Japan Reacts

Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

  • AI Chats With ‘Ryza’ Hit a Paywall — 5ch: “Even at ¥500 a Month, You Only Get 1.5 Chats a Day”

    An AI chat service modeled on the game character “Ryza” became a hot topic on 5ch. Free users get cut off after about two exchanges, and even paying the ¥500/month base fee only gets you up to 1.5 conversations a day — a setup that left thread regulars stunned and exasperated. The thread also veered into claims that the manga “Kochikame” had predicted this exact kind of business decades ago, plus a side debate over the reputation of the Atelier game series.

    1AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:07
    This is straight-up taking the piss, seriously.
    13AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:09
    LOL you can't even have a proper conversation without paying up
    14AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:09
    Gotta wonder how anyone even comes up with this stuff
    Kind of impressed, honestly
    17AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:09
    Just get ChatGPT (nicknamed "Chappy" by Japanese users) to roleplay as Ryza instead lol
    18AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:09
    Can't they just do something like Love Plus (the classic Nintendo DS dating sim)?
    20AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:10
    Imagine not being able to spare like ¥6,000 a year for something you actually love…
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:10
    Atelier's really fallen this far, huh
    Excluding Nelke, why did the game right after the masterpiece Lydie & Suelle turn out like this?
    27AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:11
    Re: #23
    Didn't realize the Atelier series ever even had a masterpiece
    36AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:14
    Re: #27
    I mean within Atelier itself
    Don't bother replying with garbage like that
    40AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:14
    Re: #27
    Ryza's a masterpiece, goes without saying
    Sophie and Yumia are straight-up god-tier
    24AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:11


    Honestly, if you get the top-tier plan and carefully train it without upsetting Ryza's mood, you can get it this far
    25AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:11
    Pretty sure Kochikame had an episode just like this
    29AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:12
    37AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:14
    What even are "conversation tokens"…
    Is it like paying ¥100 for a set number of back-and-forth exchanges?
    45AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:15
    Re: #37
    Yep
    I think free users get 2 rounds
    39AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:14
    Does it have a voice?
    55AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:19
    Re: #39
    Yeah
    They got permission from the voice actor and it's AI-generated voice
    49AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:17
    Funny thing is, the guys hooked on this used to go online and look down on dudes who visit hostess clubs
    67AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:25
    Re: #49
    Guess I'm apparently not hooked on it
    65AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:24
    That's the thing Sakonji got hooked on in Kochikame
    68AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:25
    Re: #65
    LOL that's such a throwback
    77AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:28
    Is this basically the modern version of that?
    83AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:31
    Re: #77
    This one has fewer patterns, but she'll chat unlimited times, actually responds, and shows her panties too — honestly an upgrade
    82AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:30
    Even paying ¥500 a month, you only get 1.5 conversations a day!
    And if you want more than 2 a day, you gotta pay extra — that's literally the spec…
    93AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:33
    Re: #82
    At this point it's basically a prison visitation
    86AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:31
    Kochikame really has done it all

    89AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:32
    Re: #86
    I mean, phone-dating clubs (telekura) already existed back then too
    108AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:38
    Re: #86
    Kochikame genuinely predicts the future sometimes
    90AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:32

    Ryza…?
    97AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:34
    A hostess club for ¥500 a month is a steal though
    99AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:35
    Re: #97
    That's just the base fee
    On top of that you rack up extra charges
    107AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:38
    LOL

    554 Anonymous (WatchoiW 0bb0-YYPq [2001:268:986e:b748:*]) 2026/08/25 (Tue) 12:40:08.81 ID:DjP5M/MQ0
    Ryza Any% Speedrun
    ① Refuse to build the boat over objections to killing animals and plants, breaking the quest's clear flag

    ② Spend time alone with Ryza at her workshop

    ③ Confess to Ryza and get rejected

    ④ Throw a fit that there's no point in a world where Ryza doesn't love you, and storm off

    ⑤ *Use narration to write a suicide note and disappear

    ⑥ Use narration to plant a rumor, letting Ryza hear about the area where a piece of the protagonist's clothing was found (a place connected to the workshop that needs no boat)

    ⑦ Get Ryza to go looking for you on her own

    ⑧ Keep driving the protagonist insane until Ryza hugs him

    ⑨ Finish it off with a "love you, Ryza" (NTR-style, i.e. a cuckolding-trope confession) to seal the deal

    126AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:43
    Re: #107
    Sounds like the credits are about to roll
    111AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:40
    What even is this guy lol
    115AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:41
    Re: #111
    ChatGPT really is impressive, huh!
    116AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:41
    Re: #111
    What a genuinely great kid
    119AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:41
    Re: #111
    Start the thread by addressing Ryza directly — that way the narration itself becomes Ryza's voice
    129AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:44
    Isn't the usual playbook to eat the loss at first and go free just to grow the user base?
    134AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:46
    Re: #129
    Honestly if you just want to enjoy it for free, the clips posted on X (Twitter) or here are more than enough

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from a 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyō G) thread titled “[Image] Me: “I love Ryza…” Ryza: “Thanks! Um, anything more than that is…”.”

  • gamescom 2026 “Opening Night Live”: Live Reaction Thread Highlights

    Opening Night Live for the overseas gaming event “gamescom 2026” kicked off at 2:30 AM Japan time, and comments poured into the live-reaction thread on the Hardware/Industry board throughout the show. While the Onimusha demo expansion and Xbox’s exclusive title announcements became hot topics, there were also complaints about the lack of notable titles early on, and some pointed out that Chinese games seem to be gaining more of a presence.

