This summer marks the end of an era for foreigners residing in Japan. Starting July 9, the 60-year-old “certificate of alien registration” — the i.d. informally known as “the gaijin card” will be obsolete.
Japan’s annual trade deficit in 2011, its first in 31 years, poses the risk of serious damage to the economy if the nation’s current account balance falls into the red.
Minoru Ohye, right, toasts with his younger brother Hiroshi Kamimura during their reunion in Kyoto, Japan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Japanese-American Ohye traveled all the way to Japan to celebrate his 86th birthday Monday with his only brother Hiroshi, 84, whom he had not seen in nearly 60 years.
Yuruchara
Yuruchara are anime-style cartoon mascots that represent the various prefectures of Japan. Each yuruchara character can be seen on posters, brochures, and websites that treat visitors to a fun and inviting symbol of the area.
The government says that as long as the radioactive leak can be dammed from the sides it can be stopped, but that’s wrong,”. “They’re going to have to build a huge trench underneath the plant to contain the radiation — a giant diaper. That is a huge-scale construction and will cost a fortune. The government knows that but won’t reveal it.
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| — | Independent journalist Shigeo Abe |
