HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: thao@bnr.ca (Anthony Murtagh)
Subject: Re: Japanese exprisoners of war
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Richardson, Tx.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 21:15:56 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.171617.3279@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>In article <604@wakasato.cs.shinshu-u.ac.jp> nakano@suncom1.cs.shinshu-u.ac.jp (NAKANO Yasuaki) writes:
>>In article <AAO1dPgSg5@ibc2.irkutsk.su> loa@ibc2.irkutsk.su writes:
>>I strongly recommend you and "ARCOM" to abandon the project.
>>

[abuse of japanese prisoners deleted]

>

[japanese attack on russia and relevation of allied treatment of jp pow's deleted]

>

personally, i think the whole idea behind wars and making rules for wars is silly.  i'm referring to "rules"
such as "humane" treatment of pow's.  kinda ridiculous to think that once you've captured the enemy, you
have to clothe, feed, and provide for them--heck, and these are the same people that would have shot you
within the blink of an eye.  (i'm not referring solely to the japanese army.  i'm making this statement
in a general sense).

i sympathize for the non-aggressors i.e. the people whoever they may be that are attacked.  for them, i
feel they have no obligation to take prisoners much less take care of prisoners.

war is sickening but it seems to be a game that man likes to participate in.

i wonder if war would be curbed if there were a new "rule" added...in addition to no chemical warfare (although
everyone seems to have ample amounts of it) and "humane" treatment of pow's, the sides involved can only
inflict damage when the moon is 23 degrees from the horizon and the day after, it will snow in an east coast
city of africa.

laly thao

p.s.  i guess wars aren't totally bad...it keeps the world population down for those who are worried about it.

 
/***********************************************************************************\
*   thao@cse.uta.edu	   |  "The lipstick is purple.  The mecha is Psycho."	    *
*   B645ZAY@UTARLG.UTA.EDU |                          -old Panime newsletter        *
\***********************************************************************************/

Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: kerry@cs.UAlberta.CA (Todyruik Kerry D)
Subject: Re: Japanese language bible
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 21:57:26 GMT

Jeff, I appreciate your response to my posting.  Perhaps my style of 
writing was a little harsh.  It was an emotional response.  If you
read my second posting you may find it a little less emotional.  

If you disagreed with my posting, why don't you try putting down an
intelligent original opinion, rather than trying to discredit me by breaking
it down line by line and swearing at me(anybody can do that!).  I think
you are out of line.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: davev@bnr.ca (David Villeneuve)
Subject: re: Renewing Japanese Drivers Licence From Abroad
Reply-To: davev@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 04:01:38 GMT

I forget who originally posted this question, but here's the answer
I got from my co-workers....

The following is what you must do if your licence has expired.
The process for renewing a non-expired licence may be different,
though you would at least have to send your licence in to get
re-hanko'd, and designate someone to act on your behalf (though
check with the office to be sure).

You must not let your licence expire, otherwise it is a violation
of the contract.  

You may not renew your licence from abroad, at least not when
it has expired. 

If your licence lapses while you are away, you have 6 months to
renew it.  You must apply for the licence within one month of
your return.  You must also provide a photo, your passport,
jyuminhyo (proof of residency) and pay a handling fee of 3200-en.
You will also be expected to take a driving test, and sit through
a compulsory 2-hour lecture on the rules of the road, etc.  

If you have still not renewed your licence after that, you will 
have to re-apply for a licence as if you never had one.  

The Samezu drivers licence office in Tokyo is opened Mon-Fri,
8:30-11:00, and from 13:00-15:00.  It is closed on Saturdays
and Sundays.  Their number is 03-3474-1374.

Personally, I drive a bicycle.  :-)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Villeneuve, davev@bnr.ca   | Anata no ninhongo wa jozu desu ne!
Bell-Northern Research, JAPAN   | Iie, mada, jozu dewa arimasen!
My opinions are my own, though please don't quote me on that.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: aoki@physics.ucla.edu (ken aoki)
Subject: Japanese markets -- (Re: Info wanted on Akihabara (Tokyo))
Summary: few comments, dumping-NOT!, gimmicks
Keywords: dumping, gimmicks, middle ages,
Organization: UCLA Department of Physics
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 17:57:10 GMT

In article <OKAZAKI.92Jul21072932@HPP.Stanford.EDU> okazaki@HPP.Stanford.EDU (Shin'ichiro Okazaki) writes:
>In article <1992Jul14.175213.9734@lsil.com> mitch@lsil.com (Mitch Sako) writes:
>
> > From all of my experience and everything that I've read, you will be very
> > hard-pressed to find any bargains in Japan on electronics.  The principal
> > reason for this is that Japanese electronics is dumped overseas.  Although
> > you are in Canada, I think you can find better bargains in the US than you
> > can in Japan.
>
>I have seen a lot of issues about dumping of Japanese products.  I cannot
>help saying a word.  I don't think they are dumped now.

