Dead Gaijins

[Mulboyne]

Sad news

Long term Tokyo resident Passes awayEdward A. Stauffer, 47, of Mita, Tokyo, passed away at 5:04 P.M., October the 19th at Jikkei University Hospital after a lingering illness.

Japan Times photo
Kiki's Pub Bar Review: Nothin' but the big city blues
...When I called the second time, the owner, Ed Stauffer, answered the phone. He didn't have to tell me he was from the Bronx, but I did have to tell myself it was NOT Robert De Niro on the other end of the line. Ed even looks a little like the actor, as he likes to point out. Ed has the reserved, self-assured manner of a native New Yorker, which involves being laid-back and on edge at the same time. After growing up in the city, he joined the marines. "It was either that or jail," says Ed...more...

[Taro Toporific]

Sad news

I'm tossing down a bourbon now ...Here's to "The Ed Man" .

[Taro Toporific]

Seven Brazilians dead on the Meishin Expressway
AP - Sun Nov 13, 2:28 AM ET
Wrecked vehicles lie on the Meishin Expressway near Hikone, central Japan, on Sunday November 13, 2005. Seven men, reportedly from Brazil, were killed and three others injured in a seven-vehicle pileup on the expressway, connecting western Japanese city of Osaka and Nagoya...

________________
UPDATE
A seven-vehicle accident killed seven Brazilians on a Japanese highway Sunday as they stood on the roadside next to their damaged minivan and were hit by an oncoming truck.
Three Japanese were also injured in the accident, which occurred just before daybreak in the central prefecture (state) of Shiga and involved two passenger cars, two buses and three trucks, said police official Satoshi Takada.
The Brazilians were all employees at a Shiga metalworking plant and had been out for a drive, Takada said.
The chain reaction accident was triggered after a first truck hit the Brazilians' minivan, and the other vehicles piled in from behind. A third truck tried swerving to avoid the wreckage but hit the Brazilians as they waited on the shoulder of the highway.
The driver of the truck was arrested for professional negligence, Takada said.
About 50 people were aboard the two buses that were involved in the accident, but they were not hurt.

[aquamarine]

Larry Campbell of Hawaii died in hospital in Yokohama on November the 17th at 9:30pm. He had lived in Channel House in Tama Plaza, Yokohama, but was diagnosed with colon cancer & just couldn't fight it off.

He was 32 when he passed away. Larry leaves behind a wife, Shoko.

[Mulboyne]

Czech Happenings: Czech man who died descending Mount Fuji identified in Japan
The young Czech man who died while descending Japan's Fuji volcano on Monday has been positively identified [as Tomas Krivan], the head of the Czech embassy's consular section in Tokyo, Jan Juchelka, said. The dead Czech tourist's companion is in good condition and in safety and said he wishes to fly back to the Czech Republic after returning to Tokyo. The young Czech had been missing since Monday. He was discovered on Tuesday at 16:30 local time...at an altitude of approximately 2,500 metres above sea level...According to earlier accounts, the young Czech tourist allegedly stumbled and fell off a cliff when descending from the volcano's snow-covered peak that is 3,776 metres high. The young man's companion alerted the police after reaching a mountain lodge about an hour later. Both tourists allegedly began their ascent of Mount Fuji from beside Lake Kawaguchi in the Yamanashi prefecture, approximately 110 kilometres west of Tokyo, on Monday morning local time. They reached the peak around 12:00 noon on the same day.

[Papa-Lazarou]

I know of an FG who died in Shibuya last June, he sold pills in Home so maybe not a big suprise, eh?.

Pissed of someone and got clipped in Dogenzaka very early 1 morning. he was American, about 22 seemed like a nice guy called himself Jean or Gene.

I wonder if anyone even knew he was in Japan? I thought about trying to get his real name, but the thought of you know getting killed, put me off.

Sad really, never saw it in any papers, just heard about it in Asia.

