Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara has stated that he “couldn’t care less” about pandas and sees no reason why Tokyo should pay what it’s being asked to for the privilege of housing giant pandas at Ueno Zoo. This isn’t the first time Governor Ishihara has made insensitive comments toward animals or human beings. His derogatory comments toward Americans, Koreans, and Nigerians have put him under the microscope in recent years, but the man has managed to earn a third term as the governor of Japan’s largest city despite his cruel comments.

“Everybody In Tokyo, Shut The F*@k Up For 5 Minutes, Please!”
It seems as if Tokyoites are under a constant barrage of needless noise most hours of the day. During the the morning, afternoon, and evening hours, it’s the endless announcements in train stations and department stores, or the small white truck that slowly cruises your neighborhood calling for your unwanted bicycles, refrigerators, rice cookers, etc… In the middle of the night, it’s the punk scooter gangs with their modified mufflers.
Here’s a good article from the Japan Times that discusses the futility of wishing for silence in the megalopolis many of us call home. 

Hey! Not on the Yamanote line, Buddy!
A man hurled himself in front of a Yamanote line train at Tokyo Station today (5/15). The man remains in a coma at a local hospital. The incident put the Yamanote line out of action for about 40 minutes and around 26,000 passengers had their schedules blown.
Hey, if you’re gonna off yourself (shoganai, and all that), go to a station where high-speed rapid express trains blow through every 20 minutes or so; No comas, just results.

GSDF Member Fails At Seppuku And Gets Rearrested
A Ground Self Defense Forces (GSDF) member was taken into custody last Thursday after a failed suicide attempt. The young man stabbed himself in the abdomen in an attempt at hara-kiri in front of the Diet building in Tokyo. He was subsequently released by the police for hospitalization, but was rearrested today (5/13) for violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Law.
Wow, what a pisser! The guy fails to off himself and then gets arrested twice; that’s not going to help his self-esteem.

Nagoya Police Give Kerosene-Soaked Man A Cigarette And A Lighter
“Can I have a smoke?”
A man who doused himself with kerosene and threatened to light himself on fire was taken into custody by police in Nagoya, Japan, Sunday (5/11). The police detained the man at a local station, but did not have him change his kerosene-soaked clothes. When the man asked for a cigarette and a light, police provided him with both. Subsequently, the man burst in to flames and burned to death. Japanese police are not known for having a stellar reputation and this will only make matters worse for them. Here’s a link to the Mainichi Shimbun story.

Major Earthquake Near Chengdu, China Claims At Least 8500 Lives
A 7.8 earthquake in South-Central China today (5/12) has left at least 8500 people dead, including many schoolchildren. As more detailed reports come in, more casualties are expected to be announced.
Update: The death-toll was announced as standing at over 12,000 today (5/13)

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