ReformedBasher's past comments

  • 1

    ReformedBasher

    Fix the jobless problems in your own countries before you import more labour.

    Like you own country has done so very well?

    But your ludicrous outburst is besides the point. The article is about employing elite workers. Seeing reading comprehension eludes you, you needn't concern yourself any further.

    Posted in: Scrambling for the immigrant elite

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    If you go to any country and do not speak/read the language, expect to fail or live in a limited environment.

    If you go to any country and do not apply yourself, expect to fail or live in a limited environment.

    If you go to any country and do nothing but complain how things are different, expect to fail or live in a limited environment.

    As you can see from the above, some of us choose to live here because we prefer to. Make an effort to fit in and things change dramatically. But don't give up halfway. I'm trying to give some good advice here - I have no interest in proving anything

    Posted in: Scrambling for the immigrant elite

  • -1

    ReformedBasher

    @AKBfan

    I left a "first class" company back home where nothing ever got done, there was 2-3 times as much management as what was necessary, and pretty poor management at that. And the majority of the employees were next to useless too. Way too many rules in place and no incentive to try harder. The few employees who did try, did a fantastic job though.

    I'm far from a perfect employee. I just try solving problems myself rather than waiting for others. Flexibility helps - why limit yourself to just one field? I'm a businessman / translator / programmer and recently engineer.

    Life may not go as well as people want but if you just sit back all the time, you only have yourself to blame. Here's some advice that seems to work. Don't blow your horn too much and be patient. If you consistently have good ideas, people will take notice. If not, look around for people who do.

    I'd like to add that, despite not being the "elite", the obvious skills of speaking and reading Japanese in Japan makes it possible for employers to make use of you.

    Posted in: Scrambling for the immigrant elite

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    What lucabrasi and sakurala said. Some of us are here because we just like it. The spouse and job are bonuses, the icing on the cake. It was never about the money.

    And what you say too Cleo.

    Posted in: Scrambling for the immigrant elite

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    I left a job that pays 3-4 times as much to return to Japan. My commute and working hours are longer.

    But, and this the cruncher, the people I work with actually listen to me. I'm talking about professors (emeritus) of highly ranked universities. I've already helped saved the company financially and have suggested several improvements that have been acted upon. With no previous experience in the field, my boss, who is a famous professor of engineering, has implemented my designs to improve current manufacturing processes. And what we do may well change the future of Japan, if not the world. Most likely, seeing that things are already moving in that direction.

    No bad when you consider I haven't worked here for 3 months yet.

    The chances of this happening back home? Absolutely zero. So yeah, as far as job satisfaction goes, I'll pick Japan.

    Won't even go into how I prefer a country with a decent work ethic and goes to great length to preserve it's history and culture.

    If you have what it takes, Japan is a oyatoi gaikokujin's dream. Think big.

    Posted in: Scrambling for the immigrant elite

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    @sauraiakydiver

    Agreed. All kinds of things can go wrong with heavy machinery. And helmets can only do so much.

    Posted in: Construction worker dies after being hit by metal pipes falling from crane

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    This is why I let these guys know I'm around when I come across them. Usually I hear them first and whistle a song (something obviously human) while I'm still behind cover.

    Posted in: 64-year-old deer hunter shot dead by fellow hunter in Miyagi

  • -6

    ReformedBasher

    Don't know why foreign nationals are a concern in Tokyo but the population literally doubled with foreigners where I lived back home, (admittedly a lot were were from interstate), and this put a tremendous strain on public transport.

    Also made things very difficult for locals to find decent employment thanks to "equal opportunity" laws. Gutless employers hire foreigners over locals because they don't want to get sued as being "racist". Locals had the choice of moving themselves or doing crappy work nobody else wanted.

    Posted in: Can Tokyo be transformed into a 24-hour city?

  • 1

    ReformedBasher

    @Fizzbit

    If the real reason for not learning is as you say - fair enough. I'd still try to learn the basics so you are not a burden in the case of an emergency etc. (Assuming yo have not done so already)

    Posted in: Why you shouldn’t learn Japanese

  • 2

    ReformedBasher

    I guess your incentive to learn a foreign language depends largely how long you intend to live here, and how much you intend to become a part of the community.

