Posted in: Russian-language sign at station in Tokyo back on view after being covered up See in context
Ukrainians also use Cyrillic script , as do Bulgarians
So do Serbians and people of Montenegro and parts of Bosnia
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Posted in: Why it matters if U.S. calls Ukraine genocide See in context
US use of the word genocide is exclusively for actions of Russia and of course to describe government handling in China. The permanent use of this word makes it hollow and untrustworthy. People understand that it is only an expression of propaganda to smear the enemy.
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Posted in: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says she won't seek second term See in context
I bet she doesn't retire to PRC, though.
There is no need for her to retire on the mainland. She is a real local Hongkonger
-9 ( +0 / -9 )
Posted in: Defense experts back Japan acquiring enemy base strike capability See in context
Because of the Komeito, we received ¥300,000 during the Covid and from the LDP a useless facemask.
Dont forget the face masks were a present by Mr. Abe. The were not useless but showed how much Abe cared for the general public.
-2 ( +1 / -3 )
Posted in: Japan to again designate Russian-held isles as illegally occupied See in context
I believe the Kishida government made a BIG mistake to side in the Ukraine conflict unconditionally with the US and Europe and condemn Russia. They had the chance to stay neutral and maintain their positive relations with Moscow. It's not always clever to follow the Big brother from the Eastern Pacific in particular when one depends on the good will of Russia. Now the train has departed and who knows whether there will be another chance within the next couple of decades.
-4 ( +2 / -6 )
Posted in: Japan to send Foreign Minister Hayashi to Poland See in context
So Abe’s brother, a far right nationalist, will go to Poland,
Abe's brother? Hayashi is more of an anti Abe. He was the top Japanese in the China Japan friendship association before joining the Kishida cabinet as foreign minister.
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1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan rules out withdrawal from joint Russia gas project See in context
The Putin regime is most likely to collapse soon.
Well, the so called collapse will certainly have to wait. Just a reminder. Russia has never lost a land war in all of her history. Many tried to beat or conquer the country, The Swedes, Napoleon and and the Nazis. All were solidly beaten. Russians take time until they react with full strength.......
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Posted in: Pentagon rejects NATO nations providing jets to Ukraine See in context
To anybody who believes that Putin is bluffing I recommend to read about the Czechen war. After Russia came under terrorist fire Putin ordered the complete destruction of the city of Grozny and with that he achieved his goal. The present Ukraine war has some similarities and I'm convinced that Putin will do everything to win this conflict incl things we do not believe he will.
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Posted in: Man dies after being found collapsed on street in Tokyo See in context
There are so many people, young and old who are homeless and live on very small allowances, That's why there are thousands who look to find some coins in vending machines. Many have no shelter where they can escape from harsh winter weather. This is a disgrace for Japan which after all is still one of the richest nations on earth. Solving or at least reducing mass poverty is a subject where PM Kishida should concentrate on.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Canada, UK join Beijing Winter Olympics boycott See in context
Attn. Hiro
Germany will not take part in a diplomatic boycott. Bundeskanzler Scholz made this already clear. There will be no major changes in the China policy by the Federal Government of Germany
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Posted in: China orders Cathay Pacific to suspend staff backing Hong Kong protests See in context
Did China really request CX to suspend the staff? There are other news which report that China told CX that Staff that took part in violent protests - like one CX pilot - and several flight attendants are banned from flying into China and/or on transit routes crossing China. Since HKG's airspace falls under the Civil Aviation Administration of China they have to follow this order or CX can be banned/closed completely. Cathay does not have much choice but could still employ the staff on ground. The main reason for this strict order is safety which everybody can understand. If a pilot hates China so much he could certainly also be a very dangerous terrorist threat. Just remember Malaysian Airlines flight several years ago where most probably the pilot was on a suicide mission and took hundreds of passengers with him.
It will be interesting to see whether more HK companies where employees took part in the 'black riots' will follow soon. This is at least expected by many. It looks like time for repay has arrived.
-6 ( +1 / -7 )
Posted in: 2020 Tokyo Olympic costs keep rising See in context
It is sad to read that the games cost such a big amount of money. Is it only me or is it the general feeling that the nation goes rapidly down the way of corruption. While the number of homeless and unemployed people is rising by the month in spite of an export boom and high earnings from corporate Japan, billions or even trillions of JPY are spent on useless Olympic buildings which are worthless after the games. I wonder who the main beneficiaries of this cost explosion are.
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Posted in: Abe to tell U.N. chief he opposes talks with N Korea See in context
Here is what Tillerson said to the problem with NK:
We're ready to have the first meeting without precondition," Tillerson told a policy forum at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank.
It seems you're not up to date. Just waiting for Abe to change his mind again.
-2 ( +3 / -5 )
Posted in: Abe to tell U.N. chief he opposes talks with N Korea See in context
Either a lot of people can't read or can't think. To date NK refuses to make heir nuclear and missile program a "negotiable" issue. So just exactly what is there to discuss?....
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Posted in: 3 arrested for stealing customer’s bag in Ginza restaurant See in context
The Romanian (also Albanian, Kosovo) Balkan mafia is a headache for European police forces because they are notorious criminals. I wonder whether they will also start to break into residences.
What I did not know is that they made their business appearance into Japan as well.
12 ( +13 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan's business confidence hits three-year high: BOJ See in context
@Reckless
I will pray for Mr. Abe today at Yasukuni. He must succeed
Did he suddenly die in a fight or how come you pray for him at Yasukuni? :)
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Celebration and protests as China's Xi visits divided Hong Kong for handover anniversary See in context
.....Beijing has promised Hong Kong's capitalist system will remain unchanged for "at least" 50 years until 2047, but it has not clarified what happens after that.
