JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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1
Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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2
U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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3
Confrontation
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4
California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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5
Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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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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imacat
I'm driving an Alphard here in Japan... should I be worried? I guess we are safe over here... err, aren't we?
Anyone else driving a Toyota in Japan?
Posted in: Skepticism over Toyota's fixes grows as probe widens to Prius
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imacat
@Ossan
I was referring to your word "injustice"...
This must make the relatives of the families of the tens of thousands of civilians killed by US and British forces in these countries feel so much better...
Do you understand the meaning of the word liberation? I know American's are losing their concepts of freedom and democracy as they allow the "war on terror" to turn their country into a police state, but this assertion is just plain ridiculous.
How about Japan's "liberation" of your country's colony the Philippines? What a wonderful "liberation" that was.
Or how about the Indonesian romusha... how they could enjoy their marvelous liberation...
I'm sorry, you're just plain wrong on this point. Historians have been using both primary and secondary sources to analyze the atrocity.
Posted in: Japan, China still at odds over 'Rape of Nanking'
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imacat
@ossan
Haha this made me laugh out loud. You know I think some Iraqi and Afghanistan families who have seen loved ones killed are going to disagree with you.
It's already on the list. That's my point. I take it carpet bombing, agent orange, etc are on your list. ..
I completely accept that European powers greedily exploited Asia. Who wouldn't? But to give that information as the Yushukan does and then to present Japan as a savior of Asia is just pure propaganda and ludicrous. But you go ahead and lap it up if you want to.
It's convenient for the Japanese. Instead of looking long and hard at the behavior of Japan's armed forces in Asia, they can endlessly debate and deny numbers and statistics.
Hey, I wonder if the Japanese are planning a war memorial for the American POWs who met an appalling fate on Chichi-jima, similar to the memorial garden the Aussies built for the Japanese POWs at killed at Cowra...
Posted in: Japan, China still at odds over 'Rape of Nanking'
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imacat
@northlondon
Yeah, sure, it was a long time ago, but to suggest (as you seem to be) that it is all best left alone is childish and ridiculous. For a start, it's bloody interesting to discuss and debate history.
I think every country has a duty to take a long hard look at what one's fellow countrymen have done in the past. For many it's a very difficult thing to do without trying to put on the rose-tinted spectacles or get out the tin of whitewash.
I think for most people, if they do look back at their country's past in an unbiased and unblinkered way, will find some very unpalatable facts and events. Shameful events. As a Brit I think I could list several episodes in history where I think we have behaved appallingly just off the top of my head. As I am interested in history I have been to some of the places where such events took place... Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar, for example.
I am happy to speak to anyone about these events, openly and (for example if it were with a person from Amritsar) in a spirit of conciliation, if that were necessary or meant anything coming from me.
Now on the other hand, here we have in Japan a shrine to the war dead (I have no problem with that) but with an official museum next to it peddling a version of history that is pure propaganda. The Yushukan Museum is a disgrace... a ridiculous place. Even the Japanese themselves had to reign it in 3 or 4 years ago and have some of the most extreme and nationalist explanations replaced. It's astounding that such a ludicrous place could be allowed to be open to the public in Japan, with no other similar museum offering an alternative analysis of history.
In the UK we have a director who makes an Oscar-winning movie about Ghandi, the man who did most to topple the British empire. On the other hand in Japan we have a movie about Hideki Tojo, presenting him as not such a bad guy after all!
I think many Japanese have little or no idea of what atrocities Japan committed during the war and basically they are not interested.
Try it. Ask the Japanese people around you.
Perhaps many Japanese people will vaguely say, oh, Japan did bad things in the war, but when you ask "what exactly?" they find it difficult to pinpoint anything. So you might try to mention a few things but then they start saying that, no, that's Chinese propaganda or else something like, well, maybe we did do that but there was XYZ reason, etc.
There seems to be nothing definite for the Japanese to accept as an atrocity. Vociferous right-wing patriotic groups openly question everything... there is no officially accepted truth. Perhaps part of the matter is that a lot of government held war-records have been destroyed or else what remains are not open to the public or researchers.
So for most Japanese there is a cloud of vagueness over any war atrocities that might have been committed by Japan and this allows right-wing groups to easily sow the seeds of doubt.
It seems somewhat unfair. For example, Americans don't deny the atomic bombings or quibble over the numbers killed. They accept the figures and take that as a starting point to debate the rights and wrongs of it.
I think this lack of clarity from Japan about the whole war record is what causes the problems.
Posted in: Japan, China still at odds over 'Rape of Nanking'
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imacat
This article is just wonderful wonderful news for any red-blooded male with a strong inclination for Japanese women.
The coast is clear! Go get 'em lads...
