JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Confrontation
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U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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4
California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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5
Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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USAkuma
Ahh, another round of Whale Wars that Watson's group will sell for millions to Animal Planet and Discovery Channel. He makes millions off the deal and does not have to produce results (he hasn't actually stopped the Japanese from whaling). I've even heard from various posters (last year I think) that Watson stages his dust-ups like a director for what makes the best shots for the camera crew. He could stop the whalers much closer to Japan,but if he did, he wouldn't have anything to sell, thus be out of money and attention. So in a way, I'd wager Paul Watson supports the whalers in order to nurse his addiction for money and attention. Without an enemy, he is nothing.
Posted in: Japanese whalers, activists clash off Antarctica
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USAkuma
Yeah, felt it in Saitama. Saw the water vibrate first, and then everything started the shimmy. Kinda like a fun house... but at work. back to work as usual affter though...
Posted in: Japan hit by 6.9-magnitude earthquake
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USAkuma
I have to agree with the overhaul idea. I have been a JET myself. Yes, some of us worked hard, but a lot figured out that JET was just a meal ticket for extended vacation and a lack of responsibilities. I firmly believe that they brought about the original disdain for the whole industry (of having foreigners teaching English to Japanese people).
If I were allowed to advise the overhaul, I'd suggest the following: 1. Choose applicants in the education field, so that they have an idea of what is expected of them, and what they should do.
Provide better training before and during their time in Japan. Structured lessons on how to teach not bitch-n-moan sessions.
provide and require instruction classes for the Japanese teachers of English of how to utilize their JETs more effectively. This means, pass over the tests to be graded between ALT taught classes, instructions for pair-taught activities, phonics instruction, role-play, etc. (Have them earn their paychecks from work not from sipping green tea).
When not in the classroom, have the ALT provide assistance to local businesses... CORRECT ALL THOSE ENGRISH MISTAKES!!! that City Halls, and businesses put out.
If we want to say that cultural interaction is important, then prepare the ALT before hand with outlines for what they will teach to the Japanese (food, home-life, free-time activities, work-life, etc.). And lets import some foods, etc. to provide a taste of home instead of just pictures.
If salary is too high for communites, then reduce it to the same level as the local Eikawas, but provide incentives for each teaching or community improving activity the ALT helps in. This would reward effort rather than just pay for the drinking parties.
Those are some of my ideas. I know a LOT of JETs have been doing these things in one form or another, but with structured assistance and acknowledgment from the community, and training from the program overseers, I think those activities will be more effective.
Posted in: Grounding the JETs
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USAkuma
"Measuring the drapes?" The GOP have gone beyond that, they've already ordered furniture. They have already assumed their win and assumed that they will control the government. I believe that the government will grind to a halt. GOP won't be able to control their T-Party newbies who will likely act like Mcjob workers (or Eikaiwa workers) and do nothing but complain. Any Democrats left in office will lock-step and dig in to resist any change. they will bombard the airwaves with how little the GOP is doing to help and how many they are hurting, and nothing will get done.
I'm glad I'm here in Japan away from all that craziness!
Posted in: Republicans, heading for big gains, ready agenda
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USAkuma
Coffee coffee coffee!!! Gimme more coffee!!!! How many cups can I get each day? I am already a member. Want to mainline it if possible...
Love the fact that they don't have decaf in Japan... and now they give it away free!!!
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USAkuma
I saw a great Conspiracy movie called "Loose Change" about 9/11 indicating that the Bush regime was behind Al-Quaida's attack in order to secure power without question. Before the war, everyone thought Bush was the dumbest president on record for his lack of English ability.
After 9/11, no one was allowed to question anything he put into effect, such as the patriot act... Even now, there are still Posters in Texas trying to bring him back. Now that's scary.
I always take Conspiracy flicks with a grain of salt, but there were some interesting points. Such as :
What happened to all that gold that was stored under the WTC? More than Fort Knox, and from international sources, but it suddenly disappeared and no one reported finding much left after ground zero was cleared out.
