Does NHK fee collector keep knocking on your door for money?

[JimmySeal]

I think that if Japanese people want a reason to despise foreigners, they'll pick something other than NHK fees. If that's the worst they can do, then I say they should have at it. Considering that at least 1 out of 5 Japanese people avoids paying, they're more likely to say, "ah, just like one of us."

Strangely enough, an NHK thread started up on my local JET BBS, and here are two anectdotes to show that not all Japanese people hate foreigners for not paying their NHK fees:

Luckily (knock on wood), I haven't had a visitor yet, but the official word from my BoE is: I do not have a TV. I watch everything on my computer, and the conspicuous cable box on the outside of my apartment is for cable internet ONLY. Other than that, I can't speak Japanese. Which is fine by me.

Back in the fall a man made the rounds to the Naruto ALT apartments. I just used the 'wakarimasen' line a bunch of times and closed the door on him. He returned about a week later when my JTE was visiting and he explained everything to her. She told me to ignore it and not worry if he came back. Well, he DID come back and waved papers and was clearly saying 'you know why I'm here, that lady told you', but I just stuck with my 'wakarimasen' and quickly closed and locked the door.

And this one's just funny:

---- tells a great story about a man who came a few years ago demanding he pay. ---- explained to the man that he never watches TV, but the man told him that if he owned a TV then it meant he could access the station, so he was required to pay. After a heated argument, ---- walked into the living room, unplugged the TV and brought it to the door and pushed it at the man saying something like, "Here, you can have my TV then." The man apparently left and mumbled something about how foreigners don't understand and should learn Japanese. By the way, the whole conversation WAS in Japanese.

 

[FrustratedDave]

NOVA refuses to pay citing that the teachers do not work enough hours to be considered eligible for shakai hoken, in which case these same teachers are supposed to enrol in NHI (kokuminkenko hoken and kokumin nenkin) themselves. If they feel that they are infact eligible for shakai hoken they can enrol themselves and the social security office will do an audit and decide what will happen.
How we got here is simple: someone (Dave I guess) suggested that foreigners who aren't paying their NHK dues are giving a bad image to all of us. I'm saying that's a load of bollocks considering the billions of yen that go unpaid into public services by thousands of foreigners.

This is not meant as an attack on you at all so please don't take it that way, but don't presume the order of seriousness that I place on each negative action taken by a foriegner. I think it is pretty obvious which requires more attention on our behalves( Unpaid social services for example ), But in your words I am looking at the "big picture" and this thread was about not paying NHK, which does infact have a negative impact on our image as a whole or minority, however big or small it may be. Your reasoning was based on what you though and felt ,but did not take the reality of the situation. I will say again ,I am no "gaijins must do this" kind of person, but I get very embarrassed when I see a foriegner arguing with a Japanese clerk when I can clearly see the clerk is right. If I am lucky that clerk may treat me as a different person and forget the last encounter with and unruley gaijin, but if it happens enough times people do tend to think the worst of you "as a whole or minority".

Again at the risk of you thinking that I am attacking you personaly which I have no intention to doing so I will say this, I don't know how long you have lived here and nor will I presume to , but your attitude reminds me of many people I have come into contact through the years, most of which stay for a couple of years and then have up and left the country without gaining any insight to the Japanese way of life, evn though they can speak the langauge. Of those few that stayed and had families I watched their oppinions and actions change with time as did mine for that fact.

 

[Ewok85]

Are you aware of the type of contract they are under? Companies are not liable for payment into the NHI nor the pension plan Kokumin Nenkin if the contractee is contracted under an "itaku gyoumu", or sub-contracted contract.

Thats incorrect (ignoring the fact that hiring educators under itakugyomu contracts is illegal under national education labor laws anyway), the type of contract does not matter as it is the content of the work that matters.

You must be covered by the Employees' Health Insurance if you work for a company or factory which employs 5 workers or more, or if you work for a HOJIN corporation, irrespective of your age or nationality. Specifically, a company or a factory here means one in business specified by law, such as manufacture or health and medical services.
You must be also covered if you are a part-time worker and if both your work days and your work hours are more than 3/4 of the regular workers in your workplace.

