ひらみ ぱん Bakery Cafe, Entitled Europeans

Went to this famous bakery cafe in Kanazawa yesterday. Excellent food, coffee, atmosphere. Line outside, as anticipated (waiting in line not brilliant, but that's the drill): family of four and three couples ahead of me. About 10:45. Affluent ( it's not just the obvious effort to be polloi in Uniqlo and Onizuka Tigers, but the self-confidence, the air of entitlement, and the smirk of privilege) European (Swiss? Austrian?) family of four behind me in the queue. After about 15 minutes a member of the staff opens the door and invites the first group to enter. Over 15 minutes several couples leave, but none of those ahead of me are seated. Growing impatient, but what's the point? About 10 minutes later, the staff usher into the cafe the next four groups, including me. A few minutes after that, the horse-faced patrician matriarch enters with her brood and husband in tow and announces she will be seated. The owner-chef rushes out of the kitchen to assist staff in bussing a 4-top. Again, all smiles from these people who are accustomed to getting their way, always. Ugly, entitled Europeans. Don't come here ( wherever you're from). We don't want you. https://photos.app.goo.gl/AmJcnhAfcCaiyTj76

Kanazawa Kids on Books and Libraries

Was in Kanazawa yesterday and visited the Izumino Library. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rSmHNvxGkTrK8ZrdA https://photos.app.goo.gl/WUbwZacqvptQCy4A9 Impressive local library in a castle town known for sophisticated culture. The Prefectural Library, also in Kanazawa. https://www.library.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/ Really worth a visit.

Rail Journey: Niigata, Kurobe- Unazuki Onsen, Kanazawa, and Return

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hqdnJynmCRfpfSAt5

RIP: Former PM Murayama Dead at 101

村山富市元総理が死去　水俣病の政治解決にも奔走　その死を悼む声多く　（RKK熊本放送）｜ｄメニューニュース（NTTドコモ） https://share.google/m1AZ8AJqwFF86kJDv Apologized for Japanese militarism. A decent man. A good man.

NHK toi-toi: Recognizing the Marginalized and Misunderstood: Oh, and F'k Chuck Kirk

A program produced by national broadcaster NHK and aired on its educational channel NHK-E. This evening's show considers the experiences of those with intellectual impairments. (Can't resist a dig at Christian- exceptionalist US: best of luck finding such humanizing programming on PBS. Or Christian love and kindness in the sanctuaries of White power in that most benighted and uncivilized s'hole banana republic.) I'm done. ごめんねぇ。Oops. I forgot to mention the late Chas Kirk, recently 'sainted' with a medal of freedom for being an Upstanding White Person. Hateful bastard. There's this, too: https://www.web.nhk/tv/an/toi-toi/pl/series-tep-72L62Z715X

Foreign Tourists Deface Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Kyoto struggling with tourists defacing beloved bamboo forest | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis https://share.google/2YDnL7gX06Oa4Bux6 Well done, gaijin. Thinking of designing a t-shirt that says 'I am not a tourist'.

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Mottainai Art

Local artist Kajika

wa Seiya (?) shared his work at a local festival. Waste not, want not. Cool, no?

Otaku- Sweet

Hello, fellas.

Finally: The Buddhists Say Sayonara to Nationalism and Corruption: Kudos to the Buddhists

Mr Saito, head of long-time LDP junior partner Komeito (lay Buddhist Sokka Gakkai- backed) has announced it will end its 26-year collaboration with its corrupt partner over the latter's failure to tackle- what else- campaign finance corruption. Additional impetus for Komeito's decision was Takaichi's anti-foreigner rhetoric. Oh, have I mentioned toxic faction boss amd former PM Aso? Ironically, that reptile and his protege/ minion Takaichi could end up relegating the LDP to also-ran status A rare instance of a politician and party putting values/ principles before cynical party politics. Truly astonishing. Saito Tetsuo-sama and Komeito- arigato.

University Lunch

Fords for Official Business?

Don't buy that crap. Don't cave to the bastards in DC, Japan. アメ車の公用車導入 日本政府検討 - Yahoo!ニュース https://share.google/i876yBacELlKwGXn7

Happy Halloween

'PM' Takaichi and Forced Labor

Japan's first female PM (technically a bit premature to refer to her as PM, as her coalition lacks enough votes to secure a parliamentary majority- she's head of the largest bloc in government, more accurately) has named Aso Taro her deputy. His family operated mines in Japan during WW2. While Japanese youths were dying (and committing war crimes overseas- Bataan, Nanking, etc.), labor-starved Japan impressed what was left: women, children, and POWs. Enriching the deputy party boss's family.

