Random Japan

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IF THE SHOES FIT …

Running shoes worn by competitors in a national ekiden relay race have been sent to underprivileged student-athletes at schools in Nagasaki, a move spearheaded by Nike Japan and a Nagasaki Prefecture track and field association.

Some frozen beef imported into Japan from the United States in July apparently contained spinal columns, “so-called risk materials feared to cause mad cow disease and barred from importation into Japan.”

Winter bonuses at major companies in Japan rose an average of 3.62 percent from the previous year, up to ¥802,701. It was the second consecutive rise and the first time the figure cracked the ¥800,000 barrier in three years, according to the Japan Business Federation.

A 77-year-old man, who was punched out and lost consciousness after telling two men not to cross the street on a red light outside Oimachi Station, has died from his injuries.

Two-time Olympic judo champion Masato Uchishiba was indicted for allegedly raping a member of a university judo team he was coaching after first plying the young woman with alcohol.

A 55-year-old air traffic controller who nodded off while on duty at Naha airport was docked 10 percent of his pay for a month by the transport ministry.

stats

35

Estimated number of times an annual pass-holder in Japan will visit Tokyo Disneyland in a year

8-10

Times a pass-holder in the US will visit a Disneyland theme park a year

900

Minke and fin whales the Fisheries Agency said the Japanese whaling fleet plan to kill this season for “scientific research purposes”

¥100,000

Monthly fees for users of a new radiation detection device from NEC

80

Percent of voters who are “dissatisfied with current Japanese politics,” according to an Asahi Shimbun poll

1

Percent of people surveyed who said they were “fully satisfied” with today’s political situation in Japan

THANKS GUYS!

A post office in Fukuoka gave a 50-year-old woman’s address to her former boyfriend, who is 70, without her permission. The woman was trying to avoid the guy because he used to beat her up regularly.

Two senior Kumamoto government employees were in hot water for making a “subordinate in his 20s sit on his heels on the floor to preach him for long hours… and beating the younger employee on the head from the backseat while he was driving.” They also forced Junior to buy tempura and sushi lunches for them, which cost the underling over ¥1 million.

The personal data of a female victim of a sex crime-including her name and cellphone number-was “erroneously posted on an internet message board with no browsing restrictions,” the Japan Federation of Bar Associations revealed.

It appears to be bedtime for bongo-permanently. An African bongo antelope named Matsu, believed to be the world’s oldest, died at a Nagoya zoo at the age of 22. That’s over 100 in human terms.

Ace pitcher Yu Darvish, currently in negotiations to join the Texas Rangers, was among the celebrities honored by an eyebrow treatment salon for having the best eyebrows of 2011. Others included actress Yukie Nakama and singer/actor Masaharu Fukuyama.

In other baseball-related news, Yakult Swallows infielder Hiroyasu “Beavis” Tanaka told reporters he was thinking about taking ballet classes this winter to improve his flexibility. Might come in handy avoiding take-outs at second base, too.

Underwear Escapes From Prison

Gets Cold  

110: What’s Your Emergency?

My Sushi Has Left Me  

Even Though I’m In Charge  

I Know Nothing