Japan Today

Tony W. comments

Posted in: Japan to halt funding for U.N. women's rights panel over call to end male-only imperial succession See in context

As an Englishman I can absolutely guarantee that women can be good monarchs, we have had three. Elizabeth the First was a great successor to Henry the Eighth, she had the best man seeing off the Spanish fleet with the Royal Navy he had built up in his reign. Queen Victoria did a reasonable job too in her long reign. And of course Queen Elizabeth the Second was probably the most well thought of Queen, working on vehicles as a Princess in the war, visiting the British colonies to maintain good relationships, and thing an interest in her people in many ways. Get real, and be fair Japan!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Posted in: Chinese court sentences man to death for killing Japanese boy See in context

China's sentence on this deranged killer is just. A psychiatric investigation into why he did it, while possibly professionally interesting, should not have a bearing on the nature of the sentence: this would be unfair on the victim's relatives, and possibly lead other mentally disturbed to not hesitate to commit similar crimes.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Teenager falls from building in Tokyo, killing himself, injuring passerby See in context

Very selfish not to think of innocent people down below. Maybe people who do that sort of thing are that despairing they don't care, but it's not good enough!

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Posted in: 74-year-old man found dead after snow falls on him from roof in Toyama See in context

Being somewhat familiar with snow I find it surprising that snow alone, even if a fairly large amount, would kill someone if it fell on them off a roof. He might have passed out from the mental shock of the impact, and then suffocated under the snow. Real misfortune to happen though.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: Record number of teachers in Japan took mental illness leave in FY2023 See in context

I think inappropriate sexual behaviour with pupils can not appropriately be described as mental illness, it's lack of morality. So especially for that reason, it needs punishment, and the government's attitude towards it needs publishing. As for parents complaining inappropriately about how well teachers are getting their kids to perform in sports and academic subjects, again it is the governments role to educate the parents about what they may reasonably expect from teachers and what they may not.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan to resume Osprey flights after suspension over safety concerns See in context

The bottom line is that American engineering is not as reliable as it would have you think it is: Iran rescue helicopters that don't work properly, space shuttle that explodes due to inadequate maintenance, and producing the cars with the lowest reliability record, namely Jeep. No, Japan should look at European manufacturers instead.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Posted in: Suspect arrested in teen stabbings at McDonald's in Kitakyushu sent to prosecutors See in context

Probably a combination of mental illness and being unemployed. But I feel sorry for his victims, not for him.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Posted in: Girl, 15, dies after man stabs 2 students at McDonald's restaurant in Kitakyushu See in context

"Horrible acts like this make me support the death penalty".

Quite right too, Speed. It is justice for the criminal, offers some consolation to the victim's relatives, and saves the country money for prison services. But I'd guess that, with so many countries having abolished the death penalty now, the WOKE crowd in the world would be creating a fuss. But they should be ignored.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Posted in: Foreign-born CEO says Japan needs immigration to thrive See in context

Maybe a historical higher birthrate would have made this unnecessary, but if Japan has to do it, then be very careful where you get them from, and decide in advance what you will do to them if they commit crimes, especially serious ones. Also make their status temporary for a trial period of several years.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Posted in: Bear killed after 2 days in Akita supermarket See in context

Surely the poor bear could have been shot with an anaesthetic and rehabitated into the wilderness. No need to kill it.

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7 ( +10 / -3 )

Posted in: Rising pit bull attacks in Japan put spotlight on negligent owners See in context

Same problem in Australia too, many such incidents have occurred, and the owners have been charged and the dogs killed. I have read that a dog's nose is very sensitive, so maybe carrying a heavy stick to hit it there with might be a good idea when these dogs are around locally. But why should people have to, and would it be effective anyway?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: Father of 7-year-old girl murdered 20 years ago releases notes on his feelings since then See in context

I think it is great that Japan still keeps the death sentence for that sort of crime. I see that one African country has recently updated its punishments to include it, and I would be even more glad if the WOKE Western countries like the UK and Australia would do the same, it would be both justice and some consolation to victims' relatives.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Posted in: 7-Eleven owner considers going private to avoid foreign buyout: reports See in context

Taking over his own business is a good idea. 7 Eleven is one of those firms who have been found to be paying their staff inadequate wages. Maybe a decent owner would not do that and so maintain the reputation of his or her business.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Nissan announces 9,000 job cuts, slashes sales forecast See in context

Nissan cars are good cars, I've had 2004 X-Trail for 20 years, and it still goes well. One aspect of more modern Nissan production that might be improved and improve sales somewhat is the gearbox: while mine has a reliable four speed automatic one, other manufacturers' have six or eight speed automatic ones, but Nissan has been using continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in all models. Unfortunately this type of gearbox is not universally popular, and Nissan's have sometimes been said to be rather more unreliable. Just a thought!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: King Charles greets happy crowds, an angry MP and an alpaca on visit to Canberra See in context

