JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Confrontation
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U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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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
Presumably it was katsu curry they were eating.
Posted in: Danny Boyle in Tokyo
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imacat
Pakkun's smug style of humour is a turn-off IMHO.
He makes an unfunny comment and then seems to expect laughter as if he has told the funniest joke in the world.
I think someone like Girolamo Panzetta is more entertaining and he's not even doing comedy usually! Marty Friedman from Megadeth is also very funny.
But overall Eigode Shaberanaito was a good program with something interesting every week. Sad to see it go.
Posted in: NHK says sayonara to 'Eigode Shaberanaito'
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imacat
Unfortunately nobody thinks your views are representative of Kiwis.
It takes several hours by plane to get to Okinotorishima. A tiny speck of coral around which Japan has controversially claimed a huge EEZ that Japan considers to be a part of their backyard.
Duh! According to the Japanese governments data, the seas around Japan ARE resource rich in whale. Why does Japan need extra whales from the Antarctic?
How important is Japan's "food culture", to the extent that it requires a mammoth expedition to the furthest reaches of the globe, endangering a pristine wilderness environment and in the face of opposition from EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY in that region?
Can't the Japanese see that their Victorian-era style expeditions to the opposite side of the world are making a laughing stock of Japanese "food culture"?
Don't be ridiculous... this isn't what you meant at all. I know you now regret what you wrote, but I'm sorry, you can't just change it because it doesn't suit you any more.
Posted in: Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports
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imacat
Could you tell me of any countries closer to the Antarctic than South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand?
These are the 5 countries nearest to this unique and precious environment. Of course these countries consider it to be their neck of the woods.
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS OPPOSED TO WHALING!
Also, could you tell me how far Japan is from the Antarctic?
Also, could you tell me, if there are an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan (according to Japan's own data), why does Japan need extra whales from the Antarctic?
And given how Japan constantly brings up its very important whale "food culture" in relation to this topic, could you explain how Japan's food culture stretches to include the Antarctic?
And could you explain how Japan can consider a huge and controversially claimed EEZ around a tiny speck of coral called Okinotorishima to be a part of their neck of the woods?
Also, while you are at it, could explain exactly what you meant by:
I personally think some mid-point will need to be found, so that whalers and non-whalers can "agree to disagree". "Not in our backyard" seems to be a likely winner to my mind.
Posted in: Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports
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imacat
I guess geography wasn't your strong point.
Take a globe in your hands, look directly at the Antarctic and tell me, which countries do you see?
You will see South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand.
These are the countries nearest to the beautiful and pristine Antarctic wilderness. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OPPOSED TO WHALING.
Now where is Japan? Oh! On the other side of the globe!! So far away in fact that these Victorian-era style expeditions have covered the equivalent distance to the moon and back over the past few years.
How clever of Japan in terms of international relations to ignore the opinions of every single one of the countries in that neck of the woods.
Furthermore, consider the fact that (according to Japan's own data) there are an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan! More than enough to supply whale otsumami for ojisans in izakayas.
Also consider Japan's controversial claim to a huge EEZ around a tiny speck of coral called Okinotorishima. I guess the Japanese consider all of that controversially claimed EEZ to be their neck of the woods. Imagine Ozzie and Kiwi fishermen steaming up to grab sea creatures for their "barbecue culture" from the seas around Okinotorishima. How do you think Japan would react? I think we all know how Japan would react... and perhaps Japan would do well to think about that before sending this huge and dangerous fleet to the unique Antarctic environment.
Posted in: Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports
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imacat
Add Argentina and South Africa to that list. Every single country in that neck of the woods is against whaling. EVERY SINGLE ONE! How arrogant of Japan to ignore the lot of them.
Posted in: Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports
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imacat
davidattokyo, you've already stated that you believe Japan should give up its Antarctic whaling as part of a "not in my backyard" solution, so why are you still going on about this silly data?
If you have made a u-turn on what you previously said then that's ok, otherwise please give us a break.
Japan has absolutely no business in the Antarctic... according to its own data it has an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan, more than enough for this tiny niche market.
Posted in: Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports
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imacat
Japan was not helpful for this accident!!
