Japan News for December 16
Saturday’s Japan-related news/links:
-Workers at Tsukiji Market in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, which boasts the largest transaction of marine products in Japan, are annoyed by the bad manners of foreign tourists who visit the tuna auctions at the market.
-Former U.S. President George HW Bush on Thursday criticized certain sections of Japanese society for denying the country’s history during World War II. Speaking at a forum during a visit to Beijing, Bush said the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors Japanese war criminals along with other war dead, continues to distort the history of the conflict. Bush, father of the current U.S. president and a self-described “old friend” of China, scarcely mentioned human rights in his speech at a Chinese university.
-Is a loan shark pestering you to pay back the 100,000 yen interest on that 50,000 yen loan you took out? Are they even pestering your neighbors about it? Well, don’t worry, your neighbors can call the police and they can “help” you by forcing you to give a written pledge stating that you will move immediately if the harassment happens again.
-Raging against the man: Takafumi Horie, the once high-flying Internet entrepreneur now on trial, has denounced Japan as the “most communist country,” blaming his downfall on envious bureaucrats and media “mind controllers.” [via FG]
-How do Japanese people spend Christmas? Read the poll results.
-Will 9/11 be remembered in the same way as Pearl Harbor? Trans-Pacific Radio discusses this question.
-Shari reports on the grand opening of Krispy Kreme’s first store in Japan.
-Debito exposes an internet cafe in Aichi Prefecture with a “No Foreigners” sign.
-Tigers and Cranes reports on the Kendo World Championships.
-Sumitomo has developed walls that talk.
-Watch out! Consuming soy products will make you gay!
-Justin reviews Sukeban Deka, with video clips!
-Frog in a Well comments on the New York Times article about blood-type obsession and Matsuzaka.
-Yet another wacky USB device: the glowing squid memory stick!
-The King is coming back to Japan, with a little help from Lotteria. Unfortunately, Japan’s new Burger King restaurants will follow a “high class” fast food model, so don’t expect any awesome value meal deals.
-No-confidence motions submitted by the opposition parties against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet and Foreign Minister Taro Aso were rejected at the plenary session of the House of Representatives Yesterday.
