Japanese court decides that excessive overtime without pay is work related death.

Yes indeed a wake up calls to proprietary schools language schools.  Thanks to a valued contributor who is fluent in Japanese and proficient in English for finding this article and providing an English summary.

In this  Japanese article, http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20141106-00000011-asahi-soci it is revealed that a 22 years old woman working at proprietary chain school, Amity committed suicide due to working approx. 82 hours per month at home (overtime w/o pay) making material for English lessons.  This was work that was being done outside of what these chain schools consider "after normal contact hours".  "Contact hours" is a term used in the business explaining that payment will be for contact in the classroom.  According to this article, this Japanese woman became depressed and jumped off from her apartment building.  In addition to all the extra hours that she was doing at home, she was doing some overtime at school as well.  A total of 111 hours per month.  

By viewing the link above, you will see the high quality of the material she was making.  Another source in this article makes the same thing and it varies but they take about 29 sec to 9min 26 sec  to complete one material. 

Subsequently, a Japanese court has decided this as a work related death.  The contributor went on to mention that this should be a wake up call to other proprietary language schools.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

My Final Visit to a Kaiten Sushi Restaurant in Shinjuku- September 26th, 2014

September 26th, 2014, West Exit of Shinjuku Station-  My final full day in Japan had me on my own due to my wife and daughter spending time with my mother-in-law.  Not letting this moment pass me by, I stepped out on my own for my last sushi meal.  As it turned out, the following day, we were able to eat sushi at the Narita Airport.  You can never get enough sushi in Japan.  Never.

I'm a fan of kaiten sushi restaurants since as an American in Japan, you can be self-sufficient since you don't have to have adequate Japanese ability to order.  This is because the sushi is brought to you on a conveyor belt.  The seats in a kaiten sushi restaurant are along a conveyor belt that runs throughout the restaurant.

Back in 2011, I returned to Japan after being away for nearly 3.5 years.  For the better part of 2004-2007, I would visit Shinjuku Gyoenmae, a part of Shinjuku next to the big park.  There, I would enjoy sushi at a kaiten restaurant.  However, on my 2011 visit, I discovered that the restaurant that I went to was closed.  My mother-in-law knew of another kaiten restaurant at the Shinjuku Station.  With my wife and mother-in-law leading the way, I tagged along and was able to enjoy delicious sushi and the only time I opened my mouth was to eat.



On our recent visit in September 2014, I was pleased to learn that the kaiten restaurant that I was introduced to in 2011 was still in business.  Of the 14 days that we were in Japan, about 10 were in Tokyo and I was able to eat at this particular restaurant three times (September 19th, 24th, and 26th).

Apparently, I'm not alone in supporting these establishments as a foreign film crew was in this restaurant filming my final time for what appeared to be a special interest program.  I dare say that the crew was British, but not certain.
  

This picture is of the electronic department store, Yodobashi Camera on the West Exit side of Shinjuku Station.  At this department store, take the elevator to the basement.

The katen sushi restaurant, Numazuko, is located on the West Exit side of Shinjuku Station.  If you are familiar with Shinjuku Station, it is HUGE.  As an American, I dislike this station since it is easy to get turned around.  However, on earlier visits to Japan when my Japanese was not so good, I learned at this station that if you get lost, ask a younger employee instead of an older employee.  This is because A) they younger person may use English or B) will be more willing to lead you to where you need to go, or C) will speak slowly.

This picture is on the elevator with me pointing out "Kaiten Sushi" written in Japanese.  Being able to recognize the Chinese characters known as "kanji" helps more than you will ever know.

This picture is outside Numazuko kaiten sushi restaurant with the "Daily Specials" on display.  

This picture is of Numazuko's store front.  Directly across from this restaurant is a hallway that leads to restrooms, elevators, and Yodobashi Camera.

This is the only entrance into Numazuko kaiten sushi restaurant.

I went to this kaiten sushi restaurant at around 2:30pm.  It was between the lunch and dinner settings.  I was thankful that they were open.  However, there was nothing on the conveyor belts which defeats the purpose of a non-Japanese speaker to go in my opinion. 

I started my meal off with a draft beer of Kirin.

Luckily the menu was Japanese-English.  I started with tuna marinated with soy sauce.  

Three plates of tuna sushi marinated in a soy sauce.  A partially drunk large glass of Kirin Draft Beer is at the top left part of this picture.  In the US, you will see bottles of soy sauce with green caps indicating low sodium.  In Japan, all soy sauce is regular and in a green cap.  You don't see any salt and pepper shakers on this table, do you?  Behind the soy sauce bottle is a container that holds chop sticks.  To the right of this container are wet napkins in a plastic wrap.

I followed this up with two plates of tuna sushi.

My next order was two plates of salmon sushi at JPY 230 per plate.

Two plates of salmon sushi.

My third order was mackerel sushi at JPY 280 per plate.

Two plates of mackerel sushi with lemon slices and diced green onions on top.

This has green onions, fish flakes a band of seaweed over a two pinches of sushi rice.  Having an understanding of sushi doesn't mean that you won't get the order wrong.  Since this was the last day in Japan, I was able to brush up on my Japanese and get some of the mistakes out of the way with Japanese.  I wasnt' sure what onion sprouts on shari was so I only ordered one.  When it arrived, I was glad since it was not what I wanted.

Throughout this visit, I ordered 10 plates  which equates to 20 pieces of sushi.  You will notice the bottom two are green with the others being orange.  This is how the sushi is priced.  This 20 piece meal costed about JPY 2,900.  which included a large glass of Kirin Draft Beer.

