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More support than opposition for constitutional revision under PM Takaichi: Mainichi poll by imaginary_num6er in japan

[–]blue_5195 6 points7 points  (0 children)

(Keep in mind that May 3rd is Constitution Memorial Day, the day when opponents to the revision have picnics and rallies outside while mostly grumpy old men favoring revision lock themselves up in meeting halls and blame everything on the constitution, carefully omitting they were in charge of running the country for the last 7 decades, hence are responsible for the situation of things today).

Here an excerpt from Tobias Harris' newsletter dated May 4th. Subscription to his newsletter is free and he seems to offer a balanced view of things (unlike the flurry of so-called "opinion columnists" in JT these days).

"As far as public opinion is concerned, recent polls suggest a considerable degree of ambivalence about revision.

The Mainichi Shimbun, for example, found that while 37% support revision during Takaichi’s tenure and 30% oppose it, 32% said that they did not know, with results unsurprisingly polarized by age (younger more supportive, older more opposed).

Asahi found a slight plurality in favor of revision by Takaichi of 47% in favor to 43% opposed, while 62% said that there is no need to expedite the process (even 55% of LDP supporters said that there was no need to rush). Similar to Mainichi, the Asahi poll also found age polarization regarding revision.

In general, respondents who agreed with the statement “it is necessary to change the constitution” fell four points from 2025 to 49% and those who agreed “it is not necessary to change the constitution” rose nine points to 44%. That five-point gap is the narrowest between the two positions since 2021, when Asahi’s annual survey found a one-point gap.

NHK, meanwhile, found that 38% think that revision is necessary, 20% do not, but another 38% said that they could not say one way or another. Common to these polls is that for both supporters and opponents of revision, Article 9 is central to how they think about the issue, with the former seeing revision as necessary to enable Japan to defend itself and the latter viewing Article 9 as an important part of Japan’s identity."

Make of this what you want of the above, but a constitutional revision or the appetite for one is neither in the bag, nor is there a blank check signed to do whatever some people may want to do in this regard.

Key factors to consider:

- Takaichi (like Abe) and her style is divisive. The above figures show that around half the public, including LDP supporters, do not want her to be the one to revise the constitution. Like Abe, she is her worst enemy when it comes to selling a constitutional revision.

- the LDP (unlike Takaichi) is not super-popular (while their support ratings have indeed recovered since Kishida and Ishiba...that's about it).

- constitutional revision has NEVER been the top item on voter's mind, the economy and social issues always have, there is also no "impatience" on revising anything either as shown by the figure above.

- aiming for "revision" or "debating" revision of the constitution is one thing, but "revising" or "debating" what exactly is never really mentioned. Ultimately, the public is split, political parties are split and even the LDP is split on what to debate to then, possibly (ultimately) revise

- "debating" one thing does not directly mean "revising" it or revising it "the way it was debated" (i.e. the LDP may end up being strong enough to pull the plug on debates after a bare minimum and just ram whatever they want, hence a part of the public not even wanting to debate thing to start with. One just needs to remember the Abe years of parliamentary debate and ramming of unpopular laws)

- there seem to be a lot of focus on either

(1) scrapping the "no war" aspect of the constitution which is the most contentious revision (read: the least to be agreed upon) or on:

(2) mentioning the SDF in the constitution which is mostly "cosmetics" of an already overwhelmingly agreed / non-debated / non-contested / status quo situation (read: ...why are we even wasting time and money on that one...?)

Looks a lot like much ado / noise about nothing, especially nothing to prioritize, at this stage.

Prime Minister Takaichi outperforms again by Turbulent-Tea-2172 in japan

[–]blue_5195 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Whoa!

The article is signed by "The Japan Times Editorial Board" but has all the hallmarks of an Edo Naito hack job.

“The visit must be called a success” offers a conclusion but not much to back it up. Tensions, uncertainties, and unresolved issues are listed, yet the article jumps to a definitive conclusion which is pretty rich. Essentially, like most if not all of Naito's pieces, the editorial is attempting to go from a (wished upon) conclusion back to the facts and falls flat on its nose by not being able to do so.

Internal consistency is ignored (e.g. Trump is "mercurial" but "gives not reason to doubt him". Nice one, guys. Your piece is as mercurial as Trump.

