Ibuki

I missed him. I arrived late on Monday morning for my late start at work, only to hear I had just missed getting a glimpse of my main man, incompetent and now, it appears, crooked Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei. From what I could gather, Ibuki toured some of the facilities at Waseda University with University President Shirai Katsuhiko and Waseda University International Co., Ltd. (an education company primarily owned by the University) President Adachi Shinichi (the latter two having no affiliation with Ibuki other than being the guys in charge of the facilities he toured.) Apparently, the trio talked loudly in the hallways and Ibuki’s visit caused a few to comment (not to him) that he showed some nerve in showing up for the appointment despite the recent scandal.

I like to kid myself and think that, had I met him, I would have had some great question for him. The reality is that, whether I thought of a great question or not, I would have just asked to have my picture taken with him because I’m not bold enough to grill him or to make my working life more difficult by doing so. Having a picture with him would have been a great post, though. On the other hand, he must know that anyone who recognizes him now knows how sleazy he is, so perhaps even asking to have my picture taken with him would have been its own kind of zinger. The world will never know.

Abe & the White Collar Exemption

Saying he didn’t think he had gained the people’s understanding on the issue, Prime Minister Abe announced today that� he might have to give up on his plan to push through the “white collar” overtime exemption, which would allow workers making over 9 million yen a year to work unpaid overtime and which would either encourage workers to work less overtime or, more likely, cause them to work just as much for less money.� If they had been getting paid for their overtime in the first place, that is.� More on this in the next TPR News.

Gaijin Beware

Although this is not hot off the presses, it might clarify a few points for some of our readers. The announcement below, came from the US Embassy in Tokyo via Amnesty International ans was sent to TPR by Ken Hilliard of Tokyo Spring. The Embassy received warning of the new policy from the National Police Agency.

The [American] Embassy has been advised that Japanese police and immigration officials are currently conducting random identification inspections in several different areas of Tokyo to ensure that all visitors to Japan possess the appropriate immigration documents.
Most inspections occur at or near Tokyo metro stations, and the police are both uniformed and in plain clothes. To all of our customers in Tokyo and beyond, be sure to carry your key documentation with you at all times in the event that you are the subject of an inspection.

What can you do if stopped? What are your rights? Click the link and find out.

There’s a lot that can be said about random document checks specifically and the NPA in general, but, for now, I’ll leave that to you, the commenters. Enjoy.