JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Corporate Business English Trainers
- ACT Systems, Inc.（株式会社アクト・システムズ）, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥269,500 ~ ¥280,000 / Month
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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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smithinjapan
These island issues will never be settled by meetings between the two nations, or with pressure from other nations. And while I'm not at all advocating any off the following, I see them as the only REAL ways the issues will be 'settled':
By force: Let's say hypothetically that China just up and takes the islands, not during a time of war, and without any shots fired or retaliation by US forces or what have you. So, China now has the islands, with at least two or three countries in the world upset by it (likely far more... I'm just saying at least) and Japan has backed down. Problem with this scenario is that inevitably the nation that lost the island would say it USED TO belong to them (as with the Kuriles) and they were forced off, so they should get them back.
Money: one side or the other buy's them and they sign a final joint declaration that gives one nation ownership of the land, and surrounding waters (to an extent, of course). CrazyJoe made a good point that four of the five islands are privately owned, and although I'm sure the Japanese government would make some claim that the owners can't sell the land to a foreign nation/company, etc., even the government might cave to a certain amount.
Disaster: By this I mean one nation dropping any contest to the islands in favour of or thanks for any and all aid given by one nation to the other in the event of a MASSIVE natural disaster, as a show of good faith or otherwise (ie. #2). Or on the other hand if one nation drops the island claims out of sympathy and/or to help the nation that has suffered said catastrophe. Highly unlikely, but hey.
There are probably a couple of other reasons why one country would drop claims and/or give up the islands, but it certainly won't be as Bgoody suggests with the world court. NEITHER nation, despite previously promising to abide by any world court decision (hypothetically), would agree to a ruling against them. And as we can clearly see it'll never happen bilaterally... so we've got the endless and at times seemingly pointless debates.
crustpunker: ".... that's what happens after wars. The victor draws the new lines and the world moves on. At least MOST of the world does....."
Oddly enough, if you point that out about the Kuriles many people who argue what you just said as proof these islands belong to Japan would simply say, "That's a different matter! The Norther Territories are Japanese!". The only problem with 'the victor' thing is that Japan was not the victor and Japan and the US only agreed on certain lines for control of Okinawa -- did China sign the treaty?
Anyway, out of the numerous island disputes Japan is engaged in, this is the only major one that Japan has any real teeth in terms of claims, and that's because they currently administer the islands. For they same reason they DON'T have any real footing on the other claims, because as more and more time passes and one nation administers, lives on, and even builds on and around the islands the chances are far more likely the other nation's claims will be completely unrecognized and indefensible. The problem with THAT, though, is that in the case of Senkaku/Daioyu the other party is China (the party most likely to use force if it comes to that).
Posted in: China, Taiwan complain after Japanese politicians land on disputed isles
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smithinjapan
"so when is the baby due?"
Exacly. Next week the same management will formally announce the couple's wedding plans (conveniently forgetting today's announcement), but state it's not because of unfound rumours about pregnancy. The week after that, the couple will admit she's pregnant. I can see reasons why they deny these kind of things until the last minute, but it looks silly when they contradict themselves all the time at short notice.
Posted in: Management deny Aya Ueto and EXILE's Hiro to get married this spring
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smithinjapan
I would have preferred if he pledged only to lift the rate of taxes if absolutely necessary, with efforts first and foremost to cut wasteful spending.
Posted in: Noda pledges rebirth of Fukushima, tax and social security reform
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smithinjapan
Foxie: When I was a wee little guy in my hometown there was a local mom and pop shop that sold 'mystery bags' for 25 cents a pop, and I LOVED buying them -- because they always had more than the intrinsic value of what you paid. Sure, some of the sweets I didn't like some times, but they were always very fair. Other times I'd pass them by because there was something I wanted specifically, at higher cost, and didn't want to leave it to chance there might be some in there.
They can be fun, I think, especially at kitschy little shops or candy stores where the price is cheap and the quality (well, okay, maybe not for the kitschy stuff) high for the cost. But the whole 'trend' of spending a minimum of 10,000 (and people often buy more than one!) for stuff you probably won't want, and FIGHTING the hoards to get it...? I can't understand it.
