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Posted in: Death sentence for real estate tycoon Truong My Lan upheld in Vietnam's largest fraud case See in context

Issuing the death penalty for someone who committed a white collar crime seems a tad excessive.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Bear killed after 2 days in Akita supermarket See in context

Are they deliberately trying to wipe out the bear population in Japan? Why couldn't they just tranq it and relocate it back up into the mountains or something?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: UK filmmaker Richard Curtis makes first foray into animation See in context

It was a lovely Christmas film. Reminded me of Arthur Christmas.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Man attacked by bear at supermarket in Akita See in context

The bear was clearly just out for his weekly grocery shop and the employee got in the way.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Posted in: To play Maria Callas, Angelina Jolie had to learn how to breathe again See in context

Went to the UK premiere of Maria back in October, where Angelina herself was on attendance, and the film was stunning. One of Angelina Jolie's best projects to date. Hopefully, it'll earn her another Oscar nod.

Wouldn't she have to learn to act first?

Her previous Oscar win and the rousing 8-minute-long standing ovation for her role as Maria at the Venice Film Festival would disagree with your petty remark. Perhaps car chases, explosions, and characters that grunt monosyllabically are more your cup of tea?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan See in context

Once again, Japan finds a way to suck the fun out of everything. Banning a piece of memorabilia? Really? Get a grip. Are they going to ban their samurai swords and other Japanese weaponry sold as souvenirs too?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: If you usually put up a Christmas tree where you live, how many days or weeks before Dec 25 do you put it up? See in context

Depends on my level of motivation - sometimes it's as early as mid-November and sometimes I put it up on the 2nd week of December. Same for taking it down - sometimes it gets taken down mid-January and sometimes at the end of January/beginning of February.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Tis the season for holiday albums, from Jennifer Hudson to Toby Keith and Jimmy Fallon See in context

This list is missing Dolly Parton's Once Upon a Christmas and Mary Chapin Carpenter's Come Darkness Come Light: Twelve Songs Of Christmas, the latter of which all but embodies the feeling and atmosphere of winter and Christmas. Both are staple albums that are played every holiday. Those looking for a cowboy/Wild West flavoured Christmas album should definitely give Michael Martin Murphey's Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II album a go. It makes for a nice change of pace from the usual Christmas tunes played on repeat in malls and shops.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Girl who jumped off building roof, killing herself and pedestrian below, to be prosecuted See in context

The girl is dead though so why are they prosecuting posthumously? Two lives already lost. No need to drag this tragedy out further in court.

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-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Posted in: 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts See in context

As a long-time fan of the musical, Wicked exceeded my expectations and did indeed, defy gravity.

Gladiator II on the other hand was a pure cash grab and there was a scene so absurd, I couldn't even suspend my disbelief.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Osaka zookeeper indicted for stealing food for monkeys and chimpanzees See in context

I thought the headline meant he stole fruit and vegetables from a store and was going to feed them to the monkeys and chimpanzees.

I came into the story feeling sympathy for him.

Same. The title is a bit misleading.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Child abuse support worker arrested over alleged sex acts with 15-year-old boy See in context

A child abuse support worker committed the very crime he was supposed to rescue children from. It doesn't get more despicable than that. When is Japan going to implement a sex offenders registry and demand that organisations that work with children require staff and candidates to go through an thorough and extensive background check? Also, the fact that this issue slipped through the Japanese police's fingers and took a non-Japanese non-profit organisation to make the call - what the hell are taxpayers paying these idiots for if they aren't bothering to do their jobs? They should also be held accountable for what happened to the boy.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan reaches its lowest-ever ranking on Education First’s 2024 English Proficiency Index See in context

Well that's embarrassing but unsurprising given the way English is taught in Japan.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Taxi driver arrested for indecent assault after kissing and groping passenger See in context

Police said they have received several complaints from passengers claiming they were subjected to obscene remarks while riding in a taxi driven by Matsuori.

