A new hope
Written by: adekun on 31 August, 2009 7:18 am - Filed under: blog — 4 Comments »
The red team wins the election. Minshutō (DPJ) has unseated Jimintō (LDP), gaining toward three times the seats of the incumbent. The change brings an end to an almost unbroken half century reign. It also signals a real change in voters attitude; content to choose the untested in the direst of times. As a result, Taro Aso resigns as party president.
Election Day
Written by: adekun on 30 August, 2009 8:37 am - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »
It is Election Day here in Japan. The month long ordeal of maddening speaker vans has come to a close. Turnout is expected to be high. Who will the people choose? The grandson of a former Prime Minister or the grandson of a former Prime Minister. A political and industrial elitist or a political and industrial elitist et cetera.
Taro Aso election
Written by: adekun on 13 July, 2009 11:38 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
Beleaguered PM Taro Aso has at last set a date for the general election. However, not much earlier than the mandatory date. The news follows his party’s crushing defeat in Tokyo’s municipal election yesterday. Having survived several attempts to oust him, I suppose that if his party wins, he gets to keep his job.
Also brewing in the news is talk of the possibly of drink giants Kirin and Suntory merging. If it were to be realised, the resulting company’s revenues would exceed that of Anheuser-Busch InBev and Coca-Cola. Beer consumers in Japan are already faced with just four choices.
Coughs and sneezes
Written by: adekun on 24 May, 2009 9:23 pm - Filed under: blog — 3 Comments »
We decided against going to the annual air show over at Miho airbase. Not due to the current influenza epidemic gripping the country, but on account of the weather. Instead we had a sukiyaki party. During which we caught a few minutes of a television debate on the effectiveness of facemasks. The panel looked a pretty fair reflection of the general population; perhaps not a healthy debate but one nevertheless.
Since the initial cases were reported overseas there have been a deluge of programmes reporting on shopkeepers stocking up. Hazmat suits the price of a small car etc. Continue reading
The Delight Factory
Written by: adekun on 1 February, 2009 11:48 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
I left the UK around the time the announcement to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces was made. Despite an expectation that Japan would have a differing stance, I was astonished to see the national volleyball team sporting the logo of a tobacco company. That has got to surpass McDonalds and Coca-Cola at the Olympics. Most developed countries have laws to prevent sports tobacco advertising. Why is Japan different? Well, the Ministry of Finance still retains a 50% stake in the diversifying corporation. Despite the poison dumplings Japan Tobacco is a model company.
At JT, we want to make society and people’s lifestyles more relaxed and more abundant. We want to go on creating unique delight that only JT can offer.
A great deal of money has been invested to offer the smoker clever behavioural pointers. It is called “Smokers Style” part of their Manners campaign. Whatever the underlying reason, I certainly welcome it. Here’s a few graphics off their website that make up the stickers, posters, adverts etc.
Pirates
Written by: adekun on 29 January, 2009 8:09 pm - Filed under: blog — 3 Comments »
Arrr! Save me.
It looks a sure bet that the Japanese Imperial Navy will make steam for the Horn of Africa. Again the current constitution has been reinterpreted to allow the forces to join the War on Piracy. In the meantime, Kento has been practising the parts. He’s eager to get outside, irrespective of what can be fashioned from newspaper, card and rubbish.
Ethnically homogeneous
Written by: adekun on 28 September, 2008 3:54 pm - Filed under: blog — 4 Comments »
It has been just four days since Taro Aso and his new cabinet have taken up the chalice. The new PM welcomed the USS George Washington, whilst the masses of protesters were welcomed by riot police. The newly appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has already overstepped the mark and has stepped down.
In addition to stating “Japanese do not like foreigners” and that the country is “ethnically homogeneous”; the former minister for education described the Japan Teachers Union “as a cancer for Japan’s education system” and vowed to destroy the group. Continue reading
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