I love the Japanese art of goodbye. My favorite is the airport after the plane pushes back, and the staff line up and wave [even to the economies 🤣] rain or shine for every flight. Watch ↓. 🇯🇵 👋
We are all saddened to hear that 'Dr Yellow", the inspection Shinkansen, will be retired by 2027. The inspection equipment is now being integrated into regular bullet trains; a special train is no longer required. If you see 'Dr Yellow', it means good luck. 🇯🇵 🚅 🟡 🍀
Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka is marking its 30th anniversary. In 30 years, the airport has never had a single case of lost luggage caused by the airport. Hundreds of millions of bags… all carefully delivered. Read ↓. 🇯🇵 🧳
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's valedictory speech yesterday was moving and, in my view, one for the history books. She covered a lot in 30 minutes. I had an overwhelming sense of returning to the start where her true authentic self resides, which has been
American online rascal Johnny Somali, who has been sleeping in a Japanese jail for the past few months for being a habitual shit, has been sentenced to a fine of ¥200,000 today and will be swiftly kicked out of the country forever. 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 👮♂️
Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued, for I believe only the second time ever, the highest alert level as Typhoon No. 10 approaches Kyushu. NHK reports a large-scale disaster is expected, and extreme vigilance is required from now. Read ↓. 🇯🇵 🌀 🚨
Yikes, many New Zealanders are packing a sad about Domino’s new bilingual menus. I can reassure you that Domino’s Japan has had bilingual menus, website and staff since ages ago, and everything has turned out just fine. 🇳🇿 🍕
An elderly woman has been rescued tonight, 124 hours after the earthquake occurred in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday. She was found trapped in a collapsed house in Suzu City. Her survival is a miracle. This footage is from The Chunichi Shimbun. Watch ↓. 🇯🇵 🚨
The fatal incident at Tokyo's JR Shinagawa Station about an hour ago is, I understand, being investigated as a potential homicide, with witnesses reporting someone was pushed in front of the train. 🇯🇵 🚨 🚆
Another knife incident this morning. This time on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line at Shibuya. Last night, there was a knife incident on the JR Yamanote Line at Akihabara. The cops are well-equipped to capture these villains in short order. 🇯🇵 🔪
The New Zealand forestry industry has a considerable labour force and heavy equipment... all of which are very familiar with handling logs. Social conscience tells me deploying these now to the public cyclone clean-up would be the least they could do. Tweet the companies! 🇳🇿 🌀
It's hard to beat a GarGari Kun on a hot Tokyo day (37ºC). I am forever endeared to this ice block brand after their 2016 TV advert when they had to raise their prices for the first time in 25 years, from ¥60 to ¥70 (basically 10 cents). Here's the ad ↓. 🇯🇵 🧊 🥵
A Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Right Honourable Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern has been awarded the highest honours in this year's Kings Birthday Honours list.
Every day, the Tokyo Metro system is impeccably clean.
@thisisinsider
shared an amazing video showcasing the meticulous efforts put into maintaining the cleanliness of the
@tokyometro_info
trains and stations. 🇯🇵 🚇 🧼 🧹
The 7 million households in Tokyo are receiving a disaster prevention info kit. Mine came this morning. Book 1 is 179 pages of disaster preparation; book 2 is 275 pages of what to do when disaster strikes. Emphasis on getting people on the same page in advance. 🇯🇵 🫨 🔥 🌊
@john_qjn
Fuel tanks. The heavy roof floats to keep downward pressure on the fuel inside. This means there is little vapor space on the surface of the fuel, reducing fire risk.
Love how my fellow Kiwis are trending ‘
#NZHellHole
’ in response to the outgoing* US President’s remarks comparing
#NewZealand
’s
#COVID19
numbers and handling with the US. NZ will call out bullshit when it sees it. Click the hashtag ↑ to see all the fun being had! (*🙏) 🇳🇿 🇺🇸
A wonderful tribute from the Minister of Wairarapa Affairs
@Kieran_McAnulty
marking the passing of Ms Georgina Beyer. Kieran always has the best words. 🇳🇿 🏳️⚧️ 💐
My sixth shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now in situ! This time the mix is XBB.1.5. I had no reaction to the previous shots, so I am counting on the same scenario today. We are very fortunate to have a ridiculously efficient vaccine system in Japan. 🇯🇵 💉 👍
YouTube celebrity SHIBA DOG RANMARU and his family are having a meal at what is left of their home today. Tonight is the sixth night sleeping in the car following Monday's earthquake. I have followed Ranmaru's channel for years ❤️🐶. #柴犬 Watch → 🇯🇵 🚨
Today's report from SHIBA DOG RANMARU has just been uploaded to YouTube. Ranmaru and his family returned home to survey the earthquake damage further. Their house has been completely destroyed. Videos are subtitled in English, too. Watch → 🇯🇵 🚨 🐕
I am disappointed with what happened in Auckland yesterday at the
#LetWomenSpeak
rally. The news and imagery haven't traveled well, especially in the UK. There is plenty of fodder for weeknight political talk shows in the US to sink their teeth into in the coming days. I am
Japan has announced it plans to amend the law to revoke the status of ‘Permanent Resident’ from foreigners who don't take care of their tax, insurance, and other civic obligations. Pay up or piss off is the message. It's fair. 🇯🇵
Confession: I don’t have any Japanese friends - lived here 17 years, permanent resident.
