JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

pawatan's past comments

• 

  -2

  pawatanNov. 15, 2011 - 08:12AM JST

  There's already a ton of cheap, quality choices here.

  Posted in: Last year, Japan exported 1.5 million vehicles to the United States, while U.S. automakers exported just 8,000. Why aren't U.S. makers selling more in Japan?

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 15, 2011 - 08:11AM JST

  “It does nothing very well, save video playback, running various Android apps, and making the business of Amazon shopping alarmingly fun and easy.”

  Well, that's the whole point of the thing so it sounds successful. I'm sure it will be better after a few software updates.

  Posted in: Kindle Fire shipping to mixed reviews

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 06:49PM JST

  It's too bad. Stupid, greedy corruption takes down a long term, well respected company. I don't think Mr Woodford could do anything to save Olympus from being completely picked over at this point. Someone will buy the medical division and maybe Panasonic buys the imaging division (4/3 consortium partner)?

  It's hard to see how Olympus can possibly recover from this death spiral, though.

  Posted in: Olympus urged to rehire ousted British CEO

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 06:43PM JST

  NetNinja

  Pushing 40, mate, and been here for years. I can defend myself and my opinions quite well, than you. I don't think Japan needs defending, but I really don't like it when people are making loud generalizations that really don't bear up to scrutiny. The funny thing is that most of the long-termers I know in real life are pretty realistic about Japan, both it's good and bad aspects. Here the dominant voices tend to be quite negative. Strange, that.

  The problem sometimes with people who have been anywhere that is not their home country or culture for too long is that sometimes they become jaded by the negative things they see - soon everything is negative. Of course there are corporate scandals such as Olympus, Livedoor, etc in Japan but is that unusual in a large economy? Nah. It sucks for the shareholders and employees (and consumers - I am fan of Olympus cameras and have been for years), though.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 02:41PM JST

  globalwatcher

  No transparency and nobody go to jail.

  Forgot to add - see my earlier post; I know someone personally who went to jail for corruption here. Not to mention the famous case:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takafumi_Horie

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 02:39PM JST

  globalwatcher

  Do you remember Aurther Anderson (CPA) has been gone for a long time because of illegal activities with corporations.

  They only went out to protect their company directors from further prosecution (and spun their consulting business to a new name). THAT'S how things are done in the US, deny, obfuscate, rebrand so nobody can see that you haven't changed. Greed is greed anywhere, that's what I have been saying.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 11:55AM JST

  herefornow

  But, more importantly, it implies that you are willing to force the ever-growing number of Japanese living on fixed incomes to pay up to 5 times the world price for stables like rice, because you recognize Japan's quality is not sufficiently high enough to convince them to buy Japanese.

  It'd be very hard to convince anybody to pay 5x as much for anything regardless of quality. It better be really, really high quality to make up that difference.

  I believe Japan's produce is of a very high standard but I am not paying 5x as much for it unless the other products are truly unhealthy or very poor quality. Except occasionally, much like one might buy wagyu over Aussie beef now and then.

  Posted in: Food self-sufficiency a weak argument against TPP participation

• 

  -4

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 11:50AM JST

  GW

  Its long past due that Japan shud be acting on this irregardless of TPP or any FTA, but the neandrathals in JA & govt have done either nothing or fought against any meaningful changes, Japan simply cannot ignore this any longer.

  Agreed. But strong consideration should be given as to how to do this orderly and try to protect people's livelihood as much as possible.

  Regarding the rice crop from the early 90's - it can be said that Japan is much more open to foreign things now than 20 years ago. Who can say what is the impact of a similar move today?

  Posted in: Food self-sufficiency a weak argument against TPP participation

• 

  -3

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 08:26AM JST

  herefornow

  That is just stating the obvious impact of the path Japan is following, and which you defend.

  I'm not defending the path of Japan at all. I have just been saying that the problems with Olympus are indicative of problems with OLYMPUS and nothing more. But people like to take anything negative that happens in Japan and automatically use that as an indicator that Japan as a whole is doomed. It's obviously silly to do.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -3

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 08:22AM JST

  Mr Dyloco

  Would the same not apply to consumers’ preference of Japanese agricultural products if given the choice, while giving an alternative to those unable to afford locally grown produce?

  Well, I don't know - would it? I would argue it wouldn't - it's hard to argue with price. People choose domestic automobiles not only for quality but because they are generally the cheapest available as well.

  The demise of the agricultural sector is based on the premise that everyone will jump ship and buy imported foods if given the opportunity. This is simply not the case. Many Japanese pride themselves on the superiority of domestically made products.

  Again, evidence? It can certainly be your OPINION that people will not jump ship but where is the evidence? Studies? Experts' thoughts?

  If Japanese produce is as superior as they claim, should it not be easier to market the produce to the upper classes of other countries involved in the TPP?

