Hello Kitty 321 comments

@Ossan

America currently has troops illegally stationed in Syria where they are busy making Syrian oil their own, which I think comes under the heading of invading another country.

@Fighto

But America has been involved in more invasions since the Second World War than anybody else, not to mention overthrowing various governments around the world. So surely it is the poster child for NOT following "rules-based International order".

Meanwhile most of the tinned dog food on sale in Japan is produced in China

It means 'Do as we say, not as we do.'

Why make such a fuss? The Japanese have worn masks for the last 100 years so why should they have to stop now just because some foreigners like to whine about it?

It is lucky that the Japanese government doesn’t include food price increases when calculating inflation

More that 170 mass-shootings so far this year. It is a pity that American freedom does not include freedom from being shot.

Perhaps they feel threatened. China 'only' has 410 nukes while the U.S., which is increasingly acting like an enemy, possesses 5,428.

@Xavier

It is not just dictators, America seems to share that blind spot too.

From its introduction, we have been told that the consumption tax is to pay for social welfare so it seems strange that there should be a shortage of money.

@Yubaru

The article says she came to Japan in October so it is unlikely in the extreme to be the 'President's' child.

He should have been fired, not allowed to resign and collect his minister's pension.

It is lucky that the do not include food when calculating inflation because food inflation over the last year is 7.8%

https://tradingeconomics.com/japan/food-inflation

＠cleo

No, the pension is not necessarily finished at death, there is a 'bereaved family pension' if the other family members are receiving no pension.

@wallace

It is only that cheap if you die in your registered domicile. My wife died last year and what with dry ice etc., while we waited for a slot at the crematorium, it cost ¥300,000 with no service or any trimmings.

As Christen says, the US glorifies murder. It seems that there is hardly an American program on the TV that does not feature people running around with guns and shooting people.

If people there were not allowed to have guns, there would probably be less shootings.

@TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 07:44 am JST

"As a lawless state, the PRC isn't quite clear on why they can't abduct people in other countries."

But the US abducts people in other countries and locks them up in Cuba so it must be okay—part of their 'Rules-based Order' I suppose.

They are only rules until the US decides to change them.

It would be better if the government gave its money to the poor and homeless instead of Ukraine and the US arms industry

@ Carl

Russia is a European country

What international rules? When has America ever bothered to abide by any rules?

Russia has already stated that it considers Crimea part of Russia and that it will employ nukes to defend every part of Russia. There can be no stepping back from this position or nukes loose all meaning as a deterrent.

@kohakuebisu

No, they are not a de facto trade barrier, there is nothing to stop other countries from producing them if they want. I am sure that they would sell in other Asian countries too, just like the Japanese one do.

Whad'ya Know, English has quite a few words too!

holiday

vacation

break

time off

festival

recess

furlough

sabbatical

day off

leave of absence

day away

long weekend

@theFuToday

You also forgot Saudi Arabia.

There wasn't a Taiwan Issue until America started stirring things up. Both China and Taiwan were quite happy with the status quo.

"Wrongfully detained?" What about Assange or the people in Guantanamo? What do you call them?

”Whelan was left out of a December prisoner exchange that saw the United States and Russia trade WNBA star Brittney Griner for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms trafficker.”

Surely that should read, "Whelan was left out of a December prisoner exchange that saw the United States and Russia trade convicted drug smuggler, Brittney Griner, for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms trafficker.

And yet they still tell us that, 'Despite public concerns, data clearly shows that nuclear power is a much safer energy source than fossil fuels.'