Shortly before another earthquake rattled the coast devastated by last year's monster quake, Tokyo's governor--the man who single-handedly created the Senkaku Island/China/Korea/Taipei problem--called a press conference: he was quitting his job as governor of Tokyo. He had a new calling to answer. He felt called upon to establish his own political party, to allow him to perform on the national stage.
If you like Japanese history, you are surely aware of the Meiji Era, when statesmen of great ability rallied their talents to re-create Japan. This is not the Meiji Era. It is the age of politicians creating their own fan clubs and calling them political parties.
It was as if yesterday's earthquake were shaking up Japan and reminding us, hey! You need to rethink your priorities! Does anyone really think yet setting up another mini-political party is a serious priority?
Meanwhile, Mr. Ishihara's resignation has been accepted and the vacated job can be expected to go to the deputy governor, Mr. Naoki INOSE. In Mr. Inose's previous career as a non-fiction writer, he established a reputation as an idea man. Let's see how he does in his new incarnation as Tokyo governor.
2012年10月26日金曜日
2012年10月21日日曜日
Welcome to the 21st Century
This was such a stupid idea to begin with, aren't you glad it's cancelled? As if wars in the 21st century were really carried out by hordes of uniformed men splashing through the waves to capture a big, lonely rock. By cancelling, the US will have more money to throw at other military adventures, and Japan might possibly consider spending a little more on cleaning up after last year's earthquake.
Just sayin...
Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012
Japan, U.S. abandon drill to 'retake' isle
Jiji
Japan and the U.S. have decided to cancel a joint drill in which their forces would "recapture" a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture, according to informed sources.
Tokyo and Washington were considering holding the drill on uninhabited Irisuna Island as part of joint military exercises slated for November.
The drill, however, would worsen the backlash from Beijing, which has reacted harshly to Japan's nationalization of the Senkaku Islands, which are also claimed by China and Taiwan.
A government source said the decision to skip the Irisuna recapturing drill "reflects the opinion of the prime minister's office."
Another reason was opposition from residents on Okinawa Island, about 60 km away, where sentiment against U.S. bases has flared up following allegations that a Japanese woman was raped by U.S. sailors Tuesday.
In light of these factors, the Defense Ministry found it difficult to proceed with the exercise, although it is considering substitute drills, the sources said.
Just sayin...
Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012
Japan, U.S. abandon drill to 'retake' isle
Jiji
Japan and the U.S. have decided to cancel a joint drill in which their forces would "recapture" a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture, according to informed sources.
Tokyo and Washington were considering holding the drill on uninhabited Irisuna Island as part of joint military exercises slated for November.
The drill, however, would worsen the backlash from Beijing, which has reacted harshly to Japan's nationalization of the Senkaku Islands, which are also claimed by China and Taiwan.
A government source said the decision to skip the Irisuna recapturing drill "reflects the opinion of the prime minister's office."
Another reason was opposition from residents on Okinawa Island, about 60 km away, where sentiment against U.S. bases has flared up following allegations that a Japanese woman was raped by U.S. sailors Tuesday.
In light of these factors, the Defense Ministry found it difficult to proceed with the exercise, although it is considering substitute drills, the sources said.
2012年10月20日土曜日
Sorry, but this isn't really a solution
What time do you usually call it a day and stay in for the night on a weekday? Would you be terribly inconvenienced if you had to be home before 11 PM?
Right.
So, is this really a curfew or is it just fancy words pretending to sound important?
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012
U.S. forces hit with curfew over rape
By AYAKO MIE
Staff writer
Following the arrests this week of two sailors in the alleged rape of a woman in Okinawa, the U.S. military vowed Friday to impose preventative steps, including a curfew and retraining programs.
The measures were announced at a joint news conference held by U.S. Ambassador John V. Roos and Lt. Gen Salvatore Angelella, the commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, at the embassy in Tokyo.
Angelella said the curfew — 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. — would start immediately and cover all U.S. military personnel in Japan, including those on temporary assignment or who are transiting to another country. The duration of the curfew is open-ended.
People in Japan--especially in Okinawa--would feel a whole lot safer if the US military would just pack up their dangerous toys and undisciplined troops and go home.
Right.
So, is this really a curfew or is it just fancy words pretending to sound important?
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012
U.S. forces hit with curfew over rape
By AYAKO MIE
Staff writer
Following the arrests this week of two sailors in the alleged rape of a woman in Okinawa, the U.S. military vowed Friday to impose preventative steps, including a curfew and retraining programs.
The measures were announced at a joint news conference held by U.S. Ambassador John V. Roos and Lt. Gen Salvatore Angelella, the commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, at the embassy in Tokyo.
Angelella said the curfew — 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. — would start immediately and cover all U.S. military personnel in Japan, including those on temporary assignment or who are transiting to another country. The duration of the curfew is open-ended.
People in Japan--especially in Okinawa--would feel a whole lot safer if the US military would just pack up their dangerous toys and undisciplined troops and go home.
2012年10月18日木曜日
Still Occupied 67 Years after the War?
Okinawans demand closure of U.S. bases
Kyodo
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Okinawans expressed anger Wednesday over the alleged rape of a local woman by U.S. sailors, an incident that came hot on the heels of another alleged sexual assault involving a marine in the prefecture.
Calls to remove all U.S. bases from Okinawa swelled in response to the rape allegations, with Miyoko Ashimine, head of a local group dealing with gender issues, demanding their immediate closure.
"With Ospreys in the sky and weapons on land, where can local residents walk (in safety)?" asked Ashimine, referring to the U.S. Marine Corps' recent deployment of tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys to the Futenma air station on Okinawa Island despite safety concerns.
The chairman of Okinawa's prefectural assembly, Masaharu Kina, said local residents have suffered since the end of World War II because of the presence of U.S. bases.
"The United States says it will enforce strict discipline every time there is an incident, but that won't resolve anything," Kina said.
"The U.S. forces seem to view Okinawa as their colony or occupied territory," said Hiroshi Ashitomi, 66, who took part in sit-in demonstrations against the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma farther north on Okinawa Island.
"Women's rights were trampled on again because the (U.S.) bases are here," Ashitomi said. "Okinawa's anger has built up to the point where we will accept nothing less than the immediate shutdown of all the facilities."
Kyodo
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Okinawans expressed anger Wednesday over the alleged rape of a local woman by U.S. sailors, an incident that came hot on the heels of another alleged sexual assault involving a marine in the prefecture.
Calls to remove all U.S. bases from Okinawa swelled in response to the rape allegations, with Miyoko Ashimine, head of a local group dealing with gender issues, demanding their immediate closure.
"With Ospreys in the sky and weapons on land, where can local residents walk (in safety)?" asked Ashimine, referring to the U.S. Marine Corps' recent deployment of tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys to the Futenma air station on Okinawa Island despite safety concerns.
The chairman of Okinawa's prefectural assembly, Masaharu Kina, said local residents have suffered since the end of World War II because of the presence of U.S. bases.
"The United States says it will enforce strict discipline every time there is an incident, but that won't resolve anything," Kina said.
"The U.S. forces seem to view Okinawa as their colony or occupied territory," said Hiroshi Ashitomi, 66, who took part in sit-in demonstrations against the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma farther north on Okinawa Island.
"Women's rights were trampled on again because the (U.S.) bases are here," Ashitomi said. "Okinawa's anger has built up to the point where we will accept nothing less than the immediate shutdown of all the facilities."
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