JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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- ALT - Mie Prefecture - Yokkaichi City - June start
- NPO法人グローバル教育推進機構（GLAD), Mie
- Salary: ¥230,000 / Month For a full working month. Some months differ.
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- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
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Kersey23
Pathetic. I hope that they send this guy to a burn center so that he can see the damage that such actions can do. People could have died as a result is his actions. He needs to see what can happen.
Posted in: 21-year-old arrested for suspected arson at Yokohama Station
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Kersey23
My father was killed by two teenagers in Florida. I loved my father very much and we were very close. I was asked by a reporter if I wanted them to get the death penalty if it were possible, and I said, "No Way". So, I have dealt with this issue personally. I know how it feels as the victims family. Anger is the first things you feel. And you want to lash out and personally strangle the person yourself if you can get your hands on them. But it wont help anything. It may make you feel better, but it will not change things one bit, and it does bring you down to the killers level as well. Supporting the death penalty for me, would be the same as doing it myself and would make me feel like I am killer as well, maybe indirectly, but I still would be so.
I am torn between what I believe as a Christian and what I feel as the son of a murder victim, sometimes. For a long time I thought how unfair it was that those boys should have the right to walk around and breathe while my father's right to do so was taken from him. Unjustly and so very unfairly. He will not eat, drink, smoke, meet his only grandchild and so on. But these boys do things all the time that my father is incapable of doing because they put him six feet under. So, I am torn between the two. Compassion and fairness. But I still have to go with compassion because of my religious beliefs and the fact that it will not change where my father's lies.
Posted in: 3 inmates hanged; 1st executions in Japan since July 2010
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Kersey23
Death by hanging? Ouch. It is funny though, when I said how barbaric it was for Japan to still be hanging people, to my wife, she said, "So was what they did". True, true. But I am sorry, as a Christian I can't agree with killing, killers. In the New Testament, it says "Thou Shall not kill". That is all it says. There are no commas after that. Now, I know this is not a Christian country, so I am not trying to install my beliefs. I am only saying, that I can't agree with it because of my own religious beliefs.
I saw an interesting thing though a few months ago. Maybe you all remember it. Some guy went around in Norway and killed so many people and they showed where the guy would be living and how nice it was. It curdled my blood to see that he was going to be staying at such a sweet place. I thought where is the punishment in all of this? How unfair! But then my preacher told me that we were not supposed to be so aggressive towards these people. Punishment is not what we are supposed to be striving for. That is GOD's business. But we are supposed to show compassion at all costs, because if we can forgive even the worst of people we are on a higher plane. At first, I didn't agree. But that is the reality. We are not supposed to conduct ourselves so harshly as Christians. Plus, Norway does have, if I am not mistaken one of the lowest convict return rates in the world. Many Western countries and Japan have much higher rates of returns than Norway. I wonder if there is something to look at in Norway.
Now, please all. I am just saying from a Christian standpoint that I can't agree. I am not trying to convert anyone or preach to anyone either. I am just saying. I have a feeling a wave of thumbs down and angry responses will be rolling in, but please remember, I was just saying from my own standing point. But we might want to look at at alternative ways to how we do our justice system. Let's be civil, please. Sorry to offend.
Posted in: 3 inmates hanged; 1st executions in Japan since July 2010
2
Kersey23
I really didn't want to get into this issue, but Seavey your attitude and over simplification of the problem staggers and saddens me. A lot of what is being talked about here is child abductions. The children are abducted by their Japanese parents in foreign countries, even when they have been granted rights by the courts of the country that they are living in, and then brought back here where the parent is protected from foreign judicial entities and the foreign parent. That is deplorable and a huge injustice to all except the Japanese parent who holds all the cards.
Furthermore your advice to others of going to the ex and begging for forgiveness is just not practical because it doesn't work. And like another poster said, a lot of it is done just out of spite. When people can get away with things, they do them. That is what the system is showing. Don't get divorced and you made your bed, so lay in it, are really over simplifying the problem and shows no empathy at all to others who are in a less than powerful position. Sometimes it is not the man who wants the divorce. Sometimes it is the woman. Well, what does one do then? Surely you don't really believe that most of the time it is the man7s fault as you said earlier.
