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From CNN Tokyo, JapanCNN — When Kaneko Miyuki reported her sexual assault as a seven-year-old in Japan, she remembers the police laughing at her. “I was already confused and scared,” she said. “They wouldn’t take me seriously as a child.” The following investigation made things worse. After being questioned, she was taken back to the scene of her assault without a guardian present, against all modern guidelines. The police never did bring her attacker to justice. The whole experience was so traumatizing for Kaneko that she repressed her memory of it until she began having flashbacks in her twenties, and didn’t come to terms with the fact she had been sexually assaulted until her 40s. Kaneko is among countless Japanese women who say their experiences of sexual assault and abuse were ignored because they “didn’t fit the criteria” of a victim. About 95% of survivors never report their assault to police, and nearly 60% never tell anyone at all, according to a 2020 government survey. But that could be about to change. On Friday, the Japanese parliament passed a raft of bills overhauling the country’s sex crime laws, long criticized as outdated and restrictive, reflecting conservative social attitudes that often stigmatize and cast doubt on victims. The new laws expand the definition of rape to place greater emphasis on the concept of consent; introduce national legislation against taking explicit photos with hidden cameras; and raise the age of consent to 16. The previous age of consent, at 13, had been among the lowest in the developed world. It marks a major victory for sexual assault survivors and activists, some of whom have spent decades lobbying for these changes. The new law replaces “forcible sexual intercourse” with “non-consensual sexual intercourse,” and expands the definition of assault to include victims under the influence of alcohol or drugs, those with mental or physical disorders, and those intimidated through their attacker’s economic or social status. It also includes those unable to voice resistance due to shock or other “psychological reactions. Other major changes include raising the age of consent to 16 years old except for when both parties are underage – on par with many US states and European nations including the United Kingdom, Finland and Norway. The amendments also expand protections for minors, establishing grooming as a crime for the first time. They further criminalize activity like asking those under 16 for sexual images, or asking to visit a minor for sexual purposes. It also makes it easier to prosecute people accused of taking or distributing photos of a sexual nature without the subject’s knowledge or consent – a hot button issue in Japan where upskirting and hidden cameras taking explicit photos of women has long been a problem.

Thanks for your enjoyable trip report. It was a pleasure to meet you for first time. You’re going home with many good memories that you were kind enough to share with us.

Sure. Don’t you remember? We met outside committee chamber and we proceeded to get drunk.

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To put this in perspective, there was a period in US politics during Cold War era of the 50’s known as the Sen.Joe McCarthy hearings when citizens were—under oath—pressured to divulge names of friends and family who attended meetings of the American Communist Party or other organizations deemed as subversive by the madman committee chair who had his sights set on higher office. Eventually McCarthy self destructed but not before many lives were ruined. Thousands lost their jobs, many gay men among them. German citizens during the run up to WWII were subjected to even harsher pressure to identify Jews, homosexuals and others by Nazi interrogators. The objective in both of those cases was to get people “to name names” or be ostracized—or worst—themselves. What may seem an innocent effort to create a list of guys who fall short of a member’s expectations has the possibility to cause unintended consequences in the lives of the young men we travel here to meet. I don’t believe any members wish to be responsible for triggering that harm.

I believe you know damn well I’d never do that. I don’t believe he should be avoided. Simply because I decided he wasn’t a good fit for me doesn’t mean others may be very satisfied with him. Why you seem obsessed with creating a black list baffles me. To be honest, I find it offensive.

There’s good news and good news. It appears that Foodland is opening a new location in the Park Silom building but still retaining Patpong flagship store. At least that’s my assumption after just seeing this announcement flash across huge video screen on the building: ”Foodland Coming Soon”

Lol.

You’re right. My second choice was same guy Oz wrote about from same shop.

