JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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To be healthy, live in the big city
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Japan's nuclear safety standards flawed, says commission chief
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Teacher nabbed for using miror to peek up girl's skirt
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From carnivores to herbivores: how men are defined in Japan
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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VoXman
What a waste....all this big talk about risking their lives for whales and then in the end I guess Bethune thought a Japanese prison wasn't worth the martyrdom. A few years in prison and he'd been a minor Mandela for Whales and would have gone in the annuals as a true faith believer of his cause. But instead he made the cause a joke... I still believe that what Japan is doing is wrong, but these guys just hit a homerun for the whalers...
Posted in: Japan deports convicted NZ anti-whaling activist
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VoXman
See I live in Guam, ya know where Japanese like to vacation. And guess what? They act just loud and obnoxious as we Americans do in Japan. See out side their control freak nation, they really let their hair down so to speak and get drunk, sing in the street, disobey every single traffic law, and jaywalk they they are invincible. All the Politiness, bowing and courtesy they practice in their home country goes out the window when they are outside of Japan. Sure, they generally don't fight with locals, but they are just as oblivious to the local culture as we westerners are accused of when we visit their country. Fact is Japanese don't adjust well to different ideas and ways. So tourist areas have to create a "little Tokyo" for them. Then they feel comfortable, but becuase they know its not Japan and they are spending big money, they can act like most boorish American. So lets stop comparing Japanese and foriegners, becuase the Japanese just check all that cultural upbringing at the ticket counter at Narita....
Posted in: Dear Angry Western Guy
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VoXman
Bam Boo,
And forced lease or Leased? Thats a matter of opinion. I am quite sure that when Soveriegnty of Okinawa was handed back to Japan, that the US Gov wasn't standing over the Japan Prime Minister with a gun to his head saying sign or die. Nore do i think they were coherced like the Koreans were forced to give up their Sovereignty to Japan at one time. Rather than debate the issue further with, you perhaps you are too emotionally involved to be objective. I think even the biggest supporters of the bases would agree that if the Japanese Gov said ....its time for the US to go, then the US would go. Remember the US had a far deeper relationship both emotionally and financially with the Philippines when the US left there.... and no one was forced to continue that venture. So your agument is invalid...
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VoXman
I would'nt hang around if I am not invited or wanted. All the protection stories seem farcical. What would you do if a useless couch potato relative visits you and does not go back, and occupies one of the best rooms in your home?
Probably the most uninformed post written on the subject. The OP must have stumbled on JT and thought hmmm I will post my opinion though I know nothing of the sort.
Pardon me but:
I would'nt hang around if I am not invited or wanted.
The Japanese Gov wants them
All the protection stories seem farcical.
Thats because you haven't done the reading to understand why the US has bases thee in the first place.
What would you do if a useless couch potato relative visits you
No visiting involved. US Occupied after WWII then return Okinawa to Japan and leased the current properties from their owners. No visiting guest or couch potato pays rent. And the occupation was paid for by the blood of 16,000 Marines and US Mil who died taking it in WWII.
and does not go back
Once again leased and its up to the JGov (the landlord) to revoke the leases.
, and occupies one of the best rooms in your home?
Not even close....best rooms? Most of the bases cover some farm land, but a study was done that clearly shows that the farmland OWNERS are getting more per acre in rent than they would if the bases were gone they hade to farm the land instead....
Reading.......as I..........always ..........say is fundimental to posting!
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VoXman
WRONG! You are referring to Subic/Olongapo city and Clark AFB/Angeles city. I actually visit friends there sometimes twice a year for the last 5 years. I have been associated with the PI for the last 20. Don't even think about bringing up the Philippines as part of your anti bases argument. First you do not know what you are talking about and clearly you've never been there. First off! Subic and Clark are free economic zones designed to bring in investors. Some did and quickly left. Both cities are NOT thriving and are FAR worse off then they were when the military was there. WHY? When the bases left, thousands of locals were laid off. 100's millions of USD's no longer poured into the local economy in the form of rent, utilities, food, beer, whatever. That all went away in flash, and they are continuing to struggle to this day. As a matter of fact Angeles City/Clark depends heavily on their Red light district filled with thousands of tourists from all over the world who come to meet bar girls.
