The Cove! What’s on the menu now?

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To: Members in “The Cove” – Save Japan Dolphins
UPDATE: Sept.1 Taiji events cancelled
Received August 20, 2010



For several important reasons, we have decided to cancel our plans in Taiji, Japan for Sept. 1st (the first day of the annual dolphin slaughter.)

Most importantly, we received word that an extreme nationalist group known to be violent is set to confront us in Taiji. Our work in Japan has never been about physical confrontation. Since “The Cove” premiered in theaters earlier this Summer, we believe we are making progress by bringing the truth to the people of Japan about the dolphin slaughter and about mercury-poisoned dolphin meat in markets. We will not play the game that the nationalist groups want us to play – we will not have it become “us versus them.”… The militant nationalist groups may gather as they like in Taiji; we will be elsewhere in Japan, talking to the media, explaining the problem, and making sure the public understands that we are not there to fight, but to work together.


Interac Found Guilty

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As per The General Union Site:
July 26 – Interac Found Guilty of Unfair Labor Practice

The Osaka Labor Commission has found Interac guilty of an Unfair Labor Practice against the General Union and off interfering in union business.
“Interac banned from Osaka prefectural projects


Interac was found guilty of unfair labour practices by the Osaka Prefectural Labour Commission in July 2010 for refusing to hold collective bargaining with the General Union

Osaka prefectural ordinances prevent companies found in violation of Trade Union Law from bidding on public projects.
The General Union, along with allied unions from Osaka Union Network and Osaka Zenrokyo have submitted demands to the Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Toru Hashimoto, that Prefectural ordinances be enforced.

As a result, Osaka Prefecture has now informed all divisions of the prefectural government, including the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education, that they may no longer enter into contracts with Interac. Furthermore, Osaka Prefecture has summoned Interac to explain the situation, placing further pressure on the company to obey the Trade Union Law and negotiate.

The union’s victory at the Labour Commission and its subsequent economic impact on Interac will go along way in making sure that not only Interac, but other employers trying to evade their legal obligations, negotiate with the union in the future.”
Interac guilty of unfair practices
インタラックを追放。倉敷市教委で直接雇用かちとる。

派遣法や職安法違反で、再三、法違反を勧告されてきた、インタラック社は、それでも。全国の教育委に入り込み、外国人指導助手AET-ALTの丸投げ受託で儲けてきた。だが倉敷市教委は、インタラックとの委託契約を解除し、4月から全校の外国人講師を直接雇用にすることにした。授業の質と継続性向上、そして、法遵守のためであった。これを評価したゼネラルユニオンもこれに賛同し、教育委と交渉し、直接雇用の合意をみた。
 だが、インタラックから派遣されていた組合員達の優先的直接雇用の希望リストを教委宛に提出したところ、インタラックから「採用を希望すると、双方の職を失うぞ。家を明け渡せ」など、【教委の住宅にもかかわらず】、インタラック幹部が、電気ガスを無断で停止させるなど、連日の妨害が始まった。これには教育委も激怒し、インタラックに対し嫌がらせをやめるよう、警告した。。
 ゼネラルユニオンのオルグも再三岡山入りし、、組合員達は頑張り抜いた。そして、ついに3月末、土壇場での勝利解決が実現した。直接雇用を希望した7名の組合員の内、4名を倉敷市が直接採用、他の講師も、岡山県下の近隣の教育委で就労できることとなったのである。インタラック社の契約書に「退職後に同業につけない」としているが、派遣法の規定で、「1年経過すれば、派遣先【教委】の直接雇用義務」があることこそが、法律である。
一方、インタラック社へは、不当労働行為の証拠も明白となったことから、ゼネラルユニオンは、インタラックとの攻防を展開してきた東京南部・福岡ゼネラルユニオン・全国協神奈川とも連携し、全国的に、断固たる法的措置を行う決意である。

Rainy Season

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Japan’s rainy season usually begins at the start of June and lasts until mid July for most of Japan. The rainy season is called Tsuyu which means “plum rains” due to being the season that plums ripen. Different areas of Japan experience different levels of rain and each season will be different depending on weather pattens in the region.

The rainy season in Okinawa usually will start a month earlier than the mainland.

Should be fine tomorrow but the rain is going to kick in and go non stop all week. There have been some very heavy downpours over the last few days and constant drizzle for the last 4 weeks. There have been enough dry periods though to make it bearable.
The humidity has been shocking though.


The summer heat is much worse than the rainy season which is why I’ll be spending the next 3 weeks in Australia!

Membership

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Now accepting Paypal as well as Credit Cards.

How much money can be wasted going to bars and chatting up for hours to come home with 2 or 3 fake email addresses?

There is an easier way….

