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
1
NZ2011
Ok people.. Its very simple.
In many countries, Japan included, there is no other way to officially recognise a committed relationship other than marriage, if TWO PEOPLE regardless of sexuality, gender or otherwise (with-in the law in regards to age and relation etc ) want to make a commitment to share their lives together as a loving couple, why should they not be afforded the same rights, protection and privileges such as tax, housing, health as any other couple.
The International Human Rights Commission states amongst its many rules that people may not be discriminated against on the basis of gender or sexuality.
Also, somewhere in there is the very simple statement, no-one can tell you who you may love, which I think says it all.
Im not sure why every one is so concerned about what other people get up to in the privacy of their own homes, as long as people are paying tax and obeying the law its isn't anyone's business, and probably says more about their own issues than anything else.
Posted in: Beat Takeshi compares same-sex marriage with bestiality
11
NZ2011
Looking at everything that has gone on in this country lately and some of the absolutely crazy things that come out of the mouths of politicians, mayors and so on only backs up even more my belief that Japans singular biggest problem is older Japanese men. (not all of course but many influential ones).
The same could be said about many countries of course, though the breed here does seem particularly out of touch with any kind of reality.
Posted in: Beat Takeshi compares same-sex marriage with bestiality
4
NZ2011
Incidentally, do some research Japan's nuclear had been "lucky" until this point there are case upon case of faked safety records covered up accidents.. How can anyone trust a single word any of them have to say, Fukushima was only a year ago and was lie after lie covered in deception and more or less just a world wide demonstration that the Japanese government has more or less has no control or understanding of the huge companies that are actually running the country.
Posted in: Nuclear-free Japan braces for summer power shortages
3
NZ2011
"Then we need 11 running right now to achieve economic expansion." The only economic expansion that would happen from that is the fattening of the wallets of all the people who are responsible for this mess. And again we will all pay for it all, forever. Japan needs to get rid of these life term vision-less self interested people who are "running" the country by default in the crazy revolving fashion they do and instead of lining the pockets people who that have already got more than enough, invest in the future. As pointed out by several people if all the money put into these aging decaying power plants had been used for the development for real solutions we would be in a safer more prosperous place.
Posted in: Nuclear-free Japan braces for summer power shortages
6
NZ2011
Few points.
It isn't about hugging tree, there is an abundance of energy in the world, the labels of green or alternative don't really help the case. Sure it takes more management and users to be more careful about how they use energy but that surely isn't that much to ask.
Most people's cars still run, fully or mostly on petrol. Electric cars running on power from power traditional power stations are just as polluting as an efficient petrol car and then you still have the batteries to deal with. (infact I believe the most efficient system is to have an onboard electric generator)
Yes the number 30% has been quoted again and again. Are you trying to tell me there isn't 30% that you or your business could save in electrical use? Turn off the TV, go outside and play in the park. Enforce regular working hours. I think its quite achievable.
Of those 54 reactors there has only been about 10 on average running the last year anyway.
Posted in: Nuclear-free Japan braces for summer power shortages
0
NZ2011
It well maybe the case the in the short term there will be little choice to have some running, but this is not because its necessary from the start it is because somehow the power companies and politicians have somehow through the various backdoor deals and OK's from a clearly biased "safety" authority have managed to build 54 nuclear reactors in this country many of which are old and use very outdated safety equipment and procedures... and they apparently only supply 30% of the power..
Look at the big picture, Japans economy is not doing well at all, turning back on some old nuclear power stations does nothing for the long term future of this country.
There is an opportunity for Japan from this disaster and a few important lessons.
Do you think when its the cheapest and easiest option to get a few running again despite the clear and obvious risks that Tepco, the government or anyone else is going to suggest that we can get through summer without them even if it were possible..
Posted in: Nuclear-free Japan braces for summer power shortages
12
NZ2011
So, again we are faced with a Government and power industry who seem totally unable to think ahead, problem solve or be capable of anything much more than saying sorry.
Its been well over a year and a totally predicable path leading to this and one of the greatest industrial nations on the planets answer is?
Japan has the chance to become a world leader in clean energy and should have started day one after the promises that were made.
Posted in: Nuclear-free Japan braces for summer power shortages
4
NZ2011
I was thinking about this article last night, the question is quite loaded from the outset and it certainly doesn't make any distinction from someone passing through and someone who has been here quite some time.
How do you feel about being a gaijin (which I assume to mean non-japanese in this case, all about context in my mind) in Japan is bound to bring up mostly posts with the same somewhat negative stance.
Next time perhaps Japan Today can be a little more careful about the wording unless of course they actually want this type of reaction.
Yes there are issues however the negatives are vastly outweighed by the positives in nearly everyones experience I have come across.
Learn the language and where appropriate follow the cultural norms just as you would expect of anyone who came to live in your country of birth and I think mostly your experience will be great.
I do believe there are some cases where legal protection should be extended to legal residents in banking, housing and other matters however again overwhelmingly provided Im prepared and realistic I have encountered few major obstacles. Some important systems are changing from this July, legal residents will be recorded in the Japanese system, and visas will be 5 years and re-entry permits will not be needed in many cases, these are pretty major steps for a sometimes slow moving country.
But over all get out there enjoy all the wonderful things Japan does have to offer and show people that "outsiders" can also be respectful, understanding, gentle, intelligent and trustworthy and perhaps then one person at a time we can show Japanese people that if they do judge people simply by what they look like and where they are from they will be the one's who are missing out.
Anyway lets aim for a positive article next time, I think a bunch of irate non-Japanese after reading this is just as likely to ensure that the distance between Japanese and Non-Japanese continues as anything else.
