JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Financial Advisor
- Select Asset Management KK, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥100,000 ~ ¥999,999 Paid Training Commission Based
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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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timorborder
Just had a look over at Asahi (in Japanese). Apparently he was picked up on a tip off by a passerby. They apparently saw him waiting at a ferry terminal in Osaka (do they have ferries in Osaka?), and the police rushed down there to question him after polishing off their bento. After a bit of prevaricating, apparently he claimed to some dude called Elvis Presley, he admitted that he was in fact, Ichihara. The police now have him down the station for a warm bath and a pat on the back.
At least that is the gist of what they are reporting in the Japanese media.
Posted in: ICHIHASHI ARRESTED BY POLICE IN OSAKA
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Not up on the US military justice system, however, I think treason would be a pretty hard charge to prove in the current case. With a pile of dead bodies, witnesses, and forensic evidence out the XXX, I would assume that murder charges would be quite easy to prove.
The big question is, however, is whether the US will execute a seemingly radical Muslim, because any way you play it, some people in the Muslim world see this chap as a martyr. Considering this, slotting him on site would have been a lot simpler option. Furthermore, even if this goes to trial, I don't know how much intelligence is to be gained from this nutter, the last thing we want is to give him a podium from which to preach his perverted ideas. Perhaps the US Army should just discharge the chap, then rendition him off to an American ally in the Middle East. If Obama asked nicely, I am sure the Egyptians or the Saudis would get to the bottom of this whole incident, cleaning up the loose ends afterward.
Posted in: Lawyer asks investigators not to question Hasan
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Well, well, well.
Seriously damaged does not sound like such a good performance.
Posted in: Navies of 2 Koreas exchange fire
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As I wrote the other day, this case has red flags all over it. As a Muslim (whose attitudes seem to have radicalized over time), any fool (including the chain of command) should have been able to see that placing this chap in a position that required him to debrief soldiers returning from active service in Muslim countries was an act paramount to pouring gasoline on a smoldering fire. Indeed, on the slippery slope that is promotion of commissioned officers, why wasn't this guy canned after his evaluations at Walter Reed(?). It seems that for a lot of smart guys, the people in the command chain who persevered in keeping this guy in the army made some really dumb decisions, decisions that should be duly noted in their own personnel files.
With regard to the usual Islamic radical suspects who are lauding the actions of this guy, all I can say is that they should get their own house in order before pointing fingers at the US and its "Crusader" allies. As SuperLib points out, casualties caused by coalition forces operating in Afghanistan and Iraq are dwarfed by the number caused by Muslim on Muslim violence. Then again, nothing changes. The situation was, is and will continue to be FUBAR.
Posted in: Lawyer asks investigators not to question Hasan
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USAF, thanks for your inquiry about my military knowledge.
I must admit that I know nothing at all about the military lifestyle, despite having graduated top 5 in my class from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and subsequently serving for 15 years as an infantry officer, including 2 years on exchange to Fort Bragg in the US as an instructor in what used to be called CRW.
Yeah, by and large, I am just your average, ignorant tree-hugging hippie I suppose.
Posted in: Lawyer asks investigators not to question Hasan
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Just a couple of quick comments.
Firstly, while Major Hasan showed a clear intent to kill, what is it with the people who shot him? None of that "shoot to wound" garbage, somebody should have had the presence of mind to slot the guy on the spot. It would have saved everybody a whole lot of hassle. It would appear that marksmanship standards for non-Muslim member of the US Army are not what they should be.
On a more serious note, like it or not, Major Hasan does have his right to a day in court. He also has a right to legal representation. Quit complaining! The again, better marksmanship standards would have saved everybody a whole lot of hassle.
Posted in: Lawyer asks investigators not to question Hasan
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References to "ex" Yakuza always strike me as amusing. It is a well-known fact that all members are made to submit undated resignations to their groups in advance. If they then do something stupid that draws the attention of police, these documents are submitted by the gang to the police as proof that members are "ex." This is to get the gangs out of having any responsibility for the actions of members. Although this might sound rather childish, a loop hole in the relevant laws allows gangs to get away with such actions.
Anyway, here is my own mob story, which involves me, the deputy chairman of our local residents association (a semi-retired mobster who still finds time to walk to school with his grandson every morning), four young hoods in a car, and the larger of my two dogs.
