Random Japan

WHAT WAS ON THE TUBE (March 17-21)

The following are the lengths of time six “wide shows” on four channels in the Tokyo area devoted to certain topics. The programs cover everything from politics to celebrity gossip.

The listing is provided by Reservia Corp.



1. Rioters and authorities clash in China’s Sichuan province, as protests in support of demonstrations led by monks in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa spread to the neighboring area. Chinese authorities mobilize armed police to clamp down on the protesters. But it is difficult to grasp the entire picture of what is happening because of China’s control over the media. 6 hr, 26 min, 1 sec

2. After the opposition-controlled Upper House rejects a nominee for Bank of Japan governor because of his past in the Finance Ministry, the government offers up a new candidate–another ex-Finance Ministry bureaucrat. Not surprisingly, the BOJ’s top post becomes vacant for the first time in postwar history, and also at a time when global markets are in turmoil. 5hr, 49 min, 56 sec

3. The ruling coalition and the opposition camp continue their standstill over road-specific tax revenues. Minshuto insists that the current higher rates, which are to expire March 31, should be abolished. The step would allow the price of gasoline to be lower by 25 yen a liter. But the ruling coalition wants to extend the “temporary” rates for yet another 10 years. 3 hr, 26 min, 9 sec

The Egg Master Visits Tokyo

He even brings eggs

Doing Laundry The Wrong Way

While the clothes are still being worn.

Chinese lathered up over Liu Longnian’s lewd lessons in lusty lingo

“Wo xiang yongbao ni” (I want to hug you). “Hao shufu a” (It feels great).

The above are certainly useful phrases in any language. But as Shukan Shincho (4/3) reports, the 239-page Chinese-language phrase book by Liu Longnian, titled “Otoko to Onna no Kaiwa-shu” (Selected Conversations between Men and Women, publ. Natsume-sha, 1,365 yen) has already unleashed a deluge of disapproval by fellow Chinese, who see it as nothing more than a seduction manual.

At first glance, it may very well seem just that. Some other examples, which are written in simplified Chinese “kanji” (ideographs) and “hanyu pinyin” (romanization) — plus a Japanese “katakana” pronunciation guide — include “Luozhe wo” (Hold me close), “Wen wo” (Kiss me); “Ganjue hao ma?” (Does it feel good?); “Wo bu xing le, kuai chu lai le” (I can’t hold back any longer, I’m coming); and “Zai dengdeng, bie na me kuai” (Hold on, not so soon).