JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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- Part Time Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥9,000 / Day per 4 class shift
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meija
As a non-American living in Japan, reading the online English Japanese news site, I left asking one simple question...
What is this tripe, and why is it here?
blah blah blah liberties blah blah freedoms blah blah rights blah blah... nothing beats raising the hackles of emotive words when logic fails you. Long live the conspiracy, whatever one happens to be in vogue at the moment (at the end of the day, they all just boil down to paranoia).
Posted in: Religious right AWOL from the real war
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meija
I saw it yesterday. It's slow, as per most Miyazaki movies, but I enjoyed it. It's more of a kid's movie than the last few.
Posted in: Miyazaki releases first film in four years
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meija
USA economic dominance? The time scale is too short, less than 100 years. most of the world who speak English do so because of the old British empire. Australia, NZ, Canada, US, India, Zimbawe, Kenya, South Africa etc.
Posted in: That's why I think it's a good thing that Japan lost World War II. If Japan had won, so many others would have lost their language and culture.
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meija
Is this the same justice minister who "had a friend" who warned him about the Bali bombings, without ever passing on that warning to authorities? If so, then hoserfella's swamp land is looking an even better investment.
Posted in: I can't sleep for the several days between signing the orders and execution. I'm alone with no help as the justice minister has nobody to consult with on death warrants.
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meija
True, Global warming is a big issue and needs to be addressed (though we may have already missed the boat), but this measure is just stupid. If you make a list of largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, where do combinees come? 1st? 2nd? top 10? No. Nowhere near. Just another example of picking a token issue, going "all out" on that, while ignoring any real issues just so you can be seen to be doing something without actually doing anything...
Posted in: Plan to cut convenience store hours 'playing with fire'
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meija
Seems like a fair enough list. Those countries in war zones or with high crime rates at the bottom, those with relatively safe domestic situations at the top. It's not a survey based on rights, freedoms or anything like that, just on safety.
As for Japan and crime reporting, like most countries these days, the media like to over-sensationalise and, when there is a murder, run with the story every night for a up to a week. If you follow that pattern, you'd only need 25 or so murders a year in a country of around 130 million to have the media reporting on them every other day. At least countries like Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the other top 30 or so on the list are still at the stage that any murder is big news, unlike some countries where murder is common enough that only the big ones get reported.
Posted in: Japan ranked 5th most peaceful country in world
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meija
How could they pin this crime on a 67 year old? That's just sad.
On the other hand, hell hath no fury like an obaa-san scorned.
Posted in: Fish shop owner arrested for putting sewing needles in fish at rival supermarket in Osaka
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meija
Wishing him dead might be a step too far. Just out of office and away from power will do me. Zimbabwe used to be one of the more successful African countries. Mugabe has almost single handedly sunk his people and the country into intense poverty.
Posted in: Defiant Mugabe sworn in for 6th term as Zimbabwe's president
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meija
Looks like the police out-number the "activists" about 20 to 1.
Article Unavailable
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meija
A good move by the EU. The more Cuba is opened to outside influences, the more likely there will be change.
Posted in: EU lifts Cuba sanctions
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meija
You'd have to be goofy in the head to try something like that. What a dumbo.
Posted in: 19-yr-old man held for threatening stabbing spree at Tokyo Disneyland
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meija
While disappointing, it was the right thing to do. ZANU-PF have been working hard to make sure Mugabe can't lose, so what's the point in participating in elections that are rigged against you and that will allow Mugabe to claim legitimate rule (despite everyone knowing it's a sham). Let's not forget the boat load of weapons from China that were recently shipped in to Zimbawe and Mugabe's statements saying they'd never hand over power regardless of the election results. By staying in the race, the best the MDC could achieve would result in civil war and the deaths of potentially tens of thousands of innocent people. Sometimes it's best to take the long road.
Posted in: Zimbabwe opposition chief quits run-off, handing win to Mugabe
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meija
Don't forget there were two parts to this. Firstly the truck hit people, then the guy went on a stabbing spree. Most likely sequence of events.