This sign reads, "Daily Specials".  I believe the yellow tags indicate that a particular item was sold out.

At the entrance was this map of Japan.  It shows where their inventory of fish came from.  The sushi that I ate was part of fish that was swimming in the various parts indicated on this map the day before.  While I love sushi in the US, the quality is pale in comparison to the quality of sushi in Japan for obvious reasons.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-2014

JET Program- Statement of Purpose Essay, November 2003

I am interested in participating in the JET program as it will provide me with the perfect opportunity to connect my personal interest in Japan to a longstanding tradition of teaching in my family's history.  Both of my parents were teachers with my mother, a retired elementary teacher, and my father, a former high school football coach.  I have been very interested in teaching in Japan and spent several hours while in college tutoring students from Japan.  I became passionate as I helped these students and found myself studying Japanese history and Japanese language at the formal level.

            Ever since I was in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Japan, I have had a strong desire to experience Japan as an English teacher.  While in the Navy, I was able to experience life as an “Ambassador of Goodwill” to the Japanese people and in return, experienced the friendly hospitality from the Japanese.  I recall my time in Japan as being in a safe environment, surrounded by friendly people who made me feel special and treated me with great respect.   It would mean very much to me to return to Japan as an English teacher.  I could relive a period in my life that was special to me.

         I am interested in the Assistant Language Teacher position as I feel I can make a big impact to the organization and to the students that I would teach.  I would like my students and colleagues to view me as the friendly, energetic, and inspiring American who really cares about them and wants my students to succeed in learning English and in life.

            I grew up in South Carolina and joined the Navy at 19 years of age.  Between the years of 1993-97, I served two tours of duty on the naval warships, INDEPENDENCE, and VALLEY FORGE.   Once my obligation was completed, I was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4, Supply Petty Officer. 

            Over the years, I have developed professional skills of making presentations, time management, and supervising.  I have relevant interests of Japanese history and Japanese language.  I also have personal qualities of attention to detail, leading by example, and being a quick study. These skills, interests, and qualities will be useful as an Assistant Language Teacher since I will be able to make a quick adjustment to life in Japan and be an asset to the JET organization.  After the Navy, I decided to stay in California and pursue my bachelor’s degree.  Throughout this process, I managed to meet my goal of graduating by the age of 30 and worked an average of 35 hours a week to finance my studies.  After college, I worked for the Japanese company Mutual Trading, located in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles, where I continued my study of Japanese culture and Japanese language.  Presently, I reside in Redondo Beach, California and am married to a Japanese National who I met while visiting Los Angeles in 1998.  We look forward to experiencing life together in Japan.   

Once my time in Japan is completed, I hope to gain experience as a teacher and network with those of the profession in an effort to advance.  I plan to improve my finances, become proficient in a second language, and pursue my interests of Japanese history.  I would also like to study the martial art, Jui Jitsu.  

            In conclusion, being a part of the JET program will provide an opportunity to show the International and Japanese community that Americans are compassionate to other nations which have different cultures.  I would like to show the Japanese community that many Americans are striving for harmony with other cultures throughout the world. 

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

Maddie's Final Meal in Japan- September 27th, 2014

The Divine Wind Vaulthttp://divinewindvault.blogspot.com(C)2006-13

Review of Burger King's "Black Burger"

September 25, 2014- Tokyo, Japan:

Today, McDonald's in Japan announced its plan to have a black burger to rival competitor, Burger King.  Last week, while on international travel in Japan, I had the opportunity to take in the Japanese's version of Burger King.  I am happy to report that the standardization of Burger King's char-grilled beef patties are consistent, whether you are eating at a Burger King in my hometown of Taylors, South Carolina or my wife's hometown of Tokyo, Japan.

As it turns out, the Japanese currently have a preference and taste for a "Black Burger".  That is, a burger that is char-grilled to a well done like normal but with the unusual caveats of cheese that tasted like regular American cheese but had a blackish appearance.  The burger I had came with a teriyaki-like sauce known as Shalyapin Sauce.  which pretty much has made its way into the average American's every day diet.  Also, I'm sure that we all have had pumpernickel bread at one time or another in our past, and the bun for this "Black Burger" was something along those lines.

In Japan, they were offering two "Black Burgers".  One offered lettuce, tomato slices, onions, and mayonnaise with the Shalyapin Sauce which is the one that I went with.  The other didn't offer the toppings.

All and all, the "Black Burger" from Burger King was tasty, came with fries that you would find back home at your neighborhood Burger King.  The promotional for this burger was a Coke Zero which was the beverage as well.

A tad on the small side which is consistent with most American fast food eateries when implemented in Japan, I was glad that I broke away from my "sushi at least once a day" routine to take in this unusual offering from restaurant that I grew up with.

I recommend that Burger King in the US offers this "Black Burger".  It would be a great way for the stagnant eatery to differenciate itself from the competitive scrum while remaining true to the one thing that Burger Kings does best-- chargrilled beef patties without firing up the grill in the backyard.  Have it your way?  How about have it Godzilla's way!

Black Burger set on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.  From left to right:  Coke Zero, Black Burger in it's wrapping paper, and fries.

