wolfshine comments

In Yokohama the Minatomirai, Toyoko, and even Municipal Subway lines have finally started allowing contactless credit card payments, and I believe many lines in Tokyo do as well.

Really the only holdup in JR, who are desperate to prop up their disastrous Suica platform, which started failing as a result of the chip shortage just as tourists started coming back to Japan. Nobody could even buy a Suica card for like a year and a half. That may be resolved by now thankfully but it is time to abandon the IC card as a relic of the past.

Maybe 24 hours is not entirely necessary, but a lot of problems would likely be solved if people didn't need to rush for their last train by midnight. I think a good cutoff point might be 2:30am, and then trains could resume again by 4:30am. Extenuating circumstances notwithstanding, that should be enough downtime for any necessary maintenance or construction. Moreover, we've already seen on several occasions instances where the Yamanote or Keihin Tohoku lines simply get shut down for several days on end, therefore I'm just not seeing any good argument for not extending the operating hours, especially if they're just going to do that anyway.

A cool future possibility might be one in which certain major lines such as the Yamanote, Ginza, and airport lines operate 24/7, whilst the other lines offer extended operating hours as mentioned previously. The only challenge might be homeless people and bums that try to make the train their place of residence, but that can be solved with the right enforcement mechanisms.

This is a total nothingburger.

I am very critical of Japan on matters relating to foreign workers or discriminatory policies. Harping on things that took place almost a century ago and those in which both the perpetrators and victims are most certainly deceased by now is pointless and unproductive.

Japan has current-day issues that demand far more attention. Actually, so does S. Korea - I have heard their situation regarding foreign workers is also quite atrocious. Focus on what matters here and now, everything else is merely political posturing and distraction.

Nissan is a disgrace to Japan.

Not to mention a disgrace to Yokohama. Since it is a major cornerstone of this city's local economy, I would rather it be salvaged than go under; however, not under the current leadership. At this point I would be happy if Tesla could just buy out the whole dang Renault group.

Mr. Musk you know what needs to be done.

Does this policy also apply to American passport holders? I might be trying to go in the Summer

People from Yokohama can get the train from Tokyo, so it will benefit everyone in the Kanto area.

I mean, not really. If it takes me forty five minutes to an hour to go from Yokohama to Shinagawa to get to the Maglev, then the extra time spent doing that effectively negates the benefit gained from riding it to Osaka or Nagoya.

What they should do, seeing as how Yokohama is the second biggest city in Japan, is create some type of super limited express service that runs between Yokohama station and Hashimoto station in Sagamihara where the Maglev station will be. As it stands now for travellers going to and coming from Yokohama this plan creates more inefficiency than it solves.

The Nozomi Tokkaido Shinkansen is a fantastic service and one I have taken many times and one I am grateful for. So far the Chuo Shinkansen has been a bit of a swing and a miss.

I will say plainly that I am not particularly enthusiastic about the Maglev Shinkansen, given that the cost to construct and eventually extend it will be massive. Not to mention, fares are probably going to astronomical for the first few decades of this being a thing, and honestly it seems wildly impractical until the route to Osaka is at least completed. Even then, the standard time on the Nozomi between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is like two and a half hours - is that not incredibly convenient as is? I only really see the Maglev Shinkansen being necessary as a means of connecting Kyushu to Hokkaido, as that route is currently more efficiently travelled via airplane.

This process is going to involve tons of eminent domain as well, and if you live anywhere near the current route... Well, good luck. In any event, as a Yokohama resident, we are not even getting a Maglev station, so this whole thing will basically never benefit me to begin with.

There are better things to spend the money on in my opinion. I think as a really long term investment there could be some value but axe the current timetable and prioritize other matters while they take their time building it.

"Nothing ever happens." -Chudjakus Maximus

It makes the most sense when you interpret this as being their way of punishing the Japanese youth and foreigners who drank in Shibuya during the Covid State of Emergencies when restaurants were subject to curfews and bars were told to close altogether. All of these proposals had been around before Itaewon and before Japan reopened to tourism.

Tokyo has become a complete nanny state not unlike those in America and I'm glad I don't live there, honestly.

I 100% agree with bass4funk.

Churches in the West have literally been desecrated, burned to the ground, and Priests murdered.

Japan does not have a serious problem with foreigners and the only reason netto-uyoku are making a big deal out of it are because they're that sheltered

Asahi Soft Drinks will increase the prices of over 90% of its products, including Mitsuya Cider and Calpis Water, by 4% to 23%. Ito En will increase the prices of 207 items, including Oi Ocha and Healthy Mineral Barley Tea, by 2% to 36%.

This is significant and rather concerning. Let's say they go with 15%: that would mean, if a bottle of green tea costed you 100 yen before, now you will be paying 115 yen.

Japan's adventurous Covid spending is now coming back to bite them big time. If only there were people back then talking about and predicting this?

