borscht said...

borscht at 09:08 AM JST - 28th June

smartacus,

The way it is going, airlines will end up catering only to business and first class passengers.

They may find that preferable. Business & first-class passengers pay more and more frequently. The peons in tourist don't travel as often and aren't willing to pay more. If a flight were…

Posted in Malaysia Airlines raises fuel surcharge up to 80% at 09:08 AM JST - 28th June
borscht at 07:40 AM JST - 26th June

outofmydepth,

how would they feel if someone from another country did that to the world heritage sites here???

I fear they wouldn't care. Perhaps when they become bitter old men (in about 10 years) they'll moan about irresponsible 'foreigners' but right now, naw.

Posted in 3 more students scrawled on world heritage cathedral in Italy at 07:40 AM JST - 26th June
borscht at 08:11 AM JST - 25th June

His wife is probably getting money from the government, enough money to support 'a family' and that - plus his book sales and other promotions from the Niigata area - is what is probably supporting him.

That said, how many other nearly 70-year-old unemployed foreign nationals have been granted a…

Posted in Jenkins applies for permanent residency at 08:11 AM JST - 25th June
borscht at 07:26 AM JST - 25th June

In the English translation 'would' is used. This has a different meaning from 'will' in that it is a possibility while 'will' is more definite. I hope this is a translation problem and not what the people wrote.

Still, are these people serious or just pulling the cops' chains? If…

Posted in Police act in 17 cases of people posting threats since Akihabara rampage at 07:26 AM JST - 25th June
borscht at 07:17 AM JST - 25th June

Interestingly enough, according to a Japanese site, the school offered both compensation and an apology but the cathedral said an apology was sufficient. Nice of the cathedral.

I certainly hope the student was more than 'strictly warned.' I hope she was penalized in a way that would make her realize…

Posted in Japanese student scrawled on world heritage cathedral in Italy at 07:17 AM JST - 25th June
borscht at 06:30 PM JST - 24th June

Over the next few days I suspect we will discover the son, Shigeru, had some sort of problem that 'embarrassed' his father. Shigeru's on a 3-month leave of absence. This doesn't happen often.

But why kill a four-year-old? With her life ahead of her and living with her extended family,…

Posted in 77-year-old man confesses to killing 4 members of family in Chiba at 06:30 PM JST - 24th June
borscht at 06:19 PM JST - 24th June

cjapan,

This was in Kyushu.

Posted in Record percentage of women pass top civil service exam at 06:19 PM JST - 24th June
borscht at 06:18 PM JST - 24th June

I'm against the death penalty for a number of reasons but every time someone like Miyazaki comes along and says things like kids like to be dissected I have to re-think my stand. If Miyazaki could get his kiddie porn in jail and actually believed his victims 'liked' it, then…

Posted in Miyazaki regarded his execution as 'misunderstanding' at 06:18 PM JST - 24th June
borscht at 06:13 PM JST - 24th June

There's something that could be said about Japanese society in this. They get rid of WaiWai in English because it presents Japan in a bad light but they have World Wide Weird - odd news from other parts of the world that might show another country in a bad light.…

Posted in What do you think of the Mainichi's decision to cease publishing its WaiWai tabloid tidbits section on its English online site following complaints that it portrays Japanese society in a negative light to the world? at 06:13 PM JST - 24th June
borscht at 10:35 AM JST - 24th June

When I lived across the street from a national government office I was always amazed at how the office was full of people looking busy at 4:59 and empty at 5:01. So, these people will have a wonderful life balance. Eight hours at work and 16 hours with the family,…

Posted in Record percentage of women pass top civil service exam at 10:35 AM JST - 24th June