I'll dig out the Japanese if you want, but its fairly clear.

The responsibility then lies with the individual to pay for their own health insurance and pension coverage. It may be a loop hole in the law but the companies that use this are not doing anything illegal. It may be unethical but not against the law.

Ah but it is. A Japanese employee would raise all hell if their company refused to enrol them in the required insurance schemes (health, pension, employment, accident), and in cases where the individual falls outside the sphere of shakihoken, there is still a legal requirement for them to be enrolled in NHI and national pension.

Considering that this is a legal requirement, and has a direct effect on all of us, doesn't it make it far more important than the NHK fees? And how does not paying NHK fees have an effect on other people? (apart from everyone having to suffer the bitching and moaning that happens on sites like this)

 

[frostyg02uk]

i see i see. I think gaijins that dont pay the taxes envolved with working are also wrong. But i also believe that the company should be forced to take responsibilty for that.

I think Jimmyseals examples are great examples of what can ruin our reputation in a few peoples eyes. Ive never personally heard a gaijin use the "speak no japanese" phase but it is suppose to be popular. A teacher i use to talk to had almost 20 years experience of living in Japan and he said when visiting another country be a class act all of the way because you could be messing it up for the next guy. His example was a school he worked at that wouldnt hire canadians as the last two had messed up, one sleeping with his student who was underage the other leaving 2 months before the end of the contract but still demanding their end of contract bonus. So a few bad experiences can leave a negative opinion with some i think and if someone left a taste like this which meant i couldnt get a job/apartment or had an extra rude NHK worker because of the last guy i wouldnt be happy.

I think not paying your fee because you proved you dont watch the TV or modified it wont result in any negative opinions but being rude to someone just doing their job or getting aggresive about it is damaging for the next guy in line.

 

[Ewok85]

Ok Ewok, I will spell it out for you, but I know you can understand Japanese so I will inform about how the the legal Justice system works.

This is not the legal 'justice' system, its the legal system. Don't mix it up with the term 'criminal justice'.

The point here is one of very specific legalities, and you have to be precise or else its meaningless. We agree on two points;
) There is a responsibility to enter into a contract
) There is no penalty for not entering into a contract

Payment of fees is not mentioned for a good reason - that is the contract. The point where NHK is legally able to force people to pay is by taking signed copies of legal contracts stating that the individuals will pay NHK an agreed amount to court, and the defendants are forced to pay as they AGREED to pay - not because the law says they have to.

This. is. the. key.

The added fact that this law has no penalty (which is not uncommon as it is not a criminal law but a regulatory law) only reinforces the point that NHK has no legal recourse for being able to force people who have not taken a contract with NHK to pay, but also as recently as March this year the government discussed changing the current law to allow NHK to be able to force people to pay.

If they are considering changing the law to allow NHK to force people to change, doesn't that imply that they are unable to force people to pay at present?

You keep saying about "your" future, are you that short sighted to see that what ever foriegn people do is magnified purely by the fact that we are not Japanese?

That's just nonsensical :?

Which I might add does affect our future as a whole b/c of the changes to the constitution that government find so easy to do when it regards foreigners.

Sorry, you'll have to explain that one to me. Is this reference to the language in which it was written? (ie. heavy use of terms like 日本国民, わが国 etc, suggesting that the rights allowed by the constitution do not apply to all people in Japan, but only the Japanese?)

Now am I to assume that when you were at homestay that those families refused to pay the NHK fees going off your previous statements reagarding not knowing anyone who pays for NHK? But yet you watched these programs as did your homestay family? Again I find this quite hypocritical, as the scandles only happend a little over a year ago, which would not be the reason for not paying like you said.

That was 4 years ago and I didn't really ask at the time. Even then I didn't watch NHK - mainly Fuji TV and TV Tokyo.