This is a tragic incident but it shows that Japan is grabbing whales in the wrong place. If things go wrong in the Antarctic NOBODY can help. Remember the big fire on the Nisshin Maru? Somebody died and that huge ship was left floating in the water. It's easy to imagine that fire getting out of control... more loss of life (god forbid), the ship sinking and a huge oil spill as gift from the Japanese to the pristine Antarctic wilderness.
No thanks, Japan.
Take your dangerous fleet closer to home to grab whales for your "food culture". If there is an accident or oil spill in the seas around Japan then you can send ships to help out. Please don't endanger the unique and precious Antarctic.
Posted in: Japanese sailor lost off whaling ship in Antarctic
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imacat
Spare us the ridiculous exaggerations. If you want to know about terrorism ask the injured vets returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, or the families of the victims of 9/11.
Sea Shepherd are making a direct protest.
This incident is a tragedy but remember, the only people who have died in the Antarctic have been as a result of poor and dangerous seamanship... on this occasion and in the terrible fire that hit the Nisshin Maru recently (which incidently left that huge factory ship dead in the water and put at grave risk the precious and unique Antarctic environment).
Posted in: Japanese sailor lost off whaling ship in Antarctic
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imacat
Why on earth is this huge Japanese fleet undertaking a massive expedition to the Antarctic, simply to supply a tiny niche market in Japan?
There are many problems here:
This fleet is dangerous. We have seen a horrible fire on the Nisshin Maru in the recent past which left this big factory ship dead in the water. Imagine if this fire had got out of control and, god forbid, led to a sinking with accompanying oil spill in the pristine Antarctic environment... Is Japan going to be sending a clean up operation in time? Oh wait... there is no clean up operation!
Japan's action is provocative in the extreme to the countries in this region. Hold a globe in your hands, look directly at the Antarctic and which countries do you see?... You will see Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OPPOSED TO WHALING!! Every single one! These are countries which naturally consider this region to be a part of their neck of the woods. How arrogant can Japan be to ignore every single of them?! A few tonnes of whale meat for ojisans in izakayas are obviously more important than friendly relations with these countries.
The Japanese government has issued data that indicates that there is an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan... more than enough for a tiny niche market. Why not stick to those whales? Why burn all those tonnes of gasoline, release all that greenhouse gas and endanger a pristine environment when you have an abundance of whales on your doorstep?
The Japanese go on and on about how important their whaling "food culture" is. So naturally people around the world wonder... How on earth can Japan's culture stretch to the Antarctic? Is the Antarctic part of Japan's culture too? If the Japanese want to tell the world about how unique and precious their culture is then they should start to think about how unique and precious the Antarctic is too.
There are claims to seas in the area. For example, Australia has a claim to an EEZ off the AAT. It's a controversial claim but a claim nevertheless. Japan also has controversial claims to huge areas of sea in the Pacific. Let's imagine the situation in reverse. Let's imagine a huge fleet of Ozzie fishermen steaming up to Japan's controversially claimed areas to grab sea creatures for their "barbecue culture". Can anyone guess Japan's reaction? I think we all know what it would be...
Posters such as davidattokyo have indicated that the best solution is a "not in my backyard" approach, whereby Japan gives up its Antarctic whaling in return for countries dropping their objections to Japan's whaling in the North Pacific. This is a very sensible idea and I think many here would support it.
Posted in: Whalers get reprieve as protest ship refuels
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imacat
Best song for me so far...
Rainy Blue by Tokunaga Hideaki. Love that song. YouTube it to see how good it is.
Jero was great too and nice to see his old biddy watching from the stalls.
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imacat
Sarge... you know, I never look at the stars. I'm always looking at the backing dancers...
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imacat
I don't know why people knock this program. It's great entertainment and much better than any of the rubbish they have on TV back home on a New Year's Eve.
Have a Happy and Prosperous 2009!!
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imacat
Talking about "spouting nonsense", what do you think about this ojisan's comment from Isana?
Various factors are woven into the anti-whaling attitude of western countries, such as the fear and wariness against Japan, a maritime nation, and the envy and antipathy against Japan's success as an economic power.
I mean, this guy is one of your mates, right? So for example, if you were both chowing down on a juicy whale steak at a local izakaya and he came out with this, would you nod in silent agreement with his great wisdom?