You say you side with the mother because at least the child will get to see its mother. Okay. That is not always such a good thing. Mothers murder their children all the time. Day after day, we read stories in this magazine about this mother or that mother who hurt or killed her child/children. Or other stories where the boyfriend did. Speaking of which, I was abused by my own mother after my parents were divorced. What was that you said to one poster? Don't bore me with your story? Well, I wont bother. But I don't share your belief in giving custody to the mother, because at least then they will be able to see her. Oh, my!
Personally, I feel that "custody" should be a court's responsibility to look at from every aspect for the benefit of the child. Not just given to someone because they are the Japanese parent of the child. That just robs the child of his other parent and only serves the vindictive other in most cases. I also know good men who have lost their children and only one foreign man whose wife allows him regular access. But she understands that their son needs his father. Four of the people that i know were just regular Japanese business men who are denied all access to their children. One had an affair, got caught and now the wife is punishing him for it. But it should have nothing to do with what happens between him and his child. We all make mistakes. Yes, his was huge. But it is besides the point as far as I'm concerned.
I, like another poster as well, hope that you don't fall victim to this. But in all due respect to you, you really should walk in those people's shoes for a while before showing such a lack of empathy towards them. Your over simplifying the problem and the answer to it, is exactly what this is all about. That is what the Japanese have done and that is why there is so much debate on this issue. You may think this may never happen to you, but I am sure most of the other people felt the same way when they got married as well. But you never know. Things change. People change. I hope you don't suffer like these other people have.
To all of you who have gone through hell and back, you have my sympathy. I just hope that you can be reunited with your kids someday. And I really hope this mess gets worked out.
Posted in: U.S. congressional panel advances bill on child abductions
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Kersey23
What a volatile issue!
Posted in: U.S. congressional panel advances bill on child abductions
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Kersey23
Finally some facts on the subject. I was checking on some stuff that troyinjapan posted and info looks pretty solid and I also think this is something gives people a reason to worry about China. But do most people know of these things? I have to admit, some of the stuff that I read, I really didn't know about. I wonder why this information isn't more widely discussed? Anyway, I like how Nigelboy and Troyinjapan have been providing some very good facts, but from the looks of things this thread has almost run its course. Not too much action the past couple of days. I think ti really need sot be discussed further.
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Kersey23
tit for tat That should be. Not tic for tac. That makes no sense.
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Kersey23
@mouse and smith. You guys need to get a room or some boxing gloves on. But enough already.
I see it this way. Smith has two facts that are enshrouded in too much writing that often tends to go into other areas that are unrelated to the topic at hand and throws insult when he can and when someone disagrees with him. He does like to correct people's English as well which is condescending.
But, mouse you are guilty of correcting someone's English as well. And you have gone off on to other points as well. You are also aggressive when YOU FEEL that someone is being ignorant and that kind of arguing can provoke anger as well. You also love to stick it in there when you get the chance. Both of you need to learn better communication skills and stay on topic and stop going tic for tac on each other.
Even though I don't agree with mouse's "stick it in your face" style, I still have to question smith because I am just really not getting where all his facts are, as they relate to this topic. As mouse pointed out there are just two points that are connected to the topic, so mouse is right, even if he is a bit on the aggressive side.
I still have to agree with mouse on this point though:
Sorry smith, it is just that simple and as has earlier been posted by others, The Prime Minister asking the Chinese for transparency has nothing to do with Fukushima. And by saying that Prime MInister Noda is just using that to deflect attention from that disaster is pretty much "just reaching". For one, he wasn't in office at the time, so he really doesn't need to deflect attention away from it. Two, the only thing I see them talking about is Fukushima. Very little has been said about China from what I could see. I might be wrong, but I doubt it. And three, you kind of called Nigel "a mind reader". Wouldn't that be what you are doing by saying that the Prime Minister and the ruling party are just deflecting attention from what is happening in Fukushima? Kind of seems like the same thing to me.
I hope that Prime MInister will stay in power for a good while, forge a really good relationship with China, (FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL.) but if that can't be the case, try to keep China transparent in the area of its military buildup.
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Kersey23
Whoa, wait a second. I was just reading over all that was written here and was just about to call smithinjapan out on that one myself. I don't get smith's points either. How are the two related? How can they be connected at all. Nigelboy said it best of all:
It is a hugely weak argument.
I didn't see any facts, smith. Where should I have been looking? I see a lame argument brought on by no supporting facts at all.
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Kersey23
@mouse. Not too much Mickey in you is there. I would suggest changing your logo there. But I have to side with you completely.