    I taught myself for 2 years, practising with my friends, writing to penpals, etc, with the intention of staying here for as short as 6 months. Thinking I would be laughed at by all the other foreigners, I was amazed to learn that many foreigners never made an effort, even after living here for years.

    But that was back in 1991. These days I'm very happy to see (hear) a lot of foreigners speaking good Japanese. It shows. Most "natives" where I live are not surprised when I talk to them for the first time. "Oh, this guys speaks Japanese, that simplifies things". If anything, it's going to be about my speaking the local dialect - again, something I started late last year when I moved to a new region because how else would I understand what's going on around me?

    I agree with Get Real...

    how much more successful would you be if you did?

    Seriously, I understand short termers not bothering but otherwise, I personally think long term expats in any country who don't make the effort to learn the local language are parasites. It's not how good you are, It's whether or not you tried.

    Posted in: Why you shouldn’t learn Japanese

  • 0

    ReformedBasher

    @Dog

    Kanji, with it's multitude of readings, makes Japanese difficult even for Japanese.

    Pronouncing things like names perhaps but not for reading (with the occasional exception).

    I lived in Japan for 4 years before I decided to learn Kanji (as opposed to getting by with knowing just a few). It took me about 2 months of studying a page or two a night to become reasonably proficient. (Reading newspapers and magazines, etc). This is because I was able to recognize words I knew that I had never seen written before. Still applies, I can usually guess the meaning of words from the Kanji and/or context.

    Posted in: Why you shouldn’t learn Japanese

  • 4

    ReformedBasher

    Well, he can't complain about the realism.

    Posted in: Man arrested for molesting woman after being invited to do so online

  • 1

    ReformedBasher

    @Farmboy

    I was thinking the exact same thing.

    Posted in: N Korea slams U.S. aircraft carrier's arrival

  • 1

    ReformedBasher

    I compliment woman constantly. I guess some like it more than others but I never have any strings attached. That seems to work.

    I'll compliment guys sometimes. No strings attached there either.

    I have little interest in scheming my way through life. Better to talk straight and use a little discretion as required.

    Posted in: Is it ever OK to compliment a co-worker's appearance on the job?

  • 5

    ReformedBasher

    Spoiler Alert: Apparently some dinosaurs escape and then eat people.

    Seriously though, these movies are a good break from cops, robbers and car chases.

    Posted in: Universal delays release of 'Jurassic Park 4'

  • 5

    ReformedBasher

    @Asian2013

    The average Japanese knows that Japan (the one that existed 70 years ago) forcibly colonized East Asia (just like the Western European countries had done for centuries, and continued to do after WW2).

    Just like the British took over Singapore. Maybe with less violence in Singapore's case, but lots of other countries were not so lucky.

    By the way, how do the Malays feel about getting swamped with Chinese and Indians?

    Getting back to Japan, the only countries that continue the denial of not accepting apologies when other countries have, are the Koreas and China - funnily enough, both of these countries have ongoing territorial issues with Japan and like to use the old insincere apology trick to their advantage.

    Posted in: Japan says it will honor apologies for World War II atrocities

  • 1

    ReformedBasher

    He was a far, far better guest on the show than Terrorontino was.

    Posted in: Fans' favorite

  • 7

    ReformedBasher

    Better kicked out Chinese from Yokohama and Kobe's China Town as soon as possible else... ha ha ha...

    That's would serve no purpose and only raise tensions, not to mention give China an excuse to act even worse than it is already.

    Posted in: China should reconsider who owns Okinawa: People's Daily

  • 8

    ReformedBasher

    Sorry Yubaru

    Okinawa was taken over by the Satsuma domain in 1609. As far as I know, it was pretty well business as normal as far as trade with China went.

    Over 500 years ago. China didn't care until Japan stood up to them.

    Posted in: China should reconsider who owns Okinawa: People's Daily

  • 23

    ReformedBasher

    They've really lost it. Hope the common people don't fall for their government's bs. Apparently the government is detested by a lot of the population so let's hope they get opposed (or even better, deposed) by their own people.

    Posted in: China should reconsider who owns Okinawa: People's Daily

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