SumoBob's past comments

• 

  3

  SumoBobMay. 17, 2013 - 02:21PM JST

  There are a few reasons for the delays for films in Japan. One is that if Japanese film distributors can wait a few months after a film's wide release, more money can flow into the theaters from ticket sales. It is not widely known, but when a new blockbuster is released, the studio dictates what percentage of box office sales will flow directly back to them. In many cases, it can be as high as 90% percent of the gross ticket sales for the first week or so, then tapering off the next week to 80%, then 70, and so on. Japanese movie houses can avoid this somewhat by waiting until months after a North American release, in order to cut a better deal with the studio.

  The second reason has to do with Japanese holiday times, especially school schedules. May releases are not popular, as many schools have their undokai sports day in May/June. It's much more profitable to wait until late July/early August when schools are on a summer break and more people are free to see the movie.

  The only exceptions are huge, worldwide blockbusters, like the Harry Potter films, where studio demands of identical release dates worldwide and pressure from fans and movie tie-in companies (clothing, toys, restaurants etc.) make the Japanese distributors cave.

  Posted in: Voiceover

• 

  0

  SumoBobMay. 17, 2013 - 12:21PM JST

  Hashimoto said Monday that on a recent visit to Okinawa he suggested to the U.S. commander there that the troops make use of the legal sex industry.

  Riiiight. With the large majority of the water trade establishments utilizing a "no gaijin" policy. That's a laugh.

  Posted in: Hashimoto says he lacked sensitivity to U.S. perception of prostitution

• 

  1

  SumoBobApr. 30, 2013 - 03:51PM JST

  More Imperial Prison Agency BS.

  Posted in: Royal gathering

• 

  3

  SumoBobApr. 30, 2013 - 01:56PM JST

  Seems like the quote is real - in that it is being "quoted" in the Japanese media.

  "Isuramukyou kuni ga kyouyuu suru no wa araa (kami) dake de, tagaini kenka shite ori, kaikyuu ga aru"

  But today, Inose is (of course) saying that the quotes are taken out of context and that the "true meaning" (shin'i) was not understood correctly by those translating his words.

  My take on this is that Tokyo has seen which way the wind is blowing again (first time in the middle east, etc, etc.) and is beginning to look and act desperate. Sadly, this is precisely when Japan's leaders show their true colors, with their absolute inability to keep their mouth shut.

  Still, honesty is the best policy, and the world is better off knowing just how condescendingly Japanese leaders view the rest of the world that is usually hidden behind the shimmering, tatamae veneer of internationalization.

  Posted in: Inose under fire for comments on Istanbul Olympic bid, Islam

• 

  4

  SumoBobApr. 30, 2013 - 01:15PM JST

  YuriOtani, what's that? There's no need for that kind of slight. Incidentally, Japan has more than enough of its own sadai gomi - namely the majority of oyaji in Kasumigaseki and Nagatachou.

  As for the "upswing", it is a blip, due to the yen nose-diving the past two months. It's unsustainable and comes at the expense of everyone else not working for a Japanese export company.

  Posted in: Japan's factory output up, jobless rate down to 4-year low

• 

  8

  SumoBobApr. 26, 2013 - 05:12PM JST

  With 23 days of pre-charge incarceration without a lawyer in order to force confessions from suspects and a laughable 99% conviction rate (largely based on said confessions) every human living in Japan should be hopeful of a repeal of the death penalty.

  Posted in: 2 inmates hanged, bringing number of executions to 5 under Abe

• 

  0

  SumoBobApr. 21, 2013 - 06:40PM JST

  "Did his kids suddenly found out that dad had blown their inheritance on his girlfriend and freak out? I wouldn' be surprised if it's his heirs behind this lawsuit."

  TAJ is right on the money.

  Posted in: Woman, 77, ordered to repay Y400 mil she got from 79-yr-old man for sex

• 

  2

  SumoBobApr. 21, 2013 - 06:24PM JST

  I, for one am glad that the idea to showcase on the worst moments of human cruelty and it's flimsy excuses has been shelved.

  As for this quote:

  "A spokeswoman at the Japanese Embassy in Washington said Thursday it was unaware of the air show issue and had no comment."

  All I can say is, "Uso-tsuki, uso-tsuki, zubon ga moeteru."

  Nothing negative about Japan ever escapes the watchful eyes of the Gaimushou.

  Posted in: Hiroshima A-bomb re-enactment dropped from U.S. air show

• 

  1

  SumoBobApr. 09, 2013 - 09:40AM JST

  And what? No Ransel?!

  I take it you meant a randoseru?

  Yes, that's what was meant. However, "randoseru" is, in fact a gairaigo, from the dutch word for backpack, "ransel."

  Posted in: Off to school

• 

  1

  SumoBobApr. 05, 2013 - 03:19PM JST

  I see businesses are still waiting for the Abe monetary easing to get the economy roaring again. Too bad for these retailers that they don't export their gyudon. That's about the only outcome I see; short-term export profits (and a restart of the yen carry trade).

  Posted in: Sukiya, Matsuya to cut 'gyudon' prices

• 

  3

  SumoBobApr. 02, 2013 - 02:17PM JST

  The entire front row is male (and probably 90% of the room). Seems like it would be a rather oppressive working environment.

