escape_artist said...

escape_artist at 01:19 PM JST - 3rd July

@JeffLee:

Budget domestic airlines are out of the question. They would undercut the Shinkansen...

You may be right, but then the smaller regional airports/boondoggles are essentially doomed unless the farmers markets they envision are really, really big and/or the restaurants they're thinking of adding are really, really attractive & special…

Posted in What to do with all the regional airports at 01:19 PM JST - 3rd July
escape_artist at 09:34 PM JST - 2nd July

I first thought that was the NOVA rabbit she was holding hands with.

Posted in Mariko Shinoda to visit homes in nurse attire at 09:34 PM JST - 2nd July
escape_artist at 09:26 PM JST - 2nd July

I know the use of English here is simply for show, but why oh why can't those in supposed positions of authority use proper English on such things!? Or get out from behind their xenophobia and simply ask someone who DOES know English. He's a frickin' Education Ministry official and…

Posted in Anti-drug poster featuring Yukie Nakama to go up at schools nationwide at 09:26 PM JST - 2nd July
escape_artist at 07:24 PM JST - 2nd July

@The758... How about not putting so much prrority on Narita? Does every filght through Japan have to stop there?

Yeah, if my English so-called newspaper's view of the world is accurate. The one I get seriously calls itself a "Kansai Edition", yet routinely carries full-page ads, articles & whatnot only…

Posted in What to do with all the regional airports at 07:24 PM JST - 2nd July
escape_artist at 05:41 PM JST - 30th June

It may be partly Japan's archaic laws hindering more widespread homebrewing (compared to other developed, beer-drinking countries) that keeps on allowing the big beer-like companies like Suntory to keep creating this likely health-questionable schlock.

Companies should be forced to list all the ingredients in these so-called 3rd category (i.e., uncategorizable)…

Posted in Aeon, Suntory to launch Y100 beer-like drink at 05:41 PM JST - 30th June
escape_artist at 01:28 PM JST - 24th June

There's way too much coddling of the guilty in Japan, especially the so-called under-20 "youths" who commit grievous crimes, whether premeditated or not. Include the overuse of "suspended sentences" in here too. Treating everyone with an "Oh, they really didn't mean to do it so let's treat him/her nicely" mentality…

Posted in Driver who hit and killed 3 nurses to face lighter charge of involuntary manslaughter at 01:28 PM JST - 24th June
escape_artist at 12:32 AM JST - 24th June

The whole issue of exploitation of foreign workers in Japan under the guise of the govt-industry's so-called "training" or guest worker programs is explored in the film Sour Strawberries. Well worth watching even if it does only scratch the surface of the problem. Some links about it...

http://www.vimeo.com/2276295

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090414ev.html

http://www.debito.org/?page_id=1672…

Posted in 34 foreign trainees in Japan died in FY 2008 of suspected overwork at 12:32 AM JST - 24th June
escape_artist at 04:56 PM JST - 17th June

Sheesh. Not content to ruin people's health one by one, the new campaign gets them all at once. Japan's lofty longevity figure is bound to drop in the coming decades if crap like this continue being pushed on the public.

Posted in McDonalds targets families with in-store only Nintendo DS service at 04:56 PM JST - 17th June
escape_artist at 02:06 PM JST - 15th June

I'd say enlargement of his ego is all that's going on here. Not any different from nearly all the other talentless all-cappers in Japan. Does he expect to become more "famous" now because of this stunt? Reminds me too of how Japanese companies love writing their names all in caps…

Posted in Gackt becomes GACKT to celebrate 10th anniversary at 02:06 PM JST - 15th June
escape_artist at 12:56 PM JST - 15th June

Robot cooking shows on TV, what else?!

Posted in Nowadays, almost every family has a car. In the near future, every family would be having a humanoid robot that can help out various things at home. at 12:56 PM JST - 15th June