Wellington comments

Nippon Nippon Nippon Nippon Nippon Nippon Nippon Nippon...............................!!!!!

A nice tribute written my Mr. Leicester.

She was one of a kind, a really neat lady.

So sorry that she is gone.

76 is still so young.

Rest in peace.

I have always loved the how they celebrate Valentine's Day in Japan.

The custom of 義理チョコ　”Giri choco" translated by Wiki as "obligation chocolate" is one I have always looked forward to and really enjoyed, as the quality of chocolate here in Japan is quite nice.

I try to keep a tab and respond on "White day" to those who gave me something.

Turning the phone off before bed is a great idea.

I really don't know why I have kept it on.

Other than that I love the technology.

To be able to control the thermostat, to have an accurate reading of my heartbeat during workout, to be able to remote start my car on a cold winter morning are all things that I can do from my phone.

What's not to like ?

Why does this old man still get press ?

I understand respect for the aged is a good thing but there are limits.

Brave person.

I hope she writes about this and sells her story to a progressive entertainment outlet.

Her story would make a great 90-minute made for TV special.

I was confused by this.

I subscribe to the digital version of the NY Times, Washington Post, Japan Times and other newspapers.

Should I have entered "Newspaper" or "Online News Site" ?

It's about time Japan woke up to the reality of China and North Korea and start making preparations to defend their own country once again.

Possibly even consider arming themselves with nukes.

Hilarious !

This reminds me of a scene from an awesome 2003 Aussie movie, "Gettin' Square" with Sam Worthington and David Wenham.

One of the inmates tells the parole board that he has learned a lot in prison. If he is released he realizes now he must be polite with his next victims and arrive at the crime scene in a timely manner.

The boss of the parole board thanks the convict, turns and asks her colleagues, "Who is running our Recidivism Program now ?

f the tolls help control congestion I am all for them.

Depending where you live, car travel can be a lot more convenient than other means of transportation.

From our house in the "Inaka" it takes about 2 hours on the Joban Expressway to Shinagawa.

At least double the time that if we took the train.

And it's a lot cheaper.

And probably safer during the pandemic.

If "not commenting" on social media means he can never post anything on social media, are if that agreement is part of the terms of his 5-year suspended sentence for I would not be surprised to see him in prison within five years.

Not a bad idea, but giving companies tax breaks to encourage them to move to the country would accomplish the same.

There are empty schools and other empty government-owned buildings throughout the countryside that would be perfect for IT or service-related companies.

Free rent for the first year or two might be enough incentive for a company to relocate from Tokyo to Ibaraki, Fukushima, or Tochigi.

So glad some perennial all stars are playing on the US squad.

The competition should be up a notch.

Dominica should be strong too.

I wonder if they will use the new "No shift" rules and time clock that are supposed to start with the 2023 season ?

At any rate, looking foward to it. March is not that far away.

I would love to see Japan win again.

I stopped drinking a while ago and have had no problem "bonding" with my Japanese friends. I just don't drink beverages that contain alcohol, and have had just as much fun as I did when I drank. No one really cares any more.

If I am invited to someone's house many are kind enough to "ki wo tsukau" and have Uron Cha or N/A beer or N/A wine for me. A gesture I really appreciate.

Sobriety is a private matter and really no one's business. If you want to drink, drink. If you want to abstain, abstain.

So glad to hear that much of Asia is getting back to normal.

Here's to hoping that 2023 brings good health, prosperity, and happiness to all.

Thank you, Jake.

What a nice thing to do.

Hopefully some families can get answers or closure into the disappearance of loved ones.

I really enjoyed Tokyo Vice.

It was well-written, had top notch acting talent and some great shots of Tokyo and other areas.

I am sure he has been paid well for this little tantrum.

The usual excitement over the World Cup is sorely lacking this time around and it's his fault.

Noble purpose, but unwise business decision.

Other bars will be raking it in.

It's only once every four years and usually such a joyous and exciting time.

It's a shame he could not think of another way to protest.

I hope he does get the nomination because he is guaranteed to lose again!

I know it sounds trite and is totally cliché ish but the best defense is a strong offense.

Japan needs nukes.

Mutual self destruction is the only thing that will get China's, NK's and Russia's attention.

The Russians had over 5,000,000 KIA's in WWII and were instrumental in defeating Hitler and Nazi German.

The Russians are not cowards.

The Northern Islands are basically useless, and uninhabitable.

I wish Japan would tell Russia to keep them.

Who would ever want to live there ?

Before the pandemic I used to be lucky enough to travel to Brasil a couple of times a year.

Brasil is known for vigilante justice, especially to those who harm or abuse children, or crianças.

Not sure if this person is related, but the Robson family owns a number of restaurants in Sao Paulo.

That lovely smile, that sweet voice, and that courageous spirit will be missed.

Rest in peace, Olivia.

I always enjoyed his work and was really surprised when I about the many allegations.

One of this victims was only 18 years old. That is going over the line.

And sort of sick.

The nice thing is we will probably never have to hear this name again.

I had planned on going for "Obon" with my wife, and hang around till the September Sumo tournament or 秋場所。

But is seems like too much trouble to deal with so I am not going.

Wife, who is still going for Obon is relieved that I won't be "following" her to her "Inaka" for Obon. She says going home for Obon is a Mother-daughter" thing, and guys usually don't follow their wives.

So, yes I will be watching the Annual Koshien High School Baseball Tournament and the Sumo tournament from home here in Chicago.

So happy for the Aussie to win his first major!

He sank some unbelievable putts on the final round.

Tough break for McIlroy, he came so close. Good luck in the PGA in August.

I try to avoid the subject or anything that would be remotely against Japan with my wife.

My late father-in-law former Japanese navy, was rescued by the U.S. Navy after they sunk the ship he was assigned to, and spent the rest of the war recuperating at a Naval hospital in Pearl Harbor.

When he gave me permission to marry his only daughter, he cited the humane treatment he had received as a prisoner of war from the Americans.

I regret that I did not talk more about the war to him when he was alive, but he never brought the subject up and I considered myself lucky to have been able to marry his daughter, so I just kept my mouth shut.

The only comments my wife has made was that she understood Hiroshima was necessary to end the war, but Nagasaki was too much and probably could have been avoided.

I served USMC (1967-70) and know that our guys have committed some inhumane acts too so we have never really discussed the matter.

Probably best to leave it that way.

If you want to read about the brain and addiction check out "Never Enough" by Judith Grisel.

It's an account of the neuroscience of addiction with an interesting personal account of her addiction to booze, pot, cocaine etc which she eventually kicked.

Some parts are pretty funny and is a good motivator if you are looking to sober up.

"Prohibition is the trigger of crime" (Ian Fleming)

I live in a state where recreational pot and edibles are legal and I am kinda like "meh" when it comes to lighting up.

I enjoy an edible (5mg THC) once in a while on weekends and it's a nice way to relax but it really ain't that big of a deal.

I hope Thailand prospers financially from this decision and encourages other countries to follow suit.

Their police will be able to shift their attention to "real" criminals now.

By not calling rape what it is, they minimize the trauma the victim went through.

Just by the way they reported here in JT they make the rape seem like something less than it was.

This is pretty typical of how guys control the narrative here in Japan. Women don't have much of a say in what happens and how things are reported even when they are raped.