The Black Burger unwrapped with the blackish cheese revealed.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Black Burger unwrapped with the blackish cheese revealed.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The size of the Black Burger wasn't huge by any stretch of one's imagination.  However, it was filing.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

A friendly Tokyoite didn't mind taking a picture of me holding the Black Burger during a lunch rush.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Black Burger came with a decent amount of lettuce, two tomato slices and a healthy dab of mayonnaise.  Under the cheese was a teriyaki like sauce.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

Towards the back end of the Black Burger, the toppings were scarce, however, I was not hungry after completing this set.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Black Burger came in a black wrapper with the similar markings found in the US for those that have to have it "their way".  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Black Burger by Burger King debuted in Japan on Friday, September 19th, 2014.  I went to Burger King the following day during the breakfast rush and wasn't able to get the Black Burger since it doesn't get served till 10:30am.  However, all meal trays come with this paper advertising the the "Kuro Diamond", top left and the "Kuro Pearl", bottom left.  To the far right, is a discription of all the components of the burger that are black.  Picture was taken on  September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

I had the Kuro Diamond which I point out in this picture.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

Here's a close up of the Kuro Diamond advertisement.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The other Black Burger was the Kuro Pearl.  It was heavy on the sauce and light on the toppings which was the reason I went with the other one.  Picture was taken on September 25, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The components of the Black Burger are explained in this photo.  From left to right are pictures and explanations in Japans of the black bread, black cheese, black patty, and black sauce.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

Japanese airline service

Who is the founder of the Hakata Ikkousha ramen chain? I saw an excellent documentary on the plane courtesy of ANA. I received the best service ever in economy class thanks to the ANA team.

Japan's treasure to the world has been and will always be its ability to implement customer service a do so better than anyone else in the world. When traveling with a child under the age of 2, it is things like this that determine who gets one's business. There were many choices on who to fly with when we decided to return to Japan. We chose ANA since the Japanese airlines have a reputation for excellent service from start to finish. The only thing that I wish that they would have done, and maybe they did, and I was preoccupied with my daughter was to make sure that the immigration paperwork was filed out on the plane instead of doing it alone. My wife and daughter are both Japanese passport holders, and we got separated at immigration. I had to give the name of the hotel without the phone number since I didn't have that information with me, my wife did. Anyway, we are staying at the Tobu Narita Hotel near the airport since we arrived after 8 pm and knew that we would be exhausted after flying 13 hours from Chicago. We are smart to have done so, and the service from the hotel rivals that of ANA. The bus was on time, the driver diligently and cheerfully greeted us at the stand, and expeditiously placed our bags in the storage compartment. At the hotel, the driver did the same thing and did so without expecting a tip for his service. As soon as I turned around, a hotel employee was pushing up a cart and immediately placed our bags on the carriage. Before I could figure out what was happening, I had been led to the front desk. The employee waited patiently while her coworker checked us into the hotel.

Then, we were led to the elevator. Since there was another couple, the employee informed us that she would be up on the next elevator with our bags. In our room, the crib was already set up, allowing us to decompress and transition to the next 14 days in Japan with an infant. In closing, don't forget to bring a converter for your laptop charger. Also, if you will be renting a cell phone, do so knowing that after 8 pm at Narita Airport, these sorts of stores close for the day. This required us to make a special trip to a store in Tokyo's center city area later today. Today is Japan's "Respect of the Age" day. What a great way to reunite with my mother-in-law and allowing some long-overdue quality time with my daughter. The Divine Wind Vaulthttp://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

CNN's Talk Asia Program- Ken Hirai 平井堅

Unfortunately, I didn't catch Ken Hirai's interview from the beginning. I only got parts 2 and 3.

Part 2:

Ken Hirai is interviewed for CNN's Talk Asia in 2006 and discusses his unique looks for a Japanese male and how he was mistaken for a Westerner as a youth in Tokyo. This clip ends with Hirai performing at the Saitama Super Arena.

Part 3:

 

Ken Hirai is interviewed for CNN's Talk Asia in 2006 and discusses his time meeting and performing with R & B legend, Stevie Wonder. performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York and his work with Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

Focus on the Good Things that people are saying

Never ever give up. Why settle for mediocrity when you deserve the very best!!

 

 

 



Feedback:

JET Alum: Congratulations. It's a big achievement and impressed with what you've done while pursuing the degree as well.

Classmate from CSUDH: Congratulations for the graduate! Proud of you Dan!

Sister: I would like to congratulate my brother Daniel Stone on completing his master's degree & graduating today. Hate we are not there to celebrate. We will be soon!! So very proud of the man you have become!

JET Alum: おめでとう！

Shipmate from USS Valley Forge: You helped me just as much, if not more, than I helped you. Anyway, enjoy the time in the spotlight. You've more than earned it. I only regret not being able to attend the ceremony.

Former ELS Employee: Congratulations! You have accomplished so much and you will continue to do great things in the future! I hope all the best for you and your beautiful family!

Childhood friend's mother: You're looking good graduate!

Childhood friend: Good job. Congrats

Former ELS Employee: I congratulate you on completing your MBA!! What a wonderful accomplishment. I also admire that you did not stop, but pressed on and saw it through to completion, even in the midst of challenging circumstances. Your resilience will serve you as well or more so, than the degree. When you put the two together, I am very excited about your future. I wish you all the best!

ODU Department Head: Thanks, Dan, for helping our students to complete field hours and, in some cases, gain employment in TESOL. Good luck in your new endeavor.

ODU Employee: Congratulations on all of your accomplishments! Good luck in your new position!

Former ELS Employee upon learning that I would no longer serve as her supervisor. English is her second language so please pardon the errors, September 2012: I hope you are doing fine. I have been missing you a lot. Many time I cry. It's been week I have not sleep good. Every morning when I pray you and your baby is in my pray.

XXXXXX is very happy for sure. I did want to call you I didn't have your personal number.

JXXX and I were talk about you lot. We had lot of work contact with you now they just throw us our own. I hope things will go well with you.

