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InspectorGadget comments

Posted in: New Zealand's unofficial fruit is the feijoa, not the kiwi. And part of the fun is in giving it away See in context

Haa Nemui

Not unusual. Mature trees often produce a large crop one year then a lesser crop for 1-2 years afterwards. We see it here in NZ where we have an absolutely bumper year of huge fruit followed by a couple of lean years.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: New Zealand's unofficial fruit is the feijoa, not the kiwi. And part of the fun is in giving it away See in context

I've probably eaten about 2-3kg of them this season.

What do they taste like?

Part pineapple, sometimes sour, part medicinal. It can be tricky to tell an unripe from a ripe one but generally you will start seeing a little bit of brown in the flesh when they are fullly ripe (as per the photo)

The flavour is polarising and either you love or hate them.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese high school ends tradition of having all students walk 85-kilometer all-night trek See in context

His is bordering on a school sanctioned hazing, requiring all students to walk for 36 hours straight.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Posted in: Casio to release MR-G inspired by world’s largest frog See in context

The off centre dial will drive my OCD insane.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: University student rescued from Mount Fuji twice in one week See in context

Full credit to the S.A.R guys for bailing this idiot out of trouble a second time. Few people think that the Search and Rescue teams go out and put their lives at risk to assist these idiots.

There should be fines levied for 2nd or more rescues in a week, or where ther individual(s) being assisted have not taken resonable precautions (e.g considering the weather forecast, adequate clothing and provisions, telling people of your plans etc)

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Posted in: 'Park' in central Japan recognized by Guinness as world's smallest See in context

It was created so the town hall workers could tell their wives that their personal excercise regieme includes "running 20 laps of the park"

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

Posted in: Taliban seek Japan support for infrastructure, industry development See in context

No. Not until the Taliban adheres to basic human rights. Every dollar they don't spend on infrastructure and develepment is anothe dollar the Taliban can divert to other repressive projects.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Posted in: Kyoto OKs hiking city lodging tax by up to ¥10,000 per night See in context

Good. Yes its a blunt tool which impacts domestic tourism as well, but this is largely being driven by international tourists.

Maybe this will be another thing to disuade the inbound tourism obsession with Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima and get out to visit other areas.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

Posted in: Guests at Fukushima hot-spring resort stranded by avalanche See in context

I can think of worse places to get stuck.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: In 10-hour news conference, Fuji TV execs step down over TV host sexual misconduct scandal See in context

It took the intervention of a foreign investment form (owning 7% of Fuji TV) to pressure them into acting. The absolutly scathing letter is available on the Dalton Investments website here:

https://www.daltoninvestments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FMH-Special-Independent-Committee-English-PffD-version.pdf

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Posted in: Japan's imperial family gets 19 million likes on Instagram in 6 months See in context

Brand new spade with no dirt on it. Brand new boots all round. Only he has dirt on his gloves.

Here, have a spade and hold the takenoko we dug up earlier for the photo.

-5 ( +21 / -26 )

Posted in: 2,663 people died in traffic accidents in 2024, National Police Agency says See in context

There are a number of factors at play here.

1) An aging population and a decreasing birthrate means that Japan is not replacing drivers who are 'aging out'. Additonally, the ability to drive is seen as less of a necessity with the continued drift to the urban centres where public transport rules and parking is at a premium.

2) Japan's stats for driving statistics artifically reduced by the way in which the stats are collated. Deaths which occur as a result of an injury sustained in a traffic accident which occure more than 24 hours after are not counted in the statistics.

3) Most drivers travel less than 8000Km per year which is very low by international standards. Even than, the majority of that driving is low speed, further reducing the liklihood of serious injury.

