TOKYO -Reading Japanese isn't easy -even for the Japanese. Take Prime Minister Taro Aso. He's made so many public blunders that an opposition lawmaker tried to give him a reading test during a televised session of parliament. The Japanese leader bungled the word for "frequent," calling Japan-China exchanges "cumbersome" instead. Another time, he misread the word ... more »
On November 7th, from the makers of the ASIMO humanoid robot, a new walking-assist machine was unveiled. This prototype by Honda uses the same ASIMO technology to lessen the load on the user's legs. Intended to help improve mobility of the elderly and physical therapy patients, the walking assist device aims to help users climb stairs and (for ... more »
How many people does it take to throw a 60-year-old man in the air? Apparently, not as many as it takes to catch him. It just goes to show that retiring from work isn't enough to escape the malice of coworkers. According to reports, police have begun questioning colleagues of 60-year-old Seiji Sakumoto, who was ... more »
We all know that dating can be tough. All the protocol and the little games can make a guy wonder if it's even worth it. Well, in Japan, an increasing number are deciding that it's not worth it. However, giving up women is apparently worth about $170,000 USD to one man. That's approximately how much he ... more »
Earlier this month, a Japanese man launched a campaign to allow him to marry a manga character, Mikuru Asahina from the manga Haruhi Suzumiya. Taichi Takashita posted on his website: We are no longer interested in the three-dimensional world As of now, his petition site has 172,026 signatures. This just goes to show how the Japanese have this ... more »