Comments for Japan Probe

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Akira

Akira — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Well I agree with you but I do not think SS wants to stop whaling. If they did, they would just go out of business.
The whole scheme is a show. I am sure the bottom guys at SS really are against whaling and dolphin hunting but I doubt the organization SS is in it for the cause.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Avery

Avery — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:59:00 +0000

Yes, I think it’s entirely plausible that if all the Sea Shepherds left and only Ady Gil and like-minded earnest people stayed and talked, they would either get Taiji to end the dolphin hunt, or they would eventually figure out how to convey Taiji’s beliefs about dolphins to the world in a compassionate and sensitive way.

This is not just about the Sea Shepherd cult. It’s also about communication and the language barrier.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Senor Science

Senor Science — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:19:00 +0000

I hope in the long run people like Ady Gil win out. Antagonism is no way to win your support from the fishermen in Taiji.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Hamachiman

Hamachiman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:07:00 +0000

I think it speaks volumes about an organization and the people that support it, when they allow a morally bankrupt ‘person’ like captain paulie to deliberately lie and continually misrepresent situations/people for his own ego.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Hamachiman

Hamachiman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

How right you are. I know there are open minded Australians, some of them post here frequently. While they may not agree with hunting dolphins, they don’t go around making it a racial and hateful issue either.

But I’d say the majority of people compelled to comment on this issue have no qualms about making it a very hateful diatribe against all things Japanese.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by InJM

InJM — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:59:00 +0000

Haha, not a chance.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000

Thank you for this. It’s good to see Japanese standing up to these bullies.

I hope Australian TV will air this so Australians could see both sides.

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:03:00 +0000

In before SS supporters spam the comments section with pro-SS anti-Japanese propaganda.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Tim Wilkinson

Tim Wilkinson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Christopher Johnson: The only man brave enough to ask the tough, hard-hitting questions about Japanese Women’s volleyball!

Comment on Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles) by Weirdo

Weirdo — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:47:00 +0000

I’m not against the idea of protesting for something you believe in, but being an utter prick to the opposition is something entirely different. I don’t see how taunting and mocking the fishermen with comments like “do you speak English” and replying with broken Spanish is necessary. It’s hard to expect the fisherman or even unrelated Japanese people to feel sympathetic with this kind of behavior.
If they’re serious about convincing the people of Japan to side with them, they need to find someone that speaks Japanese. As proof of how silly their lack of Japanese understanding can be, they bully and surround the director of the documentary and tell her (who has nothing to do with the actual fishing) to stop/free the dolphins if she wants them to stop bullying her.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Level3

Level3 — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:24:00 +0000

If CJ really is wasting money on lawyers, perhaps he should hire a new one, as a competent lawyer would have pointed out that “slander” concerns speech. The word he is looking for is “libel”.

Dammit, why, oh why, do I keep helping him?!

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:20:00 +0000

Claim 8: The Japan Probe “articles make no attempt to balance your slanderous attacks against me with the facts of the case.”

Johnson has a very odd idea of “the facts of the case,” since they mostly appear to be facts about entirely different incidents.

“facts about entirely different incidents”

The acceptance of the alleged incidents as facts makes his story more believable.

Comment on Babies Born on March 11th Receive Special Present by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:59:00 +0000

Which is slightly less then the Japanese average (7.31/1000).

Looking at the big breeders (i.e. 30+/1000) they all come from shithole places you couldn’t pay me to visit.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=25

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:26:00 +0000

CJ, CNN Go and WT are not interested in ethics. They only want to make money.

CJs article was aimed at people who hate smoking(and Japan?). For these people
there are “No excuses, no quarter given”.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Perhaps that says something about how threatened he was by those other groups. Survivor of “9 wars” indeed.

Comment on Babies Born on March 11th Receive Special Present by Niels

Niels — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:14:00 +0000

I think it’s awesome that people in Hokkaido did this for these kids.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Evilbeard

Evilbeard — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Actually they are, considering they are selling one of the most addictive products in the world.

Comment on Top 100 Anime List by Josh

Josh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0000

I really don’t think these are in any particular order, however if they are I can not agree with it. Nor can I accept the fact that “code.gease” is not on here.!.