What happened to the Pentagon? Supposedly hit by a plane, but photos from the scene show only a round hole and no debris... no titanium engines, nothing. not even scorched grass. My sister works on planes for a living in the Navy... She confirmed that there should have been engines, wings, bodies, etc. But the photos show only a round hole... like what is made when a missile hits...
The airline that crashed in PA, but didn't have any engines, or parts bigger than what comes out of a scrapyard, and no bodies. That from the Pittsburgh coroner who went to the scene. And the clear as day cellular phone calls from the flight back before airplanes had boosters for using electronics... Magic calls?
Well, again they are just theories, and good conspiracy theories are believable but without the evidence that makes them facts... like UFO's. But my point is that I can believe that it takes more than just a couple of guys and some airplanes to make 9/11 work out so smoothly and take us to two wars that have killed far more than the original attack, and not benefited us one bit.
Posted in: Do you believe that Al-Qaida was responsible for the events of 9/11
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USAkuma
Ahh, anyone remember Abbot and Costello? Costello was the easily befuddled person who panicked easily. After reading the article, I was reminded of that comedy duo from bygone days.
As for the uneducated electorate... I guess the "Hanging Chad" victories of Bush show the results of an "educated electorate?"
So why didn't people vote Republican in the last election? The short version: 2 Vietnam-like wars going nowhere. Oil and airline prices up, but economy down in the dumps during the Republican Bush Era. People out of jobs all across the country, while Execs. from Lehman's, etc. use their golden parachutes to flee any responsibility. Big Business without rules for protecting the little guy is a common theme for Republican Manifestos. But apparently the masses weren't going for it this time.
And of course, we have McCain who rambles on about the same policies that Obama is offering. And finally, there's the mishandling of Palin. No matter what your opinion of her or her ability, her own party mishandled her so badly that the American public saw her as only a cardboard cutout meant to keep up with Obama choosing Clinton for his cabinet.
so, in the end, on election day, there was a choice between Obama, who spoke clearly and elequently about something everyone belived in... a need for a change. or Mccain, who sounded like Obama, and seemed eager to copy everything he did...
So, if the TEA PARTY wants to blame someone for the election results, blame their own party... which hasn't changed much since the last election, and isn't offering much different with this one either.
Come election day, you'll still see the same republican faces for the most part, and whether they get a majority or not, the economy won't be fixed any faster. Obama has actually done a lot for his campaign promises. We're out of Iraq, and Healthcare has passed. That's only 2, but its a lot more good than what Bush did in 8 years. Bush bankrupted the country and left Obama with the bill. Now Obama has to fix the problems with solutions that people don't like? well, if you don't like socialist programs like Welfare, Police, Fire, and emergency services, go ahead and move to a country like China. If you like their communist-capitalism so much Mr. Costello, take a flight over there. See how long you can last... and what happens to you, when you try and complain about it.
Posted in: Fixing American 'dumbocracy'
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USAkuma
I'm betting that the TV "Talento" will have to gorge themselves on this monstrosity during their shows. First it'll be a reward, then a punishment. Maybe only that one girl with the monster appetite will actually say its delicious beyond the first few bites.
Its getting harder and harder for Japanese people to say (with a straight face) that their diets are better than western diets.
Posted in: Bite this
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USAkuma
The whole "guest" approach is wrong. Japan and the U.S. have a lifelong relationship. They warred upon each other, and Japan lost. The U.S. now protects Japan from its enemies (China and North Korea are two examples). Each has to live with each other and deal with problems fairly. Anyone who has had to live with a roommate can tell you that in a tight space there are always some flair-ups.
The media likes to play up ANY problems in order to play the martyr. However, Fuji TV recently sent a director (read as low level employee) to live for 2 weeks in Okinawa. What he saw was that the people are fifty-fifty. half just love complaining about everything, and the U.S. soldiers are the easiest targets. The other half make their living off of military money. Even during protests, what's shown on the media are only the highlights. For example, the ring-around-the-base was only for a little bit, because young people didn't care. they went off to keep dry and socialize with their friends. It was only when the cameras came that they ran into position.
