Striker10 comments

I for one have had more than enough of super hero films and big blockbuster action movie sequels. No more transformers or spider mans please!

Pierogies!

Who cares? When did JT turn into a celebrity gossip rag?

@joyridingonthetitanic - exactly, he's just trying to carry on the legacy of his racist war-criminal scum grandfather. I imagine he has been indoctrinated about restoring the might of the great Nippon and the pure Nipponjin people since he was a little boy.

What scum. Not only is she trying to kill her co-workers, but also endangering all the people on the roads too. Lock her up for the rest of her miserable life!

In other news Japan is looking to open up 47 new coal plants in the next decade or so. Then there's all the nuke plants they hope to open up. That's obviously a country that has mastered renewable energy technology!

So why does Japan pay a premium compared to other countries? No wonder gas prices are so high over here!

@Goodlucktoyou

Except that when the fire ants spread all over Japan, you'll have to pay out on those policies... may not be very lucrative in the end.

Quotas on soft cheeses like feta and mozzarella will still protect Japan's culturally sensitive dairy sector.

What the heck is a "culturally sensitive dairy sector"? Maybe they meant "bloated" or "uncompetitive"? Which means that we won't be seeing the quality, cheap cheeses of Europe in Japan any time soon?

I think I've heard that you can sell your old PCs or mobile phones to companies who mine the precious metals inside... anyone have any information about doing that? Or is getting someone to take it for free the best you can expect?

@WilliB - I completely agree. I tried to upvote you but for some reason it doesn't work for you comment (it works for other comments though)...

I also really wish the police would crack down on using smartphones and other distractions while driving. I see it all the time and it's so dangerous. They need some very strict punishments and equally strict implementation of the law.

The US withdrew, but with plans to build 41 new coal plants in the next ten years, Japan is basically doing the same thing just without the formal declaration. The vast percentage of the population is against it, it's ridiculous that they have plants to build even one more plant, never mind 41!

Maybe he was referring to foreigners working as English teachers for shady companies where they are basically exploited, somewhat akin to the maid cafe in the article?

Why would any self respecting foreigner work at such a place for such low pay?

Plenty of English teachers do just this.

Surely even low paying English schools pay better than 1000 yen/hour though, no?

Can someone in the know explain to me exactly what this Sunday's election is about? Is it different than the election last year that saw Koike become governor, or did Koike call another election to try to gain more seats than last time? It's all confusing to me that there are LDP in all the different elections in Japan...

“gaijin” means “foreigner”

It does, but it has condescending connotations. Gaikokujin would be the correct word to use. Somehow I doubt this company is actually run by foreigners as the tag line would suggest. The whole thing reeks of casual Japanese racism. Why would any self respecting foreigner work at such a place for such low pay?

Interestingly at most companies and with most executives in Japan, this is not the case. Japan's Companies Act requires shareholder approval of the pay (including base pay, bonuses, stock options and retirement benefits) for the board of directors, and that is a binding vote (as opposed to the US where it is non binding).

That is interesting, and in my opinion a good thing. It probably explains why executive pay in Japan is not out of control like it is in the US.

Unless you own shares of a company what that company pays it's employees is none of your concern. The stockholders in companies in the US and Europe obviously place value on attaining a good chief executive and choose to pay the market price for one.

Such a naive opinion, you obviously don't know how it typically works. Often CEOs and boards propose huge pay raises for each other and shareholders don't even get a direct say on it, or it's a non-binding vote. And even when they do get a say, the executives usually own enough shares themselves together with the typical default pro-management votes of hedge funds that the proposals typically pass.

Another issue is that executives base pay on the pay of executives from a pool of other similar companies - but the other companies are all doing the same so when one company increases, the others all follow suit. Therefore it creates an upward spiral and executive pay just keeps on skyrocketing.

It's a lot of money, but it's still nothing compared to the absolutely criminal amounts that CEOs in the USA and parts of Europe receive...

Of course she has "dementia", how convenient for her. Just like that old crook Ishihara.

What kind of monster can strangle their 7-month son in cold blood? I can't even imagine it. This guy deserves the harshest penalty there is.

In general it is excellent. It completely disproves the argument back home that tipping is needed to ensure good service - the best service I've ever had has been in Japan, and no tip was required. You also don't have to endure meaningless small chat/flirting by a server trying to get a bigger tip.

Stop it US! You're just making the already inflated prices rise more! Then there's that damn nhk drama...

I pine for the days when I could get a bottle of Yoichi for 1500 yen...

This corrupt, incompetent, old dinosaur needs to shut his mouth (and preferably retire/just go away). Koike is thinking of the health and welfare of the citizens - the number one priority of a politician - who gives a flying flip about the olympics in comparison to that??

I've occasionally seen Jeeps, but I'm talking about the Chrysler brand.

There are Chryslers in Japan?? I honestly can't remember ever seeing one!

I would be extremely worried if I was one of those whose data was stolen - who knows how widely that information was distributed in the criminal world? Who knows when a criminal group will decide to target you or your family? The customers should move and change their phone numbers etc., and charge it all to the bank.

"It's your duty to your country to have many children! Don't expect any real support though..."

If the big guy got off they could fit three more people on!

Under the new law, members of "terrorist groups or other organized crime groups" can be punished for carrying out specific actions in preparation for 277 different crimes, ranging from arson to copyright violation.

Ah yes, that terrible, terrible copyright violation terrorism. The citizens will never truly be safe until this is eradicated!