Ultradude said...

Ultradude at 09:03 AM JST - 31st December

Yes, against certain currencies - read the article. This was written with insights from Travelocity for a US dollar based audience and does not mention travel to Japan for obvious reasons.

Posted in 2009 will be the year of the travel deal at 09:03 AM JST - 31st December
Ultradude at 08:56 AM JST - 31st December

I'm quite sure they will end the practice of cash in an envelope after this. Most companies do direct deposit.

Posted in Man robbed of bag containing Y42 mil in cash at 08:56 AM JST - 31st December
Ultradude at 10:53 PM JST - 30th December

Considering it is a technology created over 60 yrs ago, many countries are capable of creating "the bomb" beyond the ones who have done so already. Seriously, excluding the Visualize World Peace-types, how can any rational person conceive that these countries would give it up? We can't even make land-mines…

Posted in Hiroshima hopes to invite Obama as advocate of nuke-free world at 10:53 PM JST - 30th December
Ultradude at 10:43 PM JST - 30th December

On the 7pm NHK TV broadcast they announced succinctly that there was a delay caused by an accident. Hmm, not quite..

Posted in Tokaido Shinkansen temporarily suspended after woman hit by train at 10:43 PM JST - 30th December
Ultradude at 10:18 PM JST - 29th December

Of the local swill, Ebisu is my normal choice. Go ahead and drink that haposhu or "3rd beer" stuff if you need to save a few yen but life is too short for crap beer. Quality vs quantity. In fact, if you're truly bimbo just stay home and drink shochu…

Posted in Kyoko Koizumi to be new image character for Ebisu beer at 10:18 PM JST - 29th December
Ultradude at 10:55 PM JST - 28th December

So let's keep all the retardo jobs in the yakuba and kyoikuinkais? I dealt with many bozos in those institutions during my JET years in inaka. Plan more rivers or seashores lined with concrete? Sorry, how about some innovative industry, farming, or tourism related things, something real. Sounds like you…

Posted in Tokyo population may top 13 mil in 2009: gov't survey at 10:55 PM JST - 28th December
Ultradude at 08:50 PM JST - 26th December

I'll bet it was taken in Fuji-shi, Shizuoka-ken. I used see that view everyday. Since it rises from basically sea-level there it looms large over the city. Due to the abundant water from the mountains, a port for pulp and proximity to the Tokaido-sen and Tomei, there are many major…

Posted in Fuji sunset at 08:50 PM JST - 26th December
Ultradude at 10:01 AM JST - 26th December

Most new restaurants/bars in Japan use sakura, ask someone who has recently opened one. Consider this - 7pm on a Thursday, you're with a friend in an entertainment area and you spy a new izakaya, glancing in the window, every chair is empty and the staff are wiping the counters…

Posted in McDonald's admits 1,000 people paid to join queue for Quarter Pounder debut in Osaka at 10:01 AM JST - 26th December
Ultradude at 09:48 AM JST - 26th December

kwatt - while we had indications that Japan was going to strike somewhere within a vague time frame, the US absolutely did not know it was to be Pearl Harbor in early December while diplomatic negotiations were still underway. Many people conveniently forget that Japan simultaneously attacked Hong Kong ,…

Posted in Tojo drama starring Takeshi draws 12.1% rating on Christmas eve at 09:48 AM JST - 26th December
Ultradude at 09:23 AM JST - 26th December

Suzu1 - Deflation has brought prices down? I've only been here 16 years and based on my non-scientific evidence as a consumer, I can't think of too many things that have gotten cheaper, actually nothing comes to mind. Until last year, most things did not increase much, that is true.…

Posted in No. of foreign visitors to Japan plunges nearly 20% in November at 09:23 AM JST - 26th December