Posts are in chronological order, but with the newest at the top. Dates posted are in parens after the note.
The fast-breeder Monju reactor facility is finally going to be shut down — after many trouble-plagued years. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the government says it is going to build a new facility to carry on the tradition and build upon the results achieved. This even though the tradition has been one of failure and the “results achieved” should really be “lessons learned” and argue against pouring more money down this bottomless pit. But of course, as one commentator pointed out, if they pulled the plug on this concept, they would have to think seriously about what to do with all of that spent nuclear fuel.
(December 22, 2016)
Yes, PM Abe does some foolish things, including insisting that the bill to legalize casinos (what they are calling integrated resorts, which does not mean busing non-Japanese in but means putting gambling, hot springs, and other “entertainment” all together in one corrupt place) be passed within the next week. This at the same time that there has been very little Diet time spent on it and the polls show most people are asking “what’s the rush?” Totally unnecessary, likely a bad idea even if it were done slowly, but a wonderful “this will kick-start the economy” distraction for people who do not notice how many other Abenomics kick-starts have been duds.
That said, I do think the decision to visit Pearl Harbor is a good one. Of course, he has to say he is not going to apologize. Just as Obama’s visit to Hiroshima was not to apologize. But even without that, it is a chance to put the war in the third person (such a tragedy should never be repeated) and burnish his “man of peace” credentials even as the government sends Japanese troops into harm’s way in Southern Sudan and probably elsewhere in line with the war powers act that was rammed through the Diet last year. This act, you will recall, authorizes the forces to come to America’s defense anywhere the U.S. is attacked — like Afghanistan or Syria, but probably not New York City. So it (the visit to Pearl Harbor) is a smart thing to do and the last days of the Obama administration are probably the last best chance to do it.
Have no idea what Boss Tweet is saying or will say about this — most likely demand an apology, since Pearl Harbor was arguably ruder than the Hamilton cast’s speech to the Vice President — but he will do that regardless of whether Abe goes or not. And now Abe will be able to say, “been there, done that.” Good play.
(December 7, 2016)
If you want to encourage tourism, should you feature something that only you can do, or should you do the same thing everyone else is doing and can be done anywhere. Plush resorts with casinos are in the latter category.
(December 3, 2016)
For some reason, the post office does not sell the “Kanto” new year’s cards in Tokyo and Kanagawa, both of which are part of Kanto. 一都六県の関東に含まれているはずの東京都・神奈川県で「関東版」絵入り年賀状が購入出来ない。郵便局の何番目の不思議か。
(November 28, 2016)
企業・団体献金を中止した時に政党交付金を生活保護的なものとして導入した以上、企業・団体献金を再び収取する政党の交付金は打切るべきである。
(November 26, 2016)
There was a small (quarter-page?) ad in the paper this morning with a picture of Sakurai Yoshiko, a bit of text explaining why Japan should keep pouring money down the Monju (fast-breeder reactor) drain, and information on an organization that Sakurai heads that thinks the Monju is a really good idea and just needs a bit more work. Why was I not surprised? Why do I suspect their next cause is to have Japan made permanent member of the UN Security Council? After all, this is someone who thinks the Emperor should not be allowed to retire and should live the rest of his life in secluded prayer for the nation rather than wasting his energy going out and meeting people.
(November 16, 2016)
In a recent thread I cannot find now, a friend said of someone he did not identify by name that she should quit chasing her dream and get a real job. What are the implications of that? What does that say about “real jobs”? That they are not what you want to do? That’s the definition of a “real job”?
And his comment also called to mind the advice a number of outstanding translators and interpreters have gotten: quit doing that and get a real job. One top-of-the-profession interpreter friend, for example, was told that he should leave interpreting to women and get a real job.
What is this “real job” nonsense?
(November 11, 2016)
A question for my music-playing friends: We were at a piano concert yesterday and I noticed a lot of page-turning. With tablets so convenient, though, why isn’t the sheet music scanned in to a powerpoint presentation and then rolled through as a slide show? Would save a lot of page-turning, and you could put everything you need in there. Is there some reason musicians still use paper while performing? (Yes, I realize it is difficult to mark up ppt slides, but I assume you could do all the mark-up on paper before you scan it in.)
Follow-up discussion pointed out that such devices are already in use, but not widely.
(October 31, 2016)
「我が党においては（１９５５年の）結党以来、強行採決をしようと考えたことはない」
Just wanted to get this October 17 gem from PM Abe up before it disappears from the official record of the Diet committee deliberations.
(October 20, 2016)
In one of the all-time stupidest ideas, it is reported that the IOC Olympic bureaucrats have suggested considering Korea if the Tokyo site for 2020 boat events does not work out. Cost over-runs have prompted Tokyo to suggest a site in Miyagi prefecture. The IOC and other boat people have objected that Miyagi is too far away and would be too inconvenient for both athletes and fans. So instead, they are considering Korea? The maybe-candidate Korean site is closer to Tokyo than the Miyagi site is? People really should think about what they are saying before they open their mouths.
