JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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mnemosyne23
Good for Toma! His turn in "Maou" as Serizawa, particularly his final heartbreaking scene with fellow Johnny Ohno Satoshi, was excellent. I think he definitely has the acting chops to take on this role and only get better as an actor as a result.
Posted in: Johnny's talent Toma Ikuta gets big chance with 'No Longer Human'
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mnemosyne23
Agreed!
Posted in: 14-year-old boy in hospital with iron burns after card game gets out of hand in Fukuoka
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mnemosyne23
In regards to previous comments that these warnings may be based on dubious stories of questionable veracity: no. Embassies of any country do not issue warnings based on hearsay just because some "servicemen have used it as an excuse when they return late to the base and with their cards maxed-up from a big night out," or any other inconclusive reason. As the local representative of an outside government, ambassadors and their embassies must always take into consideration their unique position as stewards of their citizens' safety abroad AS WELL as their responsibility to respect the sovereignity and credibility of the country where they are based. Any travel warnings issued by a foreign government, especially the government of a large developed nation bulging with potential tourists like the United States, can greatly affect the economy and international reputation of the host nation in question. Please be assured that such warnings are not made lightly and should not be treated lightly either. Even if the problem is not at epidemic levels yet, it is clearly a chronic, ongoing issue, and these warnings are intended to try and stem the growth of this activity and prevent further victimization. There are always going to be people who ignore warnings when they're given, but if the call for extra caution helps save somebody from the potential hardships associated with drink spiking, then it's done its job.
Posted in: U.S. Embassy issues new warning over drink-spiking in Roppongi
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mnemosyne23
Let's not forget that these were young CHILDREN -- nine and ten years old -- and the last I saw, children aren't expected to have the same level of experience around traffic laws as adults simply because they aren't old enough to legally drive. The discussion of cyclists vs. motorists is an important one that should be taken seriously at the administrative/government level, and I would encourage anyone with concerns in that regard to make their voices heard in their communities and try to impact safety regulations to reduce the risk of accidents.
That said, whether or not these girls were observing proper traffic laws is really beside the point. As I stated before, their youth would make that argument redundant. However, whether or not they were familiar with the legalities of the situation, they ABSOLUTELY should have been acquainted with safe operating procedures when riding a bicycle in an area with motor vehicle traffic. The article says the girls were trying to cross the street when they were struck by the car. Did they stop to look both ways before crossing the street? Did they wait for oncoming traffic to clear or come to a stop before making their way into the road? Were they wearing helmets? (The article doesn't mention if they were or not). These are all basic safety precautions that any child should have drilled into them from day one, especially by the time they reach the 4th grade. If your child doesn't understand the concept of "look both ways before crossing the street," then they shouldn't be out on their own unsupervised. I know the parents of the little girl are grieving right now, but I want ALL parents to understand the importance of imbuing their children with basic safety skills to prevent more accidents like this one. And more than just telling your children "look both ways before crossing the street," parents -- and everyone else, but especially parents -- should practice what they preach and observe those same safety protocols themselves. This would not only reduce the chances of more children being killed, but it would also lessen the unsafe cyclist behavior so many previous commenters have described.
Did these girls observe proper safety protocol? I don't know. Did the driver maintain proper vigilance? I don't know that either. All I know is that accidents will happen, even when everyone is trying their hardest to prevent them, and this might just be a case of too little, too late. I send my sympathies to the family of the little girl, my well-wishes to the other girl who is recovering, and my hope for a just and fair ruling on behalf of the driver.
Posted in: 2 girls riding a bike hit by car in Chiba; one dies
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mnemosyne23
The fact that not one but BOTH parents were complicit in the murder of their adult son is really quite unusual. That's not just the ultimate act of frustration taken to its limit; that kind of death from a parent to a child could only be borne out of hatred. If the impetus for this murder was what the parent's claim, that they suffered continual abuse at the hands of their son, then it must have been extremely bad. It definitely highlights the need for eldercare reform, and an overhaul of the criminal justice system that requires more action and accountability on the part of the police in regards to domestic violence and family abuse.
That being said, this still feels... strange. More strange than just the infanticide aspect. The son appears to have been beaten to death with a blunt instrument -- that takes a lot of force and repetition. We're talking about the age-weakened arm of a 73 year-old man and/or 66 year-old woman beating their (supposedly) healthy 42 year-old son to death. Does that make sense to anyone else? Did they kill him while he slept? I can't imagine any other way that an elderly couple that had already suffered abuse at the hands of their son could overpower that same son to commit the murder. Are there any other children in this family? I really get the vibe that these parents might be covering for the actions of another child or loved one. Maybe they have another son who killed this one, perhaps while defending the parents? Fratricide, while still heinous in its own regard, is somehow easier to envision than infanticide. Maybe the parents are planning to take the blame for another child, since they've already "lived their lives"? That's entirely conjecture on my part, but this whole scenario smells extremely fishy.