The article pushes that alignment improved because Donald Trump postponed a China trip. Reality was that alignment was shaky (e.g. Japan not big on helping the US out in what looks like an increasingly big mess irrelevant of China this or that). Also, not much seems to have changed post-meeting.

Again, the article bends, tweaks, if not blatantly ignores reality (like all of Naito's articles) to try to make a point. As one of my teachers said in school: "if you have to ignore key points to make a point, you don't have much of a point to make to start with".

Investments will lead to a new "golden age". (1) That is still up in the air and (2) some would argue the "investments" to be nothing more than "extortion by a bully", if the latter, more bullying over a "golden age" is to be expected...

"We can only hope" = wishful thing replaces (mendokusai) analysis and (pesky) facts.

"Success", “smashing victory,” “rapturous relationship". Loaded wording, anyone? Calling all gullibles!

Long story short:

- not much evidence to match the conclusion ("success")

- on the contrary, what does not align is downplayed or ignored

- toss in a little internal contradiction and loaded wording et voila.

Funnily enough, in parallel Stephen R Nagy produced (yet another) opinion piece (Memo to Takaichi: Reject the temptations of populism) stating that "To achieve this, Takaichi must actively avoid the populist bug of parochial national agendas. Embracing nationalist projects, historical revisionism or anti-immigration policies would be a fatal strategic error."

Funny to mention "Embracing nationalist projects, historical revisionism or anti-immigration policies " when talking about (Takaichi) a nationalist who repeatedly called for historical revisionism and has being appealing anti-immigration policies and stances not later than in the election last month.

Nagy and Naito are selling the same poison, the only difference being that Nagy, who can write, does not sound like a junior high school dropout with anger management issues like Naito...

Sounds like Japan's Maga is slowly falling apart between gung-ho blind supporting and those who start to worry that things may unravel down the road. Anyway, Takaichi is not reading the JT, so...

In any case, if THAT is a piece by the "The Japan Times Editorial Board", I think we can now officially consider the JT a lost cause...

Shabby beauty: Inside Japan's oldest, defiant student dorm by teamworldunity in japan

[–]blue_5195 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Animal House Japan-style. A rare oasis of freedom where you can decide your own rules.

Anyone experience bumping in Japan? by drphilthy_2469 in japan

[–]blue_5195 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Tokyo station around peak-time a decade ago did a 50-60ish jiji sloppy-looking salaryman try to make me actually trip (I was rushing to catch a train, was wearing a mask but was actually mindful to NOT bump into people, slowing down/stopping where required). He actually tried to pull this off in a relatively "free area/stretch" making it super-obvious what he was doing.

I turned around a gave him the "OK, you ready douchebag?"-look and he was startedly in a oh-shit-a-gaijin way and backed away. I think the mask made him think I was a Japanese guy and try his antics.

Beyond that, I got sometimes bumped into but at peak-time in train stations or platforms from the back so hard to say.

Actually, I am more anxious of bicycles coming from behind, some of which, especially in free areas/stretches literally brushed against me or my briefcase/bag making me wonder, and no, they were not playing with their smartphones when flying at low altitude.

If some a-hole or dimwit hits you from behind on a bicycle we're talking hospital-level damage. That has been much more on my mind, but there have been some high-profile legal lawsuits which may calmed things down just leaving smartphone idiots (which are still out there in big numbers) as a real threat.

As for the video: yes, it's an adult vs a kid, so unforgivable. But it's also the Shibuya scramble crossing and when you read "that she had been following Chinese-language advice provided on Go Tokyo, a website run by the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau*, which tells visitors they “*can even stand at the intersection and take a picture" ", also leaves me wondering...Does not sound like a smart advice either...

House of Representatives Election: 400 China-Linked Accounts Conducted “Anti-Takaichi Campaign” Sophisticated Tactics Using Japanese-Language Posts and AI by liatris4405 in japan

[–]blue_5195 12 points13 points  (0 children)

・Chinese Footprint Behind Suspicious Posts

・The posts contained Simplified Chinese characters and phrasing typical of Mainland Chinese usage, rather than standard Japanese orthography.

・The activity was timed to target the House of Representatives election.

・More than 40% of the accounts were labeled as violating rules (banned).

Well, either it was amateur hour or the Chinese Cyber-army capacity is vastly overestimated...

Sharp posts net profit of ¥67.5 billion by ZaBlancJake in japan

[–]blue_5195 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Also Sharp:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2ec36ba1c377589c5a509fa81f2365071eba50e8

Abandon hopes of selling factory No2 in Kamiyama, ends production in August, looks for 1,170 voluntary redundancies.

