SaikoPhysco comments

The "profits" from the gambling involved in boat racing goes to The Nippon Foundation. A private, non-profit grant making organization established 10 years after boat racing first started in 1962. Basically use the profits to promote maritime development and humanitarian work. Now don't get me wrong but back in 1952... practically no visible gambling happened in the whole country without certain groups being involved. And then low and behold, 10 years later, after various groups around the country also started their own racing venues a centralized "non-profit" organization pops up. When they write "shadowy" in the headline, they mean it. Today they practically have sequester each racer to try to prevent race fixing... can you imagine how bad it got by 1962. I'd be willing to bet they had to create this organization to try to bring back trust into the sport because everyone knew it was fixed. And the funny thing is... the Japanese Govt. went along with it, they allowed the establishment of the "non-profit" organization. I'd love to see a detailed book keeping of how things are run today.

The bubble collapsed and for 30 straight years the Government spent $ Billions on stimulus packages to keep businesses afloat. They also increased the consumption tax from Zero to 10%... and yet the National Dept continued to increase. The Government the whole time knew the population was trending down but instead of really addressing the issue they used tax money to support the old boy clubs. Even now they continue to try to come up with ideas that promote families but keeps the business community happy. The 1st thing they need to do is force the banks to provide housing loans, even for homes that are over 20 years old. Why don't they do it... because those loans would hurt New Home Builders and Real Estate companies. Most new families in the USA buy a smaller old home and fix it up... then a few years later they sell it and... often at a profit, and buy a bigger home. But in Japan... homes almost always lose money, the investment never pays off. If a new family, one without a lot of money, could get a loan on the old Akiya homes in Tokyo... they then could afford a house, but banks will not do it. They're in bed with the Real Estate industry, the Home Building Industry and biggest of all the Politicians. This not the answer to the number of children being born in the country but it could help if young families found housing more affordable.

Media in all countries could be the same but Japan is different because of the Gaman culture. The USA was possibly the same up until the 1960's but things changed women started fighting back and speaking up which coincided with the fight for Women's Rights. Japan, to this day, has still not ever had any large Woman's Rights Movement.... and again, that is part of the Gaman / stay quite persevere mentality in the Culture. The women of Japan need to band together and make their voices heard.

$1.6 Billion... don't even think about trying to deceive U.S. regulators. Now Japan on the other hand, they'd get of with an apology and a very small fine.

This is total BS... what I really think is happening is that the Japanese Govt. is using this issue as a tradeoff / leverage point for any potential Trump tarriffs. The Japanese Govt would not ever allow a U.S. Company to buy Nippon Steel.... so why would they believe they have any right to back up a Japanese company other than political gain.

At $89,000 starting price... it prices out most of the middle class and poor. Just give me a bare bones electric car without the bells and whistles, that has 400 miles of range and is priced $40,000 or below. Heck... 300 miles of range and priced at $30,000 or below and I'd be a buyer. All the gadgetry is BS... just more things that can break.

50 and 40 years ago the prestige of paying top Yen for the biggest and best Tuna at the New Year's 1st Auction had quite a bit of clout... it announced to all... hey, we're "top dog" or at least a serious "up and comer" and people pay'd attention. However in this age I think it might be dilusional to believe one would receive the same attention, respect and boost to the bottom line.

Must of required a lot of brains to think up the idea.... many thousands of years ago, that bathing in clean hot spring water is desireable. But since it is Japanese... of course they could only be the one's to have the idea and do it right. The cultural arrogance of this country is amazing... but I guess at this point its the only thing they have.

Was talking to a teacher the other day in Tokyo... in addition Teacher's are not volunteering to coach various sports activities around schools because all they get is grief from parents and students. Gone are the days when one would spend their whole life in sacrifice for their employers success. Now people want more balance and you cannot blame them one bit.

A U.S. company has never been allowed to purchase any strategic Japanese company ever. In addition the Japanese Govt. has purchase restrictions on over 600 Japanese companies whereby even if they want to purchase just 1% of a Japanese company it would require prior Govt. approval. Japan does not play fair... so why should anyone in Japan be bent out of shape when the U.S. does the same? Let the U.S. bail out U.S. Steel, just like Japan bailed out its steel companies over 30 years ago and leave it at that.

What is killing these festivals and events is the dwindling population and the reluctance of younger individuals to participate. Selling tickets is BS... they're basically selling themselves out in my book. Tourism isn't killing Japan... don't blame it on that. The Japanese Govt. is killing Japan... they will not open the country to immigration properly.

Sorry but my first thought was it might be some nefarious Chinese company copying brand name liquor and selling them... one may've somehow got into the hotel's inventory.

