JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Financial Advisor
- Select Asset Management KK, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥100,000 ~ ¥999,999 Paid Training Commission Based
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- Corporate Business English Trainers
- ACT Systems, Inc.（株式会社アクト・システムズ）, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥269,500 ~ ¥280,000 / Month
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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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bobobolinski
If the research behind these claims is valid, then people should stop eating cetaceans right now, and governments should immediately ban the sale, trafficking and all consumption of such food products. If the research is dubious, it is vital that all the concerned countries drop their petty politicking and do proper, serious further research on the presence of trace elements in all fish and cetaceans. Or we could just go on making trivial little political points while we commit slow suicide by poison.
Posted in: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans: report
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bobobolinski
Tosaken, you may be technically right about the production company, but the writers, director, cast and general style of the film are all part of what is generally recognized as an Ealing comedy.
Back on topic, there are loads of films that I would love to see, but due to the narrowness of Japanese distribution, it seems that unless it has Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt in it, it will not be released here for ages. For example, recently released British movies like Four Lions, Cemetery Junction, Centurion, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Heartless, and several others. But you know we will get Robin Hood and that is all. Oh well, back to the torrents.
Posted in: Hollywood is bombarding us this summer with lots of sequels and remakes, such as "Iron Man 2," "Sex and the City 2," "Toy Story 3," "Shrek 4," and "The Karate Kid," among others. Whatever happened to creativity and originality in films?
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bobobolinski
If there is one thing that annoys many Japanese people on trains more than people talking on the phone, it is people talking English. So all of you cheerleaders should bear in mind that it might be you that gets a thump in the face next time.
Posted in: Man punched in face by fellow train commuter over phone manners
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bobobolinski
It struck me as odd that Ms Feineman is not sure whether the AWG came from Ohio or northern England. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that she is a native English speaker, and I would think that nearly all English speakers would be able to tell the difference quite easily. Perhaps the AWG was speaking quietly and other than the occasional expletive, could not be heard? Or maybe the whole scene was really short-lived?
Posted in: Dear Angry Western Guy
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bobobolinski
@cracaphat
If I said anything dubious about other people that later came out in public, then, yes actually, I would feel rather foolish for being indiscreet. If I was at the head of a major national project and I made really serious allegations in conversation with a younger lady friend, and those allegations became public and destroyed the project I was heading; in that case I think the phrase "stupid old idiot" would be completely appropriate. I'm not defending the Mail, which always was an odious rag, but the man is an old fool.
Posted in: England's World Cup bid chief quits after sting
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bobobolinski
Well that is that. Stupid old idiot - the man who lost England the World Cup. I hope Netherlands-Belgium get it now.
Posted in: England's World Cup bid chief quits after sting
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bobobolinski
While Cameron and Clegg may be similar in many ways, there is a huge gulf between the policies supported by their parties and presumably their voters. On almost any major area - Europe, immigration, environment, taxation, welfare - they are polar opposites. The Conservatives might have actually found more common ground with Labour, if personalities were left out of it. There will be some quick economic fixes, then a period of confict, at the end of which Cameron will call a quick election, blaming his junior partner for obstructing government process.
Posted in: David Cameron takes over as British prime minister
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bobobolinski
bobbafett - I think if the Organisation Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire do come up with some super military application it is more likely to be kept by the French than provided for the USA. But I doubt it will come to that anyway; this is scientific research for the best possible motive, to understand the universe we live in.
Posted in: Atom smasher will help reveal 'the beginning'
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bobobolinski
Smith, it is notable, however, that Troussier has been the only appointment from outside of Japan - Zico, Osim etc. all being already present. I think this is a common mindset, not just in the football area: if it has to be a foreigner, then it should be a "safe" one, who knows the way things work. So, instead of going for a keen young European or South American, who might take on the challenge as a way of advancing his own career, they have gone for the apparently safe option, again and again. And when it doesn't work out, like now, they publicly wash their hands of the guy, months before the tournament itself. It would be nice to see JFA president Inukai announce that if Japan don't do well, he will step down himself. Some hope, though.