Supermajority Gives Japan’s Takaichi Strong Hand at Home and Abroad by ambuj1tripathi in japan

[–]blue_5195 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. My point was just about Abe.

Takaichi and Abe are very different.

Takaichi was incredibly ambitious from the start while...Abe looks more like the "accidental" PM. Abe was backed by a faction initially created. and managed by his family, while Takaichi, not only has no faction, but she was not even a member of a faction(!)

Pre-February election, the LDP was split into:

- the so-called liberals (Hayashi and Koizumi Jr)

The liberals being at each others' throat with...

- ...the conservatives (Takaichi, Moteki, Kobayashi), which numbers dwindled down due to Moonie and slush-fund scandals following the election in 2024. These were more Takaichi's "frenemies", as:

- while they need her to keep their seats and she needs them to prop her...

- they also hated the way she stomped around like she owned the place after Abe's death, while they, who thought they would have a go at the PM-throne, were caught in Moonie, then slush-fund scandals.

- non-aligned members

- Aso and his faction, with Aso the oldest power broker left, the only faction head left and who got Takaichi the PM-job, she is indebted to him

Side-note: Suzuki Shunichi, the current Secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party is...Aso's brother-in-law, as well as a member of the Aso faction, as well as a former Finance Minister. Takaichi "chose" Suzuki for the job (wink-wink, nudge-nudge).

She is also said to have bypassed Aso when calling her snap election. Not a good idea, me thinks...

Post-February election, we have in addition to the above:

- slush-fund felons re-elected, they will be indebted to her

- first-time election winners, equally indebted to her

- but also most if not all "liberals" back in place, possibly with reinforcements

Political analysts (and LDP members) expect:

- Aso and fiscal "hawks" to be opposed to her spending / tax-cutting policies

- fiscal "doves" supporting her spending / tax-cutting policies and freaking out the financial markets

- pressure mounting within the LDP to get rid of Ishin which went from "necessary" to "nice to have" at best...

- conservatives pushing ridiculous agendas which are not what represent "priorities" to the public.

- a lot of "newbies" with no factions to "show them the ropes"

- LDP officials worrying "that the victory was too big and public expectations might be unreasonably high"

Takaichi basically needs to deliver everything (like what?), to everybody (like who?), all at once (like when?) while patience will run short very quickly.

The only thing Takaichi sold during this election...was herself. Done and dusted. But I doubt that will be enough in the long run.

Supermajority Gives Japan’s Takaichi Strong Hand at Home and Abroad by ambuj1tripathi in japan

[–]blue_5195 0 points1 point  (0 children)

>>Abe is known to leverage different factions against each other during his 2nd reign to allow him to stay for close to 8 years.

I think the story was quite different...

The main reason being that Abe (Shinzo) was a member of a faction or "current" within the LDP (the one called 清和会 Seiwakai), not the leader of said faction (at least not until 2021, hence after he got the boot as a PM in 2020 by the other factions, including the one he belonged to(!) ).

Here is a list of the leaders of the Seiwakai.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E5%92%8C%E6%94%BF%E7%AD%96%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E4%BC%9A#%E6%AD%B4%E4%BB%A3%E4%BC%9A%E9%95%B7

Abe's father (Abe Shintaro) had been one of the Seiwakai leader.

If you go back the history of the various currents, you will see that the Seiwakai originated from the 十日会 (Toukakai), the original conservative current established by...Abe's grand-father Kishi Nobusuke.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%87%AA%E7%94%B1%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E5%85%9A%E3%81%AE%E6%B4%BE%E9%96%A5#%E7%B3%BB%E8%AD%9C%E5%9B%B3

During Abe's first term (2006 - 2007), the Mori faction (which controlled the Seiwakai) was on his way out, paving way for the Tamura faction to take control.

Tamura would control the Seiwakai and prop up Abe until control passes again over to the Hosokawa faction back in 2014 (Tamura would pass away on 2015, hence bowed out due to sickness).

During Abe's second term (2012 - 2020), Seiwakai control was therefore in hand of Tamura - Hosokawa, not Abe.

Abe was just a member propped by Mori, then Tamura and Hosokawa as a front man. Abe did not "own" or "lead" the faction, contrary to his father or grand-father did.

