commanteer comments

Unless Japan raises their interest rates to bring inflation under control like the rest of the world, I can see the yen going up to 200 against the American dollar. 

Even 300. But the yen will not avoid collapse no matter what they do at this point. It is inevitable and is just among the first of many currencies that will collapse. Japan's debt is unsustainable at current interest rates, let alone higher rates.

This has been baked in and we are all in for a rough ride. When it all falls apart, they will introduce a central bank digital currency to "rescue" us.

Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto Tokushima 

I second that. While there, staying on Naoshima art island next door at the Bennesse Museum Hotel is also a great experience.

In my view, as a legal scholar of implicit bias and critical race studies

Which means no scholar at all, but a regurgitator of pseudo-Marxist propaganda.

How many were convicted as "Class A" war criminals? 

None. That's the advantage of having a powerful military. You get away with stuff others can't.

Almost 30 years, never stopped except when driving. I know someone who looks a lot like me and he gets stopped frequently - don't know why.

This reluctance of the majority to blame and remember is a factor ensuring wars in perpetuity. 

I guess that explains why the US has been in perpetual war for most of the past 80 years. Populations that allow war in a "sheeplike" fashion are not unique to Russia or Japan.

Meanwhile, anyone with a heart is glad that a son finally receives something meaningful of his long-dead father's, with evidence that he was loved and supported by friends and family.

Not just Japan, but basically almost every famous landmark is, at best, pretty much like all the pictures I have seen. If flooded with tourists, as most are these days, it's even worse.

I don't make a special effort to see all the famous sites. There are always tons of completely overlooked areas of natural beauty and cultural interest where I ask myself, "Why isn't this place famous?" Sometimes they become famous and ruined by tourist hordes like everyplace else.

Finding some little spot with a few engaging locals will almost always be more memorable. For natural beauty, Japan is filled with stunning waterfalls, for example, that hardly anybody visits.

Funny, since this author seems to be describing "Woke" but thinks she is describing DeSantis. Invent a threat - check. Criminalize historical discussions - check. Punish transgressors - check. Write new history - check.

Personally, I don't like DeSantis, partly because he is adopting too many Woke tactics like the above.

No you haven't, in other words.

Assumptions. There is a limit to what I will share in public, even pseudonymously.

Have you considered the possibility that is likely to make the situation worse? People who suggest staying in a toxic marriage for the sake of the children should keep in mind studies that indicate the children are likely to grow up with feelings of low self-esteem and insecurity, difficulty trusting others and forming happy relationships themselves, 

The problem with such studies is that they can only guess how the children would turn out otherwise. Without the spouse to attack, some parents will turn their behavior toward the children, who will already feel abandoned by their parent who left. Sorry if this describes your situation - there are no easy decisions here.

I know people who have weathered truly awful partners just to be there for their children.

But you haven't actually been in such a situation yourself?

Let's put it this way: If your partner is so awful to be around that you can't stand to be around them, how could you imagine divorcing and leaving your kids to handle that person all by themselves? The worse the person is the more you have to stay to offer some protection to the children. The only exception would be if you could they are unfit and ensure sole custody for yourself.

Regarding this case, it looks like Fukuhara was romantically involved with a Japanese man during her marriage, and the precipitated the divorce. She is not looking good.

Don't get divorced or at least wait until kids are in high school

This true. I know people who have weathered truly awful partners just to be there for their children. I believe that nobody should divorce if they have young children, except in extreme cases where the divorce is actually for the benefit of the children (for example, an abusive parent or unstable household environment for kids). Too many parents think of themselves before they think of their children. It only takes one to destroy the family.

There are always two sides to every story. I have heard of many foreign fathers treating their children badly, which is the reason for the rules to deny contact. 

Then you may also have heard that many women lie about this to gain an advantage in divorce or custody. It happens to Japanese fathers as well. Women's shelters do nothing at all to verify a woman's story. It's understandable, but it also allows liars to abuse the system and harm their children and husband.

The ones who disrupt are non-conformists and exactly what Japan needs.

Uh...no. That would describe a minority of the disruptors. Most are just kids with the attention span of a gnat, the curiosity of a brick, and a constant need for reassurance. If they were that clever and disruptive at the same time, they would have already quit school.

here are folks like you an me who care about Japan enough to look at it critically rather than with rose-tinted glasses

Those folks you describe would be critical enough to want to know the facts rather just running off impressions from how many news stories they have seen. Crime statistics are publicly available and can be found with a simple Google search.

