JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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mrgalactic
dontpanic, puleeze ! Speaking of a throwback to the 90's ??? Try the late 70's and early 80's.
"The reason the US makers sales havent grown is because of poor image and quality issues."
Not sure what you are talking about. Fact is American auto companys have grown quite nicely thank you since day one. GM has remained the #1 auto maker on the planet for more than 70 years. As for quality, seems you still buy into the Japanese myth of superiority. Sorry, the recall numbers, total defects, and eventual hidden inventory belong mostly to Japanese auto manufacturers. The only lead the J's have had in this category were "written" replies from so-called owners. But even that nonsense has taken a beating with the large scale recalls these past years. So much so that major auto magazines and consumer report groups have stopped giving Toyota the automatic seal of approval. Of course I always wondered how Toyota garnered that right in the first place. Fact is American cars today consistently outnumber all others in terms of top 3 quality makes in every category imaginable, they don't always win #1 but you can't argue that second and third best aint nothin to brag about.
Now the truth in your post lies in this:
"Lack of showroom capacity"
How many times have we heard the round and round merry go round of the Japanese businessman.
J- Japanese people don't want to buy American cars. Q- How do you know, they've never had the opportunity to test drive on or see one on the showroom floor. J-You haven't seen one on the showroom floor ? Thats because Japanese people don't want to buy American cars.
Huh ??? I've seen and heard this scenerio played out dozens of times here in Japan. Of course Japanese don't want to buy something they can't "see or touch" !!! Ahh, if only America practiced the same form of protectionism. As for this...
"that all important image (gas guzzling and poor quality control) and dated technology."
Nonsense ! American cars are, and have been, just as competitive as it's Japanese counterparts. As far as technology is concerned... yer waaaay off base ! The cars my buddies drive back home look like airplane cockpits ! Japanese cars here in Japan have no where near the gadgets afforded adecked out Ford explorer.
On a final note, why don't we discuss safety issues. Anyone else notice the recent report on yearly automobile accidents here in Japan. It seems that these cars are so poorly constructed that you have a 50-50 chance of survival even if, get this, you are wearing a safety belt ! And that in a country where the average speed is around 30-40 kmh !!! Tin can death traps... buy American, live longer !
Posted in: Japan auto sales plunge 27.9% in January
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mrgalactic
So where are the numbers ? Just how far down is Toyota ? Nissan ? Honda ? JT posted more detailed numbers concerning the US market... why not here in Japan ? What I really want to know is how far have Chrysler, Ford, and GM fallen here in Japan. I'm willing to bet not one iota ! See, those companys have had extremely limited access to Japans markets for years ! When sales are nearly zero, it's hard to fall much further.
Posted in: Japan auto sales plunge 27.9% in January
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mrgalactic
"Pres. Obama is correct, for the US to move toward protectionism would trigger a stronger than expected response due to many have committed to restraining protectionist policies"
Maybe ! But America's "ace in the hole" is it's dominnce in agriculture. Nations like Japan could ill afford to get into a tit for tat battle with the USA, who could just turn off the food supply and force Japan to decide between factories or farms. The eventual outcome would be Japan being blown back to the meiji era. The same could be said for many of America's trading partners, especially those dependant on American grain. Sorry, but I still see no negative effects from a long term decision to protect US markets. Americans can make cars, electronics, rubber dolls etc. With the exchange rates as they are it is simply now cheaper to manufacture it in the states. Sorry Nippon and Korea, maybe you can sell your trinkets to those wealthy Russians.
Posted in: Obama warns of trade wars from 'Buy American' stimulus provision
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mrgalactic
"America don't have a football culture"
Huh ? This isn't the same America that knocked England out of the first world cup tourney and finished third way back in 1930 is it ? Not the same Americans that has more Olympic medals from the soccer tournement than England. Not the same nation that has seen its womens team win not one but two World cups ! Not to mention three Golds at the Olympics. Hmm, seems to me the US not only has solid "football" culture, but a more succesful program than the highly debatable "inventors".