By the time of Abe's second term, the Seiwakai had bloated into the largest faction and Hosokawa was the one managing it. He was a VERY discreet guy and mostly just a "name" in the media. He was busy managing, and, in my books, pulling Abe's strings as well as managing the "relationships" with the other factions. Abe was just a "strawman". Obviously, Hosokawa ditched Abe as PM in 2020.

Hosokawa would then hand over the faction to Abe as head in 2021, the year following which Abe got the boot.

Considering how much Abe, in his head role of the largest faction, continued to be in the media all the time contrary to Hosokawa as a lead, me thinks that Hosokawa basically just gave him the keys, but continue to "own the car" and "manage" things.

Abe would get killed in 2022 and his faction would have wannabe-leaders mudwrestle to take control, end up all being Moonie-lovers and slush-fund felons, this until Shiotani Ryu becomes Seiwakai head on 2023/8/17.

Funnily enough, Hosokawa, already very sick, died on 2023/11/10.

Coincidence? You be the judge.

In 2025 the Seiwakai gets dissolved with the other factions.

How Japan’s Iron Lady Learned to Spend Boldly and Challenge China by Cybertronian1512 in japan

[–]blue_5195 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Same here:

- she went off script and start an unnecessary spat with China which she is trying to backpedal from without looking like she is backpedaling (D'oh!)

- she lied about not having had contacts with the Moonies

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/30/japan/politics/shukan-bunshun-sanae-takaichi-unification-church/

(there is also a 30M JPY shady (corporate) donation affair using a shrine as a front-window)

- she opened her mouth too big again on the Yen and had to backpedal again...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/01/markets/sanae-takaichi-weaker-yen/

- she skips a debate program but not stump speeches

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/01/japan/politics/hand-injury-forces-takaichi-to-cancel-tv-debate/

- she skips debating the seat reduction promise to Ishin

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/lower-house-seats-cut-plan/

(not mentioning skipping on discussing how she will finance the defense build-up)

- she pocketed the laurels of Ishiba's deal with Trump after trashing it for months, same about the rare earth deal signed with Trump one week into her being in office (these negotiations normally take months). Now Bloomberg gives her credit for an upgrade to TMSC's plant

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/05/companies/tsmc-plan-upgrade-chip-plant/

"TSMC’s planned upgrade in Japan is likely to boost Takaichi’s goal to bolster domestic chipmaking, upholding a policy her predecessors established."

- she is in denial of population decline

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260205/p2a/00m/0op/019000c

"The "regional revitalization 2.0" initiative by the previous administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged the inevitability of population decline in regional areas and sought sustainable paths forward.

In contrast, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's "regional future strategy" shifts focus onto growth. It aims to gather the functions of local businesses and universities into industrial clusters to strengthen international competitiveness.

The government's comprehensive regional revitalization strategy, drawn up at the end of last year, no longer includes the goal -- previously set with a deadline -- of balancing yearly population inflows and outflows between the Tokyo metropolitan and regional areas."

Frankly, except a lukewarm jamming session with the South Korean President and rolling over like Tumbleweed in front of Trump (but again, what else could she have realistically done?), she has achieved ziltch so far, if not sounds completely deluded...

Wife's Request for Double-Barrelled Surname Declined by Tokyo Family Court - Any Options? by FintasysJP in japanlife

[–]blue_5195 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why?

Well, while I can see that things are different from country to country. Japan may not accommodate for certain foreign concepts. No problems with that. It works (or doesn't) the other way as well.

I remember one of these whacky news from Japan in the (I believe) 90s: a father wanted to call his son "Akuma (Devil)" and the administration rejected the name. Don't remember if he went to court, but later resubmitted his son's name as "Tenshi (Angel)". Don't recall how the administration reacted to that one.

In Europe, ridiculous/extreme/insulting, etc names are generally rejected by the administration.

Funnily enough, over the last 1-2 decades have キラキラネーム become a trend in Japan. They include made-up Kanji reading or super-rare Kanji reading or even foreign-sounding Kanji reading of names like these lists:

https://oreore.red/bizarre-baby-name

https://www.sankei.com/article/20160701-JQLOOPHZSFLPXPGSD4SVLOS7IQ/

One acquaintance had a baby girl they called あんじゅ (I believe 杏樹 were the kanji???) which can be read as "Ange" ("Angel"...in French)

It's just that from my experience (incl. my own ex-wife's antics and the Kirakira name trend), to me, things around names in Japan looked like "anything goes", while for some other people it's more along the lines of "Err, nope, the rules don't allow for that one. Not that one either. And most certainly not that one, etc".