And if you want to talk about Japan exceptionalists, let's not leave out the "Japan is much worse than everyone thinks" crowd who leap at every crime or incident and extrapolate that to all of Japan going heck in a handbasket.

Who knew people could get so excited about how many other people watched a game on TV?

Somehow I do not see people becoming huge fans of AI. It is the real people that put part of themselves into their art that draws people to the movies and television. 

Being a musician, would like to think so. But I also know most people don't want real art with feelings and creativity. They want a cute singer and a catchy riff. AI characters are already beating out real people in online porn, and that industry has usually been the harbinger of what's to come.

Sure there will be market for real artists, but it will be a lot smaller than most people expect.

The music industry is a young man's game and nobody wants to see geriatric rockers like the Rolling Stones 

In 2021- "Rolling Stones had the highest-grossing tour of the year, earning over $115 million and selling over 516,000 tickets for 12 shows across 11 cities". Harry Styles came in a distant 2nd.

Music is a young man's game, eh?

They are fighting a losing battle. Sure they should be paid if someone uses AI to replicate their voice exactly. But that won't be necessary. AI will come with original voices that can't be exactly matched to one person. I think all actors are in trouble, not just voice actors. The next Tom Cruise or Bad Pitt may be completely computer generated - and owned by whoever produces the movie. They will have a bankable star that never complains, never rejects a script, can make multiple movies at the same time and, best of all, doesn't need to be paid.

A movie about a doll. The dumbing down is on overdrive.

Toy Story was all about dolls, as I recall. A well-written story can be about anything. No reason to judge Barbie, Oppenheimer, or any movie until you've seen it.

It’s murder. If the baby was born in a proper hospital, she could have born normal.

You seem to have information that nobody else has. Perhaps you should contact the prosecutors and judge and clue them in.

I was told by sulking teenagers that nobody is interested in the women’s World Cup. It’s almost like they’ve been completely misinformed.

Men's World Cup gets 100s of millions, and over a billion for the finals. So, figuratively speaking, 6 million can be described as nobody in that context. I am glad when people can make money doing what they love, but there is simply no reason that women soccer players' pay should be compared to men's soccer. Nothing to do with hate - just simple economics.

Free speech and freedom of thought are fundamental rights of all mankind. No religion should ever abridge these.

Unless it's "hate speech" or "misinformation" right?

Imagine no religion

There will always be religion. Those who say they are not religious will still believe fervently in something unfounded. It's human nature. A good religion reins in some of the worst human impulses. A bad one encourages them.

I wonder about the logic of being so secretive about the actual medical condition. People will assume that it must be terribly embarrassing. Ricard Gere and gerbils comes to mind.

All four young women easily clear ¥1 million a month ... and probably don't declare any of it to the tax authorities. That's illegal as well.

You read this, and whether they pay taxes is your biggest concern? I really don't understand people sometimes. Should the tax authorities go after struggling prostitutes now?

Because press freedom indicates the US is still quite free.

https://rsf.org/en/index

And public spending was not used to buy support any more than the tax cuts were under Trump.

Ha! Number 45 and falling. "We're number 45!" doesn't have the same ring as "We're number 1!"

If you believe public spending isn't used to buy support, I have a bridge to sell you. And lastly, tax cuts mean the government will let you keep more of the money you earn whereas public spending means the government takes money you earn and gives it to someone else - quite often for political benefit or kick-backs. Different things entirely.

Japanese curry is rubbish.

Vague blanket condemnations are always convincing, eh?

There are many kinds of Japanese curries, like there are many kinds of Indian curries and Thai curries. It shows a lack of discernment to say an entire cuisine is rubbish. People are free to dislike whatever foods they choose to dislike, but it's just extreme narcissism to say that things one doesn't like are therefore rubbish.

Maybe she fancies him, dunno why, I’m better looking and taller,

But are you famous and worth 600 million dollars?

Funny. The author is American but no mention of America going down this same road, including public spending being used to buy support. She knows who butters her bread.

Bet it wasnt the first time she nagged on him. 

A little marriage advice for you: If you come crawling home drunk at 5am without telling your wife you would be late and she doesn't complain, it's because she just sent her boyfriend home at 4am.