Thanks for the nice article; I was going to raise
the same two points, but with a little different emphases, as follows:
(I do think that the Japanese co.'s are making profit over exporting
the products, too.)

>
>1.Please note that most Japanese prefer to electronics products which
>have many functions rather than simple ones.  When I came to US I found

an example about TV's delted. 

I agree that most Japanese models sold in Japan have more features.
I disagree in that it is not the Japanese public who want 
more gimmicks for a higher price, but it is the big companies
who say that it is so and try to sell more gimmicks by
making the stripped down "export" versions hard to obtain in Japan.
(to rake in more profit, of course.)
Do you seriously believe that all the Japanese housewives
are happy to pay hundreds of more dollars to have 'fuzzy logic'
in their washing machines and their vacuum cleaners?
I don't think so.
But then again, I might be too out of touch.

>
>2.Suggested retail price and actual price
>I know the flow system of the products (sorry, I did not recall the
>appropriate English words) is one of the problems in Japan.  Since several
>wholesale may deal with products until the products are sold in stores

some detail deleted.

Archaic distribution system, I think, indeed is responsible
for ripping off the Japanese consumers. 
Regulation keeps the distribution system from changing drastically
--- even though it is changing slowly. As usual, the Japanese beauraucrats
are planning on a glacial change to avoid people
getting unemployed, etc, I believe.
One comment though; I am not so sure that the deregulation
is always a good thing, when I look at the airlines in the US
or the supermarkets in LA. The choice seems to be getting less
with each day.

>--
>Shinichiro OKAZAKI                     Knowledge Systems Laboratory
>okazaki@hpp.stanford.edu               Stanford University
>"ALL opinions in this article are mine as a private person."

                         ___Kenichiro Aoki.
Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 10:51:47 -0400 
From: Victor Lin <vl11+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: sumo wrestlers

Alan Tam (mura@ecst.csuchico.edu) wrote:

>Here is the ten most memorable sumo wrestlers to me
>I hope that some of you can share my choices.

>1.  Washuyama   -  used to be the smallest. good at triping huge wrestlers.
>		   He always defeted Takamiyame who was the biggest at
>		   the time.

Agreed.

>2. Kirinzi vs Fuzizakura
>		-  both rely on "Tupari"( hiting away ). So, when they
>		   fight with each other, it seemed like a fight on the
>		   street.

True.  Kirinzi's image, however, has be ruined by his appearances on
NHK and TV Asahi's "Ouzumo Digest".  I mean that "Kitajin Oyakata"
just somehow makes me laugh.

>3. Tochiakagi   -  He went up to "Sekiwake"( the third highest rand ).
>		   He had strong lower body and wonderful techniques
>		   around the edge of ring.  His sumo was called "Circus
>		   Sumo".

Don't know too much about him.

>4. Asahikuni    -  He had so many sumo techniques.  He was not strong.
>		   He was called "sumo computer".

Too ancient for me.

>5. Masurao	-  He recently quit.  He looked arrogant but was very exciting.

Nicknamed "Wolf", an honor shared by Chiyonofuji.

>6. Takanosato   -  He is not a big guy but he was strong, competing with
>		   Chiyonofugi.  At a time, they were so outstanding that
>		   they did not lose any match until they meet each other
> 	           in final day of championship. 

He is fairly big (compared to Chiyo, at least).  I think there were 2 or
3 times
when they met on the final day with perfect 14-0 records.

>7. Kurama       -  He has a record of the longest stay in "makuuchi"( major
>		   league of sumo ).  He had fought until his late thirty
>		   , I guess.

Another wrestler ruined by appearances on TV after retiring.

>8. Futahaguro   -  another name is Kitao.  He was the tallest guy.  He is
>		   the only "Yokozuna"( highest rank) who never won 
>	  	   championship.

Shame on him.  He ran away from his "heya" and became a professional
wrestler.  What more need you say?  (Don't mention Wajima.  At least he
won several tournaments and created somewhat of a dynasty with 
Kitanoumi.)

