frontandcentre said...

frontandcentre at 02:56 PM JST - 17th November

I think chivalry is good anywhere, but given the particularly raw deal that women get in Japan, should be more prevalent here as they deserve more support. Patronising and sexist? Maybe. But would most Japanese women object to being offered a seat? Never, in my experience.

Posted in Is chivalry dead on Tokyo trains? at 02:56 PM JST - 17th November
frontandcentre at 02:33 PM JST - 17th November

"As equals he should not have bowed"

Why not? There's absolutely nothing in Japanese etiquette which says he shouldn't...

I often bow to people of lower work status or seniority than myself and get bowed to by people more senior and much further up the ladder. So what? Obama showed…

Posted in Should President Barack Obama have bowed to the emperor while he was in Japan? at 02:33 PM JST - 17th November
frontandcentre at 01:41 PM JST - 17th November

Err...a bow is normal courtesy in Japan, not always a matter of status. I'm sure Barack wasn't down on his knees or anything, just showing proper manners and cultural sensitivity.

What's to criticise - unless you are of the mindset that America still owns Japan, which is "kinda" ironic since…

Posted in Should President Barack Obama have bowed to the emperor while he was in Japan? at 01:41 PM JST - 17th November
frontandcentre at 01:19 PM JST - 17th November

Embrace them, then send them back, I suspect most people would say.

Posted in Hatoyama says Japan should embrace more migrants at 01:19 PM JST - 17th November
frontandcentre at 01:07 PM JST - 17th November

It would be good to hear the Japanese actually welcome a restriction on bluefin tuna catches so that the species might be protected for future generations, rather than simply trying to calm fears about a shortage for consumers. Ultimately, the only way to replenish stocks is by cutting down the…

Posted in Fisheries minister dispels public concerns over bluefin tuna cut at 01:07 PM JST - 17th November
frontandcentre at 02:23 PM JST - 16th November

Even if he keeps his mouth shut throughout the questioning process, they still have ample evidence on which to base charges. Naturally the cops want a confession to make life easier for everyone, however if they can't get one, then they have to use good old material evidence to justify…

Posted in Ichihashi undergoes medical checkup after refusing to eat at 02:23 PM JST - 16th November
frontandcentre at 11:08 AM JST - 16th November

It is clearly a Japanese owned ship flagged in Hong Kong.

Posted in Ship collision kills 4 South Korean fishermen at 11:08 AM JST - 16th November
frontandcentre at 10:50 AM JST - 16th November

smithinjapan - no-one's saying it's South Korea's fault....but you seem to be suggesting it's the fault of the victims. What do you mean by this? It seems to me that they were simply very unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although they voluntarily entered the…

Posted in Officials say 7, not 8, Japanese died in Busan shooting range fire at 10:50 AM JST - 16th November
frontandcentre at 02:02 PM JST - 13th November

Best blue Christmas light-ist

Posted in Tokyo Midtown light-up at 02:02 PM JST - 13th November
frontandcentre at 02:34 PM JST - 11th November

The irony of course is that if he hadn't gone for the "change of look" he'd probably still be out there. The whole exercise provided a great opportunity for more publicity and the break that got him.

Those above suggesting that the cops won't get a murder charge to stick…

Posted in Ichihashi says he has no excuses; Hawkers express relief at his arrest at 02:34 PM JST - 11th November