lets talk about a little island the size of California with no significant natural resources having to do as it's stronger (in terms of natural resources / military) neighbors chime in?

Sure.... Kick us out; your crime rate will most CERTAINLY go down. Unless of course you are reading the Japanese news which anyone will tell you surely puts some kid trying to return a stuffed animal to shame... cough cough 19 year old kid mows down someone in broad day light. 'Man arrested for filiming up high school girls skirt, 'Police on Sunday arrested two 17-year-old youths for allegedly assaulting and robbing two people in Sakai City and Osaka in October. T', 'A 37-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday for fatally stabbing her 40-year-old husband after arguing with him' shall I continue?

What effort would it have taken to flash your passport(s) and said you are on holidays and don't need a Visa? I used to always carry my Passport in JP, actually, whenever I am anywhere on business EU or Asia I carry it with me and if someone asks I don't care if I "doubt" they are cops I show it to them.

Actually to that end, most of the tourism books here say ALWAYS CARRY YOUR PASSPORT because the JP officials can ask for it at any time. I only stopped doing it because my wife called me an idiot, and if I have any trouble she can take care of the thugs for me.... I hope...