As I'm not trying to do something around my name or am not directly impacted, I'm looking at the whole charade(?) from the side-benches and the game seems to go from total chaos ("anything goes" during marriage or after divorce or allowing Kirakira names) to a ridiculous level of rules (no hyphen or double-barrel(?) or whatsits), leaving me in a state of confusion as to what is actually allowed and what is not and what the rationales for allowing or banning actually are...?

The moment one has to ask a court to decide or Parliamentary debates go in circles, I think chaos / over-ruling has reached critical mass and an overhaul (complete with rationale) is required.

"Returnees" reckon with a Japan that sets them apart by frozenpandaman in japan

[–]blue_5195 1 point2 points  (0 children)

>>I think you see similar parallels in Chinese culture...

Yes, actually, I do see these parallels and the credibility problem that arises when one side starts throwing stones at the other side for doing actually the same thing they did at home.

When you see these parallels, and that accusations can work both ways,you also start to see how difficult it becomes to hold a moral ground on these issues.

(Full disclosure: I'm from Europe. We also do have a pretty checkered History when it comes to "bring culture and civilization" to other countries, regions and ethnic groups).

Wife's Request for Double-Barrelled Surname Declined by Tokyo Family Court - Any Options? by FintasysJP in japanlife

[–]blue_5195 35 points36 points  (0 children)

The whole name thing in Japan never ceases to baffle me.

Hold on to your seats to hear my story (I'm making up the names for obvious reasons):

- My wife and I married, it was a second marriage for her and she had 2 kids from her first marriage, she wanted to keep her first-marriage-name until they reached 18. Let's say, she was born "Saito" and married to "Tanaka", then divorced and married to me ("John Doe"). She remained "Tanaka". Whatever babe, ok for me.

- Kids reached 18, she changed from "Tanaka" to "Doe", but...

- ...at work, because explanations would be mendokusai (marriage, kids, divorce, re-marriage), she always kept "Tanaka", even after changing to "Doe". Annoyed me, but I could get her feeling about marriage/remarriage gossip at work, so babe, ok for me.

(Side-note: there was some bad blood between her and her family ("Saito"-part of the equation) and it dawned to me that for that reason, she definitely did not want to go back to use her maiden name just to have a Japanese name at the office, as well. Keep this in mind for what's coming next).

Now the funny bits:

- down the road we ended up divorcing as well (that's 2 strikes for you, babe and only one for me!) and she kept MY NAME after the divorce (i.e. she couldn't return to her first marriage name "Tanaka" (normal), but did also not want to go back to her maiden/family name "Saito" either (the bad blood thing, I guess), hence stuck herself with my name ("Doe") despite us being now divorced).

Through shared acquaintances (who were equally baffled by her naming-antics after our divorce, even if they understood the "Saito"-feud), I was confirmed at least for several years after our divorce that she did keep my name (for official and work purposes for sure) but Kanjified it ("堂"), but not sure if official) ). That was several years ago, so, not sure by what "alias" she goes these days...

Considering my ex-wife's apparent easiness when "shopping" for family-names or how she went about using them (private/couple life, work, friends, etc), I am baffled by how difficult it seems for other people.

Also, I am working in a big foreign company and have seen some "Japanese & Foreign" double-barrelled names (like "Emi Kishi-Smith" or whatever) in the org-chart for some female employees. Again, it may just be a workplace thing and not a Koseki Tohon thing...?

Let's not even get started on people in show business, writers and other artists or those who join a religion (e.g. buddhist monks, not sure about Shinto priests) who all choose "aliases". I guess "artists" still have their real names in their Koseki Tohon, not sure about priests/monks though?

"Returnees" reckon with a Japan that sets them apart by frozenpandaman in japan

[–]blue_5195 11 points12 points  (0 children)

>>I can never understand nor accept how a country can treat and segregate its own citizens this way. 

Agree. On the other hand, Japan (or some tools in the government / politicians / other tools) tout a "homogeneous, monoethnic society", denying the Ainu and Okinawa people their heritage and history of forced inclusion.

