Wednesday February 15, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

amerijap's past comments

2

amerijapAug. 06, 2011 - 01:44AM JST

Why all Japanese nationals? Too bad a SK company is behaving just like some Japanese corporations for rationalizing racial discrimination reflected on political controversy.

Posted in: S Korean ferry operator bans Japanese passengers: Yonhap
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amerijapAug. 06, 2011 - 01:01AM JST

No offense but why do the Koreans NEED a separate ceremony? Cant they just pray WITH the locals?

Because they had an issue with the city over their procedure to recognize and honor the victims based on race and ethnicity. Hiroshima city—with an assistance of local government—decided to relocate the cemeteries for Korean victims far off from Japanese memorial in the early 1990s. It was their motives for urban modernization projects and civic tourism that complicates the politics of A-bomb memories for Japanese and non-Japanese victims.

See Lisa Yonema’s Hiroshima Traces: Time, Space, And The Dialectics Of Memory.(Barkley, CA: University of California Press, 1999).

Posted in: Remembering
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amerijapAug. 05, 2011 - 01:45PM JST

This is professional negligence perpetrated by both school and a private company. They are responsible for providing safety and security needs for the students. Lifeguards don't have to be the ones from the company. And they don't necessarily have to be certified lifeguards to watch over the kids for walking around and swimming in the pool. Anyone—an adult, a school teacher, etc.--could have served as a lifeguard instead when you weren't able to get those from the company.

Posted in: Education board cites negligence in drowning of 7-year-old boy in Osaka pool
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amerijapAug. 05, 2011 - 01:02PM JST

Three school teachers in Kanagawa Prefecture have been disciplined recently for various infractions, according to TV reports.

I'm not sure how many times I will have to sigh myself when I glance at the news articles that do give as little substance as gossip magazine. TV reports? What sort of report are you referring to? Hello?? We're not in Journalism 101. It really makes me wonder if Japan is ready to maintain with their integrity of journalism in the age of social networking and digital divide.

The Kanagawa Board of Education issued a statement, saying, “We regret losing the trust of the people of Kanagawa in light of these incidents. We apologize sincerely.”

A better journalism would provide more in-depth coverage that goes beyond the same old cliché spewing out from the education bureau's mouth.

Moderator: We publish as much information as we get at the time from official sources, news releases and news conferences and we add tidbits to it from various TV news reports. It is not always possible to answer every little detail in a story.

Posted in: 3 Kanagawa teachers disciplined for various infractions
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amerijapAug. 05, 2011 - 12:15PM JST

Again, no source. It seems like we see the news articles with no byline or citation right here in crime category. I'm not sure if it is an error or a gossip/hearsay. Even though this is the sort of headline news, it should be credited with authorized news source. What's worse in this sensationalized news is that it doesn't provide any warrant for these four fugitives. I mean, why are they wanted??? Drug smuggling? Illegal immigrants? Computer hacking? Or Failure to show ARCs when asked by the police at the airport?

Moderator: The story is based on a report released to the media by the NPA, which is indicated in the story.

Posted in: 4 wanted criminals escape Japan; Justice Ministry blames Immigration Bureau
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amerijapAug. 04, 2011 - 12:46AM JST

The government is expected to pitch in an initial 2 trillion yen in the form of special government bonds

Golly. It makes me wonder who will be happy to grab the notes that have very little financial value at all. Most people know that the government still has a huge leftover of debt incurred in the 1990s, and will impose more taxes on citizens in future to allot the budgets for recovery and re-construction.

Posted in: Japan passes law to create entity to pay damages to nuclear victims
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amerijapAug. 03, 2011 - 07:16AM JST

Takes it seriously? That's a hoot. Oh you mean like after katrina when it took Congress 3 weeks to finally declare a state of emergency and finally went in? yea let's jbash some more and blame American politics on Japan. You are a hoot

OK. You wanna make an argument that J-gov. is swift and active in coping with crisis in contrast to US counterpart? Go ahead if you can bring the case. It's questionable regarding that J-government is famous for procrastinating--i.e. a huge delay in disaster relief at the time of the 1995 Kobe-Hanshin Earthquake. Speaking of delay, guess how long did the J-gov. take to make an official statement of nuclear crisis in Fukushima --raising the level to category 7--at the time of 03/11 earthquake? Less than 3 weeks? Hell no. It's more than 2 months after the quake. J-gov. deserves what they've got. So many Japanese people are now losing trust in the government.

