taikan said...

taikan at 03:21 AM JST - 20th February

The end of "rampant consumerism" definitely would be a good thing. However, whether the current recession will result in the end of "rampant consumerism" is likely to depend on how deep the recession becomes and how long it lasts. As a result of their experience, most of those who lived…

Posted in Amid the global recession, do you see the end of rampant consumerism and is that ultimately a good thing? at 03:21 AM JST - 20th February
taikan at 04:56 AM JST - 19th February

Finally, the U.S. should pick up on one of Mr Aso’s better ideas: the promotion of an “arc of freedom and prosperity” across Asia.

Rather than calling it an "arc of freedom and prosperity," why not call it the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere? Oh, wait, that's already been done.…

Posted in Japan-U.S. alliance needs freshening up at 04:56 AM JST - 19th February
taikan at 04:22 AM JST - 16th February

Rather than thinking of this as an infringement of the employees' rights, think of it as a means of avoiding layoffs by slightly reducing each employee's salary/wages on a one-time basis. Managers have their salaries reduced by 200,000 yen (less the value of the goods purchased for that amount), and…

Posted in Panasonic orders 10,000 employees to buy its products by July at 04:22 AM JST - 16th February
taikan at 11:11 AM JST - 4th February

As long as one is interested in something other than nightlife and fancy dining, many of the rural areas are both beautiful and fascinating. They also provide the opportunity to try local specialty foods and to see things that often are lost in the big cities. In the rural areas…

Posted in Japan planning to boost foreign tourism in rural areas at 11:11 AM JST - 4th February
taikan at 10:44 AM JST - 29th January

The Japanese officials have been so stupid to offer humanitarian assistance (medical instruments, medicine, construction things, etc) to Russians on the islands. Why Japan had to do that? Russians rather have/had to help their own people.

From the Japanese perspective, they are not providing assistance to Russians, but instead are…

Posted in Japan cancels humanitarian aid to Russian-held islands at 10:44 AM JST - 29th January
taikan at 07:14 AM JST - 21st January

It depends on whether the offer was accepted before it was retracted. If the offer had been accepted, then by retracting the offer the company reneged on a deal. Such an action would make the company unworthy of being trusted, and thus unsuitable in a business relationship as either a…

Posted in What do you think about companies that retract job offers to graduates because of the economic downturn? at 07:14 AM JST - 21st January
taikan at 03:11 AM JST - 15th January

American companies like GM and Ford have been running circles around J auto companies for years... at least to according to total sales figures.

The Fortune Global 500 report for 2008 lists Toyota as #5 in total sales, with GM at # 9, Ford at # 13, Honda at #…

Posted in 2,200 Toyota managers to buy Toyota cars by March 31 at 03:11 AM JST - 15th January
taikan at 02:43 AM JST - 14th January

As much fun as it is to criticize the LDP, Aso and the Japanese government bureaucracy, it should be remembered that while the LDP has been in power Japan has gone from a country with very little industrial base and widespread food shortages (to the point of famine) after American…

Posted in Approval rate for Aso cabinet below 20%; nearly half support Ozawa at 02:43 AM JST - 14th January
taikan at 03:33 PM JST - 9th January

Nye is a leading proponent of "smart power," a concept which calls for less emphasis on the military and greater emphasis on diplomacy, setting a good example, and coordinating efforts among various parts of the US government so that they work together to advance US interests in the world without…

Posted in Ex-Pentagon official Nye likely choice as next U.S. envoy to Japan at 03:33 PM JST - 9th January
taikan at 04:19 AM JST - 23rd December

The article noted that the two vehicles were fitted with antiaircraft guns. Although I often disagree with the way the US has conducted actions in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan, I think it is relatively safe to conclude that a vehicle which does not belong to the Pakistani military and is…

Posted in 7 killed in U.S. drone missile attacks in Pakistan at 04:19 AM JST - 23rd December