According to Fukuoka Prefectural Police, 35-year-old mother Kaoru Tomiishi admitted to murdering her son Koki, saying, "I was going to commit suicide after I killed my child." Police will continue to question Kaoru, who was apparently suffering from an illness and child-raising problems, over her motives for the crime. Koki had lived with Kaoru and his 33-year-old father in a family of three.
This lady murdered her own child in cold blood and for whatever reason was unable to finish the job by committing suicide. Suffering from an illness, regardless of the illness, and ostensible child-raising problems are no excuse for murdering your own child. Period.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Taro Aso was elected president of the governing party on Monday afternoon.
Aso, 68, is expected to be elected prime minister at a Diet session to replace outgoing premier Yasuo Fukuda.
Aso defeated former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara, 51, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, 56, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51, and State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano, 70.
In my not so humble opinion, Taro Aso is the absolute worst choice for Prime Minister. Has anyone noticed that when the LDP selects a Prime Minister, their selection ends up falling hard. However, when the country elects a PM we get great people like Junichiro Koizumi.
Japan has opted to keep the Prime Minister within the good ole boys club rather than attempting to fix what is so obviously broken.
Anthony, along with his junior high school track team, traveled to Tokyo today to participate in the Yumenoshima Junior Olympics. Anthony was supposed to tag along on both Saturday and Sunday, but two injuries to the 4×100m Relay Team led to Anthony’s sole participation in the 100m Dash.
Luckily the weather cooperated and everyone had a blast. The race was a lot of fun to watch! Anthony did not do as well as he had wanted to, but still finished strong nonetheless. Twas a job well done methinks!
One person was killed and six others injured Saturday when a man went on a stabbing rampage in central Japan — the latest in a series of such sprees in the country in the last few months.
The attacks occured during a festival at a shrine in Ishikawa Prefecture, when a man was seen indiscriminately slashing people with a sickle, the Kyodo news agency reported.
Police arrested a 42-year-old vendor, Toshiaki Arai, and charged him with killing a 30-year-old man and wounding six others, Kyodo said. The Associated Press reported that Arai told police he was angry that customers had made fun of him.
What the hell is the matter with everyone these days. For crying out loud, one guy goes on a stabbing rampage, so now everyone else has to copycat the same crime? How about next time we just leave innocent people out of it? Ok?
Two explosions were heard in a residential area in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture late Friday in what is believed to be a guerrilla attack against the U.S. naval base in the port city, police said.
No one was hurt in the incident, which took place in a hilly area of the city at around 10:30 p.m., the police said.
The police said there were the traces of two rocket bombs being launched. Metal pipes, batteries and lead wires were found on the scene, they added.
It would appear the opposition to the George Washington desires to be “heard” through the use of violence and intimidation. Luckily, or should I say hopefully, this is about the extent of what is expected from most nationalist groups in Japan.
Two explosions were heard in a residential area in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture late Friday in what is believed to be a guerrilla attack by rocket bombs against the U.S. naval base in the port city, police said. No one was hurt in the incident, which took place in a hilly area of the city at around 10:30 p.m., police said.
Two large explosions were heard near the Yokosuka naval base south of Tokyo on Friday, in what may have been an attack by extremists.
Police say they were notified that the explosions had been heard at around 10:30 PM in a wooded part of Yokosuka City. The site is 600 meters from a base that's shared by the US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Police say they found 2 steel pipes, electric wires, and batteries in the forest and that grass in the area had been burned. They suspect the pipes were used as a launcher. They say the veranda of a nearby house was damaged but that no one was injured.
Japan's government welcomed Friday the announcement that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington will arrive later this month at its new home base south of Tokyo.
The George Washington, which can carry a crew of up to 5,600 and 70 aircraft, will replace the USS Kitty Hawk as the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. It is to arrive on Sept. 25 at the port of Yokosuka.
"The government of Japan welcomes the arrival of the USS George Washington, as the continuous strong presence of the U.S. Navy will contribute to the security of Japan and the maintenance of peace and security of the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington will reach Yokosuka on Sept. 25, the Navy announced Friday.
The George Washington is the first nuclear-propelled ship to be forward-deployed to the Japan-based U.S. 7th Fleet. It replaces the USS Kitty Hawk, a 48-year-old carrier currently awaiting decommissioning in Bremerton, Wash.
The newest carrier will be arriving just a few days before I am headed to Yokosuka for a week. I am definitely *not* looking forward to hanging with a large group of n00bs who are going to be hellbent on destroying the very city I adore.