Posted in: Mad scramble
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smithinjapan
Serrano: "Are you sure about no more than 1 in every 1,000 bags has stuff that is higher value than the price of the bag?"
Well, that all depends on your outlook, I guess. The shops often keep the original price tags on (if any), but remember that for the most part it's stuff they've overbought and/or cannot sell. Imagine a Uni-Qlo 'lucky bag' sale rolling around in April and most of what was in the bag is winter clothes. The actual value may be more than the cost of the bag, but it's stuff you won't be able to wear for more than half a year -- and even then it might not be your size, colour, and may be out of fashion. That's a bit of an 'extreme' example in terms of off-loading out-of-season items, but I figure the analogy is easy to understand. They would probably still be getting fall/winter items in the bags now, but they'd be getting scarves they don't want, gloves they don't like, perfume that hasn't sold, a skirt.... I've never met a person who was overall happy at the lucky bag they bought (admittedly have met some that liked a FEW of the articles and so were satisfied). What I meant by the literal 'one in a thousand' was in referring to lucky bags with something special in them: free hotel stay at Hotel Okura, or free bus tour, digital camera, or something like that tucked in with all the throw-aways.
Posted in: Mad scramble
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smithinjapan
There's nothing offensive about them being called The White Family, and Cleo is correct that it is simply in reference to the dog. If people DO find it offensive then perhaps it is not the best thought out idea, but I think said people are in a very small minority.
I didn't see the five-minute version of this (thankfully. The commercials are sometimes cute, but five minutes is too long for one!), but I saw a very short one where he finds instant noodles in space (a pretty cheap prize to be giving out for signing on for a two year contract with a phone company, by the way). Ah well.
Posted in: Softbank to release record-long TV ad featuring 'White Family'
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smithinjapan
So they gather at all hours to they can fight to buy something they need to gather together and give away, or trade for something slightly less worse, after? How about keeping the money in the first place and buying something you want? There's no way more than one in every thousand or so has something of or higher than the value of the bag. It's all out-of-season stuff the shops can't sell, so this is how they turn a profit.
Posted in: Mad scramble
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smithinjapan
Sad to read about this every year, but every year you know it's going to happen. People simply don't heed advice and ignore the practical; it may be 'natsukashiiiiii!', and traditions are nice, but when outdated or put you in harm's way you need to rethink them a little.
Maybe they should ask shops, stalls, and other places that sell them to be eaten immediately (like an ozoni stall at a temple) should be required to use only mini, cut up mochi, or cut the muchi up before selling if it's for seniors. Old age homes should DEFINITELY be required to cut them up. My guess is most of these deaths happen at home and people just don't think before giving it to ol' gramps.
Posted in: 13 elderly people taken to hospital after choking on 'mochi;' 2 die
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smithinjapan
That scientists and the Japan Nuclear Agency (which it has come to light accepted bribes from electric companies and other interests related to nuclear power) continue to downplay the disaster, as does the government, and it's heart-breaking. The worst part of it all is that they continue to give these people hope that they may let them go back some day when they should be telling them in many places it will NEVER be possible. That, and the image of people still huddled in tiny spaces and having to listen to the snoring while money that could help them is being wasted on MASSIVE scales. I hope their situation improves soon in the new year.
Posted in: No-man's land attests to Japan's nuclear nightmare
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smithinjapan
So now because of one selfish drunk this family starts off the new year horribly. RIP to the victims, and I hope that as well as having to live with it for the rest of his life the driver does some hard time in jail.
Posted in: Father and son killed by drunk driver while heading to shrine
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smithinjapan
I guess Iran's not preparing for a peaceful 2012. Pity.
Posted in: Iran tests cruise missile during navy war games
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smithinjapan
Is anyone actually surprised by this? The only thing that would surprise me is if they did something about it -- I mean, besides one or two of the commissioners resigning 'to take responsibility' (and their massive severance packages).
