Richard_III said...

Richard_III at 12:16 PM JST - 23rd October

Been here over 5 years and have only one Japanese male friend. He spent a lot of time overseas so is pretty normal and well adjusted. Mostly, find them very difficult to get on with, or mostly just boring. Generally, those that have lived overseas have a bit more life…

Posted in The age of listless, wary, anxiety-ridden and insecure young men at 12:16 PM JST - 23rd October
Richard_III at 04:16 PM JST - 22nd October

I agree.

In Shanghai, meanwhile, they're running mag-lev trains.

To the middle of nowhere though.

No wonder the folks out in Chiba are pxssed. I would be too.

Not as much as those of us who regularly have to use Narita.

Posted in Narita's extended 2nd runway goes into operation at 04:16 PM JST - 22nd October
Richard_III at 03:22 PM JST - 22nd October

Maybe the excessive immigration of foreigners contributes to the cause.

I very much doubt it. Given that most foreigners earn far more than the natives, my guess would be that overall they are net contributors.

Posted in Survey finds 1 in 7 Japanese living in poverty at 03:22 PM JST - 22nd October
Richard_III at 10:59 AM JST - 22nd October

This Maehara seems to have his head screwed on right. He's making all the right noises at the moment.

Posted in Maehara eyeing steep rise in gift tax exemption for home buyers at 10:59 AM JST - 22nd October
Richard_III at 09:36 AM JST - 22nd October

Don't get me wrong, I like J-lasses as much as the next man, but the gaijin wins here.

Posted in Japan–U.S. bikini showdown as Playboy’s Michelle McLaughlin flies in to Tokyo at 09:36 AM JST - 22nd October
Richard_III at 12:17 PM JST - 21st October

A few years ago there was a spurt of original good movies: Battle Royalle, Audition, Ring. Over the past couple of years, I've seen some small-scale films in little cinemas that have been pretty good. Climbers High and After School were fairly ok.

Some of them have been shockingly bad.…

Posted in What do you think of the quality of Japanese movies? at 12:17 PM JST - 21st October
Richard_III at 03:20 PM JST - 19th October

I worked in a Japanese company that was full of the old school guys, where work defined your life and the boss told you when to breathe and take a crap. Unimaginably awful. I stopped going as well, and pledged to myself never to work for a Japanese company again.…

Posted in New breed of employees can’t communicate and wilt under pressure at 03:20 PM JST - 19th October
Richard_III at 12:45 PM JST - 16th October

Too many people playing computer games combined with too many people who walk down the street permanently glued to their keitais, or just show a general lack of consideration to others is turning into a violent mix.

Posted in Man slashed on Tokyo street at 12:45 PM JST - 16th October
Richard_III at 10:36 AM JST - 14th October

The mayor of Chiba says that they've been gambaru-ing but I find this incredibly hard to believe.

Narita is a joke (poor trains with slow connections, lousy shops and restaurants). They could barely make it a worse experience.

As soon as possible, I'll be using Haneda.

Posted in Maehara eyes turning Haneda into 24-hour hub for international flights at 10:36 AM JST - 14th October
Richard_III at 02:58 PM JST - 3rd October

How about getting to Narita in less than an hour?

That would have the greatest benefit for most of us in Japan.

Posted in 8 essential tips for your next flight at 02:58 PM JST - 3rd October