    2AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:29
    The pre-show starts at 2:30, so why is everything so slow — the thread, Famitsu's simulcast, all of it?
    3AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:30
    Is our resident Nintendo fanboy ("nishi-kun") actually in Germany right now?
    25AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:50
    Re: #3
    Of course I am, Game Boy! We are pure-blood Germans, yes★ (´・ω・`)ｖ
    4AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:31
    I wonder if we'll get any AzPro info~
    5AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:32
    I hope we get more news on Judas.
    Last year's closer was the new Black Myth game — wonder what it'll be this year.
    6AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:34
    Isn't there some rumor about an unannounced big title getting revealed?
    If not, I'm going to bed.
    7AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:34
    Judas is the only thing keeping me alive right now.
    9AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:36
    If you're expecting anything from Nintendo, this gamescom might be the last chance.
    11AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:38
    It's rare for gamescom to run an opening show like this.
    16AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:41
    This is gonna be wall-to-wall games Nintendo fans can't even play.
    22AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:45
    This is gonna run for two whole hours?
    Starting to feel like a waste of time.
    23AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:46
    C'mon… please put some games out on Nintendo hardware too…
    24AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:49
    Nothing but games with zero hook coming out one after another.
    26AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:51
    Amazing cinematic trailer followed by lame in-game footage.
    27AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:51
    Wait lol, this is happening today? lol (´・ω・`)
    28AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:52
    People actually watch gamescom!?
    29AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:52
    Still light-headed from the bath, but might as well watch since I'm up (´・ω・`)
    30AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:54
    Thought this looked like a kiddie game, and sure enough it's coming to Switch 2 too.
    36AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:56
    Re: #30
    Well, Onimusha's kind of a kiddie game too.
    32AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:55
    Did anything good get shown?
    34AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:56
    Re: #32
    Extended Onimusha demo.
    33AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:56
    Wait, Onimusha's protagonist has such a slack-jawed face…
    37AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:56
    Oh right, wasn't Microsoft supposed to announce a few exclusive titles?
    Overseas people were speculating about Lost Odyssey 2.
    38AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:58
    I thought it started at 3, but it's already underway.
    They're showing some weird Metroidvania right now.
    40AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:58
    Switch 2 multiplatform titles keep coming up, but I don't even feel like trolling the PlayStation fanboys ("goki") about it (´・ω・`)
    41AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:00
    No idea about the rest, but Nintendo's probably saving stuff for a Direct in September, so don't expect much here.
    48AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:03
    Re: #41
    Ha, so the Nintendo fanboy really isn't interested in third-party games after all.
    43AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:00
    IT'S HEEEEEEEERE (´・ω・｀)
    45AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:01
    Don't tell me this is going until dawn? (´・ω・`)
    47AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:02
    Re: #45
    It's scheduled to end at 5.
    46AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:01
    Geoff looks like he's gained more weight every time I see him.
    49AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:05
    No games showing up lol (´・ω・`)
    55AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:06
    This game looks pretty amazing.
    Wish it were a Switch 2 exclusive.
    60AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:07
    A Chinese mobile game right off the bat? Stop, that's hilarious.
    63AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:07
    I thought this genre was already a red ocean — guess not?
    64AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:08
    Not sure if it's a national policy thing, but Chinese companies are avoiding TGS,
    so there's talk that gamescom might turn into a festival of Chinese games.
    130AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:26
    Feels like everyone's making the same game lol (´・ω・`)
    135AnonymousAug 26, 2026 03:27
    Re: #130
    When something gets popular and everyone starts copying it, they all end up finishing around the same time lol

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and summaries of the 5ch (Hardware/Industry (Geha)) thread “[gamescom 2026] Opening Night Live 2:30~.”

  • Formaldehyde Found in Chinese Napa Cabbage After Video Goes Viral — What Does It Mean for Japan?

    A video showing Chinese napa cabbage being “chemically treated” with formaldehyde has gone viral, prompting Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to say it is “still checking” whether the produce has entered Japan’s supply chain. On 5ch, posters worried about routes into children’s mouths, like school lunches, while others pointed to everyday Chinese-made foods — frozen gyoza, processed eel products — raising questions about how big the risk really is.

    “Formaldehyde” Found in Chinese Napa Cabbage After “Chemical-Soaked” Video Spreads Online — Fallout Reaches South Korean Kimchi Too — What Does It Mean for Japan? Health Ministry Says “Still Checking”

    Napa cabbage — a staple in hot pots, kimchi, and everyday cooking — is one of the most familiar vegetables on the dinner table.

    On the 25th, in China, the world’s largest producer of the vegetable, a news crew witnessed cabbage being pulled from store shelves and thrown out.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    18AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:37
    Eating Chinese-made food is on you at this point — pay extra for domestic if you're worried.
    25AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:38
    Re: #18
    True for home cooking, but school lunches could be feeding this to kids without them having any say in it.
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:38
    It's a leaf vegetable. Get your reporters out there, News Station! (a major TV Asahi evening news program)
    37AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:41
    Re: #23
    Who needs to go report when they've got plenty of "experts" sitting right there in-house?
    161AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:02
    Re: #23
    When it hits close to home they'll just wheel out a commentator, gloss over it, and call it done.
    52AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:43
    They don't even sell Chinese napa cabbage here, do they? And I don't eat processed cabbage products anyway.
    63AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:45
    Re: #52
    Pretty sure frozen gyoza made with Chinese napa cabbage is on shelves everywhere.
    64AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:45
    Meanwhile, Chinese state media is out here patting itself on the back:
    "Meanwhile, China has for many years been gradually building a relatively rigorous end-to-end food safety and traceability system, including multiple stages such as soil testing, pesticide residue testing, finished-product inspection, and customs inspection."
    Self-praise much.
    86AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:48
    Re: #64
    Note the word "gradually." At least they're not telling a bald-faced lie — I guess that counts as progress lol
    67AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:45
    China is genuinely terrifying. A worker at a Chinese seafood market was filmed brushing fish with a mixture of red koji dye (a cochineal-based red dye) and formaldehyde before shipping them out. The treatment is meant to make old fish look bright and fresh.
    https://x.com/BlueHawk1378/status/2058535219771424853
    117AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:53
    Re: #67
    The worker's getting exposed just from breathing the fumes.
    92AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:49
    Feels like cancer rates have been climbing, doesn't it.
    102AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:51
    Re: #92
    Chinese napa cabbage barely circulates in Japan — never even heard of it being sold here — so if that's your worry, it's gotta be something else.
    160AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:02
    Re: #102
    Frozen food, restaurants, retort pouches… like that Nagatanien miso soup that's been in the news lately.
    100AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:51
    Why is that country like this?
    107AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:52
    Re: #100
    It's not just China with the formaldehyde thing — Southeast Asia does the same. It's been standard practice there forever.
    114AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:53
    Re: #100
    Their whole value system boils down to "does it make money or not." So they'll do something shady if it turns a profit — and sometimes they don't even register it as wrong in the first place.
    105AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:51
    Top 10 Chinese-Made Food Products:
    ① Frozen vegetables
    ② Onions
    ③ Green onions
    ④ Carrots
    ⑤ Wood ear mushrooms
    ⑥ Boiled bamboo shoots
    ⑦ Garlic
    ⑧ Eel
    ⑨ Frozen shrimp
    ⑩ Frozen gyoza / Chinese-style side dishes

    Of all eel sold in Japan, about 89% is Chinese-made (2023). For processed products like kabayaki (grilled eel), a staggering ~99.6% is Chinese-made (2023).
    Basically we're talking 90-100% Chinese-sourced across the board 😂
    https://x.com/Ondoreahoka/status/2090356465060188503
    131AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:56
    Re: #105

    Even people in China were speechless, saying "this is industrial-grade stuff." The horrifying "formalin eel."
    https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/5204

    lol
    116AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:53
    I don't care if it costs more, let's grow our own vegetables here in Japan.
    166AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:03
    Re: #116
    People won't buy it though.

