DenTok2009 comments

Gyomu Super used to sell Cal Rose. I don’t buy rice regularly, but a few weeks ago, I took a good look and noticed that it was either sold out or no longer available.

I hope she’s working because she genuinely enjoys cutting hair. But if she’d rather spend her time doing something else—or even just relax—but has to work out of financial necessity, I wish the reporter had covered that aspect.

falseflagsteve, I immediately thought of Fatal Attraction. If you haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil it for you.

I relied on Skype to call my bank's automated service. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and make an international call after May...

Gold bars are incredibly heavy! A standard gold bar, often referred to as a "Good Delivery" bar, weighs around 12.4 kilograms (27.4 pounds). Even smaller bars can be surprisingly dense because gold is one of the heaviest metals.

If someone was carrying a tote bag with multiple gold bars, it would be extremely heavy—probably not the easiest thing to steal and run off with! Maybe the bars were smaller ones, but still, the weight would add up quickly. That’s wild someone would try that!

only people who know how to repair the machines are in their 70s or older

I'm curious how much they're being paid. With jeans priced at 30,000 yen and higher, is the company relying on cheap labor? A co-worker who handled the books once mentioned that older employees receiving pensions aren't paid as much because they have pension income. That really annoyed me—pay should reflect the duties, not the person's situation

Is it completely out of the question for him to raise his prices to cover wages and other costs? Or would most of his customers abandon him for a cheaper supplier?

If the daycare is free, does that mean the employees are paid low wages?

What is it deep-fried in? Lard, coconut oil, or something else?

I can't imagine a child using such a beautiful backpack just for books or a parent spending 500,000 yen on it. But if kids were carrying the samurai or Fugaku (a new word for me; I didn't know it was another name for Mt. Fuji), those backpacks would likely be kept well beyond elementary school. I could even see people buying them as fashion accessories. If I had the money for it, I’d buy both!

I think those 59% of private universities may eventually need to close. Prospective students could try for admission to other private universities that remain open, or consider enrolling in vocational schools. I wonder whether these universities offered similar degrees, and what types of degrees those were.

Japan is proud of "gaman". Add to that, "shouganai"... I can imagine those who are in dire circumstances being happy, telling themselves and others that they are happy because blah blah.

I'm really impressed by her calm, cool, and collected demeanor. It's great that she took charge of the situation and successfully subdued the criminal. If I were in her shoes, 23-year-old me might have just stood by, hoping someone else would step in to assist the clerk and tackle the shoplifter.

@Roten I wish she had been in an air-conditioned booth. If she was there as a princess fulfilling her royal duties, then I get why she had to wear what she did (if that were so, then I’d love to see her with her tiara, ha, ha). But if she was just there to watch the game in person, why not wear something more comfortable for the weather and maybe invite a friend or two?

@itsonlyrocknroll I like that she gave her sister a hug when Mako left the palace for good. Mako was bowing to her parents, and then she went to Kako and Kako smiled as she embraced Mako. I felt both girls were told what to do, but Kako was screw this, I'm going to hug my sister!

@Geeter Mckluskie Thanks for sharing that. For some reason, I always assumed religious organizations everywhere were offering meals and shelter. I once knew someone who mentioned that the Hare Krishna provide tasty vegetarian meals to anyone. Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army also offer beds, though only for a limited time and to a lucky few. I didn’t realize there weren’t any private organizations in Canada, or specifically in Toronto, when you were a teen. Maybe there were, but they had limited funding or weren’t well known...

Those in need are everywhere, but I wonder if families who can only afford to bathe once a week are concentrated in specific areas. If a significant number of people struggling with bills and groceries were in one town, then a sento or a business offering cheap or free public bath passes would be a godsend for individuals and families. However, if this were done through the city office, some people might be outraged or demand they receive passes as well. On the other hand, the individuals or families receiving the passes might feel embarrassed, thinking that everyone knows their situation.

I saw a TikTok video that was also posted on X and YouTube, where kids and adults played a game where the winners received food, juice, and water as prizes. The prizes were in bulk, so it wasn’t just a one-time treat—things like a bag of rice or beans, and cases of juice and water. The games weren’t easy—you had to be athletic for some and have good skills, like getting the ball into the basket. Just musing on different ways to help the people mentioned in the article...

Princess Kako is likely accustomed to being photographed while attending events, but I can't help but wish she could truly enjoy moments like this with a couple of friends by her side, dressed casually and free from the formality. The men surrounding her, all in suits with that 'I'm on the job, entertain me' look, are clearly just the hired help.