Just think positive. God may have give you better chance to be close to your family. You can spend time with your baby worried free. Let me know when your baby comes if you allow me I will come see your baby. Also I will come on your graduation.

Remember, I always have respect for you.

ODU Employee upon receiving word of my official last day at ODU in May 2014: Please stop sending me these emails.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

The Graduate

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

Columbus, OH- Tickets are available for the 2014 Ohio Dominican University graduation ceremony held on Saturday, May 10th, 2014 in Columbus, OH.

Daniel J. Stone

Master in Business Administration

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com

(C) 2009-14

The unbelievable demands and complaints made by parents in Japan

LINK By Preston Phro

Lifestyle Apr. 16, 2014 - 07:02AM JST ( 24 )

TOKYO —

“Monster parents” aren’t anything new in Japan – the complaints by and about overbearing, demanding mothers and fathers have been on the increase for nearly a decade. But thanks to a report by the Fuji TV program “Nonstop,” the issue has catapulted squarely back into the public conscious.

The show posted some of the crazier complaints allegedly made by these loudmouthed parents to schools and their kids’ teachers, sparking angry and bewildered comments online. We’ve collected some of the best (worst?) below.

To begin with, what, exactly, are these parents getting so upset about? If we’re being totally honest, no education system is perfect–with the possible exception of North Korea, perhaps–so maybe they have some legitimate grievances. We shouldn’t immediately dismiss someone without at least getting an idea of what they’re saying, right?

Well, here’s a list of some of the complaints reported by Nonstop.

“Don’t make my child take part in school cleaning. Hire a janitor! [In Japan, students ordinarily clean the school every day after class]“

“Why weren’t the cherry trees blooming at the school entrance ceremony?”

“Separating my boy from his friends at pre-school creates trouble. I want them to be together all the time.”

“My daughter got a sunburn on field day.”

“My daughter wants to be an idol, so don’t put her in a seat by the window!”

“School lunches lack flavor.”

“Don’t make my child say ‘Itadakimasu!’ before eating! [“Itadakimasu” literally means “I humbly receive,” and it used before eating by most Japanese people. It could be compared to saying grace, but there aren’t the same religious undertones to it.]“

“My son got hurt, so I demand the school pays for his medical bills. And for our dinner!”

“I can’t believe my boy got bitten by a bug! Don’t let insects come near him again!”

“Give my child an instrument that stands out!”

“My child can’t use chopsticks properly!”

Some of these are, for want of a better word, unbelievable. How could anyone complain about the cherry trees not blossoming during the entrance ceremony? And what, exactly, did they expect the teachers to do about it? Glue petals to them? Trick the trees into thinking spring had arrived?

Of course, not every parent in Japan is a monster parent. And plenty of people are annoyed by their behavior. Not that explaining the problem helps – another TV show documented some of the monster parent types in 2010, including a “gyaku gire” (reverse anger) mother. In the show, a group of mothers came to watch their children’s classes, but instead of paying attention to the teacher, they stood in the back and chatted among themselves. When the teacher finally asked them to be quiet, one of the mothers, feeling singled out, became irate and berated the teacher for creating a class so boring she felt compelled to chat instead of listen.

So, how did Internet commenters react to the “Nonstop” report?

“If you going to be like that, don’t send your kids to school!”

“Just looking at monster parents pisses me off!”

“The children of these parents are bound to be worthless”.

“Does anyone know how to make cherry trees blossom?”

“Teachers should snap at these kinds of unreasonable parents.”

“These monsters are scary. I wonder if there is any end to their reproduction…”

“Aren’t they bothering their own kids as well?”

“When my daughter was in elementary school, the parents would go and clean the bathrooms…”

“This can only lead to fewer teachers…”

“These parents need some mandatory education!”

“This is where useless people who can’t survive in society come from. Seriously.”

“Where’s a monster hunter when you need one?”

“‘Itadakimasu!’”

Sadly, a lot of these complaints probably don’t sound uncommon to people outside of Japan. We understand that parenting is hard – and probably a little scary – so it’s not surprising that some people go a bit overboard and demand a lot from the schools they’re sending their kids to, but no one can control when the sakura trees blossom. It’s no wonder teachers feel so exhausted in Japan.

Well, at least we know where all those monster new employees are coming from.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

Japan's Biggest Organized Crime Syndicate Now Has Its Own Web Site and Theme Song

By Jake Adelstein and Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky

April 1, 2014 | 4:25 pm

Japan’s largest organized crime group, the Yamaguchi-gumi, recently launched its own website. But if you're hoping to see guys with crazy tattoos, dramatic gun battles, bloody sword fights, and fingers being chopped off — and who isn't? — it may disappoint.

For starters, the site looks like it was created in the late 1990s. Still, the criminal syndicate is hoping it'll serve as a recruitment tool as the membership of yakuza organizations shrink and public support for them falls. And the branding reflects this; the site at first appears to be for an organization known as the Banish Drugs and Purify The Nation League — or Drug Expulsion of Land Purification Alliance, as Google translates it. The "purify the nation" thing is potentially unsettling, but it still doesn't sound like a criminal organization.

But it was founded by one. The then-leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi founded it in 1963 as a group “dedicated to the eradication of amphetamine abuse.” Sources familiar with the syndicate told VICE News that the site was launched under the Banish Drugs… monicker to, one, remind Yamaguchi-gumi members to behave themselves, and two, to convince people that the Yamaguchi-gumi is not “an anti-social force,” as they're called by police, and are instead a “humanitarian organization.”

