JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Corporate Business English Trainers
- ACT Systems, Inc.（株式会社アクト・システムズ）, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥269,500 ~ ¥280,000 / Month
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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Antonios_M
Exactly, my friend! I remember back in my country and many years ago, there was a serious problem with accidents of cars in railroad crossings, and many people perished because of that. So, the government hired famous comedians and did tv, radio and press advertisement on a huge campaign for safety. The result was very much encouraging and the accidents on level crossing completely disappeared. I have to mention that most of them were not the dull ads, but very funny and intriguing.
So, just imagine famous Japanese "tarento" on a huge campaign for Japanese driving safety. I am sure it will increase the awareness to some extent.
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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Antonios_M
Ambrosia (nice nickname, by the way) i see your point. However, generally speaking, driving behaviour and awareness of the parents regarding their children's safety are usually connected. You are right that i shouldn't have made the comparison of driving experience in Japan vs in any Developing country, but i tend to believe that there is always a matter of comparison, (even if this discussion is not about driving behaviour overall, but about parents awareness).
Personally, i can't understand why wouldn't somebody use a safety seat or a seat belt especially for his/her kids regardless of the country he/she comes from. If you can increase the percentage of safety even for 1%...why not?
As i said, i admit that there are problems regarding safety seats and seat belts in Japan. However, it would be wise not to overgeneralize, since Japan is not the typical free-for-all country regarding driving laws. Yes, there are people who ignore the safety rules and you can see children literally dancing inside the car, but there are also people who care about their kids, use safety seats and fast their seat belts. To an extent, it depends also on the region you are in and its up to the police to enforce the law, if the parent is ignorant or an idiot.
I think it would be wise for the Japanese government to do a tv campaign regarding driving rules and safety. Since many Japanese tend to take the advertisements very seriously i think it would be succesful to some extent.
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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Antonios_M
If we focus strictly on the western world, then yes, there are problems. (even though i still think that the situation is not really that bad as many people claim). In my view, the worst things on the Japanese roads are two: a. the behavior of the cyclists and b. the extremely narrow roads in parts of the country.
Some years ago, we were driving with an American friend to a suburban area of Hyogo ken and he just couldn't believe how narrow the street was. The car could literally just fit in and to make things worse, there was a wide gap (for the rain, i suppose) next to the so-called street, which was becoming further narrow ahead(!!!) because of a street lamp. And like it was not enough, there was an annoying obaasan right behind us on her bicycle using her bell to make us more furious. Finally, i had to leave from the passenger's seat in order to handle the driving -we couldn't open the door, so we had to change seats in a weird way..well, you got the point - and using my Greek experience to just barely manage and turn in the next road. It was a very surreal experience overall. However, this one and the almost crashing with a truck case in Osaka were my only extreme situations in Japan.
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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Antonios_M
It depends. Comparing on what??? I think most of the comments here come from Western European/Australian/ American/ Canadian people who compare the situation in Japan with the one back home. Well, having travelled in many countries abroad because of my job, i can say that although many Japanese drivers don't pay too much attention to child safety seats, still many of them DO pay attention. Its a 50-50 situation, depending on where they live (countryside vs big cities), personality, and so on. Still, Japan is centuries ahead on driving safely (even though i almost had an accident driving to Osaka) comparing with ANY middle-eastern country, south Europe, Africa, Latin America, India, Pakistan, Russia and China. Just try driving any Turkish or Egyptian highway and you will know what i mean...
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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Antonios_M
Ah, Ossan, don't be so sure about that. I guarantee you there are many people in high positions wishing or secretly thinking "ok, lets get rid of the lunatics in North Korea and enjoy a new free market in the region". Most of their arguments are exactly the ones you mentioned. North Korea is not really willing to use nukes, it's actually China behind the scenes, S. Koreans are willing to have their revenge and get rid of the threat, etc etc.
Well, i highly doubt that nowadays China is behind the scenes. As you said, China has nothing to win from supporting a lunatic in the region that wants to be called "Great Leader". And believe me, since i have many S. Korean friends...not all of them wish an invasion or even a military strike. As for the cost for U.S.A to attempt something like that...huge!
The North Korean issue should have been solved around the '90s instead of having unnecessary actions like the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia. Now, i am afraid that the thing is more complicated and risky. As someone proposed, the best solution would be to wait 10-30 years and North Korea will collapse from the inside.
Posted in: How bad do you think the tension on the Korean Peninsula is going to get?
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Antonios_M
I don't know how bad the tension on the Korean peninsula is going to be, but i DO know that NONE of us here should wish a war in this region. As someone wisely said, this North Korea is not the '50s North Korea. They have nuclear weapons and they are willing to use them. It's not Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq. Rather, its a Cold War crisis coming back to life... People should not joke about it or wish things that might cause a new chaos in the region.
Guys, this is not a Risk board game. I truly hope that both Pyongyang and S. Korea/U.S.A will come to a bilateral agreement. I also hope that China will stop supporting N. Korea's insane policy.
