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© KYODOMoon tells Komeito leader he wants to visit Japan soon
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Hachidori
Visit for what? Ratify another treaty that will be rescinded in few weeks because the Korean people are not "emotionally" ready to accept it?
Those fake smiles are irritating.
NCIS Reruns
Komeito is the political arm of the lay Buddhist organization, Soka Gakkai. The Japanese Constitution stipulates 政教分離 (separation between religion and politics), and irrespective of Komeito's vague policies, I find it disturbing that no bills are passed by the Diet without the stamp of approval by SG's leaders.
AgentX
Let's see if they can implement the lost political art of diplomacy, as opposed to just flexing ego and slinging mud at each other in a scramble to meet their nefarious agendas
A little honesty and generosity in these questionable times would go a long way, but hopefully not at the outcome of just bullying a smaller country that is 'not in the group'.
At least China (among it's many misgivings) doesn't get easily swayed by group pressures...
socrateos
Why? I do no see any point.
Alfie Noakes
Yes, it's very strange. Even stranger is that Soka Gakkai refuses to confirm whether its leader Daisuke Ikeda is dead or alive.
NCIS Reruns
It's Daisaku
smithinjapan
Alfie Noakes: "Yes, it's very strange. Even stranger is that Soka Gakkai refuses to confirm whether its leader Daisuke Ikeda is dead or alive."
What's strange is your off-topic remarks. There's a reason SK or China might choose to talk to the Komeito before the LDP, and that's because the Komeito has and does push for increased communication between the nations on grass-roots as well as political levels, and for second generation (and third, etc.) Koreans and ethnic Chinese it has been pushing for local suffrage in many areas, and has succeeded until the recent paranoia about things world-wide. They have a record for actually working for change with quite so many strings attached, when it comes to relations.
I, for one, hope they succeed -- I'm not going to inject my lack of religious knowledge into the argument as though it is somehow related to such a meeting.
pacint
The Health status of Daisuke Ikeda-Sensei is not relevant as he stopped being President of SG years ago but the status is known.
Jimizo
Me too. Their voice is much louder than it should be based on the fact that all Soka Gakkai members do something very unusual for many Japanese - they vote.
CyburneticTiger
The concern of Komeito ‘s connection to Soka Gakkai shouldn’t be a concern. Japanese do not view religion the same way as most countries to the weight Soka Gakkao plays in moral and ethical decisions is probably limited.
this isn’t like christianity’s involvement in ultra conservative political ideology.
NCIS Reruns
Again, it's DAISAKU Ikeda (presently 89 years old) and he's still president of Soka Gakkai International.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soka_Gakkai_International
pacint
And what connection has SGI with Komeito? Sure SGI worldwide members can vote in Japan NOT.
smithinjapan
pacint: "And what connection has SGI with Komeito?"
I think the point is that some posters are trying to make a big deal out of the religious backers of Komeito in Japan, but are failing wildly because they keep mentioning SGI (which, as you point out, is composed of people who canNOT vote), and the leader of SGI and former leader of SG, all of which have NOTHING to do with the current article. I mean, are people like Alfie suggesting that the leader of Komeito stand up before agreeing to talk to Moon and preface a speech with the leader of SG's health and Alfie and others would be satisfied? It's not relevant.
Jimizo
Nobody's claiming foreign members of SGI can vote. That's not the issue.
Let's not be coy here. Every Japanese person I have ever spoken to on this issue regards Komeito as the political arm of a religious group, namely Soka Gakkai. The phone calls from half-remembered schoolmates encouraging them to vote Komeito come from Soka Gakkai members. Let's not bother with ridiculous games of hide the ball here.
Keep religion and politics separate and keep a suspicious eye on those who try to violate this idea.
pacint
Sure, like the USA who also separates church & state but been printing 'In God we trust' since 1962 on their money, etc.
Still a free country here and anyone can call anyone, you are also free not to associate with people you don't agree with.
Jimizo
And I think that's wrong. I could give examples from other countries too but you are avoiding the principle - church and state should be separate.
Do you agree with this idea?
DouganNash
My favorite thing about Yamaguchi is that he’s clearly a lizard person but doesn’t seem to care to get a convincing mask.
Dango bong
he won't feel at home here. There are no 50 year old men who act like petulant children and live in the past like in Korea
Jimizo
No. The important politicians here are older than that, spend time referencing Nazis and sorting their friends out while dreaming of a Japan resembling the 1930s.
albaleo
Perhaps, but is that the same as separating religion and politics? Europe has many political parties that contain the word "Christian", Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union for example.
Komeito ended formal links with the Soka Gakkai in about 1970. It describes itself as a secular party. That it still gets support from most (not all) Soka Gakkai members is probably for a number of reasons. Blind obedience for some perhaps, but for others it may be that its policies for peace and generally being nice coincide with much of the Soka Gakkai's beliefs. I know at least one Soka Gakkai member that doesn't vote for Komeito.
NCIS Reruns
The reason there are not more is that they were all excommunicated.
joyridingonthetitanic
After a long had think about it I have decided that this visit "emotionally" disturbs me, please pay me compensation!
Alfie Noakes
Bingo! Here's a very interesting Time article from 1995:
http://www.toride.org/edata/gpower.html
No, it's not relevant. But why is the physical existence of the leader of Japan's largest lay Buddhist organization a secret? You don't think that's weird?
pacint
Ikeda-Sensei's status is NOT a secret, who spreads this crap?
He is not in full health and often can't leave his house, depending on health he attends some functions, etc. Being house bound don't interfere with his SGI activities.
Alfie Noakes
Akira 'The Explainer' Ikegami. I saw him on an explaining show earlier this year during which he went in some SG facility with a top guy and asked how Daisaku Ikeda was, why no-one had seen him in public for years and if the rumours were true. The SG top guy, in a very nice suit, said he was fine. Yeah right, said the expression on Ikegami's face!
OssanAmerica
So the leader of a country that can't be trusted tells the leader of a political party that can't be trusted that he wants to visit Japan soon. Ok.