Concrete, concrete everywhere

[Socratesabroad]

Video-Link Japan, I'll start the flame war.

Kidding. But I read the book (reading Engima J Power now) recently before I take off from Japan for awhile to spend a while in China. Almost everything Kerr said hit home, and often I found myself laughing as I thought about my own similar experiences here (6+yrs in Tohoku and Tokyo).

I wonder what would happen if you put 1/2 the population of the U.S into 1/2 the state of Calf. ?!? Guessing it would Truly be Totally paved over..!! From where I sit right now (about 1 hour from Shinjuku) the view is 70% trees and fields.. NOT Complete Concrete like everyone (even the ones here who should know better) seems to think.

Kerr makes an excellent point - the population isn't in an area the size of California, it's all in the cities. Everybody comes to Tokyo. Or maybe Osaka. That's it. Now look at the US, as you mention, with twice the population. But the major cities are all spread out.

Alex Kerrs book (no I havn't read anymore than this) seems to rant on alot about the comparative construction costs to GDP between Japan and the U.S (but makes no mention of their military/nasa spending..?!?) and whines about the level of politician grift here.. again not a peep about the same golden handshakes awaiting the U.S administration cronies from the Carlye Group types. I'm currently reading Michael Moore's Dude Where's my Country.. that makes the Japanese political situation seem pretty mild.

Moore's probably got a point about cushy appointments, speaking fees, and the like being outrageous, but then again our system (as an American) supposedly prohibits that sort of thing. Japan's doesn't. In fact, it encourages an almost incestuous relationship between the government bureaucrats and the firms they oversee. So one of two of the hot-ticket items in Sunday's election was the Road Bureau, which is billions (or was it trillions) of yen in debt due to .... [drum roll] ...amakudari practices and bad investments (i.e., graft). And the other was ... [hearing that roll again] ... the Pension System, which has long served as an off-the-books source of government funds. Of course, the government didn't bother to put any money back and more and more young people are no longer 社員 (their pension contribution is deducted automatically) but 'freeters' and what-not - some 20-30% or more have just stopped paying their pension contributions.

Ok, I've gone far past comfortable posting length, but one of Kerr's most cogent points has to do with how us foreigners talk about Japan. As you mentioned, the US has problems with cronyism, but what has that got to do with problems in Japan? What Kerr has done is say, hey, I like this country but there are some things that need to be changed. Not because other countries are better or worse, but because these things are just bad in general (collapse of a social security system would qualify as bad in general, I believe).
And I personally agree with Kerr. I like Japan enough to have stayed here a while and learn the language. But I have noticed some qualities I don't like about Japan. Does that mean I hate the country or that my home country is better? Kerr's answer and mine: no.

Hope this isn't too overboard...

[AssKissinger]

Originally Posted by Taro

Yep. But color can add 10-20% to the cost and slightly reduce strength (it's classified a filler). All new construction on Interstate 70 going through the Colorado Rockies is colored sandstone red to blend in all bridges and structures with the environment. However, the heart of Japan is gray and that's the way it's gonna stay.

How the Hell did you know that? You are a true iki jibiki.

[Video-Link Japan]

Originally Posted by Socratesabroad

Video-Link Japan, I'll start the flame war.
Kidding. But I read the book (reading Engima J Power now) recently before I take off from Japan for awhile to spend a while in China. Almost everything Kerr said hit home, and often I found myself laughing as I thought about my own similar experiences here (6+yrs in Tohoku and Tokyo).

Thanks for taking it easy on me.. guess I should find Dogs and Demons to get the whole story.

I wonder what would happen if you put 1/2 the population of the U.S into 1/2 the state of Calf. ?!? Guessing it would Truly be Totally paved over..!! From where I sit right now (about 1 hour from Shinjuku) the view is 70% trees and fields.. NOT Complete Concrete like everyone (even the ones here who should know better) seems to think.

Originally Posted by Socratesabroad

Kerr makes an excellent point - the population isn't in an area the size of California, it's all in the cities. Everybody comes to Tokyo. Or maybe Osaka. That's it. Now look at the US, as you mention, with twice the population. But the major cities are all spread out.

Hmmm.. whaaat..?!? The point still stands that Japan has 1/2 the population in about 1/2 the land mass of Calf. Even so, the 'entire country' being paved in concrete is not really painting an accurate picture.