1) Kato runs his truck into people. 2) Muto thinks "oh my god, an accident! I better ring 110!" 3) Kato gets out of the truck, pulls a knife and starts stabbing.
Muto was probably unaware of part 3 until it happened. I doubt very much she'd be just standing around trying to use her keitai while some guy was running around stabbing people. Personally, I'd be shocked at the accident and it would probably take me a few moments to register that there was more going on, a few moments that could prove fatal.
It really is sad to think some guy drowning in self pity can snuff out 7 lives so quickly. Enjoy your days while you've got them.
Posted in: Akihabara victim was dialling 110 when she was attacked
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meija
As always, the politicians must be seen to do something, or face accusations from their competitors that they did nothing. Can't have that loss of face, can we? Of course, when there is something totally random like this, there is nothing the local politicians can do, so they always come up with hair-brained schemes like this one.
Now, the crazy guy intent on killing won't even have to get out of his truck to kill people, he'll be able to right in there with his truck and do a lot more damage. Great solution that. So well thought out. [/sarcasm]
Posted in: 'Pedestrian paradise' to be suspended in Akihabara
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meija
I'm tired of all this hating America stuff. Can't we go back to just being indifferent?
Posted in: Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows
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meija
WhiteHawk, you seem to miss the point and demonstrate the problem both at the same time. Why is it so many Americans paint everything in terms of "left" and "right", or "Democrat" or "Republican", or whatever similar terms you want to use. Over and over again we see these terms used as an excuse for justifying ignorance or stupidity.
This article is about the world's view of the U.S, not the U.S's view of itself. Going on about "left" or "right" is to completely ignore any legitimate issues raised (or illegitimate ones, as well). "Left" and "right" are devisive terms used to try and paint everyone who doesn't believe the exact same thing as yourself as "the opposition". ...What? You don't believe the U.S. is the sole moral compass for the entire universe?! You must be a leftist pinko commie. and vice-versa. Argument over. Only, the thing is, there wasn't any argument, just the application of labels.
So, what were the actual issues raised in the article:
1) "Our physical strength has come to be seen not as a solace but as a threat, not as a guarantee of stability and order but as a source of intimidation, violence and torture.”
2) "the war in Iraq, support for some repressive governments, a perception of bias in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and the 'torture and abuse of prisoners' in violation of treaty obligations."
3) "unilateralism, particularly in military action, has led to 'anger and a fear of attack that are transforming disagreements with U.S. policy into a broadening and deepening anti-Americanism.'"
Any view on these issues (without having to resort to labelling and thus being able to ignore them and the left the problems continue to grow)?
Personally, I see issues like the U.S. support of Isreal as a major issue, though recently there seems to be an improvement in attitude towards more of an effort to resove the issue (rather than just support one side over another). Also, Guantanemo (sp?) Bay was always going to be a big issue, where U.S. government has majorily undermined perceptions of moral authority internationally. Again, trials are (finally) starting to take place, and once all the prisioners are out of there, attitude toward the U.S. should start to improve. There are still a few other issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if this point in time marks the low point, and there is an improvement in future attitude "surveys". That is, of course, fully dependant on the next administration and what they do, and how the U.S. population hold them accountable.
Posted in: Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows
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meija
That's just the western media. Japan TV only shows lame stuff. I'd rather go out and get a beer than watch that rubbish.
Posted in: TBS cancels drama after Akihabara stabbing spree
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meija
Hmm... I wish this thing came with sarcasm indicators. I thought the "time machine" reference was a dead give-away. I guess not.
Now there's a comment I do agree with.
Posted in: TBS cancels drama after Akihabara stabbing spree
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meija
I couldn't agree more. If TBS really cared about what had happened earlier that day, they would have jumped in a time machine, gone back the weeks or months to when the drama was first filmed, and stopped it from taking place. Shame on them for not doing so.
In fact, now that I think about it, all depictions of any crime should no longer be filmed out of respect of any future victims of said crimes.
Posted in: TBS cancels drama after Akihabara stabbing spree
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meija
With the price of oil and food going up like it current is, I guess the mighty yen just doesn't stretch as far as it used to.
Posted in: Dominica spurns Japan on commercial whaling