there's also that briton that decided to go skinny-dipping in the imperial palace moat last week.... ( View formatted comment » )
i am a 2nd gen canadian-japanese. my japanese probably isnt as fluent as danny's but i am tolerated rather well. i will assume danny gets by rather easily too. unless he has one of those atrocious gaikokujin-accents.
granted, i am subject to the same cultural expectations as a native japanese than a visible foreigner. ie: my family freaked when i wore the bathroom slippers out of the bathroom yet they'd just chuckle and laugh it off if a caucasian were to do so. ( View formatted comment » )
American as a term, is a nationality description. When they say Japanese only, they truly only mean Japanese only. No Chinese, No Koreans. So in all intents and purposes, its the same as the 'Whites only/ Colored only' signs. Its flat out racism. Simple as that, just like segregation.
Cultural preservation is simply an euphemism for isolation. Its not just to foreigners (as in internationals) but even within Japan. New neighbours are not tolerated simply because they didnt grow up in the area. Taking DECADES to assimilate if... ( View formatted comment » )
"I think it's fine for Nihon-jin to have places where they can get a break from us."
thats a dangerous sentiment. and where will be the end of that slippery slope? the US has had it before, its called segregation and look at the effects that still lingers today. japanese people indeed have a place where they can find isolation. they have their homes. once this no-foreigner/japanese-only notion reaches into public society it has transcended from personal distaste for foreigners (which is perfectly ok as due their personal... ( View formatted comment » )
hmm no edit function..
slight error in that last sentence
forget the brothels/maid cafes. there are even japanese-only hotels/restaurants. ( View formatted comment » )
japan is a very racist country - in the facet of government policy. they do not tolerate foreigners very well at all. not even 2nd generation canadian-japanese such as myself. danny hasnt mentioned any of it yet but there are a multitude of hoops and rings foreigners have to jump through just to maintain a basic semblance of life here. the UN recently released a white paper warning japan as one of the worst offenders of human rights for a highly developed country.
these signs are everywhere as japan shockingly does not have an anti-d... ( View formatted comment » )
gotta be careful danny, that right greave is dirty. your trooper squad sgt will get pissed. ( View formatted comment » )
there's the gion matsuuri in kyoto that i go every year. probably the biggest one for all of the summer matsuuri in kansai. ( View formatted comment » )
a few zip ties to clean up that mess of wires under the tables? ( View formatted comment » )
I'm against capital punishment on principle. All arguments for it are seen to not stand up after logical examination. Seems execution only provides a brief feeling of vindication. Here's the paradox of capital punishment
Premise: Human judgment is fallible. Sooner or later or it may have already occurred, an innocent will be executed.
So if we execute that one innocent. Society as a whole are murderers and we all need to go. ( View formatted comment » )
awesomesauce.
im getting a pair. ( View formatted comment » )
hmm women only cars were already a dangerous precedent. an unfortunate necessity but a violation on personal liberty.
mens only is downright silly. whats next? japanese only? foreigners only?
you've two hands. its not a difficult concept and one that even this gaijin has figured out. use one to hold the rail/rings. use the other to hold a book/newspaper even if you dont plan to read or know how to read. ( View formatted comment » )
comparing osaka to los angeles is apples to oranges. even if it is the seediest place in japan it wont compare to LA.
there is a skid row, but its not anywhere near the tourist or business areas. with all the koban around these places, the homeless are usually in the outskirts of the city. ( View formatted comment » )
this is complete bunk. i had to sign up just so i could post this. as a canadian ex-pat that has lived in both osaka and tokyo, long have i known of the kansai bashing from tokyo based media outlets.
osaka is safe, its clean (for a city of that many millions), the ... ( View formatted comment » )