[aquamarine]

I never heard about any American's getting killed in Dogenzawa, however I watched as a drunk Japanese guy was murdered there on my 5th day in Japan. What a 'welcome' to Japan sorta feeling there. To make matters worse, the guy was killed by a white guy (drunk japanese guy was trying to start a fight with a guy, the guy dropped him and then stomped on his head - not very nice)

[Papa-Lazarou]

I never heard about any American's getting killed in Dogenzawa, however I watched as a drunk Japanese guy was murdered there on my 5th day in Japan. What a 'welcome' to Japan sorta feeling there. To make matters worse, the guy was killed by a white guy (drunk japanese guy was trying to start a fight with a guy, the guy dropped him and then stomped on his head - not very nice)

Blimey, did you see much press coverage?

[aquamarine]

I saw absolutly --NOTHING--

When we saw it happen from inside of a mexican restaraunt, the three of us that were eating ran out to see what happened. The Japanese guy was on his back with one eye open, and retina torn off, not a pretty sight. He went into convulsions and then just laid there. I was the only of the 3 trained in first aid back in Canada so I checked for a pulse but --nothing-- at all. Like I said, it was one hell of a great welcoming to Japan.

[Buraku]

I know of an FG who died in Shibuya last June, he sold pills in Home so maybe not a big suprise, eh?.

Pissed of someone and got clipped in Dogenzaka very early 1 morning. he was American, about 22 seemed like a nice guy called himself Jean or Gene.

I wonder if anyone even knew he was in Japan? I thought about trying to get his real name, but the thought of you know getting killed, put me off.

Sad really, never saw it in any papers, just heard about it in Asia.

another nameless gaijin kicks the bucket

[gomichild]

Seth Fisher - artist -died.

[Taro Toporific]

Seth Fisher - artist -died.

"Seth fell seven stories off the roof of a club in Osaka."

Ohhh, my heart goes out his family---damn.
Here's a scary frame Seith recently drew.

[AssKissinger]

http://www.crisscross.com/jp/news/365545

Canadian detainee dies in Osaka prison
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 06:57 EST

OSAKA — A Canadian detainee in his 40s died in Osaka Prison on Monday, prison officials said Tuesday. The detainee, who was in a cell by himself, apparently began groaning around 2:30 p.m. Monday, prompting a doctor to take life-saving measures, but he was confirmed dead shortly after 3 p.m., the officials said.

As he had no external injuries, he is believed to have died of natural causes, but no further details, including his name, were immediately available.

[L S]

The thought of a Japanese hospital doing life-saving measures on me is worriesome, but the thought of a Japanaese Prison hospital trying to save my life is downright frightening. Wonder what the poor bastard was in for? Tried to dig up something but couldn't find anything.

Captain, that sounds like a good story...f*cked tales of f*cked foreigners in f*cked Japanese prisons.

[blackcat]

"life saving measures" my fucking arse, probably died of a medical experiment aka U731, natural causes at 40!

I THINK WE SHOULD START A THREAD AND DO SOME RESEARCH ON

1.HOW MANY JAPANESE ARE VICTIMS OF CRIMES COMMIT BY FOREIGNERS
(SERIOUS IE MURDER/RAPE/ASSAULT ETC.)

2.HOW MANY FOREIGNERS ARE VICTIMS OF CRIMES COMMIT BY JAPANESE
(SAME CONDITIONS)

NO VISA OVERSTAYING/NOT CARRYING FG CARD/GOMI BIKE BULLSHIT!!

I am sure with the human rights abuses in detention, human trafficking etc. # 2 would shit all over #1

[Greji]

I received the following for a VFW posting of the death from a long term illness of Rick Roa, well known and controversial FG and fellow V member.

"....A long time, good friend, to the Tokyo community,Mr.Richard (Rick)
Roa,passed awayWednesday morning in the comfort of his hospital
bed at 7:41 a.m. in Ochanomizu, Tokyo, Japan. A true American
patriot,Mr. Roa is survived by his wife Machiko and his son. Mr. Roa
became an icon in his 37 plus years living in the Tokyo area, amongst
the entertainment, sports, and business worlds. Post WW II, he
created and was the leader in bridging the early US/Japan culture
relations with a one-year-long traveling train, presenting American
culture through major brand sponsors called: "The American Train in
Japan."