I can say same about the cute, friendly waiter 🙂

From The Nation Thai massage therapists are currently in high demand at hotels and spas in the Middle East, with operators willing to pay five times the salary they can earn in Thailand, an industry expert said. “As wellness tourism is booming in the Middle East after the Covid lockdown was lifted, tourism operators in countries such as UAE and Saudi Arabia are in need of massage and spa therapists from Thailand,” said Krip Rojanastien, chairman and CEO of Chiva-Som International Health Resort. “These skilled workers usually earn around 30,000 baht per month in Thailand, but in the Middle East they can expect to be paid from 120,000 to 160,000 baht. The highest pay I saw offered was 200,000 baht per month,” he said. In Saudi Arabia, where large tourism projects are being developed, therapists from Thailand are the most sought-after and the best-paid compared to workers from other countries, he added. Krip said the new government must take this chance to further develop its relationship with Middle Eastern countries to promote mutual tourism, as well as provide training support for massage therapists to prevent any shortage of skilled labour. He said the Thai private sector is also seeking government support for establishing a skill development centre for tourism workers, to provide standardized training in general hospitality as well as in-depth instruction in more sophisticated subjects such as massage and health tourism. “Wellness tourism will be one of the dominant trends in the next 5-10 years, as many countries including Thailand are becoming ageing societies. We need to prepare for the increasing demand for personnel in this sector,” he said. Meanwhile, Krod Rojanastien, advisor to Chiva-Som's CEO, proposed an amendment to the law on the careers foreigners are prohibited from doing in Thailand that would give massage therapists a temporary exemption so that foreigners can be trained during any labour shortage. “Currently there are about 200,000 registered massage therapists in Thailand, working in about 10,000 establishments throughout the country,” he said. “We can increase these numbers by allowing foreigners to become therapists, boosting the overall wellness tourism industry. “Furthermore, with the addition of English language teaching to the courses, Thailand can become a hub for massage therapist training in the region,” he added.

With a minimum wage of about 360 baht and they wonder why they have worker shortage? From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Although Thailand currently has 2.7 million registered guest workers from neighboring countries, some regions are still massively short of the numbers required. Jessataporn Bunnag, director of the Pattaya-based Foreign Workers Employment Agency, said there are over 250,000 registered guest workers in Chonburi province, but employers and contractors were asking for many more. The agency is responsible for the registration of foreign workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos in accordance with the memoranda of understanding between Thailand and the governments of the respective countries. “Chonburi province is very diverse,” said Mr Bunnag, “So there are vacancies in tourist-orientated Pattaya for hotel and restaurant staff as well as laborers on building sites. But the pressing need in Chonburi city is for factory workers in food processing and in port areas for fishermen. Not to mention the diverse needs of the hi-tech Eastern Economic Corridor.” He added that the situation could get worse in future because of the steep fall in Thailand’s birth rate over the past 30 years. He suggested that the Thai government should look at raising the minimum wage (currently around 360 baht in Chonburi province) and recruiting workers from Vietnam by establishing a further memorandum of understanding with the authorities there.

This shop is associated with 27M shop, also near Saphan Kwai BTS. It’s very easy to reach. Take exit 3 and when you get to bottom of stairs walk less than 50 feet and turn left after passing 7-Eleven. Shop is on your right down short alley. Reception is on second floor and rooms on third and fourth (all stairs easily negotiable). My first impression was that it was very clean and well maintained. I arrived without advance booking. Although they have scores of guys on website, I was shown only about 15 on a phone. Among them was one I’ve had my eye on for past few trips because he also appears on offerings of three other shops in area but was never available. Consequently I chose him. One hour oil 400. Manager said he’d arrive in 10 minutes and led me to room and invited me to shower down the hall. Room was typical of area with mattress pad on floor and a security box with key for valuables. After shower I waited another 5 minutes before he announced himself. He proceeded to take long shower and we eventually began massage about 25 minutes after my arrival. He began with towel wrapped around him and spent an inordinate amount of time on feet and legs. I finally told him to move on to my back. It’s been my experience that massages that concentrate on legs too long frequently prove less satisfying. Found myself beginning to lose interest. His technique was ok but the whole thing lacked any eroticism. The chemistry (for lack of better expression) was missing. I rolled over at this point, thanked him for massage and began to get up. It then struck him that we were less than half an hour into massage and it was coming to and an end. He reached for phone and rapidly began asking standard questions as the towel dropped away. Afters we’re offered but the moment had passed for me and I declined (only second time since precovid). He was pleasant enough fellow and we spent another five minutes with translated q and a. Then we showered together. Minimum tip 800 and I gave him 1,000. Never tip less than that unless guy is total disaster. Overall I recommend the shop. The less than satisfying massage can happen occasionally anywhere but fortunately they’re rare. it was only shop I can recall that offered neither tea or water to customer. https://15and27massure.blogspot.com/2023/04/15-massage.html

Just about every member who has visited Bangkok has probably walked by it and never took notice. Tonight I went there for pizza for the fourth time and Alley’s Italian restaurant seems to get better each time. Located in the alley directly opposite Moonlight, it first came to my attention in a member’s trip report over a year ago, but I can’t recall his handle. But I agree with all he wrote about this place. My favorite: the large veggie (335 bht) that comfortably feeds two hungry diners. Matched with a few big bottles of Chang, you’ll think your back in the original Madrid.