>9. Kotokaze     -  He soly depends on pushing.  His offence was very simple.
>		   He just push, push, push...

Well........Some wrestlers win a lot just by pushing, pushing, and still 
pushing.....eg. Konishiki, Akebono,.....

>10. Wazima      -  He was a rival of Kitanoumi( one of the strongest wrestler
>	           ever ).  His golden belt suited him very well.

Where is he now?  It was embarrassing to watch him on those professional
wrestling matches.  He never flourished as a professional wrestler (as if you
need any real techniques to do that).  Kitanoumi was by far a more successful
sumo wrestler than him.
		   

----------------------------------------------------
Victor H. Lin                  vl11+@andrew.cmu.edu      
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University     TEL: (412)681-3139
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
----------------------------------------------------
From: root@mordor.com (Chris Mauritz - SysGod)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Re: non-natives in Japan
Date: 24 Jul 92 09:37:52 GMT
Organization: Mordor - Public Access Unix - Jersey City, NJ.

<1992Jul21.012236.23735@nevada.edu> 
<2118@aegis.or.jp> 

fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) wrote:

>This brings up a repeated sore point for foreigners in Japan: the "case-by-
>case" mentality of granting visas. Technically, you can get a five year spouse
>visa to live in Japan. In practice it is rare. In *my* case, my first visa
>was a 1 year work visa. (I had applied for a 3 year visa). The next year,
>they granted me a 2 year visa (!?). I got married that year, and changed my
>status, and they gave me a 5 year spouse visa without even blinking (!!!). I
>have only met 2 other people who had been granted 5 year visas, most others
>got a 1 to 3 year spouse visa. For some reason, they just liked me.

Yes, this is somewhat unnerving.  About 7 years ago, I wanted to spend
2 weeks in Japan as a tourist.  I was living in Hong Kong at the time
so I hoppped over to the Japanese embassy for a visa.  I told them I
only wanted to stay for a couple of weeks and in about 2 minutes they
stamped a 5 year unlimited entry visa into my passport.  Recently, I
went to the Japanese embassy in New York City to get a work visa.
It was such a nightmare that I left (went on my lunch hour).  I was
told that I would have to wait 1-2 hours just to receive the necessary
forms. :-(  Does anyone have any tips on what to say to these guys
for a "hassle free" visa?

Best regards,

Chris

------
Christopher Mauritz                   | You ask me to enter
root@ritz.mordor.com                  | But then you make me crawl
root%ritz.mordor.com@spcvxa.spc.edu   | And I can't be holding on...
{backbone}!rutgers!spcvxb!ritz!root   | -U2-
From: root@mordor.com (Chris Mauritz - SysGod)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Re: Homebrewing in Japan
Date: 27 Jul 92 02:45:27 GMT
Organization: Mordor - Public Access Unix - Jersey City, NJ.

d-itasak@nmit.mt.nec.co.jp (Daisaku Itasaka) wrote:

>In article <288207@mordor.com> root@mordor.com
>	(Chris Mauritz - SysGod) writes:
>
>>Is it legal???  The consensus at work among the older Japanese
>>is that homebrewing is probably illegal in Japan.  However, I 
>>thought I'd seek a little net.wisdom on the subject.  Having
>>been an avid homebrewer since I was in college, I would hate
>>to give it up while staying in Japan.
>
>Well, as far as I know, it is illegal to brew at home.
>But the liquor contains less than 1% alcohol, you can do it.
>I know something like homebrewing-kits are being sold.
>I guess you don't have to give it up as long as you check
>the content of alcohol in the liquor.

Hmmm, I guess that definitely rules out my special Belgian style
ale (7-9% alcohol).  However, all hope is not lost.  I have gotten
email from 2 different people saying that their families brew plum
wine at home and that I shouldn't worry about brewing (small) 
amounts of beer for personal use.