The former US Navy man served in the Korean War and was an
active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tokyo Post 9450.A
sports entertainment legend, hewas one of the original founders of the
Rugby Union in Japan,was one of the leaders bringing in the
Professional Bowling Association, among others. In the entertainment
industry, he represented such known celebrities as the Kano Sisters,
among others, and was one of the original founders of The American
Music Awards in Japan, and The Play Boy Club in Japan.

Mr. Roa's 2005/2006 published book, "The American Maverick in
Japan,"made him a must listen to speaker in the seminar/entertainment/business worlds,some of his focused messages were, "it is never to late to reach the top,"...."it simply takes courage,
hope and believing in herself....take the leap/step forward"In
addition,Mr. RickRoa was a consultant for publishing and major
commerce companies; he loved to give sales presentation training, and
was wellknown as one of the more successful sales closures in Tokyo.
The day before his long challenging illness of cancer took to the worst
at the hospital, he related, "You should hear the deal I am working on
now."

Mr. Richard (Rick) will be sadly missed by hisTokyo friends, but always
remembered as a fighter of life, a successful family man and a true
professional and teacher -- as a friend to all.

Funeral/memorial arrangementswere being arranged for this coming
weekend, but could not be included before publishing time/date...."

[Mulboyne]

The staff in a restaurant near Yoyogi Park seemed convinced that a foreigner was murdered in the area on Wednesday. I hadn't seen any news but the web confirms there was an incident:

Sanspo article (Japanese)

The man was found in park public toilets with his throat cut and died later in hospital. The article says he appeared to be middle-eastern and a foreign-looking man was seen leaving the area by the man who found the body. Other articles speculate that he is Iranian.

[Greji]

Other articles speculate that he is Iranian.

Might not be part of the Cosplay crowd.
Allah Akbar!

[Mulboyne]

The Yomiuri carries a brief story in English:

A man was found on the floor of a public lavatory with his throat cut in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, at about 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department has launched an investigation at the Yoyogi Police Station on suspicion of murder. According to the police, the victim was about 30 years old, 160-170 centimeters tall and appeared to be Middle Eastern.

[blackcat]

well done Jmedia in other words you dont give a fuck! if he were seen "leaving the seen" appearing to be middle eastern a different coverage no doubt.
I wonder how much "ëffort" the keystone cops will put into this?

[Mulboyne]

well done Jmedia in other words you dont give a fuck! if he were seen "leaving the seen" appearing to be middle eastern a different coverage no doubt.

You're off target. The guy leaving the scene was thought to be Middle-Eastern so the coverage is what you see now. Now if the victim was Japanese...

[dimwit]

Veteran CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg died Saturday in a snorkelling accident while on vacation in Phuket, Thailand. He was 48.

During his 27-year career at CBC, Saxberg was a widely recognized news anchor in television and radio, who was famous for his deeply sonorous voice and his easy-going delivery...Two years ago, Saxberg took a leave from his duties as anchor for national television news and CBC Newsworld to work as announcer and trainer with NHK Japan in Tokyo, where he became widely known for his Canadian accent and deep voice.

I always thought the guy who did the English on NHK sounded familar...


Story here

[Greji]

died Saturday in a snorkelling accident ...

.

Hmmm, Thailand. Did they mention if he was in the ocean at the time?

[Mulboyne]

[Captain Japan]

At the penis festival this year, Lorne came up to me and asked if I knew the background of the event. He later told me he had been at NHK for around two years. He seemed like a nice guy.

[Greji]

[Mulboyne]

The staff in a restaurant near Yoyogi Park seemed convinced that a foreigner was murdered in the area on Wednesday.

The speculation was that he was Iranian but it turns out he was an American.