Alex Kerrs book (no I havn't read anymore than this) seems to rant on alot about the comparative construction costs to GDP between Japan and the U.S (but makes no mention of their military/nasa spending..?!?) and whines about the level of politician grift here.. again not a peep about the same golden handshakes awaiting the U.S administration cronies from the Carlye Group types. I'm currently reading Michael Moore's Dude Where's my Country.. that makes the Japanese political situation seem pretty mild.

Originally Posted by Socratesabroad

Moore's probably got a point about cushy appointments, speaking fees, and the like being outrageous, but then again our system (as an American) supposedly prohibits that sort of thing. Japan's doesn't. In fact, it encourages an almost incestuous relationship between the government bureaucrats and the firms they oversee. So one of two of the hot-ticket items in Sunday's election was the Road Bureau, which is billions (or was it trillions) of yen in debt due to .... [drum roll] ...amakudari practices and bad investments (i.e., graft). And the other was ... [hearing that roll again] ... the Pension System, which has long served as an off-the-books source of government funds. Of course, the government didn't bother to put any money back and more and more young people are no longer 社員 (their pension contribution is deducted automatically) but 'freeters' and what-not - some 20-30% or more have just stopped paying their pension contributions.

You should read Michaels book.. the depth of collusion between the Bush family and the house of Saud would make the locals blush.. as for roads and social security debt.. uhuh.. and the U.S is sitting on what $5 Trillion debt for some of the same reasons..!!!

Originally Posted by Socratesabroad

Ok, I've gone far past comfortable posting length, but one of Kerr's most cogent points has to do with how us foreigners talk about Japan. As you mentioned, the US has problems with cronyism, but what has that got to do with problems in Japan? What Kerr has done is say, hey, I like this country but there are some things that need to be changed. Not because other countries are better or worse, but because these things are just bad in general (collapse of a social security system would qualify as bad in general, I believe).
And I personally agree with Kerr. I like Japan enough to have stayed here a while and learn the language. But I have noticed some qualities I don't like about Japan. Does that mean I hate the country or that my home country is better? Kerr's answer and mine: no. Hope this isn't too overboard...

Socratesabroad.. thanks, your points well taken. Making a comparison to what is right or best is more logical than saying "well, it's not as bad as".. another major country. It was in the nature of Kerr's GDP comparisons that got me going down that road. I'm sure most regular hard working folks that are not in a position of real power feel the same way, it seems we're awefully close to taxation w/o representation in the original sense of the word. But, like you, I'm happy to be here awhile and observe whats going on, for the most part I totally dig this place.. except maybe the Yamanote at 8 a.m +_+

[Robato]

Originally Posted by Video-Link Japan

Hmmm.. whaaat..?!? The point still stands that Japan has 1/2 the population in about 1/2 the land mass of Calf. Even so, the 'entire country' being paved in concrete is not really painting an accurate picture.

but over half the population lives in an area smaller than california.....
If you take New York City, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburg, Los Angles, Washington D.C. and Seattle and threw them in California you would probably have MORE THAN the entire population of Japan and still have a ton of country side.

did you know that only 8% of Americans live outside of those cities I mentioned? ( I left out like 5 other major cities....but you get the point right?)

Oh and Japan is only slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) smaller than california....not half its size.

[Caustic Saint]

Originally Posted by Robato

Oh and Japan is only slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) smaller than california....not half its size.

He's right.

Japan - 377,835 sq km
California - 411,469 sq km

[Nagged]

Whatever...Sorry to get away from the books & statistics for a while folks...

The thing that gets me about Expo 2005 is they are building it out in the sticks, destroying good forest in the process, and then they go on about how they working with Nature.

They also have to build a whole new set of public transportation facilities just so people can get out there (falling behind too it seems). I've seen plenty of good places about town, close to trains and buses, there is no good reason for them to build where they are doing so.

My hometown had Expo in the 80's, it was right in the heart of the city convenient to locals and overseas visitors alike.

[blackcat]

I really think its one of the three hobbies here in japan.

Concreting......smoking......Idyling.......

the best thing for those hell bent on destroying the country they claim to love so much is all of these can be done(and often are) at the same time!

The constuction industry is a runaway train....no can or will stop it.

[Taro Toporific]

Originally Posted by blackcat

...The constuction industry is a runaway train....no can or will stop it.

Ministry roads bill puts stress on ... more roads
Asahi / Nov 25
.... Rather than push debt repayment, a proposed bill is likely to pave more of Japan. As if Japan doesn't have enough highways. The ``heavyweight favorite'' among competing versions of a bill to privatize highway public corporations is likely to favor more roads instead of reducing a mountain of debt accumulated over decades of road construction...