Posted in: How bad do you think the tension on the Korean Peninsula is going to get?
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Antonios_M
Ok, Japanese people worry A LOT about what the public opinion thinks. No matter if they are molested, some of them would prefer to remain silent than create inconvenience and have everybody stare at them. It's a group culture after all, and acting as an individual is not very common. Moreover, people worldwide tend to avoid any kind of trouble. They just prefer to mind their own business than getting involved in any kind of situation. Of course, sitting for 25 mins doing nothing....its too much.
It's a matter of fact though that some police officers in Japan are just terrible. I remember when i visited a rural area with my wife four years ago, there was a guy trying to peep at her in the ladies toilet of the station. Fortunately, i thought he was suspicious and when i noticed him going to the ladies toilet and yelled at him, he ran away. The problem started when we tried to explain the whole event to the local police officers and tell them to be cautious. My Japanese wife explained to them over and over what happened but they acted like i was the suspect and asked me about my visa, how long i plan to stay in Japan, how long we are married etc. The only thing they did was ask about the description of the man and thats it... Complete lack of professionalism.
Posted in: Chiba cop arrested for allegedly groping woman on train
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Antonios_M
Very ironic that only the suicide bomber was killed...
By the way, isn't this what we should call "potential threat of multiculturalism" or what?
Posted in: Two explosions rock Stockholm
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Antonios_M
I think that e-books are convenient for travelling but they will never replace the feeling of reading a good paper book. Plus, i would get a headache trying to read a whole book of hundreds of pages on electronic screen. Thus, after trying e-book reading in a friend's Kindle while being on plane, i still prefer paper books and never thinking of bying an e-reader.
Posted in: Are you going to buy an e-reader or do you already have one?
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Antonios_M
They are funny and entertaining. I rarely watch CM back in my homecountry, but in Japan sometimes i even like them.
My favorite one is the Kirin beer commercial with the old guy hanging out, eating yakitori and (of course) drinking Kirin beer while the "Kanpai" song is playing in the background. Somehow, this commercial always made me want to drink a beer....
Posted in: What do you think of the quality of TV commercials and billboard ads in Japan? Seen anything you like?
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Antonios_M
Exactly. Its like having a survey claiming that "1 out of 3 Brazilian men admit to sell drugs" by examining a number of 500 participants from the favelas.
Posted in: More than 1 in 3 South African men admit to rape: study
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Antonios_M
Ok, i am not from South Africa, but saying that 1 out of 3 South African men admit to rape out of a survey of AN area of 487 people, isn't it a bit TOO MUCH? I mean, the population of South Africa is almost 50,000,000. If we consider the male population to be around 25,000,000 people and if we divide the number of the participants in the survey with that...then it makes something like 0,00001948 % percent of the male population. Is it really accurate to say "1 out 3 South African men admit to rape" judging by this percentage???
Posted in: More than 1 in 3 South African men admit to rape: study
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Antonios_M
Good for them! They seem so excited! Well done Japan!!!
Posted in: Well spiked
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Antonios_M
Amazing documentary, man. Thank you.
Posted in: What is the best way for the global community to deal with North Korea?
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Antonios_M
We are talking about reality, not video games here. Can you ever imagine what a WW3 would bring to planet earth? I don't know how this story will end, but i do know that all members involved MUST avoid war at any cost. The guys up there are insane. They can nuke S. Korea or in the worst case, even Japan if they think that this is justified...
Posted in: Tensions high after North, South Korea trade shelling
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Antonios_M
It's funny when people try to compare Lord of the Rings with Harry Potter. I remember back in the '90s when i made my attempt to read the brand new Harry Potter novel, after having read Silmarillion and LOTR, i couldn't even read 20 pages. I felt it was a stupid fairy tale for kids. That's their difference. LOTR is an epic tale, while Harry Potter is a fairy tale. Again, i can understand the popularity among children, but you can't really compare a Lamborghini with a Fiat.
Good luck to the actors of the Harry Potter films. Usually, after a huge success like that, there might be several obstacles in their career.
Posted in: Harry Potter stars sad to say goodbye
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Antonios_M
Somehow, i have a cute image of a maid greeting him in the airport..."Okaerinashaimase, goshujinsama"...
That's just ignorance of the geopolitics. Even though Japan is not the powerful country of the '80s, it still remains a very strong state in the region and a "buffer" state between Russia and China in the one side and USA in the other. The Cold War is not over, ladies and gentlemen. It has just changed into an economic war.
Posted in: Obama arrives in Japan for APEC summit
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Antonios_M
Indeed. And with Local Elections coming in two days...
Posted in: After Greek mail bombs, calls for tougher EU screening
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Antonios_M
Their age perhaps?
Posted in: Why are girl bands and glamour groups like AKB48, SKE48, Morning Musume and Miniskirt Police so popular in Japan?
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Antonios_M
(Bad comment on) Even the Teddy Bear looks like it wants to run away from her (Bad comment off).
Posted in: COP10