Yomiuri: Drug connection eyed in slaying of American

The death of an immigrant whose body was found in a Yoyogi Park toilet last month was likely linked to drug trafficking, police said Monday. The Metropolitan Police Department found cannabis resin and stimulant drugs in the man's condominium in Minato Ward, Tokyo, leading them to form the hypothesis. The 34-year-old victim, whose name is being withheld by The Yomiuri Shimbun, is an American with permanent residency status who has lived in Japan for about 10 years. An autopsy revealed the man had used cocaine, the MPD said. At about 1:10 p.m. on April 12, a 74-year-old man found the American's body lying on the floor of a public lavatory in the park, located in Shibuya Ward. The senior told the police that, on his way into the toilet, he had passed a man who appeared to be non-Japanese. The MPD says it suspects this person stabbed the American to death. The American's cell phone and wallet were not on his person. The victim was stabbed twice with a sharp blade, including once in his throat, the MPD said. He had been seen often in restaurants and bars in Roppongi, a district popular among foreigners in Tokyo. The police have questioned shopkeepers there in the belief the man might have been involved in drug trafficking.

[Mulboyne]

Just came across this fascinating old obituary of Donald L Philippi (aka Slava Ranko) written by Frederick L. Schodt.

Don began learning Japanese on his own as a child in the late thirties in Los Angeles, and continued to do so during the war when it was regarded as an "enemy" language. After studying at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, he went to Japan in 1957 on a Fulbright scholarship, and wound up staying there until 1970. In Japan he studied at Kokugakuin University, a Shinto university in Tokyo, and on his own. He became an expert, not only in classical Japanese, but in the Ainu language (the nearly extinct language of the indigenous people of Japan). He also studied the Altaic languages of Siberia, such as Turkic. Don was no ordinary linguist. He had an abiding interest in what he called the "archaic"-- the pre-civilized, pre-agricultural state of being-- and used his language skills to explore it. He became an expert in Ainu and other archaic cultures...Around 1967, Don was caught up in the social convulsions of the era. He became involved with the radical student movement in Japan, and was loosely affiliated with the Revolutionary Marxist group (Kakumaru), headed by Kan'ichi Kuroda. As an observer of the movement, he attempted to write its history. As a participant, he was arrested several times and spent several weeks in jail, where, he said, "I met many interesting people and was extremely popular among the inmates."
...Don is best known as a literary translator. During his life he published over four books of translations of ancient Japanese and Ainu texts. His translations of the Norito (ancient Japanese ritual prayers), the Kojiki [Record of Ancient Matters], and a collection of Ainu poems titled Songs of Gods, Songs of Humans: The Epic Tradition of the Ainu, are widely regarded as classics. Don also had a career as a technical translator, and after 1961 largely supported himself doing technical translations. In 1983, he single-handedly began a crusade to increase the awareness of the importance of translating Japanese technical documents...In his more flamboyant moments, Don liked to claim that translating technical documents gave him a "translator's high"-- that if he had a fast computer, and some post-modern archaic music by heavy metal groups such as Motorhead to listen to, he could achieve a trance-like state...more...

The three-part interview is well worth a read:

Q: One thing that has always impressed me about you is your pride in your occupation, and your drive to improve the position of translators. Many translators tend to suffer from a lack of self-esteem. Did you have any feelings of this sort in the beginning?

A: My start as a translator came in Japan, and my role was a Japanese- speaking foreigner, with all the ambiguities and uncertainties that role involves. There are certain parallels with kept women and captive animals in zoos. The Japanese, I think, tend to respect resident foreigners less than "foreigners" who are living in their own country (if the foreigners are living in Japan, they reason, they must be second- rate.) But to answer your question, although other translators obviously are lacking in self-esteem, for a variety of reasons, I can't think of any reason why I should.

[Greji]

The three-part interview is well worth a read:

The Japanese, I think, tend to respect resident foreigners less than "foreigners" who are living in their own country (if the foreigners are living in Japan, they reason, they must be second- rate.)

You got that Taro. We're second-rate. Actually, I think that is a bit of a promotion for me!

[oyajikun]

Too bad he never had a chance to try his hand at Dee Jayin'. I bet he would have had the world around his finger.