JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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- 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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ambrosia
Oh, and you'd be amazed at what blue paint on the sides and bottom of a pool can do to make otherwise disgusting water appear clean and refreshing!
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ambrosia
I don't know what Yomiyuri land is like but I went to Toshimaen for the first and last time last summer. It was overcrowded, there appeared to be no regulations as to how many people could be in one pool at a time and the concept of adult supervision seemed lost on many of the parents. The water was disgusting, the drains all along the pools reeked of mold, people were allowed to eat and drink (out of glass containers) everywhere so there was garbage all over the place and crows diving down to have some free snacks. All in all, I think that swimming in an open culvert would be pretty similar and much cheaper. I couldn't believe how much they were charging for that place and there was no discount for going late in the afternoon. If someone cleaned it up and followed real sanitary guidelines, I could imagine it being a nice place but as it is now, it's past its prime and I'm amazed that any health / regulatory agency allows it to stay open - but then again do places like that even get checked? What is Japan's equivalent of OSHA?
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ambrosia
And you would know that none of them suffer from back, knee, or other health problems how exactly? Face it, Japanese may think sleeping on the floor is the cat's meaow but plenty of other people find it to be uncomfortable and silly. It's sleep. It matters if you're to function well. They had every right to complain - especially if they were told they'd be in accomadations with beds. They were here to do work not to have some sort of "cultural experience". As for the tired "when in Rome" chestnut of wisdom, thanks for the laugh!!!!!! Were the accomadations being offered for free? Yeah, I thought not.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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Actually, it says people were sent to Noborestu since there weren't enough facilities in the original place and that many of the rooms had previously been converted to those with beds. It sounds like piss poor planning all around to me and people have a right to complain if they don't like their accomidations. I've seen Japanese do it many times and have not thought them rude for doing so. If other diplomats or workers were offered tatami and liked it good for them. I would have complained too because tatami would have left me with a backache for the rest of the day.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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cleo: But they didn't, did they? And that is the larger point, but choose to miss it if you like. As for whether or not these guys can imagine hardship, I don't know that and doubt you do either. They may come from priviliged backrounds or they may have come from the poor class. And as far as I know, no one "ran away". They left when the tasks they were given were finished or would you have had them stay where they were no longer needed. If you think there is no suggestion that people should be treated badly because they come from poor countries, then read more closely. People are not stupid enough to say they "should be" treated badly but there is a definite tone that it is somehow more acceptable to do so to people who come from impoverished nations.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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ambrosia
Sorry, to disagree but when you sleep on the floors in those countries it is because you "have to" not because it is the chosen way of sleeping. No one would have suggested that Merkel, Sarkozy, Bush or those traveling with them sleep on tatami so why in the world should it have been more acceptable because these people were from Africa? Perhaps they should all have been served one big bowl of sorghum with a little chicken broth over it to share amonst them and maybe only given a small glass of dirty water and made to pee in a dug-out in back - because after all isnt't that how their "subjects" live? If you want to object to the fact that they complained about the host's offerings, I can almost understand that but to bring in the fact that the countries mentioned are poor so somehow it is acceptable, there you lose me. Or do you believe that people should be treated according to the wealth of the country they represent? With that kind of logic, the poor guys from Malawi will be camping rough while the ones from the U.S., Japan and Germany get suites at the finest hotels. Elitist bull!
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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keshii: This is definitely an "only in Japan" story, isn't it? For one thing, I can't imagine any elderly burglar in the West being willing to sit down for tea (or coffee, or otherwise) during a robbery.
Not exactly. There was a story last summer about a group of people enjoying a backyard barbeque last summer who gave a would-be robber a glass of wine, talked to him and ended up having him leave with a group hug - in Washington, D.C. And I have to wonder where you live in Tokyo because most all of my neighbors -in Tokyo- keep their doors and windows locked, many have bars on their windows and many pull down and lock up the hurricane shutters at night and when they are out. So perhaps "being more Japanese" is not the answer so much as simply being sensible.
Posted in: Housewife brews up plan to escape from robber: tea and conversation
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tkoind2: Again why did they choose a rustic location if they are not prepared to deal with the local situation. Why not Tokyo or Sapporo who could offer "western" hotels?
