Melanie Burton - The Japan Times

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Melanie Burton

For Melanie Burton's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 22, 2005

Do you think it's necessary to fingerprint foreigners?

Mike Trees Director, 43 I disagree. I did my masters on discrimination against foreigners and fingerprinting Koreans was a big issue. I agree with the ID cards, but fingerprinting is for criminals, unless they're going to fingerprint everyone, Japanese included.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 15, 2005

What's your approach to starting a cross-cultural romance?

Krystle Hara Exchange student, 20 I don't have a line. But I've got, "Do you like anime?" a few times. Something that tends to work for me is when a guy says "I speak English," because it makes choosing which language you are going to speak in less awkward.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 8, 2005

Does Japan have a drug problem?

Tori Bentley I.T., 24 No. I'm from the U.K. and most people I know have tried drugs. Whenever I ask people my age here, the textbook response is drugs are very bad and they haven't tried them. There's no drug culture, especially compared with the U.K.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Nov 1, 2005

How will you save money after the consumption-tax hike?

Isabell Handler Student, 29 I go shopping in sales, but don't go shopping very much and eat the lunch specials. I don't spend a lot of money, but I try to buy high quality goods, like leather shoes, not like the plastic ones that you can buy in Tokyo.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 25, 2005

How did you end up in Japan?

Paul Tronsgard Teacher, 26 My coming and living here was basically an accident. I was living in Hong Kong and thinking about moving on. I was debating where to go to next and my friends said, "Come to Tokyo" so I did and I've been here almost a year now.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 18, 2005

How would you spend 20,000 on a shopping spree?

Dave Jamieson Teacher, 27 If I got my hands on 20,000 yen I think I'd buy some glasses. I want to get new frames because I managed to break my last pair when I fell off my bike. I want to get some plastic, square-framed ones -- Weezer-style.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Oct 4, 2005

What are you doing to protect the environment?

Katharina Mueller Au pair, 19 I unplug things, hand wash dishes and I hang washing outside. People should rely less on all of the conveniences like dishwashers, turn the lights off and try opening the windows instead of the air conditioner.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Sep 27, 2005

What do you watch on Japanese TV?

Daunt Lee Teacher, 28 I know the three guys screaming the weather in the morning. It's too intense so I don't watch it. The only things I've seen that are kind of funny are the eating competitions with huge piles of food. You don't need much language for that.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Sep 20, 2005

What's on your portable music player?

Peter Durfee Translator, 35 I'm listening to Massive Attack's newest album. I also have the Beethoven Symphonies that the BBC made available a few months ago. And Antony and the Johnsons, because I went to kindergarten with the bassist.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Sep 13, 2005

How would you match up these crimes and punishments?

CRIMES & PUNISHMENT: Refusing to show gaijin card: 2 months detention, 16 months suspended Murder: 3 years Using (not possessing) stimulants: 18 months Selling dodgy investments to old people: 2 years suspended Selling dodgy cures to old people: 12 years Passing fake coins: 7 years Stealing Peko-chan: 7 years Fraud: 16 months

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Sep 6, 2005

What would you do if you were Prime Minister of Japan?

Edwin Webb English teacher, 24 There's too much money being spent in the outer prefectures on concrete. I would focus on promoting tourism. I've seen too many natural features defaced with concrete.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Aug 23, 2005

What will you do if or when the 'big one' hits?

Paul Jones Golfer, 33 Run! With the work I do, I'm not usually near any buildings. I just tend to look up, always worried about what's going to come down on me. I'd still be trying to run somewhere.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Aug 16, 2005

What do you think of the issue of privatizing the post-office system?

Shinichi Onogi Salaryman, 37 I don't really care, because it will happen regardless of what I think. That's how politics work. Even though I vote, I'm still powerless. I don't support Koizumi because he does nothing.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Aug 2, 2005

Do you support the recent addendum to the Kyoto Protocol?

Fabien Gravot Scientist, 28 If there are no time constraints, countries are not going to respect it very much. Even with the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries have difficulty following it. I'm not sure that the greenhouse effect is as big as it's made out. I don't think humanity is done for, but it wouldn't hurt to reduce greenhouse gases.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jul 26, 2005

What diet do you think works best?

Joanne Nolan Translator, 28 Weight Watchers. It worked because I put in the effort. You learn to prioritize. You can have your cheesecake, but you have to eat carrot sticks for the rest of the day.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jul 12, 2005

Are you worried that Tokyo could be a target of terrorism?

Mike Hora Teacher, 34 No, not at all. It's the same as an earthquake. If something's going to happen, it's going to happen. I'm much more afraid of Mount Fuji erupting or the earth splitting beneath me.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jul 5, 2005

What do you think of file-sharing on the Internet?

Shannon Clark Teacher, 32 People don't think it's stealing because they don't go into a store and pocket something, so there's no guilty feeling, but most of the people who do it wouldn't steal from a store.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jun 28, 2005

Would you want Japan to switch to daylight-saving time?

Narelle Dunn English Teacher, 27 Well, we have daylight saving in Australia and I think it's a fantastic idea. You come home from work and there's still enough daylight to do something like go to the beach or have a barbecue.

COMMUNITY

Jun 21, 2005

Should we hunt whales?

The pro-whaling position anguishes those nations that resent Japan's apparent cruelty.

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Jun 21, 2005

Are you for or against whaling?

Yuka Saito Finance, 23 Anti, because I don't think we need whale to eat. I've never eaten whale, but I've heard that it doesn't taste too good. There are lots of other things that we can eat besides whale, I think.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

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