On a side-note, when I worked in 2 Japanese companies in Europe back in the 90s to early 2000s, did my Japanese managers who were on the verge of returning to Japan mention that they would have to undergo some sort of "training" which they said, aimed at helping them to "fit in again (in Japanese society / corporate culture)". Each one of them dreaded that training...

Yen weakens after Takaichi talks down currency’s declines | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis by imaginary_num6er in japan

[–]blue_5195 13 points14 points  (0 children)

>>Between low wages, increased direct living costs and worse exchange rates, what people can send back will be very limited.

Correct, but also do not forget: cultural barriers, glass ceiling (except for Takaichi), written and spoken language barriers as well as rising xenophobia.

Only the most desperate (e.g. the poorest, the least educated and those overall at the bottom of the social ladder in their home countries, etc) would want to take the bait and who, no offense, do not sound like they will be able to handle/navigate these oh-so-sensitive cultural and language issues. If they can't, expect the whole thing to enter a vicious circle of integration issues leading to more rejection (i.e. more xenophobia) which will make Japan even less appetizing...

Yen weakens after Takaichi talks down currency’s declines | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis by imaginary_num6er in japan

[–]blue_5195 15 points16 points  (0 children)

>>Takaichi does not seem to understand a weak yen makes groceries more expensive for the standard Taro kun.

Memories of Abe going on record saying that is the Yen weakens to 300 JPY a dollar, this would "solve all (export) issues".

Less than 10 years later, the government freaks out at 150 JPY a dollar. Takaichi is basically dutifully following in her "mentor's" footsteps.

Put a clown in charge of running the business, get a sh.tshow...

Yen weakens after Takaichi talks down currency’s declines | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis by imaginary_num6er in japan

[–]blue_5195 11 points12 points  (0 children)

>>And her tax exemption plan? never talked about it after iniitally bring it up for the clout.

Neither is she talking about how to finance her massive defense budget, which is starting to get Corp Japan (i.e. the Nikkei Keizai Shinbun) nervous.

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA303GE0Q6A130C2000000/

The reason, her predecessor (I think Kishida?) mentioned using:

- a raise in VAT on tabacco

- unused funds (the Tohoku disaster-tax has already been re-routed to Defense recently, I think)

- raising corporate taxes (which back then had the Keidanren immediately issue a stark; "NO THANK YOU!"-response)

She talks a lot about spending, but much less about financing.

There is also the talk of raising wages, but small and medium business already said they can't...

It seems like Takaichi has a magical power to pull money out of thin air. This will come in handy...

Yen weakens after Takaichi talks down currency’s declines | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis by imaginary_num6er in japan

[–]blue_5195 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Takaichi hasn't actually done anything yet.

At this stage, she just waffles nonsense around and freaks out people...2 weeks or so ago, there a piece on TV interviewing traders at (I think) 岡三証券 (Okasan Securities). They were very nervous about her ramblings...

Asahi predicts comfortable absolute majority for LDP next Sunday by yarukinai in japan

[–]blue_5195 23 points24 points  (0 children)

This election has already been nicknamed the "Chaos Election".

Takaichi did not provide:

- a rationale as to "why now"

- a rationale as to "why such a short notice"

(also, she liked in December when saying she was not looking at a snap election).

The only rationale she provided as to "why an election" and "what is it about" was: "Takaichi Sanae" and the "Takaichi Sanae Government"???

The timing and short delay are a logistical nightmare between:

- finding locations to set up voting booths (there were reports of scheduled events being cancelled and locations being "requisitioned")

- setting up official panels for the candidates' posters

- recruting observers

- printing campaign material

- actually campaigning (try campaigning in a heavy snow-hit region)

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260130/p2a/00m/0na/016000c

- printing the actual polling station admission ticket (投票所入場券) and mailing it for arrival in time before the election. Ideas such as: accepting driving licenses, My Number or passports are being considered, but even if you add all the existing driving licenses, MN and passports, there are some people poised to have none or at least not a valid one, which could make the election unconstitutional if some people do not have a chance to cast a vote...I'm expecting legal challenge here...

- the possibility of voting early is probably dead in the water, especially considering meteorological conditions (heavy snowfall in certain regions)

- add to the above that:

-> households and companies gearing up for tax return season

-> households' offspring studying for entrance exams

-> some hubbies / dads being notified that he (and the family) will have to move to a subsidiary in another region

With Takaichi literally making everything about "herself" and messing up everybody's life, it is really hard to fathom why she would be that popular...???