Posted in: Nuclear safety panel received donations from industry: report
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smithinjapan
samwatters: "I don't understand why every train doesn't have one car or at least half a car reserved for women"
Many do, problem is that it's putting a bandaid on a bullet hole, to be cliche. What do you think the police are going to first ask a woman assaulted on non-female only car? Having cars for women only doesn't reduce the crime, it increases the chance that the crimes will be let go without punishment on the part of the victim. Sick as it is, and I know this for a fact, it actually INCREASES the justification people will provide for why they assaulted others. A friend of mine who was groped on a train was first asked by police why she didn't ride the women only car, as though not riding said car made the groping her fault.
Posted in: Chunichi reporter arrested for allegedly molesting woman on train
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smithinjapan
Oops! Forgot the happy new year, people!!!
Posted in: Lady Gaga, Beiber help huge New York crowd see in 2012
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smithinjapan
Justin Bieber will be short lived, rest assured. He may beat out Macauley Caulkin in length of time and money, and perhaps lack of drugs, but he'll be forgotten before long.
Gaga is another one whose gimmicks have a limit, but at least that person has some actual talent buried beneath the garbage.
Posted in: Lady Gaga, Beiber help huge New York crowd see in 2012
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smithinjapan
HansNFranz: "I'm quite amused that some people here actually think tectonics, and major natural phenomena would somehow be influenced by man-made culture such as "new year's"
I don't think anyone seriously entertains the idea that this was Mother Nature giving us a crappy nengajou (otherwise she would have sent one with AKB48 related somehow!), but we do place importance on some days more than others, which is why I'm guessing you had a holiday, and while today means nothing to the universe (or even the other side of the world, depending on time zone!), people are free to say "happy new year" sarcastically or honestly, and right to wonder what kind of year it will be. :)
Oh... and the stars DID shine brighter on my wedding night!
Posted in: M7.0 quake rocks Tokyo, eastern Japan; no danger of tsunami
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smithinjapan
Sheesh! Good thing it was so far off and deep. Not a very good sign for the new year, but glad everyone seems okay.
Posted in: M7.0 quake rocks Tokyo, eastern Japan; no danger of tsunami
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smithinjapan
I wonder if he actually believes anything he said.
Posted in: Noda says 2012 will be start of Japan's rebirth
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smithinjapan
Good on anyone and everyone who has become more active as a result of the horrible crises this nation has suffered.
"That has given rise to a sense that the government isn’t as reliable as once thought, and that people need to take action themselves to get things done."
The former part of this quote makes me chuckle, as that has been obvious for quite a long time, the latter, in a way, makes me sad. For it's this kind of 'take action themselves' that in part allows the government to get things done. In the town I live in local government made a number of spending cuts; none involving them cutting local government staff, but instead things like cutting pay for crossing guards and people to patrol neighbourhoods. Why would they do this? Well, one reason is that they know people will volunteer to do it anyway. On the more macroscopic level this happens all the time as well, with the government asking for 'understanding' with tax increases and cuts to family tax breaks, cuts in social security, and security in general (save for whalers and broken fighter jets, of course!). If 'taking things on themselves' does nothing to change the crappy state of politics then said crappy state will of course never change -- it'll just pay even less to get things while they pat themselves on the back.
Unfortunately, I feel the sociologist towards the end of the article has hit it on the head:
“Most people aren’t hungry or angry,” he said. “People need a clear enemy, and there’s no clear enemy in Japan. Public anger needs to hit a critical mass. It’s not anywhere near that.”
'Shouganai' is still probably the most oft used word here.
Posted in: Web-savvy activist moms emerge after March 11 disaster
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smithinjapan
Drunken fool. He'll pay the compensation money (usually about $5000), get fired, and that'll be the end of it for the most part.
I'm curious, though, how apologists on this site are going to try and blame it on the woman this time. Any clues, ExportExpert?
Posted in: Chunichi reporter arrested for allegedly molesting woman on train