Lidia Thorpe is of part Aboriginal heritage, and is politically active, and well-intentioned, but can act a bit over the top sometimes; this was one occasion! Like the alpaca, she was just doing her thing!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Posted in: Mother despairs over N Korea-abducted daughter on her 60th birthday See in context

This may sound impractical, but if Japan and South Korea can combine in some sort of threatening attitude to North Korea, legal, trade, whatever, maybe it will lighten its attitude and cooperate.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Posted in: Owner of 7-Eleven convenience store chain gets takeover bid from Canada’s Couche-Tard See in context

Governments are slack if they allow foreign companies to take over businesses in theirs, even if they are already foreign owned, it will see more profits siphoned off to go abroad.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Posted in: Megaquake advisory, Noto quake raise disaster awareness in Japan See in context

Puzzling that the forecast comes from meteorologists and not geologists. Maybe they are in joint communication and only the meteorologists give regular (weather) forecasts?

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Posted in: Nagasaki mayor says decision not to invite Israel to A-bomb event not political See in context

If Israel had dealt with the Hamas people in Gaza with invading foot soldiers and tanks instead of seemingly indiscriminate bombing, it's modus operandi would have now a better image, and foreign politicians would not have to think twice about whether to invite Israeli politicians to their events.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Posted in: Chinese swimming fans hit back at doping claims after Pan takes gold See in context

Of course people are suspicious of China's claim of not doping, given their history. But to judge in this case we really need to know how close to the race they were tested, and how long the drug, if taken, has an effect and how long that effect lasts.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan confirms China set up buoy over its southern continental shelf See in context

Of China behaved better it would have approached Japan first about the buoy before installing it. Japan should examine the buoy to see whether it really is there to measure earth tremors, and if it isn't, then publish widely what they have found, and express disappointment to China.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Posted in: N Korea criticizes S Korea, U.S. and Japan ties as Asian version of NATO See in context

Obviously Fat Boy is starting to get worried; keep up the joint operations!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Posted in: King Charles welcomes Japanese emperor, empress on state visit See in context

It's probably always relaxing to go back to somewhere where you were happy, in her case studying and free of regal duties that she later acquired by marriage!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Posted in: Gender gap fuels disputes as Japan gets joint custody law See in context

Joint parent responsibility and access to the child is the best solution for all parties, except where violence is a concern, but it needs the courts to say clearly how often and how long at a time the child should be with each parent, and to have a clearly stated channel for complaints if one parent fails to keep to the rules. I would also suggest that parents should be obliged to report if a child is added to their passport, so that if the other parent is concerned that the passport holder is taking the child abroad, the immigration authorities can be alerted and the "kidnapper" questioned or even detained.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Record 3,568 people needed assistance on Japan's mountains in 2023 See in context

In the two countries I've lived in, mountain rescue services are done by a combination of volunteers and police and air force rescue. The registration to be required of climbers sounds a good idea though.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Newborn baby's body found in closet in house in Chiba Prefecture; mother arrested See in context

An important piece of information is missing here, did the parents know their daughter had a baby, or had even been pregnant? Another sad story!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: Tourist ban now in effect in Kyoto’s Gion geisha district…but are visitors obeying the rules? See in context

Kyoto is a great city, as I discovered very recently, but thr privacy of its 0eople should be paramount, and so authorities have to do what it takes. But perhaps the geisha organisers have not been very inventive in their training methods. Why are the girls dressed up out on the streets anyway, why not have all their gear and the classes in one building., or let the girls bring their gear from home and dress up when they get to their lessons? This way neither the girls nor the locals will be inconvenienced.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Posted in: SDF member dies after grenade thrown by another during training See in context

The problem is that wihen you are learning to use hand grenades, you have to get used to the time lapse between pulling the pin out and the explosion. Used to be 4 seconds when I was in the school cadets in the'50's, and in that time you have to throw it at the target. Si you need to be really focused!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Tokyo-Osaka bullet train services may be suspended due to heavy rain See in context

Having travelled on the Shinkansen recently on my first trip to Japan, I can well imagine the difficulty slowing or stopping the train on wet rails, there be a slide!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Posted in: Swan song See in context

Maybe they are feeling lost. I've read that it is believed birds navigate by "compass " provided by magnetite molecules in a part of their brain. Currently the magnetic north pole is drifting eastwards towards Russia, so this could possibly be a bit of a problem for them!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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