I recently purchased a 2nd home near Kobuchizawa in Yamanashi and plan to do a bit of hiking nearby in the mountains, this does concern me. Japan's over regulation regarding guns and hunting will cause more hikers and nearby villagers to die as a result.

Just goest to show... when you're "disliked" you pretty much equally "dislike" back. They should just stop doing the surveys... maybe over time people will forget about this mutual problem.

Yeah, because when Japanese companies "layoff" employees the don't do it in Japan.

In Japan Hugs or a kiss goodbye are rarely seen. Just these small acts help to keep relationships constant and close. When you take the away physical side of a relationship the loving side often vanishes too.

27 million tourists.... and of course here in Japan we're gonna read about every bad thing they do. While there are 123 million Japanese and even though I see them often on trains at night causing a lot of trouble and who knows what else, I rarely read anything about their conduct. The Japanese are pretty much perfect... no need for prisons in Japan.

Collge grads are making Y3 to Y4 mil a year in Japan... in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany and Canada they start a double to triple the starting salary of those in Japan. You talk to the average 40 to 50 year old salaryman in Japan and the say... Japan has become poor. The major reason Japan has become poor is the lack of wage growth for the last 35 years. The govt. does not want wages to grow and does not want inflation because half of retired people, and the numbers are large, will not be able to afford to live. The won't be able to live because they've all been screwed by the govt. pension system, and by financial institutions that manage retirement funds. The people of Japan are too docile, they won't fight for themselves because it is ingrained in their culture to stay quiet and endure... the perfect combination for the Govt. and Corporations to take advantage of them.

LOL... take a look people, there has never been a hostile takeover of any healthy large Domestic Japanese Company by a foreign company ever. It is just not allowed. They've willingly sold out in the past but only because they'd have gone bankrupt otherwise. So when a Japanese company is out there trying to buy a foreign company and the foreign company is saying no... I say... "you reap what you sow".

Not good... problem is, with millions of tourists you're gonna get idiots here and there. But a real idiotic thing to do would be to print up thousands of large red and white labels with a human figure doing a pull up with a large X over it and sticking them everywhere.

By the end of the year, in USD terms, this should work out to around $50 billion. Instead of complaining about how things have increased price wise, or travel being crowded due to foreigners... you should be thinking on how to cash in on this increased business. This is an opportunity for those willing to take some risk and work. The more you / we can make the experience of visiting Japan better for tourists, the more often they will come and spend money. We should be thinking about creating tour companies, fixing up old Ryokans, producing more foreign friendly, domestically made Omiyage. The government should be planning on how to decrease overcrowding at certain major tourist locations and increasing tourism to other areas. Japan is perfect for tourism... great transportation, safe and, despite being westernized, a very unique culture. Quit complaining... get on the train... keep Japan Japan but make it work better.

@dagon - "The West is hardly better" Well... there are 31 female CEO's in the S&P 500, which is 6.2%. Also, the Russell 3000 index, 3000 of the largest U.S. Companies, in 2022 there were 196 female CEO's. That works out to 6.5%. Hardly not, "Hardly better". Statistically almost 9 times better than Japan and the numbers continue to rise. Do some research before you compare the "West" to Japan. It took me all of about 5 minutes to find the data.

Wait until after the election... right now neither side wants to appear easy on Corporate America. As soon as one or the other is elected a package will magically appear that will keep the company going until it needs rescueing again.

In the Tachikawa area of Tokyo... well, I have a bucket that is about 25CM deep, it was empty yesterday morning, it was full and overflowing this morning. And the rain didn't really start to fall until around 5PM yesterday. That is a lot of rain in a short time. Oh... and Japan was not always fearful of Typhoons... 30 and 40 years ago people would have been out like it was practically a normal day... now-a-days, the media, like almost any place, blows it a bit out of proportion but... it is very hard to balance vigilance and going overboard.

The point is... you let one company get away with it other's may follow. I agree with the courts 100%.

Good luck!

The Mayor of Nagasaki has taken the stance against Nuclear Proliferation and diluted it to anything they disagree with. Which basically has weakened the fight against Nukes.

I find this story hard to believe! Their 1st ever foreign guests left without paying? Why, up until now have there never been any foreign guests at this ryokan? And it cracks me up that they felt the need to make this a story. Something is very fishy about this... not sure yet what it is but I believe we're not getting all the information on what actually took place. Not saying it is impossible to happen, but my antennae is perked up.

Too many posers that think they know economics.... the Yen at 130 is the best blend for Japan. Not too strong but not too weak.

Japan's domestic designed engine keep chugging along. House built 30 years ago... worthless now, tear it down, build another. The people lose but industry gains. Chug a Chug along.... while the young see no end of despair in sight. But we want more babies!