However, veteran police detective told us that they suspect the site may be a signal that the Yamaguchi-gumi plans to expand their operations. Japan has 21 designated organized crime-groups — the yakuza — each with their own corporate logo, office, and business cards. The groups are patriarchal pseudo-family organizations structured like a pyramid, with the top boss known as the oyabun ["father figure"] and those under him known as kobun ["children"]. They each control different regions of the country.

The yakuza retains a significant foothold in Japanese popular culture, with two monthly fanzines and several weekly magazines that glorify their exploits. According to the National Police Agency, from 1992 to 2010, the number of yakuza members and associates remained steady at roughly 80,000. But extensive crackdowns by police and the tightening of laws have resulted in a major decline in numbers since then; this year, the yakuza reached a record low of about 60,000 members. The Yamaguchi-gumi, based in the western city of Kobe, is by far the largest syndicate with about 25,600 members. As recently as 2008, however, it boasted more than 40,000.

A Yamaguchi-gumi video, complete with theme song

Whatever the true purpose of the site, the Yamaguchi-gumi isn't screwing around with its anti-drug message. When amphetamine-based stimulants came onto the Japanese market in 1931, they were used for everything from fighting low blood pressure to motivating kamikaze pilots. At the end of WWII, huge military stocks were dumped onto the civilian market, making it popular to combat fatigue and hunger, leading to an explosion of consumption between 1945 and 1955. Meth addicts predictably committed a number of horrendous crimes, and the public demanded government control.

Kazuo Taoka, the Yamaguchi-gumi oyabun who founded Banish Drugs and Purify the Nation, had great disdain for drug use. And the current oyabun, Tsukasa Shinobu, shares those views. Drug addicts among the Japanese mafia are generally dismissed, and drug dealing is perceived as a more harmful crime than prostitution, gambling, blackmailing, or racketeering. The yakuza believe that drugs harm people, drug addicts are prone to violent actions, and drug use creates a weak country. Dealing drugs is also considered to be an activity that lacks initiative and intelligence and is unworthy of the “noble yakuza.”

At the top of the homepage is a video of the Yamaguchi-gumi upper echelon making their first 2014 visit to the local shrine, and playing in the background is the group's newly released theme song, Ninkyo Hitosuji [“Devoted To Chivalry"]. The first refrain goes something like:

“With nothing but my courage / and this body / I’ll trust myself to the life of a yakuza / and follow this path I’ve decided on / in Nagoya / The Yamaguchi-gumi emblem is our life / dedicated to chivalry / that’s the spirit of a man”

A moving message — but maybe not a tune that'll appeal to Millennials.

The various sections of the web site offer glimpses into the gang’s daily life and efforts to get along with the community. There are videos of Yamaguchi-gumi members pounding rice cakes at the end of the year, showing that they're good neighbors. There are also photos of the emergency relief provided by the syndicate after the Kobe earthquake in 1993 and after the Tohoku Earthquake in 2011.

The true purpose of the site is probably known only to the upper echelon of the syndicate — and, judging by the way the site looks, they may also have been the ones who built it. That said, we strongly suggest that you do not make any disparaging comments on the site. Trolling the yakuza is not a good idea.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

Where Should You Live Abroad? A Guide for Budding Expats

For the complete listing, please go to: http://www.policymic.com/articles/84717/where-should-you-live-abroad-a-guide-for-budding-expats

5. For the (future) business mogul: Japan and Korea

Nothing beats the the fermented ginger and cabbage of Northeast Asia.

Japan remains a big draw for businesses by continuing to build some of the world's best cars and electronics, with names like Honda, Toyota, Sony and Canon. According to a CBS report, American businesses continue to send people over to ensure a hand in the quality products Japan is producing, despite being an expensive place to live.

Just across the East Sea from Japan lies Korea, which also has been a strong draw to American businesses (Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai are all based in and around the bustling metropolis of Seoul). With a lower cost of living than Japan, Korea is a rising haven for expats looking for comfortable place to live overseas. Both countries also attract large populations of expat English teachers for public and private schools as well. The downside? Both can be a little inaccessible in the first year, but with patience you'll feel right at home.

Be sure to try the kimchi.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

5 reasons foreigners find it hard to become friends with Japanese people

5 reasons foreigners find it hard to become friends with Japanese people

By Mike

Lifestyle Mar. 14, 2014 - 06:45AM JST

TOKYO —

With all the controversy surrounding a recent “racist” All Nippon Airlines ad, the Japanese and Western media have both been abuzz with the question of whether foreign people can ever truly become respected Japanese citizens – accepted by their community and deemed worthy of the right to not be the recipient of extraordinary treatment.

But this conversation has been going on a long, long time in the expat community in Japan, with a lot of otherwise Japanophile foreigners finding it hard to befriend the Japanese on a higher-than-acquaintance level. Why? Well, frequent source of opinion and cultural commentary Madame Riri has compiled a few of the reasons:

The “Gaijin Card”

The so-called “Gaijin Card” is a much-talked about wildcard that foreigners can use to gain instant forgiveness for cultural transgressions in Japan. The famously confrontation-averse Japanese will go to great lengths to avoid having a lengthy or complicated conversation with people in English, which means feigning ignorance of the Japanese language or Japanese etiquette can net you all kinds of bonuses in social situations that a regular Japanese person wouldn’t get.

But the Gaijin Card is a two-way street: No matter how hard you try to assimilate into Japanese culture, you will forever be a perpetual “other.” The word gaijin, in fact, is a slightly derogatory but universally accepted label for foreigners in Japan that essentially means “outsiders”, and the Japanese will never stop calling you one no matter how close your relationship or how long you’ve been a resident. There is a whole category of Japanese people that foreign exchange students and long-term expats refer to as “Gaijin Hunters;” Japanese that go out of their way to befriend foreigners, typically for self-serving purposes like free English lessons, street cred, or Hollywood movie-style romance, whether that’s a fair label or not.