So thanks for bringing that up, PI and the loss of US bases is a shining beacon of what can happen to Okinawa in a few years. Also, consider that both of those cities in question, have far more manufacturing and industry in general due to the special economic zones set up to encourage them to come. They have way more in place now that Okinawa probably every will. Okinawa has nothing to attract the investors. No cheap labour or cheap land to build on. And as so many have said for YEARS in JT, Okinawa is no tourist destination for Mainland Japanese. they can get cheaper flights to Guam and pay less for hotels. Tourism for the Mainlanders is far cheaper outside of Japan due to the strong yen.....
So tell us what Okinawa is going to do for jobs......Wait for the welfare checks?
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VoXman
I've been to both and they are great inexpensive trips for both Japanese and non Japanese alike.
Posted in: Japan’s naval past and present converge in Kanagawa
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VoXman
To: moonbeams
Not a realistic Question, since the US provides for its own defense and would not need to request the assistance of a foreign countries military for defense. Remember Japan’s Gov requests the US presence. But just to humor you, yes, Americans would move away from a French base on US soil.
Actually that is untrue! Only a small portion of the population does that, and they are mostly provincial farmers. Mom and dad die, the kids sell the house. Remember the current and previous generation, left homes seeking excitement and jobs in the Tokyo area. So mom and pop are empty nesters. Its urban dwellers that live in mansions built in the last 10-20 years that complain the most. They don’t work on the base, but think they should deprive their neighbor of a base job.
Actually, it is the same story. The Bases on Guam were built on land that is either leased or owned outright by the US Gov. Okinawa was a US territory for 25 years after WWII. In that time, the current bases were built and the strategy for their use was born. Their presence was requested and maintained after Okinawa was given back to Japan. Lease money is paid to various land owners who claim land under such places as Kadena base. That agreement was adjusted in 2006. It takes time to change things, and Japanese understand this, maybe Okinawan’s do not.
Try most like. Industry is needed for jobs. What does Okinawa have?
That makes about as much sense as asking “What do the readers of the Newspaper this ad was put in have to do with the decision of relocating the bases in Okinawa?” Absolutely nothing and I think that was the point of my original post.
P.S. Yes, Okinawan’s do have something to do with the hunts. If they want to claim in this ad that they care about the US harming endangered species and then protest about it, then they should not be hypocrites and actually start protesting their own countries whale/Dolphin hunts. Okinawa is not its own country, but a prefecture of Japan and should exercise its right to vote and protest all matters not just matters involving the US.
Posted in: Anti-base ad
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VoXman
Just shows how little the Japanese understand Americans in the continental US. 100's US bases in 100's of towns and cities provide thousands of local jobs. Everett, Washington (North of Seattle) Specifically solicited the US Gov to build a Navy base there to replace lost jobs. Millions of American's live a short distance from Marine bases in California and North carolina. A small group may complain about the noise, but those who don't accept it MOVE...yes they do the logical thing and MOVE. They understand that having a strong military is part of the deal.
Lastly, don't feel too sorry for the mere 20% of Okinawa currently being used for US Military. The same military owns and uses 38% of the total useable land on Guam.
After the bases are finally and painfully removed, we will once again see Okinawains in the streets protesting the lack of jobs and sluggish economy due the now lack of funding pouring into their beloved Island..
P.S. The endagered species bit was the most hilarious given that right now millions of Americans are watching or have see the award winning documentary "The Cove" about the slaughtering of Dolphins and whales. Yes.....Japan should stick to making cars, leave the propaganda to the pros.
Posted in: Anti-base ad
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VoXman
As a former US Mil who lived amongst the Japanese people for 8 years, I agree that America should release ALL their bases and pull back to Hawaii and Guam, or perhaps take up Singapore's long standing offer to host the US Mil there. Fact is Japan is growing more and more too big for their little boy pants! Time for them to move to the men's dept and put on the big boy pants and stop flip flopping on the "we need the US, then we don't". Pull out and let it be a lesson in what happens when you spend 12 years negotiating a deal and then break it, just because you feel like it. Let all the whiners keep whining whe the US is gone and suddenly every Japanese male under 25 is subject to the the draft into the JMSDF because few will volunteer to go. Let the Okinawains keep complaining when the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo see the wisdom of the placement of bases in Okinawa and decide to occupy the current facilities with their own JASDF and Japan's newly rapidly explanded Marines.