Posted in: How do you feel about being a ‘gaijin’ in Japan?
0
NZ2011
there really is a lot of miserable people that read this isn't there, I get the feeling some would be unhappy whatever is happening where ever they are.
I agree somethings need to change as I said before, some are starting to change, and some of those things are just as tough for Japanese people themselves and because Japan is Japan some things never will.
Go outside and enjoy the weather :-)
Posted in: How do you feel about being a ‘gaijin’ in Japan?
1
NZ2011
whoops spelling error.. wish we could edit posts. Meant to say;
>
Im not suggesting we shouldn't make our feelings known and assist people to see another point of view but do something positive about it, the audience on Japan Today can do little to change anything but if you person by person show that you are worthy we might just make a difference.
Posted in: How do you feel about being a ‘gaijin’ in Japan?
3
NZ2011
There is truth in nearly every point, you can spend the whole time being annoyed at every little thing or just look at the experience as a whole and see the mostly positive.
Overwhelmingly it is great, as I always say if I didn't want to be here I wouldn't be. (Though I am a white male from a non-threating country and am aware this isn't the same experience for everyone, pretty much everywhere sadly)
At the end of the day if you decide that the balance is too far the other way for you then there is always the option of going "home", Im not suggesting we should make our feelings known and assist people to see another point of view but do something positive about it, the audience on Japan Today can do little to change anything but if you person by person show that you are worthy we might just make a difference.
I agree there are some fundamental and very frustrating issues with housing and general bureaucracy but things are slowly beginning to change, 5 year visas the end of the Alien Registration system and allowing both Japanese and non-japanese to co-exist on the same "family records". (my largest gripe personally is I have no say in what happens to my taxes, I hope one day permanent residents will be able to vote, though I think thats 10-15 years away)
I can only hope that everyone who complains about the way the are treated here would defend and assist anyone of a different nationality living in their country.
Posted in: How do you feel about being a ‘gaijin’ in Japan?
1
NZ2011
It seems funny that this topic keeps coming up but little is actually provided in the way of real advice.
I do, and have had emergency supplies and an emergency grab bag (some clothes important docs etc) ready since March last year, however you have no control over where you will be in the city or even country if and when the "big one" comes.
I will submit a request to my local ward office shortly but I would like to see a multilingual advice pamphlet distributed on a regular basis with the following;
Basic safety and precautions for home and work place including things advice on securing items in the home. Learn where your gas, water and power cut offs are and so on.
Advice on creating a plan for contacting and meeting other members of your household.
Advice on what to try to store incase of services being interrupted. (including the waste of the not so nice kind)
Advice on where to access information, FM, AM, TV and what language support is available.
and what I have found difficult to find is the following,
Nearest meeting point or refuge point, and a map of elevations so that if a large tsunami did approach Tokyo people have some chance of getting to somewhere "safe".
What plans has each ward made for water, food, emergency medical field offices.
The news has been inundated with these stories about "the big one is coming" but without a clear and planned response there seems little point other than to make people nervous.
It is coming, no one knows when or how big but this is most certainly a case where I would rather that I and the various authorities are over prepared.
Posted in: Gov't report projects effects of Tokyo Bay quake
1
NZ2011
Perhaps a little un-related but does Tokyo have, for example, have any capacity for air-raid sirens or so on?
Posted in: Gov't orders SDF to destroy N Korean rocket 'if necessary'
0
NZ2011
This brings several thoughts to mind. Its funny that the very small amount of more extreme protest always gets the attention rather than any actual honest talk of reconciliation on these issues.
Japan has its fair share of isolationist, nationalistic looney tunes too don't forget.
Japan must try to work with its neighbours if it wants to survive in a modern global economy, this includes being sensitive about historical issues.
Posted in: S Korean activists protest against Japan
7
NZ2011
Most of the main roads in my area have signs saying don't smoke while walking around.. I have reminded people several times, they tend to look very embarrassed afterwards. (sometimes I just give a passing "tobacco kusai yo~").
Sadly like all places there are some people that don't care about anyone else but themselves.
Smoking sucks, don't do it near me, or anyone else who doesn't choose to be exposed, simple.
Posted in: Sign of the times
1
NZ2011
Both Tokyo Radiation Levels and Tokyo Kids and Radiation are groups real people who have been doing their own research testing and monitoring with help from scientists from around the world, I trust these people significantly more than the halve truths that fall out of the mouths of the so called "government", they are here concerned for their health and safety and rather than just blindly believe everything is fine they have actually been getting out there and investigating.
Posted in: Decontamination and Food Safety: Is Enough Being Done?
0
NZ2011
Uniqlo, good quality, reasonable price.
Some sizing issues for larger foreigners, while I could surely lose a few kg Im not that big and it can be sometimes tough to get something that looks ok and fits, that said, half my wardrobe is Uniqlo.
My main issue is why do the socks end at 27cm.. my 29-30cm will never change length no matter my weight. (apparently larger socks are available online)
Anyway, good for them, a company that seems to be actually moving forward and opening up, lets hope the working conditions for the employees is a little more open and reasonable than what they are for many "part-timers around the country.
Posted in: Uniqlo opens mega-store in Ginza, with 100 foreign staff
8
NZ2011
Yes, because we trust the private sector in Japan to always puts the safety and welfare of people before profits... Oh wait thats how we ended up in this mess in the first place.
Posted in: Private sector asked to help with tsunami debris disposal
-1
NZ2011
Wish all the best, and concurrently wish I had my own palace hospital.
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1
NZ2011
Apple will simply include a 30pin to Mini USB adaptor with the phone as is permitted under the draft agreement.
Posted in: Universal charger tantalisingly close for mobiles