Go ask a foriegner who came here by himself and how hard it was to get an appartment on your own with out the help of another Japanese?

Did that when I came here a second time on my own.

How about getting a credit card without a Japanese sponser?

Done that, only had one issue which was my first bank denying me use of a debit card instead of a credit card...

Another example, although this has never happened to me, but the refusal of foriengers into bath houses in some areas, this was brought about by unrulely gaijin ruining it for others.

Been to plenty of sento in the 'burbs of Tokyo, onsen out on the side of mountains in the middle of nowhere... one little sento in a town somewhere in southern Miyagi-ken even had a few tatooed guys who were fun to talk to.

I've also been able to get my licence, hire cars and bikes, stay in hotels, shop online, etc etc. My foreignness has never been an issue, I think that being polite and having done the hard work of studying Japanese before trying to live here helped the most in that.

Foreigners not paying NHK fees is a topic I have not seen once on TV (ironic), in the newspapers or even the tabloid rags - nothing. While you may have a point on foreigners who leave the country while not paying rent, which is illegally and borderline criminal, and is the kind of thing that really does damage the image of foreigners.

 

[FrustratedDave]

This is not the legal 'justice' system, its the legal system. Don't mix it up with the term 'criminal justice'.
The point here is one of very specific legalities, and you have to be precise or else its meaningless. We agree on two points;
) There is a responsibility to enter into a contract
) There is no penalty for not entering into a contract
Payment of fees is not mentioned for a good reason - that is the contract. The point where NHK is legally able to force people to pay is by taking signed copies of legal contracts stating that the individuals will pay NHK an agreed amount to court, and the defendants are forced to pay as they AGREED to pay - not because the law says they have to.
This. is. the. key.
The added fact that this law has no penalty (which is not uncommon as it is not a criminal law but a regulatory law) only reinforces the point that NHK has no legal recourse for being able to force people who have not taken a contract with NHK to pay, but also as recently as March this year the government discussed changing the current law to allow NHK to be able to force people to pay.
If they are considering changing the law to allow NHK to force people to change, doesn't that imply that they are unable to force people to pay at present?.

放送法第32条第1項では、 所定の条件を満たした者にNHKとの受信契約を義務付けられている。 The writing in bold, "you have an obligation to enter the broadcast contract" This is the law and by not enetering you are breaking it.
The payment is in the contract, but the law clearly states that if you own a TV that you have an obligation to enter that contract. This allows them the right to take you to court to have you enter into that contract and therefore pay the fees. In any case I am going talk with my company's lawyer this afternoon to get the exact definition of the law, as I have been instructed by him in the past when this issue came up regarding this and the fact that they can go to the courts an make you pay regardless of not entering the contract.

That's just nonsensical :?.

As you can't understand it? Let me clarify, if you are not Japanese you stand out and draw more attention then the average Japanese person even when it is something trivial.

which I might add does affect our future as a whole b/c of the changes to the constitution that government find so easy to do when it regards foreigners.
Sorry, you'll have to explain that one to me. Is this reference to the language in which it was written? (ie. heavy use of terms like 日本国民, わが国 etc, suggesting that the rights allowed by the constitution do not apply to all people in Japan, but only the Japanese?).

Can you vote? Yes some things only apply to Japanese and there are laws for that. Where do you get your information from?

That was 4 years ago and I didn't really ask at the time. Even then I didn't watch NHK - mainly Fuji TV and TV Tokyo..

But yet you know them and know that they did not pay , refering to your previous statement. Then you are commenting on the TV channel as being a heap of crap, but in reality you have not really watched it! Or is it hearsay that you are refering to?