    Japan lost on price. "Cheap and a good deal" — meanwhile there's rice even Chinese consumers won't touch.
    120AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:54
    Hasn't this been said for over 20 years already? That's exactly why vegetable-washing appliances are so popular in China.
    125AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:55
    Re: #120
    Same reason detergent was a big trend in Japan back in the day lol
    123AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:54
    Even people back in China are furious, and the CCP itself is treating it as a scandal ("this shall not be forgiven, aru" lol — a jab at a stereotyped broken-Japanese speech pattern often mockingly attributed to Chinese speakers), so this must be pretty bad lol. Probably game over if you actually ate it lol
    136AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:56
    Re: #123
    For what it's worth, studies haven't confirmed a link between low-dose formaldehyde and cancer. If you only ate it occasionally you're probably fine. Eating it every day, though… who knows lol
    142AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:58
    I saw in the news recently that colorectal cancer risk factors are apparently rising in people under 40 or so — wonder if this is related.
    156AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:01
    Re: #142
    No way that's related lol
    171AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:05
    Re: #142
    Not eating enough vegetables and eating too much meat is definitely a bigger factor.
    185AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:09
    Flies swarm around the meat buns and spring rolls processed in Chinese factories, so you could end up eating flies without even knowing it. Once they get mixed into ground meat, they're especially hard to spot.
    https://x.com/kuniyoshi_shino/status/2038787482456895577
    217AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:17
    Re: #185
    Flies rolled up in the spring rolls is bad enough, but the filling itself already looks like some unidentifiable paste.
    186AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:09
    Might be unrelated to this particular story, but I often notice a weird bitterness in Chinese food.
    192AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:11
    Re: #186
    For one thing, the vegetable varieties are different from Japan's. Japanese vegetables are bred to be really sweet. You might just be perceiving the lack of sweetness as bitterness.
    225AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:19
    Re: #186
    Even cucumbers have that harsh bitterness if you don't draw it out first. Same with potatoes and eggplant — that's why you soak them in water.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Formaldehyde Found in Chinese Napa Cabbage After ‘Chemical-Soaked’ Video Spreads Online — What Does It Mean for Japan? Health Ministry Says ‘Still Checking’.”

  • Kiritani, Worth ¥700 Million, Responds to Calls to “Ditch the Coupons and Eat What You Like”

    Kiritani Hiroto (76), known for living off shareholder perks, posted on X that he went to Matsuya with his sister and ate using a shareholder benefit coupon. His response to comments saying “why not stop being so stingy and just eat what you like” became a hot topic on the thread, with commenters split over how to read his ¥700 million net worth and his choice to keep living the “perks lifestyle.”

    “¥700 Million in Assets” Kiritani Gives a Real Answer to “Wouldn’t It Be Better to Stop Using Coupons and Eat What You Like?”

    Shogi player-turned-investor Kiritani Hiroto (76), who has openly stated his total assets are ¥700 million, updated his official X (formerly Twitter) account by the 25th. He responded to comments asking, “Wouldn’t it be better to give up the perks lifestyle and eat what you like?”

    Kiritani wrote, “Yesterday at noon, my sister came all the way from Kure City, so I biked over to Matsuya to get lunch (my first meal of the day). I was thrown off because the ordering system had changed (you now order via QR code), but I managed to place my order somehow,” reporting that he used Matsuya Foods’ “shareholder meal benefit coupon.”

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:28
    Good to see he's recovered enough to bike over to Matsuya.
    3AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:31
    Wait, Matsuya changed how you order? Isn't it still that garbage ticket machine?
    14AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:43
    Re: #3
    I think he means the old ticket machine was garbage — but if you thought the old one was bad, you probably can't figure out the new one at all lol
    4AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:32
    Whatever makes you happy is the right answer — it's not for other people to nitpick about. I don't want to be one of those "advice guys" who butts in with advice nobody asked for.
    75AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:24
    Re: #4
    And yet people around you always find something to complain about. Even parents tell their kids what to do all the time. What is that about?
    5AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:33
    But with only ¥3 million in capital, you can't really turn a profit investing, can you?
    6AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:35
    His answer doesn't really land for me, but it's not like he's eating stuff he hates.
    7AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:36
    He's been trading stocks forever, and long-term holding seems to be basically his whole strategy — so in this market, isn't ¥700 million actually kind of low?
    8AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:36
    No, at his age, eating out constantly at perk-coupon-tier restaurants really isn't good for his health — that's probably why people are worried.
    9AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:38
    If he's a long-term holder, you'd think he'd favor dividend stocks over perk stocks — though perks do have the advantage of not being taxed.
    10AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:39
    If his body can handle all that greasy restaurant food, he should just keep at it — being able to eat like that is a talent for longevity in itself. Though he doesn't need to go full speed on that bike all the time.
    11AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:41
    But wasn't he wrecked by the Lehman Shock?
    12AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:42
    For Kiritani, using up every last coupon is part of the joy, so this is fine as is. What's really impressive is being able to go eat greasy food like that on the way back from chemo treatment.
    13AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:43
    So his sister came all this way and he took her out to eat at Matsuya, huh.
    15AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:44
    Whoa, he's turned into quite the old man — kind of startling. Eat something healthy and stay well, man.
    16AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:44
    Isn't he just using coupons from companies whose food he actually likes?
    17AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:44
    Is he ever going to discover cooking for himself?
    18AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:45
    Re: #1
    Seriously, only ¥700 million? There are tons of young people on YouTube claiming they made ¥1 billion in two years — isn't ¥700 million kind of rough for his age?
    24AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:54
    Re: #18
    No way that's true lol. But you also can't exactly go around saying "yeah, no matter what I do my assets just keep growing."
    31AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:11
    Re: #18
    You watching a lot of those guys' videos? Idiots like that are exactly the ones who end up getting hit by investment scams — be careful.
    49AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:40
    Re: #18
    If you can really earn that much, why would you even need to run a YouTube channel?
    19AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:51
    Once you're dead, your assets mean nothing. He doesn't have long left, so why is he still pinching pennies?
    67AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:06
    Re: #19
    People who get this much attention never think for a second that they're actually going to die.
    77AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:25
    It's probably turned into his hobby at this point — none of our business, honestly lol.

