TPOJ said...

TPOJ at 10:55 AM JST - 15th May

And I applaud this article for at least headlining him as an "American" singer, unlike most of the Japanese media, which insists on referring to him as the "Black enka singer," as though his color has something to do with the phenomenon of his popularity.

It does.

Are you genuinely…

Posted in American singer Jero to appear in TV ad at 10:55 AM JST - 15th May
TPOJ at 03:58 PM JST - 12th May

Er, 26 letters, not 24...damned newfangled keyboards...

Posted in 'What are Nazis?' Today's kids can't handle movie subtitles at 03:58 PM JST - 12th May
TPOJ at 11:17 AM JST - 12th May

But the comprehension problem may also be indicative of the dumbing down of the nation. Young adult moviegoers’ lack of familiarity with many basic historical facts, says the Sankei, in some cases has not progressed beyond middle-school level.

Seems obvious, but it's not just Japan.

Being an American and a…

Posted in 'What are Nazis?' Today's kids can't handle movie subtitles at 11:17 AM JST - 12th May
TPOJ at 12:41 PM JST - 10th May

So if we just turn the blind eye, then the anti-US crowd will begin to sing the song that "Bush doesn't care since there is no oil there" or how Americans are selfish and not caring.

I know there's a handful of people who always do this, but I'm still…

Posted in Myanmar OKs some cyclone aid flights, but Americans still barred at 12:41 PM JST - 10th May
TPOJ at 11:50 PM JST - 8th May

The more I think about this quote, the dumber it gets.

Foreigners can't do anything involving property here without substantial Japanese support and assistance. Why target them?

When will some people learn that you don't fix problems by wishing other people were different? Get off your cranky butt and do…

Posted in Japan is a disposal ground -- a toilet -- and if a foreign design turns out to be poor, the foreign architect can just go back to their own country and forget about it. at 11:50 PM JST - 8th May
TPOJ at 11:48 AM JST - 8th May

Why must every mistake/conflict between cultures be seen as disrespect to Japan? Unless there's a big chunk of context missing from this quote (which there could well be,) this strikes me as extraordinarily childish.

My Dad used to do business with a Japanese firm, and while the culture clash of…

Posted in Japan is a disposal ground -- a toilet -- and if a foreign design turns out to be poor, the foreign architect can just go back to their own country and forget about it. at 11:48 AM JST - 8th May
TPOJ at 11:32 AM JST - 7th May

*If all you folk downloading music for free were told that all the money, after overheads for manufacture and promotion, recording etc were taken out - went to the artist: would you pay money for your music then? How do you propose that the musicians get paid and earn a…

Posted in Japan to propose copyright fees on iPods, digital hard disk recorders at 11:32 AM JST - 7th May
TPOJ at 09:19 PM JST - 4th May

That is merely your double-standard and naivety speaking. Do you have objections to visiting the resting places of aggressive leaders blah blah blah...

Er, there's aggressive and aggressive. Plenty of countries, leaders, etc. have taken other countries over. That whole "Rape Of Nanking" thing, and including convicted war criminals in…

Posted in 'Yasukuni' opens under heavy security; gets mixed reaction at 09:19 PM JST - 4th May
TPOJ at 10:56 AM JST - 4th May

I have never been able to understand why the Japanese cannot have a memorial to their war dead and other countries can.

I don't think anyone is saying that Japan can't honor it's war dead.

*This is a shrine to the memory of the soldiers, not the despicable deeds of…

Posted in 'Yasukuni' opens under heavy security; gets mixed reaction at 10:56 AM JST - 4th May