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
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
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NihonRyu
The SS folks get what they deserve here. The whaling vessel is only tailing them not trying to illegally board them or harrassing their movement in the high seas. It's the SS folks trying to throw off the whaling ship trailing them. The SS's actions of harassing them constantly including illegal boarding that is being repelled by the whaler's. I am glad they are starting to show some balls, SS should be lucky they are not harassing the Russians or Chinese fishing vessels. They would be shot on sight in the high seas. Ditto if they were to harass a man's means of living by harassing let's say an Alaskan fishing vessel in the Bering sea. They would get more than they bargan for. I hope SS has the common sense to stop using violence as a means to progress their agenda. There is more than enough whale population for limited sustainable whaling. Who says SS or other cultural imperialist nations have a right to play god and determine what species are ok for eating and others aren't? Nobody wants to see whales go extinct especially Japanese as we like eating them but also enjoy watching them, studying them and appreciating them for the magnificient creatures they are. But they are also damn tasty to many of us!!
I hope our whaling ships meet or exceed their quota, I am cheering for them and supporting them with my weekly commitment to whale dinners with the family and educating our younger generation of how good whales are to eat!!!
Posted in: 3 anti-whalers injured after Japanese crew throw hooks, bamboo poles at them
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NihonRyu
DavidatTokyo: Very well said! Couldn't agree with you more.
Regulated sustainable whaling is always better. I think it is a fair comprimise to "no whaling at all what so ever just because I disdain the thought of killing cuddly whales."
Imagine a scenario where China, Japan, Korea all started indescrimanate unsustainable whaling in international waters..!!! Yeah, that is what I thought... You anti-whaling extremists would really have a handful if the Chinese had a tradition of eating whale. lol..!!! Let's hope the Chinese masses don't develop the taste of eating whale like they have with Maguro sashimi and sushi.. The whales would be in big trouble... lol..
Posted in: NZ, Australia condemn Japan's plan to go ahead with whaling
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NihonRyu
Japan must never, ever give in to an idealogical difference regarding the whaling issue as long as it is sustainable and legal. The whaling ships of Japan are in internationally recognized waters, not in Australia's territorial waters. Partaking in some of nature's abundance and bounty be it whales, fish, etc.. need to be managed collectively but having an idealogical/emotional problem for harvesting a certain species at a detriment to another is something that should not be tolerated especially if it condones violence as a means to accomplish it.
Posted in: NZ, Australia condemn Japan's plan to go ahead with whaling
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NihonRyu
I love whale meat!! Whale meat is tasy and very nutritious, I think we Japanese should do a better job introducing our unique whale eating culture to the entire world. Every non-Japanese friend of mine who have tried it with me not knowing what it was liked it (Chinese, Korean, American, Austrailian, French, British, etc.,) Especially the tasty fluke area, that is the best part!!! I do admit some where non too happy that I tricked them lol..!!! But most after tasting it polish it off anyway. Some of the granola types sure got mad though!!! lol... Meat is meat... Most Japanese support sustainable whaling, we sure wouldn't want to hunt them into extinction, we are actually quite the environmentailist traditionally speaking. If there are a million+ Minke whales out in the Antarctic, I don't see what the fuss is. It's not like we are killing indescrimanately every whale species even the endangered ones. Actually, I read somewhere that the overpopulation of Minke whales maybe causing other more rare species of whales to decline as they compete for prey. If that is the case, I don't see why culling a few thousand out of a million that could be enjoyed on our dinner tables is such a sin especially in the light that it may help save other more endangered whale species. Whaling! Whaling! Whaling! Yeah, love whale meat!!!! lol....
Posted in: NZ, Australia condemn Japan's plan to go ahead with whaling
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NihonRyu
@Zichi: Perhaps the stockpile is for emergency food rations just as there are supposedly stockpiles of coal stored within Tokyo bay in the event of emergencies. I don't know, but whale meat is regularly sold out in my supermarket and is still rather expensive compared to Tuna and other sashimi, same goes for most sushi places that carry whale. Japan carries one of the greatest risk for food dependancy as we import almost everything. Since we cannot turn our mountainous terrain into large grazing lands or farms the sea is one of our greatest benefactors thus our mainly traditional Seafood diet. I would love to replace imported Aust Pork and beef with tasty and healthy whale from the Antarctic. Unfortunately, the cost of whale meat is much higher than imported meat. Perhaps with fullscale resumed (sustainable) commercial whaling, we can begin to enjoy more often and choose whale over imported beef, pork, etc..
