Japan Today

taikutsujin comments

Posted in: Japan's efforts to raise wages wane as firms embrace merit-based pay See in context

For 70+ years the hard-working citizens of Japan have devoted their lives to companies in an effort to rebuild the nation. After all this time, who has benefited? The companies and the politicians. Despite record profits, much of which is invested overseas, salaries remain stagnant, and the living standard has been declining for the last 40 years.

What a truly sad state of affairs. In any other country, people would be protesting in the streets.

It's time for a radical change, and this starts at the top of the government.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan drops in OECD scholastic ranking; China leads in all categories See in context

Wrong. Second richest in the free world. Greatest % of university graduates than any nation on earth. Leader in robotics, AI. Non stop winner of Nobel prizes. The list goes on.

Wrong.

Japan is ranked 25-28th when measured in GDP per capita [1]. The the GDP is large, but so is the population. Also, everyone knows that the economy has been stagnant for 30 years, particularly salaries (which cannot compete with the west).

More university graduates, but the degrees hold any value outside of Japan? Very little. Everyone knows it is 2-4 years of play/reflection.

Leader in robotics, AI? Not according to the number of research publications/citations. In fact, research output from Japan is nowhere near the USA or Western Europe, due in part to low spending on university research.

Nobel prizes? No, Japan is ranked 7th (tied with Switzerland), lagging Russia. #1 is the US. [2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_byGDP(PPP)_per_capita

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_country

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Posted in: S Korean envoy to Japan seeks 'comprehensive' fix to wartime issues See in context

South Korea proposes the need for a "comprehensive" fix. OK, then the first return the money from the previous agreements. That would seem like a logical first step.

It seems, however, that SK is trying to have it's cake, eat it too, and come back for seconds.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan, S Korea agree to summit next month See in context

South Korea, trying to milk the goat, again.

9 ( +17 / -8 )

Posted in: Emperor Naruhito proclaims ascendancy to throne; pledges to fulfill his duty as symbol of the state See in context

The ¥16.3 billion cost works out at ¥125 per national. Cost of a rice ball.

Tell that to the hungry kids who didn't get to eat that rice ball tonight.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Gov't funding for imperial ceremonies sparks rare dissent See in context

Ant and bee colonies need a queen. Humans do not. Save the money for something actually useful to society.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan to revoke S Korea's trusted trade status Wednesday as planned See in context

SK, you reap what you sow. What exactly did you expect?

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Posted in: Tokyo expressway to adjust tolls to curb traffic during 2020 Olympics See in context

So the plan is not to improve infrastructure to meet rising demands, but instead to raise tolls to lower demand.

In related news, trains packed like sardines, already running near 200% capacity will not be upgraded. Instead, the solution is to ask companies to stagger their work hours.

Meanwhile, let's spend more money on fighter jets.

What brilliant logic.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan to buy 105 F-35 U.S. stealth warplanes: Trump See in context

This is a win-win for everyone but the Japanese taxpayers. It makes Trump look like a good salesman, while at the same time Abe ensures the JA vote by not having to open domestic markets to competition in order to reduce the trade imbalance.

Meanwhile, many schools still cannot afford air conditioning.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: 3 dead as high temperatures continue across Japan See in context

Its 2019 in supposedly one of the most educated countries in the world. With the 3rd highest GDP in the world. How does this stuff happen?

Yeah, one would think this could easily be avoided. OTOH, although Japan has the 3rd highest GDP, it ranks 25-30th in terms of GDP per capita (better indicator of standard of living), so it's not too surprising.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Emperor, empress treat Trumps with French dinner, live orchestra See in context

Glad to see our tax money going to good use. Maybe after the tax hike, next year's visit can be even more elaborate. The level of subservience is downright embarrassing.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan's economy expands for 2nd straight quarter See in context

"Gross domestic product expanded an annualized 2.1%, but the biggest driver was imports falling even faster than exports, which meant that net exports technically fueled growth in the economy. Declining imports is a sign of weakness in demand, so the GDP figure is somewhat misleading."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-19/japan-s-economy-grows-in-first-quarter-despite-global-headwinds

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan's traffic death toll falls to record low 3,532 in 2018 See in context

Very good for a 127 Milliion people country.

With most of those 127 million traveling regularly by train, foot, or bike; and not by car.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: 6 supermarket shortcuts that save time later See in context

It's 5 pm, yet there's no dinner clock ticking in Japan because: (1) the husband has mandatory unpaid overtime, and won't be home until 11 pm; (2) the kids have cram school and won't be home until 9 pm; and (3) there is no room in the typical micro fridge and micro kitchen in a micro Japanese house to store all of the mentioned food items.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan reportedly to halt Iran oil imports under U.S. pressure See in context

Trump's sanctions on Iran are simply another hissy fit to spite Obama's deal. Now, thanks to spineless Abe, everyone in Japan will be paying the price, in an already stagnant economy. Unbelievable.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Posted in: S Africa hits back at Trump over land 'seizure' tweet See in context

Just a tactic by Trump to deflect attention away from his crimes at home.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan, U.S. to meet again on trade in Sept See in context

Trump will not return to the TPP simply because Obama was associated with it.

Japan will never remove tariffs on "sensitive" markets because the LDP needs the JA vote.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites


©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.