Friday Finish - Boro Envelope Pouch

I made this square boro piece into an envelope with a snap closure. It is hand sewn and uses Japanese fabrics.  

Boro can really be addictive.

Online Insults Can Send You To Jail

Monday, the Upper House passed a bill to try to tackle cyberbullying in Japan. Tougher penalties for online insults include jail time. 

The debate about the balance between tougher regulations and freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, has been more intense since the May 2020 suicide of Hana Kimura, a 22 year old reality show star, after receiving hateful messages on social media. 

The bill was passed after a supplementary provision, stipulating that a review will be conducted within three years of the enactment of the law to determine if it unfairly restricts free speech. "Insults" are distiguished from "defamation" in that insults demean someone without referring to a specific action. Both are punishable under this new law. 

Currently, the penalty for insults is a fine of less than 10,000 yen or detention for less than 30 days. The new law raises the fine to up to 300,000 yen and a prison term of up to one year. The statute of limitations for insults will also be extended from one year to three years. 

What do you think? Will this law prevent suicides? Does it infringe on free speech?  Are there similar laws where you live? I think online bullying is a problem, especially for the youngest users of the internet. I'm concerned about whether this law is overly broad and will limit free speech in ways not intented. I also wonder if the penalty is enough to deter online insults. I'd like to know what you think.

Work In Progress Wednesday

Paisley Purse - I cut the ultra suede that will cover the felt padding.

Boro

Braid Coasters - need binding.

Mt. Fuji Applique Pouch

Beady Fob start

Another new start

Foreigners Can Be Beauticians in Tokyo Starting in October

I think it is difficult for foreigners to be granted a visa and find a job in Japan, other than being an English teacher. The reasons are the Japanese language and the visa system. If you can't read and write, it's difficult to pass the exam to become what ever it was you did before you came to Japan. I think there are specialized regulations for about everything.  In addition, I don't think Japan wants foreigners to do jobs that Japanese can do. Visas aren't granted for those jobs.

Tokyo metropolitan government has just announced it will allow foreigners to work as beauticians starting in October, using a national regulation scheme. This is the first time the beauty industry in Japan is opening up to non-Japanese any where in the country. Foreigners in Japan on student visas who have demonstrated skills to be beauticians and stylists at beauty schools in Japan will be allowed to work for up to five years. 

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike held a press conference to make the announcement and said "Japan's beauty industry is the best in the world and I want them to take the advanced techniques and hospitality skills they learn in Tokyo and share them with the world." Tokyo will designate a support and supervisory organization for foreign beauticians in August. Beginning October 1st, foreign students who meet skills requirements will be able to work at salons under the governments' national strategic special zones scheme, aimed at supporting regional economic growth. 

I'm not sure what this is about. I don't think I have the full story.  Is there a shortage of beauticians in Tokyo? Does this have anything to do with the 1,000+ Ukrainians (mostly women and children) who have moved to Japan from their war torn homeland? Why do they only get to work here as a beautician for up to five years? I'm going to be watching the news stories (in English) to see if I can find out more about this.

Stitch Group Sunday - Starting Ukrainian Embroidery

First some dorset button Show and Tell (I'm sorry for the closed eyes photography!)

First, everyone had to decide on a pattern. With two books and internet sources, it wasn't an easy decision.

On with the stitching...

Everyone will continue working at home until we meet again.

Tea Time

On the left with the sticks - Lucky Dango - a sticky sweet rice on a stick with anko, a sweet bean paste.

Until next time...

Elsa Williams' Home in California 2010

In September 2010, while in San Francisco for the EGA National Seminar, I was able to participate in a special tour of the home of Elsa Williams. It was a private home, not open to the public.  I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but I think it was her daughter who hosted us that day. I had several of her books and she was very well known, a celebrity of the stitch world, so I was very excited about being able to see her wonderful home and gorgeous needlework.