Posted in: Elderly Saitama couple arrested for killing son, claiming he abused them
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mnemosyne23
I'm sorry you feel that way, Tosaken. I don't think there's anything wrong with encouraging a society -- any society -- to alter it's social attitudes to create an atmosphere of understanding rather than a wall of silence around certain issues. I don't know if this woman was suffering post-partum depression, if her husband was having an affair, or if she was just selfish, but I think that anytime a parent feels justified in killing their own child there's a problem somewhere. When it happens enough that everyday seems to bring a new tragedy to the headlines, I have to question the society. In a country with a steadily shrinking, aging population, there should be SOME kind of structure available to parents who are on the edge of desperation, regardless of the reason. It could be free counseling at local community centers, or "coffee clatch"-type gatherings of neighbors and fellow tenants. It could be a doggone book club, for heaven's sake! People need to have the sense that they are members of a caring community, without -- this is key -- WITHOUT the fear of stigma when they reach out to that community for help.
Family has always been the pillar of Japanese society, and family members could often provide this kind of support. But the modern world is not the world of ten years ago, and it's certainly not the world of fifty, sixty, or seventy years ago. The definition of a family is different now than it used to be. A family might have two working parents, or one parent, or children might be raised by their grandparents, aunts and uncles, or even older siblings. Yet society hasn't grown to reflect these changes. Financial hardship, depression, unemployment -- these are all still considered shameful, dirty little secrets. What hope do suffering people have when they know that looking for help is going to stigmatise them as troublemakers, bad mothers, layabouts, NEETs, or worse? Japanese society still hasn't gotten past the bushido mentality that the only honorable way to atone for your "shameful" actions is to throw yourself on your sword; death before dishonor.
This is hardly a Japanese-only trait -- it's common throughout the world. But in other cultures -- I can speak for American culture at least -- warning signs, when recognized, aren't ignored. Someone might ask a friend if he or she is feeling okay, "Because you seem a little glum today. What's wrong?" Parents will encourage their children of all ages to seek help if they've noticed a change in their behavior. There is more concern for an individual's health and well-being than for their public image; this is why Hollywood celebrities can go into rehab for drug or alcohol abuse and STILL HAVE A CAREER when they get out.
Is it a fool-proof method? No. There're still employers who will stigmatise depression as laziness. There are still parents who don't want to admit that their perfect son or daughter might have a problem with alcohol. There will always be the unfortunate few who fall through the cracks because no one wanted to speak up and they felt too useless to save themselves. But what's important is that supports DO EXIST. People CAN TALK about these things and GET HELP without having to feel like they've failed themselves, their family, and their society. Even if they go into a situation feeling that way, they eventually can emerge feeling liberated.
I don't want Japanese society to change to suit me. But I want the Japanese people to understand that they as individuals are valuable, and that there's nothing wrong with seeking out help when the future seems bleak. Maybe then we'd see a few less headlines of "Mother kills baby, then kills herself," and a few more headlines of... nothing at all.
Posted in: Woman jumps to death from bldg; 1-yr-old daughter found dead in bedroom
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mnemosyne23
The whole abandoning a corpse thing is so ridiculous. They arrested these men because they were involved in the original dispute with the victim, ne? Presumably they're assuming that the argument was what led to his death. If you're going to arrest them, arrest them for both abandoning a corpse (which by definition would seem to imply "body dump") AND either suspicion of murder or suspicion of accessory to murder. If they were just some random passersby who saw the body and didn't report it, then "abandoning a corpse" would be a reasonable sole charge. But if these men were involved enough in the victim's death to abandon his corpse, then at the very least they're accessories to murder, even if it's accessories after the fact.
Posted in: Gang members arrested after man's body discovered in Chiba forest
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mnemosyne23
Also, I'd like a description of the suspect before I start casting aspersions on foreigners, thank you. Just because someone's intonation is odd doesn't mean they aren't native-born Japanese. They might have a speech problem, or be from another region of Japan, or be a native Japanese who was raised on foreign soil. Let's not immediately assume it's a foreigner.
