Japanese Events

[SeijiSensei]

Most Japanese want the Olympics cancelled or postponed

Around 80% of people in Japan believe the postponed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics planned for the summer should be canceled or rescheduled, a Kyodo News survey showed.

In the poll, 35.3% called for the cancellation of the Tokyo Games, while 44.8% said the event should be put off again. The games were slated to take place last year but were rescheduled due to the pandemic.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...l-coronavirus/

[TinyRedLeaf]

COVID-19 pandemic reveals hidden poverty in wealthy Japan

Tokyo (Jan 19, 2021): With an unemployment rate below 3 per cent and a reputation for a strong social safety net, Japan appears well placed to weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

But campaigners say the most vulnerable groups have been hit hard, and the statistics are masking the high rate of underemployment, and the impact of poorly paid temporary work.

About 40 per cent of Japanese workers are in vulnerable "non-regular" jobs with lower wages and contracts that can be terminated easily. Many also struggle to access welfare.

More than 10 million people in Japan live on less than US$19,000 a year, while one in six lives in "relative poverty" on incomes less than half the national median.

Economists say that half a million Japanese lost their jobs in the past six months, and campaigners say the ripple effects are spreading across the population.

AFP

The story doesn't mention them, but I won't be surprised if the hundreds of freelance animators and artists in Japan are also in similarly dire straits.

[AnimeFan188]

The Japanese Government Could Change Cosplay Forever:

"Currently, anyone in Japan is free to dress as their favorite characters. But it
might not stay free for them to do so. The Japanese government is proposing big
copyright law changes for those who make money from cosplaying—and possibly,
even for those who don’t.

As writer and translator Matt Alt points out, the Japanese government is currently
considering changing the country’s copyright laws, so that professional cosplayers
would pay for use of characters.

Cosplay can be big business. Japan’s most successful professional cosplay Enako
(pictured) has made over $90,000 a month from public appearances, merchandise,
photobooks, chat sessions, and endorsements. Other cosplayers also earn cash
for selling photos or clips of them dressed as famous characters. Creators don’t
currently get a cut, and the amendment would change this. Moreover, it’s
suggested that a standardized set of rules would help avoid any trouble with
creators."

See:

https://kotaku.com/the-japanese-gove...ver-1846123799

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

The Japanese Government Could Change Cosplay Forever:

"Currently, anyone in Japan is free to dress as their favorite characters. But it
might not stay free for them to do so. The Japanese government is proposing big
copyright law changes for those who make money from cosplaying—and possibly,
even for those who don’t.

As writer and translator Matt Alt points out, the Japanese government is currently
considering changing the country’s copyright laws, so that professional cosplayers
would pay for use of characters.

Cosplay can be big business. Japan’s most successful professional cosplay Enako
(pictured) has made over $90,000 a month from public appearances, merchandise,
photobooks, chat sessions, and endorsements. Other cosplayers also earn cash
for selling photos or clips of them dressed as famous characters. Creators don’t
currently get a cut, and the amendment would change this. Moreover, it’s
suggested that a standardized set of rules would help avoid any trouble with
creators."

See:

https://kotaku.com/the-japanese-gove...ver-1846123799

This country really takes oligarchy to a whole, new level.....Of all the things to copy from the USA.....


Ironic also for a country that so fiercely defends freedom of speech and movement to the point they actually cannot legally force pandemic lockdowns

[AnimeFan188]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

The Japanese Government Could Change Cosplay Forever:

"Currently, anyone in Japan is free to dress as their favorite characters. But it
might not stay free for them to do so. The Japanese government is proposing big
copyright law changes for those who make money from cosplaying—and possibly,
even for those who don’t.

As writer and translator Matt Alt points out, the Japanese government is currently
considering changing the country’s copyright laws, so that professional cosplayers
would pay for use of characters.

Cosplay can be big business. Japan’s most successful professional cosplay Enako
(pictured) has made over $90,000 a month from public appearances, merchandise,
photobooks, chat sessions, and endorsements. Other cosplayers also earn cash
for selling photos or clips of them dressed as famous characters. Creators don’t
currently get a cut, and the amendment would change this. Moreover, it’s
suggested that a standardized set of rules would help avoid any trouble with
creators."

See:

https://kotaku.com/the-japanese-gove...ver-1846123799

Lawmaker Yamada Explains Implications of Proposed Copyright
Guidelines on Cosplay Income:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/int...income/.168845

[SeijiSensei]

Today is the tenth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that lead to the disaster at Fukushima. The BBC posted this short piece about the event and its aftermath.

https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice/...47284386033664

More details at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-asia-56252695

[SeijiSensei]

Olympics Update

The Olympics are now scheduled to begin in fewer than a hundred days. Foreigners were banned from entering Japan to attend the Games, and now it appears the Japanese themselves may no longer be able to attend themselves.

Even with under three months before the Torch is lit, one senior LDP official continues to argue that the Games should be cancelled. About three-fourths of the Japanese population think the Games should not take place this year. Not helping matters is the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Japan.

https://apnews.com/article/tokyo-cor...f24d2cd084589d

[Cosmic Eagle]

https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sougo...14388427.shtml


Kobe moving to vaccinate school kids. Hopefully this means the vaccination pace is actually picking up everywhere else.....

[SeijiSensei]

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Olympic committee said Saturday it removed banners at the Olympic athletes’ village in Tokyo that referred to a 16th-century war between Korea and Japan after the International Olympic Committee ruled they were provocative.

In agreeing to take down the banners, the South Koreans said they received a promise from the IOC that the displaying of the Japanese “rising sun” flag will be banned at stadiums and other Olympic venues. The flag, portraying a red sun with 16 rays extending outward, is resented by many people in South Korea and other parts of Asia who see it as a symbol of Japan’s wartime past.