    Re: #19
    I believe he's planning to leave it to his two younger sisters, so the idea of "spend it all while I'm alive" has just never occurred to him.
    22AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:53
    (East) Kiritani Hiroto (75, Tokyo, former professional shogi player) — Net worth: ¥700 million

    (West) Fujimoto Shigeru (90, Kobe, pet shop groomer) — Net worth: ¥2.5 billion
    23AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:53
    His favorite food just happens to be coupon meals — so everyone else can mind their own business.
    25AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:55
    Even if his assets (the value of his stock holdings) are ¥700 million, the bank account he actually uses day-to-day as his "wallet" might have under ¥5 million in it — and watching that balance shrink probably feels rough.
    28AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:02
    Re: #25
    He earns a normal income from things like giving lectures, so it's not like he's actually short on spending money.
    26AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:55
    ¥700 million is plenty to FIRE on. If it were me, I'd be eating great food and living however I wanted.
    29AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:05
    If you put the whole ¥700 million into stocks at an average dividend yield of 3%, that's ¥21 million a year coming in (about ¥16 million after withholding tax).

    Must be nice~ 🧁🥄🤔
    30AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:06
    If you put the whole ¥700 million into stocks — across the board — at an average dividend yield of 3%, that's ¥21 million a year coming in (about ¥16 million after withholding tax).

    Must be nice~ 🧁🥄🤔
    32AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:14
    Re: #30
    Um, you know you get taxed when you sell stocks, right? He's already getting both perks and dividends as it is — what's the actual problem?
    33AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:14
    I recall him saying he once held Yamaichi Securities stock and it became worthless (Yamaichi collapsed in 1997).
    34AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:15
    It's less that his brain is controlled by it and more that, in a way, his whole life is bound up in it.
    35AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:17
    Sure, the perks help, but maybe Matsuya is genuinely just what he likes?
    36AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:18
    He doesn't have that much time left, so he should just do as he pleases — it's not for outsiders to weigh in on.
    37AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:18
    Rich people really are stingy, huh.

    Though most rich people just refuse to spend a single yen on other people, this guy won't even spend it on himself — his stinginess is next-level thorough.
    38AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:19
    Well, it's his own money, so it's really none of our business. And it's probably precisely because he's committed to fully using his perks that he's held onto that much money in the first place.
    50AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:41
    He said he wants to eat crab, but he can't because people criticize him if it's not covered by a shareholder perk.
    79AnonymousAug 26, 2026 02:33
    Re: #50
    Seems like he could still get crab through furusato nozei (hometown tax donation gifts) though.

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread ““¥700 Million in Total Assets” Kiritani Gives a Real Answer to “Wouldn’t It Be Better to Stop Using Coupons and Eat What You Like?”.”

  • “Momoiro Clover Z Invented Member Colors and Fan Names,” Claims Post — Johnny’s Fans Fire Back, 5ch Erupts in Debate

    When a post claiming “Momoiro Clover Z originated member colors and fan names” was shared on 5ch’s Hello! Project board, fans of M!LK and Chou Tokkyu (Bullet Train) pushed back, arguing “that doesn’t apply to us — we have agency-official fan names.”

    The thread saw pushback pointing out that Hello! Project already had member colors as far back as 2004, along with discussion citing photos of Berryz Koubou, and the argument over who was really “first” never converged, running on in parallel lines to the end.

    1AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:31
    Nomoto@nomoto0399
    To all the Johnny's fans out there bashing M!LK and Chou Tokkyu — you might not know this, but I want to say it loud: Momoiro Clover Z is the true originator of member colors and fan names
    8AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:34
    So Hello!Project fans ("Haro-ota") don't even have an agency-official fan name either, huh? lol
    19AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:38
    Re: #8
    Never thought of "Haro-ota" as an actual fan name
    39AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:49
    @
    Wait, Momoiro Clover Z predates Shonentai? Didn't know that___
    46AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:55
    Re: #39
    So ignorant
    You didn't even know that?


    That's just how a Monofu's (Momoiro Clover Z fan) brain works
    44AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:54
    Does Momoiro Clover Z even have a hit song that actually got famous?
    49AnonymousAug 25, 2026 21:56
    Re: #44
    Wasn't there literally a song called something like "I Want to Be a Hit and Get Famous"?
    77AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:27
    Brings back memories
    https://gzo.ai/i/j33ywrz.jpg
    81AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:35
    Re: #77
    Berryz's aura is something else
    83AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:47
    Re: #77
    First time seeing this lol
    87AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:52
    Probably the work of a hardcore anti posing as a self-proclaimed Monofu
    95AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:21
    Re: #87
    Monofus lie like this without batting an eye
    90AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:15
    Why are the Garakasu (derogatory nickname for a fan group) getting worked up again?
    Enlighten me, Mr./Ms. Monofu
    103AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:27
    Re: #90
    Yeah, totally worked up
    94AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:21
    @
    Member colors and fan names have been around forever, but if the claim is "Momoiro Clover Z may have been the first to push them this hard," I could kind of see that.
    But when you flat-out say they "originated" member colors, I'm like, no, that's been a thing way before.
    98AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:22
    Re: #94
    They weren't first
    101AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:27
    Momoiro Clover Z does have an "original" of their own though — the princess-carry two-shot cheki (instant photo)
    104AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:28
    Re: #101
    Ah, the hug events, brings back memories


    117AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:04
    Re: #104
    They used to do stuff like this? lol
    113AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:59
    When did member colors actually start in Hello!Project?
    Forgot when the original-gen members first got member colors
    120AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:06
    Re: #113
    At least by 2004 it already existed
    119AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:05
    Johnny's fans have been losing it ever since Ebidan went million-seller
    123AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:07
    Re: #119
    I see
    Though M!LK fans have been pretty unhinged lately too
    125AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:09
    Re: #119
    Lately it's mainly Kiteretsu (fan nickname for another idol group) fans losing it
    136AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:13
    Stardust granpa (a Stardust Promotion/Momoiro Clover Z old-timer fan) — definitely a Monofu
    Just by posting here, that's obvious
    So how about Red marrying a Johnny's guy, huh? lol
    140AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:16
    Re: #136
    Was self-posting under multiple names until just a moment ago, then vanished — guess it hit a nerve lol
    147AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:19
    Re: #136
    This is exactly that kind of thing
    Still going on about the marriage
    No Monofu actually cares, but the fact that "married with kids" gets Johnny's fans this riled up shows how much marriage stuff really stings them
    That's probably why they keep throwing the same jab back
    176AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:30
    The guy who keeps yelling "there's a Monofu on the Ookami board!" is probably a hardcore Johnny's fan himself
    Acts like only Hello!Project fans exist on Ookami (the Hello!Project discussion board) lol
    177AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:31
    Re: #176
    What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
    179AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:31
    Re: #176
    ??????????
    181AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:31
    Re: #176
    What do you mean?

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello!Project board) thread “A Monofu declares war on Johnny’s fans bashing M!LK and Chou Tokkyu: “Momoiro Clover Z invented member colors and fan names, don’t underestimate Stardust.” lol“.