Posted in: More details emerge in Aichi double murder, including cat's death, mysterious assailant
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mnemosyne23
This makes NO sense. I'm NOT buying the home invasion story. The mother was beaten to death with a blunt instrument, then stuffed in a closet with a blanket over her? This implies that whoever did the killing took the time to try and tidy up the scene. I'm just guessing that the mother was killed first, the killer laid in wait for the one son then killed him, then attempted to kill the other son. It sounds personal to me. REALLY personal. After all, taking the time to beat a woman to death with a spanner isn't something your average burglar/robber would do unless there was serious emotion behind the action. The killing of the cat just adds credence to that theory; what home invader is going to bother killing the cat but not take any valuables? Maybe someone who had a powerful grudge against the family.
I'm still flummoxed why the killer would tie up the other brother and not complete the massacre. Will have to wait for more details.
Posted in: More details emerge in Aichi double murder, including cat's death, mysterious assailant
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mnemosyne23
Awww, I'm so glad to hear this! Congrats, Abe and Shi!
Posted in: Abe, Shi tie knot after Tokyo-Beijing computer 'dates'
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mnemosyne23
I agree with Polarmalik - show some respect for the deceased! If it turns out he was a Nazi war criminal or something equally despicable, I'll gladly say good riddance. But until we know anything, a man has STILL lost his life, likely in a brutal way. That's not something to scoff at.
Posted in: Limbless torso discovered floating off Kanagawa coast
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mnemosyne23
170 OFFICERS?! For an unemployed guy who's SUSPECTED of stealing ONE bag left in somebody's car at three in the morning? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No theft is allowable under law, and if he's guilty then justice should be meted out accordingly. But seriously -- 170 officers? ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?
And best of all -- THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIND HIM. He turned HIMSELF in.
Wow. Just... You have to laugh, or you'll break down and CRY at the incompetence.
Posted in: Suspect who escaped from police station while cop slept turns himself in
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mnemosyne23
I agree with MeanRingo -- what was the cause of death? The implication of the article is child abuse, but there are no specifics. It would be good to have a refresher in this article around the details of the case.
That said, if the mother and her boyfriend are guilty, may they be plagued with nightmares for the rest of their (hopefully short) lives about the little girl they murdered. Poor little thing, and her poor sister.
Posted in: Dead girl's twin sister says they were beaten and starved
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mnemosyne23
I listen to Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean pop music all the time, and most people I know who overhear it think it's Spanish. When I tell them, "No, it's Japanese," they look at me like I've grown two spare heads and a third arm. There's a sense, at least in the eastern United States, that Asian culture is this ancient, confusing, looming foreign megalith, with a weird writing system and an indecipherable language system. It doesn't matter how much fun the song is, or how catchy the tune, or how attractive the singer; when you try to explain the difference between -san, -chan, -kun, and -sama, people glaze over and tune it out. Most Americans, I think, are willing to accept "Hola" or "Bonjour" in their music; they haven't yet reached the point where they're ready to decipher "Ohayo" from "Konnichiwa."
Posted in: Why do Asian pop stars have a hard time succeeding in the U.S. market?
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mnemosyne23
Am I sensing a fellow cop tried to pull a prank on his colleague, and it backfired big time? Because seriously -- unless the original perp laced the officer's tea, or unless the officer did it himself, I can't dream up another explanation.
Posted in: Suspect escapes Mito police station after cop's tea drugged
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mnemosyne23
There's no way to know the situation behind this tragedy, unless the mother is located. Quite likely she is in need of medical attention herself. I would not be surprised to find she's a young girl who was too scared to admit to being pregnant due to social stigma and pressure. I imagine the first thing that went through her head wasn't, "Look at this precious life," but rather, "Oh God, what do I do now?" She probably didn't even view the child as a person at the time, but as a terrifying THING; the easiest answer to her problem was to throw it in the river.
Tragic really doesn't begin to sum it up. Tragic that such a young life never got to grow into a thriving adult, and tragic that the mother -- whatever her story -- felt driven to such extremes. I don't excuse her actions and find them as heinous as anyone should, but at the same time, unless she's found and appears truly unrepentant, then the public shouldn't excoriate this mother. Mourn the child, treat the mother, and educate the population so this kind of tragedy doesn't happen again.
Rest in peace, little one.
