Tim Sullivan comments

Ishiba says he wants to spread happiness. (Reminds me of Kamala's "joy"). Paying proper wages would be a start.

They should punish his parents as well.

He's doing a good job of bankrupting Fuji TV. I hope they sue him.

Nobody watches it anyway

People with dementia in nursing homes who wonder why they can't see Larry King? CNN is a retro channel that's stuck in cable's glory days of the early 90s. It's also too woke for me. I like Newsmax myself.

Ishiba heads a minority government. Not really worth Trump's time (and he can't play golf).

Nippon Steel is also seeking to convince President-elect Donald Trump, who took office on Monday, of the benefits of the acquisition to the U.S. economy. However, it is unclear if Trump will support the deal as he has publicly opposed the plan before winning the Nov 5 presidential election.

A good example of Japan's isolation from reality. Nippon Steel might have been able to bribe Biden. It's never, ever going to happen with Trump.

Surprised to see they are still alive. Many of the gay people I knew from that era died in the 80s. Great song, but I prefer "Macho Man" myself. There's a lot to celebrate today. I'm especially happy about the death of woke. Kamala must be on her fifth bottle of wine by now.

I seem to have woken up in a parallel universe this morning. A president who can actually talk and answer questions from reporters. Is this real or am I still dreaming?

Japan will always grovel to the US -- whoever the current leader happens to be. Brown-nosing is an artform in this country. Beware of the tatamae!

Look forward to seeing him working at a conbini for 1,000 yen an hour. There is a God after all.

It's scary to think that this probably represents only 0.000001 percent of the sleaze in Japanese TV. The tip of the iceberg.

Thank God for foreign pressure. Fuji TV appears to be blissfully unaware of the post-Harvey Weinstein era (it's probably run by octogenarians, like most Japanese firms). I'm ashamed to live in a backwater that is so isolated from international trends. It will probably take Japan about 50 years to catch up with everyone else in this area.

I wasn't a great fan of Abe, but I have to admit that he was a master at sucking up to Trump. The gold-plated golf club, the Nobel Peace Prize nomination (and who knows what else). A hard act to follow for Ishiba.

The good news is that we will never have to see his face on our TVs again. He's finished.

The family that saws heads together, stays together. You never know what your neighbors are up to. Probably better not to find out.

Osamu Tamura, a 61-year-old psychiatrist

I wonder what kind of advice he has been giving his patients over the years?

It's always interesting to read how my fellow sexagenarians spend their free time. I watch NHK and Netflix, spend time with my grandchildren and do a bit of volunteering in my local community. Hard to imagine that people of my age are sawing people's heads off. It's a bit Norman Bates.

I am tired of the daily grind. I should start my own cult. You have to give me all your money and I won't have to pay any tax on it. Sounds good to me.

Yep, it's all very predictable and reassuring. Nothing too subversive -- I guess that's the charm of Kohaku.

This year's Kohaku is cringe, isn't it?

Lots of Koreans this year (much better dancers than Japanese, but I like Perfume). Most of the old enka singers are dead, don't really miss them. The presenters are good though.

Life is becoming increasingly grim for most people in Japan, especially pensioners. I could feel the poverty when doing my New Year shopping this afternoon. I want to go back to the Showa era!

As Kohaku Uta Gassen settles over my living room like a four-day-brewed cabbage fart, I retire to the other room with a bottle of something warming and a couple of good films.

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the ease with which the Japanese TV-viewing public can be rendered docile.

The days when everyone watched NHK on New Year's Eve are long gone. The viewing stats will be out tomorrow. Could be single figures this year.

Thanks to tech stocks and gold, I am about 35 percent richer than was a year ago.

Christmas is about the joy of family and friends if you're lucky enough to have them. It's not a celebration of capitalism.

I am not an economist, but I think inflation is a lot higher than 2.7%. The Land of the Rising Sun has become the Land of Rising Prices.

I think Ishiba will bore the pants off Trump. A great present will make up for our PM's lack of people skills. Abe's gold-plated golf club was a brilliant idea.

I can't help thinking the impoverishment of the Japanese people is a deliberate government policy. The LDP doesn't want the plebs to travel abroad because they will realize what the Living Dead Party has done to this country. It's truly shameful.

Don't take the current affluence for granted

What affluence? Japan is rapidly becoming a third world country. The visible poverty in some parts of Tokyo is truly shocking.

My Japanese accountant is more astounded -- when he sees my exploding NISA and IDECO balances and dividend income from my regular securities accounts. I assume he is used to Japanese clients, who keep their savings in cash, life insurance, and, LOL, Japanese govt bonds

That's the beauty of capitalism. I sometimes think Japan is more communist than China.

Reduce government expenditure first before ripping off the taxpayers

Calling Elon Musk -- Japan needs you!