Valmain comments

In the recent failed high jackings from Nigerians, the terrorists were subdued by passengers and not by air marshals. I don't think any more security is really necessary.

Wait...they give out prizes for partying now? Where were the judges for this when I was in university??

I don't see any logic in going after entertainers other than the J-Cops want some more big-name celebs to hang out for all to see. "Look, we're catchin' a few small-time substance users! A-hyuck!" Quick, save the pristine and pure entertainment industry!!

Honestly, Oshio? Paying for illegal substances with a bank transfer?? Way to leave a trail, genius.

2 in one week?? The J-cops are really turning up the heat!! I agree with the need for a Bad J-Cops section. Or maybe a video series like "J-Cops Gone Wild!"

Is it just me or is the J-Police force shaping up to be a real life Reno 911?

try to be more original or show some compassion. rip.

RIP?? Did you even read the article? Nobody's dead, genius.

I understand the whole "depression is a downward spiral blah blah blah" rhetoric. I've had 2 members of my immediate family go through it, but feeling sorry for those who are depressed doesn't help them. It only shows that being a sad and lonely sap grabs them attention. I agree that it's a huge problem in Japan that isn't properly addressed. Japan needs more of a public safety net for a great many things, depression being one of them.

Holy cow, I used to go to the same gym as this guy! Didn't know he was "famous". Pretty short, but thick for a J guy. ALWAYS wore the shades. Moved really stiffly, maybe from an injury? Certainly didn't appear to have any capacity for speed or flexibility.

Serious?? Those guys at the gym working out in their necklaces and other jewelery drive me nuts. As do the girls who wear make-up during their work-out. Excuse me, "work-out."

Sigh...another day, another one of THESE stories.

In the US, murderers get convicted and executed on a fraction of this evidence.

Some do, some don't. Did you ever hear about the OJ Simpson trial? If you want to bring the US justice system into this, technically defendants can only be found guilty if their guilt is proven "beyond a doubt." This case still has doubts.

There is video proof that he and hawkins entered his room, no one else entered afterwards

Read the article again. It says that the CCTV is from the elevator, not in front of his room. Someone could still use the stairs.

I'm not saying he didn't kill her. I think he did. But you have to prove that beyond a doubt in a court of law. Otherwise it becomes "burn the witch" village mob justice. Unless the j-cops have a few aces up their sleeves, their current evidence won't cut it. Then again, this is Japan. Justice is a joke and prosecutors will simply commit who they want, especially due to the international pressure.

Good grief! They found her corpse in his apartment. Who's he going to blame it on? The one-armed man from "The Fugutive"?

Do they have proof that HE killed her? However small the chance is, it is possible that there could have been other people involved. Maybe he was just an accessory/accomplice. CCTV from an elevator isn't all-telling. I would bet that as much as they want to nail him, they're going to be careful after that botched DNA prosecution.

Like the article says, they just need a reason to hold him longer because his 23-day-period-of-being-held-with-no-official-charge will be up on Wednesday.

I hope all you who whined about the initial "abandoning of a corpse" charge take notice. Scratch that...I hope it sinks in deep so we don't have to hear your conspiracy crap again.

Charging him is the easy part. They can charge him with anything they want, but if they can't make it stick then he's good to go. Personally, I think this "evidence" they have is flimsy at best. CCTV from an elevator? Wow. And the stairs aren't a reasonable option because...?

I say use her behind! I can get behind that statement.

I'll back that up.

To me this suggests that they know that the police have a suspect in mind but lack of proof is holding the police back. The family are hinting that they know who this is too, and they are tempted to hire someone to go and rough this chap up a little unless the police pull their finger out very soon.

Right. Subtlety, Stakeouts, and Secrecy: the cornerstones of strength in the J-Force. I don't get any hints of that at all from that wording in the letter. I agree that it is very Japanese in that it's misguided emotional communication.

I feel for the parents, but they need to learn how to better direct their emotions. Writing a sad letter to the police? That'll get results.

