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Residents of Tottori town hold drill in case N Korea fires missiles over them

45 Comments
By Kwiyeon Ha

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45 Comments
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Love that photo! What are they teaching the kids to do? Stick your head between your legs and kiss your donkey good bye? What a great way to spread fear and loathing!

15 ( +20 / -5 )

This is a PR campaign to increase Abe's failing popularity ratings. "It's OK. Abe's taking care of us!"

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Good to see the nuclear personal protection system is still intact since the '50s. Only difference is we were also taught to hide under our very protective wooden desks. An older friend had a better method: in case of nuclear attack, stand up, spread legs, bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. You a goner.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

That's all just an exaggeration from the Abe-administration. People in the city of Kirkenes (north in Norway) actually got their windows burst because of a Soviet hydrobomb test on the Kola peninsula. And guess what! They didn't hold any drills in case of another explosion afterwards. There's no reason to etch the horrors of these drills into the children's memories! Think about the elders, who still holds dire memories from WW2! It's like Shinzo Abe after his meeting with the prefectures is using every possible occasion to prepare Japan for a war against North Korea which is seemingly unlikely to ever happen. Do you see people in South Korea or China holding drills in the event of a missile launch? No. Their daily lives continue as if nothing happened.

It's important to not let the horrors of war strike you before they have yet to strike.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Japan is the only country in the world to be attacked with nuclear weapons.

NK doesn't need a nuclear missile to attack Japan, a conventional missile could hit one of the 50 odd nuclear reactors. Japan has nuclear disaster already built in

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Look at those young, innocent, beautiful faces. Do they deserve a better and peaceful nation ? Why would Abe have to scare them so early ?

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Do you see people in South Korea or China holding drills in the event of a missile launch?

South Korean civil groups hold regular evacuation drills, and bomb shelters are part of the national infrastructure. That and mandatory military service. I'd say SK is very much preparing for war.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Abe's spreading the fear. With the US, China, and NK, and SK looking more towards diplomacy Abe's forced to go back to his domestic nightmares and low popularity. And does he think this is a 1950's safety video? No pose will help against a nuclear weapon.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Governments have always used fear to manufacture consent for war.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Constitutionally speaking, Japan is still a peaceful nation. But that will change when Abe gets his way. On the other hand, if Japan is a peaceful place, why would Abe hypes every threats up to scare Japanese people, including the very young ?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Duck and cover means absolutely nothing in the event of a nuclear explosion-pathetic!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Come to think of it, the headline actually states, "Residents of Tottori town hold drill in case N Korea fires missiles over them."

This is a drill in case the missile passes OVERHEAD.

"OK kids, duck! The missile is coming!"

About as effective as the three arrows of Abenomics!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japan should be more afraid of Trump than NK. Most of the world is right now

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Can you see the poster behind the children, it seemd something scary in the cartoon was describing, maybe a preceieved attacj related to the NK ballistic missile attack

If you bothered to look at the poster to the left drawn in the same comic style, and bothered to learn rudimentary Japanese; you will find that its obviously a series of PSAs about nutritional deficiencies.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Guam people just received instruction oooof not going out when missile went down into sea. Tottori is more fralistic. Difference is Tottori knew missile will fry over their head. And usual Abe haters imagine Abe ordered kids to behave like posing strange.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

 if Japan is a peaceful place, why would Abe hypes every threats up to scare Japanese people, including the very young ?

So warning and or preparing for possible attacks from war-mongering nations makes Japan not peaceful?

Unbelievable comment, confirms what I said above.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

If this is what it takes to scare Japan, then I don't know what kind of brave-heritage Japan has inherited from their ultra-brave Samurai ancestors? I believe a rocket flying over Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen or Uesugi Kenshin's army was definitely not enough to knock them off their horses! But if a rocket flying many kilometers over Japan is enough to frighten people, then just spend a moment to think of your ancestors and what they went through almost every decade during the Sengoku-Jidai. With rockets flying straight over their heads instead of kilometers up in the atmosphere.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Just maybe the only thing that would protect these Kids and others would be to make very deep bomb shelter with its own rebreather and air cleaning system. So this exercise is totally useless

1 ( +3 / -2 )

" Nearly 130 people… " out of the town's population of 18,000? and did the kids volunteer? and did the 'news' photographer just happen to be on hand? seems to me more like proper, uh, propu, uh, what's the word?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

At least I am glad that many proper people, who are in majority, understand that this is fear-inducing tactic by Abe upon his own people. Now, for the whole Japan to understand so...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The entire exercise is nothing but a photo op by and for the government to once again paint themselves as victims.

So Japan is the aggressor in this case, then?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@Bertie: Abe has been in Tokyo. When did Abe go to Tottori to campaign whatever you claim? Your hatred against Abe and ridiculing Japan are Ok but don't make up lies constantly. Just write when Abe flew to Tottori. Remind you, Abe can't fly like Superman. Can you be honest once in a while?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ah, reminds me of my childhood, Duck and Cover. It was totally uselessthen and even more so now. Why not be honest, and tell the kids the lucky ones will be those that die in the blast. It is those that survive that will be miserable and possibly wish they were dead. In high school they could read from medical studies that the US government did on the survivors and what it was like. And that was only two small bombs.

We are talking about possible world wide nuclear war and that will not be survivable for most of, if not all of, the worlds humans. Just let one idiot fire one missile, and it quickly gets out of control as the United States, Russia, and China quickly follow their defense treaties with their various allies.