Comment on Why Do Japanese Women Look So Young? by Kuriguri

Kuriguri — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Not true. I’m from Europe and in every country women tend to look younger and feel nice if given compliments they look that way. In the past women in all cultures were getting married young. 18 years was almost ‘old’ for a marriage. By the way, the English lady looks much younger with her natural make-up and older with Japanese one.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Level3

Level3 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59:00 +0000

It’s amazing that having “fended off” such tough enemies, he feels threatened by a blog.

Comment on Babies Born on March 11th Receive Special Present by Avery

Avery — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:03:00 +0000

In case anyone wants a back-of-the-envelope calculation from that:

104 babies born on March 11 * 365 = 36,500 births per year in three prefectures…

Population of Miyagi = 2370280 Fukushima = 2028752 Iwate =1330530 Combined = 5729562

(36500/5729562) = (x/1000) = crude rate of 6.37 births per 1,000 population

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by macrocrowski

macrocrowski — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Don’t you need a reentry visa to come back to Japan? What happens if you try to enter without it and throw a tantrum and threats when you’re asked for it? Could doing this lead to deportation?

Comment on Daughter of a Japanese Terrorist by Freedom

Freedom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:57:00 +0000

PLO consider it a war with Israel, for the simply reason that Israel was a country formed by an invading force that then captured Jerusalem and also forced Palestinians out of their homes. If the West was not Israel-centric, it would count PLO as an army, and other Fatah groups as militants.

And they usually do not specifically target civilians. That is nonsense. If you claim that, you might as well claim that Israel does the same as children die each year due to Israeli bombs and guns and fire.

Comment on Daughter of a Japanese Terrorist by Freedom

Freedom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:57:00 +0000

You forget that to the West, anyone with an Islamic faith (which not all Palestinians adhere too, hence Arabic Jews are members of PLO too…as are Christians and Atheists) are considered subhuman. People rightly care about the plight of Native Amercians, yet do not for Palestinians despite the fact that the situation is almost exactly the same.

Comment on Daughter of a Japanese Terrorist by Freedom

Freedom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:48:00 +0000

You are pathetic if you support the rights of an immigrant group to completely steal land and force the original inhabitants away. I guess what the USA did to the Native Americans was justified, in your view? It is the same as what happened with Palestine, except that no one really cares because people who follow Islam are generally seen as sub-human whereas Israel is seen as a western, civilized state.

Comment on Daughter of a Japanese Terrorist by Freedom

Freedom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:42:00 +0000

Would you agree that Menachem Begin (King David bombings) and Ariel Sharon (who really ordered the
Sabra and Shatila massacre and if not still tried to cover it up and blame PLO for it) are terrorists too? At least PLO and their supporters are fighting for the right of a people that has lived in the area for many years. Sharon and Begin murdered people to fight for continual occupation of a land that their families recently immigrated to. It is much like the situation in the Americans. The Native Americans were victims of genocides and forced movements, and some became freedom fighters. Using the logic that anti-Palestinians use, you can claim that the Apache and anyone who supports them are terrorists; some civilians were killed in their struggle too

Comment on Daughter of a Japanese Terrorist by Freedom

Freedom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:35:00 +0000

People are quick to call her a terrorist because sadly innocent civilians were hurt in her war her war with Israel, yet Menachem Begin orchestrated the King David Hotel bombings, the fist real act of modern terrorism, which killed 91 people (including 17 Jewish (mostly Slavic) settlers escaping the Holocaust, and a few military veterans who helped fight Nazism) and yet Begin became the internationally recognized leader of Israel. At least the Palestinians have a good cause – fighting settlers taking their land and forcing them out of the home they have had for thousands of years – whereas Begin and his Irgun were fighting to take the land of others, and proudly claimed that they were a minority, but a strong one in the right. Newsflash, if you are a minority, you have no right to fight for ownership of a land which you simply migrated to.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:02:00 +0000

If CJ was headed for Alberta, most likely Vancouver is only a connecting airport – there are no direct flights between any major city in the province of Alberta and Haneda/Narita.