Comparatively rare, however, is the Japanese person who will treat you like just another human being. Foreigners must constantly endure having their “outside-ness” “discussed openly in conversation, and I’ve had more than one friendship crumble upon learning a Japanese “friend” had actually been keeping me around for the free English lessons.

The constant praise

On the surface, this seems like something everybody would want. It feels great when people earnestly praise your language skills, your exotic looks, and your unique skill set. It’s another thing entirely when people constantly compliment your most rudimentary skills like using chopsticks and saying “thank you” in Japanese.

These little backhanded compliments are referred to in sociology by the relatively new term of “Microaggressions.” Essentially, when a Japanese person compliments your basic chopstick use or your above-average pronunciation of rudimentary Japanese phrases, asks, “When will you go back to your home country?” or, “Do you like Japanese women?,” these people are essentially re-affirming your “otherness;” Confirming their own stereotypes about foreigners while at the same time presenting it in a complimentary fashion that feels difficult to refute or take offense to.

The mystery

While you feel conflicted about stereotyping the Japanese right after several paragraphs of complaining about the Japanese stereotyping other people, it really does feel like the Japanese tend to mince words. It’s difficult being friends with a person who never truly tells directly how they feel or what they think. The Japanese language, in fact, lends itself perfectly to dodging around giving your true opinion on something, with phrases such as, “sore ha chotto…” (“Well, that’s a little…”) being readily accepted in the lexicon as a legitimate rejection of an offer. No reason ever need be given to reject or accept an invitation or opinion, often leaving foreigners scratching their heads about their Japanese friends’ true intentions and feelings.

The constant planning

Again, to step into stereotype territory, the Japanese seem to be “planners.” That is, you often must go through lengthy e-mail and phone exchanges to settle on an exact time and place to meet your Japanese friend, and sometimes the ultimate meeting time can be months on the horizon. On the other hand, I’ve been the recipient of a fair amount of Japanese frustration because, as a Midwestern American, I tend to plan things off the cuff; sometimes at the very last minute or at the spur of the moment. That’s just how I roll. But I find this often clashes with the methodical nature of planning social gatherings in Japan.

Is either way right or wrong? No. But are the two styles compatible? Uh… Not really, and many foreigners find this lack of flexibility hard to stomach.

It takes time

When I was in college, I found it incredibly easy to strike up a conversation with another student in line at the food court or sitting next to each other in class. After a few short exchanges, a friendship seemed to instantly sprout up out of the ether. Soon enough, I’d be seeing the same people at parties and hosting them in my disgusting college-boy “apartment” (probably classified by normal people as a “disaster area”).

In Japan, striking up a conversation is easy enough, but it takes months or even years for that first contact to bloom into a substantial relationship. This goes back to the deeply-ingrained Japanese philosophy of “uchi” and “soto;” Essentially, close co-workers, family members and long-term friends are “uchi” (“inside”) and everyone else is “soto” (“outside”). Working your way up from soto to uchi thus takes a very long time and a lot of favor giving-and-taking.

This all isn’t to say that meaningful relationships with Japanese people is impossible. On the contrary, I’ve had Japanese friends run to my aid in times of need when other Western friends seemed mysteriously absent. On the one hand, close friendships with Japanese people are extremely rewarding and almost always last a lifetime, but on the other hand, getting to that point can quite frankly be a pain in the ass.

Source: Madame Riri

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

Bitcoin is not a currency

Cabinet: Bitcoin is not a currency

by Reiji Yoshida

Under Japanese law, bitcoins are not recognized as currency and transactions using it should be taxed based on the income, corporate and consumption tax laws, the Cabinet announced Friday in a written statement.

The statement was issued in response to a written question from Upper House member Tsutomu Okubo of the Democratic Party of Japan.

During his daily news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the Finance Ministry should consider how it can tax bitcoin-based transactions.

“In general, it is only natural for the Finance Ministry to consider how it can tax transactions if they generate a profit,” Suga said.

The Cabinet’s written statement also said the Bank Law does not allow banks in Japan to open bitcoin deposit accounts, broker buying and selling of bitcoins or exchange bitcoins for foreign currencies on behalf of their customers.

Investors have been keenly interested in how the government will regulate bitcoins after Tokyo-based Mt. Gox, the world’s largest bitcoin exchange, filed for bankruptcy Feb. 28 in a major international scandal, claiming its system was hacked and had lost all of its deposits of 750,000 bitcoins (valued at around $500 million) as well as ¥2.8 billion in cash in customer accounts, along with 100,000 bitcoins of its own.

Asked how the government would regulate bitcoins in response to Mt. Gox’s bankruptcy, Suga only said the Abe administration is still analyzing the situation.

“Right now we are studying what we can do under existing laws,” he said, adding that officials will “keep watching” the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings of Mt. Gox.

Financial regulators across the world are now trying to determine if and how they can regulate virtual, Net-based currencies like bitcoins.

Bitcoin transactions have reportedly been used in illicit dealings, such as money-laundering operations.

The administration was also asked if bitcoins can be used to launder ill-gotten money and how this can be regulated, but the Cabinet statement did not address this issue.

“It is difficult to answer (that question) at this stage, because how bitcoins are actually being used and other situations are not clear,” the administration said.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

GPod - The cost of living in Tokyo

http://www.japantoday.com/category/podcast/view/gpod-the-cost-of-living-in-Tokyo

by Anthony Joh

 

Tokyo is known as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live, but how much does it actually cost to live here?

