
The Secretary General of the Osaka Board of Elections saw his annual pay docked two full months after it was discovered he’d spent 281 hours playing solitaire on the clock over a yearlong period ending in July.
What’s most amazing is that he got away with it all year until – and this is not a joke – a whistleblower finally had to come forward and turn the guy in. That kind of information leak certainly isn’t on the same level as the Bradley Mannings of the world, but it must have taken some guts for the guy to speak out about his boss’s solitaire addiction.
Considering that there is an average of about 211 working days per year for a Japanese government worker, this actually only translates to around 1.3 hours per day playing solitaire. If the same standards apply to looking at cute cat pictures during the work day, we think a large chunk of the workforce is in trouble.
▼ Emo Kitty is sad to hear he caused your pay cut.
Source: Himajin Sokuhou


We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Braving a Japanese national fireworks competition with 10x more people than the city population
Taiwan throws lively funerals, complete with miniskirt-clad marching bands 【Video】
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Sumo Sanrio! Hello Kitty and pals team up with Japan Sumo Association for new merch【Pics】
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Braving a Japanese national fireworks competition with 10x more people than the city population
Taiwan throws lively funerals, complete with miniskirt-clad marching bands 【Video】
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Evangelion original anime studio Gainax is now completely dissolved, Eva’s creator mourns ruined friendships
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Illustrator creates beautiful “Bicycle Boy” watercolour series inspired by Studio Ghibli
Sumo Sanrio! Hello Kitty and pals team up with Japan Sumo Association for new merch【Pics】
Pokémon goes old-school cool with hanafuda playing cards, wall scrolls, and more
We found the prettiest TKG ever at a restaurant specializing in raw eggs on rice in Tokyo
Elderly Wakayama woman arrested for hacking her local supermarket’s self-checkout
Leave a Reply