Richard_the_First's past comments

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    Richard_the_First

    The most astonishing thing about this article has been commented on. The networks make 700 million yen per week from ads. Think about that, and wonder where all of the money goes as it certainly doesn't go onto funding quality programming.

    Posted in: TV, entertainment industry facing major crunch

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    Richard_the_First

    In my experience, they are pretty awful. I once got in a taxi in Roppongi and asked to go to Mita 1-chome, which to anyone who knows the area is basically next to Azabu-Juban station. The halfwit then had the temerity to ask how to get there. I and and my friend promptly got out and walked.

    Posted in: Why are Tokyo cabbies so clueless?

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    Richard_the_First

    If Google, MS and so on turned up with a pile of cash that would make the owners billionaires in an instant, who wouldn't? I would...

    Posted in: Twitter co-founder says company prizes independence

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    Richard_the_First

    Me thinks she has a bun in the oven.

    Posted in: Zombies' night out

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    Richard_the_First

    And as to the arguments regarding why unconditional surrender, was the only choice the allies would accept. Think back to post WWI and the mistakes made in allowing Germany to rebuild its war machine. The Western allies along with the Soviets didn't want another war with an armed Japan at any point in the future.

    Posted in: Was the dropping of the atomic bombs necessary?

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    Richard_the_First

    Potsdam made it clear, but it fell on deaf ears. First Hiroshima, and they were still suffering from hearing problems. Then Nagasaki and they were STILL deaf, dumb and blind to the obvious.Then the Soviet Union declared war and still they didn't surrender until a week or so after that. Most Japanese get swept away by the victim mentality, but the truth is that the war ending like that did Japan a huge favour in terms of a historical perspective as had the war gone on and on, the Japan we enjoy today would not be the same place had it been carved up, German style, by the USSR., the US. and GB.

    Posted in: Was the dropping of the atomic bombs necessary?

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    Richard_the_First

    Service in Japan is normally great but one thing irks me here. If you order two dishes as mains, they will bring the one that is ready first, leaving the other person waiting. It's part of the culture, I accept but they generally don't have awareness. For example you order soup and bread and and get one or the other whilst still waiting for the said other. I often remark about this to my friends and they shrug it off, but I point out that if they went to a sushi restaurant overseas and received their sushi but had to wait for the soy sauce or wasabi to be brought to their table, they would see my point about the oddness.

    Posted in: What are some differences you have observed between waiters and waitresses in restaurants and cafes in Japan and other countries and also the way in which customers treat them?

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    Richard_the_First

    Pedestrians are crazy at times. Cars are highly predictable, noisy objects, that rarely change direction suddenly. People on the other hand, do. Just last week, I was turning right at an intersection and a woman decided that she would try to run in front of my car to make the crossing, as it had just turned red for her, but I was already mid turn. I hit the brakes, and thankfully didn't hit her. Legally, I was in the wrong as we must yield at all times, and she was on the crosswalk but it doesn't absolve her of her stupidity. I think its part of the reason why hit and runs are common here as drivers know what will happen to them if they so much as graze a pedestrian.

    Posted in: Woman killed in hit-and-run in Gunma

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    Richard_the_First

    Sad indeed. If it was a DUI then the driver should be punished. With that said though, and without knowing the full facts of the case, it may have been a simple accident. The law here is draconian in terms of the driver bearing 100% responsibility regardless of the circumstances. He/she should have stopped though and offered assistance.

    Posted in: Woman killed in hit-and-run in Gunma

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    Richard_the_First

    It's true that the driver is at fault, but the law, I hate to say this, encourages such acts. If a person wanted to kill themselves by jumping in front of a car, I mean literally doing so, a driver would have no chance to avoid the collision. If that person successfully committed suicide, the law says that the driver would possibly go to jail and be criminally responsible.The person might also lose their job.

    If we think about such, is it any wonder that people drive off? The law needs changing in terms of making peds, cyclists responsible for their actions IF at fault. As one of the above posters rightly said, cars are highly predictable machines. Peds and cyclists are not.

    Posted in: 66-year-old woman dies after being hit by truck in Tochigi

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    Richard_the_First

    Hit and runs will be a way of life here until the law changes to apportion blame to the injured party IF they are to blame in some way. As it stands, from what I know, the driver is 100% criminally responsible regardless of the circumstances. Imagine driving along, within the speed limit and some obachan on her bike flies into your path, without notice. You hit her, and that's it. You will be arrested, may even go to jail if she dies. Of course it's wrong to drive off, but for some the realisation that they may lose their job and possibly their liberty for what may be a blameless accident is the motivator for such incidents. If he was drunk, then it's another story...

    Posted in: 66-year-old woman dies after being hit by truck in Tochigi

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    Richard_the_First

    Apple didn't invent but refined the various concepts into mind share. That's Apple's killer move. They make superb products backed up with superb marketing, which led them to where they are today. The iPhone may be just another smart phone but it will overtake RIM's phones given time. It's a game changer, like the iPod was. This tablet could do the same.

    Posted in: Apple may wipe slate clean for new tablet computer

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    Richard_the_First

    It's best not to piss them off, me thinks.

    Posted in: Tell us about any encounters, either good or bad, you have had with Japanese police.

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    Richard_the_First

    The point is that the law here put 100% blame on the driver in all situations. It's ludicrous as it absolves peds of any responsibility for their own actions. As a driver in Japan, its the scariest thing, in my opinion. I don't worry about being hit by another car whilst in my car, but I do about some idiot who rushes into the road. You can end up in jail here if you hit somebody who jumps out in front of you, and subsequently dies. Madness. The law needs to acknowledge the fact that drivers are human beings too and, in some circumstances, cannot be blamed completely, all of the time.

    So the law as it stands means Mr Plod is to blame.

    Posted in: 10-year-old girl in hospital after being hit by police car in Ibaraki

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    Richard_the_First

    I hope he gets punished in the same manner that any other person would.

    Posted in: 10-year-old girl in hospital after being hit by police car in Ibaraki

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    Richard_the_First

    Good riddance to the taxis, I say. They clog up the roads as it is. I bet around 60 to 70% of all cars on the road in Tokyo at night are taxis.

    Posted in: Last train blues

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    Richard_the_First

    The ATM thing is odd. Anyway, Citibank, Post Office and 7-11 machines will accept foreign issued VISA cards.

    Posted in: Visa launches Tokyo Shopping Guide

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    Richard_the_First

    I have had my card refused in Yodabashi camera on two occasions. It's quite embarrassing actually and annoying when you consider that as kirakira25 said, the lack of chip and pin causes these problem yet the locals can get away with not having to sign at all in many places, yet foreign cards that do feature modern security measures may get flagged to prevent fraud.

    Posted in: Visa launches Tokyo Shopping Guide

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    Richard_the_First

    Also don't bother using your VISA card in regular ATMs as it won't work. Get your magnifying glass out and notice the sticker that says 'Japan issued card only' Ahh, old fashioned banking in Japan.......Priceless

    Or is that Mastercard.

    Posted in: Visa launches Tokyo Shopping Guide

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    Richard_the_First

    Roundabouts would solve many problems, but create some too. Selfish drivers who flaunt the right of way, even if they don't have it for example. That would cause chaos at roundabouts.

    Posted in: Why I hate driving in Japan

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