His Right Honourable Deputy LDP Head Aso: Forced Labor (POW) at Family-owned Mines': Forced Labor = War Crime

I think this photo does Aso the justice he deserves. So. Did the Aso mines employ forced labor? 10-16K prisoners? Here's Taro's Dad: 麻生首相の父、炭鉱で朝鮮人を強制労働させる There it is. Also this: https://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/2596101

Takaichi Administration Appointments : Deputy PM Aso

Newly minted PM Takaichi, Japan's first female PM, has named paleo-LDP stalwart and former PM Aso Taro her deputy. He is a piece of work. Does a right-wing LDP PM take votes from opposition nationalist Sanseito in the next election? That's the LDP plan, as the opposition party is only only a bit farther right than the Takaichi administration itself. To date. (The one-upmanship will commennce soon, no doubt.) Crucially, however, Taniya, leader of Sanseito, is much younger (less than half Aso's 85 and some 17 years younger than the PM herself.) Sanseito is the one party enjoying cred with the under-45 bloc. Maybe Takaichi and the LDP were thinking a lurch to the right would claw back recent (as in July) electoral losses to Sanseito, but I think not: with the same octogenarian relics on perpetual rinse- repeat (sans the rinse, really), good luck with that. So, what manner of work is he? I mean Aso. Wealthy, born with the proverbial (though we might suggest sticking the proverbial somewhere else). So, he's from money, privilege, connections, patronage (forgotten anything?) So, that's life. 親ガチャ。But. He's a wanker. Noblesse oblige? Say what? Family's construction business used POW labor during the war. His take? Nothing to see here- 別に。He's complained that elderly Japanese visit the doctor too often. One could go on, but why?

Japan's First Female PM- Almost

Honestly, I don't care for Takaichi Sanae, she's right wing, the usual anti-foreigner BS, but a woman PM, Japan's first (Takaichi will become PM officially if she can form a coalition government representing a majority of parliamentary seats.) So, about time. A couple days ago I asked a student (car otaku) which candidate he supported, and why. "Takaichi. Because she drives an older Supra". Longtime LDP junior partner Komeito (the 'political wing' of Sokka Gakkai) may not join the Takaichi government over her anti-foreigner rhetoric and casual dismissal of LDP donations scandal criticism. Well-done, Komeito.

Tropes That Never Die

An article in Japan Today about foreign kids not enrolled in Japanese schools. Typical of the comments section on that site, regardless of the topic: "At least in primary school here, most children get a decent education, the indoctrination begins in middle school" A favorite trope of the expat community. Here's the philosophy of the Niigata City BOE: 誰もが安心して学び、生涯を通じて自己実現できる社会の実現」**を基本とし、「これからの社会で自信をもって自己実現していける子どもを育てる」「学びの循環による人づくり・地域づくりを進める」「地域と一体となった学校づくりを進める Google translate: >Building a society where everyone can learn with peace of mind and achieve self-fulfillment throughout their lives''** is the basis of ``nurturing children who can self-actualize with confidence in the future society'', ``promoting human development and community development through the cycle of learning'', and ``promoting the creation of schools that are integrated with the local community Not much indoctrinating going on here.

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"Foreigners have no fundamental human rights" in Japan

That's according to Saitama assemblyman Moroi Masahide. Assemblyman in Saitama blasted over remark on foreigners’ rights | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis https://share.google/pWADI3CVB4xijCdip One wonders how many share his view. Well, Japan's Supreme Court, for starters: A 2014 Supreme Court ruling declared that foreign nationals, even permanent residents, are not legally entitled to welfare benefits in Japan, overturning a lower court decision that favored a Chinese woman in Oita. The court's rationale centered on interpreting the term "citizen" in the Public Assistance Act, concluding that only Japanese citizens have a legal right to benefits. This ruling solidified that foreigners' eligibility for welfare is a discretionary matter, not a guaranteed right. The Chinese woman, a life-long resident of Japan and taxpayer, argued that she was eligible based on her good standing with tax authorities. So, you get on with your life, leave, or naturalize. Those are the options.