Posted in: U.S. House passes bill to raise debt limit, as Giffords makes dramatic return
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amerijapAug. 03, 2011 - 06:46AM JST

Finally those idiot american politicians came to agreement, the usual meangless battle between democrats vs republicans never end of course

Yeah. They just look as stupid, toady, and clueless bozos as the ministry bureaucrats and lawmakers at the Diet in Japan. The big difference, however, is that American politicians--whether the Republicans, the Democrats, the Independent, the Tea Party candidates--take it very seriously and respond proactively when the crisis is in. I wonder how many of JP lawmakers or fickle bureaucrats can engage in a way like that assuming Japan had--I wouldn't be surprised if they had in near future, though-- a very similar national debt crisis?

Posted in: U.S. House passes bill to raise debt limit, as Giffords makes dramatic return
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amerijapAug. 03, 2011 - 06:33AM JST

The government has said radiation levels around the plant, which lies 250 kilometers from Tokyo, had fallen to “two-millionths” of the peak recorded March 15.

OK. Can someone translate the official language for ordinary citizens and evacuees?? This is NOT a pop quiz or a math test you take at school.

Posted in: Record high radiation reported at crippled Fukushima nuclear plant
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amerijapAug. 03, 2011 - 03:56AM JST

I wonder how many times we have encountered this open-ended question every year when the X-day is approaching, and where this will bring us in the future. I don't know how many people in this forum are truly thinking about the meaning of engaging in this history debate to seek its end--yes, what is the end? Reconciliation? Compensation? Mutual agreement on what has been discussed and what was being neglected at the time of war(and will likely to be buried forever for the sake of national/political stability?? History debate is, without a doubt, culture war. It reflects upon your perception of your home country, your neighbors, your friends and foes in a contemporary period. What I usually see in the debate so far is a mundane repetitiveness of focusing too much on the nitty-gritty of the facts (what the perpetrators did in a specific time or a period)--rather than the process (or the progress) in which the former victims and victimizers turned the pages from the past and transformed their state sovereignty into liberal/social democracy or communist (like NK). It really makes me wonder what exactly the folks here are pursuing through this critical-rational deliberation. I've always expected that it should be something we might get beyond arguing culture for culture's sake. But, I have to say, the character of the debate in this forum does not seem to move in that direction.

Posted in: Do you consider the A-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be war crimes?
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amerijapAug. 02, 2011 - 06:37AM JST

This is same old, same old story of the government ministry invoking the invisible hands on big corporations. Kan's accusation cuts no ice with anything--it doesn't appease the public anger and distrust; it doesn't help him recover his dwindling approval rating. It only allows him to buy the time to extend the deadline for resignation.

And what the heck Kaieda's apology mean to the public who are already disgusted with the central government over the reconstruction progress? Nothing! He wasn't even in the ministry when the METI pulled the strings on power companies three years ago. It was LDP-led lawmakers and senior bureaucrats who orchestrated the conspiracy theory in the first place. If the government feels truly responsible for this incident, they really need to hold the investigative committee and summon former ministry bureaucrats, LDP politicians, and power company executives right away.

Posted in: Kan criticizes nuclear safety agency, cozy ties to industry
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amerijapJul. 30, 2011 - 01:35AM JST

Even if Japan does sign the treaty, there is still one more potentially big loophole: the fact that children take the mother's name (be it her maiden or changed name) at registration...

It's more than one. The family court system that doesn't recognize an irreconcilable issue as a legitimate reason to take the case. That's why many estranged couples make an allegation in a way to exaggerate that their partner is abusive, violent, confrontational, parental alienation etc. Neither arbiters nor court judges are interested in confirming if the allegation is credible or not. And, most importantly, there's no court contempt for falsifying or fabricating the allegation of spouse abuse. This makes foreign/non-Japanese individual extremely challenging in winning the custody or even partial visitation rights (3 times, 6 hours—required the consent of partner and the court).

Posted in: U.S. says it won't tolerate loopholes in child abduction issue with Japan
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amerijapJul. 29, 2011 - 01:28AM JST

Not surprising. The recession is affecting an entire global financial market. The dollar value has already been in decline long before the Congress began to tackle with a debt ceiling. We may see some swings in exchange rate for another 5 days --and possibly for the next two months. It's not sure when the folks will put an end to this downward spiral.

Posted in: Tokyo stocks lower, dollar trading at Y77.90 as U.S. debt default looms
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amerijapJul. 28, 2011 - 11:53AM JST

This is more like 6-man tag team match between the SK/US/JP vs. NK/CHN/RUS.