Am interested in gaijin issues, and cutting through nonsense and inauthentic narratives. These conversations start with sharing something about myself.
Do you have many Japanese friends? 🇯🇵
Foreigner Suicide in Japan | 外国人自殺 (🧵1/19)
There is significant interest in my tweets and work on the mental health and well-being of foreigners living in Japan, especially my insights into suicide.
Lots of questions on data—here's a thread about what I know so far. 🇯🇵
Can I have a mover and a seconder that Saizeriya should get a Michelin Star? All this food was ¥780 (NZ$8.30). I like Saizeriya’s ¥364 (NZ$3.90) sausage pizzas too. 🇯🇵 🥗
It is great that te reo Māori is strengthening back home in New Zealand. Living overseas, I am a bit lost and wondering how to catch up. Radio and TV news and place names are catching me out. I have wondered about an online course—has anyone done this? 🇳🇿
This is major and positive news. In Wellington, a trial was conducted with response cars carrying a police officer, a paramedic, and a mental health nurse. The results were stellar, so a nationwide rollout is a significant development. 🇳🇿
Can you believe it?! Japanese snack giant Calbee is collaborating with global chicken magnate Kentucky Colonel H. D. Sanders to put a special line of chips on the market. 🇯🇵 🍗 🍟
The original transcript in English (the language of air traffic control), as well as a diagram of runway C at Haneda, have also been released. I am sorry my earlier link ↓ was only in Japanese. 🇯🇵 🚨 ✈️
Japanese authorities have released the transcript of the radio communication between the Haneda Air Traffic Control, JL516 and the Coastguard aircraft. The radio exchange was in English. The CG plane appears to have not stopped at the hold. 🇯🇵 🚨 ✈️
#Tokyo
is
#TyphoonReady
. These types of flood protection barriers across building doorways and train station entrances are deployed at the touch of a button. It's not often they're activated, but Typhoon
#Hagibis
looks like it is going to be a biggy. 🇯🇵
#tbt
a month ago. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how Three Waters lost its heat and dropped out of the news cycle after this straightforward minute of work by the Minister of Wairarapa Affairs? 🇳🇿
This is too often how it goes for foreigners living in Japan. I’m analytical and can detect changes in patterns. Detection doesn’t always mean a reaction. In this case, I contemplated when and who to check with for a few days, and finally got the courage last night… 🇯🇵 💐 😢
This video from Kyoto is doing the rounds and perfectly demonstrates why tourists are being banned from some areas. It’s funny that behavior that causes ire in Japan would also likely be problematic where most of these tourists come from. Watch ↓. 🇯🇵 👘
Japan Rail has announced that all Shinkansen 🚄 services will resume by 3 PM today, less than 24 hours after the major earthquake. Millions of people need to return home from New Year trips. 🇯🇵 🚨
These tourist karts still give me the heebie-jeebies after all these years. Travel-lagged foreigners in the traffic of the world's largest city: what could possibly go wrong? Locals don't drive them. 🇯🇵 🚙
Japan’s DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) were dispatched from across the nation yesterday to retrieve patients from hospitals in the earthquake-affected region. This quickly frees up hospital resources for earthquake injured, relieves damaged infrastructure, etc. 🇯🇵 🚨
#Tokyo
is
#TyphoonReady
for
#Hagibis
. Lucky to tour the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel last winter. 177 m long, 78 m wide, and 18 m high. When it rains heavily the 6.3 km tunnel network directs water into this space which saves the town from flooding. 🇯🇵
It’s only been three weeks since I went to primary care. Since then, I have had two surgeries at St Luke’s International Hospital. Today the stitches are out, and the lab has returned, showing no cancer! The ‘big’ hospital + speed was unnerving. Onwards! 🇯🇵
Please make Kim a dame. She's been a familiar sound on the wireless my entire life—I even catch her Saturday show here in Japan. Her ability to get down to brass tacks is unmatched. 🇳🇿 👑
I have lived in Japan for 17 years, and I have never tried sushi.
