Well, you knew this story was heading right for ‘News of the Mentally Defective.’ I take no pleasure in reporting it and would rather not, but this guy has to be cursed in print somewhere. So here goes:

Here’s a guy who needs to be strapped into a wheelchair, have all of his fingers and toes sawed off one by one, coated with sugar and watery syrup, and rolled into an angry hornets’ nest.

Shoichi Kanno, 33, didn’t have much going for him. Well, a lot of people don’t for that matter, but Shoichi decided to make someone else pay for his own inability to make a decent life for himself. He did whatever any ‘daredemo ii’ lunatic does best, he singled out a weak, unsuspecting victim and stabbed her to death in Hachioji.

The victim, 22-year-old Mana Saiki will get about 5 percent of the press time that Kanno will get, but hey, murderers are more interesting, right? Hell, I guess if I wasn’t as bad as every other reporter out there, I’d dig up Ms. Saiki’s history and write a piece about the kind of person she was. But, I hope journalists out there with more access to such information will take care of that one.

For now, let’s just take a short look at what has us all shaking our heads (again), Mr. Kanno’s handiwork. Why did he kill Ms. Saiki and attack another woman in Hachioji? Well, let’s get it straight from the mouth of the man who found his calling in life…

From Mainichi Daily News:

Investigators said that Kanno was responding to questioning in a straightforward manner. He reportedly told them, “My work wasn’t going well and I bought the knife after deciding to kill someone. I was frustrated. I didn’t care who (I attacked).”

Well, there you have it. His work wasn’t going well and he decided to remove someone, who probably had her own set of problems, from the world. The problem was, it was without her permission. She likely had experienced difficult times herself, but it’s highly doubtful she ever considered doing what Mr. Kanno did. In fact, many people’s lives (and work, for that matter) aren’t going well. Let’s see, I can think of starving families in Calcutta slums or migrant workers toiling away in California fields picking fruits and vegetables to name a couple of groups. It’s disillusioned people like Mr. Kanno in developed nations that pull crap like this, namely randomly killing others because they’re bored or discouraged.

Well, I for one say, fuck ‘em. Give these types the death penalty every time. No need to rehabilitate them (can you rehabilitate those who never adjusted in the first place?), no need to pity them because what they do is piss all over the plights of people living in far worse circumstances than themselves. This makes them bad world citizens and they need to be kicked off the planet. Enough said.

Here’s to you, Mr. Shoichi Kanno. You’ve hurt both the living and the dead and you’ve scarred society even more while likely influencing other ticking time bombs to go out there and engage in more ‘daredemo ii’ wackyness. And for that, we salute you; there wasn’t anyone more mentally defective in the land of wa on July 22nd, 2008 (and likely for the rest of July).

This story almost makes me never want to have kids (Well, that plus the fact that they’re noisy, but…). A 15-year-old Saitama girl named (name withheld by law) woke up and decided to stab her father to death on Saturday. She apparently had a dream where her father killed her family so she said, “that gave me the idea of killing him.” She has also stated that she had no intention of harming her father before going to sleep. Remember the girl that axed her father to death while he was sleeping in Kyoto last year because he had an affair?

So, why did this girl suddenly snap and stab her dear old dad? Well, the following from Mainichi Daily News gives some insight (or not):

Earlier when questioned by investigators, the girl said, “It was a hassle being told to study. The subjects I liked were OK, but I hated the teachers of the subjects I disliked.”

When questioned by police, the girl’s 49-year-old mother reportedly said, “Her grades were good when she was in elementary school, but they fell when she entered junior high school, so we told her to study. We hadn’t mentioned it much recently, and I don’t know if it was one of the motives

Well, today (Monday, July 21st) police have revealed that the girl has stated this was her primary motive. Hmmm… I think the worst I ever did when being nagged at to study was say “Yeah, yeah, I will,” and then went to my room and listened to Metallica while not studying.

