Archive for October, 2008

The economic stimulus package

The Japanese government will soon be offering a $51 billion economic stimulus package to businesses and taxpayers. Here’s some information on what normal people can expect to get out of it:

As part of the deal, 2 trillion yen in all will be handed out to Japanese households in one-off payments by next March. This means a family of four in Japan will receive about 60,000 yen in cash – a move designed to boost domestic spending.

Consumers can also look forward to receiving bigger tax deductions on their home mortgages and an extension of current tax reductions on capital gains and dividends.

For the corporate sector, there are also increased loan guarantees for small and medium-sized firms that comprise the biggest portion of the package in terms of value.

This is aimed at easing the credit squeeze small companies are expected to face as banks continue to cut back on lending.

Mr Aso’s package even takes care of the little details. To boost usage of expressways outside metropolitan areas, tolls are to be reduced to a maximum of 1,000 yen for car owners on holidays.

There will be easily visible drawback, however. Aso has said that the government is considering an sales tax increase three years from now. Be prepared for a future where everything at 100-yen store costs more than 105 yen!

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Searching for Kappa in Tokyo

Sean Bonner traveled to Tokyo recently to join the authors of Japanese monster guidebook Yokai Attack in a search for the elusive Kappa. The video was featured in BoingBoing TV:

Part 2:

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
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Wakanoho loses legal battle over sumo status

Former sumo wrestler Wakanoho has failed to sue his way back into the sport:

Judge Shigeru Nakanishi ruled that the alleged possession of marijuana is a major illegal act and the sumo association’s decision is not as severe as claimed by the disgraced grappler, lawyer Makoto Miyata said.

Wakanoho was disappointed by the court’s decision, Miyata said.

The sumo association dismissed Wakanoho, 20, whose real name is Gagloev Soslan Aleksandrovich, as a member sumo wrestler on Aug. 21, three days after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana.

If Wakanoho does not find other work in Japan, such as pro-wrestling, he will likely be forced to leave the country when his sumo wrestling visa expires soon (if it hasn’t already).

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Searching for Mickey at China’s fake Disneyland

Enka signer Nezumi Senpai visited Beijing recently on a quest to meet the fake Mickey Mouse at Shijingshan Amusement Park:

Upon entering the park gates, he asked some mascots where he could find fake Mickey Mouse, and he was told that Mickey was somewhere else inside the amusement park. Nezumi Senpai was distracted by fake Doraemon toys and a Cinderella with facial hair, but he managed to keep asking staff where he could find the fake Mickey. Unlike the staff members he asked earlier, these people told him there was no fake Mickey Mouse at the park.

Security soon learns about what he’s been doing, and angry security guards show up and start yelling at them not to take video. He tries to run away, but when he attempts to question other performers about Mickey Mouse, security shows up and orders them to shut up and tell nothing to Nezumi Senpai. A crowd of park workers surrounds Nezumi Senpai and his cameraman, angrily shouting at them and accusing Japan of spreading negative news and lies about the park. The cameras are turned off, and Nezumi Senpai is thrown out of the amusement park.

Unable to meet the fake Mickey Mouse, they returned to Japan disappointed. However, it is unlikely that they would have encountered a fake Disney character, since the worldwide attention brought upon the park last year caused them to clean things up and remove Disney stuff from the park. I wouldn’t be surprised if this TV show deliberately told Nezumi Senpai to aggressively interrogate park employees with the aim of filming footage of security kicking him out. It would definitely provide more drama than finding out that there was no more fake Mickey Mouse.

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Man saves lives at Japanese suicide cliff

Earlier this year CNN(embedded above), the BBC, and the Associated Press reported about Yukio Shige, a retired police officer who founded a non-profit organization that helps prevent suicides. Shige spends most of his days at the Tojimbo Cliffs, a scenic spot where many people come to commit suicide. When he spots suspicious-looking loners, Shige goes and talks to them to see if they are okay. Using this method, he has saved many people:

“Many people don’t have anybody to turn to when they are in dire trouble,” said Yukio Shige, a retired policeman who founded a nonprofit group combatting suicide. “Even those who are determined to commit suicide still hope that someone will come from behind and stop them from jumping off the cliff.”

NTV’s Real Time News aired an extended segment about Shige earlier this week, chronicling a few cases in which he convinces people not to commit suicide:

The report is very long, but I recommend that folks who understand Japanese watch it for an appreciation of just how much effort Mr. Shige has devoted to his cause. Shige spends a lot of time talking to each person, as well as calling up their families and employers to explain the situation and arrange meetings to discuss problems. He also sometimes finds housing and work opportunities for people looking to restart their lives.

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Cats + Puppets + Ramen

The trailer for Neko Râmen Taishô has convinced me that all future film adaptations of manga should be done in puppet form:

As you may have noticed, feline stationmaster Tama makes a cameo appearance in the film – possibly in a puppet-on-cat love scene.

For more details, check out Neko-Rahmen.com and Wikipedia.

[hat tip to Michel]

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
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