@Smithinjapan You do seem biased. You haven't really provided any facts, either. I am still trying to find them. No offense, smithinjapan. You are usually right on many subjects but on this one you seem to be kind out in left field.
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Kersey23
The Chinese government needs to back off. It has brutalized it's own people severely. But I agree with smithinjapan. Japan must look at the past instead of ignoring it.
Posted in: Noda says he, ministers will not visit Yasukuni while in office
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Kersey23
Yes, you are right once again. Bravo. But the problem is the visit by the PM and some other diet members. That is what gets everyone excited. PMs and other officials do this not for the souls of the victims, but to gain support from voters who are outspokenly right wing or closet right-wingers. They do it to show that they will be strong against foreign powers. Many of them have said they never even visited it until they were elected. They don't realize the actual damage that it does.
I personally believe that the Shrine is supported through personal gifts from politicians here. And you have shown very extreme views in some of your posts.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
-1
Kersey23
Here is the problem Ladies and Gentlemen. Yuri on one side and Jackieng on the other. Both hold extreme views and that is why PEACE is not to be had. Both countries are openly distrustful of each other. Both aggressive in their beliefs and not giving the other an inch. Such a sad thing, when one can't show genuine contrition and admit its wrongs and makes excuses which enables the other one to keep the hatred alive. The other one LOVES that. It keeps it in power. It brainwashes its people to think of the other one as evil.
The Chinese people need to understand. This is not the Japan that committed war on its neighbors. This is an entirely different Japan. It would never go ballistic again. Most of the people who were in that war are long gone. ENOUGH ALREADY. How many more years do you want to beat this drum? All you are doing is creating anger on both sides. Anger never fixes anything. LET IT GO. FOR YOURSELVES AT LEAST. And for the rest of us who are tired of hearing about it. Make peace.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
That is why the Chinese are wary of Japan. Its inability to be frank, open and honest about its past.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
YUri! Fact is that your people came under Japanese rule in the Edo Period. There were Okinawan people in the military, officers included. You pay taxes to the Japanese government. You have Japanese citizenship. Hence you are Japanese. Therefore you are the same. Chinese should be wary of people like you who make excuses. If I were Chinese your reaction would give me weariness as well.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
No , their ashes are not there. Just there names. OR so we are told. But so what? Their names are. Yuri, when I read posts like your it sometimes makes me understand why the CHinese are still angry. PLust the politicians who apologize one moment and than another one thumbs his nose (Shintaro "I am so great") Ishihara at CHina and the two Koreas. Use all the excuses you want e,g., "I am Okinawan" or "Today's people are innocent", blah, blah, blah, and you just keep the fire alive.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
This must be a joke. Japan is not aggressive towards China. It is the opposite. It is always China trying to tell Japan what it can and can't do. It is always China pitching a fit over one thing or another. LIke a barking dog that won't shut up. IT DOES keep bringing up the past. The only way japan and China will get past history is for China to put a muzzle over it's big mouth and for Japan to teach history and accept it as it is. But the only one picking a fight is CHINA. It has fights with all of its neighbors. China has no right shaking its finger at Prime MInister Noda. China is acting like a bully on a school yard. This is convenient for the Chinese leadership. Change the focus from the problems within China to making Japan the evil one. Japan doesn't shake its finger at China except for the build up of it military which it claims is for self-defense. Yeah, right. We really believe that one. And for copyright infringement. But everyone attacks China for that. But according to the Chinese that never happens. China really needs to look in the mirror.
Posted in: Chinese news agency urges Noda not to make relations worse
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Kersey23
Germany may be guilty of not letting people spread crap around that the holucost didn't happen but that is okay in my book. They are responsible for their history and making sure it doesn't get whitewashed.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
They only make people angry
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China
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Kersey23
I feel great sadness for the victims on all sides. Nanking, HIroshima, Nagasaki and the whole bunch. But your side was the aggressor and continues to honor its own war dead while ignoring the victims that your country created. I wish my own country would teach true history as well, so I am not only attacking yours but mine as well.
There are so many Japanese who find true history about the past inconvenient. That is convenient and hardly fair at all. But once again this is true for most of us in the west as well.
@jackleng
This is not right for you to say. You are being unfairly iconoclastic and these types of comments well never change people's minds.
Posted in: Noda's election sparks wariness in China