sk4ek said...

sk4ek at 02:03 AM JST - 11th November

Now that it's a World Heritage site, the home owners are obliged to maintain the structures--thanks to a shortage of domestic thatch, it now costs several million yen to re-roof one of these homes, something which generally needs to be done every 30-40 years. The structures themselves are remarkable for…

Article Unavailable
sk4ek at 04:42 PM JST - 9th November

As my dad used to say, "Oh, for crying out loud..."

Posted in Tokyo to bid for 2020 Summer Games, Hiroshima might join: Ishihara at 04:42 PM JST - 9th November
sk4ek at 04:22 PM JST - 9th November

Well said, KinuyeOshiro. Glad to hear from someone who actually knows something about the situation. Having been raised in Hawaii, which was similarly annexed by outsiders through the use of brute force, vast tracts of its land given over to the military for training, bombing, and weapons development, and made…

Posted in Locals protest Futenma transfer within Okinawa at 04:22 PM JST - 9th November
sk4ek at 09:11 AM JST - 9th November

It amazes me how many posters here are stuck in a post-WWII mindset that seems to really buy into the deluded notion that Japan should some how be grateful to the U.S. for its bases and weapons and unruly troops, and that China, Russia, and others are just waiting for…

Posted in Locals protest Futenma transfer within Okinawa at 09:11 AM JST - 9th November
sk4ek at 07:50 AM JST - 5th November

The government needs to guarantee the pension liabilities, which represent a contract between company and worker backed by the direct contribution of the worker over 20, 30, or more years. Why pensions should be unilaterally targeted for cutback or elimination when they represent a real legal obligation has never made…

Posted in DPJ fumbles JAL issue at 07:50 AM JST - 5th November
sk4ek at 06:09 PM JST - 4th November

The problem with the Japanese title is not whether it properly represents "basterds" (vs. "bastards), but that it is the same as the spelling used in "Busters" (as in "Ghostbusters"), which regardless of the fact that no one will understand what "ingurouriasu" means, sets up a whole different set of…

Posted in Inglourious Basterds at 06:09 PM JST - 4th November
sk4ek at 12:20 PM JST - 3rd November

It's not misinformation or confusion, it's a very conscious, deliberate strategy on the part of the government. They hope that by conflating (and actively encouraging the media to conflate) the dangers of so-called 'gateway' drugs like marijuana, they can reduce the incidence of more serious drug use. It's the same…

Posted in TV coverage of Sakai lacked warning about drug use, says ethics panel at 12:20 PM JST - 3rd November
sk4ek at 05:35 PM JST - 29th October

Certainly Edo itself was home to a sophisticated populace, and even the traditional lifestyle of the countryside (aspects of which remain today) certainly was what we might call "in tune with nature." But vast segments of the population lived in dire poverty and despair, and by the end of the…

Posted in Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan at 05:35 PM JST - 29th October
sk4ek at 03:59 PM JST - 29th October

As a commentator for the Japan Times pointed out, Mao needs to dump her current coach and find someone who will focus on working with her. Her coach has put together a challenging program for her, but she's done little to help push her to the next level competitively, and…

Posted in Asada promises to overcome lackluster start to season at 03:59 PM JST - 29th October
sk4ek at 01:42 PM JST - 28th October

Another slow news day...

Posted in 23-year-old man arrested for skateboarding on busy pathway at 01:42 PM JST - 28th October