  • I Just Want to Date a Normal Person — 5ch: “People Can Only Date Others on Their Own Level”

    In the “Chatting with Maaya Until Dawn” thread on 5ch’s Newsspeed VIP board, regular poster “Maaya” shared memories of a kind, married coworker from her part-time job, along with her own views on love.

    Her remark that “people can only date others on the same level as them” drew responses from thread members like, “That’s surprisingly deep.”

    1AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:12
    Sigh…
    3AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:13
    Thread for listening to Maaya's troubles
    https://mi.5ch.io/test/read.cgi/news4vip/1787053075/33

    33 Posted by VIP via 5channel 2026/08/18 (Tue) 22:31:12.481 ID:kvHQNLDmr
    Re: #32
    Already turning 60
    7AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:14
    Re: #3
    That's the real deal……
    http://hissi.org/read.php/news4vip/20260818/a3ZIUU5MRG1y.html
    15AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:20
    So you're into 37-year-old shut-ins?
    17AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:22
    Re: #15
    Being so spoiled by his mother is infuriating 😭 sigh…
    Not 37 years old — he's 52 and has been a shut-in for 37 years
    His mother is 80
    And his sister is 56 and just got hit by a romance scam, lol
    16AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:21
    Maaya, you seem like you'd be popular in real life though
    19AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:24
    Re: #16
    I'm not popular at all 😭 sigh…
    One of my happiest memories from my part-time job is a tall, average-looking guy (already had a girlfriend) who'd talk to me every time we crossed paths
    He got married in no time, but he kept talking to me even after the wedding
    I wonder why he even talked to me…
    18AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:23
    What, a new character just showed up? The legend of "Masaki"
    20AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:25
    Re: #18
    Sounds like something out of "The Non-Fiction" (a Japanese documentary TV series)
    https://youtu.be/YiJFERM_e18?si=avbEPNZr3rTYTgWy
    26AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:34
    Re: #19
    Maybe it wasn't that he was into you — maybe you were just easy for him to talk to?
    28AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:39
    Re: #26
    He and I worked different jobs so we didn't run into each other much
    But we happened to meet on my first day at the part-time job
    He introduced himself to me first
    After that, whenever we crossed paths he'd say things like, "Aren't you cold? You're wearing a cardigan for sun protection"
    Or he'd suddenly show up while I was working and show me an old anime-branded ruler, saying, "Doesn't this bring back memories?" 😭 sigh…
    29AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:39
    Re: #28
    What anime was it?
    32AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:41
    Re: #28
    He sounds like a friendly guy
    You should've just stolen him from his girlfriend
    27AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:38
    Good evening, Maaya
    What did you have for dinner?
    30AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:39
    Re: #27
    Good evening 😭 sigh…
    Grilled pork
    33AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:41
    Sample photo of a 60-year-old
    https://www.takasu.co.jp/photo/p2oe890000005c3w-img/ba_minilift013_b01.jpg
    45AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:02
    Even if I started a YouTube channel, it probably wouldn't work out 😭 sigh…
    55AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:12
    Re: #45
    If you promoted it on VIP, people would probably watch
    72AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:24
    Yesterday there were a bunch of Maaya threads where the ID didn't end in "r" — did you make those, Maaya, or was that someone else? (5ch posters often verify identity by the last character of their poster ID)
    77AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:26
    Re: #72
    That was me 😭 sigh…
    I don't know why it changed
    78AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:28
    Re: #77
    Ah, I see, thanks
    The last character can turn into a "d" or a "0" sometimes too — it just changes for no clear reason now and then
    79AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:29
    Re: #77
    Lately even on SoftBank mobile data it sometimes turns into a 0
    It's surprising — makes you think you accidentally connected to public wifi without realizing
    89AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:37
    Re: #85
    I just want to date a normal person 😭 sigh…
    95AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:40
    Re: #89
    Normal how? Were the guys you've dated before kind of messed up?
    98AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:41
    Re: #95
    People can only date others on the same level as them, you know 😭 sigh…
    I long for someone who grew up in a decent, stable home
    100AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:43
    Re: #98
    I see…
    Guess if the levels don't match, it just doesn't last
    102AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:43
    That's surprisingly deep
    Re: #98

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Newsspeed VIP) thread “Chatting with Maaya Until Dawn”.

  • Government Policy Pushing AI Training-Data Disclosure Sparks Fierce Copyright Debate on 5ch

    The government has decided on a framework requiring AI operators to disclose information about the training data used for generative AI. The goal is to let copyright holders and AI users check whether their works were included in the training data upon request, but on 5ch, opinions split sharply over how to interpret Article 30-4 (“information analysis”) of the Copyright Act.

    The “training is basically legal” camp and the “if similarity shows up, it could be illegal” camp traded blows citing past court rulings, and the thread turned into a marathon argument.

    Operators will post information about their generative AI’s training process, the types of training data used, and how it was collected on their websites. If a copyright holder or AI user requests it, and certain conditions are met, operators will disclose whether copyrighted works are included in the training data — creating a system that lets people check for possible copyright infringement.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    4AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:49
    So if it was used in training, does that automatically make it copyright infringement?
    5AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:50
    Re: #4
    If the copyright holder decides it's bad, it becomes illegal.
    Training isn't unconditionally allowed no matter what.
    9AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:57
    Re: #5
    That first line is way too out there lol
    18AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:31
    Re: #9
    No, I'm dead serious.
    Even training becomes illegal if the copyright holder judges they've suffered a disadvantage from it.
    Like, say, if it was used in a way tied to content revenue.
    62AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:10
    Re: #18
    Revenue is about the output, not the training though, isn't it?
    14AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:06
    Why do AI illustrators fly into a rage the moment someone just asks what art style their training data came from?
    Is asking not allowed or something?
    16AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:10
    Re: #14
    Probably because they don't actually know.
    19AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:34
    Re: #18
    "Illegal if the copyright holder says so" — what a broken trump card.
    At that rate you could just shut the courts down.
    20AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:36
    Re: #19
    It IS a trump card.

    1. Why is it "basically legal"? Japan's Copyright Act (Article 30-4) has a special exception: if the use is for "information analysis," you can use data without the copyright holder's permission. Since an AI reading huge amounts of data and analyzing features and patterns (training) is considered to fall under this "information analysis," no permission is required in principle.


    2. Cases where it's NOT clearly legal (risk of being illegal). The following cases may violate the law.

    Using it for human enjoyment instead of the AI: copying a work not to have the AI draw something, but purely so a human can enjoy the copy.

    Training on pirated material: collecting and training on data known to have been illegally uploaded, like from piracy sites.