Posted in: Sexless in Japan
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imacat
@USNinJapan2:
So true... I've seen so many guys flashing around their iPhones in bars in Tokyo that it's become a cliche.
People just roll their eyes now as these iPhone charisma men show off another useless app... but my eye is always straying to the iPhone's network signal bars... oh look... 1 bar again... oh wait, damn, kengai...
Posted in: Google to sell Nexus One, a 'super' mobile phone
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imacat
@gogogo: I was tempted by Docomo's Blackberry too, but in the end I felt it was too big and too business for me.
I mean the iPhone is obviously brilliant but for me I just can't stomach signing up with Softbank. I think if you google softbanksucks you can find an amusing blog about it.
Also the poor Softbank network coverage really puts me off iPhone in Japan.
Posted in: Google to sell Nexus One, a 'super' mobile phone
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imacat
I have a Google phone already. It's Docomo's HT-03a. I'm typing this post on it. It's a really great phone that I'd recommend to anyone.
There's one major problem with the iPhone in Japan and that's network coverage. Softbank's coverage isvery poor... frequent cut-offs and poor reception.
People complain about Docomo but at least the connection is generally rock solid.
If you are after a much cheaper alternative to the iPhone in Japan certainly have a look at the HT-03a.
Posted in: Google to sell Nexus One, a 'super' mobile phone
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imacat
I still think the original article is correct to say that Japanese camera makers are increasingly distinguishing models as domestic or international by marketing Japanese only models in Japan.
This is a trend which I expect all manufacturers will adopt before long as it gives them more control over the market.
I can find one if I go to a tourist shop in Akihabara, just not in my local Yamada Denki.
Posted in: Buying a camera in Japan? Think again
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imacat
Didn't mean to imply that you were a liar, especially on Christmas day.
What I meant to say was that I don't think it is so easy to find models with English menus in your local Yamada Denki. Some models may have the option to switch Japanese to English but don't count on it. Always best to play with the camera first. And if you are relying on the salesman to show you models with English menus then you are drastically reducing your choices.
Another camera I'm interested in at the moment is the Sony TX1... of course the Japanese model doesn't have any English option in the menu...
Posted in: Buying a camera in Japan? Think again
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imacat
I don't think this is true. I think the article is correct. Makers are increasingly offering Japanese only firmware on their cameras. The best thing to do is to play with the model on offer in Yamada Denki or wherever. Have a look at the menus, if you can find an option to change it to English then all well and good, if not well you'll have to find an international model in Akihabara. I can say for a fact that the Japanese version of the Lumix LX3 on sale in your local Yamada Denki in Japan does not allow you to change the menus to English.
Posted in: Buying a camera in Japan? Think again
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imacat
As people have noted above, nobody in that region wants Japan there. ALL of the countries nearest to the Antarctic are opposed to whaling. EVERY SINGLE ONE!! Count them on your fingers... Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand... these are the countries nearest to the Antarctic and hence naturally feel a close affinity for the region. How arrogant of Japan to ignore EVERY SINGLE ONE of these countries and greedily grab whales there... and for what?! To protect their "food culture"!! Since when did Japan's culture start to include the Anatarctic too?!
In japan they have a concept called "meiwaku". This means that you try to look around you and make sure you are not being a "meiwaku" to other people, make sure you are making good relations with people and not stepping on people's toes. Well, judging by Japan's attitude to whaling then for the Japanese this concept only applies in Japan between Japanese people. Foreigners are different it seems and the meiwaku concept can be ignored in dealing with them...
"Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, NZ... you can all go to hell. we don't give a damn about you... we just want whale steaks for our ojisans in izakayas... that's the most important thing for us..."
That's how Japan's attitude to whaling appears to the rest of the world.
If Japan is going to continue shoving this "food culture" stuff down our throats then Japan would do much better to take the whales in the seas surrounding Japan. And you know what... according to the Japanese government there are plenty of whales in the seas around Japan!! More than enough for this tiny tiny niche market.
Posted in: Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists in Antarctic sea
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imacat
Remember the only people who have (tragically) died in the Antarctic have been Japanese whalers as a result of (it seems) sloppy seamanship.
Remember the big fire on the Nisshin Maru which left that huge whaling factory ship dead in the water? ... one poor soul dead and a near disaster to the pristine Antarctic wilderness. It's very easy to imagine the fire getting out of control and the final result being a massive oil spill into that wonderful natural environment. Would the Japanese be sending a clean up operation?! Oh wait... there is no clean up operation!
Get this dangerous fleet out of there, Japan.
Posted in: Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists in Antarctic sea
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imacat
The Japanese always give "food culture" as the main reason for their continued whaling. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada also brought up "culture" when talking about Japan's whaling recently.