Comment on Korean Ultra-Nationalists Lobby Virginia: Demand Textbooks Use Korea-centric Geography (“East Sea”) @SenDaveMarsden by Karina1003

Karina1003 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:57:00 +0000

Koreans are so arrogant to tell American people what to call that sea in the English language. If Americans call it ‘Sea of Japan’ the Koreans need to deal with it. If the vast majority of countries worldwide call it ‘Sea of Japan’ (in their respective languages), Koreans need to deal with that reality. ‘East Sea’ would be confusing because for example, there’s an ‘East China Sea’, which the Chinese simply refer to as ‘East Sea’ in Chinese. I’m getting so sick at how so many Koreans can make a huge deal out of this.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by iago

iago — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:55:00 +0000

If one searches the web, there does appear to be a private security company based in Chiba, with those initials, that has work at Narita Airport. The connection is no more than circumstantial, though.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by GomiGirl

GomiGirl — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:37:00 +0000

I want to hear more about this – an eyewitness to the alleged incident. Please please tell us more.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Level3

Level3 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:14:00 +0000

Oops, put my reply to you (dokinchan) in the wrong place, see above.. did he smell of booze?

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by deanS

deanS — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:17:00 +0000

It seems like Christopher Johnson is trying tbe ale himself an example of the “Streisand effect”

“The Streisand effect is a primarily online phenomenon in which an attempt to hide or remove a piece of information has the unintended consequence of publicizing the information more widely. It is named after American entertainer Barbra Streisand, whose attempt in 2003 to suppress photographs of her residence inadvertently generated further publicity.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Level3

Level3 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:46:00 +0000

As noted in earlier posts and other sites, it was colder both at Narita and at his origin, Seoul, than it was in Calgary on that day. Perhaps that was just random chance, but if he was prepared for winter in Seoul, he was prepared for winter in Calgary.
His exaggeration of such an irrelevant detail as an attempt to generate sympathy, while seeming to have forgotten that in the same article he mentioned he used his PARKA as a pillow, again an irrelevant detail to generate sympathy regarding his dissatisfaction with the sleeping arrangements (or has that part been deleted as well?) was telling in many ways.

Anyway, did he smell of booze? In his original story he claimed to have “had a few beers” on that incoming 90-minute flight from Korea. I’m not so interested in CJ’s sobriety level when the whole incident started. I just want to confirm if that airline let’s you drink so much in so little time. If so, they’re getting my business for sure!

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Mr. B

Mr. B — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:56:00 +0000

Thanks for posting this.

Good critical analysis.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by dokinchan

dokinchan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:38:00 +0000

–what I mean is, he was at no risk of freezing to death, despite the drama he invokes.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by dokinchan

dokinchan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Hi.
I can tell you two things. One, he was wearing a jacket, and two, he was on a flight to Vancouver. I know this because he sat next to me in departures at Narita. The cops were very polite. He was not. I am confused as to what the acronym GAS means though.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by flowby

flowby — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:11:00 +0000

They may well not be forcing anyone (at gunpoint), but they certainly are basking in the golden sun (moolah)resultant from the known dependancy created by their products.

But more insidious is their push into the developing world as traditional markets are dying(ha ha) out. Everyone is open game to score blood points.

Remeber they’re not selling t-shirts or akb48 dvds.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by flowby

flowby — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Ha, Ha – is that behind the ears wet or wet as in whet(ting)?

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Rob-bot

Rob-bot — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:55:00 +0000

“often”

I don’t think that word means what he thinks it means.

From the Wikipedia article on Alberta:

“The coldest temperature ever recorded at city centre was −40.6 °C (−41.1 °F) on January 26, 1972 – this was the only time since recordings began in 1953 that city centre has recorded a temperature below −40 °C (−40 °F).”

Now I know Wikipedia isn’t always correct, but it seems even more unlikely given that the last occurrence was 40 years ago.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:04:00 +0000

“I earned more than $100,000 US in 2011, and that salary is relevant in claims for compensation.”

Did he include his Japanese/Canadian tax return to verify his income?

Does anyone know how much freelancers are paid per article? Most of it isn’t worth the paper it isn’t printed on but I’m curious how much is paid for these hacks (1. n. Originally, a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well.)

