The news of actress Noriko Sakai's arrest was a big shock. Recently, I think the number of cases of celebrity drug use has been increasing. This issue is not a problem just for the celebrities involved, but for all Japanese people.

In Japan, we enjoy an affulent lifestyle with plentiful food, fashionable clothes and high-tech electronics. But along the way, we may have lost mental fulfillment. This is a good opportunity to think about our actual quality of life.

I enjoyed reading the article "Russians fight for right to buy used cars from Japan" in the July 11 issue. It made me think about the Russian government raising taxes on imported used cars in order to protect the country's domestic car industry. The article mentioned how the country is finally taking progressive steps toward democratization and I have to question the Russian government restricting that progress by pushing an authoritarian system on its citizens.

With companies from Japan, Korea and European countries building automobile manufacturing centers within Russian borders, and developing brands especially for a Russian audience, I think the issue with making the domestic car industry more competitive should not only come down to pushing government muscle, but to whether that government can rear a healthy nation.

It is really great and fantastic!

I didn't like reading through the Michael Jackson special issue (July 25) because I'm not a fan of his.

Indeed, he had amazing flair for dancing and singing, but his way of life was so eerie that I can't understand him. He was suspected of molesting children, though he was proven innocent.

It's sad that I didn't read a variety of articles as usual last week. I was looking forward to glancing at sports news such as the British Open that Ryo Ishikawa participated in and the world's top cycling race, the Tour de France, and Lance Armstrong's return. These heroes will make me far more comfortable and happier on sweltering days.

I felt quite happy to read about the Kyoto court order to a landlord to pay back the deposit and renewal fee to a dissatisfied tenant ("Shake-up in rental terms for foreigners," Aug. 22 issue). I hope this will become a valuable precedent in the future, not only in Osaka but all over the nation. On the whole, I have the impression that consumers are rarely given protection and often fall victims to the "big guys" (companies or individual real estate owners, etc.).

I understand how landlords worry about tenants that may someday escape without paying, but I guess this is part of the risk involved in the business. I am sure that these types of incidents do not only necessarily involve foreigners but could very well also happen with a Japanese tenant. With regards to the sentiment that Japanese people are easier to track down than foreigners, I very much doubt it. It just leads me to think of the Japanese word yonige, where people simply disappear suddenly!

?I hope landlords will keep this in mind and become more international.

One of the Spotlight articles in the Aug. 22 issue, "Pair takes a trip to the wrong hemisphere," gave me a good laugh. When I read this I just burst out laughing and couldn't stop. Not only was the article funny, but it also taught me that there is another Sydney in Nova Scotia, Canada. The article was very educational for me and my friends.

I hope the man and his grandson enjoyed their holiday in sunny Australia!

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 5, 2009
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