Remember Russia and the United States have already had 8 close calls of nearly starting and nuclear war. As long as any nuclear bomb exists, as long as any delivery system exists, we will live under the threat of extinction.

As Japan is learning there are limits to how much radiation you can clean up. Any amount over long exposure is dangerous. Even radon gas, from our now well sealed homes, can kill you over time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Addendum .

There Is more chance that he is Waiting for the Olympics to do his dirty deeds

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Abe's spreading the fear. 

paranoid delusion (nothing new there)

With the US, China, and NK, and SK looking more towards diplomacy 

Wishful thinking

The entire exercise is nothing but a photo op by and for the government to once again paint themselves as victims.

More paranoia. You give the government far too much credit.

This is a drill in case the missile passes OVERHEAD. "OK kids, duck! The missile is coming!"

Just plain ***** comment. Perhaps if the missile fails, it, or part of it may land on you.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Oh, more fear mongering to divert the public from the scandals. It's rather telling that SK didn't even flinch as much and they're next door neighbors. Like I mentioned before, fear mongering, the last refuge of a failed despot!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Hmmm, they don't look like 'worried kids' to me. More like "can we go outside and play football'?

Don't think such drills are 'necessary' tbh but I also don't think they instil fear in the population. Suenaga-san the 'cabinet counsellor of situation response and crisis management' just showing locals/taxpayers he's been busy, 'see, that's where your taxes go, keeping you safe and sound."

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Now this is a god damned sorry sight. We should have never needed to repeat the cold war drills.

Does Japan really want its children to have to live through this?

This kind of thing is all the more reason Japan needs to avoid modifying the constitution and find other ways to deal with external threats to its existence.

What a horrible thing for kids and their parents to have to experience. They probably don't even realize what's going on.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Probably there are hiding caves on mountain sides. During WWII kids dug caves to escape from air raids. As usually Abe hater gaijin created their likes like Abe told kids to behave like photo pose.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is where we're at in this country. With both The US and DPRK baby men lobbing insults at each other - it's hardly surprising some people are taking precautions in case the unthinkable happens.

Still; having the puffed up rascals lob threats around is better than having them lob actual WMDs.

Japan is the only country to have been attacked by nuclear weapons by an aggressor. I don't blame anyone for feeling discomfort or fear over the situation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tottori is near under route of N Korea to Guam missile route. When Shimane PAC3 missile intercepter begin activating, duck.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Lella: same in Japan. B 24 began dropping bombs on houses. People were. evacuated but bombs targeted houses. All over in Japan, people practiced to be safe than complaining military government.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alarm system of missile interception systems have been tested inn nearby prefectures. Japanese people must be glad Abe gov't concentrates to their safety.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Zurch

Trump has not threatened to nuke Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's important to not let the horrors of war strike you before they have yet to strike.

What the heck is that supposed to mean? That we should all be ignorant to the realities of war and take no preventative or preparation measures?

What is so "horrible" about teaching preparedness? Right now it's not Boogeyman Abe who is using scare tactics, it's the Dear Glorious Leader.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

If this is what it takes to scare Japan, then I don't know what kind of brave-heritage Japan has inherited from their ultra-brave Samurai ancestors?

No, you wouldn't know. These are the actions of a pacifist nation.

With rockets flying straight over their heads instead of kilometers up in the atmosphere.

So if the rocket fails and explodes or bits of it fall off it in flight or it leaks fuel etc before it reaches target, could this be what people are concerned about?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Does the people of Okinawa or Ishigaki required to practice similar drills due to Chinese bomber,warships stalking nearby?

The Abe clique never giveup their scaring tactics to rally support!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Can you see the poster behind the children, it seemd something scary in the cartoon was describing, maybe a preceieved attacj related to the NK ballistic missile attack

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So Japan is the aggressor in this case, then?

Absolutely not. Unfortunately; anti-Japanese sentiments will always surface with stories like this. It's not enough that a genocide was perpetrated on Japan 70 years ago. Some just won't allow Japan to deal with it on their own terms.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

But Honolulu was attacked and they held drills afterward there - my relatives told me.

It's not "fear mongering".

Public agencies need to help people be prepared rather than have them accuse them of being negligent later.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is gross on two points. The entire exercise is nothing but a photo op by and for the government to once again paint themselves as victims.

More importantly, they are forcing stress onto young children with this useless stunt. Its state sponsored child abuse.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

So Japan is the aggressor in this case, then?

Nope. But like millennials, they never fail to paint themselves as victims at every opportunity, no matter how silly.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

 It's not enough that a genocide was perpetrated on Japan 70 years ago. Some just won't allow Japan to deal with it on their own terms.

My God! I've been living here this long and had no idea that a genocide had taken place?

When? Where?

Why has the population almost doubled since 1945 despite this genocide?!

HA! Some just won't accept the fact that the good 'ol US of A kicked fascist butt on two continents and came out the only world superpower smelling like roses!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Do they deserve a better and peaceful nation ?

They are already in a peaceful nation, why don't you talk to China and Korea about that

This is a PR campaign to increase Abe's failing popularity ratings.

That's all just an exaggeration from the Abe-administration

In the face of the NK threat there is nothing wrong with taking precautions as small as they might be. If some debris fell onto a school you know-it-all's would all be saying "oh why didn't the school prepare for that, shame on Abe" etc etc etc

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Abe is not scaring these kids.

North Korea is.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

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