    Cases that seriously harm the rights holder's interests: deliberately targeting and training on only a specific artist's works in a way that takes away that artist's work.
    21AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:37
    Re: #20
    What's with the sudden essay-length lecture right after "it IS a trump card"? If that logic actually worked in practice, nobody would be fighting about this.
    26AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:43
    Re: #20
    Exactly.
    This is how believers twist logic among themselves until even the generation itself becomes "okay."
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:41
    Re: #21
    So let's remember: training is fine except when it falls outside "information analysis" — that part's still a no-go.
    24AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:42
    Re: #23
    "Let's remember" — who do you think you are, playing teacher? Where's your source for this "anything outside information analysis is a no-go" ruling?
    38AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:52
    Even if someone's art style happens to get reproduced by accident, that still counts as "use not intended to enjoy the thoughts or feelings expressed in the copyrighted work," so…
    42AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:54
    Re: #38
    That's exactly the kind of argument that doesn't fly in the world of content rights holders.

    For example, there are actual court cases where someone happened to draw something extremely similar, it was judged highly similar, and they lost in court.
    47AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:59
    Re: #38
    So just chanting that phrase makes style reproduction invincible? Then what exactly are all these people fighting about?
    49AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:00
    What happens when someone says "the AI says so" and then gets told "actually that's wrong"?
    All they'll be able to do is whine "but the AI said so!"
    50AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:00
    Re: #49
    Pulling from actual court cases is credible enough for me.
    51AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:01
    Re: #49
    What do you mean "what do you mean" — it's just having the AI produce its sources, that's all.
    73AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:19
    "Use not intended to enjoy the thoughts or feelings expressed in the copyrighted work"

    As long as this applies, normal use doesn't become illegal.
    78AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:23
    Re: #73
    It's rough how you're treating that one phrase like a magic spell.
    You're just declaring victory without even defining what "normal" means.
    88AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:29
    Re: #73
    There are cases where something ended up too similar and got ruled out on similarity grounds, so it's not always the case.
    Unfortunately.
    109AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:39
    No, it wouldn't be illegal.
    Under Article 30-4 of the Copyright Act, it's legal if the use is judged to be "not intended to enjoy the thoughts or feelings expressed in the copyrighted work."

    As long as no one deliberately extracts something hidden in the model on purpose, nothing gets infringed.
    116AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:43
    Re: #109
    You're saying it won't be judged that way, then turn around and say "if it's judged legal, it's legal"?
    Maybe start by rethinking your premise.

    Like in the article at Re: #1, there's a whole trend toward protecting and disclosing intellectual property — if you can't even consider why that's happening and just keep chanting "legal, legal," you're starting to sound like a kid throwing a tantrum.
    140AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:54
    Re: #109
    Aren't you just treating Article 30-4 like a magic spell?
    If "stuff hidden in there is safe" were really the logic, there'd be no reason for this disclosure push to even come up.
    119AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:44
    Article 30-4 doesn't say a single word about generation, you know.
    Not sure what you're misunderstanding, but still.
    129AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:48
    Re: #119
    That's why this guy just keeps asking Chappy (5ch slang for ChatGPT) and can't develop the argument any further than that, so he just keeps repeating the same line over and over — ironically, he's starting to sound like an AI himself.

    He thinks just saying this one thing is enough, but he's got the premise wrong from the start… it's honestly kind of sad.
    136AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:51
    Re: #129
    Yeah, classic true believer.
    Article 30-4 in the first place only lifts copyright restrictions in specific situations — everything else still falls under normal copyright law.
    So not all training automatically becomes legal.
    137AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:53
    Re: #136
    He went quiet the moment someone pushed back — guess that's just how this guy operates.
    155AnonymousAug 26, 2026 01:07
    Re: #136
    What, is there some "lift restrictions" button you press? Article 30-4 is just a narrow exception — it's not a blanket pardon that makes all training legal.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nnews VIP) thread “[Breaking] Government decides on law/guidelines pushing disclosure of AI-generated training data — is this the end for AI illustrations and videos?.”

  • AKB48’s “Suki-ish” Tops 2026 Female Idol CD Sales, Beating FRUITS ZIPPER and the Sakamichi Groups

    AKB48’s new single “Suki-ish” topping first-week female idol CD sales for 2026 — beating out FRUITS ZIPPER and Sakamichi groups like Nogizaka46 and Hinatazaka46 — has become a hot topic on 5ch’s Hello! Project board. The thread mixed pointed remarks about the sales tactics behind the numbers, like handshake-event marketing and bulk-buying, with predictions of a Sakamichi comeback and speculation about a Kohaku Uta Gassen appearance.

    1AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:48
    Amazeballs! ("goisu" — slangy backwards way of saying sugoi)
    4AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:49
    What about JJ, who's on a huge breakout run?
    10AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:50
    Re: #4
    Company motto: "We don't put out plastic trash"
    5AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:49
    It's only August and they're already #1 for 2026? Come on.
    7AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:50
    This is the only group still doing handshake events.
    13AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:51
    Re: #7
    They've always done handshake events, but they never sold this well before.
    15AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:52
    Re: #13
    They're not doing the COVID thing anymore though.
    11AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:50
    They'll probably get blown out of the water by Sakamichi singles in September, October, November, and December anyway.
    Yeah, I know.
    14AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:51
    Re: #11
    Nogizaka added more bonus perks and still dropped.
    12AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:51
    So basically CD sales numbers don't mean anything.
    16AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:52
    Ain't none of our business here on Wolf (nickname for the Hello! Project fan board).
    17AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:52
    These days AKB has like 8 or 9 members selling out their individual handshake events.
    18AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:52
    They added more members and are cranking out release events nonstop — really leveraging having such a huge lineup.
    19AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:53
    Kinda feel bad for the old guys bulk-buying CDs by the boxload.
    20AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:53
    Morning Musume, Toki Sen, and Kyanchu are all dropping releases the same day, so once Hinatazaka fans go all out, they'll probably end up #1 for the year.
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:53
    Don't know! Don't know, don't know! This is the Hello! Project board!
    Don't know AKB, don't know Nogizaka, don't know FRUITS ZIPPER, don't know =LOVE, don't know Stardust idols, don't know K-pop, don't know don't know!
    25AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:54
    Congrats, good for you! Now please never start another AKB thread on Wolf again, kay bye.
    26AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:54
    Even with handshake events, Hello!-trash (derogatory nickname for Hello! Project fans/groups) only moves like 150,000 copies, right?
    34AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:56
    Re: #26
    Juice=Juice these days should be able to hit 300,000.
    27AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:55
    Come to think of it, did they stop doing the General Election?
    Bringing that back would sell even more, wouldn't it?
    30AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:55
    Re: #27
    They still do it at live shows.
    28AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:55
    Handshakes disappear because of COVID
    They start doing handshakes with gloves
    Then they start doing bare-hand handshakes again
    29AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:55
    From here on, the members have a hellish schedule of meet-and-greets waiting for them.
    32AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:55
    Itomomo is genuinely being deified as the savior who revived AKB.
    33AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:56
    I don't think they could pull off the General Election these days
    That whole system was way too much like a hostess club, even by their standards
    35AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:56
    The burden on the members is brutal
    I don't think Hello! Project members ("Haro-men") could handle it lol
    37AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    In terms of time commitment, isn't Sakamichi's "Meet & Greet" thing longer anyway?
    39AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    If Hello! Project ever did handshake events, someone mentally fragile like Goto would probably break down.
    40AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    Sakamichi groups need to lift the handshake-event ban soon or they're in trouble
    Though the members are probably the ones refusing lol
    41AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    So Nogizaka's stronghold has finally fallen
    Times are changing
    52AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:01
    These days all of AKB's top core members are putting real energy and passion into their activities, so honestly it's just fun to be a fan right now.
    57AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:03
    Re: #52
    But they still couldn't fill Yoyogi (arena), right?
    Even with all that promotion lol
    60AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:04
    Chiba's got a great figure and she's gorgeous too though.
    64AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:06
    Re: #60
    She's basically a cyborg.
    63AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:06
    This could get them into Kohaku this year too
    "Suki-ish" is the most popular song right now after =LOVE's
    72AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:28
    Re: #63
    LOL
    Well, words have power ("kotodama"), so if you keep saying it, maybe it'll come true someday.
    74AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:30
    "Suki-ish" views have completely flatlined lol
    It was pulling like 500k views a day
    Huh, that's weird~ wwww????
    75AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:32
    Re: #74
    Do you check it every day?