Did that when I came here a second time on my own.
Done that, only had one issue which was my first bank denying me use of a debit card instead of a credit card...
Been to plenty of sento in the 'burbs of Tokyo, onsen out on the side of mountains in the middle of nowhere... one little sento in a town somewhere in southern Miyagi-ken even had a few tatooed guys who were fun to talk to.
I've also been able to get my licence, hire cars and bikes, stay in hotels, shop online, etc etc. My foreignness has never been an issue, I think that being polite and having done the hard work of studying Japanese before trying to live here helped the most in that.
Foreigners not paying NHK fees is a topic I have not seen once on TV (ironic), in the newspapers or even the tabloid rags - nothing. While you may have a point on foreigners who leave the country while not paying rent, which is illegally and borderline criminal, and is the kind of thing that really does damage the image of foreigners.

No matter what it is , anything negative damages foriengers image as a whole and it is not just one thing singled out as you continue to plead, I don't know how many times and in how many ways I have to explain it to you!

 

[FrustratedDave]

This is not the legal 'justice' system, its the legal system. Don't mix it up with the term 'criminal justice'.

And just to clarify, I left out the "or" in a typing error as in "about how the the legal or Justice system works".

 

[basuotoko]

Out of curiosity, why on Earth does NHK insist on getting 4,000 yen (I think that's the figure I read...) from every household with a TV set in the country -- effectively 99% of the population? That's a tremendous amount of money, isn't it? American networks like PBS are funded with private donations, but even then people can give whatever they want to give, yet they manage to keep on the air just the same.

 

[frostyg02uk]

I think its in Canada there is a station that is popular are rely's on donations and ive heard that it will refuse to air any shows when the amount isnt high enough, prompting viewer to donate more.
somehow its worked.....
i think honesty the amount NHK ask for is alot of money but they would make more through advertising no doubt. Not sure if your aware of the BBC channel in the UK but they charge even more, i think it was 130£ per year roughly 26000yen so i dont think that the fee NHK ask for is that much at all.

 

[GaijinPunch]

Out of curiosity, why on Earth does NHK insist on getting 4,000 yen (I think that's the figure I read...) from every household with a TV set in the country -- effectively 99% of the population? That's a tremendous amount of money, isn't it?

Litigation costs for train-groping is very expensive.

 

[Ewok85]

This allows them the right to take you to court to have you enter into that contract and therefore pay the fees.

They are not able to do that which is the whole point.

"In October, the broadcaster sent letters to 47 households and one business that had refused to pay the fees despite having fee contracts..."

"NHK said it plans to file lawsuits against those who have yet to have viewer contracts with it to demand they sign such contracts and begin paying fees. The broadcasting law requires a TV owner to sign a viewership contract with NHK. No provisions exist for penalizing nonpayment."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061130a1.html

In any case I am going talk with my company's lawyer this afternoon to get the exact definition of the law, as I have been instructed by him in the past when this issue came up regarding this and the fact that they can go to the courts an make you pay regardless of not entering the contract.

Don't bother him with something this trivial just so you can prove me wrong!

As you can't understand it? Let me clarify, if you are not Japanese you stand out and draw more attention then the average Japanese person even when it is something trivial.

How would attention be drawn to this? Its never been in the media, and the people around me know nothing about it unless I tell them directly.

Where do you get your information from?

About what? The constitution? By reading it of course.

But yet you know them and know that they did not pay , refering to your previous statement. Then you are commenting on the TV channel as being a heap of crap, but in reality you have not really watched it! Or is it hearsay that you are refering to?

I said that I had not talked about this with my homestay family, which would mean I do not know if they pay or not.

You also seem to be assuming that by not owning a TV I do not watch NHK - I'm around a television almost anywhere I go so I know what is on NHK.

No matter what it is , anything negative damages foriengers image as a whole and it is not just one thing singled out as you continue to plead, I don't know how many times and in how many ways I have to explain it to you!

Sure anything any foreigner may do that is seen in a bad light is going to tarnish your precious image, but an choices such as to pay NHK or not is at the very bottom of the ladder, is it not?

 

[FrustratedDave]

They are not able to do that which is the whole point.
"In October, the broadcaster sent letters to 47 households and one business that had refused to pay the fees despite having fee contracts..."
"NHK said it plans to file lawsuits against those who have yet to have viewer contracts with it to demand they sign such contracts and begin paying fees. The broadcasting law requires a TV owner to sign a viewership contract with NHK. No provisions exist for penalizing nonpayment."
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061130a1.html?

