Archive for February, 2009

Wakanoho leaves Japan

Russian sumo wrestler Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev (formerly known as Wakanoho), whose arrest last August kicked off a series of drug scandals in the professional sumo world, has left Japan. NTV’s Real Time News followed him to the airport:

He had spent most of the last 6 months fighting the JSA’s decision to ban him from professional sumo, but it seems he has finally given up. As he prepared to enter the airport, he made one final apology to sumo fans.

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Hillary Clinton visits Meiji Shrine

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Japan today, and she visited the Meiji Shrine this morning:

In the several public appearances she made today, Hillary repeatedly stressed the importance of America’s relationship with Japan. She also announced that Taro Aso would be going to Washington next week, making him the first foreign leader to visit and meet with Obama since the new president took office (a meeting of doubtful importance, since Aso seems unlikely to maintain his position much longer).

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Japanese government claims success in campaign against illegal immigration

The number of reported cases of foreigners overstaying their visas in Japan has nearly halved in the last 5 years. The government has claimed its airport fingerprint scanners played a major role:

The Immigration Bureau said it has stepped up its efforts, jointly with police, to crack down on those overstaying their visas — especially since 2004, when the government’s plan was put into effect.

The introduction of a biometric system has helped immigration officials stem the re-entry of those who have been deported, the bureau said. In the year since it was introduced in November 2007, 846 people have been refused entry on the basis of biometric verification.

By nationality, South Koreans topped the list of those staying longer than allowed as of Jan. 1 at around 24,000, followed 18,000 Chinese, 17,000 Filipinos, 6,000 Thais and 5,000 Taiwanese, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, the Yomiuri reports that the government wants to pass a new law that will allow greater control over the issue of alien registration cards:

The draft legislation to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law states that the justice minister will issue new residence cards to aliens staying in Japan for mid- to long-term periods of time.

The current alien registration certificates issued by municipal governments will be abolished, and foreigners will instead use the new cards as identification.

The draft bill also includes provisions to imprison or deport people who forge the envisaged cards.

This could mean that that the Immigration bureau will now handle registration and alterations of information on alien registration cards. Less visits to city hall, and more visits to the long lines at Immigration branch offices!

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Peter Bjorn and John Feature Yoyogi Dancers

This video, and official release from Peter Bjorn and John, shows a day in the life of a very interesting guy with very big hair, and his dancing comrades. Whether seen as macho to a humorous fault or just so cool we can’t keep up, the dancers in Yoyogi Park have been at this for years. I’ve seen surprisingly little information on this subculture; everyone has videos and photos, but what makes these guys tick? Do they ever get young people to join? What is their official nomenclature? Will they die out? Do they care? Probers, share your knowledge in the comments.

For more videos of the park’s odd inhabitants, you can check out some recent content at Nihongo Notes.
[hat tip to Watashi to Tokyo]

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Contributor Bio: Claytonian studies the nihongoes in Saitama and blogs about Japan, its news, and language at The Hopeless Romantic.
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Chimpanzee eats toast & chocolate

On Saturday’s episode of Shimura Zoo, genius chimpanzee Pan-kun joined Ken Shimura and Ai Haruna for some Valentine’s Day fun.

First, they woke up in the morning and had a breakfast of toast & jam:

Later, they brought out a chocolate fountain and taught Pan-kun how to coat food with chocolate:

Since chimpanzees are so closely related to humans, that chocolate probably wasn’t dangerous for Pan-kun to eat. However, it probably wasn’t exactly healthy…
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Does Shoichi Nakagawa have a drinking problem?

After Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa gave a bizarre drunken press conference at the G7 meeting in Rome a few days ago, ATV searched through its archives and dug up some older footage that may also be examples of a drinking problem:

The first part of the clip shows Nakagawa walking with a weird stagger in 2006: could it be a sign that he was actually drunk at the time?

Second, we are shown a clip of him speaking at an abductee-related event last year. Nakagawa, who was supposed to chair the event, showed up late with his shirt collar messed up. When he starts speaking, he is nearly as drunk looking as he was at the G7 press conference.

According to anonymous sources interviewed by ATV, such drunkenness is actually pretty common for Nakagawa.

The government is still sticking to the cold medicine story, but Nakagawa did visit Aso last night to apologize for the trouble he has caused.

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More info on Nakagawa’s drinking problem can be found at Observing Japan, Shisaku, and Asia Exile.

Update: He’s finished.

Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa announced Tuesday that he will resign to take responsibility for his abnormal behavior at a news conference following a recent meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers and central bank governors in Rome in which he appeared drunk.

[hat tip to Ponta]

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