(October 18,2016)
そもそも、日本の台所を豊洲の汚染地に移転する事を誰が決定したか。移転先を何故豊洲に決定したか。そこまで遡って検証する必要があると思う。
(September 28, 2016)
A question for people who have or manage companies in Japan:
When the “my number” system was put in place, it was explained that this single number would take care of all of our number needs. So it was not that surprising to find that even companies got numbers (for opening bank accounts, for filing taxes, for dental check-ups, and the like). [Yes, that last one is a lie, since I assume only humans get dental check-ups on health insurance. Sorry.]
So why, today, did a company I manage get a 整理番号 (number to help us keep track of you) from the tax office. It is completely different from the company’s “my number.” If we have one, why would we need the other? One was my number and the other is their number? Redundancy is robust? Is anybody in charge here?
(September 17, 2016)
Hesitate to ask, but:
You know all that grossly contaminated dirt they took out of the Toyosu site? Where’d they put it?
(September 16, 2016)
A new Diet session will start on the 26th. Given all of the screaming and shouting over Renho, the Dems should take this opportunity to introduce a bill making dual citizenship flat-out illegal (which it is not now), including meaningful penalties. Put people on the spot. Is dual okay or not? Should it be illegal or not? And not just for this or that uppity individual but across the board. What does the LDP think? What does the Ministry of Justice think? Make a decision: legal or illegal.
(September 14, 2016)
小池知事が都幹部に指示した緊張感・スピード感・責任感が「三感運動」に発展しても悪くないと思います。
(September 12, 2016)
Have seen a news report that the government wants to redefine “beer” in connection with raising the tax on the many “not-beer” beers. But rather than tinkering with this little corner, why not fix the liquor tax overall by saying the tax is proportionate to how much alcohol is in the food/drink product regardless of what else is in there. Same tax rate for beer, vodka, wine, shouchuu, whiskey bon-bons, and anything else that has alcohol in it. Or is that too simple for the bureaucrats? Or is the problem with politicians and their voter bases?
(September 9, 2016)
年金未払い問題関連新聞記事によれば
『判明していながら対応できていないミスは、別に５５０６件あるという。１５年度中に未払いへの対応が多かったことについて、担当者は「過去にさかのぼって多額の年金を支払うケースが増えたのではないか」と説明している。』
お言葉ですが、「か」で終わる説明は説明と言えません。「か説」に過ぎません。
(September 2, 2016)
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I see the SEALDs group is going to formally disband tomorrow.
Hats off to them for coming together and doing such good work in raising public awareness of the issues. They did not win every battle, but I doubt they ever expected to. They were speaking out. This is what democracy looks like. Standing ovation time.
(August 14, 2016)
Thinking about the Emperor’s desire to retire before long, it should not matter that there are no regulations covering this contingency and that the Imperial Household Agency and the rest of the govt bureaucracy does not know how to respond to this. They can take all the time they need. He just needs to call in sick everyday. “Feeling a bit under the weather today. Have the Crown Prince do it.” Call in with headaches and other things they cannot measure/refute. “Feel a headache coming on. Have the Crown Prince do it.”
(July 14, 2016)
都知事選を考えますと宇都宮氏が出馬するのも良いと思います。３回目ではありますが、だからこそ言える事があります。「これで３回目だ。１回目は皆さんが 猪瀬氏を選んでしまった。それで良かったのか。２回目は皆さんが舛添氏を選んでしまった。それもそれで良かったか。もう、いい加減に学習してわたしを選び なさい！！」
(July 12, 2016)
Have never been that much of a fan, but think Koike is playing a very good game.
(July 6, 2016)
Regrettable henkan error when the 民進党 talks about sending the LDP a 後悔質問.
(July 3, 2016)
Personally, I suspect it is a good thing that the government pension investment fund (年金積立金管理運用独立行政法人 [GPIF]) is allowed to invest more in equity. I would be disappointed if it turned out this change was primarily so GPIF funds could prop up the market and make Abenomics look good, but if it was simply in the expectation that the stock market would be a good long-term investment, it makes sense.
That said, why are they located in some of the most expensive office space in Tokyo (Toranomon Hills)? If they are just moving money around, they could be in Saitama, Kanagawa, Gunma, Okinawa, or anywhere else that has good connectivity. Do they really need that high-rent location?
(July 1, 2016)
Listening to the news, I heard a report that fewer young people say they want to get married. That’s right. The question they were asked was simply: “Do you want to get married?” No mention of to whom. Not “Is there some specific person you want to marry?” Just a blanket: Do you want to get married? Almost as though: Do you want to get married and you don’t really care who it is? Anyone will do?
A really stupid question. Almost as stupid as asking “Do you think the Constitution should be revised?” when the real question should be “Are there specific changes you would like to make in the Constitution?” Because unless there are specific places you want to change, you are just advocating change for the sake of change. You have fallen in love not with a real person but with the idea of love. If you don’t have specifics, the question is more than a little like “Do you want to buy this pig sight unseen?”
