Japan boosts embassy security worldwide after IS threat

Japan has long avoided involvement in Middle East conflicts and has rarely been affected by religious extremism.

As one of the largest consumers of oil, how can it be said Japan is not involved in Middle East conflicts?

What (( Jihadist group )) ...!!! they are terrorist group.

Dear Mr/Ms Censor, if you are going to censor - actually change wording of comments sent - could you at least have the courtesy of printing your rules of posting?

I'd have thought that the biggest threat to this country comes from within.

Sadly, security within a foreign country, no matter how reinforced and strengthened, depends a lot more on that host country's ability to defend itself and to secure itself within. To make matters worse, an embassy or consulate is also the "target" for the host country and any other country's embassy or consulate in that host country.

Japan would have increased its security many years ago. To announce for the need is an announcement of the higher degree of threat. Coming at a time when the request for changes in the Japanese Constitution and increase in military spending are being considered, this can be a well timed press release or an indication of imminent threat.

This at least prepares this administration and the public of any "incidents" that may occur. Regardless of the interpretation of the need for increase in security, the public much more aware of the closeness of the militant Muslim terrorist threat. Hopefully the public will take "heed".

They singled out Panama and Japan? Is there really that much the governments of these 2 countries have done to IS..?

"He did not elaborate on what steps were being taken."

Back door panic attacks are likely the only steps coming from the likes of Suga and Co. We can Abe and him, etc., for this, after all. It was Abe's rhetoric that brought on the direct threats and hastened the beheadings to begin with. And now Abe is passing legislation that would allow Japan to join the fight, literally, against ISIS to assist the US (by twisting the definition of 'self-defense'), and this threat comes too.

Well done, Abe.

Chances sought by PM Abe in the pacifist constitution are good for the future security of Japan.The general public need not entertain apprehension in their mind about the proposed changes . Whether Japan will participate in any future military operation overseas or not , will depend on getting the necessary approval from the Diet .If such approval is not given by Diet ,Japan will not be able to participate any military conflict It is that simple.But Japan has to become a strong power in the region to safeguard its vital interests in the area. To achieve objective , Japan has to overcome all constitutional hurdles.

From experience of the back office of a Japanese embassy, I know that they're already extremely secure.

Making fortresses out of official buildings simply ups the would-be attackers' game, with greater risk to the surrounding community.

If there are threats to Japanese embassies, then I think it's the duty of the state to boost security. We the ordinary can never know how real these threats are, but given the various widely publicized tensions they're easy to imagine. What worries me is that when states want to increase their military potential and feel the need to gain better public support, they find more and more ways to keep fear alive.

When Japan puts boots on the ground in the ME and there is retaliation against Japan then and only then will Abe really understand what he and his cohorts got Japan into but by then he will have retired and it will not be his problem.

If we look at this news story about "a recently declassified secret US intelligence report, written in August 2012," which show how the US "Created" ISIS As A "Tool" To Overthrow Syria's President Assad, then we have to think that Japan needs to boost embassy security ultimately because of the threat of the US.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq

http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf

As non-muslims we are earmarked for summary execution by all or any muslims because we are seen as infidels.

Japan has long avoided involvement in Middle East conflicts and has rarely been affected by religious extremism.

This is not exactly true. Japan has been a major source of financial aid for the Middle East conflicts. It also has had its fair share of domestic extreme religious terrorism. It's not so much that Japan has avoided the conflict. It's more a matter of the conflict avoiding Japan, up to now. Once the militarism starts and Japanese troops start to get directly involved in these conflicts it will follow them home.

Having a very close relationship with Uncle Sam makes any country a target.

Just my guess, Maybe because US Ambasader's face was sliced and his arm was stabbed in Korea very recently, this sudden policy came out to protect our diplomats in S Korea?

The Japanese Consulate in downtown LA is a joke. There's a shady looking security guard (mexican probably) with exposed tattoos manning a metal detector at the entrance. He's not even armed. Doesn't even carry cuffs, pepper spray or a baton. This sec guard was prob an illegal too.

I was like- Daamm, no way. This was about a decade ago. I hope they will upgrade that post.

"What, for example, prevents a jihadi from targeting… Japanese diplomatic missions in Bosnia, Malaysia, and Indonesia?"

How come Japan is on the list. They must have made a mistake. Japan is a peaceful country and not at all a two-faced nation. More troubles are coming to Japan. Why? Japanese government is cheering with their thumbs up, meeting its hidden agenda is crucial. Separate section for the deaths should be set up at Yasukuni Shrine and special tribute at the nearby museum should be displayed for the future death tolls.

"He did not elaborate on what steps were being taken."

Too bad they can't use the Japanese military to protect their embassies like the U.S. uses their Marines.

"The move comes about eight months after IS claimed to have beheaded two Japanese hostages in Syria"

Those guys got off easy, they burned a Jordanian pilot to death in a cage.