WhatJapanThinks said...

WhatJapanThinks at 12:08 PM JST - 25th April

Anyone know if any of the runners for Japan have boycotted, or even have an opinion on Tibet?

Posted in Olympic flame arrives in Japan; Nagano mayor appeals for calm at 12:08 PM JST - 25th April
WhatJapanThinks at 03:18 PM JST - 23rd April

Come on people, if you went to a foreign country could you tell the difference between a real and a fake badge? Wouldn't you also think there may be a chance that they could steal your passports?

Their point 5) especially is most valid; even just a card in a…

Posted in Roughed up by the cops in Shinjuku at 03:18 PM JST - 23rd April
WhatJapanThinks at 12:15 PM JST - 23rd April

papsmurf: whilst I'm no Debito fan myself, the information on that page is factual, although it could be more useful than just saying run to the cops if you get refused.

Posted in Nagano hotel association told to check foreign guest IDs ahead of torch relay at 12:15 PM JST - 23rd April
WhatJapanThinks at 08:59 AM JST - 23rd April

With apologies to Monty Python...

Fukuda Morning, gentlemen.

Doctor Morning!

Obstetrician Morning, Mr. Fukuda.

Doctor Morning, Mr. Fukuda.

Fukuda Oh, very impressive. Very impressive. And what are you doing this morning?

Obstetrician It's a birth.

Fukuda Aahh. What sort of thing is that?

Doctor Well, that's when we take a…

Posted in Fukuda at 08:59 AM JST - 23rd April
WhatJapanThinks at 08:50 AM JST - 23rd April

I forgot to add - there's an ad on telly for half-fat mayonnaise, with the selling point being that you can use twice as much of it...

Posted in Beware those 'zero-calorie' labels at 08:50 AM JST - 23rd April
WhatJapanThinks at 08:48 AM JST - 23rd April

tokyoalex: excellent point - if I were Coke or Pepsi I'd get my lawyers to write JT a strongly-worded letter!

So what are we to do?

How about just reading the nutritional label that is on all these products? Seems a remarkably simple solution to me.

Posted in Beware those 'zero-calorie' labels at 08:48 AM JST - 23rd April
WhatJapanThinks at 10:22 PM JST - 22nd April

This report is misleading. As well as the automatic 2,000 yen deduction, the contribution for over 75's for treatment changed from 10% to 30%.

Nagahashi voiced fears about his mother, who required nursing care, being hospitalized.

That's a terrible translation. He wanted to put her in a home as…

Posted in Man, mother in Yamagata dead after trouble over medical insurance at 10:22 PM JST - 22nd April
WhatJapanThinks at 10:02 PM JST - 22nd April

Hero? All he did was force its jaws open and get it off her hand, according to that story. If he'd wrestled it, or got it off her head, I could see the label being appropriate, but...

Posted in Oregon police officer pries jaws of 12-foot python open to rescue pet store owner at 10:02 PM JST - 22nd April
WhatJapanThinks at 10:59 AM JST - 22nd April

posting a threatening message on the online discussion board through a mock-up mobile phone at a mobile phone shop

That's a good trick, using these non-functional devices to connect to the internet! Presumably they meant a demonstration model, although all the shops I've been in have had the SIM…

Posted in Man arrested for posting threat to kill schoolchildren on Internet at 10:59 AM JST - 22nd April
WhatJapanThinks at 10:28 AM JST - 22nd April

I can't talk about the US situation, but I think a lot of the broad brushes that Terrie is painting the Japanese with is similar to the UK situation, such as half of all homes (are we talking houses rather than flats) are cookie-cutter. Now I think about it, half…

Posted in 200-year rabbit hutches at 10:28 AM JST - 22nd April