According to new calculations by the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan has unwittingly accumulated three times as much gold, silver and indium than the entire world uses or buys in a year. In the case of platinum, Japan's urban mines may contain six times annual global consumption.
The institute's leading urban mine expert said that if these electronics-rich treasure troves were properly tapped, supposedly resource-poor Japan would suddenly join the likes of Australia, Canada and Brazil in the top five producers of some elements.
Plaintiffs in litigation over military aircraft noise in mainland Japan and Okinawa agreed Saturday to unite in their fight for quieter skies.
For the first time in the more than 30-year history of such noise lawsuits in Japan, plaintiffs representing several groups seeking compensation and bans on early morning and late-night military flights gathered near Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
Was it too difficult for Stars and Stripes to add “mainland” in to the title? Sure, it lengthens the title but is a hell of a lot more clear!
At first glance, without reading the article, one has to wonder if the author believes Japan and Okinawa to be completely separate countries. Only after reading the article does the reader find out the author meant mainland Japan and Okinawa.
Japan makes the most advanced, remarkable toilets in the world. Japanese toilets can, variously, check your blood pressure, play you music, wash and dry your anus and 'front parts' by means of an in-toilet nozzle that sprays water and warm air, suck smelly ions from the atmosphere, switch on a light for you as you stumble into the bathroom at night, put the seat lid down for you (a function known as the 'marriage-saver') and flush away your excreta without requiring anything as old-fashioned as a tank. These devices are known as high-function toilets, but even the lowliest high-function toilet will have as standard an in-built bidet system, a heated seat and some form of nifty control panel.
There is no country in the world where better toilets are found. I find the Washlets to be both satisfying after a long trip to the bathroom as well as refreshingly clean. Getting up and walking away from a messy bathroom experience has never been better!
There is this idiotic blog I ran across a few months back where a gaijin author complains about American drivers in Japan, specifically people in the military, military dependents or those who work on military bases driving cars with “Y” plates. I never really got in to the blog because the moronic author merely groups a small handful of bad American drivers in an attempt to portray everyone with a “Y” plate as a horrible driver. I have been unable to load the site because it appears the dumbass forgot to renew his domain.
This story is not about that particular dumbass but another one.
Stereotyping is so 1960’s and is pointless anyhow. Certainly this gaijin has run in to a few stereotyping instances throughout his time in Japan. It is inevitable. The longer you live in Japan without feeling the wrath of Japanese discrimination, the greater your chance of encountering such stupidity.
But I digress. Like I said, this post is not about the politics of discrimination, racial profiling or prejudice. My short story is a tale about an interesting driving experience I ran in to today for the first time in my 18 years in Japan. Did I just say “18 years in Japan?” Christ almighty, I must be getting old!
So this afternoon, before the surprise torrential downpour we endured, Anthony wanted to head to the pool with a couple of his friends. When we met them at our predetermined rendezvous point the weather decided there had been enough sun for the weekend. The rain started trickling from the clouds ever so slowly, but I could see a glimpse of hatred in the drops. These guys were interested in wreaking havoc, but apparently decided to start slow before their blitzkrieg. It was nothing short of shock-and-awe right as Anthony’s friends jumped in the car. Cats and dogs started falling out of thin air. It was crazy!
Instead of going to the pool Anthony decided he would rather head back to the house so he and his friends could screw around for a few hours. We got back to the house, the kids ran upstairs and I fell asleep on the couch like the old man I have become. Around 5pm we all piled back in the car so I could drop the kids back off at our previous rendezvous spot.
As I’m making a right turn across traffic off an already small 2-lane road on to an even smaller 1-lane road I notice a car is heading straight for me. The idiot old bastard driving does not stop until we are bumper to bumper.
If you have ever driven in Japan you should have a small idea of how narrow the streets are in this country. Most neighborhood streets in Tokyo are more narrow than your average, everyday narrow street. This particular road I turned on has maybe 2 feet of clearance on either side of car…maybe. Passing is not an option because it is impossible!
Let me explain something further for a minute. There is a special “neighborhood protocol” for driving on this street. About 100 meters after the turn I just made is another very small street. The protocol calls for any oncoming cars to swerve slightly in to this other street, which creates enough room for passing. This protocol has been in effect for who-the-fuck-knows how long. I know this because everyone follows this simple protocol. That is, everyone except for the fucktard I just ran face-to-face with. What’s more is he is the native while I am the foreigner, and he does not even know the rules of his own damn country!
