Ian Duncan's past comments

  • 4

    Ian Duncan

    Fadamor...I have never taken part in a war, but am prepared to believe from the opinions of those who have that it isn't enjoyable. Similarly, I have no desire to sit through two hours of something which a panrl of international experts agree is overacted juvenile pap before I form an opinion on it. I haven't seen tonight's "variety" shows yet, but I expect they might involve eating, shouting and gurning. Some things can be predicted.

    Maria, thank you for the information.

    Posted in: Miike's action film gets booed at Cannes

  • 0

    Ian Duncan

    My wife tells me this film got a standing ovation at Cannes. Can any other readers lend any evidence to her claim? I suspect she might be having another one of her turns.

    Posted in: Miike's action film gets booed at Cannes

  • -1

    Ian Duncan

    A Realist - I'm curious as to why you are so keen to change the topic of this thread.

    Abe posed with a symbolically-charged number. Whether it was intentional or just a blunder, by doing so he has given those countries who make a habit of criticising Japan a perfect piece of ammunition with which to do so.

    We are not talking about whether ot not other countries are perfect. this topic is about Abe giving the thumbs-up over a military plane bearing the inscription "Leader: S. Abe 731".

    Of course those elements hostile to Japan are going to have a field day with this. Why did he give them such a chance?

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • -3

    Ian Duncan

    A realist: thank you very much for sharing your assumptions about me with the world. May I now cordially redirect you to the topic of this thread: whether or not victims of Japanese imperial atrocities have the right to take offence when, in the same week as one high-profile Japanese right-winger says it was necessary to rape thousands of women and girls, another right-winger, the Prime Minister, sits giving the thumbs-up to a historically-significant symbol of atrocity?

    If you read the article carefully, you will note that the topic is not "how similar is Ian Duncan to other 'gaijin' who, being all alike, fail to understand the culture".

    The topic is, I would suggest, how can a head of state fail to see the importance of not giving enemies of his country a stick with which to beat him?

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • -2

    Ian Duncan

    I'm fascinated by the double standards on display here. We are expected to believe The Koreans have no right to be angry about Abe posing near a historically-charged symbol of Japanese atrocity. That they Koreans are overreacting and playing the victim.

    Des anyone remember a couple of years ago when the British quiz show QI made an innocuous, light-hearted comment about the A-bombs? Suddenly everyone in the world had a moral duty to apologise for aggression. The embassy got involved, and the media got frothed up into a lather of self-pitying victim hood until the BBC was browbeaten into a grovelling apology for its insensitivity.

    Now the Koreans are supposed to laugh off this - at best, an unfortunate and avoidable accident, at worst, a deliberately provocative and calculated insult?

    Of all the possible solutions to this diplomatic blunder, accusing the Koreans of playing the victim card is most ill-advised.

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • 1

    Ian Duncan

    Thon Taddeo - I quite agree. In my office it is 26-27 degrees all winter and 28 degrees all summer. I never understood the Doublethink which states we must save energy in the summer, but from the start of Autumn until the end of Spring the heaters are on, and staying on, and anything under 26 degrees is so cold the women in the office have to drape themselves in blankets like they've been pulled out of the sea.

    Japan may be unique in its four seasons outdoors (i.e.it isn't), but there are only two seasons in the workplace: too hot, and much too hot.

    Posted in: Cool Biz season kicks off across Japan

  • 11

    Ian Duncan

    If there is a national obsession with cleanliness, why is there never any soap in subway toilet facilities?

    Perform a bowel movement, use cheap, one-ply toilet paper, then let a trickle of water cascade on your fouled fingers for a second and get on the busiest mass transport system in the world.

    Same with public parks. Run around with the kids for three hours, then have a picnic. Want to wash your hands before you eat? Just rub the grime around a little with some water. Then eat.

    This is a classic example of Doublethink. We are a) obsessed with cleanliness and b) don't cover our mouths when we sneeze.