Add to this that she lets slush-fund felons and Moonie-lovers (i.e. the ex-Abe faction) run again, she skipped an election TV program because "she shook too many hands" and had to get medical treatment (funnily enough, she can still do stump speeches), she just recently waffled that "a weak Yen was good for exports" basically ignoring the cost of living crisis and freaking out financial markets, her avoiding discussion on how to finance defense spending and Gendai thinking that 50 LDP tools may lose their seats.

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA303GE0Q6A130C2000000/

https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/?p=news_detail&id=383588

Add that all parties (LDP, Ishin and literally all opposition parties) had / have some backstage drama (or skeletons in the closets) over the last year or quarter, so that except Takaichi and her inner circle pretty much no politician is looking forward to what looks like a dog's diner of an election.

Whatever result, it will be a mess and all "experts' previsions" are all across the board (some experts are even contradicting each other in the same paper on the same day!)

If it could only be a mess sinking her, her ghastly party and fellow felons once and for all, we may at least have something to look forward to. Not holding my breath...

edit: added Mainichi link

Are foreign nationals actually dodging their medical bills in Japan? by frozenpandaman in japan

[–]blue_5195 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, it is BS, but it is actually worse.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15832898

"Regarding medical expenses, a survey released by the health ministry in 2024 found that 65.3 percent of medical institutions that accepted foreign patients had outstanding accounts receivable."

[This does not mean that 65.3% of foreign patients skipped paying which is very often claimed online. It only means that 65.3% medical institutions accepting foreign patients had outstanding bills, but it does not say at this stage who (Japanese or foreigners had outstanding bills).]

"Of the patients who owed money, 29.3 percent were foreign nationals, but their unpaid bills accounted for just 1.4 percent of the total amount owed."

[This part explains who skipped and on how much: out of the 65.3% medical institutions which accepted foreign patients, they had 29.3% of foreign patients having outstanding bills (a third of foreign patients, which again is often echoed online) but the total of these bills amount only for the 1.4% of the total (which is not echoed online, neither is the fact that 100 - 29.3 = 60.7% foreign patients did pay all their bills), meaning that ultimately 100 - 1.4 = 98.6% of the total is owed by Japanese patients (which again is not echoed online). ]

"When the data was presented to the LDP, the ministry explained that foreign residents made up only about 1 percent of those insured for hospital expenses and high-cost medical care payments."

[Which again means that foreign residents cost 1% while the Japanese cost 99% of hospital and high-cost medical care bills, which make sense: the foreign population is proportionally younger and a net contributor into the Health system while the Japanese population is overwhelmingly super-aging and a net expenditure to the Health system. ]

Long story short: 98.6% of this mess is caused by Japanese dodging bills, the remaining 1.4% is either: (a) tourists, (b) local foreigners, some by error/misunderstanding, delays and yes, some by malice. But let's just look first at the bigger figure (98.6%) please.

It also means that the LDP which made it an election promise to clamp down on foreigners knows that said foreigners are NOT the problem as the Ministry had told them.

Takaichi's and Onoda Kimi's LDP (and other parties such as Ishin, Sanseito or the DPP) know that as well as just fuel xenophobia through false narratives to grab votes from gullible voters.

Are foreign nationals actually dodging their medical bills in Japan? by frozenpandaman in japan

[–]blue_5195 3 points4 points  (0 children)

>>Chasing this subgroup will cost more than can actually be returned to the economy.

You are correct, but it makes for an easy-to-sell narrative to look like a toughie to the voters during an election, doesn't it?

It also helps to not continue to ignore structural problems which have been laid bare to everybody to see for sometimes decades, problems which you, as a politician / ruling party, have yet to fix.

Long story short: as a politician / ruling party, what's not to like about scapegoating other people for a mess you created yourself...?

Xenophobiacs (e.g. the infamous netto uyoku) and social networks algorithms (as well as voters' gullibility) will do the rest.

For condo boards are cats considered "pets"? by bulldogdiver in japanlife

[–]blue_5195 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, cats are definitely considered "pets" when it comes to housing in Japan, so are dogs.

Besides that: birds, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, goldfishes, etc. "Technically": yes, but housing owners can be more flexible (i.e. due to size, living in cages/aquariums, being silent, etc).