Regarding some of the earlier discussions, if proof can be established that the defendent definitively knew that they were minors, the punishment should be harsher. If not, I would argue the punishment should potentially be more lenient. It can often be difficult to determine a female's age from looks alone. Some girls in their teens look like they are in their twenties, and some women in their twenties look more like they are in their teens. Petite women very much exist, especially in Asia, and also with modern makeup the lines are even more blurred. Of course, the people reviewing the case should objectively consider the physical appearance of the victims as well as the information surrounding the defendent and make an honest/objective decision from there.

Also, Japanese popular culture does not aid well to the cause of stopping the sexualization of children. Everytime I am in Akihabara I come across some product or poster blatantly promoting or engaging in lolicon, and this subculture has unfortunately spread worldwide to other countries and communities.

Japan definitely deserves to be criticized on a decent number of issues/policies, but this isn't one of them.

I support the death penalty.

South Korea warns of 'decisive' action against trash balloons from North

Translation: Nothing ever happens.

I don't think Japan really has to worry about Russia anymore.

They are exhausting themselves militarily in the West. Currently approaching year three of a war that has been very costly for them financially and also in terms of their own national stability. Given another five-ten years of military modernization, Japan will probably be in quite a favorable position for defending it's northern territories. China is a different story, but I honestly think with the direction Russia is heading in, if they try to start something with Japan it may honestly result in a repeat of what happened in the early 20th century.

This was a good move on the part of the court, and I am more than happy to applaud Japan when they get things right.

Though in all honesty, the hypothetical alternative in which an Afghan girl could theoretically be deported to a country she has never lived in and doesn't culturally associate with, and also one in which she would have absolutely no freedom or economic opportunity, just to maintain the principles of the Japanese Racial Purity Industrial Complex would probably make even the most rabid of Japanese nationalists weary of the sheer cruelty.

The problem with the CDP is that eventually they are going to need to find a way to galvanize the young voters. They are still a significant, yet rapidly diminishing demographic no one seems interested in capitalizing on. This untapped advantage will likely disappear within a few decades, and by then the CDP will have missed a major opportunity and won't have the infrastructure to remain relevant. Maybe this party will eventually also be eaten up by or end up as a coalition partner to the LDP, who knows. One thing is clear, and it's that this party is totally directionless.

While I am certainly not opposed to allowing foreign firms to buy out Japanese companies if some benefit can be obtained, be it more long term stability or better leadership, this one kind of seems like a no brainer.

"Couche-Tard"?

Yeh, no. The single most important retail entity in Japan's economy and a staple of people's daily life should not be owned by a corporation with a name like that. It would be like if Wal-Mart was approaches for a buyout from a company called "Biss & Jit".

US Senators now claiming Black Myth: Wukong is a national security threat.

Now that is insane. I really have to say, the omnipresence of anti-China propaganda has become annoying and nauseating.

China is seemingly starting to find its footing in the world. They are learning they can supplant Communist dogma with the soft power of popular culture that honors their own history and traditions. They are building high quality products on par with those in the West, and people are buying them. And, in due time, I think they will refine Democracy, and make it work for their society. I am legitimately happy for them.

The brainwashed sinophobes that spend every day of their life obsessing over China need to wake up. Western societies and their affiliates are in the midst of an identity crisis. We are in decline. On our end, it's time to stop coping and allowing ourselves to be easily distracted. Our leaders are parasites and our culture is decaying.

I remember arguing with a certain TSMC super-fan maybe a year ago over the distinctions between American style democracy and that of the French. I was told that the US is the land of fanatical "Christian Nationalism" whereas France is all about "Liberté, égalité, fraternité".

More and more, day by day, we are seeing what an absolute disaster France is, especially under Macron.

Alt-tech has proven to be vital in the fight against censorship from the elites. I hope for the continued survival of the Telegram platform and its leader.

I am of the opinion that in an ideal world, yeh, China should end the ban.

However, we need to be honest about the diplomatic context here. Japan cannot, on one hand, restrict chipmaking technology to China as a means of appeasing the US, whilst playing victim over the seafood ban on the other. It is the same classic hypocrisy we've seen over and over and over again from the LDP government.

Moreover, everywhere I go on Japanese social media, there is sinophobia and anti-Chinese hate. In general, recently, there has been a lot of anti-foreigner hatred in general from the Japanese. Do not expect the Chinese (or us expats, for that matter) to buy your products and give you money if you're not going to respect them. Anti-Japanese sentiment in China is something worth exploring as well, but I grow really weary of the victimhood mentality here.

Using the storm as an excuse to change policy is a classic example of people here not having the courage to admit they were wrong so they can save face.

I feel bad for the hotel owners and staffs.

I think it is generally a good idea for them to require payment by credit card at the time of booking. There are honestly so many invisible benefits you get from dropping cash as the main medium of exchange and this is one of them.