Posted in: Sea Shepherd intercepts Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters
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imacat
The simple fact of the matter is that Japan's Antarctic whaling days are numbered.
Whale meat will never be more than a niche market in Japan, and with a drastically shrinking population, it's a market that needs less and less supply.
Japan's own data shows that there are an abundance of whales in the seas around Japan. Plenty to supply a tiny niche market.
This begs the question... why is extra meat needed from the Antarctic? Why burn all that gasoline and release all that greenhouse gas and endanger the pristine Antarctic environment, just for a few tonnes of whale meat that could be caught locally?
Perhaps many don't know about the Madrid agreement. This is an almost unique document in which countries have agreed to preserve the unique Antarctic environment for science and peace. It also manages to prohibit mining there for 50 years. It's a truly amazing and beautiful thing that countries could agree to this.
Compare the spirit of the Madrid agreement with Japan's rapacious Antarctic killing fleet, grabbing whales to protect Japan's oh-so-precious food culture... to provide a luxury food for a few ojisans in izakayas.
Also consider the fact that EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY in the region opposes whaling. Every single one!! South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand... all countries that naturally consider the Antarctic to be in their neck of the woods.
How on earth could a country such as Japan, located on the other side of the globe, be so arrogant as to ignore every single country in that region?!
When we start to really think about what Japan is doing, it is painfully apparent that Japan's Antarctic whaling is extremely provocative and does indeed belong to another era.
davidattokyo wants to see a "nimby" compromise, with Japan taking the whales it needs locally... I agree with him wholeheartedly.
If anyone wants to get an idea of the mentality of these ojisans, have a look at this link, it's absolutely hilarious what these guys come out with. Some of it shows a poorly concealed dislike for foreigners: http://www.whaling.jp/english/isana.html
Posted in: Sea Shepherd intercepts Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters
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imacat
Well, let's have a look at what davidattokyo actually said so everybody can judge for themselves:
I personally think some mid-point will need to be found, so that whalers and non-whalers can "agree to disagree". "Not in our backyard" seems to be a likely winner to my mind.
That's what he said. It's as clear as could be.
What he "personally thinks" is that a compromise is necessary... where the Japanese get out of what Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia abd New Zealand naturally consider to be their neck of the woods. In return the Ozzies etc drop objections to Japan's whaling in its own backyard.
It's quite a sensible suggestion and difficult to see why he is trying to squirm out of it now. Have courage in your convictions, man! If you think that a "not in my backyard" solution is the best way forward then I am sure many here agree with you.
Moderator: All readers, please stop sniping at each other and focus your comments on the story, not at or about each other. All you are doing now is going around in circles, rehashing tired old arguments. This takes the discussion nowhere. If you have nothing new to add, take a break so that other readers may contribute.
Posted in: Sea Shepherd intercepts Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters
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imacat
Actually, davidattokyo has stated quite clearly that the best way forward if for Japan to give up its Antarctic whaling. I have no idea why he has now gone back on that position and is wasting his time defending Japan's ridiculous Antarctic whaling... maybe he's one of those people who frequently change their opinions...
Posted in: Sea Shepherd intercepts Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters
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imacat
Great minds think alike ;-)
No turkey in the Cleo household I assume! Perhaps more of us should try a healthy vegetarian Christmas... Have a great one!
Posted in: A very Japanese Christmas
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imacat
"having a laugh at it" is all fine and dandy... I do the same myself.
But the joke is on you if all you can do is poke fun and whine about how different Xmas is in Japan compared to home, and put no effort into making it a great one.
Actually, looking at recent reports from the UK about the New Forest Lapland, I've recently started thinking that Xmas might be better in Japan.
I just remembered another good point about Xmas in Japan... get on a train and head for skiing in the mountains. Better still, rent a cottage in the mountains with some friends... and act out Wham's "Last Christmas" video ;-)
Anyway, the basic message is: CHRISTMAS IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT... so make a brilliant one this year, wherever you are.
Merry Christmas all!
Posted in: A very Japanese Christmas
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imacat
One more point about Xmas concerts... if you live near a university then very often the music society will be putting on a Christmas concert and anyone is welcome and it's free. They usually put up posters in libraries, supermarkets, etc near the university. You might be surprised at how good these concerts are.
Posted in: A very Japanese Christmas