Kent Ibbott
@hierofonix.bsky.social
Musician, writer, philosopher, & maker of things. Citizen of Oz, 55-year resident of Japan (give or take a few minutes). 🇦🇺 🇯🇵
Excellent. More of this please.
December 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Excellent. More of this please.
After 55+ years in Japan with PR for 30, my instincts tell me not to jump on the naturalization bandwagon. Too much talk of making naturalization "different" from native citizenship, and dual citizenship is not allowed. Don't want to become a 2nd-class citizen. Risky, maybe, but will wait and see.
December 14, 2025 at 2:54 AM
After 55+ years in Japan with PR for 30, my instincts tell me not to jump on the naturalization bandwagon. Too much talk of making naturalization "different" from native citizenship, and dual citizenship is not allowed. Don't want to become a 2nd-class citizen. Risky, maybe, but will wait and see.
Entirely as expected. Trying to look strong without any real substance. The problem is that so many people are buying it. Bringing out the worst in people.
December 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Entirely as expected. Trying to look strong without any real substance. The problem is that so many people are buying it. Bringing out the worst in people.
They sure are. And you always have to be prepared for the next one. Seems like they have become more frequent since 3.11 too. The joys of living on a volcanic island. Anyway, keep your clothes and helmet on for the next week or so. 👷♂️
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 AM
They sure are. And you always have to be prepared for the next one. Seems like they have become more frequent since 3.11 too. The joys of living on a volcanic island. Anyway, keep your clothes and helmet on for the next week or so. 👷♂️
Was wondering about you. Good to know you’re OK. We had one 6+ down here a while back (post 3.11) and yeah, that is pretty intense. Stay safe.
December 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Was wondering about you. Good to know you’re OK. We had one 6+ down here a while back (post 3.11) and yeah, that is pretty intense. Stay safe.
I would like to remind Japan that the Japanese did this all over the world during the 80's~90's bubble.
December 3, 2025 at 6:23 AM
I would like to remind Japan that the Japanese did this all over the world during the 80's~90's bubble.
The reasons given in the article make it all seem a little xenophobic: "Foreigners are buying up all our land! They're taking our groundwater! They're increasing prices!"
"保有実態の透明化を図る背景には、国民の間で「外国人が日本の土地を買い占めている」「水源地を買収され地下水が採取されている」といった不安の声が出ていることがある。外国人の投機目的での購入が、マンション価格の高騰につながっているとの指摘もある。"
"保有実態の透明化を図る背景には、国民の間で「外国人が日本の土地を買い占めている」「水源地を買収され地下水が採取されている」といった不安の声が出ていることがある。外国人の投機目的での購入が、マンション価格の高騰につながっているとの指摘もある。"
December 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM
The reasons given in the article make it all seem a little xenophobic: "Foreigners are buying up all our land! They're taking our groundwater! They're increasing prices!"
"保有実態の透明化を図る背景には、国民の間で「外国人が日本の土地を買い占めている」「水源地を買収され地下水が採取されている」といった不安の声が出ていることがある。外国人の投機目的での購入が、マンション価格の高騰につながっているとの指摘もある。"
"保有実態の透明化を図る背景には、国民の間で「外国人が日本の土地を買い占めている」「水源地を買収され地下水が採取されている」といった不安の声が出ていることがある。外国人の投機目的での購入が、マンション価格の高騰につながっているとの指摘もある。"
One more thing: that’s 1:1 vs. 1:1.72, not 1:72.
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
One more thing: that’s 1:1 vs. 1:1.72, not 1:72.
Then there’s Black Friday, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and … damn, the whole economy would collapse in no time. And btw, when did Black Friday become a thing here? They snuck that one in while I wasn’t looking.
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Then there’s Black Friday, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and … damn, the whole economy would collapse in no time. And btw, when did Black Friday become a thing here? They snuck that one in while I wasn’t looking.
Addendum: I say that with some confidence because several of the news segments in which the crime rates were mentioned specified the 3.8~3.9 million pop. of foreign residents. 1:1 makes sense sociologically. 1:72 is unrealistic. Just read the papers/watch the news.
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Addendum: I say that with some confidence because several of the news segments in which the crime rates were mentioned specified the 3.8~3.9 million pop. of foreign residents. 1:1 makes sense sociologically. 1:72 is unrealistic. Just read the papers/watch the news.
Still confused. The numbers being quoted by news outlets a short while ago when Sanseito were campaigning for the upper house were specifically for *foreign residents*. The ratio, according to the MPD, was almost exactly 1:1. Nowhere near 1:72. Something doesn’t add up.
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Still confused. The numbers being quoted by news outlets a short while ago when Sanseito were campaigning for the upper house were specifically for *foreign residents*. The ratio, according to the MPD, was almost exactly 1:1. Nowhere near 1:72. Something doesn’t add up.
