TheXyco comments

Some more damn space.

Not to be a jerk, but maybe this is how China feels when Abe and PMs make official visits to Yasukuni shrine?

Pour salt in someone's wound and I'm sure they'll be keen to do the same to you.

Just sayin', ya know?

(Try a little empathy once in a while)

I find that when entrepreneurs talk about "Asia" as "being the place to be", they almost never mean Japan.

If you think it's THAT bad just imagine how much WORSE it is for Japanese women.

International terrorism is a GLOBAL issue, and being a part of the world will subject you to its evils. If you don't want your citizens to become targets, bury your head in the sand and isolate yourself from the rest of the world.

And suddenly everyone in Japan starts to care about the ongoing conflicts in Mali & North Africa.

All this is well and good -- but useless when no one possess enough linguistic skill to interact with investors. Why would any company struggle to find or train Japanese-capable staff to build a regional hub when they could just as easily open a branch in Singapore where the staff have multilingual and geographic access to China, Southeast Asia, AND the English-speaking world?

With only a few exceptions, the only foreseeable reason any multinational would establish a foothold in Japan would be to tap the domestic market -- which could be an exceptional profitable -yet- lengthy and costly venture given the hyper-sensitive and cautious nature of the Japanese market.

As if Japanese people don't do things that are grossly inconsiderate to foreigners on an near-hourly basis. Standing on the street? "Please teach English." Meeting for the first time? "Are you married? Eeeeeh...! Why not!?" Sitting on the train? moves to different seat Buying bento for literally the 200th time from the same shop? "Chopsticks okay?"

As foreigners we are instructed not to view these incidents negatively. "They are trying to be nice." or "It's their kindness." Fine okay, buy does the simple fact that this guy is a foreigner mean that this interaction only goes one way? If that's your thought, then it's no wonder Japan's worldview is stuck in the 1920's and it's global clout has plummeted. Welcome to the world, Japan. Not every abides by your arcane rules of politeness 100% of the time.

Furthermore, I think some question is raised that this individual didn't know he could've been being rude. I would believe (but has yet to be proven) that he knew full well. It was an extraordinary circumstance, so he did something out of the typical convention. "It's his kindness!"

7) Why do foreigners get so happy when I take a picture with them?

When you travel abroad, YOU are the foreigner. Imagine that.

Overnight everyone in Japan learned that Syria exists.

Let the activist nationalists from whatever nation go and duke it melee-style out on these rocks for sake of their 'pride'. Meanwhile, the rest of us living in the 21st century in Japan, China, and Korea can conduct commerce as usual -- making our fortunes through civility and cooperation. Enjoy your "honor" -- I'll stake my own honor in what I can accomplish rather than how many "others" I can intimidate and irritate.

These island disputes are stupid. International disputes over uninhabited rocks are stupid. Nationalism is stupid. Not a single actor in this entire drama is anything but an opportunist.

Made a right mess of the rail system as well.