Which is the point, they can sue to get people to sign, but there are no additional penalties. Are we going over the same stuff again? Like I said before they are not going through with it due to the bad few that tarnished their image , b/c it will only bring more criticism which they do not want. But don't be mistaken they have the law behind them, which you are misinturpreting. And here is the last line in quote of your link "NHK and its viewers should be in a relationship based on 'persuasion and trust' that doesn't entail enforcement by the powers that be," . This in itself should tell you that they have the power to enforce the broadcasting law.

Don't bother him with something this trivial just so you can prove me wrong!?

I feel the need to bother him.

How would attention be drawn to this? Its never been in the media, and the people around me know nothing about it unless I tell them directly.?

I was talking in gereneral and any other person would have seen that, but as you have done before you have brought it back to where you want it to be by twisting words.

About what? The constitution? By reading it of course.?

Answer the question, CAN YOU VOTE? The answer is no! Ahh.... so there is another constitution for foreigners! Wow , did you not know that? I guess your reading skills need working?

I said that I had not talked about this with my homestay family, which would mean I do not know if they pay or not.?

But yet everyone one of the Japanese people you know do not pay??? Is that a contradiction of words or am I dreaming?

You also seem to be assuming that by not owning a TV I do not watch NHK - I'm around a television almost anywhere I go so I know what is on NHK.?

But you say in previous post that you do not watch it b/c it is garbage, again very confusing. And you not paying is considered your moral right?

Sure anything any foreigner may do that is seen in a bad light is going to tarnish your precious image, but an choices such as to pay NHK or not is at the very bottom of the ladder, is it not?

Yes and thank you for proving my point. It is people like you that make it hard for the rest of us due to your blatant attitude to defend your foriegn right to do as you please. Oh and by the way , my image is not tarnished as I have worked hard to get where I am for a long time and abide by what is considered the law with out kicking up a fuss or veiwing my oppinion of the Japanese society when I feel it will benifit me.
Goodluck to you Ewok as you seem to have it all worked out. Remember , don't complain to any one when things don't go your way.

 

[Pachipro]

If you'll read the link I posted above, NHK plans to lower the fees by 10% next year in exchange for the government making it MANDATORY BY LAW that everyone with a TV pay the small pittance of a fee.

Try not paying then and see what happens as those not paying now and refusing to pay will probably be on top of their list.

As Frustrated Dave mentioned above, they CAN make you pay if they want to be a**holes about it. Why some foreigners still hold their ground and refuse to pay something like this and deem it their right is still beyond my comprehension. I think they are just too damn cheap personally as I have yet to read an opinion from a non-paying person that justifies their refusal other than not owning a TV.

I think it was Ewok who said that they didn't know anyone who paid the fee. Was he talking about foreigners or Japanese? In the case of foreigners, I'd believe him. In the case of Japanese, I'd find it hard to swallow. All you have to do is walk up and down the street or the halls of your apartment complex, etc., look above the doors, and I'd bet you'd see an "NHK" sticker above 99% of the doors indicating that they have paid their fee, much like the sticker with the kanji for "inu" (dog) indicating that they paid the appropriate fees for the animal.

Take a tour of your neighborhood, maybe 20 house or apartments max and tell us the percentage that don't have an "NHK" sticker. I'd be real interested in knowing that as I would guess over 95% have one.

