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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5
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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Mayuki
Beautiful picture! Well done, David MacDonald. Does the photographer sell his work?
Posted in: Plum blossoms
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Mayuki
P.S., Mz, see the link in the caption underneath the photo.
Posted in: Tokyo Marathon
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Mayuki
Congratulations to the winners - otsukare sama deshita.
Posted in: Kipsang, Nasukawa win Tokyo Marathon
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Mayuki
I did the 10km today - there was a great atmosphere on the streets this morning!
Posted in: Tokyo Marathon
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Mayuki
There is a kernel of truth to this, although my boyfriend would probably say men have to do the same on occasion! I do quite like being by myself from time to time.
Posted in: More women enjoying a night out alone
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Mayuki
DXXJP:
But it isn't, and it hasn't been for a long time.
That was wrong too, and it's well in the past. What point are you trying to make?
Good luck to you if you ever get caught.
Posted in: Saudi court sentences 75-year-old woman to lashes
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Mayuki
The minority RC community is actually quite a large number of people and they are part of Northern Irish life. Saying that NI does not celebrate SPD is dismissive of a huge number of people who live there and call it home, like it or like it not. You have a very sectarian attitude, which is dangerous, given the awful events of the past few days.
Moderator: All readers stay on topic please. This discussion is about how St Patrick's Day is celebrated in Tokyo. References to politics are not relevant. Please discuss that on the appropriate thread in the World section.
Posted in: Tokyo’s St Patrick’s Day Parade – It’s a long way from Tipperary
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Mayuki
Cleo, the article reports that both men were also sentenced to a jail term and to lashes.
Helter Skelter, Saudi Arabia is considered an ultraconservative Muslim nation, not a moderate one. It imposes a version of the Sharia (Wahabbism) not accepted by Muslims in other countries. Have you read of the woman arrested for driving and the condoning of child brides by the chief cleric of Saudi Arabia? Both have been in the news in the past month.
Posted in: Saudi court sentences 75-year-old woman to lashes
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Mayuki
I think charging people to use the toilet is awful, but would people really lower themselves to go in their pants? Really?
Posted in: Ryanair chief says he's serious about pay toilets on planes
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Mayuki
This opinion doesn't necessarily mean she is an airhead. When a woman focuses on her appearance to the detriment of her education and intellect and general interest in and awareness of the world around her, fair enough, she is an airhead. If, however, she is well-educated, well-read and has an enquiring mind, looking nice will be more of a help than a hindrance.
Posted in: My appearance is a good investment even when times are tough.
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Mayuki
I agree with Madverts. If I were British, I would be FURIOUS that these people will live off my taxes.
Posted in: Baby-faced dad, 13, raises 'broken Britain' fears
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Mayuki
Welcome to Japan, Madam Secretary.
Posted in: Clinton begins Japan visit with warning to North Korea on nuclear programs
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Mayuki
Beautiful shot. I love that he/she is standing on one leg.
Posted in: Bird in the hand
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Mayuki
"Every society has the haves and have nots. If these folks want to be the "haves" they should take this time to go back to school. There are government supported programs for these folks. Question is will they swallow their pride, move back in with the folks and take these opportunities?"
You have not addressed the issue. I don't think you even understand the issue. You are a capitalist and disagree strongly with socialist government policy, correct? Great, nothing wrong with that. You therefore understand that in a capitalist society, some people will be better off than others. You therefore understand, I assume, that there will always be people on the bottom rung of the capitalist ladder. It's the way things are, right? You said it yourself. Haves and have nots. I hope you can therefore make the connection that simply telling the "have nots" to become the "haves" by going back home to live with their parents (you so blithely assume they have that option, but never mind) will not solve the problem.
Can you make that connection?
The bottom rung of the ladder will still exist, and somebody else will be on it. The bottom rung jobs need to be done, otherwise they wouldn't exist. We need people to do the bottom rung jobs.
Now, and stay with me here, if we want to ensure a relatively stable society, with low crime rates, good public health, and a generally decent standard of living for people who do an honest day's work, albeit on a temporary contract, we need to ensure that the sizable number of people on the bottom rung are earning a living wage and are not exposed to exploitative labour practices that allow employers to profit without providing reasonable protection.
I am baffled that you cannot understand that telling people to undergo training and live with Mommy and Daddy will somehow lead to the elimination of these kinds of problems. Those who wander off to live in bucolic bliss will simply be replaced by somebody else. Japan's success in creating a peaceful and prosperous society was attributable in part to its high employment rate and fairly even distribution of wealth, meaning that the government didn't have to provide much in the way of social welfare. That is now changing, and it is a shame.