Posted in: No surprise Japan's whaling fleet planning return to Antarctica
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NihonRyu
@BlueWitch: Many people including 外国人 love whale sashimi which I suppose is highly subjective. I also like shiokara, so what?? Personally, I support sustainable legally sancitioned whaling as I like to eat whale and hope future generations in Japan will continue to be able to as well. Contrary to your opinion, many Japanese also feel the same as me..and certainly despise the actions of SS and Australia and NZ's ethnocentric and emotional opinions on this matter. As Ossan says there is a legal framework and Japan is not doing anything illegal in anyone's territorial waters. Some whale species are overabundant and I don't see any reason why we Japanese who eat whale cannot harvest a sustainable, healthy, not to mention tasty food supply just because others feel it to apprehensible to them.
Posted in: No surprise Japan's whaling fleet planning return to Antarctica
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NihonRyu
I hope they have a successful hunt and bring the Maritime SDF ships with them to defend against SS and their terrorists. Would love to see the SS ships try to menace an armed escort ship. One thing I can say about the Russians, they would sink the SS clowns if they tried to harrass their whaling ships. I love my whale sashimi!!! lol
Posted in: No surprise Japan's whaling fleet planning return to Antarctica
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NihonRyu
I hope Japan does not bow down to China's arrogance as they did last year and actually protect our national interest and our integrity. I would like to see the true test of our U.S. alliance once things get ugly between Japan and China. Why is that both China and Korea do not want to settle our territorial dispute properly in International Court?! Because they would lose...lol..
Posted in: Japan protests Chinese boats' entry in disputed area
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NihonRyu
Well on the flip side how many 2nd and 3rd generation Japanese, Koreans, or Chinese born and raised in America still wish or have their citizenship from their mother country? None or very few...
What on earth would a 2nd or 3rd generation Korean or Chinese born and raised in Japan only speaking Japanese want or need to retain a S.Korea, N.Korean, Taiwanese passport? For what purpose does it serve besides a personal agenda? I know of and have many Zainichi Korean friends that are now 2nd generation Japanese passport carrying citizens and they are proud Japanese and don't speak Korean or even give one shit about either Koreas. They know the advantage of being Japanese and making a comfortable successful living here being able to travel the world without restrictions as a Japanese national and actively participate in local and national elections. There are many like this and they themselves cannot understand the stubborn rhetoric of their counterparts with a personal or political agenda that is being forced upon them by overbearing parents, grandparents, etc.. with identity and inferiority complexes. There is a flip side to this and all can become Japanese and it is not very hard, I also know of an Indian national that recently became Japanese and is quite happy with the decision as replicating the life and success he has here was due to the unique opportunity that Japan provides for many foreigners and going back to India at this point in his life would be unimaginable to him and his family.
This is the rules of Japan. Just abide by them and work with the system, many do and have no issues and thrive. If you hate to have to tell your relatives that you have become Japanese like it is some kind of turncoat that it is a personal issue that needs to addressed. If you want to vote in Japan and make a difference, do the needful and become proud Japanese.. Stop complaining about not being able to retain your original citizenship. When dual citizenship is truly realized then we can cross that bridge when it comes.
Posted in: Japan weighs up whether to give foreign residents the vote
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NihonRyu
Noirgaijin: If Japan were to begin breeding Whales or dolphins soley for consumption, I can imagine the uproar by the Aussies. lol... So are you suggesting that we set-up huge pens in the open waters off our coast and breed dolphins and whales just for consumption? Is that really more humane than taking small populations from sustainable populations in the wild?
Posted in: Australia to take Japan to int'l court over whaling
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NihonRyu
The Antarctic Ocean is not Australia's territorial waters and the Japanese are hunting Minke whale which by all means is a very large and sustainable population.
Posted in: Australia to take Japan to int'l court over whaling
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NihonRyu
Use shaming tactics for those caught for minor offenses to perform community service such as picking-up litter, etc. around various neighborhoods around the base. They should wear a sign around their necks stating they are repenting for their trangressions against the locals. Serious crimes need to be dealt with so they have double jeapardy, time in Japanese prison as well as the brig when they come out. I guarantee crimes committed by the military and their families will go down significantly.
Posted in: What should the U.S. military brass and/or Japanese authorities do to reduce the number of crimes committed by U.S. military personnel in Japan?
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NihonRyu
Again, the point being many Japanese may not have personal relationships with foreigners here so do not have a reference point to go by of what a "Normal well behaved Gaijin is like let's say" So when a spectacle is made by a disruptive Gaijin in a public place it could potentially leave a very negative and unfair impression which is what this article is about.
Posted in: Dear Angry Western Guy
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NihonRyu
To Sarcasm 123: Unfortunately, there is far more Trash percentage in the Western populations than in Japan. I do agree that comparing normal population of the West to Japan is fairly equal in that sense. C'mon: Go to your average mall or movie theatre in the U.S. and compare the experience of that to say going to LaLa Port or Odaiba or the cineplex anywhere in Japan. You will more likely find bad mannered people of all colors black, white, hispanic, asian in the U.S. then you would for the most parts anywhere in Japan. That is my point. When normal Japanese people see bad mannered Japanese we typically think they were not brought up properly or have mental illness of some sorts. However, if foreigner is misbehaving it is unfairly viewed by many Japanese that is is Shoganai they are Gaijin and that is the point of Melissa's article.