That contradicts the numbers we were getting up until just a month or two ago by a fairly large margin. What has changed?
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
That contradicts the numbers we were getting up until just a month or two ago by a fairly large margin. What has changed?
Kimi Onoda. I think that’s why she was chosen, but I also think that was a purely performative choice.
November 21, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Kimi Onoda. I think that’s why she was chosen, but I also think that was a purely performative choice.
I was just wondering if any foreigners would be participating in the upcoming meetings. I doubt it, but “coexistence” does imply a 2-way relationship rather than a 1-sided application of restrictions. If not, then the whole exercise is a contradiction right from the git-go.
November 21, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I was just wondering if any foreigners would be participating in the upcoming meetings. I doubt it, but “coexistence” does imply a 2-way relationship rather than a 1-sided application of restrictions. If not, then the whole exercise is a contradiction right from the git-go.
This is more about willful stupidity which, IMHO, is the greatest threat our civilization currently faces. Ignorance is forgivable, but the number of people who just couldn’t be bothered and/or don’t want to know is staggering. And more than a little terrifying.
November 21, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This is more about willful stupidity which, IMHO, is the greatest threat our civilization currently faces. Ignorance is forgivable, but the number of people who just couldn’t be bothered and/or don’t want to know is staggering. And more than a little terrifying.
Some people have way too much time on their hands. Or no life. Or something.
November 8, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Some people have way too much time on their hands. Or no life. Or something.
I think I saw that one, but I didn’t see the slight lateral side shift that would potentially frame it as part of the “foreigner problem” rather than a Japan problem. Looks like I need to recalibrate my receiving equipment.
November 6, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I think I saw that one, but I didn’t see the slight lateral side shift that would potentially frame it as part of the “foreigner problem” rather than a Japan problem. Looks like I need to recalibrate my receiving equipment.
JFC … I’m usually pretty good at spotting issues like this before they become news, but I didn’t see this one coming at all. The logical sidestep is way outside my radar’s range. 🤦
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
JFC … I’m usually pretty good at spotting issues like this before they become news, but I didn’t see this one coming at all. The logical sidestep is way outside my radar’s range. 🤦
Agreed. This was a truly exasperating exercise in circular fallacies. Is the JT really that hard up for publishable material? Or is the whole newspaper gradually tilting to the right? 🤷♂️
October 25, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Agreed. This was a truly exasperating exercise in circular fallacies. Is the JT really that hard up for publishable material? Or is the whole newspaper gradually tilting to the right? 🤷♂️
6 days in detention for no reason. Is that part of the Cool Japan experience?
At least they admitted their mistake.
At least they admitted their mistake.
October 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
6 days in detention for no reason. Is that part of the Cool Japan experience?
At least they admitted their mistake.
At least they admitted their mistake.
… investors or tourists. Just people who came, often as dependents, built a life here and stayed because that’s where family, work, and community happens to be. That’s my group. Not by choice, that’s just how it happened. I’m sure there are other groups too, but that’s the one I know best.
October 21, 2025 at 5:07 AM
… investors or tourists. Just people who came, often as dependents, built a life here and stayed because that’s where family, work, and community happens to be. That’s my group. Not by choice, that’s just how it happened. I’m sure there are other groups too, but that’s the one I know best.
Yeah, sorry, ran out of space. Not sure about the numbers, but there is a fairly large contingent of older foreigners who have been here since the 60s or 70s for reasons that don’t align with the 3 categories in the article. Also quite a few who were born here and stayed. Not laborers or …
October 21, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Yeah, sorry, ran out of space. Not sure about the numbers, but there is a fairly large contingent of older foreigners who have been here since the 60s or 70s for reasons that don’t align with the 3 categories in the article. Also quite a few who were born here and stayed. Not laborers or …
I think translating 外国人問題 as “foreigner problem” is closer to the general perception. Still, all the discussion might be a net positive as long as it is based on fact. The article is on the right track, but a bit convoluted while omitting at least one entire class of foreigners.
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I think translating 外国人問題 as “foreigner problem” is closer to the general perception. Still, all the discussion might be a net positive as long as it is based on fact. The article is on the right track, but a bit convoluted while omitting at least one entire class of foreigners.
I thought this guy was supposed to be smart. Very disappointing.
October 19, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I thought this guy was supposed to be smart. Very disappointing.
All the best for your treatment, and always remember to faint on the couch rather than the floor to prevent unnecessary bruising. Get well asap. 🤒
October 10, 2025 at 6:25 AM
All the best for your treatment, and always remember to faint on the couch rather than the floor to prevent unnecessary bruising. Get well asap. 🤒