serindipity comments

There are a few countries and groups of indigenous people who hunt whales for subsistance. Japan is not one of them. They hunt whales for profit only. However, there are thousands of tons of whale meat in freezers around Japan that they can't give away because nobody wants to eat it. They tried to give it schools but the refused it. Another international war Japan won't give up on. We all know what happened the last time they dug in against the rest of the world.

Adept at gaining publicity, he gained notoriety for "direct-action" tactics such as ramming vessels and using acoustic weapons, water cannon and stink bombs.

If you look at the footage of the sinking of the Ady Gill it was the Japanese whalers who were doing the ramming.

The water cannons and stink bombs (butric acid - rancid butter) are used in most protests all over the world. The Japanese weren't shy about using their own water cannons either. The whaling in the southern oceans was another international war Japan lost. No wonder they are bitter.

What a great thing to see! However, it's a shame it has to be done by volunteers. Now, if we could only get them to start cleaning the beaches too I would be happy.

This story raises a few questions:

Are these very clever criminals or are they scamming very stupid people?

Why are the cops doing this and not bank staff or security firms?

Did they actually catch anybody?

What exactly are they doing to stop the scam? Listening to people's telephone conversations?

Don't the cops have anything better to do?

Wouldn't an education campaign be more effective?

What a complete waste of resources! Have they caught that guy that killed the little girl in Togane yet? They can deploy 58,000 cops to watch geriatrics withdraw their pensions, but can't find one animal. I guess money is more important. Ridiculous!

Ummm, OK! I don't get it. Why are they searching for entertainers who look good wearing glasses. What is the relevance? One could say it is discrimination against people who don't wear glasses. This is one of the most stupid things I have ever read.

Are you kidding? Have you seen the way Japanese people drive? They have very strong gods in Japan. "Bonzai!"

So, these idiots have attacked four people and got away with 2,000yen. Obviously professionals! How long is it gonna be before they actually kills someone for twenty bucks? But, we know the Japanese police are on the case and they will catch them promptly. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Oh,yes! He killed his friend because he was hitting on his girlfriend. Bye! Bye! Life! Idiot!

Patrons cannot convert the balls to currency inside the parlor. (Only electronics, toiletries, and other small items are available for exchange.) Obtaining cash is done via a middleman at a satellite office away from the parlor. This extra step, by law, makes this form of gambling — a word Yoshida does not prefer — technically legal.

So, there it is folks! The biggest scam in Japan! Therefor, the winnings and payout ratio is not legislated and the operators can do whatever they like. And, most of the profits end up in the hands of the Korean crime bosses. Pachinko is a joke!!!

I'd dare say there are not many handicapped people who can afford 220,000yen a month. I'd also be interested to know how they came up with that figure.

I'd conclude the rubber weapons are for display purposes due to security issues of displaying real weapons. I wonder if the police are gonna be there scanning for freaks! This would be the perfect opportunity to build up a database of potential trouble makers and gang members, but the police will be to busy patrolling the carparks for the real crime of, unregistered bicycles!

He was released without a charge? Unbelievable!

The AFP network says he is Spanish, not British. Which one is right?

Ha! Ha! That's a classic! Good on ya pom for giving me my daily chuckle! Great stuff! There should be more of it!

tkoind2 - Yep, I've got to agree with you. The drivers here are generally very irresponsible and a real danger for pedestrians. I have no idea why the Jp Gov. doesn't introduce speed bumps to control the speeding on narrow streets. I know the police are too busy checking bicycle registrations and taking photos of illegally parked cars to build up their monthly revenue to do anything about speeders and red light runners. And, while were are at it, what about those bloody noisy scooters terrorizing the neighborhoods at 2am. The roads and most drivers in Japan are a disgrace!

Well, that's the end of that bear and very soon its whole species will be gone the way of the dodo. - Why aren't the people who live in these areas educated in how to protect themselves from bears? If they take a large pot and a wooden spoon to beat it with the bears will run off although, I guess there will always be rogues that have been harassed by people thus giving them a good reason to hate humans.

Talk about an over reaction! If one of the JR staff was caught using drugs would they stop running the trains? Stupidity!

Insurance job, for sure!

Here comes the recession/depression! Cash in your Super and stuff it into your pillow case.

An MPD official said, “These cases are clearly a challenge against our campaign. Although it makes the police look bad, we disclosed them as warning to potential victims.”

I think the J-cops are the biggest victims here. It's sad these monsters are preying on the elderly who have very little social skills after a life here, but clearly the so-called 'campaign' is doing nothing. The J-cops should be running a TV campaign during the NHK kareoke hour on Sunday afternoons. Then they are sure to get through to their target audience.

From all the bad manners in the Tokyo train system they pick this one do a campaign on!?!? Who is the genius that came up with this? Someone that got splashed by an umbrella, obviously! What a complete waste of money!

Can you tell me how many there are in or near Yokohama? Thanks. --Cirroc

I could answer that one, but let's just give a hint. It's less than one!

Hmmm! Interesting concept! I wonder if it will come under the same legislation that mobile phones have to make a noise when the shutter is operated or is Nintendo opening up a whole new avenue for upskirt perves?

So, need I say it again? - Baby hatches need to be introduced nationally!

Wow! Yet another pointless time-waster by the J-cops. Imagine how many bicycle registrations he could be checking instead. Maybe he should ask everyone if they know who killed that little girl in Togane, but that would be police work, wouldn't it? The J-cops really 'P' me off!

Sad! At least the cops have got this freak (by confession, of course). Too bad they didn't do anything before she was killed.

Just to prove the point, there was a 3y/o girl beaten to death by her mother in Shizuoka on Sunday. That is three in a fortnight that have been reported and there are probably one or two more that have not become national news. I can't comprehend the insanity of how a person could willfully kill their own child!

They are some of the nicest manneries I've seen in a long time.

And yet, another child dies at the hands of a parent. Good to see the 'one a week' average is holding up. - "Stressed out?" - Let's just simplify it and say, "Insane!" - Sad!

Is anybody taking bets on what the gesture she is making with her left hand means? I can think of a couple, but the moderator might be offended.