    Posted in: National obsession with cleanliness bodes ill for health

  • -4

    Ian Duncan

    48 km/s is pretty fast.

    Posted in: JR East train travels 48 kms with door open

  • 3

    Ian Duncan

    “We have no information at hand about the cause,” the TEPCO spokesman said.

    Translation: The rat story didn't work as well as we thought, give us some time to think up something you'll like.

    He then put on his big shoes and red nose, and tried balancing a bucket of water on a stick.

    Posted in: Spent fuel cooling system back up at Fukushima No. 3 reactor

  • 1

    Ian Duncan

    A: No.

    Posted in: Where Japan stands two years after Tohoku disaster

  • 0

    Ian Duncan

    A local government in southwestern Japan on Tuesday advised residents to stay indoors or wear masks when they go outside

    I'd be interested to know how many people were so utterly indispensable that they opted for the magic talisman masks.

    Article Unavailable

  • 3

    Ian Duncan

    Tragic as this is, it is a refreshing change to read about someone who was a loving parent, instead of the ceaseless litany of child abuse and cruelty we seem to get on this site.

    Compare this article with this one: http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/man-arrested-for-shaking-6-month-old-daughter-to-death

    The wrong man is dead.

    Posted in: Father dies sheltering 9-year-old daughter from blizzard

  • 3

    Ian Duncan

    This is a very moving story.

    Posted in: Father dies sheltering 9-year-old daughter from blizzard

  • 5

    Ian Duncan

    I would want him to quietly and attentively listen to my complaints about daily life.

    Editor - I think the words "constant, whining" and "every single thing he does or fails to do to my ludicrous standards of satisfaction" have been missed out of the translation.

    Posted in: 10 things single Japanese women want from a man

  • 6

    Ian Duncan

    **but conversations are usually vapid enough to toss yourself out the restaurant window **

    I tried that once and got asked to leave.

    Posted in: Miss Hooters Japan 2013 - vote now

  • -1

    Ian Duncan

    "possibly expose breast nipples"

    As opposed to what other kind of nipple?

    Posted in: Stars ooze sex appeal, and show skin, at Grammys

  • -2

    Ian Duncan

    I'm wondering why JT does not clarify that the reason he was forced to resign is a rape charge from 2004, after which he paid the alleged victim 100 million yen "compensation"?

    http://japandailypress.com/2004-rape-charge-real-cause-of-government-secretary-takeshi-tokudas-abrupt-resignation-0622836

    Ah, the gool old reliable, honourable LDP. They never fail to lower the nadir. Can you imagine the uproar there would have been six months ago if this had involved a DPJ minister?

    Posted in: First to quit

  • -4

    Ian Duncan

    Is any of this pollution radioactive? Then we don't really have much a moral high ground, environmentally speaking, do we?

    Article Unavailable

  • 3

    Ian Duncan

    Tessa 08:49

    Why don't they try supplying soap, paper towels and HOT water in public conveniences?

    A very astute observation. I will never understand why it is possible to afford to install infra-red sensors to detect when one has finished having a wee, or little sound effects to protect the modesty of anyone afraid of being overheard performing a bodily function in a lavatory, but the cost of a spot of soap is prohibitive.

    A station near me just recently renovated its bogs at, I'm assuming, considerable expense. And somebody has evidently made a conscious decision to not install soap dispensers. So anyone using said bog now has to board public transport with filthy hands. This is why diseases get spread in this burg. The reliance on vapid ceremonies - gargling, or a film of gauze as a crucifix against the flu - takes priority over the elementary hygiene of a spot of soap and hot water.

    Posted in: Gargling deemed ineffective measure against flu by health ministry

  • -4

    Ian Duncan

    Well now...bullies shouting at people whilst taking money from them. I'm not entirely convinced that's a feature unique to Japanese sushi school. I'm pretty sure it happens everywhere there are bullies and people scared to stand up to them.

    Posted in: In Japan, would-be sushi chefs suffer for their art

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