JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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ben4short
This is one of the funniest, most ridiculous, childish things I have yet to read. Let's play cops 'n robbers, kids, and here are the rules.
Posted in: Calling the plays on the new anti-gang law
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ben4short
Plastic, if you assume (falsely) that all male fans of AKB are pedos, then yes, your math would work. But this is clearly not the case so your argument is meaningless.
Posted in: Singapore singalong
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ben4short
Curious to know what all the pedophile-behind-every-corner believers think of the fact that between 30-70% of AKB48's fans are girls.
Posted in: Singapore singalong
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ben4short
Perhaps you're right, Gabarrazzi, but do you have a problem with that theory? Is there something wrong with feeling different and not fitting in to your own country?
And I'd bet you're one of those (with the irony you're not even aware of) who complain about all the Japanese who "fit in" and don't dare to be different.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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ben4short
Peter, a bit disappointed by this piece, since I've enjoyed many of your previous ones. The old adage, "if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" has been around a long time. So has apathy. I think your attempt to connect our "little bubbles" to apathy is tenuous, at best. Apathy is born of simply not caring, fear of change and a host of other issues, least of which, I think, is the "monotony" (poor word choice) of our lives. In fact, I would argue that the reverse is true: an apathetic attitude in general is responsible for creating monotonous bubbles.
Posted in: Breaking the monotony of life and the spectator mentality
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ben4short
Why is the question phrased as one **or **the other? I think these groups are being marketed as sexualized little Lolitas that also happen to be harmless fun.
Posted in: Do you think all-girl groups like AKB48 are being marketed as sexualized little Lolitas or is it just harmless fun?
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ben4short
Surely you jest, AF.
Posted in: What do you think are the good and bad points about the subway systems in Japan's cities?
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ben4short
**Burton Sue, ** just out of curiosity, how specifically are you planning on using "creative arts for therapy," and what sort of program or structure do you have in mind?
Posted in: New Year despair for Japan's nuclear refugees
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ben4short
oikawa, if you'd take a moment to notice I used a lower case "e" and you used a capital "E" you might, just perhaps, with the help of a dictionary, realize the difference, and my correct usage. Raison d'etre, eh?
Posted in: Japan is built, at some deep, invisible level, around the Buddhist law of the reality of suffering; my Japanese family and neighbors are not inclined to complain about circumstances so much as to deal, silently and efficiently, with the hands they’re dealt.
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ben4short
Mr. Iyer's astute comment obviously flew way over the heads of Ivan and others. The former is talking existentially; the latter is merely repeating the same old tired talking points. Clearly two different levels of consciousness.
Posted in: Japan is built, at some deep, invisible level, around the Buddhist law of the reality of suffering; my Japanese family and neighbors are not inclined to complain about circumstances so much as to deal, silently and efficiently, with the hands they’re dealt.
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ben4short
I always cringe when I see these so-called "manner posters" because I resent being treated like a child. When you are treated like a child, you act like one. Treat people like adults with common sense, and there will be no need for these silly posters. Wa schma, meiwaku schmeiwaku . . . bureaucratic interference into the obvious sucks.
Posted in: Subway manners
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ben4short
It's about time. Wise move, hopefully a step toward repealing the silly war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese constitution.
Posted in: Gov't begins discussions on easing self-imposed arms export ban
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ben4short
All good points, gyouza. Any positive action in the face of staggering apathy (especially one approved by a bureaucracy) should be saluted.
As for the language issue, of the "millions" of tourists in Sapporo each year, the vast majority are Japanese (80-90% I'd guess). I'm quite certain there are other information booths for overseas tourists who don't speak Japanese.
Posted in: Homeless people run tourist information booth in Sapporo
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ben4short
Hats off to Sapporo for this bold and terrific idea. I make it a point to buy the Big Issue magazine every month from as many different homeless men as possible, and always try to engage them in conversation. Many are decent and gentle souls, often very funny. This is an original win-win idea that should be applauded, and possibly imitated by other countries.
Godan, your sarcasm is mean and incorrect: the program was never meant as a way to increase tourism.
Posted in: Homeless people run tourist information booth in Sapporo
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ben4short
Mirai, I disagree. Actors, musicians, athletes and other "celebrities" do what they do because they love it and are good at it. So-called "celebrity" status is conferred upon them by their fans who willingly and freely might spend money on their films, music or performances. I therefore disavow the notion that "famous" people should be ambassadors or role models. Aside from gratitude, they owe nothing to their fans, least of which is the forced, unnatural state of always being on their "best behavior," whatever that means.
Posted in: Joe Odagiri apologizes for signing name 'Kumi Koda' as autograph for fan
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ben4short
Regardless of the ridiculous bet, Romney or any of his fellow GOP clowns will not get anywhere close to the White House in 2012.
Posted in: Romney stumbles by offering $10,000 bet
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ben4short
Compared to some previous Pics of the Day, this photo is rather mediocre and uninteresting.
Posted in: Towering tree
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ben4short
And pushing a button, calm down, is cowardly.
Posted in: Transport Ministry says 2011 worst on record for passengers falling onto train tracks
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ben4short
Nicky, no, the platform button cannot stop the train. Only buttons inside the train can stop it. Platform buttons simply alert the staff.
Posted in: Transport Ministry says 2011 worst on record for passengers falling onto train tracks
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ben4short
Most disturbing part of this story comes at the end:
Incredible institutional discouragement of acts of bravery (of course with their inherent dangers) in favor of time-wasting button-pushing for help from station personnel who will hold a consensus-building meeting while the victim is crushed to death.
Posted in: Transport Ministry says 2011 worst on record for passengers falling onto train tracks