By "they", can we assume you mean the Japanese - who are the ones who chose this "rustic location"?
**Japan decides to host 2008 G8 summit in Hokkaido **
A hot spring resort in northern Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture was selected by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday as the site of the Group of Eight ( G8) summit meeting in 2008, Kyodo News reported.
The Lake Toya resort was chosen mainly because its location in rural mountains facilitates security measures, government sources were quoted as telling.
The other three candidates are all combinations of cities. Yokohama and Niigata, which are about 300 kilometers away, have proposed to host a port cities summit, and the ancient Kyoto, the industrial Osaka and the Hyogo prefecture in Japan's Kansai region have claimed to stage a Kansai summit.
Abe will formally announce his choice in the evening, Kyodo said.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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ambrosia
tjrandom, I see your point but think that comparing slacks to a chador is a bad analogy and one aimed at appealing to emotion rather than logic. Look around and you'll see that plenty of girls and women opt to wear slacks because they're comfortable and practical. The idea that women have to wear skirts in order to be formally dressed or respectable is about as dumb as the idea of ties and nylons. At the very least give them the option. I know when I was that age I would have gone for the slacks as would have most of my friends. There are plenty of ways to test the limits beyond making your uniform into a skirt little wider than a belt.
Posted in: School teacher arrested for peeping up student's skirt in Oita
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kboy: Too right! I hate sleeping on tatami. I wake up stiff and with a backache that lasts all day. Cultural sensitivity would have been the organizers of this event realizing that people are flying here and there, on tight schedules and therefore in need of a comfortable place to sleep and for many, that comfortable place is a bed.
*tkoind2: I disagree.
Oh, what a surprise!
When you visit a country you should expect to adjust somewhat to the local conditions. No one made them choose Hokkaido for this. If they wanted more western rooms, they should have had some places built. Otherwise hold it somewhere else. Spoiled bunch of priviledged class leeches for the most part anyway.*
It's not a holiday. It's a working visit. What part of that do you not understand? It's highly doubtful any of the people from the countries mentioned would have had enough power to decide where this summit would be held so stop being ridiculous. Hokkaido was no doubt, chosen by the hosts, not the guests.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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ambrosia
Then have the damn girls wear trousers and be done with this nonsense! I suggested this to one of my friends who has a school-age daughter and she looked at me as if I'd suggested they push the big Buddha into the ocean. Unbelievable! Why do they have to wear skirts? If they're going to roll them up and make it sooooooooo hard for the poor (said with sarcasm) males teachers and commuters to concentrate, then have them wear trousers. It seems pretty damn simple.
Posted in: School teacher arrested for peeping up student's skirt in Oita
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bamboohat: True on all counts and my sincere condolences to the family but if you've spent time on the roads in Japan then you'll know that almost all cyclists, from 8 to 83, ride against traffic (when they're not on the pavement terrorising pedestrians), frequently ride without lights, helmets, reflective clothing and common sense. While this story is sad and the hit and run driver deserves to be punished for leaving the scene of an accident, I am utterly convinced that the majority of cycling accidents in this country are caused by cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road and who are not paying attention but who are looking at their bleeping cell phones, holding umbrellas, balancing too many kids and so on and so on ad naseum.
Posted in: Man arrested over hit-and-run death of 82-year-old cyclist in Funabashi
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ambrosia
Sorry, I mean "note it says..."
Posted in: Do you think suicide is an honorable way to atone for a crime or scandal?
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hughgarse: Most life insurance policies are void if someone commits suicide, so leaving a family in a worst pickle is an absolutely selfish thing to do...
That's not true in Japan which is why people here do it for financial reasons. Not it says *defer payments *for two or three years, not that the family won't get it.
Financial concerns are cited in one-fifth of suicide notes; almost half of all suicides are unemployed. Some take their lives so that surviving family members can collect insurance, which has led insurance firms to defer payments for two or three years as a deterrent
Posted in: Do you think suicide is an honorable way to atone for a crime or scandal?