It doesn’t even seem as if this girl had the same pressure put upon her as some kids do. You know, the ones who go to juku, take private English lessons, practice the piano…

Well, anyway, here’s a girl who’ll be out of reform school in 5 or 6 years when she actually needs to spend the rest of her life in a 10 x 10 room at the Rubber Ramada.

Congratulations, Miss Name Withheld by Law Due to the Fact You’re a Minor. You’ve taken a life, robbed your mother of her husband and her daughter, and have left the normal part of society shaking its collective head in astonishment. And, for that, we salute you! There was no one more mentally defective than you in all of Japan last weekend.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Hideo Nomo made his MLB debut in the US on May 2, 1995. That season saw him selected to play in the All-Star game and he finished the year off by becoming the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year, although it was amid some controversy (Many considered him not to be a rookie due to his having played in the Japan big leagues for several years prior to his MLB debut). His tornado-style wind-up and tricky forkball baffled many of MLB’s best hitters. However, 13 years have gone by since then, and on July 17th, Nomo announced his retirement from Major Leauge Baseball after a comeback attempt that had him take the mound one time as a reliever with the Kansas City Royals.

Nomo made his Japan major league debut with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1990 and soon became one of the most popular baseball players in Japan. Four years later, however, a contract dispute had him retire from playing ball in Japan and sent him to the US to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout his career, Nomo played for several teams in both the American and National Leagues and became only the fourth pitcher in history to throw no-hitters in both leagues.

His was a career filled with ups and downs, but no matter what, Hideo Nomo was a pioneer; with his success, he opened the floodgates which allowed a wave of Japanese baseball players to enter the US big leagues. And even though his MLB career has ended with a whimper rather than a bang, he will be remembered by Japanese baseball fans as a true legend of the game.

Stats and info from Wikipedia

This isn’t one of those “Hey, I bet you I’m greener than you are” pieces. It’s not even an advice article. It’s just a “Where’re we all at with protecting the environment and all that?” post.

Personally, I know I should do a lot more. Fortunately, most cities and towns in Japan are pretty green when it comes to trash, at least compared to their Asian neighbors. Kawasaki is probably the most famous holdout and still burns plastic with paper. Apparently, they burn it more completely these days, so less dioxin is produced. Are you telling me burning technology is much more advanced now than it was 20 years ago? Give me a break.
Anyway, Where I live in Tokyo, the trash separation standards are pretty lax compared with those of the neighborhoods of some of my friends. But still, all the usual Japan trash rules apply; separate burnable and unburnable trash, PET bottles get separated from aluminum cans and glass jars, the whole nine yards. It’s not that difficult to stay on top of, but I’m still thankful there aren’t any trash nazis lurking in my neighborhood waiting to give me an earful when I put my refuse out a little early the night before pick-up.

What are some of the ways that Japanese people are thinking green? Well, here’s a short list:

• Carrying a personal set of chopsticks around to avoid using disposable ones
• Using personal shopping bags at grocery stores and convenience store instead of plastic ones
• Doing the Cool Biz thing during the summer months (no-necktie and short-sleeves, for example)
• Promotion of cars with very low emissions and high fuel efficiency

Elimination of Disposable Chopsticks (waribashi)
I try to carry a set of personal chopsticks with me to work, and even sometimes when I’m just out and about. I’ve noticed recently that more and more people are carrying their own around here in Tokyo (even though it’s not a new idea) and have found myself in the minority on more than one occasion when using disposable chopsticks at my local Yoshinoya. Yoshinoya and Matsuya are now only using reusable chopsticks.

Personal Shopping Bags (maibaggu - my bag)
There’s really no reason not to use your own bag if you make a planned trip to your local grocery or convenience store. Don’t say you’re embarrassed to be carrying one around; This is Japan for Chrissake! Guys walk around in skin-tight jeans tapered at the ankles and carry purses. Some store chains are considering charging customers for plastic bags. Most people living in Japan will agree: the whole maibaggu thing is really taking off these days.

