Taketomo comments

Japan has taken being weird to a new level. What's this about seeing guys nipples ? Huh?

We are getting close to the time when there will be no more living witnesses to WW2 and the horrors that came with it. As it fades into history , the anti Japanese sentiment in certain Asian countries will probably do the same - fade away. I think this is a case of an old man still fighting the war and will probably not doing so until he is dead. But also it is acts like these that influence younger thinkers of a new generation and steer them towards the same mindset of resentment over a long since passed time. I guess we will see how strong the historical effects of Japanese imperialism will last? And I do find the comments of "Korean bbq" a bit insensitive.

My favourite band. It's too bad Moon and Entwhistle aren't around and also too bad that Daltrey isn't performing. Who's Next is as good as it gets. Live at Leeds a must own. I will watch because always like to see younger bands pay homage to the greats. Re: Foo Fighters doing Young Mans Blues.

Sounds cool but the Asus word looks to close to anus.

I hope she's ok. What an immense talent. So good. Makes me proud to be a Canadian. Prayers to her.

At first glance it thought this read Anpanman. Oh to be the sleep deprived father of a young child. Anyways it's good to see Japanese jumpers doing so well internationally.

First ever ? Ya - no kidding. I can't believe there is one to begin with. Are they really that celebrated in Japan? I like a few of their songs but they hardly seem worthy of this kind of thing unless it's in England. If this is a success I guess we can look forward to the long awaited Chumbawumba retrospective

This is one of those things that is so frustratingly confusing about Japanese society. These girls who have been groped would rather stay quiet than report it and get caught up in what the public eye thinks about them. I think those who grope should should be publicly shamed. That would carry a lot of weight in Japan.

It's a car-den. John Candy did this years ago on SCTV - a Canadian comedy show. Worth a watch.

Ah Japan. I love you so much. Amidst news stories of Isis , Ukraine and the rest of the madness and sadness in the world I see this piece and I love it. I may be biased as I myself am a boobman. But it is very touching. Extremely touching. I would however worry about some of the guys that line up - there are some creeps in Japan. On a side note , do we know the date and location of the next boobfest? Also it's amusing to see all the uptight (a-cups) people take the time to sound off in opposition.

Glad they made it back. Maybe we shouldn't publicise these stories. It only encourages other thrill seekers to fly Malaysia Airlines."

That makes absolutely no sense. Thrill seekers?I can even tell if it's serious. I just know that I would not fly with said airline , but that's just me.

Very sad. I feel awful for the parents and family of the deceased who must feel so far away right now and just want to be there. 8 people in a car is a bad idea for sure , but how many of us did things like this in our youth? I know I did. We don't need to be pointing out the obvious lack of safety , we need to take a moment and think of how these young lives are gone.

Like Probie - yes I am old enough , and no I don't look back fondly. I recall the Sears catalogue bra section being the closest thing to pornography I could get my hands on.

It's amazing what people can be negative about. Here is an idea that so far has raised nearly 23 million dollars , but still we hear people complaining about it as misguided and an exercise in vanity. What kind of mind processes information this way? I think it's just sour grapes - people unconsciously angry at their own lives of social isolation. I say more power to anything that raises awareness and research funds for this devastating disease.

Awful tragedy. How long before Japanese society can open up a real dialogue about suicide and mental illness.? Will it take a generational shift or is the prevailing attitude too deeply engrained in the national character?

Being labeled a "rich businessman" in Thailand doesn't carry a lot of weight , but if he can care for the kids and provide them with a decent quality of life then I guess you could argue it's no problem. However it definitely seems weird to go about it this way and there is a feeling that this may be a case of a man with psychological issues taking advantage of a developing country's medical and legal system.

What an unfunny fool. People should leave comedy to comedians. If you say something stupid or offensive online it takes on a life of its own. A few seconds of poor judgement can turn into an eternity of people thinking you're an ass. But usually it is the stupid people who say stupid things.

My heart goes out to the poor family of the slain young man. What an unimaginable tragedy. But I do not think the officer shot in cold blood. It sounds like he panicked when faced by unexpected violence in a routine encounter. Either way it is an awful tragedy.

It seems like we can't go a day without seeing a story about Japan's actions during WW2 , but news stories about the Nazis are far less frequent. I wonder if it's due to Japan's reluctance to properly address and formally apologize , or if something that is kept alive and tapped into by the Chinese politicians as a nationalistic rallying point? The anti Japanese sentiment in the rest Asia seems way more intense that any anti German views that you see in European or North American media.

BertieWooster -

Yes - we agree. That's why I said "misguided". I was saying that the lives of all those lost deserve to be remembered not only in mourning , but also as a lesson to how the industry of war serves nobody but those at the top who - like you say - do not get their boots wet. In no way was I excusing war crimes.

I believe it's important to remember those who gave their lives for the country , regardless of how misguided they were. History has shown the evils of Imperial Japan's expansion during WW2 and obviously these are not to be celebrated. If you disagree you may have psychological issues. But these were sons , fathers , brothers etc who's lives were taken in the name of this madness. They deserve to be remembered at least. This remembrance should not be hijacked by anti social loons , it should be quietly done with acknowledgement of temporary national insanity which held our nation at the time.

Well this sucks. What a genuine talent. The power of depression is devastating. So often it manifests in comedic geniuses. I have grown up watching him and felt like I knew him. I hope he has found the peace that evaded him in this life.

Are there a lot of people "vacationing" in Nigeria or Liberia? Is there a Sandals resort I don't know about?

"We'll get him when he comes back in"

"He's not coming back."

If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love.

Rule #1 when having a Japanese wife - don't bring up your ex's... ever

Poor guy. May he rise to Buddha. What an awful way to go and to have your death seen as an "inconvienance" by many travellers - it's a sad thing. Although I've been at Aioi station and it is not a great place to wait for a train , perhaps he was fed up.

Kim Akimoto - It's kind of fetish.

Yes it is Kim. That's right. It's also kind of weird, disturbing, hilarious... At least he didn't put them on and proceed to deficate in them as he ran around the pool away from the police - like that guy who stole the swimsuits from a girls school a couple years ago. Now THAT GUY knew how to make a headline!

Not funny. Not because of its racial insensitivity , but because of its lack of humour. People in the west do not care about how the Japanese view them. People in the west are convinced everybody wants to be them. Their image of Japanese people is that they long to be westernized and try to emulate their culture. This ad will not offend white people , it will make them laugh out of confusion! There is plenty of ignorance on both sides and this is just an example of that.

Without a doubt it works. Without a doubt. As does exercise and diet. I have been on citalopram and decided to stop.it numbed me to the anxiety , but it was still there. I focused on diet , physical exercise and daily meditation. It has been 4 years and I have never felt better. I meditate twice a day by focusing on watching my thoughts and looking at them as an observer. I run between 250 and 300 kilometres a month and lift weights four times a week. I cut out all meat except fish , and focus on a plant based diet. There is no better cure than doing the work yourself , investing in yourself , knowing yourself and loving yourself. The pills prevented me from taking this demon of mental illness on by myself. Do this. Do this. Do this. It is hard , but life is hard and it is by what we go through which builds character , fortitude and self esteem. There is no easy way out and you will be surprised by what you are capable of.