So what people are wondering is: How the hell can Japan's culture include the Antarctic?!
I really do want to know. If some Japanese people posting here could please explain the connection between Japan's culture and the Antarctic I would be very interested to hear it.
Frankly speaking, I think it is very greedy and arrogant of Japan to include a pristine wilderness area on the other side of the globe as a part of their culture.
Posted in: Japanese whalers clash with Sea Shepherd activists in Antarctic sea
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imacat
He's stated the Japanese position very clearly
Now, could someone please tell me how on earth the Antarctic is part of Japanese culture? I really want to know...
Posted in: Australian PM threatens legal action against Japan over whaling
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imacat
A basic rule when debating is to compare like with like. Even high school debaters know this
So compare kangaroos killed in Australia with deers culled in Hokkaido... they are similar things.
A massive armada of killing ships burning 1000s of tonnes of fuel, sent to a pristine wilderness area on the other side of the globe to grab resources in the name of food culture(!)... that is something different.
How does Japan's "food culture" include the Antarctic? Please explain that.
Watch the Japanese do it... you'll soon see their methods.
Going back to comparing like with like... how about if the Ozzies and Kiwis sent huge armadas up to these Alaskan sanctuaries, in the face of opposition from all the countries that considered this region to be their neck of the woods? How about if the Ozzies and Kiwis ignored all of those countries and just grabbed resources to protect their "barbecue culture"? Could you imagine it? If you could, that is how arrogant and greedy the Japanese are being with their Antarctic whaling.
The funny thing is that according the Japanese government's data there are abundant whales in the seas around Japan! More than enough for a tiny niche market.
Posted in: Australian PM threatens legal action against Japan over whaling
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imacat
If the Antarctic whales were swimming around Lake Biwa, comparing them to kangaroos would make sense.
They are not.
The whales are being grabbed from a pristine wilderness environment... a precious and unique part of our world that is relatively untouched.
Does that mean anything to Japan in the 21st century?
Many perhaps don't know of the Madrid Agreement. This agreement signed by the international community pledges to preserve the Antarctic solely for peaceful scientific research. It even bans mining for resources down there. What a beautiful and amazing thing that countries could agree to that!!
So does Japan decide to adopt the spirit of the Madrid Agreement in regards to other activities in the Antarctic?
No it does not!! It just swaggers arrogantly down there, grabs the whales and sneaks them back to Japan... making sure the nostalgic ojisans get their whale steak is all that matters to Japan!
Japan just sees this beautiful natural wilderness as a place to greedily grab resources... it has no interest in the value of this environment as an area of wild beauty... just grab, grab, grab... that's the Japanese mentality here.
Posted in: Australian PM threatens legal action against Japan over whaling
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imacat
This is exactly what I've been saying. When the topic whaling comes up, the Japanese start talking about their very precious "food culture".
How the hell does Japan's culture include the Antarctic?!
This is just arrogant and greedy... there is no other way to describe it. According to the Japanese government's data there are an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan... more than enough for this tiny tiny niche market.
The government of Japan's policy is dragging Japan's name through the mud and it's sickening to watch. For a Japan-lover like me it is just incomprehensible and almost tragic.
One of the admirable Japanese traits is that they like to look around and be careful about becoming a "meiwaku". That means that they don't want to offend other people or tread on other people's toes. It's a very nice and traditional Japanese trait. I like it very much.
So how about whaling in the Antarctic? How about the fact that every single country nearest to the Antarctic opposes Japan's whaling down there. Every single one!! Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand. These countries in the southern hemisphere nearest to the Antarctic naturally feel an affinity for this region.
How on earth can Japan, with its traditional concept of being careful not to be a "meiwaku" just ignore all these countries!? Does it hate them? Does it want to make enemies? Are whale steaks for Japanese ojisans in izakayas really more important than friendships with these countries?!
Japan's whaling policy has been hijacked by nationalist extremists.
I think most people, me included, have no problem with Japan taking whales in the seas around Japan.
The problem is these greedy and arrogant expeditions with a massive Victorian era style fleet to the furthest reaches of the globe to grab resources from a pristine wilderness environment... Japan really needs to think again!
Posted in: Australian PM threatens legal action against Japan over whaling
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imacat
Don't sweat it. Japanese women didn't post the messages. They are just imbecile comments from 2ch cherry boys posing as women. They post any old cr#p on there to provoke a reaction.
Posted in: Airhead female fans can't get enough of 'cool' accused killer Ichihashi
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imacat
People who get angry at kids.
Just wait until you have kids, then you'll realize what a silly a@# you were to get angry....
Posted in: What behavior or habits by passengers on planes bother you the most?