Interesting news and stories translated into English from Japan and the Japanese-language internet.
-
A 6 year old girl was killed when she stuck her head out through the sunroof of a moving car and collided with overhead railway bridge guard pipe; netizens shocked.17 -
A woman is praised for her bravery after she sacrificed her own life to save a man who was lying on the railway line from being hit by a train; Twitter reactions. -
The Japanese record industry notes a 7% drop in sales a year after the introduction of criminal penalties for illegally downloading music; netizens unsurprised. -
Owariasahi City in Aichi Prefecture will pay out 2 million yen to repair a Lamborghini that hit a pothole on a city-maintained road; reactions from Twitter. -
Zazak reports story of 17 year old girl who went missing for 2 1/2 months only to be found hiding at a nearby shrine having lost half her body weight; responses. -
A man has been arrested for breaking into the Yasukuni shrine on September 22; he was also found to be carrying toluene and lighters. Netizens call it "terrorism". -
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is considering increasing consumption tax from 2% to 10% as a means of improving the economy; 2ch netizens skeptical of the proposal. -
advertisement
-
An NPO suggests Edo Castle, which was destroyed in 1657, be rebuilt in time for the Tokyo Olympics, and some in the government agree. But 2ch netizens disagree. -
Chinese exchange student saves 9-year old Japanese boy from drowning in the Yodo River near Osaka after the boy fell into the water; netizens praise his actions. -
NHK reports that TEPCO have admitted radioactive cesium levels in seawater from Fukushima were higher than reported due to incorrect calcuations; online responses.
-
French paper "Le Canard Enchaine" has further angered Japan by failing to apologise for a satirical cartoon depicting Fukushima and the Olympics; netizen reactions. -
MSN Sankei reports that a Maori woman was refused entry to a Hokkaido onsen due to her traditional tā moko facial tattoos given to women of high-status; reactions. -
A Mainichi Shimbun article asks whether the Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo lied about the safety of leaks at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi reactor; netizen reactions. -
Japan celebrates as Tokyo is selected as the host city for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games by Olympic committee; reactions from around the Japanese internet -
The story of a man who walked 1400km over 11 days to get home from Fukuoka to Sendai after having his wallet and cell phone stolen trends online; netizen reactions. -
Saga education committee decides that all new students in Saga high schools must purchase new tablet PCs at a cost of approx $500 per student; netizens critical. -
A survey reveals that young Japanese employees see the Studio Ghibli character Totoro as their ideal lover, and Nausicaa as the ideal leader; netizen responses.