You want to reduce crime by U.S. military? Start by also improving accountability by the Okinawan people as well. Okinawan crimes against military never get reported. So let's start being fair. Let's make shared patrols. one MP and one JP together in each patrol car. Any arrests of either Japanese or Military will go directly to a court of both military and civilian authority. And the Okinawan crimes get reported alongside the military crimes.
My bet is that there will be more Okinawan crimes coming to light than military ones.
Want good guests? Be good hosts!
Posted in: What should the U.S. military brass and/or Japanese authorities do to reduce the number of crimes committed by U.S. military personnel in Japan?
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USAkuma
Must remember not to confuse soap tablet with Mintia while driving...
THOUGH, it's sure to wake someone up to find one of these in their mouth. Brings back memories of my grandmother saying I should wash my mouth out with soap if I say a bad word. If she were alive today, I'd see her putting a bunch of these in her bag for just such occasions.
Posted in: Pocketable soap
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USAkuma
I worked in the Eikaiwa business before. And before I went to any interviews, I went to the bars and listened to the Eikaiwa employees. I chose my school based on which had the least amount of complaints. Nova, Geos, ECC, and Berlitz, all had the biggest complaints and the biggest complainers. And apparently, the employees with the worst work ethic. they just wanted to party, and complained if work got in the way.
My school wasn't famous, but it shared something in common with universities (since the owner was a former University teacher). The people in charge had a graduated program based on test scores. If you couldn't pass the tests, you couldn't move up, and you had your own proof to show for it. The people who worked hard went up, and succeeded. I was there for the cultural aspects, letting people know what wasn't in the textbook.
As the writer implies, that is the way of the future, and I agree. Let the Novas and Geos' of Japan disappear. Hopefully, the Japanese are getting wise enough to chose schools where they can improve in rather than go to the eikaiwa cabarets where they pay to have a seat with a bored foreigner.
Hopefully, what will come next will have some continuity, and training for employees as well as some way to back up the claims of how they can help people improve. And hopefully those Japanese who want to improve their lives through English will be able to.
But I won't hold my breath because lets face it. The eikaiwas exist for people too lazy to study on their own, and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Posted in: Back to the 'eikaiwa' drawing board
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USAkuma
People said that the Titanic was unsinkable... They were wrong.
People said JAL was the airline that would never fail... They were wrong.
And people are about to learn the same lesson with Toyota.
Is this U.S. backlash a ploy? No more a ploy than say banning all American beef products because of a few cases of B.S.E. No more a backlash than what the Japanese did when China had some problems with their frozen foods...
The shoe is on the other foot, Japan. How does it feel?
Posted in: Japanese ask: Is U.S. backlash on Toyota a ploy to boost American auto producers?
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USAkuma
Wow! Where to begin on this one? Who was the 55-year old woman? The wife of a politician? How did her purse-snatching rate all this, while normally the J.cops prefer to just write a report and possibly put up a drawing.
And how hard could it have been to chase these two? The girl is from a school of the handicapped according to the article. I assume she wasn't in a wheelchair or blind, but 40 cars? We aren't talking Bonny & Clyde or Hollywood movies here!
I bet a lot of people in Kawagoe lost sleep over this! I hope it was worth it!
Posted in: 40 police cars, 100 officers, one copter mobilized to chase 2 thieves
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USAkuma
Guess this question should be for the JT moderators to answer, not us posters. Likely, it would depend on where it was placed in the thread.
Posted in: If you read a blog in which the writer outlined plans to go on a killing spree, what would you do?
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USAkuma
RONANCIANNAN states
Hmm. Good Point. The gun violence IS one of the reasons I left the states. I lived in Pittsburgh before, and know the general area well enough to know that in general, the people there are decent friendly people.
Now, if Ronanciannan were to say in front of the victims' families that the killer was merely exercising his "choice" to have a diverse country to live in... when he took out his guns and shot their relatives, would they nod and agree with him? Or would those decent, friendly people exercise their "choice" to become savage in a desire for retribution.
I am an American, and I am all FOR gun control. There is a BIG difference between the constitutional right to bear arms in the defense of the land and the desire to create anarchy and death with those same weapons.
