Archive for March, 2009

Japanese cops raid Filipino hostess bars

Another video clip from the same show that featured a Chinese guy being searched and arrested:

In this clip we are shown police and immigration officials raiding Filipino hostess bars. They are looking for illegal immigrants, so they raid four bars at once to avoid tip offs and catch everyone by surprise. Quite a few of the people they demand passport/ID from have valid visas, but some others do not (2 females and 2 males).*

Some noteworthy things about the video:

• There is a dramatic scene at the beginning of the clip showing the inspector putting on a bullet proof vest. Was he expecting the hostesses to be carrying guns?
• The first bar they raid contains no visa violators.
• One 23-year-old hostess who is arrested for illegal immigration tells the police she has a 1-year-old child. The child was born in Japan and has no nationality because the mother did not fill out registration papers of any kind.
• Scary music!

*Children are included in the total.

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

Cargo plane crash lands at Narita Airport

A FedEx cargo plane crash landed this morning at Narita Airport:

Apparently strong winds had something to do with it.

Update: It has been announced that the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash.

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

Japanese Stars

A Japanese TV show discovers star-shaped marks on the bodies of two children and a cat:

• A girl with a star-shaped birthmark on her neck
• A cat with a star mark on its face
• A baby with a star mark on its belly button

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

Japan’s new aircraft carrier

A nice HD quality YouTube video of the Hyuga, Japan’s new aircraft carrier “helicopter-carrying destroyer”:

13,950-ton ship has an imposing look and is one of the largest vessels ever built for the MSDF.

Although the MSDF classifies the Hyuga as a destroyer, its size makes that designation something of a misnomer.

Up to four helicopters, including the SH-60K submarine hunter, can take off and land almost simultaneously, according to the MSDF.

With its sophisticated command, control and communications systems, the Hyuga will act as the nerve center for operations ranging from antisubmarine warfare to antidisaster efforts at home and abroad, and to rescue Japanese nationals overseas, the MSDF said.

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

Tama train enters service on the Wakayama Electric Railway

You may remember our previous posts about the Wakayama Electric Railway creating a special train decorated in honor of its famous feline stationmaster, Tama. Well, that train is now in service:

Local residents and railway fans flocked to Idakiso Station in Wakayama for Saturday’s launch of the two-car Tama Train. The train, which departed from Idakiso Station at 3:57 p.m., ran the eight or so kilometers to Wakayama Station, with Tama aboard in the driver’s cabin.

The train is adorned with 101 types of illustrations of Tama. Over 10 million yen was donated for its renovation.

There is also the small Tama Library on the train, where a collection of cat photo books is available.

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

Computer for Sale

Posting this as a favor for a friend who has helped me many times in the past:

Dell OptiPlex 745
Dual Monitor Workstation

• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz
• 2Gb RAM
• 250Gb SATA 300 @ 7,200RPM HD
• 16X DVD+-RW
• GeForce 7900 GS 256MB (Dual DVI)
• (Japanese) Keyboard & Mouse (1)
• Windows Vista Ultimate (2)
• Includes Two 19” Displays (3)

Asking price: 90,000JPY o.b.o.

Please contact: dell745@me.com

(1) All the keyboards and mice are different, so you wont necessarily get the ones pictured here.
(2) Legit copy with the OEM sticker on the box.  As far as I know it has never been activated, but you may have to do that.
(3)  One set is these silver ones with only VGA input, another set is black ones with VGA and DVI input.  If you have a preference, I will comply provided there are any of the ones you prefer left. (The video card itself is DVI, so if you get the VGA monitors you’ll also get the necessary converters.)
(4) Seller is in Japan and would prefer buyers who are also in Japan.