 

[FrustratedDave]

If you'll read the link I posted above, NHK plans to lower the fees by 10% next year in exchange for the government making it MANDATORY BY LAW that everyone with a TV pay the small pittance of a fee.
Try not paying then and see what happens as those not paying now and refusing to pay will probably be on top of their list.
As Frustrated Dave mentioned above, they CAN make you pay if they want to be a**holes about it. Why some foreigners still hold their ground and refuse to pay something like this and deem it their right is still beyond my comprehension. I think they are just too damn cheap personally as I have yet to read an opinion from a non-paying person that justifies their refusal other than not owning a TV.
I think it was Ewok who said that they didn't know anyone who paid the fee. Was he talking about foreigners or Japanese? In the case of foreigners, I'd believe him. In the case of Japanese, I'd find it hard to swallow. All you have to do is walk up and down the street or the halls of your apartment complex, etc., look above the doors, and I'd bet you'd see an "NHK" sticker above 99% of the doors indicating that they have paid their fee, much like the sticker with the kanji for "inu" (dog) indicating that they paid the appropriate fees for the animal.
Take a tour of your neighborhood, maybe 20 house or apartments max and tell us the percentage that don't have an "NHK" sticker. I'd be real interested in knowing that as I would guess over 95% have one.

Oh so true!!!!!!! It has only been in the last year or so that the paymnet rate has gone down.

 

[GaijinPunch]

In the case of Japanese, I'd find it hard to swallow.

Well get some water. I know a few (and I don't make it a habit of asking).

 

[Pachipro]

Well get some water. I know a few (and I don't make it a habit of asking).

I know a few too and I never ask. Read the post again. Like I said, take the poll yourself, be honest, and tell us your answer. I'll still bet over 95% or more of the Japanese homes/apartments in your neighborhood have that "NHK" sticker whereas in the case of foreigners it is probably less than 10%. Prove me wrong please.

 

[NekoMama7]

Current laws state that you must pay NHK as long as you have one or more television sets that are capable of receiving signals. It's not the issue that you don't like the idea or you don't watch Japanese programs. If you are connected to JATV (was that the name of the cable company that runs English services in Tokyo?) only, it doesn't really matter. They probably provide contents provided by NHK, too.

After the repeated scandals by NHK employees, many households refused to pay their NHK fees, and the NHK along with the government are considering some stiff penalty for non-paying folks. Under the circumstances, NHK is super-eager to catch any new and non subscribers.

NHK's satelite and hi-vision (or HD) channels have really cool contents, as well as good ol 1 channel and 3 channel (the education channel).

If you insist on not paying, you may need to prove that there is no way that you are nott able to receive and do not intend to receive any television signals, not limited to NHK's. And consider voting for someone who is willing to change NHK fee systems or even run for the office yourself in order to change the systems.

 

[KirinMan]

And consider voting for someone who is willing to change NHK fee systems or even run for the office yourself in order to change the systems

Good points up to this, while valid and not to down play it, it only will happen if one has Japanese citizenship. And as you probably know the majority of us "gaijin" living here in Japan do not, so we truly have no "voice" in the matter.

 

[GaijinPunch]

I know a few too and I never ask. Read the post again. Like I said, take the poll yourself, be honest, and tell us your answer. I'll still bet over 95% or more of the Japanese homes/apartments in your neighborhood have that "NHK" sticker whereas in the case of foreigners it is probably less than 10%. Prove me wrong please.

I have far, far better things to do than going checking houses in my neighborhood for NHK stickers. Besides, I live in a very Gaijin-friendly neighborhood. The sample is somewhat tainted.

I still don't know how this topic got to be 4-pages. We're talking about the penalties of not paying a 1400 a month fine in a country where the Prime Minister didn't pay into the welfare system for some 15 odd years.

EDIT:
Maybe a good time to mention I have a friend that works for NHK that refuses to pay.

 

[FrustratedDave]

I still don't know how this topic got to be 4-pages. We're talking about the penalties of not paying a 1400 a month fine in a country where the Prime Minister didn't pay into the welfare system for some 15 odd years.

So we as "foreingners" should follow by example? I don't see your point?

Unfortunately none of us "foreingners" will be looked upon in the same light as a Japanese, for the time being that is(The future may be a little more rosy, I don't know?). So there is absolutely no merits in comparing situations when it regards Japanese as the other party and anyone doing so will only exemplify their lack of knowledge about the fact that "foreigners" have to live up to a different standard.