Posted in: Dear Angry Western Guy
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NihonRyu
Some of the comments posted by foreigners here is unbelievable. I have lived in the states for many years and you cannot compare in general the behavior of your average Japanese v.s. low class trash in some Western countries. (yes there is many of them all over...) Of course we have our fair share of "trash" in Japan and as some noted Kansai seems to have greater share than most parts of Japan but really can you really say that it is just as common as in the U.S.? Give me a break. Most Westerners perspective of Japanese in their country is that they are law abiding and respectful of the culture that they are guests at. Unfortuantely, many "bad apples" foreigners here in Japan leave a negative impression unfairly to the rest of the Gaijin population. What Melissa is conveying is that foreigners should be extra mindful as to not label the rest of Gaijin community as being disruptive and bad mannered as there are relatively few foreigners here in Japan and making a bad first impression to Japanese is quite a reality. (Don't make this out to be a racist issue which it clearly is not.)
Posted in: Dear Angry Western Guy
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NihonRyu
This whole fuss and documentary on Taiji hunts is so unneccessary. The majority of Japanese people have either never had dolphin or eat it only occassinally when its available and typically only folks that have traditionally eaten it in coastal fishing areas. I am sure the average life span and health of a Taiji native is better than that of the U.S. average so concern for their health is really secondary for production of this film. They really want to stop the traditional slaughter of dolphins for consumption and shed this in a negative light as possible. Perhaps viewing the slaughter of dolphins for consumption purposes is certainly not enjoyable but so is any other life form that is slaughtered for food.
The thing that strikes me as so unfair and biased is that it was mostly the Western nations that caused the great decline of modern day marine mammals hunting them solely for oil. Although, personally I like dolphins and don't enjoy the taste of their meat I don't have the right to tell others who occassionally partake in dolphin as long as its done in a sustainable manner that doesn't threaten the survival of the species. The mercury in the dolphin meat is another thing but that really is up to Japan and the people who want to eat it to thoroughly investigate the risks.
This so called "Love Letter to Japan" is demeaning and undignified to our people and culture. What a few fishermen do in our coastal waters in their traditional ways is our business and most Westerners would agree they would not want others to forcibly place their religious or cultural values on them in their own country.
Posted in: Anger and defiance in Taiji after 'Cove' wins Oscar
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NihonRyu
@Ah so: I've read Bird's book as well and her travels were from Edo to Niigata and then up the interior of Japan towards Hokkaido. You forget to conveniently mention the diversity of what people ate and their lifestyles depending on region which is also mentioned in her book. I can assure you if she had traveled up the Pacific coast of Japan such as where I live in Chiba she would have encountered a much different lifestyle and foods such as abundant seafood than the remote mountain villages she encountered in the interior of Japan with little or no access to the sea. Taiji style hunting of dolphins was also done in Chiba for thousands of years according to a museum I visited and to this day you can purchase dolphin from select fish markets on the Sotobo of Chiba. However, personally I prefer whale and dolphin is considered an inferior quality meat compared to whale and a bit gamier tasting according to whale lovers.
Posted in: Anger and defiance in Taiji after 'Cove' wins Oscar
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NihonRyu
I think this anti-protest of Australia's stance is great. Good for Japan and it's about time. If this was organized on a weekend, I would definately join them.
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NihonRyu
The supporters of seashepard on this site continue to ignore the facts. They want to bully us into never eating whale ever no matter if it was sustainably hunted or if we could somehow farm them. It is an emotional issue for them but it is also an emotional issue for us and I don't think we care what the Australians or Kiwis bullied and conqured their indigenous people into virtual irrelevancy and submission to lose their heritage but they will not threaten ours. We Japanese will not be intimidated by these modern day imperialists such as the SeaShepard nor their supporters. We know we are in the right and will not feel guilty about nationally supporting our whaling activities there. Had whale sashimi last night and had my gaijin friends from Australia and the U.S. try it just once and they thought it was indeed surprisingly very good. They seem to now have a different perspective on the issue although we have our differences they did agree the wrongness in trying to force someones cultural values on another over food is wrong especially if it is not endangering a species extinction which I believe is the central and most important issue at hand.
Posted in: Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists in Antarctic sea
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NihonRyu
Rudd is an idiot.. He has no business telling us we can't have sustainable whaling in international waters. I really hope Japan leaves the IWC permanently and the crybabying by the humaniacs backfire and we begin to take several thousand Minkes annually instead. lol.. What's the point of the IWC and it's charter? I would think sustainable whaling of certain species backed by scientific study for the purpose of consumption is well within the original purpose of the organization???
Posted in: Australian PM threatens legal action against Japan over whaling