JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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Antonios_M
To be honest though, the majority of people would never do something like that. There is a very small minority of few hundreds of anarchists who are well - known for these vandalisms. They were probably the same ones who burnt Athens both in 2010 and in December 2008 riots. The problem is that the legal system protects them and, even if they are arrested by the riot officers, they are always released after a few days. Indeed, most of the protesters despise these so called anarchists because they create a bad image to the peaceful protests that take place.
Posted in: Rioting engulfs Athens, buildings burn before vote
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Antonios_M
Actually, another big one happened in 1855 (the Ansei Edo earthquake) with a magnitude of 7.0. So, i am not sure if big ones in Tokyo really occur every 200 - 400 years, since there are less than 70 years between the Ansei and the Kanto earthquake in 1923.
The main issue should not be when it's going to happen, but to be well prepared when it does in order to minimize any possible damages and human losses.
Posted in: Clues to Tokyo's great quakes uncovered
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Antonios_M
It's gonna be a tough year for the Greeks. I hope we/they will find a way out. It seems difficult though. Nothing worked so far and all the austerity measures made the situation even worse. Many Greeks wish a return to Drachma even though it will have catastrophic consequences for the standard of living of the average Greek citizen.
Posted in: Greek cabinet approves debt deal after PM warns of chaos
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Antonios_M
Haha, that's so true! Not to mention that everybody notices your mistakes, whereas before everyone said "Nihongo jouzu desu ne"...
Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Antonios_M
The worst thing for me is being confused for an American guy even though i have black hair and brown eyes. The second worst thing (during the last two years) is getting all these "kawaisou" looks when i tell everybody i come from Greece. Of course, it's much better than the angry "Give-us-back-our-money-you-lazy-Greek" looks that i got in Northern Europe. It's funny because until three years ago, it was so cool coming from Greece: Orimpikku, Girisha shinwa, Sokuratesu, and so on were some of the words i was listening when talking with Japanese. Now, it is more like: "should i get you something to eat?".
My point is that there are stereotypes everywhere. Personally, i don't mind getting treated as a foreigner as long as i get the thing done. I get along well with everybody and i never had any serious trouble (except a few bizarre cases, which are definitely an exception). I do mind though any lack of respect or professionalism from the staff people. Fortunately, though, service in Japan is still in a very good level.
Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Antonios_M
As long as the yen keeps its current exchange rate i don't see any hope for Japanese exports. The Chinese are not stupid keeping Yuan in ridiculously low value. We can all imagine the damage in the Chinese economy having yuan in its real value...
Posted in: Japan's current account surplus smallest in 15 years
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Antonios_M
I guess Papademos is having a tough time being a Prime Minister in a country of lunatics. The main problem is that there are many influential people within Greece who wish a return to Drachma (for their own reasons, of course) and they ignore what impact that would have on the income of the average Greek citizen. It will be beyond imagination. Moreover, these influential people control the media (if you tune on almost any of the major T.V. channels in Greece - such as Mega, Ant1, etc - it is almost guaranteed that there will be a rhetoric against the austerity measures and the necessary reforms).
Meanwhile, the leftists just love a return to Drachma and to isolation. Yes, leftist political parties in Greece (K.K.E and Syriza) are the most radical and extremist political parties in the whole Europe. The one wishes Greece to turn literally into a Soviet type country such as Cuba and N. Korea and the other one wishes to abolish completely the banking system and open the borders to illegal immigrants. Of course, any rational person (outside of Greece) would expect that these parties would barely get a 3-4% in the elections. Guess what? In the last opinion polls, both of them had more than 25% and they are getting more and more popular. You can also add the Labor Unions which do not wish to make any compromise and you understand why the situation is f...d up.
My opinion was that back in October a government consisted only of technocrats should have formed in order to implement all the reforms. Papademos himself is not enough. I am afraid that it is too late now...
Posted in: Unions call strike as EU pressures Greece on debt
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Antonios_M
One of the funniest moments of my life in Japan was when i talked to a British about the notion of monarchy. Frankly, the guy told me that it is outrageous for a modern and civilized state such as Japan to preserve an outdated system with an Emperor as the head of state, etc. When i asked him if he also supports the abolition of monarchy in the UK, he looked at me as if i were a lunatic and said: "No, of course not. The Queen is different".
Personally, i don't see any difference between the constitutional monarchy of Japan and the constitutional monarchy of England. I can see though the need for a country to preserve its customs, traditions and "image". Yes, i can't imagine Japan without an Emperor in the same way that i can't imagine U.K. without monarchy.
Posted in: Britain's queen celebrates 60 years on throne
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Antonios_M
ANA again??? No surprise at all...
Posted in: ANA plane has mishap upon landing at Sendai airport
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Antonios_M
*This! JT should really enable an edit button in the comments.
Posted in: Greece: Debt talks must be done by late Sunday
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Antonios_M
Source?
Posted in: AKB48 to do PR for 'Vibrant Japan' campaign in China
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Antonios_M
I doubt that Greek economy can afford any more cuts in wages and taxation. On the other hand, Greece has done almost nothing for the privatization of the public sector and the implementation of bold reforms on the structure of the economy. There is where the IMF and the politicians should have focused.
Posted in: Greece: Debt talks must be done by late Sunday
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Antonios_M
Good thing there are still neighbors who care about others.
Posted in: 84-year-old woman found alive after being buried in snow for 4 hours
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Antonios_M
Oh my God, the kitten already ate half of the biscuit, so it seems that she is not so considerate of other passengers!!!
Posted in: Good manners
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Antonios_M
No matter what, it is still admirable that an airline carrier, which got bankrupt two years ago, managed to recover with such a huge net profit shortly afterwards. Of course, a lot of reconstruction was needed to be done including wage and pension cuts. I am glad though that the service remains by far the best among the Japanese airline carriers. The disappointing fact is (as many already mentioned) the price of the tickets. Indeed, i don't understand why tickets from Japan are always way more expensive than tickets to Japan from abroad. This seems to be the case generally and not only with the two main Japanese airline carriers (ANA and JAL).
Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
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Antonios_M
お大事に.
Article Unavailable
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Antonios_M
I love Androniki! Amazing photographer!
Posted in: Into the world of 'otaku'
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Antonios_M
I totally agree.
IMF, please, leave Japan alone. Japan's debt has NOTHING in common with the European debt. The major issue for Japan is the demographics and the aging of the population. I think it is necessary for the Japanese government to provide motives to young couples to have more children.
Posted in: IMF urges Japan to triple consumption tax to reduce debt
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Antonios_M
The truth is that anyone who is sick should stay at home. However, this is not the case in Japan where people who get sick are sometimes hesitant to call and excuse themselves for the next 2-3 days. We all know how strict the average Japanese working environment is and everyone can be called lazy or a liar if he/she does something like that. Not to mention that there might not be a replacement for him/her in his/her working place.
Posted in: Number of flu patients surpasses 1.11 million as epidemic spreads
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Antonios_M
What an elegant lady....
Posted in: Aya Sugimoto on managing husband: '30% carrot, 70% stick'