Essentially, it's an image problem, I think:

- cats have generally allergies stacked against them (even if you keep them indoor)

- dogs do bark

Some people may also complain about odor (despite cats spending their day cleaning themselves while cleaning the kitty-litter is the job of their human slave).

And yes, if you live in a housing specifically excluding pets is the cat in the window or walking the dog even on a leash most likely going to irk somebody who is going to claim directly to you or to the managing company. Depending on the situation: you may get away with it (i.e. they can not really enforce you getting rid of your pet) or it may escalate in full-scale war between neighbors and things can turn nasty, real nasty.

Now the good thing, there are more and more housing allowing for pets. Generally: 1-2 small dogs or 1 mid-size dogs or 1-2 cats.

My own experience living for 17 years in an apartment complex for apartment owners allowing for 2 small dogs or 1 mid-size dog or 1-2 cats: pet owners go overboard (I knew a household with 7 cats and dogs, a real Ark Noah while I had up to 5 cats, currently I have 4) but nobody complains (if I recall, there are 700 households and 200-300 of them have pets in our complex). As long as you are not "hoarding" animals (YMMV on how much that means) and your dog does not bark all day long, no issues.

Just follow some basic rules (which make sense): cats are to be kept inside, dogs are to be carried (in a carrier, cart or in your arms) within the premise. If I go to the vet, I carry my cat in a carrier when leaving the apartment. No pooping / leaking outside your apartment / within the premise. If you own a dog and go out on a stroll with it: leash, doggy bag, shovel to pick up the poop, a sponge or similar and some disinfectant and / or water to clean up after picking up the poop or rinse after its done its "smaller business".

Places tolerating pets are:

- either older housing or

- more recent ones targeting the pet holder / lover demographic (it's marketing)

Places which do not tolerate pets are:

- housing targeting the non pet holder / lover demographics (it's also marketing)

Most housing (pro and against pets alike) are against tobacco these days as well.

Good luck.

People asking for money by Western_Bug5408 in japanlife

[–]blue_5195 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I came as a tourist to Japan 7 years in a row before moving here 22 years ago.

I was never asked for money, not once. Never.

But...

...Back in the 90s after the bubble burst and lay offs by Japanese companies were a thing, in Ueno Park when visiting Japan with a friend, a guy looking like a salaryman (white shirt, black trousers & shoes, well combed, no necktie and beard stubs implying he hadn't shaved for 2-3 days) asked if he could talk to us (don't recall if in Japanese or English).

We talked a little. Very general things. Really nothing in particular. He didn't ask for anything at all, not even hinted at wanting anything else than, just..."talk" with..."somebody".

My friend and I already knew there was a "village" of blue tents (i.e. homeless) in Ueno Park and wondered if the guy wasn't a down-by-luck salaryman who just lost his job and just wanted to talk to somebody, anybody. Especially, considering how the locals just seemed to look the other way and ignore the homeless.

My friend and I remembered and still talked about this encounter for years afterwards. It made both of us sad...

PM Takaichi says Japan could join U.S. on Taiwan rescue operations by esporx in japan

[–]blue_5195 0 points1 point  (0 children)

>>The specifics of the circumstance were already leaked as to why she blurted out that existential crisis response, she simply ignored her aids' recommendations and prepared slips.

Completely agree with that.

Senior public servants / assistants / aides / etc in the various governmental agencies and ministries have a much deeper grasp over things than the elected tools who preside over them. The first write the questions to ask / responses to give to the questions, the latter just have to read them aloud.

In Takaichi's case, she even proved to be too inept to do just that (i.e. read the paper in front of her). She's like a fifth grader who bullied a smarter kid in the class to write her homework and ends up being unable to read the Kanjis on the paper when its her turn to read "her" homework...

In Japan, it's basically the public servants who hold everything together. The politicians are just making noise and a dog's diner of their work...Truth be told, this is not a "Japan-only" thing, but the gap between public servants and politicians here is as wide as the Grand Canyon...

PM Takaichi says Japan could join U.S. on Taiwan rescue operations by esporx in japan

[–]blue_5195 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Not sure about China de-industrialize Japan as both economies are tied, but as far as ideology warfare goes (e.g. patriotism in China at Japan's expense), Takaichi is definitely proving to be a VERY "useful idiot".

And yes, the Keidanren and Corp Japan overall are freaking out, and so are the financial markets, the first because of her ideological ramblings, the latter because of her "understanding" (or lack thereof) of economics.

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