If they blamed the police and accused them of negligence, that's one thing. But they're just whining about losing their daughter, which isn't anything the police could have normally stopped anyways. It doesn't sound like there's any call to action and the whole letter is just their inner contemplations on paper.

THis is MaDneSs

This...is...JAPAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

it will be up to the jury to decide

...what jury?

My mistake, it wasn't in quotes here. Just "lol"'d.

I wouldn't recommend trying to argue with Dr. timorborder. He has a very immovable opinion and will not listen to any logic, no matter how clearly and intelligently you present it.

As for my 2 cents, jail time is no good. If she really did such a tragic blow to society by taking illicit drugs, having society pay her food and board for a few years seems silly. If you really want to do something that is effectively "anti-drug," hit her with a fine, then as community service she has to do a campaign of interviews and advertisements detailing how dark and evil drugs are and how they ruined her life. I believe that anti-drug campaigns are weak deterrents in the first pace, but I think this would be more effective than the current media parade.

Dr. timorborder:

You use "pro-surfer" in quotes, but it was proven that his name was registered in whatever pro-surfing association Japan has, so no need for them.

One issue that I think is very important is the education system. Their heads are filled with facts and equations and dates and other things that are "memorizable." What they are NOT taught are problem solving skills. As far as I can tell, they're not taught how to use the right side of their craniums at all! So what are they supposed to do when a problem is not maru/batsu??

I think this leads to a life of follow-the-others and if the system fails them, they don't know how to pick themselves up and make opportunities for themselves. Sure, the economy is bad but that doesn't mean you have to work at Lawson all your life. Save some money, take a night class, get a skill: make yourself needed.

Oh, and as far as I can tell they're also not taught how to do research properly. My coworkers are always so amazed how fast I find information...when I take 30 seconds to type a few words into Google.

Exactly, as can anyone.

Um, no. I have a lot of friends back home who interpret any language they don't understand to be "Spanish."

When counselors examined the girl’s face off

They wanted to examine her face...off!

tkoin2:

What a post! Hits the nail on the head. Personally, I think there are a couple of other factors that come into play (societal lack of emotional and psychological support, work-life unbalance), but there's no way that I could make my point as poignantly as you did. Well done.

Don't think so. He had nothing to do with the death of the hostess.

Oh. You mean her cracked ribs happened from sleeping on the wrong side?

I'm not saying he killed her maliciously, but I think: they were both high, she was having a bad trip and started having breathing trouble (not unheard of on 2 ecstasy tabs). He thinks he knows what he's doing because he's seen CPR in the movies, so he gives it a try and cracks a rib, sending her into shock, and then she dies.

My problem isn't with using foreigners in advertising. One issue is that I didn't expect it from McDonalds. They have one clown already, isn't that enough??

Another issue I have is the katakana use. Has anyone seen his blog? That thing is damn near impossible to read! Even though it frustrates me, I understand the use of katakana for subtitles used for gaijin on TV, but to type in 90% katakana takes MORE WORK than typing in kanji or even all hiragana, so why would anyone do it?? It just makes it hard to read and IMO furthers the idea that foreigners speak a Japanese different from native Japanese, no matter how good it may be.

So, after he was arrested he refused a breathalyzer test? I didn't realize that was a choice when you're in custody. And then wait until 10 hours after the accident to do a blood test?? Traditional J-Cop efficiency!

Is this a joke?? The J-Cops actually TOOK ACTION in regards to a stalking claim??

Wow! Is that possible? And they are all united in doing one's best? I've gotta see this one.

This gets my vote for Best Commentist. Classic!

Wait, don't tell me they're really going to try to pass that Softbank dude off as a college student!?!?! He does have some nice shoes, however.

Holy Jeebus I read this thinking it was a joke!! I seriously chuckled a few times, expecting to find a link at the bottom to the original Onion article. And to think I was considering proposing to my Japanese GF soon...this is seriously frightening. What if the neighbor can afford to pay more than I can?? This image of Japanese wives being money-leeching whores cannot be a good one.

Statistics show pretty clear increases in crime, especially amongst youths and foreigners.

Can you back this up with any samples of said "statistics?"