  @Sensato

  I can't speak for the middle, but looking at the rows of legs as far as one can see along the edge I see nothing but nylons. Still the first row the men are likely the career-track hires while the women will undoubtedly be flight attendants and check in counter staff.

  Posted in: First day on the job

• 

  6

  SumoBobMar. 26, 2013 - 03:20PM JST

  "Five-year jail term sought...."

  But they'll "settle" for a suspended sentence.

  Posted in: Five-year jail term sought for ex-Olympus head

• 

  0

  SumoBobMar. 26, 2013 - 11:40AM JST

  For all of us who live in Japan for the long term I give you two words: food security. That is, a country's ability to feed itself without any any imports. In Japan, food self-sufficiency sits at an abysmal 40% or so. Without daily, direct imports from other nations Japan would starve.

  So joining the TPP, while beneficial to some businesses and overall GDP will become a disaster for ordinary Japanese. When cheap rice, vegetables and meat floods the market the consumers will enjoy a short-term gain, and the farmers will get out of the business. Then when world food supplies start to run short (drought, environmental disaster, oil shortages, etc.) the unko will really hit the senpuki.

  Posted in: Should Japan join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks?

• 

  1

  SumoBobMar. 26, 2013 - 10:44AM JST

  No need to get all excited. This is the LDP we're talking about, after all. This is a proposal from a committee. It will eventually die there or get watered down so much when the opposing views of LDP stalwarts are taken into "consideration" as to render any progress moot.

  Still, tablet computers for students is a nice pipe dream, since we live in a country where report cards are still hand written and inkan use to indicate grade levels.

  Posted in: LDP education proposal includes TOEFL prerequisite for univ entrance

• 

  8

  SumoBobMar. 25, 2013 - 02:17PM JST

  "I agree that same sex couples should be given the same legal rights as heterosexuals who marry. BUT, like bass4funk I agree the word marriage should be used for heterosexual couples only."

  "Yes, but don't call it marriage. I have no problems with gay couples deciding to make a life commitment. And I do think that should have the same rights. Marriage is between a man and a woman in most peoples minds. I've accepted their lifestyle and choice, why can't gays accept some of ours (our traditional use of the term marriage)? Call it something else, it really bugs me that gays/straights who argue/insist to call it a "marriage" show very little tolerance to OUR way of life and traditions."

  "Open up reeducation camps. Throw all those who don't agree with changing the definition of what marriage has been through all of human history into the camps. This is the 21st century, so who needs tradition and morality? We have the new world order defined by a "progressive" minority who know better than most."

  OK, let's look at these quotes again, through a slightly different lens:

  I agree that negros should be given the same legal rights as whites. BUT, like bass4funk I agree the one drinking fountain in the park should be used for whites only.

  Yes, but don't call it marriage. I have no problems with people of different races deciding to make a life commitment. And I do think that should have the same rights. But Marriage is between a man and a woman of the same race in most peoples minds. I've accepted their lifestyle and choice, why can't White and Asian couples accept some of ours (our traditional use of the term marriage)? Call it something else, it really bugs me that mixed couples who argue/insist to call it a "marriage" show very little tolerance to OUR way of life and traditions.

  Open up reeducation camps. Throw all those who don't agree with changing the law to allow women the vote into the camps. This is the 21st century, so who needs tradition and common sense? We have the new world order defined by a "progressive" minority who know better than most.

  All of these types of discrimination were illegal in most Western countries at one time or another (as recently as most of our lifetimes!), yet these laws were stuck down; despite those (often a majority) clamoring to preserve their comfortable, "traditional" definition of the law.

  Times change, and the word "tradition" is often used by those who would continue to deny rights to others, or create separate but equal situations to hide their intolerance and irrational discomfort.

  Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?

• 

  0

  SumoBobMar. 18, 2013 - 05:09PM JST

  The speed limit on that section of the highway was 80 kilometers per hour.

  As far as I've seen, 80 kilometers per hour is the speed limit on all expressways in Japan.

  Posted in: 10 drivers to be charged over 2011 pileup involving 8 Ferraris and a Lamborghini

• 

  0

  SumoBobMar. 04, 2013 - 03:58PM JST

  One has to think that the recent quote from one Japanese committee member regarding the recent scandal imvolving female judo wrestlers won't help Tokyo with its bid:

  "Violence toward women is frowned upon overseas more than Japanese people realize. We can't easily brush this away."

  Posted in: Your bid

• 

  -2

  SumoBobFeb. 01, 2013 - 09:23AM JST

  Those convicted will just get shuffled off into early retirement to the local pachinko promotion committee.

  Posted in: 93 cops, police officials arrested; 458 disciplined in 2012

• 

  4

  SumoBobJan. 16, 2013 - 09:23AM JST

  "The suspects are believed to be in their 20s or 30s, but reportedly said they were not certain of their own dates of birth."

  One can only imagine the delays and teeth sucking this caused when filing the paperwork for this trial.

  Posted in: Two Somali pirates admit charges in Japanese court

• 

  0

  SumoBobDec. 21, 2012 - 04:28PM JST

  A Japanese official praised the court order, saying it would help the whaling and research mission in the Antarctic Ocean to be conducted safely and smoothly.

  In other news, a Japanese official quoted during a recent press conference on the US court orders has been recalled to Tokyo to begin his newly-created work position, 'staring out the window until I kill myself from the shame of it all.'

  Posted in: Anti-whaling nations urge activists not to put lives in danger