世論 What Japan Thinks

According to the survey results James presented, End-of-Year and Mid-Year gifts are the hardest to comprehend, followed by restraint and modesty, then sitting seiza, a sort-of kneeling position.

Head over to Japan Probe for the full results!

Desparate to cover up a bullying incident in one of their schools, a Mr Masayuki Akiyama of the Hokkaido Board of Education plucks a few spurious reasons out of nowhere as to why James at Japan Probe should remove not just the allegedly human rights-infringing images, but the whole post as, I suspect, he merely feels it reflects badly on his Education Department. James made a very good and reasoned reply, but now as it seems that Mr Akiyama has the “get English-speaking lackey to email blogger” task ticked off on his to-do list, he has not had the courtesy to follow up on James’ request for clarification.

UPDATE: Trans-Pacific Radio is also covering the same Hokkaido School Board bullying story. Please also digg the stories – see the links in the comments below.

Also, I’ve just seen this good piece on the BBC about the bullying problem.