    *This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “AKB48’s “Suki-ish” Beats FRUITS ZIPPER and the Sakamichi Groups to Take the 2026 First-Week Female Idol CD Sales Crown!!“.

  • Foreigner Asks: “If Japanese People Have No Religion, What Do They Live For?”

    A thread that kicked off with the question “If Japanese people have no religion, what do they lean on for spiritual support?” caught fire on 5ch’s Nanjatte Jikkyo G (Live News) board.

    Discussion ranged from Shinto’s “eight million gods” and lingering traces of Buddhism to the role of the Imperial Family, with some even suggesting “maybe 2channel itself is our spiritual support.” Self-deprecating comments like “Japanese people are just empty inside” also surfaced, as posters traded a variety of takes on whether being irreligious is really a problem.

    1AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:32
    True that
    3AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:33
    Can people really not live without something to lean on?
    4AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:33
    Religion isn't much of a support to begin with anyway
    10AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:35
    The burning passion my dad left me, and that look in my mom's eyes (a riff on the *One Piece* opening theme lyrics)
    69AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:56
    Re: #10
    Wait, what was that from again?
    71AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:57
    Re: #10
    Nevermind, figured it out
    11AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:36
    That's exactly why it's not "no religion" — Shinto's just hard to wrap your head around
    18AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:37
    Re: #11
    It's not really Shinto either though
    13AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:36
    They say they're not religious but they're clearly doing Buddhist stuff
    19AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:37
    Re: #13
    Is it really though?
    14AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:36
    Honestly, these days there aren't many foreigners who lean on religion for support either
    15AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:36
    Does religion actually give you something to lean on in life? I don't have anything like that, so I envy people who do
    17AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:37
    Irreligious people are on the rise in the West
    Saw it in the paper this morning
    21AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:39
    Reminder that foreigners aren't exactly religious either
    23AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:39
    "Self-confidence" (自信) is literally written with the characters for "believing in yourself"
    You become a believer because you can't believe in yourself
    And making believers is profitable
    Old kanji really were well-designed characters
    24AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:39
    Honestly, isn't leaning on religion for support the same as you guys leaning on 2ch?
    26AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:42
    Re: #24
    Well, 2ch or religion aside, everyone relies on something — that's true for all of us
    33AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:43
    No spiritual support, so they're desperate to one-up each other with jobs and status
    Japanese people really are empty inside
    38AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:45
    Re: #33
    Every single thing has its own god
    And each god is respected
    Isn't that the essence of Japan's "harmony above all" spirit?
    36AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:44
    Awe of the unknowable
    42AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:47
    Re: #36
    Sounds like Xenoblade 2
    41AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:47
    The concept of the "eight million gods" is hard to grasp
    Like how a god comes to dwell in something you've used for a long time — dolls, stuffed animals, even cars and other inanimate objects can end up with a god in them, that's a hard idea to understand
    46AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:48
    Re: #41
    This is basically Xenosaga at this point
    51AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:51
    Japanese people aren't completely irreligious
    I think they just loosely and shallowly absorb teachings and events from a bunch of different religions and call it faith
    56AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:53
    Re: #51
    I wouldn't call that faith though
    Well, if just showing up for the event itself counts as part of the faith, then sure, they've got faith
    53AnonymousAug 25, 2026 22:51
    Re: #50
    They got steeped in it once and have already moved on from it
    Being steeped in Buddhism was a thing of the past — not now
    88AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:03
    Re: #53
    Even today enough of that foundation remains that most people feel disgust toward shady new religions — without that, Japan might have collapsed by now

    Sadly, though, Buddhism doesn't have strong teachings against suicide
    That's probably part of why the suicide rate is so unusually high
    80AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:00
    Re: #72
    Probably a lot of Japanese people get to stay irreligious thanks to the Imperial Family
    84AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:02
    Re: #80
    That's probably true
    For Japanese people, the Imperial Family probably plays a role similar to the Pope
    85AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:02
    The strong belief in karma/cause-and-effect is pretty Buddhist if you think about it
    93AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:05
    Re: #85
    Exactly that
    Even without strong faith, it's definitely alive and well

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Nanjatte Jikkyo G) thread “Foreigner: “If Japanese People Have No Religion, What Do They Live For?”“.

  • 70% Want Pay Raises Amid Rising Prices — 5ch: “The Trickle-Down Never Comes”

    According to Persol Career’s “2026 Wage Increase Awareness Survey,” 70% of people want pay raises amid rising prices, and 60% say they are “dissatisfied” with their actual wages.

    On a 5ch News Flash+ thread, while some voiced satisfaction after seeing bonuses top ¥1 million, others complained that “the trickle-down never comes,” and the discussion turned to the wage gap between big corporations/civil servants and small businesses, as well as the treatment of non-regular workers.

    With food prices climbing one after another and rising energy costs spilling over into gasoline, electricity, and gas bills, the high cost of living is bearing down hard on household budgets. Amid all this, what do workers actually want more — a “pay raise” or “an easier place to work”?

    Drawing on the “2026 Wage Increase Awareness Survey” conducted by “Job Research Institute,” run by Persol Career Co., Ltd., we take a look at just how strong the desire for pay raises is amid rising prices, and the reality of dissatisfaction with actual wages.