Cool Biz
In Japan, many, if not most companies allow their employees to dress in Cool Biz during the summer. It’s basically just no-necktie and shirt unbuttoned at the collar for men, but I’m not quite sure of the standards for women. With employees dressed down, companies take it easy on the air conditioning, which is supposed to result in less CO2 produced due to less energy used. I’m a little skeptical and think most companies use the whole eco-friendly angle to justify turning down the AC in summer to save a little money on their electricity bills.

Low Emissions/High Fuel Efficiency Cars
“Nempi ga ii” or “good fuel efficiency” is one of the most often-heard phrases in Japanese car commercials today. Indeed, many Japanese are saying “nempi” is one of the top two or three factors to consider when buying a car. Of course, this could be mostly because of a desire to save money, but “nempi ga ii” cars are typically environmentally-friendly ones. The Toyota Prius is one of the most desired cars around these days.

Well, that’s it; a brief introduction to common eco-friendly behavior in Japan these days.

For more green lifestyle tips: How Green Are Japan’s Urbanites? - The Japan Times
 Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Miss Universe 2008 has been crowned. To be honest, I don’t really care who Miss Universe is, but it’s newsworthy in Japan that Miss Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007, has passed on her crown. And, this time, the winner is not Japanese; She’s Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela.

Dayana Mendoza

Even though she won the title, ‘Miss Universe’ last year, many Japanese people complained that Miss Mori didn’t accurately reflect the image of true Japanese beauty. But, she was very popular with many non-Japanese. However, there’s no doubt that Venezuelans will be proud of their country’s representative and will celebrate her victory.

Riyo Mori

What do you think? Was Riyo Mori a good representative for Japan as Miss Universe? On a more trivial note, who do you think best represents her country’s image of a truly beautiful female, Miss Mori or Miss Mendoza?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan’s most beloved film directors and the most celebrated person in Japanese animation. He’s not only an animation god in Japan, though; His films, ‘Princess Mononoke’ (Mononoke Hime) and ‘Spirited Away’ (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) have won worldwide acclaim. His latest film, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo),” may prove to be another blockbuster if the following review from The Japan Times is any kind of indicator.

From the review:

Miyazaki has made what is for any adult — but especially a 67-year-old anime veteran — an extraordinary leap: In “Ponyo” he is not just telling a story to tikes, but imaginatively becoming one himself.

The film opens in Japan on July 19th. Read the full Japan Times review of “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo).”

When searching the Japan-related web, you’re likely to find a wealth of interesting sites and blogs. For a long time, though, it was difficult to find one source that linked together the best (and sometimes not) in Japan news, blogs, travel info…etc.

Then came along JapanSoc, a wonderful Japan social-networking site created by webmaster Nick Ramsay. Many who publish their own Japan blogs, or are interested in all things Japan-related on the web flocked to the site and put it to good use. Today, it’s still the best place to post and find Japan-related stuff on the web.

But, with great ideas you get imitators. They pale in comparison to innovators, but sometimes they have the clout to bully the competition. And yes, JapanSoc has an imitator. You might say, hey, it’s a free market; let it happen. That’s true, but you can always support the best. And, without a doubt, JapanSoc is the best Japan social-networking site out there.

So, support JapanSoc! Don’t support its imitators if they don’t bring anything useful or original to the table.

That is all.

Here’s a guy a who needs to be stuffed into an oversized trash bag and beaten to death with a cue ball wrapped in a sock:

From Mainichi Daily News

Yoshiyuki Tanaka, 44, a company employee from Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, stands accused of destroying property.

He admitted to the allegations during questioning. “I was scared of the dog,” he was quoted as telling investigators. Police have already referred him to public prosecutors.

Tanaka kicked the 4-month-old Chihuahua in the stomach on a sidewalk in Chikusa-ku at around 4:50 p.m. on Sunday, local police said. The dog died from a rupture of its internal organs.