Anyway, early one Sunday morning I was out walking the dog (about 6.30am). We had just come out of a side street and my dog was sniffing the tires of a car that was parked in a convenience store car park. On the other side of the car park was a car with 4 young men inside. Unfortunately, our eyes met for a second and these young toughs thought they would beat up a foreigner (there was nobody around). Anyway, they came charging across the car park. When about half way across, I jerked my dog's leash. He popped his head out from behind the car he was sniffing and immediately put himself between me and these young chaps. Let's just say these young chaps were surprised to be confronted with about 125kg of pure, unadulterated, canine muscle in the form of a male English Mastiff. Moreover, the first guy (leading the charge) was even more shocked when my dog reared up showing his rather impressive dental work (in a mouth that can close while holding a soccer ball). My dog knocked this chap to the ground and then wanted to offer some free plastic surgery to the guy's face, all the while looking at me for the command with those big droopy eyes of his. Let's just say I was tempted. Meanwhile the other 3 heroes scuttled back to their car and drove off. I got the chap who was collapsed on the ground and walked with him to the home of the deputy chairman of our resident's association (the old mobster). He listened to what I had to say and made a couple of phone calls to resolve the "misunderstanding". Being a "friend" of mine through the local residents association, he even offered to have the young chap's legs broken for the inconvenience caused to me. Again, I have to admit that I was tempted.
Posted in: Ex-gangster held after beating customer to death in Thai restaurant in Tokyo
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If you don't have jobs, don't you have things to do? Hobbies? Friends? Places to go? Things to see?
For example, instances of trial by media?
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timorborder
And a loser everyone. The cops should have alleviated the boredom of all concerned by carrying out random invasive body searches. For starters, the guard at the front seems to be taking an unhealthy interest in some of the woman. The guy in the cap is also obviously in possession of a bad haircut. Why weren't these people arrested on the spot?
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timorborder
Scare him and let him run. And then unleash Japan's largest mastiff (who tipped the vet's scales last month at a rather imposing 129kg). Blood sport anybody?
Moderator: Readers, we asked a serious question. Serious answers please.
Posted in: If you saw someone you thought was murder suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi on the street, in a restaurant or on a train, for example, realistically speaking, what would you do?
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All very dramatic. Now let's just hope that them Navy boys don't crash their big gray war canoe into any objects.
Posted in: Navy ship built with WTC steel goes into service
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Given this guy's athletic prowess (escaping some of the fast policemen in Japan - pass me another doughnut), I would probably break one of his legs before calling the police.
Posted in: If you saw someone you thought was murder suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi on the street, in a restaurant or on a train, for example, realistically speaking, what would you do?
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timorborder
I have been giving this a bit of thought.
Apparently this guy was a devout Muslim who was not hot on the idea of the US military being present in Muslim countries (Iraq and Afghanistan). On top of this, what does the army do? They assign him to a job as a counselor of soldiers who are suffering from trauma as a result of deployment to the aforementioned countries. While not being privy to the content of any sessions he had with these soldiers, you could imagine that they would be quite harrowing including topics such as the killing of Muslims, etc. Talk about fanning the flames with petrol!
As I said earlier, despite all the warning flags going up regarding this guy, why wasn't anything done?
Posted in: Fort Hood suspect said methodical goodbyes
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So there were a whole host of warning flags raised about this guy, and nothing was done. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realize that somebody dropped the ball big time on this one.
Anyway, this issue about muslims and the military is not going to be addressed following this. With this chap on a ventilator, it is highly likely that he will conveniently "expire" before this whole case comes to trial. Such a development will give the politicians an opportunity to avoid confronting such issues again.
Posted in: Fort Hood suspect said methodical goodbyes
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Big Steve Balmer, who will for ever be remember for his monkey dance.
Posted in: Microsoft CEO calls Japanese response to Windows 7 'fantastic'
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who was riding in a patrol car
Does this mean a black and white? What a knob, if the guy flashed a cop car, then he was wanting to be caught.
On the other hand, if she was in an unmarked vehicle, I wonder how many calls the police got regarding a "suspicious vehicle in the area driven by a young woman"?
Moderator: It was an unmarked patrol car.
Posted in: Fukushima flasher caught red-handed by female police officer
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Not the best news on a Friday morning. Sympathies to those killed and wounded.
On a related topic, I am somewhat worried about the ease with which people under treatment get access to weapons in the US army. Firstly you had that chap in Iraq, and now you have this orifice who was obviously a few rounds short of a full magazine (excuse the metaphor).
Posted in: Army psychiatrist kills 12, wounds 31 in shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas
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Hate the yanks, but have to take your hate off to Matsui with his two bad legs and all.
Posted in: Matsui hits record-tying 6 RBIs as Yankees win World Series
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It was the horse's fault, it kept leading the chap on with those bedroom (stable) eyes. Moreover, what sort of horse was it? If it was a thoroughbred standing at over 12 hands high, this chap must be awfully tall.
Posted in: S Carolina man gets 3 years in prison for sex with horse
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Bush had a less than stellar history as a baseball executive, he being remembered for one of the worst player trades in history.
Posted in: Bush reminisces about baseball days during Waseda lecture