I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend, in Japan or wherever you may be. Take some time to catch up on the news from Sunday, July 8th, to Saturday, July 14th. Maybe there was something important that you missed, or something you may be really interested in, either way, take a look at some of the news from week 28 of 2012, and then you’ll be ready to go for next week. See you then!
Without a doubt, the most popular story this week was about the movement that calls themselves ‘Anonymous’ and how they picked up litter in Tokyo as a sign of protest. Protesting a new law by cleaning up the streets? Interesting indeed. And while this news was actually from a few weeks ago, it was the second most popular story this week; a few officials from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party want to have a serious discussion about what it would take to construct a real, working Gundam. Our commenters have responded with their wholehearted support! You should definitely take a look at the world’s most expensive one-bedroom condo, located in Tokyo. For over $22 million, it is certainly impressive.
For editorials this week, Cynthia poses what needs to be done to reform Japan’s college education system, and why it’s harmful to the country’s future to remain the way it is. I provide an explanation about the challenges Amazon is facing as they try to bring their Kindle e-reader to Japan in face of competition from Rakuten’s new Kobo Touch. Masao speaks about the reforms the Japanese government is working towards on the nation’s energy industry.
In a scary follow-up to last week’s news about the 13 year old student and the abuses he suffered before killing himself, someone has made bomb threats to the boy’s school, the city’s education department, and even the police, if those who were responsible for the abuse and the teachers who ignored it don’t step forward and admit their wrongdoings. Former Democratic Party of Japan political heavyweight, Ichiro Ozawa, officially announced the formation of a new political party with 49 of his followers. A terrible rainstorm in Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu caused unprecedented levels of flooding and mudslides. Almost 20 have been reported as killed with just as many still missing.