You’ve gotta love the charges: “destroying property”. There’s no doubt this guy’ll pay a fine and be back to business as normal in the very near future. Hell, he could’ve run over a toddler while driving his bicycle in a drunken stupor and still not do any time with how soft the legal system is here. Anyway, it doesn’t need to be said that this is a very small man (talking about heart, here) and he was either looking for the easiest target to take out his frustrations on, or he just likes to prey upon the weak. Lots of that going on these days; schoolkids and train passengers getting slashed by unseen assailants and women being sexually assaulted on bullet trains.

Yoshiyuki Tanaka, we salute you; There wasn’t a person more mentally defective than you in all of the land of the rising sun on Sunday. Cheers!

Gonna be a long, hot summer.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

It’s summer and there’s nothing better (or more refreshing) on a hot, humid day in Japan than knocking back a few nama biiru with some good friends at a cool joint. However, the price of just about everything has gone up in Japan this year, including beer, so cheap beer options have become more limited lately. But, that’s not going to stop us from going out and ingesting copious amounts of the stuff now, is it?

I live in south Tokyo and my best mates live near Ikebukuro, so we usually either meet in Ikebukuro or in Shibuya. When it’s Shibuya, we start off at Tasu Ichi, a small standing bar (Tachinomiya) way back at the end of Center-Gai near the Outback restaurant. Draft beers used to go for ￥200 a pop there a couple of years ago, but now it’s ￥300. Either way, a good deal. The place is usually packed solid on the weekends and sometimes gets loaded up with rowdy foreigners, so we usually bail from Tasu Ichi after 3 or 4 cold ones. From there, we go where the mood takes us.

In Ikebukuro, we often find ourselves at one of two The Hub bars located outside the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. I know, I know, The Hub is usually considered a gaijin ghetto, but the one located in the center-gai just across from the east exit is pretty cool and draws a nice mixed crowd. Anyway, pints of the standard fare are around ￥700 there, making The Hub a pretty good deal for beer.

Anyway, there are a plenty of great places to grab a cold beer in Japan, and in Tokyo, in particular. Plenty of great places to go for any drink, for that matter. But, most of us have our favorite hangouts; the places that are like our homes away from home. Where’s yours? Why do you like it so much? Let everyone know as a comment below. Give location details if you don’t mind sharing. Who knows, if I show up there, I might just buy you a frosty one.

Cheers!

The seventh and final Harry Potter novel went on sale today (Wednesday, July 23rd) in Japan. Fans lined up early at one book store in Hachioji and waited to be the among first to get their little fanboy hands on the earliest-sold copies. The Japanese version of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is selling for 3,990 yen at bookstores throughout the country.

Early End to Japan’s Rainy Season Announced
Meteorological Agency officials have declared the rainy season over in Japan. The weather should be clear throughout most of next week due to a high pressure system over the Pacific. However, there is a possibility of a typhoon bringing bad weather to the mainland later in the week. This year has seen a fairly mild rainy season that started earlier in the Kanto region than in Kyushu.

Tokyo Police Seize Record Amount of Marijuana
A record amount of wacky tobacky was seized by police in Tokyo on Thursday. The total weight of the pot was 180 kilograms. It had been separated into 1.1 kg bundles and packaged in Chinese tea bags. The street value has been reported to be 720 million yen. The arrested, Hiroaki Fukui (40), told investigators he thought it was tea that couldn’t be sold in Japan. His story is likely to go unbelieved since he was arrested on suspicion of selling stimulants last year.

Japan And S. Korea: Tensions Rising
Japan has reasserted its claim to Takeshima, a small group of islands about halfway between Japan and South Korea. Japan’s claim that it has a right to the islands has been put into teaching manuals in Japan and South Korea has taken offense, recalling it’s ambassador in from Tokyo. The territorial dispute may increase the friction between the two nations, but South Korea controls Takeshima. Its military stands ready to fire on any vessels it believes poses a threat or engages in an act of agression.

US Consulate General in Urasoe, Okinawa receives a Molotov cocktail
Someone hurled a Molotov cocktail at the US Consulate General in Urasoe, Okinawa today (Monday, July 14). Minor damage was reported and the suspect is still at large.

For more of the latest Japan News, check out the Mainichi Daily News.