4) A true test would be to compare the number of fatalities/injures, regardless of how long after the accident they occurred, per 100,000km traveled.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

Posted in: Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London See in context

Can you imaging the logistics involves with creating a dohyo for this tournament and the number of people they will need to fly over to support it and all the traditional crafts required for a sumo tournament.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Mount Fuji tram idea derailed by environmental concerns See in context

If ever there was a case for a Gondola, this is it. Far lower environmental impact, electric, lower maint costs and spectacular for tourists.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese police arrest 4 foreign residents on charges of stealing over 100 cars See in context

Thats one van/truck a week. They have been busy.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: One dead, 3 injured after car driven by 84-year-old woman hits them on Kagoshima sidewalk See in context

I wonder if were going to hear the old "I got confused and hit the accelerator instead f the brake" line again.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Posted in: Australia cancels Lockheed Martin military satellite project See in context

Makes sense. With the Chinese and Russians having demonstrated that they are capable of bringing down satelites with missiles, why would Australia want to put all of its proverbial 'eggs in one basket'

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Railway firm to deploy blade-resistant umbrellas against knife attacks See in context

This is a prime example of doing something, just for the sake of being seen to do something.

They are 'issuing' two special umbrellas per train. Its highly unlikely they will ever be used for anything apart for staying in a secure box/PR function, especially when the trains are up to 16 car long.

Weilding a full sized umbrellla in the confines of a train as a defensive mechanism seem like a poor defensive strategy. Especially if you cant see the assailant.

A collapsible riot shield would seem like a far better fit for this purpose. They are already commercially available, are tied and tested, and would probably work a lot better than an umbrella.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: World’s longest-serving death row inmate acquitted in Japan mulls suing government See in context

Call me cynical, but whats the bet that MoJ string out law suit until he passes away. With his mental decline and being aged 88 the poor guy is unlikely to receive compensation in his lifetime.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

Posted in: Crown princess turns 58 See in context

Heres a bunch of flowers I spontaneously got someone to buy for you.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Posted in: Himeji Castle entry fees set to be hiked for all non-local visitors See in context

I see no problem with this as long as it is really non-locals.

Japan has a tendency just to say all foreigners are non-locals and anyone looking Japanese is local.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: New Zealand nearly triples levy on international tourists See in context

By the time you've spent thousands on airfares, transport and accomodation, NZD$100 is just pocket change, and wont make a difference to tourist numbers.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Jamaica hoping to lure more Japanese travelers See in context

Apart from the rum, reggae and culture, most of those attributes mentioned in the article can be foound at destinations far closer to Japan than Jamaica.

Plus. Who would choose Jamaica as a destination to learn English?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Prize-winning Japanese pianist arrested for stealing ANA cabin attendant's apron See in context

Surely he could have bought this stuff on the internet?

12 ( +18 / -6 )

Posted in: WADA reject cover-up charge; China labels swimming reports 'fake news' See in context

So in summary, 23 Chinese swimmers (not one or two) tested positive for the same drug ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. One would assume these positive tests were administered by a body other than CHINADA.

The CHINADA themselves then investigate and say its a non-issue, and present the results to WADA and World Aquatics, who having nothing else to go on, accept the results.

At least one Chinese swimmer has been caught and punnished for using this performance enhancing drug previously.

Which means one of three things:

1) The tests that CHINADA does are ineffective

2) The tests that CHINADA does are positive and there is indeed a cover-up.

3) 23 Chinese atheles all were contaminated by the *same drug* at the *same time* inbetween the tests that CHINADA administrered and those which caught these cheats out. That would be one hell of a coincidence.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Posted in: Russia withdraws from 2025 World Expo in Japan See in context

Nothing says staged photoshoot like having a group of kids standing on masking tape X's .

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Posted in: Woman arrested for failing to pay for 270-kilometer taxi ride in Iwate Prefecture See in context

So lets say 5pm to sunrise at 5am. 12 hours to travel 270km, which is about 23Km/h.

Something doesn't add up here. Either they stopped, and/or went via an indirect route. I don't think we're getting the full story,

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: What’s it like to work as a hearse driver in Japan? See in context

And unlike being a taxi driver, he'll never get complaints from the passengers.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Huge price hike for Japan Rail Pass triggers huge drop in foreign travelers who’ll buy it See in context

They should have raised prices, but in exchange allow you to use the JR Pass on non-consecutive days over a limited time period (eg 3 days travel over 7 days). This would encourage tourists to venture away from the 'golden triangle" of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and into places less seldom visited.

Doing so would assist with relieving over tourism in some areas, and spread the tourist dollar/yen around a bit more.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Malaysia searches Chinese ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks See in context

Cut up the Chinese vessel and send that for recycling.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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