By the way, I think it is perfectly reasonable for me to draw attention to your lack of careful reading of any text. You harp on so much about your hard work and dedication to your education that you are inviting comment on it. Just be aware that your education in action is not terribly impressive.
Posted in: Temp workers bear brunt of recession in Japan
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Mayuki
This is a more eloquent explanation of what I tried to say above, from GWDailleult in response to another article about laid-off temp workers.
"Simple. You can't eliminate the bottom rung of the ladder just by telling people they shouldn't be on the bottom rung of the ladder. The ladder has a bottom rung and somebody has to be on it, unless of course you want to go communist. And if you don't want government supporting people, then that rung better be strong." - GWDailleult.
Posted in: The worst thing is that they are treated like they are things, not human beings.
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Mayuki
"Why is someone who has been on the job with no background training calling people "amatures" when he himself was hired as one?"
Firstly, it's "amateur", not "amature". And you're a teacher! Eeek! I guess you should have worked your butt that bit harder in your English classes.
Anyway, the article never said he wasn't trained to work in the engine plant, it said that he was replaced by non-production permanent personnel. Your powers of analysis and comprehension need some work too, tmarie sensei.
Posted in: Temp workers bear brunt of recession in Japan
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Mayuki
"So what are you taking issue with?" - tmarie
"Simple. You can't eliminate the bottom rung of the ladder just by telling people they shouldn't be on the bottom rung of the ladder. The ladder has a bottom rung and somebody has to be on it, unless of course you want to go communist. And if you don't want government supporting people, then that rung better be strong." - GWDailleult.
Beautiful. You have distilled the debate to its essence and I wish tmarie and others could get their heads around it.
Posted in: Temp workers bear brunt of recession in Japan
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Mayuki
"temporary workers generally have made a bunch of risky or bad choices to get themselves where they are today. they've been working temp because maybe they didn't study a trade in school or didn't think they needed school(despite the numerous societal messages that they do)."
Hi Sydenham,
I understand that people must be responsible for themselves and should take the advantages of education that are offered to them. I further understand that the state cannot be a parent to its citizens, and should only have a duty to provide care for people who are incapable of providing it for themselves through no fault of their own (the very young or very old, the handicapped, or injured veterans, etc). I think most people accept this as the best way to ensure a prosperous and functioning society.
However, we MUST accept the fact that even if ALL of us had the requisite academic ability and inclination, studied hard, went to university, earned a degree and found professional jobs, we would still need people to work in our factories, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants; we would still need people to work as cleaners and street-sweepers. I tried to make that point in my earlier post. In an industrialized society, or any society, I guess, there will always be higher status and lower status jobs. Simply because a job is lower status, does that mean the person doing it does not deserve some measure of stability and protection? Or are we to protect only those who "made it" to the relative safety of professional work? We want a stable society, right? That means recognizing that low-paid workers are doing jobs that are NECESSARY to our economy and shouldn't be treated as pieces of dispensable equipment; it will lead to the creation of a huge underclass and social unrest. I'm not suggesting they be paid the same wages as a brain surgeon; I'm suggesting that they not be exposed to exploitative labour practices.
Posted in: The worst thing is that they are treated like they are things, not human beings.
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Mayuki
On the basis of what I have seen at my workplace, I have to agree with this statement. It's so wrong - they work just as hard, and their work is quite clearly necessary, otherwise the organization wouldn't feel the need to hire them.
Posted in: The worst thing is that they are treated like they are things, not human beings.
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Mayuki
"Wow Mayuki, thank for remembering me!"
Er, do you mean "thank you for reminding me"? (I hope you're not an English teacher; you don't seem to have a sufficient command of the language to be tasked with the responsibility of passing it on to others.) Anyway, not to labour the point, but it is possible for a person to work and not have sufficient savings to be able to pay key money and a security deposit, which are very high in Japan, as I'm sure you know. Low-paid temp workers can earn as little as 90,000 yen per month. If it sounds ridiculously low, that is because it is ridiculously low. Take 40,000 out for rent, take another 20,000 out for tax and social security payments (because temp staff don't have contributions made by their employers), factor in the costs of eating and commuting for a month, as well as toiletries and other sundries, and there isn't much left to save. I'm not advocating communism, but a living wage and secure working conditions would be a help. You said last week that you helped out the homeless, so I'm sure you already know all of this through your charitable work.
Posted in: I'm now living just to survive. I have no hope, nothing to rely on...nothing.