Posted in: Okada under pressure to improve soccer team's form
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bobobolinski
It's going to be a real cluster thing if it turns out that some of the people getting their passport photos and names plastered over the media and internet really were tourists.
Posted in: Dubai says Hamas man killed by European hit squad
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bobobolinski
The hitmen may well have been British, etc. but that doesn't mean they were working for a European government.
Posted in: Dubai says Hamas man killed by European hit squad
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bobobolinski
Agree with herefornow. Okada should not have been appointed, but it is way too late now. The JFA should support their man; but this looks like they are already getting ready to shift the blame. Sack the board!
Posted in: Okada under pressure to improve soccer team's form
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bobobolinski
@sarcasnm123 - I fail to see what is funny here. It was a tragic accident.
Posted in: At least 18 killed in Belgian train collision
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bobobolinski
So, the idea of someone retiring under a cloud but receiving a hefty golden handshake is not commensurate with Japanese culture? Indeed.
Posted in: Some fans object to Asashoryu's retirement pay
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bobobolinski
As the great Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges said of the 1982 conflict, it's "two bald men fighting over a comb."
Posted in: Argentina blocks British supply ship in Falklands dispute
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bobobolinski
It might have been better to have been concerned when they appointed the current manager, whose record at the World Cup finals in France, 1998, was played 3, lost 3, goals for 1, goals against 4. And that was with a Japanese team who were probably much better than now. Okada-san is a good manager at J League level, but completely out of his depth internationally. Bring back the Frenchman!
Posted in: Japan soccer chief concerned over lack of goals
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bobobolinski
Cleo is absolutely right about the importance of avoiding error in a culture where examination performance is paramount. And there is another consideration. A lot of foreign language teachers adopt what might be called a Socratic approach to education. The teacher asks a question; the student gives an answer; the teacher shows how wrong the student is and what the right answer is; the student is enlightened. Japanese students loathe this kind of strategy. They see it as a smartass prof making them look foolish in order to reinforce the teacher's superiority. If teacher knows the right answer, why doesn't he just impart the information? (And I know all the arguments for students having to learn through active discussion, but that is a different thing from making someone look stupid in front of their classmates.)
Posted in: The dumbing down of Japanese students
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bobobolinski
I'm no big fan of Bono, but to be fair he has been doing a lot for Haiti over the last couple of weeks: benefit concerts, recording a single with JayZ and Rihanna, etc.
Posted in: Haitian women targeted by sexual predators, thieves after quake
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bobobolinski
One of the very few advantages of being an oldie is that you've heard all these tunes before. The people who are condemning contemporary kids were themselves criticized as a generation of wasters. But there is no evidence at all to back up the claims. Yes, there are problems; always were. Some kids don't learn much at school; always was the case. Some students cheat or plagiarize; it's universal and was as common a hundred years ago as it is today. If you look at the OECD statistics, for example, you can see that educational attainment is fairly level across industrialized, developed countries. There are a lot of very bright, aware and original Japanese students, just as there are in Norway, or France, or Canada or anywhere else. They don't always want to show off in front of the foreign language teacher, just the same here as in your own country. The big problem comes when these bright kids get into the world of work and have to submit to the hierarchy of idiots who make it up the ladder. That's the problem, not how many archaic kanji they know, or whether they pick up the phone on time.
Posted in: The dumbing down of Japanese students
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bobobolinski
Nah, this is part of Okada-sensei's cunning plan. Having won the group against lowly European and African opposition, Japan's next round and quarter-final will most likely be against Paraguay and then Brazil. In order to fulfill the stated aim of getting to the semi-final, Japan will probably have to play for draws in those games, and get through on the penalty shoot out. The lack of apparent preparation will no doubt lull those footballing "superpowers" into a false sense of security. Banzai!
Posted in: Japan, Venezuela draw 0-0 in friendly