JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Confrontation
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U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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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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J_rock
At least he's not in blackface. As far as Japanese comedians go, I'd consider that progress.
Posted in: Obama lookalike comedian Nocchi hones his routine
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J_rock
I wonder if some people never get tired of fetishsizing Japanese women at the expense of all others. I spent several years in Japan, and yes there are a lot of beautiful women there, but it's not the only place that can say that. Calling all non-Japanese women names is not only insulting, but it's also dumb.
Posted in: Tokyo Game Show
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J_rock
I'm not sure that most Japanese are ready for this. In my experience, it was often hard enough to solicit opinions in business meetings, in which everyone was an expert and should have had something to say. In addition, I can't imagine a lone juror holding out against all the others, even if they believe themselves to be correct. I'm skeptical about the prospects of a jury system in a society in which consensus and blind deference to authority are so prominent.
Posted in: Jury system poster
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J_rock
Suspending his campaign was a blatant attempt by McCain to score political points during a time of crisis. It is an act of desperation by a man who is watching his poll numbers fall, and the prize he's lusted after for all these decades slip away - again. It's absolutely ridiculous, and the majority of people in America, and beyond, think he should take his whipping in the debate on Friday as scheduled. Obama looked and sounded more Presidential yesterday, and it wasn't lost on the public at large.
Posted in: McCain suspends campaigning over financial crisis; Obama rejects call for debate delay
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J_rock
This can't possibly end well. The endless parade of sexagenarian leaders who all serve 1 - 1 1/2 year long terms doesn't seem to have helped Japan all that much over the past couple of decades, and yet the pattern continues. Aso is a real piece of work, and certainly not what the country needs right now. Maybe one day Japanese people will actually get to vote for a leader, instead of having everything decided in smoky back rooms. I'm not saying that's not what happens in other countries, but Japan is just so blatant about it.
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J_rock
A lot of people who post here are straight up player haters. Slagging off a rock star because he's "a show off"? Isn't that part of the job description? Saying he looks like a woman doesn't change the fact that he probably gets more action than everyone on this board. And every pretty girl not talking to you isn't a hooker. And who cares if they are? They look expensive and he appears to be able to afford it. Good for you son.
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J_rock
TPOJ,
One of the better posts I've seen on JT in quite some time. Well done.
Posted in: Ainu rise up from the margins of Japanese society
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J_rock
Oops. I got a bit carried away complaining there, and forgot to say "Great Job" by Kitajima. I was happy for him in Athens, and it's good to see him do so well again.
Posted in: Kitajima makes it a double double at Olympics
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J_rock
I watched both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Japan, and I remember being struck by how limited the coverage was. NHK would often skip marquee events to show Judo, or a swimming heat in which the Japanese competitor finished in 8th. And then there were the endless replays when a Japanese athlete did win gold. I take it nothing has changed. I wonder if Japanese people ever complain about the coverage?
Posted in: Kitajima makes it a double double at Olympics
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J_rock
The LDP are not going anywhere. isthistheend summed up several of the reasons rather nicely. People in Japan are conditioned to just accept things as being the way they are. How often do you hear Japanese people say "Shouganai", and just resign themselves to whatever unpleasantness is being heaped upon them? I used to work at a Japanese company where the staff were mostly very well-educated professionals. The vast majority of them were completely indifferent to politics. They had no interest, and didn't think that politics had any impact on their daily lives. They couldn't figure out why the handful of foreigners onsite knew, or cared, so much about domestic politics. For those reasons, as well as the fact that the opposition are wholly unsuited to govern, the LDP will remain in power for the foreseeable future.
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J_rock
This is a nice change from tired western celebrities sleepwalking through a press conference, or the local "Talento" which often make the picture of the day. If anyone can look at that picture and not smile, then they have no soul. Beautiful.
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J_rock
I can't believe that I'm actually saying this, but back when I lived in Japan, there were times during summers when it actually got to be a little much. When I first arrived in 2001, fishnet stockings were all the rage. Where I come from, only a certain type of woman, in a certain type of job would even consider leaving the house in those. A significant number of Japanese girls dress like actual prostitutes. That's not me trying to have a go at them, but it's just the simple truth. Maybe I'm just getting old, but a lot of what makes a woman sexy is revealing a little, but not all. Young Japanese girls/women sometimes take it too far, and just come off looking cheap. I remember being surprised on my first trip to France by how well the women were dressed, and how good they all looked, even though they were mostly covered. French women exude a mature confidence, whereas a lot of Japanese girls look as though they were just let loose in their mothers' lingerie closets and are playing dress-up. "Ero-kawaii" is not about being "confident about one's body". It's just an annoying trend which teaches young women, and little girls for that matter, that "trashy" is a synonym for "sexy".
