JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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freakashow
Wow! What a game it was. It was the perfect ending to a World Cup. What a thrilling finish it was. Japan and the U.S. played fantastically throughout and both could have equally won it. Ironically, despite Nike's "Pressure Makes Us" campaign for the U.S. women, the pressure did get to them in the end. However, congratulations to the both teams and especially to Japan for being true champions.
Yeah, I was cringing at that straight red card given at such a late stage in the match (you could see a few of the American women looking sheepish, as if they got away with something as they were taking their free kick). I guess it was telling that despite a few shoddy calls in the match (such as an offsides in the 65th minute, which was definitely onside and should have resulted in Japan scoring a go-ahead goal), Japan fought through it and came out the winner. Call it poetic justice if you will.
Posted in: Japan beats U.S. in shootout to win Women's World Cup soccer
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freakashow
This game will definitely be a match of contrasting styles. Both styles have proven to win games and thus it should be a good one. Don't know how this forum turned into a topic of bandwagoners, since it is obvious that they occur everywhere and not just in Japan. Yet, I do understand that people tend to only see from where they are living at the moment and thus think it only occurs there. It happens in every sport and with every countries' fans. Recently, there were a lot of bandwagoners in Vancouver when their Canucks ended up going to the Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey. It was appalling that many of them became violent, even though they never followed their team so passionately before they were so strong. To use a loss an excuse just to vent frustrations in a violent way is not cool. Even though there may be some bandwagoners here in Japan, at least they don't turn violent, as in so many other parts of the world, when it comes to sports.
Posted in: United States has the trophies, Japan the game
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freakashow
Well, no one is saying things like that; only you. Don't try so hard to look into every coach's comments to find a way to twist it in a negative way. From the start of the tournament, the coach has been quite humble about the whole experience. He has always praised the play of his team and the team he plays before and after each match. In fact, on the three websites I have looked at (FIFA.com official website, Yahoo Sports, and ESPN.com), he was quoted as saying that they "aimed to be World Cup champions", something that nearly every nation aimed to do.
"We aim to be the FIFA Women’s World Cup champions," Japan coach Norio Sasaki speaking prior to the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/teams/team=1883723/profile.html
He's even profusely stated after every game about how proud he is about his players' efforts and heart, while stressing that a bigger challenge awaits in the next match; which has not been far from the truth.
Posted in: Japan relies on meticulous system at World Cup
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freakashow
Smorkian: While I do agree with you that Wie is a good player, you have to agree that she is in no way in the same class as players like Kerr, Tseng, Jiyai Shin, or Karrie Webb, even though the media make her out to be. Yani Tseng, by the way (who is only one year older than Wie), has already four major trophies to zero for Wie. At least Pressel (the youngest major winner) and Creamer have their major trophies. It's even amazing to me that many media outlets paint Michelle Wie as the female version of Tiger Woods. It doesn't get any easier for her as unheralded golfers like So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo get better and actually start winning more major tournaments.
Posted in: Ryu wins playoff in US Women's Open
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freakashow
It wasn't me who said it. It was what the 8 time player of the year, Annika Sorenstam said. I think she is one who knows her golf and pretty much knows what she is talking about. Besides, other young golfers like Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer have won more tournaments than Michelle has, but get less publicity and hype. I wonder why.
Posted in: Ryu wins playoff in US Women's Open
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freakashow
Congratulations to So Yeon Ryu (should say the whole name since it is kind of rude in Korean culture to only say one of their names)! She is the newest in a long line of Korean golf stars. It's funny how unheralded stars like her shine, while over-hyped ones like Michelle Wie is "going backwards" (as Annika Sorenstam recently said in an interview about her).
Posted in: Ryu wins playoff in US Women's Open
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freakashow
JohnBecker: Boasting is only justifiable AFTER you have won the trophy. I would never teach my kids to go boasting about a win before they even get it. It's just poor sportsmanship if you ask me.
> A real nail-biter, and one in which the Japanese women got away with murder a few times - I can recall at least two occasions when what looked like clear fouls in the penalty area were not called
I agree, there were non-calls on both sides for both the Japanese and Germans, and both sides could make cases for being mad, but that happens in just about every game that is played. Two calls were not made for the Germans which seemed to be borderline at best, and also two of the yellow cards given to the Japanese players were very borderline and lame. The Germans also got away with a bit of cheap tactics in using their size to push over a few of the players, but I agree that that's part of the game.
The first half of the game was pretty stale, and even though Germany had more shots taken, the Japanese did have an advantage in ball possession (about 55% to 45%). Overall, it could have gone either way and I was thinking at one point that it may go to a penalty shootout like the France-England game. In the end, it was a great effort on the part of both sides and congrats to Japan for making it through.
chap2: Yes, IF the U.S. gets past Brazil, then it would be nice to talk about its next opponent. But why even start thinking about the next opponent without thinking about Brazil first? The U.S. should first learn to concentrate on the opponent at hand and take it one game at a time, or they run the risk of not even getting to the next opponent.