Posted in: U.S. to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups
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mrgalactic
"Mr.Galactic, Blowing into a bong causes the water inside to shoot out."
I'll take your word for it.
Posted in: Phelps avoids hot water with sponsors -- for now
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mrgalactic
skipthesong... wrong question.
"but didn't we try "The ‘‘Buy American’’ provision" in the 80's? Did it work?"
A better question would be haven't the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans,(and pretty much every othere country doing business with the USA) been protecting their markets for years ? So much so that the USA has had a trade deficit with every single one ! The results seem pretty clear, market protection works ! The Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese have literaly destroyed US markets with their constant focus on the US. Of course eventually these big three would strangle the American worker out of his/her job as domestic plants and factories gave way to cheaper goods.
I say promote the "Buy American" campaign and let the chips fall where they may. With millions of Americans out of work it's hard for you to convince me that "unfair" competition is somehow good for the American economy. Now... if the playing field was level anmd all things were equal, I might agree. But I'll betcha a hundred bucks an American worker would love to put electronic components together for the same wage, about $10-$15 an hour as his Japanese counterpart. The Japanese have loved taking advantage of the echange rate for years... them days are gone ! Time to stop Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba, Samgsung etc at the borders. Obama talked about "change" for months... time to put your money where yer mouth is !
Posted in: Obama warns of trade wars from 'Buy American' stimulus provision
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mrgalactic
Great Game ! Some iffy calls down the stretch though that cost Arizona a shot at a truly historic conclusion. With about 20 seconds left Kurt Warner fumbled the ball with video showing his arm going forward as to pass. Should have been reviewed by the refs and probably returned to Arizona with another shot... but ??? Too bad that such a great game had to end on that note... watch for this controversey to heat up over the next few weeks.
Posted in: Steelers rally to beat Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl
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mrgalactic
"Michael Phelps doesn’t seem to be in much hot water with his sponsors following his public apology despite being photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe."
Michael Phelps has publicly apologized for nothing more than “regrettable” behavior and “bad judgment” ! He has not admitted to smoking marijuana, free basing, or snorting cocain. This article goes out on a limb here sayiung he is "inhaling." Really now, for all we know the regrettable behaviour and bad judgement may have been just picking up a bong and holding to his lips. I for one have seen the photo... is he "inhaling" or just puffing his cheeks or possibly even blowing "into" the pipe ? Some of us learned a long time ago that blowing into a cigarette, cigar, or marijuana joint gives the impression of inhaling, great trick when the peer pressure becomes too much. In short, "nobody" knows if he's inhaling or not, and he hasn't admitted to marijuana use or flunked a marijuana test to date.
Posted in: Phelps avoids hot water with sponsors -- for now
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mrgalactic
“WE ARE ALL PENCILS IN THE HAND OF GOD.”
BBLeo please do not include "me" in this silliness... I am not of the same make as this horrible Japanese person !
Posted in: Ibaraki woman held after slamming 2-yr-old daughter’s head into floor
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mrgalactic
"Mitsubishi’s defect cover-up stunned Japanese because it had been so systematic and it came from such a high-profile company."
"Stunned" but still not ballsy enough to drag Toyota into court over the same issues ! Go ahead and check the last half-dozen recalls by that company, products created as far back as 7-8 years ago. Where is the outrage and condemnation ? Nary a word as the big T brag on and on about trying to be the worlds largest auto maker. Shameful.
Investigations found that employees had been stashing away consumer reports in a company locker, keeping a two-tier record of driver complaints for decades.
Posted in: Negligence convictions upheld in Mitsubishi Motors trial
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mrgalactic
Get real guys ! American Universities have larger stadiums than what you "boast" here. Both Michigan and Penn State have capacities well over 107,000 ! The Rose Bowl in sunny California is also a beautiful venue with more than 95,000 seats ! Take yer pick, Britain in the summer... or the beaches of lovely SoCal ! Hah... no brainer !