Posted in: Young women’s summer fashions show too much, poll reveals
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J_rock
For numerous, and rather obvious reasons, Toronto should have won the 2008 games instead of Beijing. While I was annoyed by the IOC's choice for a long time, it seems as though both they and China are now getting what they deserve. Was the air quality not taken into account during the decision making process? Certainly human rights and the rule of law were not. While I can't help but indulge in a little bit of schadenfreude, I hope that none of the events have to be postponed/canceled, and that no athlete suffers any adverse effects from the toxic stew that hangs over that place.
Posted in: Beijing shrouded in thick fog of pollution ahead of athletes' arrival for Olympics
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J_rock
Best festival in the world. It's one of the things I miss most about Japan. It used to be closer to Mt.Fuji, but they moved it years ago. The location at Naeba is spectacular, and they should definitely keep it up there.
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J_rock
The comments here are overwhelmingly negative, and I would really like to disagree with them, but after working for 6+ years in the Japanese branch of an American pharmaceutical company, I can say that the above posters are completely correct.
Where you will live is something that a couple should decide on prior to getting married and/or having children. I only recently left Japan after many years, and although I enjoyed it very much, and retain a great deal of affection for it, I would never choose to spend my entire life or career, let alone raise a family there.
A salary of $200 000 (I'm assuming in North America), is more than enough to take the family on annual trips to see grandma and grandpa. Or you could always fly the old people over for a few weeks each year. The Japanese corporate world has no interest in your talents, skills and/or abilities, and any western employee/executive who has risen to a level where they are making the kind of money mentioned in this article will have a very difficult time playing by the "rules". Regular Japanese employees, as well as returnees have a hard enough time, let alone someone who looks, thinks and acts differently.
Of course, and as mentioned in this article, the situation is somewhat different for internal transfers, but they are literally provided with, at the very least, a bilingual assistant/cultural liaison, and in some cases, a small staff of people whose job it is to take care of all the unpleasantness that the average Joe will undoubtedly face. My advice is stay where you are. Explain to your spouse exactly what type of drop it may represent in your standard of living, and hope that the math will convince them. From having seen friends go through it though, I know it's hard to persuade a Japanese spouse who has set their minds on either going, or staying at, home.
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J_rock
Exactly! There's an old clip I remember seeing on TV of Queen Elizabeth returning from a trip overseas. As she got off the plane upon her return to the UK, Charles, who was only a toddler at the time ran to greet her, and she bent down and shook his hand.
I really feel sorry for Masako though. She is so smart and talented and could have become anything she wanted. Instead, she exists as the prisoner of the Imperial Household Agency. The Crown Prince does seem genuinely fond of her though, and I like that he goes to bat for her publicly.
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J_rock
Since we're on the topic of stereotypes, not all (western) expats in Japan are caucasians.
Posted in: Stereotypes ’R’ Us
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J_rock
How typical that some posters called the writer names and blamed him for the incident in spite of the fact that he was the one assaulted. There's a particular type of long-term resident who in their attempt to become "more Japanese than the Japanese" will always suspect the foreigner regardless of what actually occurred. This piece is not an attack on Japan or Japanese people. It's simply an account of a disgusting and cowardly act which should never have taken place. Although "six accidental run-ins with violence" in three years does sound like a lot, I know first hand that this type of stuff does happen, and that as a foreign resident, you have very little recourse, legal or otherwise, when it does.
Posted in: A punching bag on the Odakyu line
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J_rock
I don't consider myself a huge fan of the Foo Fighters, but then I stop and think about it, and I actually like a lot of their stuff. I've also heard the rumour about him being a really nice guy. I saw them when they played Fuji Rock a couple of years ago, and they were fantastic. One of my highlights of the whole weekend. Grohl ran into the crowd and climbed on top of the sound booth. He also played a stripped down solo version of "Everlong" that was great.
Posted in: Foo Fighters
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J_rock
I'm sure that most of the people who got the wrong change back didn't even notice. Most people in Japan don't check their change, they just assume it's correct and put it in their bags, pockets or wallets. I almost never counted it when I lived there, and I can't think of a single time that I ever got ripped off.
Posted in: Train ticket machine gives back too much change in Nagoya