I'll believe that when Kim Jeong Il gets ousted with his family clan and his military regime is completely dismantled.

Posted in: North Korea demands peace treaty with U.S.; Japan says too early for 6-way talks
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amerijapJul. 28, 2011 - 04:00AM JST

People need to lighten up these says... I know this from watching the numerous Japanese news channels and reading the numerous Japanese newspapers. How do you know anything to the contrary?

Yeah, tell me when J-news media would ever give us optimistic news about the nuclear crisis. This Fall? Next year?? If you don't trust foreign media--because it's foreign, partisan, or whatever--, go watch NHK World or BS News. If language is the reason not to believe what media says, then listen to the local news and read the domestic newspaper in English. And figure it out how you feel it.

Posted in: Radioactive cesium found in compost in Akita
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amerijapJul. 28, 2011 - 02:50AM JST

The local municipalities and communities do really need to educate married couples who know nothing about nursing babies and infants.

Posted in: 1-yr-old baby girl dies after being left in car for 6 hours while parents play pachinko
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amerijapJul. 28, 2011 - 02:43AM JST

@ Kentaro75

WHile I do not support Mr.Breiviks evil action, many Japanese agree with his idea that japan is the perfect socirty just the way it is, no multicultures, just japanese.

Evidence, please. You're not gonna run off with a dubious statement like this. Just because a bad guy makes a statement that works in your favor does not make him/her a lesser evil for criticizing the politics you don't like. And, contrary to your opinion, Japanese in younger generations are generally positive toward growing trend of foreign influence in the society.

Also, japan is unique with its culture and cutoms and language. My children should not have to learn other foreign languages to get a job, or stand up on trains for foreigners, for example. Foreigners are guests in japan. Foreigners should respect japanese culture and live the exact way of japanese and not bring their religion,custom or language.

Pity the J-government is implementing the policies that exactly run counter to your statement-- 1) encourage young students--including your kids-- to learn English or any foreign language; 2) invite thousands of workers and tourists from foreign countries, and 3)offering more permanent resident visas/special resident visas to foreigners living in Japan for many years.

Posted in: Norway killer's manifesto praises Japan for not adopting multiculturalism
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amerijapJul. 28, 2011 - 01:59AM JST

The beef is fine. Fine nough to eat. Ask your hubby, he still wants more doesn't he? I bet he had Yoshinoya for lunch today though as you won't serve him any. Way to go!

Which beef are you talking about? The one that is contaminated?? Go ahead and try it if you have the guts to get the chunk of tainted beef—at your own risk. I reckon you don't care how it tastes and affects your health, though.

Posted in: No. of tainted cattle shipped around Japan nears 1,500
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amerijapJul. 27, 2011 - 04:33AM JST

What's the level of contamination in the food you're talking about? Is it dangerous to one's health? Radiation exists all around us, always has, in food products and in other ways. You using that fact to scare people is ridiculous. have you no shame?

It’s so funny to see some person so busy finding a scapegoat to vent up her/his frustrations because it clearly shows us an example of a so-called “head-in-the-sand attitude”. If you think that radiation level in Fukushima and its border is negligible—and hence, not life-threatening, you are completely a tone deaf. Go check out any domestic news sources—Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi Newspapers, etc., local/domestic media-- NHK, Nihon-TV, TBS, TV-Asahi, etc., and local/central government official websites. All of these sources make it very clear that several local cities and public municipalities detected a very high level of radiation in several foods and water. Local farmers in several prefectures have to get rid of their dairy products and plants contaminated by cesium or iodine because these do bring health hazard to consumers and the public nationwide. This is NOT scaremongering or a conspiracy theory by the conservatives or J-bashers. Your unwillingness to face the reality in and around Fukushima does mirror the behavior of greedy TEPCO executives and pork-barrel METI officials. It’s indeed the biggest shame to behave like these people who try to protect their own interests at the cost of quake victims and evacuees. That’s the least thing we should do here in the first place.

Posted in: No. of tainted cattle shipped around Japan nears 1,500
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amerijapJul. 26, 2011 - 09:02AM JST

This is a typical example of sensational news that brings sparkles with no substance at all. Who takes this kind of "he said/she said" story seriously? Winning sympathy from those cultural conservatives (i.e., xenophobes, right-wingers)?? What a pity!

And where is the source??

Posted in: Norway killer's manifesto praises Japan for not adopting multiculturalism