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TPP or not TPP

30 Comments

A protester wearing a monkey mask raises his fist during a rally against Japan participating in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, in front of the Diet in Tokyo on Friday.

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30 Comments
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Why a monkey suit? Japanese really love these weird "mascot" or "cartoon" suits.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This is certainly not a representative photo of the otherwise very well organized, very serious protesters. Perhaps it was chosen by this English language site, for it's English language sign.

How many protesters today, I wonder?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Yeah, we all take you seriously with that mask on.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

That sign is incredibly silly. One of the reasons is because New Zealand, not the US, is the father of this bill. Another reason is because that is a stupid scare tactic based of no evidence at all. I am not a fan of nationalism, seeing as history proves to us that is leads to nothing but bad news.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Is there ANYTHING Japan cant make infantile? Apparently not..................

2 ( +5 / -3 )

At least they got the English correct...!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Actually, the sign is wrong. It should read, "TTP will make Japan part of the world!"

6 ( +13 / -8 )

Wouldn't the enormous military presence be more representative of colonialism than a trade treaty?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

We need to find a way to maintain the wet rice paddy landscape while culling the disproportionate voting representation that the LDP uses to maintain its power base in the countryside.

One of the main reasons the TPP is bad because it is a threat to the landscape sculpted in the traditional agricultural mode as opposed to American agribusiness factory farming.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Actually, the sign is wrong. It should read, "TTP will make Japan part of the world!"

if you consider, that Americans always equate "the world" with "the U.S." you are right.

With the TPP Japan will become part of "the world".

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Silly is as silly does.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

colony of usa? you wish, japan, you wish...

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

"TPP will make Japan a colony of USA"

Hee hee! If the USA wanted to make Japan a colony, it would have happened in 1945.

Heck, TPP will make it possible for me to buy cheaper foreign rice at Aeon.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Now Japan should see the true face and true colours of 'uncle sam'! And how wrong they hailed Mr Abe!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

After signature the TPP, Japan will lost all her self sufficiency of food instead heavily rely on imports especially from North America! Good timing to bring Japan signing a deal that she is never able to pay! America has been hard to break the barrier of Japan's market in the past four decades without success but successed at the time of tension between Japan and her neighbours! Well done, Mr Obama, you stabbed your ally with a daggar!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Cheap food coming :)

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

call this protester 'kawaii' and he/she will forget about TPP :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anyone consider that monkey is saru in Japanese, which can also mean leave? So the protestor could be asking Japan to try and get out of the treaty if it has already entered it (and possibly that Americas forces should leave too). Maybe youre all underestimating the intelligence of this protestor. Maybe he/she is also saying that Abe is acting like a trained monkey of the US (and he wouldn`t be the first politician outside of the US to be seen as a trained monkey to any other nation). Who knows.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Also, Japan is also well known for kawaii-ness as part of its modern culture so using a part of modern culture to protest about something serious is actually not a bad move (its used everywhere to protest about serious things). The protester could be sayingYes we may be seen as kawaii but were not stupid.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Stupid costumes. Abe is right on this one. But hey what does he know as opposed to a guy in a cute monkey suit?

Colony of the US? They are already living in one. That's how Japan came to be so big after WW2 lol. What's wrong with being close to the world's #1 superpower which comes with a free nuclear umbrella. Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

cramp,

colony of usa? you wish, japan, you wish...

No, Japan doesn't wish.

Abe does.

Luckily he's not in the majority.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Reminds me of someone this mascot ,ops.... It will be a message to the super,super Mr. Obama?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan already heavily dependent enough to U.S.A. TPP only make it even more.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

With these agreements you are giving up your right to choose and are now forced to accept.

It is a pigs in the river (China) type of concept. =Some people do not care if they have pigs in the river and do not care what they eat/drink. Others understand that health of the land and people are important. Most of these agreements do not help the small farmer/trader or marketer.

Agriculture, health of the land and people should be off the table. -A case by case basis that the people should be able to vote on -not by politicians getting paid off by rich globalists. If the farmers in Japan made 1/2 less than they do now, -What happens? Do you really want Gov or large corporations coming in and buying up all these farms? What about GMO crops coming in.

People are basically saying they want to level out all the small towns. Move everyone to the city and bring in massive machinery to do all the farming with this agreement.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Obama is a weak leader.   To do strong pose,he decide chose to economic warfare against japan. Fines and more fines against Japanese companies in the United States and finally TPP.That's it.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

too bad they can't understand his sign because it's in English

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Anyone consider that monkey is saru in Japanese, which can also mean leave? So the protestor could be asking Japan to try and get out of the treaty if it has already entered it (and possibly that Americas forces should leave too). Maybe youre all underestimating the intelligence of this protestor. Maybe he/she is also saying that Abe is acting like a trained monkey of the US (and he wouldn`t be the first politician outside of the US to be seen as a trained monkey to any other nation). Who knows.

No. Actually, I think you are the only person to make that connection. Talking about making a big stretch! See it for what it is: Japan has to make everything infantile and 'kawaiiii' or people won't know what to do and just stare blankly.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The consumer will have a choise. Buy local or buy imported

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"Colony that USA does not even want"

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

actually i feel that Japan in many ways could be considered a colony of the USA. Japan actively relies on the USA for security and regularly considers the USA in terms of foreign and economic policy.

the USA are pleased to have a hold in East Asian security through their alliance with Japan. furthermore, the government is keen to bend it's policies to one's which would benefit their partner as there is a great deal of profit to be made out of them.

perhaps colony is too strong a word but Japan openly accepts and exploits the control the US has over it. i hope that will change in the future but with Abe in power... i doubt it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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