Shaolin7 said...

Shaolin7 at 10:14 PM JST - 29th September

You won't find me disagreeing with what you've said already, ensnaturae. I think you might have misread my intent. Sometimes, the patronizing cultural tone taken here bothers me; you can't simply impose your own set of values on ideals from the outside. The Japanese people themselves need to enact this…

Posted in No. of suicides in Japan reaches 22,000 in Jan-Aug at 10:14 PM JST - 29th September
Shaolin7 at 09:36 PM JST - 29th September

Youtube actually had the clip for a while, where she was interviewed after the infamous "betsu ni" incident and ended up crying buckets. It certainly goes to show good looks don't amount to a thing, if character is lacking. Someone else alluded to it in one of the Noriko Sakai…

Posted in Erika Sawajiri loses comeback movie role as contract termination looms at 09:36 PM JST - 29th September
Shaolin7 at 09:09 PM JST - 29th September

I find it strange that there is far more sympathy being expressed than is usual, for JT. If it had been a 17 year old male, alot of people would be baying for blood, calling him out as a psycho, etc. There certainly wouldn't be any call for "help" or…

Posted in Girl held for setting apartment on fire after stabbing mother at 09:09 PM JST - 29th September
Shaolin7 at 08:59 PM JST - 29th September

As the article alluded to, the major causes appear to be a conflation of financial difficulty and the tremendous pressures of expectation, external and internal. The downward spiral of unemployment / underemployment needs very serious attention, and for everyone's sake I hope Hatoyama and his cabinet are up to the…

Posted in No. of suicides in Japan reaches 22,000 in Jan-Aug at 08:59 PM JST - 29th September
Shaolin7 at 06:35 PM JST - 26th September

I understand the need to be especially cautious, particularly with certain segments of the police dept., but no one is saying you need to break the guy's jaw. You're simply speaking up and using the tools available i.e. in this case, the culture of shame and "face" by pointing him…

Posted in Saitama police launch new unit to prevent groping on trains at 06:35 PM JST - 26th September
Shaolin7 at 06:15 PM JST - 26th September

It would be good if Afghanistan gets its own house in order first, starting with Karzai & co. His own brother is alleged to be heavily involved in the opium trade. This is now 8 years on, with seemingly little to show for both the Afghan people and the international…

Posted in Afghanistan urges Japan to continue refueling mission at 06:15 PM JST - 26th September
Shaolin7 at 11:33 PM JST - 25th September

Sarge is correct, he has indeed paid back his outstanding taxes. I think it was done just after being named Treasury Secretary? My memory on this is rather fuzzy.

Posted in Fujii, Geithner discuss global economy at 11:33 PM JST - 25th September
Shaolin7 at 11:09 PM JST - 25th September

I think this is a good initiative too. It sickens me to think that girls / women who are groped feel it's too much trouble to say something. They have every right to stand up for themselves. Once again however, as evidenced by several posters' anecdotes, you are working against…

Posted in Saitama police launch new unit to prevent groping on trains at 11:09 PM JST - 25th September
Shaolin7 at 05:59 PM JST - 17th September

No worries Pito, I thought the skin / scale impressions were amazing as well.

Posted in Rare Badlands dinosaur makes voyage to Japan at 05:59 PM JST - 17th September
Shaolin7 at 12:35 AM JST - 17th September

Tkoind2, as usual mate, cheers to you for another lucid, poignant post. In the end, youth and beauty fade in time ... if you have constructed your relationship on that foundation, what will be left to you once they are gone? Grasp for the things of real import, fight for…

Posted in Low-income bachelors victims of widening 'sex gap' at 12:35 AM JST - 17th September