Fact is folks these cry babies ACTUALLY believe they can simply declare Japan as Neutral and the years of historical animosity between Japan (on the one side) and China and Korea (on the other side) would simply go away. That somehow the need for a real standing Army and Navy with their ranks filled with Japanese (or even big bad oldd USA) is not necessary. That declaring that Japan is a play nice country will thwart any threat from her asian neighbors. As though the war of economies doesn't exist. That economic competition between Asian countries and between the west and the east is not as big much like a war as war it's self.
Whine all you want but until you come back to reality and come up with realistic solutions to problems, your just crying over spilt milk.
Oh, by the way to my Okinawain friends, the good old USA doesn't occupy Japan as you continue to claim. Your Cousins in Japan do. Or did domebody issue you guys passports that say Okinawa now?
Posted in: Patience wearing thin in Ginowan over Futenma base issue
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VoXman
<",” Obama vowed to “do everything that we can to keep America safe” and declared: “The United States will more than simply strengthen our defenses. We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us.”
Sounds just like Bush after 911, so why all the criticism of Bush's warlike-get tough-talk all those years and not a peep know that Obama is saysing the same thing.
We know who runs the media
Posted in: Obama vows to use every element of power to thwart terrorists
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VoXman
JHansen, I can guarantee you that 1.4 billion Chinese believe that, in terms of this case, Chinese justice is certainly no joke.
Actually, in those days tea was as big a commodity as Cocaine is today and at the time the only place one could get was China. The Chinese would not accept trade goods for their tea, nor any other form of payment other than gold or Silver. The worlds gold/and silver reserves could never cover the bill the for the thousands of tons of tea that europeans were buying, so blackmarketeers in China accepted Opium in place of gold due to its higher resale value in China. When the Emporess dawager forbade the importation of Opium, it was the same as if OPEC shut off the flow of Oil completely. No oil at any price! Entire economies would fall and mass unemployment. but try to get the Chinese gov to understand that! Or even accept that the currency exchange policy would have to change gradually. We are talking about a country that didn't care a bit about a little island called Hong Kong until the Brits came along and turned it into a financial powerhouse.
Posted in: China executes British man convicted of drug smuggling
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VoXman
Who the hell eats whale in Japan anymore? They are just forcing the meat on school lunch menus to artificially create demand.
Posted in: Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists in Antarctic sea
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VoXman
The article is classic "bait and Switch" When will Japanese consumer learn the difference? And when will the JGov outlaw the practice? Remember when NHK 2-3 years ago announced that Softbank was going online with their new business and Cell phones? Remember when it was reported that new customers would get their phones for FREE? But then when you got to the store, you learned that to Soft Bank Free means for the first month then you pay for it monthly after that......bait and switch.....Their answer was it was illegal to give phones away. Guess its not illegal to offer them for free on TV. Jcompanies lie to their customers everyday to justify their ridiculous prices for consumer goods. Then in the end the public learns that they've been eating substandard food and waering substandard clothes. Made in China for a Japanese price!
Posted in: Japan becoming nation of unrelenting complainers
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VoXman
So when the Imperial Couple visits the US in the future should Americans be expecting a jesture of humility when greeting the US President in the White house.
Oh the horror....the shock and dismay the People of Japan would feel at such a jesture by their Emperor to a foreigner.
To my Japanese friends please remember that the US was founding principly to seperate the Americans from the British King.
Posted in: Obama's bow to emperor causes outrage in Washington
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VoXman
Interesting. I guess that accounts for the lack of ability to think outside the box. Or in other words! When counting achievments those linear thinkers in the USA and Europe hold hundreds of Nobel prizes for Science vs the few held by Japan.
Posted in: Why the Japanese Are a Superior People
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VoXman
Old JN men are always in other people's business. I feel for the lady..
Posted in: Woman murdered after argument with man over feeding stray cats
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VoXman
YuriOtani at 09:30 AM JST - 5th August
"This poll does nothing for my view of Americans. I sometimes wonder why we fear China and Russia when they did not bomb our cities and kill millions of people like the Americans. They would of dropped extra bombs if they had them. I think the use of such weapons was done by cowards. There is still time to set things right before the last criminals die. They killed civilians to save their troops. I think about the millions of men, women, boys, girls and infants killed and am filled with rage. It did nothing in the end to speed up surrender. Cutting off Japan from war supplies would of done it as well. I view it as racial killing. I do not think Japan would of use such a weapon in the same fashion. It would of been used against military targets and ground burst not air burst to ensure less civilian causalities and more military damage."