There, it’s out in the open now. Will my permanent residency get revoked?
I hear from people who live outside Japan, “Oh, you must love sushi.”
Noooooo!
🇯🇵 🍣 😂
Everyone knows Japan for cherry blossoms, which I have never been jazzed about. In my view, it's azaleas that we should be extracting money out of tourists for. 🇯🇵 🌸
I, too, was quite shocked by TVNZ's One News presentation of the latest political poll last night. This general stance of the reportage is what pisses the public off. It seems that more than a few people agree, according to
@nzherald
. Watch ↓, read → 🇳🇿
I was was surprised by this truck crashing in front of me standing at the traffic lights tonight. Having worked for 🚑 in NZ in a previous life, that kicks in in an instant. I don’t think driver and pax were quite prepared for gaijin rescue. Self-extrication, minor injury. 🇯🇵
This is ‘taiyaki.’ Pancake mix with custard inside made in front of you in the shape of a fish. This is what the tourists should be flocking to Japan for, instead of those cheese abominations in my original tweet👇. ¥280 (NZ$3.30). 🇯🇵
Visitors to Japan flock to buy these for ¥500. It's made from pancake mix with cheese inside. Since it is the holidays, I decided to indulge. 🤮. It tastes like tourism. What you should be looking for is the fish-shaped “taiyaki” filled with custard—they are god’s gift. 🇯🇵
Hastings has led the way in New Zealand with bilingual road signage. The Hastings District Council has used its weekly (Friday) Heretaunga Ararau road trip video on Facebook about Māori heritage to help folks with pronunciation. It's great! (cc:
@JackyNinjakitty
,
@upokongaro
) 🇳🇿
Child custody is a mess in Japan. Foreign spouses are severely impacted if their marriage breaks down. There are 82 Australian, 100 French, and 500 American kids "abducted" by a parent in Japan, plus thousands of Japanese kids. Watch on Youtube → 🇦🇺 🇯🇵
“Left behind” parents speak up about the harrowing experience of having a child taken from them as a result of Japan’s sole custody law.
Watch
#60Mins
on
@9Now
and Youtube (with Japanese subtitles)
#子どもの連れ去り #実子誘拐 #子の連れ去り
#childcustody
Good news! The Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has met with Apple CEO Tim Cook to confirm the addition of the 'My Number' ID card function to the iPhone starting next spring. This could mean no more physical cards, driver's licenses, residence cards, etc. 🇯🇵 📱
The real estate authority has decided [as it is their job] about what professional development would be helpful to advance their profession as a whole. Wouldn’t it be easier for this agent just to do the 1.5-hour course and then move on? Read ↓. 🇳🇿 🏠
Japan's Digital Minister and National Hero
@konotaromp
has been given a growling for using his smartphone in a parliamentary session. I expect Kono-san will respond with a "get with the times" witty response in due course. 🇯🇵
We are blessed with wonderful speedy healthcare in Japan. I only went to primary care last week, surgeon saw me two days later, and today the first lot of surgery was completed. Hospital has a Starbucks inside so I was right at home. On my way to my house. 🇯🇵 ❤️🩹
THE TOURIST TOILET SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN! 80% of tourists visiting Japan want washlet toilets with heated seats installed in their home countries. Touristic pooping in Japan is transforming the lives and aspirations of millions. Read ↓. 🇯🇵 💩 🚽 🧻
I am determined in my quest to understand why around 300 foreigners take their own lives every year in Japan. Death investigation is a bit patchy and often barely scratches the surface. Post-mortem examinations are crucial but perhaps not readily accessible in all areas. 🇯🇵
I am shocked by the reaction to Whittaker's putting Te Reo (Māori language) on their packaging ahead of Maori Language Week. A few of the folks with anaphylaxis also appear to be the type standing in local council elections this season. Eat ya choccy, or go hungry! 🇳🇿
Goodness. Dame Jacinda certainly is living rent-free in many folks' heads, per the comments on the original tweet. It’s time to move on, Kiwis. Much of the grievance is just made up [by you]. 🇳🇿
6/8: The real treat during yesterday's celebration of
#WaitangiDay
at the
#NewZealand
Embassy in
#Tokyo
was the performance by Japan-based
#Maori
performing arts group Nga Hau E Wha. Here is their final song... loved it! 🇳🇿
Does anyone else in Japan suffer from “phantom earthquakes,” where it feels as if the earth is shaking when in fact it is perfectly still? I get a heightened sense when we have a season of quakes like recently. The sensation and panic have happened twice today. 🇯🇵 🫨
It appears someone has leapt to their death from beside Godzilla in Tokyo's Shinjuku Kabukicho this afternoon. I recall folks who have made numerous attempts from this position, but this is the first one I know was completed. I wonder why this area isn't more secure. 🇯🇵 😢
I have decided to give my party vote to TOP.