JapanIchiban Friend Finder

12 months VIP membership
USD 99.95 one-time payment (USD 8.33/month)
6 months VIP membership
USD 75.95 one-time payment (USD 12.66/month)
3 months VIP membership
USD 51.95 one-time payment (USD 17.32/month)
1 month VIP membership
USD 27.95 one-time payment (USD 27.95/month)
Choose a Payment Method:

Open Club Subscription

3 months OpenClub membership
USD 52.95 one-time payment (USD 17.65/month)
VIP/OC Bundle Value Package

12 months VIP+OpenClub membership
USD 245.95 one-time payment (USD 20.50/month)
6 months VIP+OpenClub membership
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3 months VIP+OpenClub membership
USD 93.95 one-time payment (USD 31.32/month)


Testimonials

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It’s been a very long time since we posted any testimonial letters from Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network so here are some of the latest ones…

Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network = Love + Marriage + 2 Children = Lots of Happiness!!

Grant, Sydney, Australia/ Satoko, Japan
In a nutshell that is our continuing success story! And we owe it all to Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network. Satoko and I met in Tokyo through Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network right back in 2003 when it was all just starting up, and wow it has changed our lives! Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network was spot on in helping us find each other because one thing led to another and 6 months later in the middle of 2004 we both find ourselves pointing towards mainland Asia as we depart Japan together for an overland trip from Japan to Europe and back to Australia.
A year later we land in Sydney where we now live the idyllic quintessential Australian lifestyle with our little son ‘Lotus” who was a gift from an ashram in India during our travels :-) Yes that is where he was made ha-ha. Lotus was made in India, Japanese mother, British father and was born in Australia; how lucky to have three passports and ultimately he owes it all to Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network. If that wasn’t enough, next week we look forward to welcoming Lotus’ baby sister into the growing World of Friends – WOW! Thanks Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network!
It all started with you! Lots of Love, Grant,Satoko,Lotus&??? Anyone out there have any great ideas for our coming daughter’s name?

A Smile Goes A Long Way

Sanya, Toronto Canada & Tony, Toronto Canada
I joined Japan Ichiban’s Friends Network to find a language tutor and someone to talk to about travel and Japan. Accidentally I clicked on a picture of a cute guy who lived in the same city and sent him a smile and he emailed me back. We exchanged emails for a week and started to chat online, then moved on to phone. We talked on the phone every night and got closer day by day. We met up expecting to be friends, however the meeting lead to something else. I sent him a smile in the middle of January, and he asked me out at the beginning of February. We have been together ever since. We both joined to meet people from Japan and to learn Japanese, however we ended up finding each other, a Taiwanese boy and a Serbian girl. We both thank you so much for everything! Without our interest in the Japanese Culture and this great site we would have never met. I read the stories of people who met their spouses here but never thought i would find the perfect guy on this website.

A priceless friendship!

Brian and Risa
My name is Brian. Thanks to your service, I’ve made a very good friend here in Japan. I had just gotten out of basic training and learned that I was to be stationed in Japan. I signed up for a month and e-mailed a couple of people. I got lots of responses, and I responded back to everyone, but only one kept going. So we kept writing back and forth. About two months later I had been in Japan for a month and I kept in contact with my friend. We finally met in person two weeks ago and she has taken me to all kinds of places within the last two weeks. Her name is Risa and she is one of the coolest people I have ever met in my life. We plan to go out again! Thank you, it was well worth the money for a priceless friendship!

I have found a new friend through your service.

Queenie
My name is Queenie. I have found a new friend through your service. Definitely, I may have many chances to find someone to talk to or listen to. So I’m so glad to have a good friend to share my feelings or ideas by sending emails to each other.

many more just like that… you can see all the testimonials when you log in to your Japanichiban Friend Finder account.

Looking For a Japanese Girlfriend?

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You won’t need any of these as long as you sign up on our friendfinder. Believe me, you’ll have more success!

Available in white as well…

Another Prime Minister bows out

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Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told parliamentary officials Wednesday he will resign. “I’m going to step down,” Hatoyama announced in a live broadcast on Japanese TV NHK.

The shirt said it all.

On 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced his resignation before a meeting of the Japanese Democratic Party. He cited breaking a campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base on the island of Okinawa as the main reason for the move. On 30 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions after the sinking of a Korean ship by North Korea, Hatoyama had made a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama to retain the base for security reasons, but the deal was unpopular in Japan. He also mentioned money scandals involving a top party leader, Ichirō Ozawa, who resigned as well, in his decision to step down. Hatoyama had been pressured to leave by members of his party after doing poorly in polls in anticipation of an Upper house election in July 2010

Ichirō Ozawa (小沢一郎 Ozawa Ichirō?)


Poor old Ozawa. He is probably the longest standing ‘never give up’ politician in Japan who I believe really had a good plan for the country. However, he was never popular enough and was always the target of opposition and media. With my tin hat on I’d say he was harassed because he was powerful. He had a path to take Japan but it was just too radical and westernized.
Here is his blueprint for Japan that I read a long time ago. It all made sense back then and probably still does.

