Archive for January, 2009

JR West to cut late night service time

The Yomiuri reports that JR West will be moving forward the times of its last trains:

The decision resulted from JR West’s consideration of train drivers’ physical condition in response to the lessons learned from the April 2005 fatal derailment on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture. It is extremely unusual for JR or private rail firms to move forward the departure time for the evening’s last trains.

In the revised timetable that starts March 14, the last local train bound for Takatsuki on the Tokaido Line will leave Osaka Station at 12:28 a.m., 13 minutes earlier than the current time.

The last trains at stations on the Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line and Nara Line also will depart earlier than the current timetable. However, JR West will maintain the same timetable for the last trains on some lines, such as the Fukuchiyama and Kansai lines, which many passengers use late into the night.

One is left wondering why JR West couldn’t alter the working shifts of its drivers instead of cutting train service times.

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Yamanote Dance

Masanori Sumi of Daily Portal Z does the “Where the hell is Matt?” dance on Tokyo’s Yamanote line:

[via Zaeega]

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• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
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Whale Bacon Commercial

A whale bacon commercial that has been airing on Japanese TV recently:

The woman really wants to experience the nostalgic taste of whale bacon, but is worried about how expensive it is these days. However, the salesman convinces her that 6,825 yen for 800 grams of whale bacon is a really awesome deal.

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
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A liberal Economist’s take on Japan and immigration

Does Japan need more immigrants to survive? Economist Dean Baker of Center for Economic and Policy Research doesn’t seem to think so:

Maintaining its Fox News like attack on pension programs, the Washington Post had a front page article about Japan’s efforts to keep immigrant workers. It goes on to warn about how it will need many more immigrants in the future because of its declining population.

Actually, because of something that economists call “productivity growth,” Japan can count on continuing improvements in its standard of living even without immigration. In fact, since it is a densely populated country, it is possible that its standard of living will actually increase more rapidly in the absence of immigration.

[hat tip to Brian]

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

Dancing cats in a J-pop music video

Barely-unseen hands force cats to dance in Meg’s music video for “Precious”:

[via TV in Japan]

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Robert Downey Jr. talks about Japanese Immigration problems

Robert Downey Jr. recalls the six-hours he spent detained at Narita Airport when he tried to come to Japan last year to promote “Iron Man” (with a special comment by Brad Pitt about the joys of Japanese toilets at the end of the clip):

[via Jason Gray]

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