@top_nz
has great policies and is a voice of reason. If you're in Ilam, support
@rafmanji
. Check out their video below and read up on their straightforward policies at . Let's make our voices heard!
#nzpol
🇳🇿 🗳️
Six months into 2023, and I am six people down in my sphere due to suicide.
All male, all described with the cliche "had a lot going for them."
Too many people scatter with ignorance and denial as soon as the topic of suicide is raised. We can all be better.
🇯🇵 🥀
I am keen to understand the legislative technicalities of the New Zealand Government’s proposed law change banning gang patches in public and the powers to break up gatherings. How will the law differentiate the Rotary Club and the Mongrel Mob? 🇳🇿
I have to go to my office in Ginza today and am a nervous wreck. It's a 30-floor building, and we are on 15F. I have experienced one small earthquake there before and nearly curled over from the panic. All this "designed to flex" bollocks makes it worse! 🇯🇵 🫨 🗼
Japan will start offering My Number Cards with foreign resident information included starting next year, doing away with Residence Cards. Health insurance cards are already merged into My Number, and Driver's License cards are merging soon. Read ↓. 🇯🇵 💳
A friend of mine on the Japan Airline’s Boeing 777 service from Tokyo Haneda (via NRT!) to Paris Charles de Gaulle this morning wrote this ↓. I think he sums up the national sentiment following Tuesday’s crash. 🇯🇵 🚨 ✈️
The mental health and well-being of foreigners living in Japan keeps me awake at night. Yesterday's "Let's Talk About Mental Health" event here in Tokyo was fantastic. Still, it is hard to describe the weight of the lived experiences of the thousands of men and women who come
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is conducting beach landings with hovercraft to facilitate the delivery of personnel and equipment to repair damaged infrastructure. In this video, they are supporting NTT to rebuild telecoms. Watch ↓. 🇯🇵 🚨
I like these parent + baby service pods popping up around Tokyo. A clean, discrete, quiet, climate-controlled space free to use for as long as you need. 🇯🇵 👶
YouTube famous SHIBA DOG RANMARU and his family have been displaced from their home by the earthquake in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. Follow their nightly videos to see how they're getting on. Watch → 🇯🇵 🚨 🐕
Intercepted on way out by worried American neighbor. Full of conspiracies but mostly that foreigners in building are having their internet monitored. Didn’t have heart to tell her that it is my Wi-fi name. Advised that if she behaves herself, she has nothing to worry about.
The Mayor of Shibuya has announced that Halloween celebrations in the area will be restricted. His plea is in light of the 2022 crowd-crush incident in Seoul which killed 159 people. The Mayor has urged people not to celebrate Halloween in Shibuya. 🇯🇵 🎃
In 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 “consultants” use street names like doctor, dentist, nurse, teacher, engineer, architect, scientist, lawyer, accountant… under National, many of these services will no longer be required.
#nzpol
🇳🇿 🤷♂️
Labour spends $1.7 billion dollars on consultants. National will rein in consultant spending to fully fund FamilyBoost. National will put families first with cheaper childcare while Labour prioritises costly consultants.
Rather bizarre and very looong
#earthquake
in Tokyo just now. The 'soft' shaking lasted for longer than a minute. The main event was a M5.7 in Ishikawa Prefecture. 🇯🇵 🫨
13 months have now passed. I have to accept the let's-all-agree-to-pretend-this-didn't-happen-and-move-on-as-usual stance. I wish to bring more attention to the [often] preventable deaths of foreigners in Japan. 279 of the 8,925 foreigners who died in 2022 were by suicide. 🇯🇵
It’s a month since an associate took the train from this mortal coil. The simplicity of their final act says nothing about the complexity they faced in life. The
#mentalhealth
and well-being of foreigners in
#Japan
have long concerned me. I feel powerless; no one cares. 🇯🇵