Posted in: Body of newborn girl found floating in Harumi Canal in Tokyo
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mnemosyne23
It's a shame that 2-chome is in decline, but I think it's a sign of the times; not just for gays, but across the board. I'm straight and in my 20's, but I would NEVER go to a nightclub or bar to find companionship these days. The odds of meeting a creep, drunkard, or crook are too high, not to mention the expense of cover charges and drinks. You're better off hanging out at a coffee shop or bookstore and trying to find someone who seems to have a brain in their head and who looks at the world through clear eyes, not the bottom of a bottle. Of course, it's only a matter of time before THOSE venues begin to decline, too.
Posted in: Is Shinjuku's 'gay town' threatened with extinction?
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mnemosyne23
I think Tokyo has a very solid chance of getting these games, though of course there are drawbacks.
Chicago is a modern American city and the home of current president Obama, but it's also seen a growth in crime rates in recent years. That, coupled with the fact that the USA has hosted several recent Olympiads, would suggest to me that Chicago is an outlier for selection. However, the USA can certainly support the cost of the Olympics, and there is more to Illinois than just Chicago. It would be an opportunity for visitors to travel farther afield and experience a bit of mid-western America, which is not a bit like the urban centers you see on television.
Madrid, Spain has a long, fascinating history. Madrid has hosted an Olympiad before, and the Barcelona Games of 1992 were excellent, so they have a proven history of hosting the Olympics. However the modern Olympic Games are a VERY expensive proposition, and while I'm not familiar with Spain's economy, I don't know if they would be able to afford the security and infrastructure needs that are incumbent with hosting a modern Olympiad.
Rio de Janeiro is very familiar with large celebrations, being the annual home of Carnivale. It's a bustling metropolis and tourist center, so it already has an established network of hotels and other visitor amenities. It would also be an opportunity for the Games to return to Latin America; I can't remember the last time an Olympiad was hosted in South America. However, a few steps outside of the wealthier districts brings you to the poverty-stricken shantytowns that surround the city. It also has a reputation for violent crime, including homicide and drug-related crime, so security issues -- already prominent during any Olympic discussion -- would be a serious concern. Though it would be a feather in the cap of the IOC to bring the Games to Brazil, I really can't imagine Rio being selected.
This leaves Tokyo, a busy, modern metropolis with an established infrastructure and a history of hosting the Games, located in a country with a fascinating history. The fact that so many venues are already in existence and would just need some sprucing up is a very strong argument in favor of Tokyo's bid for the Games; the fact that new venues would be built so close to the city center is a bonus. Also, given the Japanese government's recent push for increased tourism, the opportunity to host another Olympiad would be like hitting the tourism jackpot.
However, there are drawbacks. First and foremost, the Japanese opinion on "gaijin." It's no secret that Japan is a very ethnocentric country, and an influx of foreign athletes and visitors into the already crowded city of Tokyo might cause undo friction.
Having all the venues close together, while beneficial to the Games, may be detrimental to the city itself, since visitors and athletes who might have been spread out over more of the surrounding country will all be crushed into the city along with the current population. If you think rush hour on the subway is bad NOW, imagine what it would be like with thousands of visitors trying to find their train and not being able to speak the language to ask for directions!
Then there's the cost. Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world for foreign visitors, not to mention living expenses for those who already live there. The global economy should be past this slump by 2016, but that doesn't mean it will be any easier for people to visit pricey Japan, even to see the Olympics. Tokyo might just price itself out of the equation.
Posted in: Aso addresses IOC evaluation team as Tokyo inspection begins
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mnemosyne23
Good on the Sakura Police! I'll admit that one arrest in two weeks isn't much when groping and other lewd acts are so frequent, but it's SOMETHING. This guy's purported quote, "I only did it five or six times since the beginning of March!" just goes to show what kind of mindset the country is up against. Hopefully the threat of arrest and the public humiliation of it will help raise awareness and empower more women and children to report these incidents. I hope in six months we'll all look back at this new unit and say, "Yep, it's doing some good."
Posted in: 'Sakura Police' make their 1st arrest over student assault
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mnemosyne23
Oh, good grief. That's disgusting. Fooling around? This was FOOLING AROUND? When the club was CALLED a "Miscarriage" club?
I say the school should make their parents pay exorbitant tuition to allow the children to continue attending the school. When asked why, the school should use the reasoning that the tuition fees are to reimburse the school for taking on the job of parenting and disciplining children who have shown themselves to be of poor moral character. That'll get the kids some discipline at home. Forget the fact that they're clearly mealy-brained little punks with no respect for authority; hit the parents in the pocketbook and we'll see if their apologies suddenly become more genuine.
Posted in: Pregnant junior high school teacher harassed by students’ 'Miscarriage Club'