Scott Donald comments

@sleepy dog. You should write for Japan Today. It would be nice to read some articles on Japan from a rational POV. Perhaps you could be the Hitchen's of Japan. It would certainly give me cause to read more JT.

Sadly, it is hardly evidence for life after death. While the doctor may be head of an emergency ward and it may seem that he has credentials that would make him an expert in the area, he is hardly a neurologist or neuro-scientist. Nor has he prepared a hypothesis and conducted double-blind studies or even submitted his philosophical opinion for peer review. Unfortunately, casually observed case studies are not the same a rigorous quantifiable research.

It would be great if Shukan Gendai builds his hypothesis and then tests it properly. He would have been taught how to do this in undergraduate school. Hey, if he can get repeatable results, that would be awesome. In the mean time this is just poorly substantiated opinion.

I hope my wife doesn't feel the same. We have been together for 12 wonderful years. She is my best friend and I wouldn't no what to do without here. But everyone has their right to change and make their own decisions. I think a major problem is that Japanese couples have be programmed to have the hard working husband and the economically demanding wife with all the 1960's gender roles wrapped in, but this is out dated and doesn't work with modern society. Couples that last are those who are equals and are incredibly lucky enough to grow and change in a way that compliments their partners growth and change. Fear of a god's wrath seems both a juvenile and an ill considered reason to stay with someone.

All these "dangerous" threats on Japan, just at the time Abe wants to change the laws on defense.

Minister arrested for excessive abuse of hyperbole

Way to go. Something for the nation to be truly proud of.

So much for the attacker being in his 30's as mentioned in a previous article. This is why eyewitness accounts are notoriously poor.

Oh the horse is not responding to the whip any more? Well, whip it harder.

Students have changes as society had changed but the teaching remains the same.

New developments in pedagogy abound the halls of colleges but rarely trickle down to the school. This is what happens when politicians make decisions rather than the academic leaders who have a mastery of the science of education.

It's great to see more professional world in YT. I think there will always be an amateur market, but YT commercial backed videos is the way of the future.

So that's why my weekly consommé big bag was missing at the shops.

@asai. I agree on both accounts. Yes, this is the Japanese constitution and, yes, laws are subject to interpretation. My comment did not suggest that U.S. constitutional law influences the Japanese constitution and it did not suggest that the US constitution was free of circumvention by other laws. I merely wished to help explain that there is a difference in how rigidly the freedom of expression in the constitution is upheld in Japan compared to the U.S.. It appeared, that from the comments, there was some confusion.

@ slumdog. Yes is seems that while there is a constitutional right for Freedom of Expression in Japan, it all to often circumvented by other laws. This is counter-intuitive to the U.S. application of constitutional rights. @all. This a good primer for freedom of speech in Japan. http://ir.library.osaka-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/11094/8543/1/oulr038-013.pdf

@tmarie, agreed. It's seems they are taking the U.S. Banking crisis option.

It's funny, many Japanese like to wax lyrical about the 'nail that sticks out gets hammered down'. The reality is that the nail that sticks out is the lord of the people in this country. You can see it time and again in the classroom, the workplace, in politics and on the street.