So he's a repeat offender and police have records of previous complaints against him...but they failed to anything about it. Why? This makes them equally responsible for what happened to his latest victim.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan school absenteeism hits record 340,000 in FY2023, up for 11th year See in context

I wouldn't want to go to school in Japan either. Ridiculous, stringent school uniform rules that make no sense, rote learning that would bore the more enthusiastic student to death, incessant bullying from both students and the teachers, club activities that eat up what little spare time the kids do have, still having to go to school during holidays - none of these are conducive to a productive, healthy school environment that fosters learning, creativity, and play.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Posted in: Ex-nursery school teacher gets 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting 7 girls See in context

This case is further proof that Japan cares little for sex crimes and the welfare and wellbeing of its children. 14 years? For what this PoS did? His victims will live with the trauma of his despicable actions for the rest of their lives but he only gets 14 years? I'm disgusted.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: 21-year-old man arrested for punching 4-month-old son in the face See in context

What kind of disgusting PoS punches helpless infants in the face? This scum apparently. Lock him up and let's hope he never sees the light of day again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What do you think of airline food? Has it improved much over the past few years? See in context

Airplane food is highly dependent on which airline you take. I do think that they've shrunk the size of the meals a tad though, and probably for safety purposes, utensils have mostly gone from metal to plastic or wood. Some airlines have improved meal options for those with allergies and dietary restrictions, so that's a plus.

Incredible, really, that the Brits are on a 3 century long losing streak for world's worst food.

British food being "world's worst food" is an utter stereotype, and if you go to the UK and harp on about how the food is awful, you clearly ate at all the tourist traps. Good grub is found at local neighbourhood pubs and streets, along with the local chippy. It may not be the healthiest of foods, that I grant you, but it's filling, delicious, and comforting.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Drastic efforts needed to open door for Japan's 1st female PM See in context

That picture is just embarrassing. It also perfectly sums up gender equality in Japan...or lack thereof.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Posted in: We humans cannot change the behavior of the deer. The only way to prevent accidents is for humans to be careful of deer. See in context

You're encroaching on the deer's territory. They have right of way so maybe learn to drive with all your senses open.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Hugh Grant spent half his career in rom-coms. Now he plays monsters, and he's never been happier See in context

He was brilliant in Heretic. The way he used his charm and genteel demeanour as a sinister character worked so well.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What food or drink do you recommend for helping get a good night’s sleep? See in context

A spot of tea with a slice of toast. It's not too heavy on the stomach and it's comforting.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

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

They're taking advice from films now? It looks very suave and cool on Kingsman Secret Service but an open umbrella in a confined space like a train isn't very sensible at all. Why not just equip the staff with taser guns? They can keep their distance but also effectively and efficiently neutralise the attacker.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: Police officer arrested for allegedly having sex with minor, filming it in Gifu hotel See in context

This waste of space clearly missed a few classes when he was in the police academy, especially when it came to evidence. Filming his crime? Not the smartest tool in the box. Fire him and toss his pathetic hide in jail.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan revises foreign trainee rules to allow job transfers over abuse See in context

They need to abolish this "program". It's just a ruse to exploit people into becoming cheap labour and fall victim to Indentured servitude. It's appalling this "program" has gone on as long as it has considering all the horror stories revolving around it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Halloween crowd control tight in Tokyo's Shibuya, Shinjuku districts See in context

They literally created a merry band of fun police to take the fun out of people's day. Yikes. Also, wasn't part of the ban to reduce noise pollution in the area? I fail to see how the police with their shrill whistles and megaphones are helping this matter. Pot. Kettle. Black.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Posted in: Manager nabbed for alleged voyeurism at Uniqlo fitting rooms in Tokyo See in context

Why couldn't he just make good use of the internet if he had an itch to scratch? What a daft fellow.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Who do you think would be better for Japan as the next U.S. president? See in context

Let's just all agree that the world will be better off if Trump didn't weasel his way back into the White House. I'm not a fan of Kamala Harris either but between her and Trump? Neither option is appealing frankly, but I'd go with the person less likely to raze the world to the ground.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan protests U.N. call for reviewing male-only imperial succession See in context

What's between your legs doesn't affect how you can rule; it's what's between your ears and behind your ribs that does. If memory serves, Japan's had what, 8? empresses throughout its history? And the entire Japanese civilisation and society didn't crumble and collapse when a woman sat on the throne then. So how about ditching such an archaic law that has no place in the modern world, and letting the most competent royal candidate to ascend to the throne when it's time?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional See in context

It's progress. One step in the right direction. Hopefully, Japan will come to legalize same sex marriage in the near future.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

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