Melanie Burton - The Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Feb 15, 2005

C.C. Sheffield Actress/Model, 22 It's okay to lie sometimes, when the result is going to be better than if you told the truth. For example, if your friend asks if she looks fat and she is fat. Tell her she's not.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Feb 8, 2005

Do you still respect NHK?

Etsuko Stelljes Data entry, 33 NHK tried to change facts about the story of comfort women, so now I can't trust their documentaries. Even though the director quit his job to take responsibility, he was hired again as an adviser. I hate that.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Feb 1, 2005

Should foreigners be allowed to hold government positions in Japan?

Greg Stelljes Software Dev., 30 I don't think it's a problem if it's at a lower level. At the highest echelons it might cause a problem. Where they're from and the current political situation should be considered. Upper management should be more security checks.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jan 25, 2005

Is Japan prepared for a natural disaster such as the tsunami in Southeast Asia?

Milton Miltiadous Teacher, 40 I'm not. Friends of mine were in the tsunami -- bit of a wake-up call, so I've prepared a kit, water and canned food. Probably the most important thing, I've registered at the embassy.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jan 18, 2005

What can be done to better support the homeless people of Japan?

Bruce Whitehead Teacher, 31 Soup kitchens really work. A simple thing like a little bit of warmth and a little bit of food makes a huge difference to someone who's got nothing.

COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST

Jan 18, 2005

Hurting Japan's hungry

'We got kicked out of Sumida park three times for delivering food. I went to talk to the people in Taito-ku ward office and basically (it) came down to, 'well, you just can't deliver food here anymore,' " says Charles McJilton, executive director of Second Harvest Japan.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jan 11, 2005

Should Prime Minister Koizumi visit Yasukuni Shrine?

Vicky Majajas Skills adviser, 53 Koizumi is entitled as head of state to make his own decisions. He should be true to himself because you can't have a prime minister who is phony.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jan 4, 2005

Why has literacy dropped so dramatically?

Ana Mickle Stay at home mom, 34 There's been an upsurge in new forms of entertainment in recent years. I don't think school hours should be extended. I think students should do better with the time they have -- the kids should have a life. Schools should work on truancy rates.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Dec 28, 2004

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2005?

Corin Kanazawa Teacher, 27 Definitely to save money. It's getting ridiculous. I have a shopping addiction. I lived in a small country town last time I was here, which was much better for my wallet.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Dec 21, 2004

Does North Korea pose a strong threat to Japan?

Stephen Edwards Teacher, 35 I think Japan has to continue giving aid because Japan's got an excellent record around the world for the giving of aid. Japan has the moral high ground and that's important.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Dec 14, 2004

Should Japan compensate the 'comfort women' of South Korea?

Sawako Murata Student, 26 Of course, definitely. Japan hasn't compensated Korea enough. Lots of people think they have, not in the style of apologizing, but helping with the economy. Koreans should be compensated with money in the style of an apology.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Dec 7, 2004

Are immigration reforms targeting entertainment visas effective?

Jennifer Toews Teaching, 29 It's important to look at who's bringing in these people. The main point should be cracking down on who is importing people, rather than who is being imported.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 30, 2004

How will you spend this month's paycheck?

Sarah Chilson Au pair, 22 I live in Fujisawa and I've only been in Japan 6 weeks so I've only had two pays, but both times I've come up to Tokyo to party it up.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 23, 2004

Do Japanese unions have much power?

Colette McGarry Teacher, 40 I think it's important that they're there to voice the opinions of the teachers who have difficulty in their jobs, but I wish they had more influence.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 16, 2004

Are you taking care of your health?

Robert Hamilton Instructor, 31 Yes, more or less. I go to the gym 3 times a week and I watch what I eat. If you don't watch out for your health, about my age issues will start creeping up on you.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 9, 2004

What do you think of Japan's health-care system?

Magdalena Korb Consultant, 31 I have both Japanese health care and private health care. Here, it's like, take this medicine, but they never explain what the medicine is or what it's for. In Europe they give you a list of what could happen to you.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 2, 2004

Who do you think will win the U.S. elections, and will it make a difference?

Ibraham Quraishi Conceptual artist, 33 If Bush wins, the basic policy in the Middle East will continue to be a non-policy and useless rhetoric. If Kerry wins, there just might be an impetus to find a multinational solution to the Iraq problem.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 26, 2004

Do you think global warming is behind the recent freakish weather?

Robert Ouderk Tourist, 36 There are about a million things that influence typhoons. In every year there is something extreme in the weather. If you talk to old people on any continent, they say what's been happening in the last 10 years they've never seen before. There are things changing fast.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 19, 2004

Is the word gaijin offensive to you?

Makiko Okawa Video Editor, 29 I always use "gaikokujin." The word gaijin can have a negative image; like foreign men trawling bars in Roppongi for women.

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 5, 2004

Does Japan deserve a seat on the U.N. Security Council?

Gordon Steel Student, 20 From an economic point of view, perhaps, but from a political, international relations point of view, no. Japan isn't much of a player unless they need resources. When it comes to international incidents they tend to play a minor role. Japan's star is falling and they don't get...

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