How did this thread get so long? Well it is b/c some people fail to realise that even very small trival things like not paying for NHK only hurts our efforts to be looked upon as equals here. I am speaking in general terms here, but it is a fact that there are things foreigers can not do, but many feel they have the right to do these things. On top of that things can in some instances be made very difficult just b/c some idiot before you decided they wanted to kick up a fuss.

 

[FrustratedDave]

My point is this thread is pointless, and the topic is hardly worth arguing over. Telling white people to pay NHK is pointless. Even if the average Japanese knew which gaijin did and didn't pay their NHK broadcast fee, they would still be seen upon in the same gaijin spotlight.

Japan is much more enjoyable when you realize it's not going to change...especially b/c of something you do or don't do. Want to set a good example? Be the best gaijin there is: the one that minds his own business.

Yes , and anyone could mind their business all they want , but still be that trouble causing, obnoxious, rude and what ever else some foreign people over here are.

Japan is much more enjoyable when you realize it's not going to change...especially b/c of something you do or don't do. .

And what? .... You consider all change as good change?.... Is that way of thinking just being a little ignorant? It reminds me of the ostrich with its head in the sand proverb.
Realise this, the negative things that "gaijins" do, DO have a direct impact on our lives and those of us who plan on spending the rest of our lifes here find that a little disturbing. Oh... and before I am taken out of context, I am not only talking about not paying NHK fees, as I have said a few times earlier it is everything as a whole that governs our future lifestyles.

 

[Iron Chef]

You guys have taken this whole issue WAY too seriously imo. Too each his own I guess.

 

[Sukotto]

haha. oops. accidently tried to ban Iron_Chef.
sorry Chefy.
here, have this balloon as an appology.


now where'd that window go...

 

[FrustratedDave]

GaijinPunch, this is a quote from one of my first posts.

I just get sick of hearing people(gaijin) say "why should I pay for it?", then gloat about it like they did something really funny, well if you have a TV and it is hooked up, you should pay. But then again, I am just a grumpy ***** who cares to much about Gaijins image here in Japan! This is my oppinion and I won't take offence if anyone chooses not to pay, b/c it is not that big of a deal , really....

This quote clearly states my stance on this matter right from the begining. I never claimed to be fighting a war as you put it ,nor did I claim to try to be anyones keeper! And no I am not chatising people for not doing so, I was explaining the current law and that "we" should abide by it ,pure and simple.

There are for more useful things you could do to set a good example. How do Japanese people know foreigners don't pay NHK? Want to set an example, don't jay walk. Help an old lady when she's stuck. Go give your clothes to the homeless. Wait your turn in line. Give up your seat on the train, etc. etc. etc. If you guys were in a war, you'd die in the first battle as you'd be out of bullets (read: choose your battles). Probably wouldn't hurt to emotionally detach yourself from this thread, either. I'm not saying don't pay your NHK bill. Don't chastise others for not though. You are not your brother's keeper.

Can I ask why is it that you find these things you mentioned above to be more important than paying for NHK? I am not saying they are not, but how do measure importance at this level? As I have said and continuned to say , anything negative we do can be blown out of proportion, so not paying if you have a TV IMO is a negative.
BTW, I am not emotionaly attached to this thread refer to my earlier quote, however I will voice my oppinion when I feel it neccessary to do so.

 

[GaijinPunch]

This quote clearly states my stance on this matter right from the begining.

I didn't read that one. Your dedication to (or at least participation in) this thread lead me to believe otherwise.

Can I ask why is it that you find these things you mentioned above to be more important than paying for NHK?

I personally think things that people note and see daily as having more influence in swaying peoples opinions of a race. Giving clothes to the homeless would probably go unnoticed. It's a much greener thing to do than throw them away though.

so not paying if you have a TV IMO is a negative.

I've always been one to let people think what they want.

AND even if you are a person of colour your comments could be taken as being racist.

I'm white. Can't you tell from my avatar?