On this episode of the GPod, Anthony is joined by Reno Tibke from AkihabaraNews to discuss the true cost of living in Tokyo.

We break down our monthly fixed living expenses, cover various transportation costs, internet connectivity and annual taxes that you will be required to pay.

While the cost of living in Tokyo can vary greatly depending on the location, these numbers should give you a rough estimate of what it costs to start you new life in Tokyo.

We aslo briefly cover food and entertainment in the show but we didn’t include specific prices as those costs will vary depending on your lifestyle.

Anthony’s Expenses
Rent: ¥75,000
Gas: ¥3000 ~ ¥4500
Water: Included with the rent
Electric: Included with the rent
Home Internet: ¥6121
Mobile Phone: ¥7800
Transportation: ¥7600

Reno’s Expenses
Rent: ¥78,000
Gas: ¥3000 ~ ¥4500
Water: ¥2000
Electric: ¥5500 ~ ¥6500
Home Internet: ¥2500 (¥30,000 router cost)
Mobile Phone: ¥7800
Transportation: ¥12,800

Taxes

Salary Simulation provided by Capital Tax
	Year 1			Year 2
	Monthly	Yearly		Monthly	Yearly
Base Salary	250,000	3,000,000		250,000	3,000,000
Health Insurance	12,961	155,532		12,961	155,532
Pension Insurance	22,256	267,072		22,256	267,072
Total Insurance	35,217	422,604		35,217	422,604
Inhabitant Tax	0	0		13,459	161,508
Income Tax	5,270	63,240		5,270	63,240
Total Deduction	40,487	485,844		53,946	647,352
Net Salary	209,513	2,514,156		196,054	2,352,648

While this list does not cover all expenses of living in Tokyo it does give you a rough estimate.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

California law flusters sushi chefs

 

Food preparation tradition dealt blow with ban on bare hands

by Chuck Del Rosario

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/11/national/california-law-flusters-sushi-chefs/#.UwDPTIXIaSo

LOS ANGELES – At popular Los Angeles restaurant Sushi Gen, 66-year-old Toshiaki Toyoshima slices fish in preparation for dinner. The chef has honed his sushi-making technique for nearly 50 years and the daily long lines of customers are a testament to that.
But to Toyoshima, the sushi he makes no longer feels like it is made by his own hands.
Thanks to a California law that took effect Jan. 1, chefs like Toyoshima are required to wear gloves when making sushi.
According to the new law, employees are not allowed to contact “ready-to-eat” food with their bare hands except when washing fruits and vegetables. Ready-to-eat food does not require additional cooking or heating when served to customers, and includes cold meats, sandwiches, garnishes and even sushi.
People handling food are required to use specific equipment such as single-use gloves, spatulas, tongs or other dispensing equipment.
A food establishment may be exempt if certain guidelines are met and it receives approval from the local regulatory authority.
States such as New York, Nevada, Washington and Texas have similar laws preventing barehanded contact with ready-to-eat foods.
California is considered to be the place where the sushi boom took off in the United States with the creation of the California roll. It is also believed to have more sushi restaurants than any other state in the country. After hearing about the new law, sushi chefs in California wondered if they should quit making sushi altogether.
“The main purpose is to prevent the spread of food-borne illness,” said Lucy Macdonald, an Environmental Health Staff Specialist at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 6 people get sick from food-borne diseases in the United States each year.
The theory is that by avoiding bare hand contact with foods that are ready-to-eat, there is added protection against contamination from germs from the hands of food service employees.
However, there are some in the restaurant industry who question if that really is the case.
Andy Matsuda, 57, owner of the Sushi Chef Institute in Torrance, said, “The main key is that we need to educate people.”
Matsuda has been making sushi for more than 40 years and currently teaches aspiring sushi chefs at the institute.
He said that sushi chefs are professionally trained and properly educated on food handling and sanitation, and they are required to wash their hands frequently and adhere to strict safety procedures.
“On the other hand, nonprofessional people with gloves tend not to wash their hands the proper way and not as often,” he said. “Then the cross contamination comes in anyway.”
For sushi chefs in particular, gloves pose a variety of problems. “You lose the technique,” said Toyoshima. Loss of speed, ingredients slipping from hands, even holding a knife becomes a hurdle.
The problem comes down to the tips of his fingers, Toyoshima said.
“It’s the sense of touch. The feel of the fish is the most important.” With gloves, he loses that sense of feeling.
“It feels as if I’ve lost my hands,” he said.
UNESCO in December honored “washoku” traditional Japanese cuisine as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. With the listing, advocates of washoku hope that people around the world will recognize its value.
But with the new law in California, the opposite may occur.
“The impact is that the image of Japanese culture is being destroyed,” said Matsuda.
Though the law went into effect at the start of the year, many chefs and food service employees are unaware of the change. The California Department of Public Health and local county health departments are focusing efforts on educating the industry on the new requirements.
The public health departments in San Francisco and San Diego said for the first half year, facilities will not be cited and will receive only a warning for violating the new law.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said it will strictly enforce the new law starting next Jan. 1.
Many county health departments have yet to finalize penalties for noncompliance before the law is strictly enforced, but officials in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles said that they plan to deduct points in the facilities’ inspection reports. This could affect facilities’ health score letter grades displayed at their entrances.
But to seasoned sushi chefs like Toyoshima, losing the feeling of making sushi with their own hands may be the harshest penalty of all.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-14

Japan to open door further to skilled foreign workers

Japan to open door further to skilled foreign workers

Politics Jan. 21, 2014 - 07:00AM JST ( 16 )

From Japan Today

TOKYO —

The Japanese government agreed on Monday to make it easier for firms to hire foreign workers for highly-skilled positions and as trainees to offset a declining workforce and accelerate economic growth.