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Iamatree

Iamatree — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:12:00 +0000

It recalls his airport account and his speculation about why the security officers were called “KBs.”

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Stickypurplecat

Stickypurplecat — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:29:00 +0000

Maybe if he spent a little less time playing legal bully and a little more time learning how to conduct himself in a more professional manner he wouldn’t have to worry about supposedly defamatory posts to begin with. Like a toddler throwing a tantrum, it’s best to just let him sit in the corner by himself and get this I’m-a-matryr attitude out of his system so he can get back to doing that thing he calls journalism.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by ccae92

ccae92 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:19:00 +0000

I was in Alberta visiting relatives over the period Johnson’s story unfolded, it was around 8-10 degrees C during the day and 2-3 degrees at night. The wind was pretty chilly, I guess.

Comment on Tabloid Reports About Yu Darvish’s Love Life: Kirara Asuka & Miho Koga? by Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Well see how long that works. Ichiro is well-known as a philander even in the States.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:55:00 +0000

” Why does he write about himself in the third person? I thought only schizophrenics and Acclaimed Novelists do that.”

You left out most professional and many college athletes.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:53:00 +0000

This is an article concerning the Washington Times, a Moonie owned publication that no one in the U.S. with an IQ about 90 takes seriously.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by T S

T S — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:16:00 +0000

I support freedom of press and freedom of expression, so well done James/JapanProbe on handling the C&D.
About the only other comment I would make is regards ‘Claim 4: In fact temperatures often reach minus 40 C in Alberta.’ – I have lived in Alberta for over 30 years, and have experienced such temperatures occasionally; however, given EXACTLY what is claimed, it is true that _somewhere_ in Alberta (a large geographical area with high mountains that extends almost to the Arctic Circle) the temperature does fall to minus 40 C or lower several times a year. The two major cities of Alberta though only experience this about once in five years.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Senor Science

Senor Science — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:18:00 +0000

JT isn’t forcing anyone to smoke.

Comment on A guide to voting in North Korea by jangalang

jangalang — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:06:00 +0000

suuuuuuuuuuck my deeeeeeeeeeeeeee yikity

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by Numlock

Numlock — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000

mmm.. whatever…
so, did he have a visa in the end or not?

Comment on Sara Errani Admits She Avoided Tennis Tournament in Tokyo: Feared Radiation by Rootabega

Rootabega — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Another Canuck here. I agree, but Canada (specifically Alberta) spawned this goof, and we have no choice but to take our trash back. Of course, he’s not the only Alberta redneck to behave like a entitled douche after a few drinks. Remember this?
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20011214/ctvnews832480/
King Ralph’s already huge popularity in Alberta only went up after his egregious behaviour at a men’s homeless shelter. (Giant facepalm icon here).

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by KayFabe

KayFabe — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Great work bringing this work to light. Definitely worth digging more into the circumstances of his firing from NHK. Reliable sources with firsthand experience of Johnson describe him as an unstable man who readily resorts to threatening language or behavior when things don’t go his way.

Comment on Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship? by Rootabega

Rootabega — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:05:00 +0000

I am normally impervious to all forms of advertising – heck, an annoying ad often results in having the item involved placed on a boycott list. But what do those sinfully cunning Japanese do? They make CMs featuring the likes of Asano Tadanobu and Matsuda Ryuhei, and I say to myself, “Hmm…maybe I could use a Canon photocopier in my life..”. It’s evil, I tell you.

Comment on Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!) by yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Amnesty International reports about mistreatment of foreigners at Narita since at least 1995;

How many “reports” did AI make since 1995?

One, dated May 2002.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA22/010/2000/en/ec751778-da0d-4bf5-8f47-06e81d52d11/asa220102000en.pdf

A Colombian national, who was denied entry into Japan in October 1996, claimed to have been told by theImmigration official that “You don’t have to be in Japan. Only one out of five Colombians canenter Japan. Colombians are untrustworthy, selling drugs, involved in prostitution and robbery.”

“claimed to have been told”.

Just like CJ claimed to ….

Like CJs story. the report is full of allegations but no facts or verification.