Mr. Looney Tunes is only a minor example of gun un-control. Looking around pittsburgh to other areas, and there are plenty of cases where gun violence has caused death and misery. Its not L.A., but there are still drive-by shootings in places like Wilkinsburg, etc.
Posted in: 4 killed in Pennsylvania health club shooting
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USAkuma
Here's my take on the job and income questions. Its a field sobriety test.
In the States, I believe field sobriety tests come with things like saying the alphabet backwards while standing on one foot... Think that's strange, or normal? Now think how the Mexican feels who doesn't even know the alphabet half the time.
Here, we're the foreigners who don't know the language, yet the police have to ask some questions to check if you are drunk, on drugs, etc. Instead of embarrassing you with the "Stand on one foot" routine, they are asking you questions like what your income is...
If you slur your answers, get belligerent, I'm guessing you'd get a ride to the station.
At the Koban around my station, the police seem to delight in stopping everyone with a bicycle to check for lights. I just walk on by while the Japanese teens get chewed out and Salarymen get belligerent with the cops for getting in their way.
Moral: If you break the law, don't be surprised at getting harassed by the police. After all, what would the police in your own country do if you did the same thing?
Posted in: My first run-in with the police
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USAkuma
Have to agree with TumbleDry. Despite being loathed, if there are no competitors in the elections in the smaller places (which is often the case), the LDP will continue to hold onto seats.
Also, with the lack of enthusiasm about the entire political process, few people will vote, except those who are old and (likely) still on the side of the LDP. People complain about the LDP, but won't take time away from their precious weekend time to vote for someone they don't know. So, the addage of "Better the devil you know, then the one you don't" applies here.
And finally, there will likely be a scandal to pop up mere days before the election against the DPJ. The LDP will throw juicy meat before the mass-media, DPJ will have to apologize, and they will lose the election, again.
This isn't democracy here, its Feudalism in suits rather than in Samurai armor, but the style is still the same.
Posted in: Only a miracle can save LDP now
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USAkuma
Not high drama, but it could be amusing. I remember another Katori drama, "the flowershop that doesn't have roses." Katori played an emotionless man, so I wonder how well he will play an overly emotional J-Cop.
Don't expect anything even vaguely 24 like, but I would love to see an episode in which he has to arrest his fellow SMAP member,Kusanagi Tsuyoshi for walking around naked in the park...
Posted in: Beat Takeshi to make appearance in pilot of Shingo Katori’s new TV series
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USAkuma
Thanks for the updating.
If the worsening global economy should one day cause the company I work for to go under... and if I should ever decide to work for another Eikaiwa company, I will check to see if these schools are around in my area, and if they offer me a good salary. I have a family to feed and what may be a "decent living" for a young single man or woman just won't cut it for a family with expenses.
But again, good luck to these guys. May the Eikaiwa force be with them...
If they can become truly successful enough to eliminate more brutal Eikaiwa schools that use the any semi-conscious-lifeform-as-Engrish-teacher strategies, maybe the whole Eikaiwa market will have to improve itself to keep up... and then Eikaiwas will be seen as a respectable job by one and all. And J-People might even start being able to use English... Or is that just pie in the sky?
Posted in: Teaching Japan a lesson
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USAkuma
I must be missing something here, and need some updating... As far as I understood things, the foreigner "teaches" the class, and the manager crunches the numbers. Unless the manager is teaching accounting, most of the managers I have ever worked with are not that good at English, thus need to take lessons rather than teach them.
I fail to see how 1 lesson a week is going to do much. so the Mgr sits in a classroom with the student of their choice... they get to choose who they teach after all. How is that supposed to make the manager any better at number crunching and convincing student/customers to buy another year of lessons?
As far as who mandates what is taught, that would likely be the Headquarters/Mr. Dean Morgan and whatever inner council he works with, not the manager who barely making enough to get by on.
But, whatever. It's his shtick/his advertising slogan. More power to him in trying to scrape out crumbs left over from all the rest that are seen in ads on the trains.
From what I have seen, most of those entering the Eikaiwa job market come over for travel, booze and bed partners (not necessarily in that order). I doubt that any of them would care one way or another about whether the manager teaches 1 lesson or not.
Posted in: Teaching Japan a lesson