The government will also take steps to increase female workers in management positions and strengthen the child care system to increase the number of working women, a top advisory panel said on Monday.

Japan has the most rapidly aging society in the world, with a quarter of the population already over 65 years of age. The workforce is also shrinking, which could become a considerable drag on growth.

Policies that increase foreign workers and female employees are important steps needed to stop the decline in the workforce, ease labor shortages, increase tax revenue and raise the potential growth rate.

The government will flesh out the policies, which are part of a second installment of its economic growth strategy, by mid-year, the Industrial Competitiveness Council said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made ending 15 years of deflation and economic malaise one of his top priorities since taking office more than a year ago.

Abe won initial success with stimulus spending and expanded quantitative easing from the Bank of Japan, but many economists warn that the government needs to rely more on deregulation and structural reforms to increase growth in the long term.

Some industries, such as construction, child care and nursing have faced labor shortages, so policies allowing firms to retain more foreign workers could give these industries a boost.

The government will also consider lowering the effective corporate tax rate and expanding the tax base to make Japanese firms more competitive, the panel said on Monday.

Japan’s corporate tax rate, which is set at 38% for a large Tokyo-based firm, is among the highest in the world and companies often lobby to lower the tax burden.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-14

Last Samurai- Japan WWII soldier who hid in jungle until 1974 dies

By Hiroshi Hiyama

I'm sure that we have all heard of or seen the Ken Watanabe and Tom Cruise movie, "Last Samurai". One of my oldest memories of Japan was when the Japanese soldier hid in a jungle in Philippines for 30 years still thinking that the war was going on. To me, this is the last samurai since the spirit of the samurai still goes on. While South Africa is a country rich in natural resources, Japan's resource are it's people and their mindset (aka their culture). This is a reason why you see Japanese business men working 12 hours days, 6 days a week and their wives standing by their sides in most cases. More on this at a later time.

Tokyo (AFP) - A Japanese soldier who hid in the Philippine jungle for three decades, refusing to believe World War II was over until his former commander returned and ordered him to surrender, has died in Tokyo aged 91.

Hiroo Onoda waged a guerilla campaign in Lubang Island near Luzon until he was finally persuaded in 1974 that peace had broken out, ignoring leaflet drops and successive attempts to convince him the Imperial Army had been defeated.

He died in a Tokyo hospital on Thursday of heart failure.

Onoda was the last of several dozen so-called holdouts scattered around Asia, men who symbolized the astonishingly dogged perseverance of those called upon to fight for their emperor.

Their number included a soldier arrested in the jungles of Guam in 1972.

Trained as an information officer and guerrilla tactics coach, Onoda was dispatched to Lubang in 1944 and ordered never to surrender, never to resort to suicidal attacks and to hold firm until reinforcements arrived.

He and three other soldiers continued to obey that order long after Japan's 1945 defeat.

Their existence became widely known in 1950, when one of their number emerged and returned to Japan.

The others continued to survey military facilities in the area, attacking local residents and occasionally fighting with Philippine forces, although one of them died soon afterwards.

Tokyo declared them dead after nine years of fruitless search.

However, in 1972, Onoda and the other surviving soldier got involved in a shoot-out with Philippine troops. His comrade died, but Onoda managed to escape.

The incident caused a sensation in Japan, which took his family members to Lubang in the hope of persuading him that hostilities were over.

Onoda later explained he had believed attempts to coax him out were the work of a puppet regime installed in Tokyo by the United States.

He read about his home country in newspapers that searchers deliberately scattered in the jungle for him to find, but dismissed their content as propaganda.

The regular overflight by US planes during the long years of the Vietnam war also convinced him that the battle he had joined was still being played out across Asia.

It was not until 1974, when his old commanding officer visited him in his jungle hideout to rescind the original order, that Onoda's war eventually ended.

Asked at a press conference in Japan after his return what he had been thinking about for the last 30 years, he told reporters: "Carrying out my orders."

But the Japan that Onoda returned to was much changed. The country he had left, and the one he had believed he was still fighting for, was in the grip of a militarist government, bent on realizing what it thought was its divine right to dominate the region.

Crippled by years of increasingly unsuccessful war, its economy was in ruins and its people were hungry.

But the Japan of 1974 was in the throes of a decades-long economic boom and in thrall to Western culture. It was also avowedly pacifist.

Onoda had difficultly adapting to the new reality and, in 1975, emigrated to Brazil to start a cattle ranch, although he continued to travel back and forth.

In 1984, still very much a celebrity, he established a youth camp, where he taught young Japanese some of the survival techniques he had used during his 30 years in hiding, when he lived on wild cows and bananas.

He returned to Lubang in 1996 on a visit, reportedly at the invitation of the local government, despite his having been involved in the killing of dozens of Filipinos during his three-decade battle.

He made a donation to the local community, which was reportedly used to set up a scholarship.

Late into his life, he enjoyed good health and boasted of a fine memory, honed by the need to remember the intelligence he had gathered.

Until recently, Onoda had been active in speaking engagements across Japan and in 2013 appeared on national broadcaster NHK.

"I lived through an era called a war. What people say varies from era to era," he told NHK last May.

"I think we should not be swayed by the climate of the time, but think calmly," he said.

The Divine Wind Vault

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(C)2006-14