I don't know if there were any Rising Sun banners in Olympic venues, or whether this was a preemptive strike by the Koreans.

https://apnews.com/article/sports-jo...ce6faa302c7e00

[c933103]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I don't know if there were any Rising Sun banners in Olympic venues, or whether this was a preemptive strike by the Koreans.

https://apnews.com/article/sports-jo...ce6faa302c7e00

Timeline of the entire event according to my understanding:
1. On maps related to Olympic, likw map of torch rally route, Japanese government used government standard map, which mean the Japanese-Korean conflicted territory of Takeshima/Dokdo is also being included on such Olympic maps.
2. To protest the inclusion of such island, which Korea deem as Korean territory, they decided to post an arranged version of quotes from "Anti-Japan Hero" who defeated Japan for Korea in a 16th century war at their Olympic Village residence, which read "Your servant still have the support of our 50 Million nationals remaining". The quote was reportedly based on the Korean general who worte to the Korean emperor "Your servant still have ships ×12 remaining", written before defeating Japan in the subsequent battle.
3. Japan protested such quotes being posted in Olympic Village to the Olympic Committee, and Olympic Committee requested the removal of such quote.
4. When Olympic Committe talk to Korean team over such issue, Korean team bring up the problem of rising sun flag, claiming it as political, and according to this news they get the Olympic Committee to agree it should not appears at Olympic venues.
------
Historically, the Rising Sun Flag usually isn't used by Japan in Olympic formally, but are frequently used by Japanese fans showing support to Japanese team in various past Olympic event. The nature of Rising Sun Flag have been in continuous and long-lasting debate between various East Asia countries. Korea associate the flag with Japan's WWII militarism and seek to ban it from various use around the world over the past several decades on the ground of its ideology andin this case its political messaging of such ideology, while Japan deemed the flag as having widespread civil and historical use and as thus does not represent the ideology of militarism, and in this case does not represent political mesaaging according to Japanese claim.

Given the audience-free nature of most events in Japan in this Olympic, any ruling come out of Olympic Committee this time will likely have no impact on this year's Olympic in Tokyo, but it will likely affect all the future Olympics around the world. Considerng the next Olympic event is going to be 2022 in Beijing, where security personnels in China are unlikely to tolerate any Rising Sun Flag even not for the Olymoic rule, thus any decision being made now will likely become unchallenged established rule for all the future Olympics down the line.

[SeijiSensei]

Mount Aso in Kyushu erupted today.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/vi...ky-japan-video

[SeijiSensei]

Six people sue TEPCO after developing thyroid cancer in the years after the Fukushima disaster.

Proving causality may prove too high a hurdle for them to jump.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60150733

[SeijiSensei]

Robot camera shows lumps of melted radioactive fuel

A remote-controlled robot has captured images of what appears to be mounds of nuclear fuel that melted and fell to the bottom of the most damaged reactor at Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, officials said Thursday.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles...0m/0na/010000c

[SeijiSensei]

Japan to begin surveillance of foreign workers

Labor Ministry to launch surveillance of foreign workers in Japan, asking Japanese employers to hand over information about their foreign employees' age, gender, language skills, salary, duration of stay, overseas remittances, and more.

https://twitter.com/ShingetsuNews/st...67471093125122

There are a lot of Japanese people working in other G-7 countries. Suppose we all instituted the same surveillance over them? How long do you think this proposal would survive?

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Japan to begin surveillance of foreign workers

https://twitter.com/ShingetsuNews/st...67471093125122

There are a lot of Japanese people working in other G-7 countries. Suppose we all instituted the same surveillance over them? How long do you think this proposal would survive?

Probably like 99,9% of Japanese people working overseas have already submitted that information when they got their visas, and I doubt they overstay those visas very often.

Foreign, undocumented workers being exploited by corporations is a problem in Japan, and also in pretty much every first world country. Government trying to rectify that situation is not inherently bad, and would likely get popular support.

The problem is whether government will collect that information impartially, and what happens afterwards...

[GDB]

If they're undocumented, why would the companies divulge that information now?

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Japan to begin surveillance of foreign workers



https://twitter.com/ShingetsuNews/st...67471093125122

There are a lot of Japanese people working in other G-7 countries. Suppose we all instituted the same surveillance over them? How long do you think this proposal would survive?

The bank already monitors all foreign cash flows in Japan anyway......For taxation purposes =/

Like seriously, even 100 bucks going in or out results in the bank calling you at the worst times demanding to know the purpose. It's very stalker-ish and you really cannot know if they divulge it to third parties such as your employer etc

[SeijiSensei]

Do they require Japanese working in foreign countries to report their remittances?

Why would employers be a source on remittance data? How would they know what their employees are sending to their families overseas? Banks, yes. Employers, huh?

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Do they require Japanese working in foreign countries to report their remittances?

Why would employers be a source on remittance data? How would they know what their employees are sending to their families overseas? Banks, yes. Employers, huh?

Not AFAIK.....It's simply the bank keeps asking for purpose of overseas cash flows, be it for tax calculation or anti money laundering KYC stuff.

But the thing is, I am not sure whether banks elsewhere are this persistent in asking for such intimate details. Not in my home country for sure. They literally ask who you pay to, what is the break down of your expenditure etc....I don't know if that's normal in other countries or not but it seems a tad bit too detailed for comfort. And if a company or organization knows your bank account whether for salary or payment purposes, that's definitely not something to feel comfortable about since you don't know how tight the relationship between bank and said organization is, if they ask and the bank tells them without your consent or knowledge

[SeijiSensei]

As Russia gets bogged down in Ukraine, Japan renews its claims on the Kuril Islands. Abe had toned down the conflict in hopes of reaching an agreement. The current government has chosen a more aggressive stance.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/au.news...085429223.html