The high rise at Silom and Convent roads is nearing its opening. According to website it will feature many shops, eateries and a supermarket. This raises the question just what one it will be. Although Tops appears a likely candidate, it could also be an opportunity for Foodland to move into larger quarters. Our favorite market is a fixture in Patpong but an opportunity like this to relocate may prove very tempting, especially with the speculation that developers may make Patpong’s owner an offer it can’t refuse. And it’s difficult to think of Foodland without thinking about Took Lae Dee Restaurant (Thai for cheap and good). It would have to be a package deal or Vinapu would revoke UNESCO title.

It seemed like a questionable military acquisition from the get go. Thailand was ready to spend 369 million USD for a submarine, built in China but powered with a German engine. It was odd decision Thai waters are relatively shallow for effective submarine operations. Nevertheless the Thai Navy has maintained a robust submarine division for years, complete with flag officers and ready staff despite the fact it hasn’t actually had a single submarine to put to sea for decades. If I recall correctly, the original deal was for two subs. From Nikkei Asia MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent BANGKOK -- Thailand is considering a Chinese engine for a submarine it plans to purchase from China now that Germany has refused to supply an engine. Thailand agreed in 2017 to purchase a submarine from China for $369 million, a deal that symbolized Thailand's deepening ties with China as a supplier of military assets. At the time, the then junta, headed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, was taking steps toward balancing its strategic ties with China, having received a cold shoulder from the U.S. following Prayuth's coup in 2014. But the plan ran aground last year after Germany objected to the use of its products for Chinese military exports. China's state-owned submarine producer alternatively offered a Chinese-made engine for the submarine, which Thailand initially resisted, apparently due to quality concerns. According to sources at the Thai defense ministry, Thai navy officials and Chinese authorities will meet and discuss the submarine deal later this month. In preparation for the Chinese substitute, Thailand has sought information from Pakistan about the quality of its Chinese-made submarine fleet, the defense ministry sources said. Pakistan has eight Yuan-class submarines that reportedly use engines comparable to what the Chinese are offering to Thailand. The Thai navy has also deployed lawyers to comb through the deal's contract. They are "looking for loopholes in the law to make changes to move this deal forward," a military intelligence source told Nikkei Asia. "It is very sensitive because there can be trouble for the navy if the contract has been violated and so much money is being spent." Security analysts say China has been lobbying the Thai navy to accept the Chinese submarine engine. "Although there have been real improvements in Chinese submarine engines, the ones on offer are notoriously loud," said Zachary Abuza, a professor of Southeast Asian security at the Washington D.C.-based National War College. "[China is putting] a huge amount of diplomatic pressure on the Thai navy to accept the Chinese-made engine." Besides Pakistan, China has supplied submarines to Bangladesh and Myanmar. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a think tank that tracks the global weapons trade, the submarines are part of China's expanding presence as a dominant player in Asia's military supply chain. "China has a lot riding on this deal as a dependable weapons supplier," said a Bangkok-based diplomat from an Asian mission. "Reactions within the Thai navy's bureaucracy -- resisting the Chinese offer of a Chinese engine initially, then conditional acceptance, then more discussions -- speak of the pressure Thailand is under from Beijing to save its face." Yet Thai military procurement from China has a history of price, too. "In our surveys of 1,800 Thai officers conducted [between] 2015 to 2017, we found that price was considered the most important reason for the attractiveness of Chinese military equipment," said Greg Raymond, a senior lecturer at the Strategic and Defense Studies Center at the Australian National University. Consequently, Thailand's military assets are now laden with Chinese-made heavy artillery, tanks and Jianghu-class frigates.

Dutifully journeyed to location to be among first to attend announced Prince reopening. It was not to be. I was at first heartened when I spotted the the Prince logo on outside wall. I ventured forth but was soon greeted by evidence of on-going construction. Exploring further, I located what appears to be a temporary entrance but path within had more construction material. I texted Line website and inquired if new opening date was available. Short time later I received response of Sunday, 18 June. Will follow up because (1) management replied quickly to my question and (2) this is shaping up as a promising location from a brand with a storied Bangkok history.

….burp.

I was a bit surprised myself. It’s a very heavily populated area so I assume there’s strong demand. Also, this shop is first I’m aware of that’s not on the main drag so rent may be lower. Should benefit the guys who now have more outlets.

Another new massage shop has opened on Inthamara 25 off Sutthisan Winitchai rd. Saengchan Spa is associated with One Spa which opened a few months ago. https://lin.ee/U8JoiP5

Makes me wish I’d borrowed money from Deutsche Bank 🙂.

Everyone probably has their own conception of a ladyboy but one thing is certain: you know one when you see one. I believe it would be a mistake to equate ladyboy with twink, the vast majority of whom are straight and not necessarily bottoms.

If they didn’t have enlarged breasts, wigs and high heals, maybe more men would find them attractive. Just a thought. And they should have cocks, I think .