The situation has become both hilarious and sad at this point.

Hike interest rates to counter inflation, and crash your economy in the process? Or keep them where they are, and watch inflation soar?

No good options on the table. Either the Nikkei looks bad or the exchange rate looks bad.

Cult-like. As someone posted recently it could be hyper sensitive Japanese who do not post anything but do downvote anything that they think is critical about Japan.

Likely that is the case.

Sometime ago another user made me aware of a Japanese website called "Gekiyaku", in which many of their articles consist entirely of JapanToday comments. The responses are largely xenophobic and sometimes include calls to violence against foreigners.

LOL both of the Asian defense ministers just look uncomfortable and miserable.

Whatever, a dub is a dub for the American side. Neither of these countries are very good when it comes to making strategically important decisions, so in these situations it makes sense that an actual global leader has to come in and strong arm them into doing what's necessary.

Though I am not without my concerns and skepticism. With regard to S. Korea, I think it's extremely unlikely that they would intervene in the case of a Taiwan invasion - for one thing they really have nothing to gain, in fact if TSMC semiconductor production were disrupted that would actually force more buyers to depend on Samsung, the world's number two. Regarding Japan, I am still not fully convinced they are over their complete pacifism phase. Sixty five years ago the very idea that Japan might have to militarily assist America in a war ignited some of the biggest protests in their history, and this is a country that won't even do that in the face of endless corruption and corporate abuse. Whether America would even risk nuclear war with China is questionable. So, it's all posturing. Likely the right kind of posturing, but that's all I really see it as. Hopefully it works well enough as a bluff.

Days of Japan's chip manufacturing is over. Japan hasn't built a new advanced fab for more than 14 years. Japan is behind the industry leaders by 7 generations, a gap too large to overcome.

It's simply a waste of money trying to re-establish Japanese chip manufacturing, the best Japan can do is subsidize TSMC's Japanese operations.

I am generally inclined to agree, it would be smarter for them to try to woo companies like Intel and Samsung, more than anything else. Although that would probably upset TSMC which more or less wants this monopoly to last forever.

I have never been a Steve Bannon fan, and I say this as someone who is not particularly anti-Trump. The dude has always looked like a total slob and has the appearance of a sad alcoholic about to suffer from liver poisoning because he just can't get sober. I really never understood the whole idea behind wearing multiple collared shirts underneath one another, either.

I get what Trump was going for. Bring this guy on to act as a counterbalance to Reince Priebus and the neocons. But optics matter and Bannon was ultimately a horrible decision. I think he did more to damage Trump's public opinion than help it.

I'll also say I'm not particularly crazy about the whole Bannon-Breitbart Coaching Tree. Milo Yiannopoulos, although mildly entertaining at points, is pretty much a total sleezeball of a person and also contributed very little in terms of political philosophy or intellectualism. That's to say nothing of Ben Shapiro, an incredibly toxic figure who's overall effect on and influence over American political discourse has been pretty negative. What these three have in common is that they are all linked to Breitbart.

I really am not well read on the various legal dilemmas Mr. Bannon has found himself in, so I will abstain from judgement on that, but I hope for his sake the guy just peacefully retires from public life. He's not leading some kind of movement, nor is he some great kingmaker or important thinker. Just enjoy a quiet existence in the woods or something.

Exactly. That's been my main point : Japanese cannot afford price hikes on restaurants, entertainment, bars etc. Foreigners can - and will largely be prepared to wear the extra costs.

No need for overreaction here - these businesses are only talking maybe a 10-20% surcharge.

They would be able to afford it if Japan allowed for more substantial wage increases over time. In my industry for example, wages have not risen in some three decades. This is unfortunately a result of both the work culture and hierarchical subservience. There is no pressure on corporate leaders or politicians to do anything because Japanese people basically don't engage in social activism or advocate for their own interests. Generally too scared to "punch up", but will never miss an opportunity to "punch down" on the ol' gaijin. Sad, really.

I have a simple solution for foreigners that don't want to be subject to dual pricing - don't buy local. Chain restaurants and bars will never charge you more for being a tourist. Likely, neither will foreigner-owned businesses. The whole idea of eating at a mom-and-pop restaurant is the appeal of electing to support their business over their corporate competitors that usually charge less anyway. But then they treat you more like you are a problem to be addressed than a guest.

Let me list some of the problems I have had at local restaurants here:

-Higher prices

-Drastically smaller portion sizes

-Always feel pressured to buy drinks instead of just asking for water

-Involuntary "service" items

-Unable to pay by credit card

Customer service in Japan is pretty bad in my opinion, if you are going local. Why should I give them my money if they don't like me from the get-go? Dual pricing is a foolish move and yet another omen for a country that continually has problems dealing with foreigners. And I don't even want to hear the excuse that other countries do this - name me ONE restaurant in the US that charges tourists more. If this idea were even floated there it would be universally condemned.