studebaker said...

studebaker at 02:48 PM JST - 20th February

The problem with cannabis in Japan is that when people buy the seeds online and grow it themselves, the Yakuza can't make any money. So the gangsters pressure the police to clamp down on it so the drug using citizens switch to something that the Yakuza do sell, like meth.…

Posted in Crimes linked to cannabis, marijuana spreading in Japan at 02:48 PM JST - 20th February
studebaker at 04:58 PM JST - 19th February

There was some politician in the States a few decades back who wanted to tattoo all HIV+ people. His idea was shot down. I don't think the people who know they are HIV+ are the problem at all, it is the people who have it but do not know yet.…

Posted in No. of HIV-infected, AIDS patients in Japan hits record high in 2008 at 04:58 PM JST - 19th February
studebaker at 04:56 PM JST - 19th February

The Shinjuku Health Center offers free and anonymous HIV / AIDS tests twice a month, in addition to other STDs such as syphilis. Every Thursday between 1-2.30pm they have staff available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai (only twice a month) to conduct the tests and offer counseling to the…

Posted in No. of HIV-infected, AIDS patients in Japan hits record high in 2008 at 04:56 PM JST - 19th February
studebaker at 04:56 PM JST - 19th February

There is an STD / HIV clinic in Shinjuku that has English speaking staff. I don't think you can expect any pre/post test counselling though here. It's anonymous and confidential (something that private clinics may not be).

・Tokyo Metropolitan Testing and Counseling Office in Minami-Shinjuku: The Tokyo Minami-Shinjuku Bldg., 3rd…

Posted in No. of HIV-infected, AIDS patients in Japan hits record high in 2008 at 04:56 PM JST - 19th February
studebaker at 01:20 PM JST - 19th February

I went and got tested after my friend told me that she gets tested every six months, just to be safe. After getting the results, it is a huge relief to know that you are safe. I believe that there is a general lack of knowledge about the disease and…

Posted in No. of HIV-infected, AIDS patients in Japan hits record high in 2008 at 01:20 PM JST - 19th February
studebaker at 02:58 PM JST - 17th February

I worked in a host club for a month a few years ago. The forcing is a group of about 20 guys all cheering you on while you drink, holding the bottle for you, and catching any spillage with a cloth. Mind you, we didn't drink sho-chu, we had team…

Posted in Nightclub host gets 3 1/2 years for forcing rival to drink himself to death at 02:58 PM JST - 17th February
studebaker at 02:45 PM JST - 17th February

By Japanese standards, illegal overstayers ARE terrorists.

Posted in Number of foreigners overstaying visas in Japan nearly halves in 5 years at 02:45 PM JST - 17th February
studebaker at 01:56 PM JST - 10th February

I met an off duty airport customs agent a few years ago who told me that EVERY foreign person getting off a plane from the Netherlands has their bag searched. What about the Japanese? Only if they look suspicious. Does Haneda have the facilities to handle this?

Posted in Japan, Netherlands agree on regular Haneda-Amsterdam night flights at 01:56 PM JST - 10th February
studebaker at 10:42 PM JST - 5th February

The Buy American campaign a few decades ago is what made the American car companies what they are today. The makers just expected the people to buy, no matter the quality or price.

Posted in What do you think about the 'Buy American' provision in the economic stimulus bill being debated in the U.S. Congress? at 10:42 PM JST - 5th February
studebaker at 01:54 PM JST - 5th February

From wikipedia so it must be true:

Later the same month, she participated in a United Nations program in Tokyo on AIDS awareness in the week leading up to World AIDS Day on December 1, 2004.

She wrote extensively about a World Aids Day event in Tochigi Prefecture on December…

Posted in Ai Iijima died of pneumonia; no foul play, say police at 01:54 PM JST - 5th February