@Geeter Mckluskie When you were 15 and homeless, you didn't get much help from governmental organizations or private ones? I discussed welfare benefits with a German, and he told me that the German government has pretty good benefits, but the Swedish government pays out even better. You just show your ID. Japan has more options than Canada?

Years ago, one of my co-workers at a warehouse, where one of the junior managers constantly yelled, "Hurry up!/早く, 早く" and then in the next breath, "DO NOT RUN!走るな", mentioned that this job was the only one she could land because of her age. In this land of "genki" where youth is prized, I wish I could create jobs with good wages for the elderly and disabled who want to work and create a stress-free environment.

I like the idea of someone or an organization taking over and running things. They could hire a small core staff and supplement them with volunteers. In exchange for free housing and meals, volunteers would be responsible for feeding, watering, and cleaning up after the cats. This setup could be ideal for "in-betweeners"—people who are done with traditional jobs but not yet eligible for a pension, enjoy the company of cats, and don’t mind relocating for a unique opportunity.

To successfully populate the island, establishing the necessary infrastructure is crucial. Is there a reliable water source, such as a municipal supply, or are the residents reliant on well water? Is the island connected to an electrical grid, or do the current inhabitants depend on generators for power? Additionally, could a new company step in to operate a ferry service, providing transportation for both residents and potential businesses?

Another important consideration is real estate. I wonder if the land is relatively affordable for now, creating an opportunity for early investors before the area develops further and prices rise. Addressing these factors will be key to fostering sustainable growth.

When all the residents are gone, will the island be up for sale?

Thanks, iron man. Did you work for the city or through a contractor? The pay must've been very good, as it's at night. All you need is a license, as you learn on the job what buttons to push or levers to press, right?

Does anyone know the specific roles of each vehicle? Is the 'advance vehicle' just a truck with a sign that says 'Caution! Street Sweeping in Progress' (in Japanese, of course)? Does the water sprinkler truck simply spray water, while the road sweeper collects the slushy debris? And does the dump truck haul away the debris afterward?

Are those flowers that the Prince thought she would like or likes? Or is it a color scheme that Kiko likes? Or did the powers that be, put some thought and decided that bouquet should be the one she should be holding?

I worked with a kid who was getting his degree in law from a prestigious university. He didn't have any qualms about signing off on something he didn't do. Another teen co-worker who was going to another prestigious school told me he wouldn't mind signing off as it's not a big deal, but he did the task because he didn't mind doing it. Anyway, I think most teens, whether they are going to school or not, have a cavalier attitude about responsibilities.

I imagined the teen working at Nishinari Post Office in Osaka City thought, no one will know that I didn't deliver the mail until I read "a resident living near the post office found a stack of mail left between an apartment building and a house. Two days earlier, it was discovered that the postal worker had left postcards, letters and other items in multiple locations in his area of ​​responsibility." then, I thought, how could he think no one will find out?!

I'll check out the trailers for AJ singing.

Kinda sorta reminds me of people relocating to Boulder, Colorado. They want to live up in the mountains but complain about deer eating their flowers and mountain lions roaming around eying their pets for a snack. On one hand, they want to live out in nature. On the other hand, they don't appreciate nature nearby.

But unlike the houses in Carmel-By-The-Sea, those days may soon be numbered.

I'm guessing the writer meant Storybrooke. The fictitious town in Once Upon A Time.

@tigerjane I didn't know that families of children in orphanages worry about the family register. So, the children know who they are? I mean, they can just request the family register and see who their parents are? (I am thinking of children who were given up as infants... Do some parents give up their baby at birth?)

Thanks, Hawk. Good to know!

I was told that using the bicycle bell is against the law. Is that true? My bell was stolen (I paid around a 1,000 yen for it instead of just buying a cheap one from Daiso) and I was griping about it to my doctor. He told me that it's against the law to use it. I asked him if that was true, why are bicycles equipped with bells? He shrugged.

I used the bicycle lanes, although sometimes there are vehicles that are parked, so I have to use the car lane.

I love quail eggs. Wonder what the story behind the choking was. I mean, was the student busy stuffing his face or was there a contest on how fast one could eat?

Hey Steve, (thumbs up!) thanks. I'm kinda sorta doing keto and intermittent fasting. I lost weight during the lockdown. Then I started putting on the weight around March and put my head in the sand for a couple of months.