So…here we are, two stubborn bastards staring at each other, mere inches away from each other’s car. I am definitely intent on remaining stationary until he moves out of my way. The vibes reverberating from his Chrysler give the impression he feels the same way. A gaijin driving a Japanese vehicle vs. a nihonjin driving a gaijin vehicle. Irony? Poetic? Probably some other 16 letter word to academically describe this situation exists but I am drawing a blank at the moment.
So I motion for ODB to back his happy ass in to the small street right behind him. He has plenty of room behind him as there are no other souls on the street except the two of us. This move requires little effort, is not dangerous, follows local protocols and makes the most sense! Dude screams through his windshield and motions for me to backup in to traffic, on to the busy street, so his old, dumb ass can get off the road. He wants me to backup in to what is definitely a dangerous situation because he…I do not know why, other than pure, unadulterated, godforsaken laziness.
And because this has turned in to a duel.
I throw my van in to park and sit there, intent on remaining stationary. Maybe I’ll check email, maybe I’ll surf the web. Or, maybe I’ll throw on a movie.
The old guy jumps out of his car and comes up to my drivers side door and screams in Japanese, telling me to backup. He probably thought he could scare me. I do not budge, almost willing myself not to get out of the car and beat this little guy to a pulp.
Instead, I opt to use my lungs and scream back, telling him the same thing but in English. As with his screams of war, it has no effect. He walk’s his frail ass back to his car and sits beside his wife.
I was trying to will his wife in to telling the old fuck to just backup and be done with it. But apparently she is on his side for some reason or another. Either that or very obedient, because I never once see her lips move. Maybe this is an alien couple? WTF do I know, right?
At this point I am adamant I am not going to move. I can play this game, especially because it’s just Anthony, his friends and me in the car. Junko stayed home. Had she been in the car with us then this would have never become a game of gaijin vs. nihonjin chicken…the stories movie and CNN articles are made of.
After another 30 seconds of absolutely nothing, after the old bastard planted his fragile old ass back in his car, he pulls out a pack of smokes and lights a cigarette. This is when I realized we were going to be here for a very long, long time. Alas, finally a reason to respect the man. He can fight, and fight hard!
We continue to stare each other down for what feels like an eternity but in reality is about another 45 seconds. It is at this point that I notice a car pull up behind the old fucker in front of me. I get this sinking feeling in my stomach, realizing this is the beginning of my demise. Not that this old codger was going to move before, but there is absolutely no way he will budge now. He has a reason for not moving now.
I scream “fUCKiT” in agony and wait another 60 or so seconds for traffic to clear and back-up to let this bastard out. I catch a faint glimpse of a smirk on his face as he turns on to the main road, almost as if he was thinking, “stupid gaijin does not know when to give up. I told you so!”
For those who think American’s have a monopoly on stupid driving in Japan, you are nothing more than a mere contributor to the rampant, unwarranted discrimination many gaijin face in Japan. Realize that the world does not revolve around you, and only you, and there is more to Japan than a few bad American apples.
An USAF Airman has been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a Japanese woman. James Littlejohn, from Misawa Air Base in northern Japan, was arrested Friday on charges of groping a 19yo woman in Hachinohe, near the city near Misawa.
For the life of me I can not figure out why such a very small number of military folks are committing some very stupid crimes. This extremely small percentage is giving the larger group a horrifying reputation and severely damaging US-Japan relations.
Something drastic needs to be done to curb this peculiar behavior.
Sunday afternoon Junko and I attended Anthony’s school track meet. The event was no small deal, with approximately twelve different schools participating in the events. Some of the schools were just around the corner while others were hours away. What made this particular track meet so special is that it was the first track meet that Anthony competed in an event. Anthony has been to many track meets throughout his first year in Junior High school, but up until this point he never had an opportunity to complete.
Until now.
Anthony is obviously smaller than his school counterparts but he was still able to compete quite well nonetheless. He ran in the 100 meter and 200 meter races, finishing second to last in both events. No matter how he placed, Junko and I are very proud of his accomplishments and all the hard work he has put in to track and field. Those long days at school appear to be paying dividends so to speak.
It was a lot of fun watching Anthony compete. We were both pretty jazzed to watch our son compete in the events even though he did not place well. In fact, winning was not really the point or what excited us the most: what got us jazzed was just watching our own son compete, to see the determination and fire in his eyes.
If only he were more excited about education! Yeah, I know how that goes. All too well in fact.
Hopefully Anthony will have a much more prosperous track meet the next time around. In the meantime, Anthony has a lot of work to do before the next competition if he intends to place well in his events. Methinks it is time to get his legs muscled up and to turn him in to a lean, mean running machine!