  No, because most people buy food based on price. A small few buy based on quality (or the perception of), but most don't. Food is by and large very much a commodity.

  Posted in: Food self-sufficiency a weak argument against TPP participation

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 01:54AM JST

  I told you the Hawks are world-class chokers! Who were the people claiming they were going to sweep or at worst win 4-1? Well at BEST they'll win 4-2 and at worst they will be crying in the dugout again on Wednesday.

  Entertaining to say the least. Love the Hawks 15 Ks in game 1.

  Posted in: Dragons ground Hawks 2-1 in Japan Series opener

• 

  -3

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 12:05AM JST

  globalwatcher

  Without a proper "search warrant", they can toss evidences that would be used against them.

  ??? They've had years and years and years to cover their tracks. This is related to transactions from a few years back to cover losses from over a DECADE ago. They've likely tossed any evidence a long, long time ago.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -4

  pawatanNov. 14, 2011 - 12:03AM JST

  Ah, herefornow, you ARE using a crystal ball. The article says:

  But the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission appears to be considering stopping short of seeking a criminal charge against the company itself, the daily said.

  So, one source speculates that the SEC might do something. Rock solid there.

  others have already said in what needs to be said to your response

  Apparently not.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -3

  pawatanNov. 13, 2011 - 04:09PM JST

  herefornow

  The exact reason you imply but will not make yourself admit -- that is that, yes, there is greed everywhere, but other countries like the U.S., take decisive action when greed arises, by charging companies and directors as the criminals they are, and puishing them accordingly.

  Yeah, like all 3 people prosecuted for Enron. I'm sure that was everyone involved! :rolleyes: You sure have a rosy view of the American justice system!

  Companies, like Olympus, have been cooking the books for two decades, but nothing will happen

  So you have a crystal ball now? Must be nice. Can I borrow it when you are done? This scandal is just starting to unfold, how about letting the facts come out and the legal proceedings commence before criticizing what steps are taken?

  And it's certainly no given that Japan will avoid prosecuting white collar criminals. I personally know a Japanese man who spent time in prison here for corporate corruption, and it was for way, way less than the amounts involved with Olympus.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -5

  pawatanNov. 13, 2011 - 04:03PM JST

  moomoochoo

  So you are saying it is ok because it "happens" everywhere?

  When did I ever say that? It's completely awful and I think if there is criminal culpability (and there certainly seems to be) the guilty parties should have the book thrown at them.

  A lot of people on these forums are bitter, but who can blame them when the country they love is sliding into the toilet and there's nothing much they can do about it.

  Yeah, yeah, things are always getting worse everywhere, aren't they? People around the world always say their country is going into the crapper, that things aren't as good as they used to be. I don't see how a scandal at one company - OLYMPUS - is any more indicative of some precipitous decline of Japan than Enron (for example) was of the US. Wherever there is greed there will be financial scandals (and of course these are bad, and people should be prosecuted, etc etc etc. I can't believe I have to say that explicitly)

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -3

  pawatanNov. 13, 2011 - 03:57PM JST

  globalwatcher

  I wonder why it is taking so long for prosecutors to serve "search warrent" to Olympus to secure the evidence for wrong doing.

  Less than 2 weeks is a "long time"? It wasn't clear at first what was the origin of the strange payments. Now it's clearer, so the wheels of justice can turn. Or is everything supposed to happen instantly?

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -5

  pawatanNov. 13, 2011 - 12:55PM JST

  herefornow

  And this is why Japan will never be taken completely seriously.

  MORE Japan hate! Every single thing you post is about how messed up Japan is, and how you are happy to be gone.

  Japan is the world's number three economy - it's taken very, very seriously by everyone except ex-residents with axes to grind. This scandal is about OLYMPUS not Japan as a whole. You can make a long, long list of similar corporate governance scandals from countries around the globe, it's not a Japan exclusive. Greed is greed. It's still to be seen who is to blame, what are the repercussions, and who will be punished.

  Posted in: Olympus to correct 20 years of financial figures

• 

  -1

  pawatanNov. 12, 2011 - 06:17PM JST

  We need people to SEE.

  See what? Everybody including the people running the show knows it's not in good shape. Even TEPCO is reporting that.

  Posted in: Japanese, foreign media allowed into Fukushima nuclear plant

• 

  2

  pawatanNov. 12, 2011 - 08:52AM JST

  What do you mean by "hand picked", hoserfella? There's only 30 of them, how else would they be chosen?

  Posted in: Japan to open Fukushima reactors to media for 1st time since March 11

• 

  0

  pawatanNov. 11, 2011 - 08:34AM JST

  I think some of you are taking this a wee bit too seriously. Japan Post is a private company trying to make money - AKB is popular, like them or not. Seems like a good idea to make money.

  Posted in: AKB48 members to appear on stamps

Follow us