umbrella comments

Long haul flights in cattle class are always going to be hell. Unavoidable. I always fly in business class whenever possible, I still feel vaguely human when I arrive at my destination. Can be pricey thought when it's not a business trip. But worth it I think.

Trump has got an incredibly high level support here in the US. CNN is just a joke "news" station now. Just a comedy show.

Jeez there will be some deaths amongst the marathon runners I predict. The Olympics should be held in the cooler October as in 1964. Why not this time too? Has the the demands of American TV won the day for them?

I regularly run marathons, I just can't imagine running in 40C + and high humidity. It's criminal to have a marathon in such conditions.

Travel by business class, much more relaxing. I always use business class for my fairly frequent business trips and nearly always for private trips too. Don't ever have any problems with anyone else.

It's unbelievable that in 2018 the Japanese government still wastes billions of yen on this stupid "scheme" that gives long holidays to these kids. The government has no money, get rid of this "scheme" which is way past its sell by date.

yeah it's a case of " we are very sorry, now give us our 3 billion dollars that you give out wherever you go"

I know of 2 suicides in 2017.　One was a second grade High School Boy who hanged himself in his bedroom but the death was recorded as complications due to pneumonia to save the family from the shame of admitting the suicide to outsiders. The other one was a 19 year old University student who hanged himself but the death was recorded as due to heart failure.

I have no idea how common this might be but it does indicate that the suicide figures may not be totally accurate.

Great comments by all and sundry on here, pleasure reading them.

Yes absolutely ridiculous to claim that there is an economic recovery in Japan. Things are just as bad or worse as ever for all but a select few. We have the situation here where over 40% of workers are forced to be on crap part time/contract positions with criminally low rates of pay. And the bosses claim that there's a worker shortage in the country! For instance my local Tsuruha has been advertising forever for new full time workers for the store. The rate of pay? A magnificent 756 yen an hour! Who's going to be motivated enough by this to get out of bed in the morning?

The whole thing would be a comedy show if it weren't so serious.

Kobe White Bar Owner

Laughed out loud at your comment and everybody in the office stared at me!

Well let's face it, our lives here are very short , after 70 to 80 years or so, your're dead. So you should be able to do what you want and what makes you happy. Personally I want a woman in my bed but if the same sex partner is your thing, then legally or otherwise, there should be no impediments. But, this being Japan, legal same sex marriage legislation will take years and years.

The economy is awful here for many people. But we are always showered with these optimistic figures. Just a game.

yes nothing but a ploy so that Big Pharma can sell more drugs.

No foreigner in Japan would tell the tax authorities about assets or inheritances they have in other countries. Screw that. Why should they get their hands on funds which have nothing to do with Japan?? As said above, they just give away all taxpayers money anyway.

Like all foreigners in Japan, I have made huge gains investing in the stock market but of course, you have know when to realize our gains.

Yes this year has been great and we foreigners have all made a great deal of money investing in Japanese stocks. Happy days for us all!

Let’s welcome President Trump with open arms. At last we have a president who says what he thinks. So refreshing compared to the limp twisted presidents we’ve had for the past couple of decades.

Who cares?? We can try to insult Kim all we want, he doesn't give a damn. He does precisely what he wants. Calling him Rocket Man is mild. We are just so impotent in the face of North Korea and all the leaders know it. 10 years from now, the US president will be different but Kim will still be there doing his thing as ever.

Yes it's all a show. Japan and all other countries can do precisely nothing about Kim and his games. Not if they don't want millions dead and most of Asia a smoldering ruin. So each time Kim sends a missile over Japan or anywhere we get the same speeches and indignation from our so called leaders. Really why don't they just make a CD and play it everytime? This PAC system is just more of the farce.

So many gold-diggers around in Japan. Some of my friends who also earn high salaries in the Finance sector, just fob them off by telling them they earn 850 yen an hour in a conbini. You can't see them then for the dust as they run off!

Yes let's put Abe on a 1 year contract at 800 yen an hour so that he can experience the real world. These old gits are so out of touch with the reality of the daily lives of ordinary people. Let him then "enjoy" a 10% consumption tax.

SA and Cathay Pacific are the world's best IMHO, but both are struggling these days......

Well it's not surprising is it really? Japan has decided to have over 40% of its working population on crappy part-time/ contract positions. Youngsters don't want to be in this group of losers if they can possibly help it. So thy look for stability, even if it means being worked to death, the norm in Japanese workplaces.

Oh yes, this will really work when NK sends their nuclear missile into Tokyo!

Worker shortage? Pay more, you morons! = No worker shortage.

Can be confusing though. I mean I generally give up a seat on the subway if an old person or pregnant person needs it. But last Tuesday evening I was coming home from work and I tried to give up my seat to this old grey haired lady but she snapped at me saying " What do you think, I'm old and weak and just have to sit down?" She refused the offer of the seat. I felt somewhat humiliated.

Good post Maria!

I love running and Taekwondo but sometimes the hardest thing is to motivate yourself to start. But yes afterwards I have a shower and feel great!

3 years? Should be 23 years

Ludicrous isn't it? They expect inflation will cause people to spend more! If prices rise, people will spend less, obvious to everyone except for our illustrious powers-that-be. Anyway ,judging from my weekly trip to the supermarket, I would say prices are rising steadily or product quality/size/numbers falling.

This has been a great year for me. Big pay rise and bonus as our company is doing so well. And the collapse in the yen has been the icing on the financial cake. I guess most people here are doing well, so good luck to all next year, let's hope the good times continue!

Since japan approves of the situation whereby over 40% of the working population can only find crap part time and contract jobs, of course great swathes of people have no hope for the future. This why the economy will never recover and simply continue to its straight dive into the abyss.