Ozawa resigned as DPJ leader in May 2009 due to another scandal and was succeeded by Hatoyama. At the time of the August 2009 general election, Ozawa acted as the DPJ’s chief election strategist and remained a very powerful figure in the party. The DPJ won an overwhelming victory in the 2009 election, and it was believed that would increase his influence further. However, continuing finance scandals have left many Japanese questioning his integrity. A prosecution inquest panel has concluded: ‘it is highly likely that Ozawa is an accomplice’ in a scandal involving the purchase of land in Tokyo, ‘and should therefore stand trial’.

Who will be the next Prime Minister of Japan? Yes, he Kan!!!

He was a favorite the last time as well. Naoto Kan.
Also dogged by scandal, he just seems like another PM for the conveyor belt.

On January 6, 2010, he was picked by Yukio Hatoyama to be the new Finance Minister, assuming the post in addition to deputy prime minister. In his first news conference, Kan announced his priority was stimulating growth and took the unusual step of naming a specific dollar-yen level as optimal to help exporters and stimulate the economy. “There are a lot of voices in the business world saying that (the dollar) around ¥95 is appropriate in terms of trade,” he said. Hatoyama appeared to rebuke Kan. “When it comes to foreign exchange, stability is desirable and rapid moves are undesirable. The government basically shouldn’t comment on foreign exchange,” he told reporters.

Ozawa was so close to being PM so many times but never got there. I don’t think he will try again. He’ll probably retire. He would have been as good as Koizumi in my opinion too bad we’ll never know.
He wouldn’t have been any worse than the last 3 PMs.

Hatoyama finally has come to realize that he was out of touch.

Kan?

Bring back Koizumi….

Or is he really Richard Gere?


Human Trafficking in Japan

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Jake Adelstein touches on this subject in his book Tokyo Vice

From www.humantrafficking.org

Japan

The Situation
Japan is a transit and destination country for human trafficking. The traffickers are reportedly part of Japanese organized crime syndicates, particularly the Yakuza.1

Destination
Japan is a destination country for women and children who are trafficked from China, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and to a lesser extent Latin America for sexual and labor exploitation. Many of the trafficking victims were coerced into commercial sexual exploitation in strip clubs, sex shops, hostess bars, private video rooms, escort services, and mail-order video services. NGOs reported that in some cases brokers used drugs to subjugate victims. Women also voluntarily migrate to work in Japan but are later coerced into exploitative conditions. Women are usually held in debt bondage for $26,000 to $43,000 for their living expenses, medical care, and other necessities.2

Internal Trafficking
Japan has a significant amount of internal trafficking of women and girls who are trafficked for sexual exploitation.3

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Mongol Car Rally on NPR Interview with Scott Brills on the 2009 Mongol Rally

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Good to see this is still news.

Geos Japan Bankrupt

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Geos Japan has filed for bankruptcy according to today’s news.

English conversation school GEOS (Tokyo) announced that on the 21st, bankruptcy procedure began. On the 20th maintenance management order and the like of property was received from Tokyo district court. According to the maintenance management person debt sum total this year 3 end of the month presently approximately 7,500,000,000 Yen.  From today 236 schools close…”

英会話のジオスが破産 99校を閉鎖
2010.4.21 11:40

このニュースのトピックス:リストラ・倒産・破綻

破綻した「ジオス」の田町駅前校=21日午後、東京都港区 英会話大手のジオス(東京)は21日、破産手続きを開始したと発表した。20日に東京地裁から財産の保全管理命令などを受けた。保全管理人によると負債総額は、今年3月末現在で約75億円。

 21日から全校で臨時休校する。236校(「こども学校」66校を含む)は、先に経営破綻(はたん)したNOVAの事業を引き継ぐジー・コミュニケーション(名古屋)に譲渡され、23日から授業再開の予定。だが、99校は閉鎖し、近隣の継続校への転校などを斡旋(あっせん)する。

 ジオスは昭和61年12月の設立で、テレビコマーシャルなどで事業を拡大してきた。だが、語学学校の乱立に加え、NOVAの経営破綻などで業界の信用が低下。不景気で国内事業も低迷し、経営が急速に悪化していた。

 民間調査会社の東京商工リサーチによると、平成20年12月期の年商は約110億円に落ち込み、不採算校の撤退などから大幅赤字に転落していた。

 ジオスは、米国、カナダ、フランス、タイなど海外にも拠点を広げ国内事業の低迷を下支えしてきた。だが、昨年12月には、オーストラリアの子会社が資金不足などを理由にビザ発給停止を受け、今年2月に現地8法人を閉鎖。業績悪化に拍車がかかった。

 昨年1月には、関係金融機関から債務返済の猶予措置を取り付けたが、期限の2月までに経営改善できず、同業他社や国内外の投資ファンドに支援を打診していた。

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