It's already been tweeted 1600 times... Probably gonna be a lot of competition. And if the site is http://www.jnto.go.jp, it's incredibly slow at the minute.

Edit: is it actually possible to apply anywhere, or is this just news at the moment?

Last edited by Javizy (2011 October 10, 1:42 pm)

I believe another article I read was that they were submitting the idea and requesting the money from the government. I don't believe it starts until possibly April (correct me if I'm wrong). I tried going to the site Javizy linked, but yeah it's loading too slow.

I first read about this on Lang-8 on someone's post asked her if this was true she confirmed it saying yes but it's still being discussed and not everyone in Japan wants this to go through exactly neither. I can understand their feelings in a way after all a lot of people are still mad about how the government has been dealing with the Touhoku Triple Disaster even though the government is trying to do what they can.I know I was stoked when I read this considering the fact that I was not planning on even going near Japan till I finished community college and hopefully saved enough for a trip over there as well but, if this goes through I,am definitely not passing this type of chance up and the requirements aren't too strict neither pretty simple cut-dry to me I hope this does start in April of next year if this plan is approved gives me enough time to prepare and study hard. I plan to keep an eye on this news for as long as possible even if it doesn't go through I plan to go a tad nuts with Japanese after I finish this semester to reach a High Beginner close to Low-Intermediate Level in Japanese it's going to require a lot of work from me mostly reading and writing and speaking though and more and more immersion as I go. Funny thing is I was recently thinking of getting a passport since I do plan on seeing my father's side of my family in 2013 well, I guess I,ll be following through with those passport plans I can only imagine how hard it's going to be to be one of the selected few though.

Is this the same thing? 150 free study trips to Japan for foreign students
(I was surprised to see that 600 students cancelled their plans to study in Japan after the earthquake.)

It hasn't been decided yet, according to both the article that Nagareboshi linked and Javizy's link. It seems like the government is in favor of the plan, but no final decision has been reached. In case anyone else was confounded by the phrase 「方針を固めた」 in the Yomiuri article, I recommend this explanatory article↓

http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/ … 29629.html

They're doing it for the tourism market's sake (and also to heighten general foreign interest->international trade improvements) and see it as an investment that will pay off in the long run. I, of course, can't say whether it will be worth it in the end or not, but it's not such an unreasonable idea. Many Japanese citizens may not agree with this particular investment, and even assuming it actually works out the way it is intended to they might not realize its value. Even so, it's possible that it will, over the long term, improve the everyday lives of numerous Japanese. Welcome to politics.

Also, the people who say they would rather not be taxed at all often don't realize just what it means to lose all the things arranged by their state/governmental system, like say, properly maintained roads available to everyone for example. I don't mean to sound condescending and this isn't directed at you specifically, but far too often the ones who complain the most about taxes are the same people that complain the most as soon as anything that is paid for with taxes doesn't work exactly the way they want it to.

Last edited by Surreal (2011 October 15, 2:43 pm)

Zon70 wrote:

great, this comes out just a week after i spent 1,200 dollars on a plane ticket.....
still though it isnt even official, and where are they getting this money to send foreigners to japan for free? the taxpayers thats for sure. im sure they would rather have their money spent on other things(or if they are like me, not be taxed at all!)

yeah, they'll get it from the taxpayers, but quite a simple calculation can show you that each tourist is going to spend more in Japan and therefore put more back into the economy than was paid for the original ticket. (that's even before the less countable benefits are included like stronger links with other countries). I doubt that they're planning on giving them out for things like a nice weekend trip to Tokyo in a budget hotel...

i don't know about the effect of tourism (i.e. tourists buying yen) on the price of the yen though... is it a big effect? If it is, i could see why people might be against it...

Last edited by IceCream (2011 October 15, 4:14 pm)

IceCream wrote:

yeah, they'll get it from the taxpayers, but quite a simple calculation can show you that each tourist is going to spend more in Japan and therefore put more back into the economy than was paid for the original ticket.

I don't think that's necessarily true. You could get by on less than 10,000yen a day if you're careful, staying at cheap hostels or with friends. I can totally understand that some Japanese might feel a little 微妙 about this plan. A lot of economists think this kind of stimulus spending doesn't work, and I'm tempted to agree. What Japan needs is tax cuts. If they do go ahead with the plan, they should at least make it conditional with flying JAL or ANA.

Well I guess it all depends on whether you believe in personal property rights or not. Whether or not a person is entitled to the money he has earned. Personally, Id rather not have my money taken from me and spent on welfare, wars, and bearucrats salaries.

And yes, Japan does need tax cuts. If Japan raises taxes that will take money away from the citizen who I am sure needs as much money as they can use considering their economy.

Zon70 wrote:

great, this comes out just a week after i spent 1,200 dollars on a plane ticket.....

Lol - that's kind of like saying "oh man I just took a new job, a week before they started a new national state lottery."

Don't sweat it, you have almost zero chance of winning this thing (if it even happens)

Tzadeck wrote:

Dear Universe,

There are few sounds I like less than hearing Americans give their opinion about taxation.  Please help.

Yours,
A Concerned American

Occupy RTK Forums!

I wouldn't worry about taxpayers money. Look at it this way - if they buy you a plane ticket with JAL, their tax money will go right back into their economy. Also, you'll spend at least as much money while in Japan (they'll want to see your travel plans), so they'll get back what they spent double or triple. It's a win-win for everyone. Plus they already got an enormous amount of free publicity for the country's tourism just from the news release.

I'd say this is one of the best ideas to come out of Japanese bureaucracy.

Now, the million dollar question - are you afraid? You might breathe in some cesium and strontium with dust and ingest some with food. Sure, it's won't kill you, only slightly increase your chances of getting cancer. The chances are small, of course. Like winning a lottery. You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?