I'll have to think of some interesting reason for bringing in
my brewing equipment. :-)

Cheers,

Chris

------
Christopher Mauritz                   | You ask me to enter
root@ritz.mordor.com                  | But then you make me crawl
root%ritz.mordor.com@spcvxa.spc.edu   | And I can't be holding on...
{backbone}!rutgers!spcvxb!ritz!root   | -U2-
From: lamb@jasper.CS.ORST.EDU (Ben Lam)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Homebrewing in Japan
Date: 27 Jul 92 01:20:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: CS.1992Jul27.012045.10925
Organization: Oregon State University, Corvallis Oregon

In article <1992Jul27.003411.25195@nmit.mt.nec.co.jp> d-itasak@nmit.mt.nec.co.jp (Daisaku Itasaka) writes:
>In article <288207@mordor.com> root@mordor.com (Chris Mauritz - SysGod) writes:
>
>>Is it legal???  The consensus at work among the older Japanese
>>is that homebrewing is probably illegal in Japan.  However, I 
>>thought I'd seek a little net.wisdom on the subject.  Having
>>been an avid homebrewer since I was in college, I would hate
>>to give it up while staying in Japan.
>
>Well, as far as I know, it is illegal to brew at home.
>But the liquor contains less than 1% alcohol, you can do it.
>I know something like homebrewing-kits are being sold.
>I guess you don't have to give it up as long as you check
>the content of alcohol in the liquor.
>

I'm just curious. What are the reasons for making it illegal?


--Ben Lam
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: felix@crowfix.com (Felix Finch)
Subject: Re: Learning about World War II in Japan
Organization: Scarecrow Repair, Dutch Flat.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 15:23:20 GMT
	<1992Jul21.184034.1735@physics.ucla.edu>
	<1992Jul21.184222.14034@husc3.harvard.edu>
	<22JUL199211445962@vtcc1.cc.vt.edu>

If you would try to think as they must have thought at the time,
instead of with perfect hindsight, you might have a different view.
They only had enough material for 3 bombs (one was used up in the
Trinity test in the *American* desert), it would have taken six months
or a year to get more, and regardless of portraying Japanese as ants,
Okinawa and many other battles had shown it would be a terrificly
expensive battle to occupy the main islands.  I think I read that
MacArthur was upset enough to say it would be butchery, not warfare.
On top of all this, they wanted to get the war over with.  Not 6
months or a year or two later, but NOW.

You also complain that civilian areas were bombed.  Do you not worry
about the firebombings?  I believe more were killed in the largest
Tokyo firebombing than in both A-bombs together.  How about Dresden?
How about Nanking?

It comes down to war being hell.  By definition, you enter war to beat
up on someone.  Japan did, the US did, everyone did, and still does.
Worrying about whether it's okay to die by roasting or radiation is
damned silly.
-- 

            ... _._. ._ ._. . _._. ._. ___ .__ ._. . .__. ._ .. ._.
   Felix Finch, scarecrow repairer / felix@crowfix.com / uunet!crowfix!felix
From: yoshio@tuna.cis.upenn.edu (Yoshio Yamamoto)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: NFL-Budweiser American Bowl 92
Date: 22 Jul 92 15:15:34 GMT
Organization: GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania


Hi folks,

Recently I have come across the interesting ad in a satellite edition of 
Yomiuri newspaper.  

	NFL-Budweiser Americal Bowl '92  - August 2nd (Sun)
	Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Oilers at Tokyo Dome

	Tickets:	GS:	30,000 yen (US$ 240)
			SS:	20,000 yen (US$ 160)
			S:	10,000 yen (US$ 80) 
			A:	 5,000 yen (US$ 40) - sold out

	Note: This is a PREseason game. 

Also I've just heard that America's Olympic basketball team, aka."Dream Team"
will come to Japan to play a game.  I don't know either when or where, but
one of my friends told me that a ticket costs as much as US$ 200. 
I just hope they won't play against Japan's national "Nightmare Team".

This kind of absurd ticket price is nothing unusual in Japan for a long time.
It is understandable in the sense that there is no chance for Japanese to 
enjoy NFL or NBA inside Japan except via occasional satellite broadcasting.
Also considering BIG money which players will receive, even such expensive 
admission may not bring a big profit.

I'm just wondering it might be interesting when we think about what reason
makes this kind of business pay in Japan. 

Cheers,

Yoshio Yamamoto
From: vijay@efim.austin.ibm.com (Vijay Joglekar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: CFV: alt.us.visas
Date: 21 Jul 92 15:39:24 GMT
Reply-To: vijay@wizards.austin.ibm.com
Organization: IBM (Aix Tools Development)

How about creating a group called alt.us.visas.  By the addition of this 
group we could help folks mostly interested in visa information from any 
country to get that information easily.  A FAQ will also be helpful. 
This will moderate many of the soc groups. 