I had to pluck this quote from the masses of interesting posts by our Japanese friends. It clearly shows that this individual is product of the Japanese Educational system. Sadly, generations of Japanese who were not alive during WWII have no true reference for the facts of that war since this JGOV has seen to it that they never learn the truth. So I will be gentle in my rebuke as your ancestors 2-3 generations ago misunderstood Honor and bushido.
Yuri you should fear China and Korea, because your grandfather/or Great Grand fathers generation, tried to obliterate the Chinese and Korean cultures. As Yuri has stated the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is all the innocent women and children that died in a flash. But you missed the decade of slow, methodical torture, rape, theft and pillaging that IJA committed in China and Korea. Japan should fear them, because they have not forgotten. When you speak of cowards, I think of all the Japanese men over 80 I see on TV and out in the city going about their lives as if, they never chopped heads off in China, beat and tortured Allied prisoners of war, as if they have no conscience for the things they did in the name of their Emperor. And of course so many more killed themselves rather than face the tribunal of world judgment for their crimes against the innocent. Japan rebukes Tojo for not committing suicide, but he was the bravest of all for standing up for the decisions his Emporer made right or wrong. You state that dropping the bombs did nothing to speed up the end. When upon viewing the destruction of the city of Hiroshima, and learning that the Soviets had declared war on Japan, Hirohito began publically stating to his cabinet that "We must end this war". Sorry my friend, the Emperor ended it, not anyone else. Not the people of Japan only he ended it when he spoke via radio declaring and end to all. Up until then, he held out for a negotiated peace that would have allowed the IJA and JGOV of 1945 to escape any responsibilty for the millions of deaths, rapes and tortures committed in all the years since 1933. Yuri you state that the bombings were racially motivated when you are the product of one of the most xenophobic cultures to ever rise from this earth. But then all countries have their racial issues to bear. And finally, your last sentence, tell the reader that you feel that the men of Japan in the 1940's were a civilized, humanitarian like group of people when in fact its acts of violence against her neighbors is only exceeded by the Germans and the Nazi party. This poll does nothing for my view of Japanese. I don't blame the current generation and their parents for the actions of the grandparents. But I feel sorry for this generation for not getting the opportunity to learn truth of their countries actions in the past, they can learn from them. All they seemed to have learned is Nuclear bombs are bad.. True, so are swords, guns, cannons, and men with racial hatred in their hearts. Who fill their heads with falsehoods about Japanese superiority over all other Asians and man-kind in general.
Think I am wrong as you read this? Think Americans are evil? I leave you with the thought of a benevolent 7 year occupation, and a 64 year peaceful association between our 2 countries.
Posted in: Poll in U.S. finds support for World War II atom bombings
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VoXman
>
Many places in the world have local prices, tourist prices and Japanese tourist prices.
I've seen it in Thailand, Bali and Beijing. I see it also present in Europe.
Taka
Yea, in Guam too its called War reparations. Many Asians resent the fact that Japan got wealthy after the war while they remained poor in part because the IJA stole their treasuries and gold laden religious artifacts and shipped them off to Japan and the Philippines to be hidden and later dug up after the war. See Yamashita's gold. Great book.
Posted in: Rome restaurant shut down after charging Japanese tourists 695 euros
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VoXman
Yea! where did this Italian guy think he was Japan? Only in Japan would he get away with a clearly racist act like that.
Posted in: Rome restaurant shut down after charging Japanese tourists 695 euros
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VoXman
As Stalin decided to wait until the Japanese military was on its knees to sweep in Manchuria, Korea , and the Kurils with the intent on invading Hokaido, the Soviets were merely stealing from the allies plate that which so many others died fighting for. So they were compelled to return Manchuria, and North Korea-not before leaving a Communist dictator in place, and told that they could have the Kurils which the ignorant allies assumed had no value to the Japanese. Well they do, like the Aleutians have value to the US. So from that stand point the Kurils were a spoil that only the as the victor the US could claim, and since the US returned to the Japanese ALL the original lands they held or were granted to them since the end of the first world war with the exception of Korea since it was not a spoil taken from an aggressor as Japan was the aggressor in that, the Kurils belong to the Japanese in the same way as Iwo Jima does. Yet in there, 8,000 plus US died there, still it was returned to Japan. Return the Kurils.
Posted in: Should Russia return the four disputed islands off Hokkaido to Japan?