Posted in: Japan beats Germany to make Women's WCup semis
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freakashow
Here's a little article which stated:
"But the biggest shock of all took place in Wolfsburg when host nation and two-time defending champion Germany was upset by Japan. The tournament is now wide open for the Americans, who will have a clear path to glory if they can get past the talented Brazilians."
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ro-rogersbrazilusaworldcup_070911
I take it back. Yes, the U.S. is paying attention to its women, but continues to be arrogant about its "clear path to victory" in women's sports. Americans always boast about their men being the favorites in just about every sport as it does with its women. Sheesh!
Posted in: Japan beats Germany to make Women's WCup semis
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freakashow
tmarie: True. For some reason (and not just in Japan), women's sports seems to take a backseat to men's sports all over the world. I think only the U.S. pays equal attention to both the mens and womens games (maybe because mens soccer gets little attention there in the first place). England has been giving a little air time to their women (but nothing compared to the men). And absolutely nothing about the Matildas on Australian websites and news programs. All I see on their sports websites is rugby, rugby, and more rugby.
Posted in: Japan beats Germany to make Women's WCup semis
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freakashow
I also have to add that I'm wondering what the commentators on ESPN is thinking now, that Japan won and not Germany. I remember how they were going on and on about how Germany would meet the U.S. in the finals and was already looking forward to that game.
Posted in: Japan beats Germany to make Women's WCup semis
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freakashow
Great win! I saw lengthy praise about them on NHK, and then turned to channel 6 and saw a couple of men say "あぱれ" ( I think that means "a good job") to them and go on and on about them too. Then I had to see several replays of the winning goal on Fuji Television news. I think "Nadeshiko Japan" did themselves good and have been doing well. Seems like the TV likes to gush over Sawa-san and the young teenager Mana. Yet, on Fuji TV, they said that Miyama is the one who has been instrumental in setting the pace of Japan's attack. Her pinpoint passing skills are really good. In any case, congrats to them. I heard on NHK that it's the first time they made it to the semis of a World Cup and that it is Sawa's fifth appearance. Wow!
Posted in: Japan beats Germany to make Women's WCup semis
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freakashow
Congratulations to Korea for getting the 2018 Olympics!
Good point. Kim Yu Na would in all likelihood make her last Olympics appearance in Sochi. With the level of the young crop of female skaters in Korea growing rapidly, she would be hard-pressed to qualify in 2018, unless of course, Korea gets to field 3 or 4 female skaters that year (which I guess could happen).
Posted in: South Korea's Pyeongchang awarded 2018 Winter Olympics
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freakashow
I bet New Zealand forward Amber Hearn and other players are eating their words after they predicted that they would make it to the quarterfinals alongside Japan. Now they'll have to try to save face by facing a very good Mexican team in their final match.
Posted in: Japan through, England resurrected at World Cup
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freakashow
True, but not a very enlightening statement, since I know of no country that are soft on their own celebrities when a scandal is committed. Yes I know that it seems unfair that the Japanese media would condemn harshly their own celebrities when they commit a scandal, and yet still freely invite over stars involved in scandals from abroad, such as Tiger Woods.
Posted in: Tiger Woods to pitch heat rub in Japan
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freakashow
GW: Then you agree with me about two points which I've mentioned before:
However, if you have been eating and loving it for 20 years, then how is it you aren't aware that yakitori also comes with "tare" (or sauce)? Oh, and for your information, ginnan also comes buttered. Yummy stuff.
Posted in: Yakitori to go
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freakashow
GW: I don't know about you, but the ginnan I had did have some salt on it. In fact, if you try yakitori, you can either choose to have salt on it, or sauce. Either way, they're delicious. Also, if you ever try "ginnan", you'll find (depending on the shop you go to), some are cooked with a little butter, which makes it even more delicious.
Posted in: Yakitori to go
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freakashow
Love the yakitori shops. I especially like the "momo" with green peppers and onions. Not a fan of the liver, but I also like the minced meat yakitori sticks as well as the lightly salted and grilled "ginnan" (or ginkgo nuts) on a stick. Excellent with beer.
Posted in: Yakitori to go
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freakashow
Good on the teachers for acting properly. In some other countries, kids would have been dead as a gun would have been likely used. For example, you'll hear about 2 or 3 school shootings happening in the U.S. every year. Pinning someone down with a "man-catcher" would work against a knife, but I sincerely doubt against a gun.
I also wish schools in the world would step up their security measures more. I remember my elementary school in the U.S. had only one gate at the front entrance where cars entered. However, in the back there was open space with no fence which would have been so easy for anyone to waltz in unnoticed until they got to the classroom. Sheesh! In any case, whether it be in Japan or the U.S., only private elementary schools seem to get the full-on security treatment. In both countries, the public ones with adequate security seems to be the exceptions to the rule.
Posted in: Teachers pin down knife-wielding man with two-pronged 'man catcher'
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freakashow
Well, I just hope her body holds up, because if she continues to wear those skimpy, revealing outfits she wears now in her 40's, then it could be kind of gross.
Posted in: Venus Williams outlasts Date-Krumm; Doi has dream debut
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freakashow
Yup, only fake smiles with rigid poses.
Posted in: Lineup