Simon_Foston said...

Simon_Foston at 11:29 PM JST - 6th October

Hephatsheput wrote:

The best way to deal with it? Legalize it!

This comment transcends mere tastelessness. Obviously it's another feeble attempt at wit, but if you think that you have to be staggeringly tactless and offensive to be funny, why bother?

Posted in What is the best way to deal with the groping problem on trains? at 11:29 PM JST - 6th October
Simon_Foston at 10:42 AM JST - 4th October

Well, getting back to the question of there still being "bad apples in the barrel," I can't see why there wouldn't be. I'm not aware of school operators changing their hiring practices significantly since NOVA went under, so if there were bad teachers before then there still will be now.…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 10:42 AM JST - 4th October
Simon_Foston at 08:34 AM JST - 3rd October

Yes, why take this risk? Clearly they felt an urgent need to intimidate him. It was a blunder because of the actions of Saruhashi's lawyer, but they must have known that risk, and still they felt the necessity to kidnap him.

Actually, one can better ask the same question in…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 08:34 AM JST - 3rd October
Simon_Foston at 10:41 PM JST - 2nd October

There is nothing wrong with your analysis, except that you attribute the poor NOVA business behavior leading to bankruptcy as incompetence, whereas it was a planned Yakuza method of phasing out and closing down the school, while embezzling as much money out as possible in the process. They even took…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 10:41 PM JST - 2nd October
Simon_Foston at 10:43 AM JST - 2nd October

joetheplumber:

Nova failed because it promoted inept teachers and lost some of its best teachers, because they were ill treated.

You are kidding, I hope.

NOVA "failed" because the controlling Yakuza decided to shut it down, putting in place methods of sucking out all the assets, deliberately bankrupting it.…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 10:43 AM JST - 2nd October
Simon_Foston at 06:21 PM JST - 1st October

Eikaiwa schools give no incentives for their teachers to stay long. That's why all the good ones leave.

It's stupid and short-sighted but quite deliberate. The salaries are generally quite decent for someone who's just graduated from university and looking to make a bit of cash to pay off student…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 06:21 PM JST - 1st October
Simon_Foston at 12:26 PM JST - 1st October

There are way too many "teachers" for the number of students, but that will change next year with compulsory social insurance.

In that respect I think eikaiwa is like a lot of other businesses here, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises the politicians are always telling us have to be…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 12:26 PM JST - 1st October
Simon_Foston at 09:38 AM JST - 1st October

The English-teaching industry has not adapted itself to current economic circumstances and the fundamental drop in demand for the service it provides. The whole English conversation teaching model is now obsolete because it is a luxury that people are deciding they cannot afford and do not really need. English is…

Posted in What is your impression of the English-teaching industry in Japan? Have things improved since Nova's collapse or are there still bad apples in the barrel? at 09:38 AM JST - 1st October
Simon_Foston at 08:44 AM JST - 29th September

Hatoyama also said he is aware that many small businesses are currently experiencing cash-flow problems.

That's probably because there's no demand for their goods and services. The government should just let them all close down, instead of wasting money keeping them on life support in the hope that people will…

Posted in Hatoyama cautious about Kamei's debt moratorium proposal at 08:44 AM JST - 29th September
Simon_Foston at 08:36 AM JST - 29th September

LDP comes roaring back to power! upper house landslide next summer, followed by dissolution of the lower house and a landslide victory there. Let's get things back to normal!

Fat chance. The LDP will struggle to hold on to the upper house seats they already have, because old twats like…

Posted in Opposition LDP picks Tanigaki as new leader to renew party at 08:36 AM JST - 29th September