jeancolmar said...

jeancolmar at 01:14 AM JST - 26th July

I have been writing it here for months: There is knife-wielding maniac epidemic in Japan and getting worse. It is not only happening here (as BBC recently noted in its piece centering knife crime in the UK). But that is small comfort for anyone (especially a woman) who must spend…

Posted in Suspect in stabbing of book shop clerk says he did it on impulse at 01:14 AM JST - 26th July
jeancolmar at 10:11 AM JST - 24th July

Friends in the area, I hope you are okay.

Posted in 131 injured as 6.8 quake hits northeastern Japan at 10:11 AM JST - 24th July
jeancolmar at 10:21 PM JST - 23rd July

Reality check. Who started this problem? The Japanese government. Knowing its dirty past history in oppressing Korea, they should have had no illusions about the South Korea reaction to their cheap textbook propaganda bid to lay claims on South Korean territory.

Posted in Japan-S Korea islet row spoils more cultural exchanges at 10:21 PM JST - 23rd July
jeancolmar at 12:57 AM JST - 23rd July

I am surprised that the LDP or some ultranationalist right-wing group hasn't come up with a counter boat to the Peace Boat. Maybe in the near future we'll see a Peeve Boat which will travel to all the places where Japan has territorial disputes. I can imagine it being battleship…

Posted in Peace Boat encourages grassroots interaction at 12:57 AM JST - 23rd July
jeancolmar at 08:29 AM JST - 22nd July

The salaries are not spectacularly higher but there is a great deal of power and comfort to be gained by such promotions.

What has happened in Oita is no doubt the tip of a very big ice burg. The teacher's world in this country is dirty.

Posted in Police raid education board offices over teacher promotion scandal at 08:29 AM JST - 22nd July
jeancolmar at 08:21 AM JST - 22nd July

A good article about a worthy endeavor. The Peace Boat is a reminder of another Japan, the one committed to peace, Article 9 and against militarism.

One question someone might answer. The writer states that the Peace Boat started nearly 25 years ago. I thought it was older than that.

Posted in Peace Boat encourages grassroots interaction at 08:21 AM JST - 22nd July
jeancolmar at 10:32 PM JST - 20th July

Actually now, the Mainichi is kind of dead. They are in the process of reorganization. Go to their website and read their disingenuous and hypocritical barf of contrition.

Hey, Wai Wai was around since 1989. It was a popular for 19 years. That is just 6 years shy of a…

Posted in Mainichi promises new start following criticism of online English column at 10:32 PM JST - 20th July
jeancolmar at 11:18 AM JST - 13th July

If McCain were not the ipso facto Republican presidential candidate I would tell Obama to pick on someone his own size. McCain is a Cold War relic who wants to make trouble with Russia on top of being a neocon who gave us Bush' s wars based on lies. Man…

Posted in Obama revels in a presidential race with many contrasts at 11:18 AM JST - 13th July
jeancolmar at 09:31 PM JST - 12th July

Maybe everyone has forgotten the era of the monster teacher--the sort who would beat pupils though taibatsu is against the law. In those days parents cowered before teachers because they were terrified their child would get a bad naishinsho--secret report--that could ruin his or her life.

Seems times have changed,…

Posted in at 09:31 PM JST - 12th July
jeancolmar at 09:13 PM JST - 12th July

Actually, the emperor system as we now know it goes back to the Meiji era. But that is by the way.

Masako was born into a golden cage which put her into the platinum royal cage. I would rather sleep under a bridge than have the sort of life she…

Posted in Crown prince seeks public understanding for ailing wife at 09:13 PM JST - 12th July