JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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- Full-time English Teacher - Osaka
- Epion English Language Schools, Osaka
- Salary: ¥200,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month Depending on your ability and experience
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- Part-time English Teacher - Osaka
- Epion English Language Schools, Osaka
- Salary: ¥10,000 ~ ¥15,000 / Day Depending on how many days a week are worked
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Richard_the_First
Regarding speed limits, they are too low on some roads, yet others that require traffic calming measures like speed bumps or chicanes, well, such things are nowhere to be found. For example, on the decline of a road like Hakone shindo, I think it's almost impossible to adhere to the posted limit as otherwise you would be riding the brakes the whole time. Also, in Japan AT cars are the norm yet engine braking is not as strong as that found in MT cars, which makes it even harder at times keep to one speed. My car is MT so I can put in 2nd if I wish but don't want to as why should I grind my gearbox and waste fuel, just so I can 'cruise' at 50kph on a road with no peds or cyclists. The issue isn't speed but intelligent use of speed limits. Yes, enforce those lower limits in built up urban areas, but don't punish drivers for moderate speeding on wide open, multi lane carriageways. For example, the Odawara Atsugi road has a limit of 70kph. Anyone who has driven there will probably agree that it's ludicrous limit for such a road.
Posted in: Why I hate driving in Japan
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Richard_the_First
I think it's hard to find good driving roads due to the way they always line them with trees. A safety issue no doubt to stop people screaming round corners as they can't see well, so will ease off a bit.
I have been there, done that. It is very expensive and time consuming. Another racket as most will take the easy but costly path over the cheap but near impossible police test at the prefectural licence centres.
Yep, I agree there. They way they bully you on expressways is not acceptable but might is right, as far as they are concerned.
I think most Japanese drivers are good with indicators. Apart from Taxi drivers who feel that hazards lights on means you can stop anywhere at any time. They really piss me off.
Insurance is a necessary evil. Nobody wants to pay, but then again nobody wants to pay for a wrecked car if T-boned etc, by some tit who thinks that running red lights is okay.
Shaken is a racket designed to encourage new cars sales. Of course, safety is important too.
A good idea on the whole but the lack of on street parking is annoying. You should be able to park in P60 spaces at night without fear of getting a ticket.
Tolls are another racket. Way too expensive, bordering on the insane really. If a road is paid off it should be free or very cheap.
The police are not too militant here, I feel. Japan is thankfully 'speed camera on every corner' free, unlike my country. Being pulled for speeding isn't difficult as the limits are ludicrously on certain roads.
Watch out for the grannies. They are the worst.
Posted in: Why I hate driving in Japan
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Richard_the_First
The subtitling is bizarre. I was told it is for deaf people but if true, they would subtitle the whole show, not just selective bits. I think it's the Manga influence, or just that Japanese seemingly need information for everything. Just look at the way they clutter the four corners of the screen with garish text most of the time.
Posted in: Idiocy versus intelligence on Japanese quiz shows
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Richard_the_First
Cooking shows are the worst. Actually they are not cooking shows but just shows with food as the theme. They normally follow this routine: Food = delicious. That's it really and a revelation it is too.
Posted in: Idiocy versus intelligence on Japanese quiz shows
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Richard_the_First
Good. I wish they would keep their dirt hands away from me as I am not their 'friend'.
Posted in: Cleanup
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Richard_the_First
KnowBetter,
Have you ever had the flu? I have so don't want a repeat, and particularly during a period of mass hysteria which is bound to follow once this thing grips hold of the nation. I do hope the govt. has sufficient stockpiles of Tamiflu.
Posted in: Japan to phase out onboard quarantine inspections as new flu cases total 178
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Richard_the_First
The trouble is that those with flu, don't really care if others get it. Of course they might want to prevent family or friends from catching it but not somebody they don't know, as why care? This is the real problem, when on trains for example.
Posted in: What measures are you taking to avoid catching the new flu virus?
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Richard_the_First
Amazing that Japan is now fourth, and the only country not in N.America too. It will be second or top by the time this thing is over. The govt must be scratching its head wondering how this has happened, as it seemed that the country was rather smug about the lack of cases a few weeks ago, but now look. Wildfire...
Posted in: Japan to phase out onboard quarantine inspections as new flu cases total 178
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Richard_the_First
The older lady is beautiful. She's a bit of queen though, isn't she, and tries to defend her looks. I recall she appeared in some drama or the like and had to play an elderly lady but refused make up and just slapped on a grey wig. It looked ridiculous...
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Richard_the_First
LostinNagoya,
I see, but I am talking about driving schools, NOT the prefectural licence centres run by the police. 95% of Japanese drivers graduate from driving schools and as such practice parallel parking. Well, I did anyway at my school in Futakotamagawa.
Posted in: Man runs over daughter, nephew in Chiba restaurant parking lot
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Richard_the_First
Well, I attended a driving school last year and everyone, MT or AT, had to practice parallel parking. Of course whether it came up on your test was pot luck, and in my case it was reverse parking but I still had to know how to do it just in case.
Anyway, reverse into spaces, it's the safest way.
Posted in: Man runs over daughter, nephew in Chiba restaurant parking lot
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Richard_the_First
The test that 95% of Japanese take to get a licence includes parallel parking. I personally think that Japanese are, on the whole, great at parking as they are not lazy and tend to back into spaces which is safer than nose in. Parallel parking is unpopular due to the narrow nature of the streets and the fear of holding people up if several attempts are needed. I personally don't like doing it for the above reasons and for fear of whacking my car against a kerb. If the roads were wider it would be okay.
A tragedy for all involved.
Posted in: Man runs over daughter, nephew in Chiba restaurant parking lot
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Richard_the_First
Japan's problem is that there are too many middle men taking a slice.
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Richard_the_First
GW will be hell. The tolls are outrageous though, and the discount is welcome.
Posted in: For whom the road tolls
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Richard_the_First
Comparing boiled rice is like comparing the 'taste' of mineral water in my opinion. Both tasteless.
Posted in: Steam rice cooker
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Richard_the_First
They can't sing well enough to make a dent.
Posted in: Why do Asian pop stars have a hard time succeeding in the U.S. market?
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Richard_the_First
My advice is to drive in Tokyo during GW. It's empty!
Posted in: Porta-potty numbers along expressways to be tripled during Golden Week
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Richard_the_First
Love the use of rope. Maybe they use carrier pigeons to send messages too.
Posted in: Suspect who escaped from police station while cop slept turns himself in
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Richard_the_First
Selfish no doubt, but just imagine the mother's pain for a moment. For what ever reason, she decided to go ahead with a murder suicide, but killed her daughter without successfully killing herself. A mistake that will live with her for the rest of her life, and she may not get a chance to off herself from now on. Poor husband, too.
Posted in: Saitama woman recovers after suicide attempt; arrested for killing 8-yr-old daughter
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Richard_the_First
Just go to Hibiya park any night of the week. A real eye opener.
Posted in: Is Shinjuku's 'gay town' threatened with extinction?