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ambrosia
First, I'm not talking about suicide committed by people who are depressed. Everyone gets depressed sometimes but to be depressed from time to time and to be depressed as an illness are two different things so I'm talking about suicide as a way to atone for a crime or scandal, not because the pain of depression is so strong it is physical. So, in addressing the question, I guess I'm just not sure how suicide equals atonement. Suicide is an end. Atonement to me is owning up to what you did and trying to make it right or serving time for what you did. Suicide does neither. Yes, there is the issue of your family getting the insurance money if you've got yourself in a financial pickle but that way of thinking is to my mind, an encouragement of the shoganai, no second chances type of thinking. Yes, going bankrupt is definitely traumatic and yes, facing a public scandal is horrible but facing up to those problems and trying to make them right is a show of strength of character to me that suicide is not and never can be. Your family may get the insurance money but if you have kids you've left them with the idea that there is no way out of serious problems but to kill yourself. If you have a spouse you've left him or her to face the rest of their life alone. Yes, we're all going to die but again I'm not talking about the clinically depressed. Life doesn't have to stop or stop being enjoyable because you've hit a bump in the road. As for what animals do or don't do, I don't see the relevance. Dogs lick themselves in public and I doubt rajakumar would be advocating we follow that example.
I remember an article in the Japan Times a few years ago about a support group for family members (children) of people who'd committed suicide. I remember from that article the shame the children faced being children of a parent who'd committed suicide, yes even in a culture that supposedly accepts suicide, the anger of the children, the unanswered questions they were left with and the wish that their parent had tried to find another solution to the problem that drove him or her to suicide. That made an impression on me and made me realize that even in Japan, where suicide can often be portrayed in a romantic light, it is incredibly painful for those left behind and many of most of the left behind do not see the honor in being parentless, childless or spouseless.
Posted in: Do you think suicide is an honorable way to atone for a crime or scandal?
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rjdsjr: No, not wrong. This is Japan. You are a guest. Breaking the laws is disrespectful to Japan. Don't like how it is in Japan? We have plenty of airports with flights you can take home.
Thank you for reminding us of where we are. Very kind of you. By the way, isn't it disrespectful to break the law no matter where you are or where you're from? When Japanese break the law in Japan do you consider it disrespectful? Is it disrespectful when Brits break the law in Britain?
Posted in: British employee of Merrill Lynch Japan among 10 busted over cocaine use at nightclubs
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ambrosia
damax6: I still don't understand why you're shouting. Perhaps the stress of your important job has gotten to you.
Posted in: Should Japanese language ability be a factor in determining the maximum length of stay on visas for foreigners?
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romulus3: I don't like it either that people often won't move for the pregnant, elderly, injured and sick but then on the other hand I do wonder why people can't just politely ask for the seat. Sure it may be a bit embarassing but I've done it and have never been turned down. I stood in front of the person when I was obviously in need of a seat and when it wasn't offered, I ever so politely pointed out my need and that was that. We all have mouths so instead of simply complaining about how rude people are do the brave thing and open your mouth. People are so scared to rock the boat that they'll suffer in silence. To me that isn't strength of character but foolishness. The key point is to ask politely. Other people shouldn't have to ask for you if you're capable of doing so yourself.
Posted in: Giving birth in Japan
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damax6: if you feel that debating this topic is a waste of your time,then why are you here commenting in the first place?.
Eh? Another thing I never said. Really, if you're get to get so worked up about another person's opinion, at least get their opinion straight first.
Posted in: Should Japanese language ability be a factor in determining the maximum length of stay on visas for foreigners?
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ambrosia
damax6: Feel free to disagree, by all means. I never suggested you shouldn't and neither have I said anything personal about you so I don't know why you're feeling so put out. You say my opinion is condescending and again, I disagree and you've yet to explain why you think it's condescending so if that's the way you "debate" things, no thanks but thanks for the offer. I've already stated my reasons and am unlikely to change them based on what you've presented as reasons so far. For further explanation of how I feel about this issue, check out sarge and taka313's opinions. I agree with both of them.
Posted in: Should Japanese language ability be a factor in determining the maximum length of stay on visas for foreigners?