(June 22, 2016)
For my Japan-based friends: I am thinking this Masuzoe uproar is to the LDP-Komei’s advantage in that it (1) gives them a chance to say “we’re on the people’s side” by feigning outrage and (2) provides a distraction from the more serious, more outrageous Amari scandal.
(June 7, 2016)
Seeing the wall-to-wall coverage of the G7 summit, I skip over the theater and wonder why the EU has two people there at the table. Not France, Germany, Italy, and the UK (for the time being) as EU members but the EU itself has two people there. How come?
(May 26, 2016)
So why don’t we have affinity cards in Japan? Or do we?
Affinity cards, as you know, are credit cards that also carry an organization’s logo and that give the organization a little kick-back every time someone uses the card. (The issuer benefits because people loyal to the organization are more likely to use the card, plus it’s publicity.) They seem to be good for both the card issuer and the affiliate organization. So where are they in Japan?
(May 20, 2016)
Interesting story in the paper today that 総務省が１７日発表した２０１５年の家計調査報告で、２人以上の世帯の平均貯蓄が１８０５万円で過去最高になったことがわかった。前年比０・４％増で、増 加は３年連続だ。ただ、３分の２の世帯は平均を下回る貯蓄しかなく、一部の富裕層の貯蓄増が全体を押し上げている。(Survey of households with two or more members showed their average liquid savings is Y18million. This is up 04% from the previous year, the third straight y-o-y increase. But 2/3 have less than the average, meaning that the rich-households minority is pulling up the average.) [“liquid savings” are savings, stocks, and the like, but not real estate assets]
Why are single-member households not included?
(May 18, 2016)
With the relevant people saying those Olympic payments were standard payments for consultancy contracts and the like — everything on the up and up — I’m sure the contracts and the payments are all listed in the financial reports the committee filed for those years. If someone would just go back and look, it’s all there.
No, I don’t believe it either.
(May 13, 2016)
Much ado about the Panama Papers, but that’s just people/companies doing with their money what they do in other areas as well — go where the regulations are laxer. Make stuff where wages are lower. Dump waste where environmental regulations are laxer. Headquarter your money where taxes are nil. Just another facet of what they see as the race to top and what is the race to the bottom for the rest of us.
(April 27, 2016)
If there is a rush to free up money for Kumamoto relief, why go the supplemental budget route? Why bother drawing a new budget up, submitting it to the Diet, debating it, and all the other time-consuming things that are involved in passing it? Why not just use some of the contingency money from the current budget? Or are there other things people want to put in the supplemental budget and pass under the “for Kumamoto” banner?
(April 23, 2016)
For friends in the Tokyo area (and perhaps beyond): Just got a phone call from an undisclosed number claiming to be the central post office 中央郵便局. Voice on the other end was a tape saying mail I had sent could not be delivered and I should push 1 to find out what the story is. So I pushed 1, started to talk, and the other side hung up. So I called the post office and asked what the story is. They said they do not make such calls and I should just hang up if it happens again.
I suspect, looking back, that it is somebody wanting to talk with gullible old people willing to shell out money to clear up this imaginary trouble, but I mention it here to my non-old, non-gullible friends so it will not be a surprise if you get a robot calling to tell you about an undeliverable mail problem.
(April 22, 2016)
PM Abe was asked recently in the Diet if he favors reducing the number of House of Representatives seats. In response, he said he is concerned for the people who would lose their representation. Of course, these people would not be disenfranchised. The redrawing of district lines would simply put them in a different election district and they would perhaps end up with a different representative. But Abe is pretending concern for what he calls people in regions that would lose their representation and hence have no way to express themselves on national political issues. As he phrased it「地域の人々は自分たちの代表を失う、自分たちの声が届かなくなっていく」
If he were really worried about people not having a voice, he would be pushing for redistricting so all votes would carry equal weight — so the number of representatives from a district is actually proportional to the number of eligible voters in the district. However, that would mean taking seats away from rural districts where the LDP is entrenched and shifting them to urban districts where it is less of a sure thing for the LDP. So he’s dragging his feet here. He’s not worried that these people cannot make their voices heard.
(February 7, 2016)
Some of the companies that publish textbooks have actually shown the pre-approval texts to real teachers and even sometimes reimbursed the teachers for their time. The Ministry that approves textbooks is not amused. And it is even less amused at the reports that some of these companies have sent the standard mid-summer and year-end gifts to people on the textbook-screening committee. Why, such gifts might influence the committee members and might subvert the deliberations. Horror of horrors. Time for an investigation to keep the process pure.
Meanwhile, we are told that the slush funds that politicians get do not influence their behavior — and of course the long years of substantial funding from the electric power companies in no way influences the nuclear regulatory people. Apparently because these are powerful people, and we all know that the powerful are pure of heart and uncorruptible.
(January 22, 2016)
Reading/hearing about the North Korean nuclear test, I am wondering: What ever happened to those six-party talks? Who is convening/chairing them? What’s up, chair, with your massive influence there?
(January 6, 2016)