Posted in: U.S. to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups
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mrgalactic
"America does not have stadia to compete with Upton Park"
Is there no end to the long list of misguided Brits flooding this forum ? FYI Alf the last time the USA played an international friendly (February 7th 2008), of any importance, in the USA attendance was over 70,000 ! Boleyn Ground at Upton Park holds just over 35,000 !
Posted in: U.S. to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups
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mrgalactic
Three cheers for these merceneries ! Extremely courageous, wise, well planned and executed manuevers resulted in 7 plus years of angst free and comfortable living conditions in the USA. Off topic whinging by north of the border windbags can never change those facts. Stand strong America... the rest of the world is not looking after your best interests, best do it yerself !
Posted in: Iraq bars U.S. security firm Blackwater
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mrgalactic
Hmm indeed... seems theres more, at least off the AP news wire:
"The Defense Department has said as many as 61 former Guantanamo detainees -- about 11 percent of 520 detainees transferred from the detention center and released -- are believed to have returned to the fight.
The latest case highlights the risk the new US administration faces as it moves to empty Guantanamo of its remaining 245 prisoners and close the controversial detention camp within a year."
"Risk" you say ... Nah, not according to USAFdude.
Posted in: EU backs Gitmo prison closure but wary of accepting inmates
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mrgalactic
Here we go again. Japan sitting back and waiting for the good ol USA to bail them out. Haven't business leaders in this nation learned yet ? Exporting to one nation weakens that country's ability to achieve economic growth. Hell even McDonalds realized it better add salads to the menu to try and protect the health of its customers. Japan, China, and Korea still don't get it.
Posted in: Japan stocks rise on hopes for U.S. financial recovery
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mrgalactic
Yo Ford... way to nut up ! Seems that they may have been taking better care of their finances than others around the world thought. Class operation, lets hope Obama rewards them by protecting their markets against parasitic foreign makers that have essentially targetted the US for the past 20 years with no regard to the American worker. And yes, they know who they are.
Posted in: Ford posts $14.6 bil loss, still won't seek aid
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mrgalactic
On the need to delay trials for the gitmo prisoners USAFdude asks...
"Why the delay? Afraid of what you'll find?"
My response is simple:
"Abu Sufyan al-Azdi al-Shahri, or former prisoner number 372 at gauntanamo bay prison, has been elevated to the senior ranks of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, a US counter-terrorism official told AFP."
Hmm.
Posted in: EU backs Gitmo prison closure but wary of accepting inmates
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mrgalactic
The big story on the news last night was that there was no television/media coverage of the game between Japan and Bahrain, only a few still photos. What's up with that ? Lemme guess, Japan doesn't have enough money now to provide it's citizens with even something as basic as live/taped coverage of international sporting events ? I mean first the Japanese started pulling out of racing tournements... now this ? Japan appears to have really hit rock bottom... kawaisoooo !
Posted in: Japan sinks as Australia grinds out draw in Asian Cup qualifiers
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mrgalactic
Aso still misses the big issue... Japan's banks are so heavily indebted with bad loans that they are strapped to the nines. Japan's national debt also continues to spiral out of control. Throw in 90 yen to the dollar and Japans export driven economy is all but sunk. These are going to be truly hellish times to be in Japan. This nation can't spend it's way out of the mess and they have made zero friends out there in the global business world that will toss them a rope to cling to. I see the Americans are about to add legislation taxing import autos to the hilt. Japans time is up and Aso has absolutely no idea what to do. Glug glug glug.
Posted in: Aso takes grilling in Diet over economy
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mrgalactic
Give it a rest Cleo. A person is chosen and judged on their character, education, and lifetime experiences. This is the real world now, and not the fantasy one you exist in here in Japan. Where, as we have discovered with Japans political revolving doors at the prime ministers office, that leaders are chosen from the "old boys" network... no matter how lame, ineffective, and laughable they truly are... I mean really, a 19% approval rating for Aso ? Obama has done nothing of importance to date but make screw up after screw up. He needs to focus more on the future of "his" presidency than continue to take childish pot shots at the previous administration.
Posted in: Obama gives first TV interview to Arabic network