What happens thereafter? I believe this doesn't need clarification. After end of June 2047 HKG will automatically become either a new province of China or, what is more realistic, a part of Guangdong province where it belongs to. It will certainly not become an independent state.
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Posted in: Wheelchair user crawls up plane stairs in dispute with Vanilla Air See in context
Very unusual behavior for Japanese airline staff. Maybe the staff in charge was trained by an infamous American carrier or does the staff in charge represent the 'new normal' of ANA's budget airline? Anyhow, the person(s) in charge for this public relation failure should be reprimanded or even dismissed.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: ANA recognized for 'World's Best Airport Services' and 'Best Airline Staff in Asia' at SKYTRAX World Airline Awards See in context
Best Airport Services - including lounge services - I agree, ANA is among the best . Best Airline Staff in Asia? This does certainly not include airlines from the Middle East and some from SE Asia. There are a number of top quality airlines in Asia which are equally good and - when it comes to language skills - often much better than ANA. ANA does certainly not lead in this field.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: After toppling Apple in China, Oppo eyes world market See in context
I am as curious as 'Freshmeat' to learn what patents they did steal. I hope those who accuse Oppo (or is it envy or hatred because they are Chinese?) will come forward with hard facts.
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Posted in: Hakuho caps 38th title with perfect record at summer sumo See in context
Congrats to Hakuho for a job perfectly well done. Nice to see him back on top again. I wish him good luck for his wish to accomplish 40 championships.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Xi tells LDP's No. 2 man he wants to improve ties with Japan See in context
While improved relations between Asia's two largest economies are welcomed the question must be asked; What's the catch?
The catch is the the immense opportunity to gain money and full order books from participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the next 1 1/2 decades dozens of trillions of $ are needed to lift Asia and Africa out of poverty by building modern infrastructure. This heavy lifting cannot only be done by China. It needs the participation of many highly developed nations. Japan is certainly very well equipped to become a co-partner for infrastructure projects.
I'm an optimist and hope that the B&R Initiative and Japan's membership in the AIIB can finally lead to a better understanding and peaceful cooperation between Japan and China.
Btw, don't be surprised if within the next couple of weeks we get also news about the US joining the AIIB. Nowadays nothing is impossible.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Tokyo creates new logo, slogan to promote city overseas as prime tourist destination See in context
Not that I'm a fan of any towers but the Sky Tree seems more suitable to the concept.
I like the design. Tokyo tower was constructed in the 50th/60th of last century but it still stands for modernity whereas the Zojoji -just next to the tower- is perhaps the most well known historic landmark of the capital city.
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Posted in: Sandstorm observed sweeping across wide areas of Japan See in context
There is no downplaying in Chinese media. Hundreds of millions of trees have been planted over the last two/three decades but they can only reduce the velocity of sandstorms and not avoid them. As for "Greenpeace" ... isn't it sad that even sandstorms are subject to criticism if they occur in China.... Some really feed on any kind of bad news if it only serves their own agenda.
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Posted in: Sky high See in context
In the photo below right, you can see Tokyo Dome in the lower left.
I doubt Tokyo Dome can be seen in this photo. All I see is a view over Sumida-ku with the shadow of the Skytree and, over the Sumida gawa, to the left a partial view of Taito-ku (Asakusa area). The Tokyo Dome is in Bunkyo-ku which is several kms away from any place shown in this photo.
Moderator: Tokyo Dome can be seen in the second photo.
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Posted in: Premium Friday campaign to encourage workers to leave early See in context
If employers agree with this suggestion I suppose they want some "compensation". May be by adding half an hour or one hour of unpaid overtime work on all the other working days of the month. In the end it may result in more unpaid overtime. That is what I expect from this proposal.
7 ( +7 / -0 )
Posted in: Tokyo governor race a fight to save reputation as 2020 Olympics host See in context
Is the new stadium finished yet?
I live in the Meiji Jingu Gaien area within a few hundred meters of the 'hole in the ground'. So far not much has happened. There is a huge fence around the construction site but peeping through some small openings once in a while I cannot yet see any real progress but there are dozens of lorries every morning parking on Gaien Nishi Dori waiting to unload sand or other building material.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Tourism board wants foreign visitors to avoid 'public flatulence' See in context
@fgm333 The Japanese don't defecate and urinate in public, or on planes or in churches and temples,ok!
I'm a retiree and frequently walk around all over Tokyo. I don't know how often I saw Japanese men who urinate in broad daylight on pedestrian walkways for everybody to see. Just last week I had to make a little detour to avoid being showered by one and no, this did not happen in some remote area but in Hatsudai/Shibuya-ku.
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: M8.5 earthquake strikes near Ogasawara islands See in context
The quake was 590km deep. If it was closer to the surface it would have caused tremendous damage and probably tsunamis as well. Still, I have the strange feeling that this was a harbinger of what's coming next.
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Posted in: Hakuho beats Taiho's record by winning 33rd title See in context
Congratulations to Hakuho who is the new champion of champions of the Sumo world. He deserves to be the top wrestler of all times. I further wish him good luck and many more championships over the next couple of years.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Chinese shares soar, then fade as Beijing stimulus plans fall short
Posted in: Chinese shares soar, then fade as Beijing stimulus plans fall short
Posted in: Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open with back injury