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Tokyo Electric Looking for Part Time Workers in Japan

Tokyo Electric is looking for a few good part-timers willing to do some work in the nuclear power plants in Fukushima. They are offering workers 10,000 yen per hour to take the risk and do some work for them. Although over $100 US sounds like a good hourly rate, they only want people to work…

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Ishihara Wins 4th Term as Tokyo Governor – Any Thoughts?

My vote would have been with Mac Akasaka of the Smile Party. However, I am honestly surprised that Hideo Higashikokubaru, the former entertainer and governor of Miyazaki, was unable to take Tokyo away from incumbent governor Shintaro Ishihara… … some friends have said that I should not be surprised at all. The readers of NewzJapan tend…

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Mac Akasaka (Makku Akasaka) Tokyo Governor Candidacy Video

If I had a vote in the Tokyo election coming up, I can tell you who would get my vote… however, being a fan of good writing I would rather show you than tell you. Introducing Mac Akasaka or Makku Akasaka who identifies himself with the “Smile” party and has decided to announce his candidacy…

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Hideo Higashikokubaru and Shintaro Ishihara Tokyo Governor’s Race Candidacy Videos

As I mentioned in a previous post about the Tokyo governor’s election, it’s on between former Miyazaki governor Hideo Higashikokubaru and incumbent Shintaro Ishihashi. Because anyone who is eligible can nominate his or herself for the position, there are a lot of videos on YouTube now in which people declare their candidacy for the election….

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Daily Pay for Nuclear Plant Disaster Workers Possibly Over $4,000

Tokyo Shimbun reports on a 27 year old plant worker who received a call to come to the Fukushima Daiichi plant and work, but turned it down for the sake of his 26 year old wife and 3 year old son. The man said that many workers over the age of 50 were returning to…

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Higashikokubaru vs Ishihara in the Next Tokyo Governor’s Race?

Miyazaki Governor Hideo Higashikokubaru, also known as comedian, writer, and TV personality Sonomanma Higashi, has his eyes set on following his stint in Kyushu with becoming the next governor of Tokyo. He announced his official candidacy this week. Incumbent Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, who loves a good (or bad) soundbite, continues to be criticized for…

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Female Teacher Caught Sleeping With High School Student in Japan

In the what happens where you live happens where we live category, a 23 year old female teacher at a prefectural high school in Saitama was caught in the act of having sex with an 11th grade male student. The teacher was at the school as a temporary substitute. The teacher had been communicating with…

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Best Places to See Sakura Cherry Blossoms Around the Kobe Area

If you are lucky enough to be in the Kobe area for the cherry blossom season, there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of places you can go. Actually, I will be writing a lot about places outside of Kobe and toward the western side of the Kansai region here because some of the best places to…

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Some Other Japan News Blogs Covering the Earthquake Tohoku

A few other blogs have been doing a great job of taking to task the sensationalist mainstream English language media, but also being straight about the information available. I just wanted to provide links to some other blogs definitely worth taking a look at for information. Japan Probe’s latest post: “New York Times Quietly Edits…

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Time Magazine Article on Japan’s Bureaucracy and the Slowing of Earthquake and Tsunami Aid

I usually don’t read a lot of Japanese news in English, but an article in Gendai’s online magazine led me to hunt down an article on Time’s site. Funny that Gendai refers to Time for a hard-hitting story on how the government and bureaucracy in place in Japan has made it hard for other countries…

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Comedian and Singer Chiaki Among Those Injured in Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami

Chiaki, a comedian, singer, businesswoman, and mother recently reported the injury on her blog. She said she suffered a cut on her finger that reached down to the bone and needed an operation. The injury is expected to take 5 weeks to heal. After describing her injury she quickly added… but I’m in Tokyo and…