    Amid today’s high prices, 70% hope for a “pay raise”

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    3AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:02
    My bonus topped ¥1 million, so I'm definitely starting to feel the pay raises kicking in.
    29AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:21
    Re: #3
    Jealous of people at companies where the benefits actually reach them.
    The trickle-down never comes.
    6AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:06
    Re: #1
    The reason real wages at Japan's small and mid-size companies won't rise is that more and more people rely on social welfare (funded by taxes) to live.

    When you hand money to people who depend on social welfare — pensioners, welfare recipients — whose income doesn't grow through economic activity, they try to stretch that money by buying the cheapest goods possible.

    Trading companies, chasing that demand, import even cheaper substitutes from third countries, and the Japanese market fills up with cheaper and cheaper goods.

    Domestic-demand manufacturers, facing rising import costs for raw materials, respond to welfare-dependent demand by squeezing their own employees' wages instead.

    For Japan to raise real wages, there's no way around cutting pensions and welfare payments for people under 80, and putting people who are healthy enough to work — but don't — back to work.
    68AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:35
    Re: #13 Re: #1
    The source of wages is a country's economic strength.

    The source of a country's economic strength is the demand and supply generated within it.

    Demand and supply aren't split between different people — they exist together inside each individual.

    Workers work harder because they want to buy better things, and that's what grows both demand and supply, which is what develops a nation's economy.

    People living on social welfare don't see their income grow through work, so they try to increase their disposable income by buying things cheaper — which only ever pushes value-added downward.

    Social welfare may be socially just, but it's economically harmful.

    What Japan needs is to convert the people dependent on social welfare into workers.

    To do that, we have no choice but to get people who are healthy enough to work — but aren't — working again.

    Concretely: cut pensions and welfare payments for people under 80.
    17AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:10
    Raise temp workers' pay.
    Non-regular employees aren't just a hiring buffer to squeeze whenever convenient.
    21AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:16
    Re: #17
    For temp office work it's about ¥1,700/hour in Tokyo.
    26AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:19
    Re: #17
    Forget raising wages — some places just dump the full-time employees' work straight onto the temps. There are some awful factories where if the bonus-earning staff don't feel like doing a task, they just tell the temp "you do it" 😆
    30AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:21
    ¥1,500 minimum wage.
    Make it happen right now.
    And even that's still too low.
    45AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:27
    Re: #30
    If a couple's combined household income is ¥2.5 million a year, maybe they could manage having one kid.
    50AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:28
    The yen's value has dropped to a third of what it was 20 years ago.
    Wages need to triple too, or the math just doesn't add up.
    53AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:29
    Re: #50
    Guess we'll just have to work three times as hard, then.
    54AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:30
    Just fold investment income into comprehensive taxation, and exempt anyone earning under ¥5 million total (including salary) from resident tax and income tax.
    Above ¥5 million, uncapped progressive tax rates.
    Wouldn't that work?
    66AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:34
    It's because cost-push inflation is outpacing the wage increases.
    132AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:07
    Re: #66
    You're being fooled — most of that is just opportunistic price-gouging riding the trend, nothing more.
    83AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:42
    Everyone wants a pay raise, so why won't workers unite?
    In other countries where wages are actually rising, workers band together as one and negotiate with management — Japanese workers don't do that.

    If anything, they're a bunch of idiots busy squabbling amongst themselves instead.
    90AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:46
    Re: #83
    Why not have low-wage workers unionize and go on strike?

    Then they'd all get fired and replaced with capable foreign workers — win-win for everyone, right?
    91AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:46
    Re: #83
    Honestly, most people are satisfied with the status quo even if they don't realize it. If they were truly struggling to get by, they'd actually do something about it.
    98AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:50
    Re: #83
    Because they've got a slave mentality baked in.
    108AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:54
    So 30-40% of people are actually satisfied and don't even want a pay raise, huh.
    113AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    Re: #108
    That's because younger workers are getting higher wages and more job offers without even trying — it's a seller's market for them.
    116AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:58
    Re: #113
    Even though they're useless?
    118AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:59
    Re: #116
    Whether they're useful or not doesn't matter. Just being young makes you valuable these days.

    It's different from the Ice Age Generation (the large cohort who graduated into Japan's brutal job market of the late '90s/2000s).
    119AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:00
    Re: #116
    Losers online are always going on about "young people are useless, we're the competent ones!"

    Meanwhile those self-proclaimed "competent" old guys are earning less than their own peers.
    114AnonymousAug 25, 2026 23:57
    Re: #106
    Right, if you don't raise wages everyone's just going to quit.
    146AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:17
    Re: #114
    Exactly. Without the pressure of people quitting, wages never go up.
    147AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:18
    Re: #146
    More like, for low-end jobs there's always someone to replace you if you quit.

    Especially now, since foreign workers are putting in such good work.
    151AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:19
    Re: #147
    What are you even talking about?
    155AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:20
    Re: #147
    Don't you see the pattern — the more fluid a segment of the job market is, the more conditions improve?

    Temp workers' hourly wages have shot way up, while regular full-time employees' haven't, precisely because temps just quit if they're unhappy with their treatment.

    Bottom line: improving your own conditions takes the will to actually change jobs.
    161AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:23
    What's really high is social insurance premiums and taxes.
    180AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:34
    There's no way small and mid-size companies can afford pay raises, not with the weak yen tanking the economy.
    It's only big corporations and public servants propping up the wage index.
    186AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:38
    Re: #180
    If this gets pushed through forcefully, it'll probably accelerate a winner-take-all society — split between those who can land jobs and those who can't.
    189AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:38
    Re: #180
    Exactly this. The only ones getting raises are public servants and big-company employees — or people who generate huge profits for their company.
    199AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:45
    Re: #180
    In other words, small and mid-size companies are the ones dragging Japan down.

    Why do people insist on glorifying SMEs? They're actually the ones with more exploitative "black" labor practices and layers of subcontracting that skim off the top — it just doesn't make the news the way big companies do. People romanticize SMEs because of old TV documentaries that tugged at their heartstrings; you're just seeing a pretty, curated slice of small business and projecting some romantic notion onto it.
    204AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:48
    Re: #199
    SMEs are garbage. The owning family drives around in luxury cars worth tens of millions of yen while the employees are all stuck driving beat-up used cars.
    The president's son joins the company in his 20s on a ¥10 million salary and drives a luxury car worth more than that.
    215AnonymousAug 26, 2026 00:56
    Re: #204
    So go start your own small company, then. Take on some risk yourself.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Flash+) thread “70% Want a “Pay Raise” Amid Rising Prices, 60% “Dissatisfied” With Wages — What a 2026 Survey Reveals.”