**********************************************************************
               Vijay Joglekar - arbiter elagantiarum
 Disclaimer: These are my opinions and my opinions only. Has nothing
                      to do with where I work.
            Littera scripta manet: Credo quia absurdum
**********************************************************************
From: blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Marriage Logistics
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:59:24 GMT
Reply-To: blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Organization: Horizon Research


=> In article <6827@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com> blamb@rodan.hri.com
(Bill Lambert) writes:
=> 
=> >Second case - Fiance(e) Visa: You apply for this visa category at
=> >the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. It's a fairly painless, by sometimes
=> >lengthy procedure as I understand it. I believe this allows your
=> >fiance(e) 6 months stay in the US during which time it is presumed
=>            ^^^^^^^^
=> >you two will marry and apply for PR status for the non-US honeymooner.

In article <1992Jul30.073756.11565@tkymail.sps.mot.com>,
rto051@hippo.sps.mot.com (Chang Suk-Kyung) writes:
=> 
=> The time limit is three months.

Thank you for the clarification. Those with stars in their eyes pleas note.

=> >Permanent residency takes a few months to acquire. You must have all the
=> >documents - and translated if needed, a physical exam, a couple of hundred
=> >bucks, and a little patience. I believe the usual case is to get a final
=> >interview for approval  1-3 months after filing the papers and having
=> >the physical exam. It might take 3 - 4 trips to the INS. Please note
=> >that your fiance will have trouble getting work (if they're so inclined)
=> >without PR status, so plan on 2-4 month vacation for them.
=> 
=> If your fiance(e) comes into the country on a fiance(e) visa, they are
=> cleared to work at that time (even before you're married).  When you
=> get married and do the paperwork and interview and are granted PR status,
=> it's only conditional permanent resident status, which means that the
=> green card expires in two years.  Towards the end of the two years you
=> have to do more paperwork and maybe an interview (and shell out more
=> big bucks...) to have the conditional status removed.

Sorry for any misunderstanding (this damn stuff is too complicated
isn't it?). What I meant about "trouble getting work" is that most
companies are reluctant to comit to a job offer without achieved
Permanent Residence status. They'd rather not take the chance in 
the event something goes wrong, and actually there are certain procedures
to be followed to hire non-residents for professional positions.
Slinging fries at Burger King may be another matter, but specifically
I was making reference to professional positions.

And also, I didn't mnetion the "conditional" permanent resident status.
But this is SOP these days, and a form of PR that assumes that everything
will be fine assuming you are still married at the end of the first
two years.

- Bill Lambert
From: davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: non-natives in Japan
Date: 20 Jul 92 21:40:12 GMT
Organization: Aegis Society, Kyoto Japan

blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:

>In article <2070@aegis.or.jp>, davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane) writes:

>=> Sorry, I would have to get official confirmation (or have you quote
>=> such) before I would believe that merely being bron on US soil makes
>=> one a US citizen. 
>=> 
>=> If so, then it would mean the child of any couple who happened to be
>=> traveling in the U.S. when it was born would be a U.S. citizen and
>=> this doesn't make sense to me. If I were a non-U.S. national, I
>=> wouldn't want my child to automatically become a citizen of another
>=> country just because they happened to be born there. 

>It's true. There was a case a few years ago where a US Coast Guard
>cutter picked up a boat load of Cuban Refugees, and a pregnant woman
>gave birth on the boat. The child was (is) a US citizen as the boat
>is considered US "soil" while in international waters (or otherwise).
>I believe the woman successfully fought deportation in this case, as
>the parent of a US citizen.

Yes, it's true. I've learned the lesson of my ignorance :-) I was
lashing together the idea that since somebody like myself (born in
the U.S. of U.S. parents) most probably loses their U.S. citizenship
if I were to become a citizen of another country, that this applied
to everyone. I was wrong...

In any case, does anybody know about Konishiki? He's a U.S. citizen,
isn't he?  And he's applying for Japanese citizenship, I hear. Will
he lose his U.S. citizenship if they accept him? 

....

>Anyway, in most countries you are not automatically a citizen if born
>there.... except this one. Anyone know any others?

Good question. I hope somebody will reply to this.

Dave

--
Dave McLane 
JUNET: davidg@aegis.or.jp (ONLY within Japan: post otherwise)
Nagaokakyoshi, Kyoto Japan Tel: +81-75-951-1168 Fax: +81-75-957-1087