Shumatsu_Samurai said...

Shumatsu_Samurai at 09:22 PM JST - 10th April

praising the PM for criticising the DPJ preventing the government to appoint BOJ governors with conflicts of interest

If the latest deputy governor nominee was unsuitable, why did the DPJ appear to back him previously? There were several DPJ members who voted for the deputy or refused to vote against…

Posted in Fukuda vents irritation at DPJ chief Ozawa at 09:22 PM JST - 10th April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 05:29 PM JST - 10th April

For Fukuda to call Ozawa's doing his opposition duty, opposing the government

It isn't the Opposition's job to automatically veto government policy!

It may be its duty to scrutinise policy, but to block it for cynical reasons is an abuse of power. I would have had more sympathy for the…

Posted in Fukuda vents irritation at DPJ chief Ozawa at 05:29 PM JST - 10th April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 11:11 PM JST - 5th April

It's a very poor choice. Teaching "patriotism" is too narrowly focused and suggests extreme nationalism.

However, I think that it is good to make children aware of good things about their country so that they can better appreciate it. Things like democracy and civil rights are often taken for granted,…

Posted in Do you think that promoting patriotism should be part of a school's education curriculum? at 11:11 PM JST - 5th April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 04:47 AM JST - 3rd April

US Expat, let's all boycott their Olympics, but continue buying Chinese made goods. Yeah, that's a grand political posture.

It's a sensible one. It makes a point without anyone getting hurt/losing their jobs.

Posted in Imperial family likely to skip Olympics at 04:47 AM JST - 3rd April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:44 AM JST - 2nd April

Narita is better than a lot of airports I've been to. And it's nice and simple to get out of.

Posted in Kurara Chibana promotes Narita airport at 06:44 AM JST - 2nd April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:14 AM JST - 1st April

Interesting that with such a nice picture so many people have only nasty things to say......

Posted in Sakura at 03:14 AM JST - 1st April
Shumatsu_Samurai at 09:35 PM JST - 31st March

Hiko

They can't keep their promise by blocking the bill - they can only delay it for two months. That's the point.

They've said they'd be satisfied with the money going into the central pot (if I remember correctly), which Fukuda promised would happen from next year onwards. If the…

Posted in Gasoline prices set to fall as political showdown looms at 09:35 PM JST - 31st March
Shumatsu_Samurai at 05:57 AM JST - 31st March

mummet

So I suppose test-firing missiles over Japan was a sign of friendship by North Korea? Pyongyang regularly threatens Japan, so it's good that Tokyo has responded by ensuring any such pressure is useless.

By the way, given that the Patriot-3 is a US system it would be possible for…

Posted in Japan completes missile defense system deployment at 05:57 AM JST - 31st March
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:19 PM JST - 30th March

I don't get why the DPJ are so eager to have the tax killed off this year. Fukuda said he'd link it to the general budget next year onwards - makes sense given the local budgets have already been sorted out and need to be fulfilled for this year.

Or…

Posted in Gasoline prices set to fall as political showdown looms at 07:19 PM JST - 30th March
Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:06 AM JST - 26th March

"It is a pity Princess Masako has not heard of Homeschooling."

Homeschooling will only isolate the young princess even more. An open school will be much better for her, especially if the law is not changed to allow her to sit on the throne - she would need to be…

Posted in Schooling a challenge for Princess Masako and Aiko at 12:06 AM JST - 26th March