Japan says summit with South Korea not confirmed

@Strangerland: I was ironic. I doubt there will be some conflict over those islands. The Japanese and the Korean government are both right winger and conservative. Their boring bickering is nationalist crap that doesn't change what they really care: money. Indeed the business is basically as usual. They are only playing with their own people for the sake of the "show".

Breaking relations is better than some possible conflict over some rocks in the sea.

Breaking relations is more likely to lead to conflict. Right now there is no conflict, only trade. Lots and lots of trade.

Maybe in the next years these two countries can replace each other as economic partners and finally stop this childish bickering. It's not so difficult, there are many other countries in Asia with fast growth and increasing know-how. Breaking relations is better than some possible conflict over some rocks in the sea.

Just tell me what dependency Japan has on South Korea? Why do we need them?

You need them if you ever want Takeshima back.....Oh wait, never mind.

@JJ1067

Tourism emerges as new economic driver for Japan Government's campaign starting to yield significant dividends

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/25/reference/tourism-emerges-new-economic-driver-japan/#.Vi-30ijd6-9

Why can't we learn from our mistakes in the past and Not try to ERASE it Mr Abe?

Pukey

Actually those tourists are not that big in terms of economy.

We didn't have them several years ago. We may not have them a few years from now.

Within the margin of error.

ij1607:

Imagine all the Chinese and Korean tourists not coming to Japan. The Japanese economy would sink even more. I don't think either China or Korea need Japan as much as the opposite. But you're welcome to think what you like if it makes you happy,

Sure they are. If guys weren't 'welcoming' them, they wouldn't be making any money and they wouldn't be coming to Japan.

As I said it's business. We get what we can get from them even while retreating from SK.

A lot of Koreans are actually visiting my town. As long as they come, they are great guests we pay a lot of effort to let them enjoy Japan so that we make money.

Important thing is we are already shifting our target so that we can stay alive without SK.

It IS business. I don't care if they are from Korea or China. We do our best to let them enjoy our service. but we have to survive too so we have been shifting target. That doesn't mean we are not welcoming Koreans. We do. While developing business so that we can live without them.

I'm not a politician. I'm not a historian. I'm in business.

@Papi2013 OCT. 27, 2015 - 09:07PM JST

This meeting is not going to happen, unlike what the Japanese press is reporting. Basically, South Korea's stance has not changed. No meeting with Japan until they come clean against history revisionism. What South Korean government had said was that they want to hold a meeting with Japan and give them a chance for Japan to come clean. However, Japan is rejecting that offer. So therefore, there will be no meeting, and "humoring" by Japan will be necessary. End of story, because there's no story here, so move along everyone.

If that's so, then it is cute how South Korea actually feels it can issue what is effectively an ultimatum against a country that's much bigger than it.

This only shows how much anti-Korean sickness have effected any proper reason in Japan.

Are you sure, because the indoctrination depth is MUCH higher in Korea than in Japan. This evidence can at least as easily point to Japan making a good killing but not really needing Korea, while Korea needs Japan so it needs to choke down its pride.

@StrangerlandOCT. 27, 2015 - 09:55PM JST

Yes Japan does. S. Korea is one of Japan's biggest trading partners. Your stupid people if you cast that aside the over some misplaced pride.

If pride is misplaced, then this problem can be solved at least as easily by Koreans learning to live and let live when it comes to history, at least to the extent of not tying political processes to it.

Papi

it's not current $20 billion or whatever but the trend that we are looking at. Japan can get $20 billion in any other regions in the world.

This may be stupid, meaningless, from business viewpoint. Quite a developed country, such a lot of sharp technology and quality, and highly educated effective workforce that SK can provide and they are located just next to Japan. But actually it doesn't work. Maybe stupid but we in business are responsible for the result.

I don't judge politics, I don't judge consumer behavior but we are all responsible at work.

I guess if SK joins TPP this may move on to better stage but I don't know.

jj1067, no it doesn't make sense, but in a way it does make sense when you know the group nature of the Japanese society where one tries hardest not to go against the current or wave, otherwise be castigated.

I guess that's the same happening in Korea that they wouldn't prefer products made in Japan.

Speak for the Japanese who are doing all the boycotting. No such thing going on in Korea against Japanese products. Funny, but if what you say is true, such companies like Uniqlo, Honda/Toyota, Mitsubishi, Yakuza loansharks, and all the chain store markets/restaurants that sells goods to Korean consumers should also get out. Obviously they're still in the country because they're making serious money off of Koreans. I don't think Japan is yet ready to give up on $20 billion a year in trade surpluses with S.Korea. South Korea is still your top profitable country after United States, at a time when Japan has trade deficits with most other countries in the world. Japan is just cutting off their nose just because they want to be spiteful. This behavior is very childish.

Papi2013

it doesn't make sense does it?

Read Weekly Diamond, a Japanese business magazine, 80% of Japanese business says they don't need South Korea

Strangerland, what he said above is actually true. Out of 4000 Japanese businessmen, 80% said they don't need to do business with Japan. On the other hand, 80% of 1500 Korean businessmen polled said they need Japan to do business. This only shows how much anti-Korean sickness have effected any proper reason in Japan. Japan has billions upon billions of dollars in annual trade surplus with South Korea. Not to mention South Koreans are always either number one or two most tourists to Japan depending on the circumstances. If Japan stopped doing business with South Korea, then it will be Japan that will hurt the most.

Strangerland

It is business and we care that they are South Korean.

It's called political risk. very important factor in business. These days majority of Japanese consumers decides not to by products from Korea simply because they are made in Korea. I guess that's the same happening in Korea that they wouldn't prefer products made in Japan.

I believe you are not from South Korea. So ask any S.Korean if they think Japan were there top business partner. I'm quite sure they would disagree with you. I, a Japanese, disagree with you too.

You know, it's complicated.

Oh no, we are not

Oh yes, yes you are. S. Korea is one of Japan's top trading partners.

This is not about "pride" or some emotional things, it's business.

if it were just business, you wouldn't care about them being S. Korean.

Oh no we are not. From Japan's view, Korea is history. Japan-Korea trade has been reduced to range of error since a few years ago. We have evacuated from South Korea.

This is not about "pride" or some emotional things, it's business. Besides, why do you want South Korea to be Japan's business partner? We don't need SK, SK doesn't need us and we are all happy aren't we?

Because they are one of your top trading partners. You realize that this means that millions of your people are trading with them, right? You'd sell out millions of your own people for some misplaced pride?

Just tell me what dependency Japan has on South Korea? Why do we need them?

Seems Japan to stay away from both Korea now. Avoiding missiles stray to Japan?

A person who likes to have a talk with its friend, shall come to knock the firend door. It is a simple rule of universal.

You're obviously completely ignorant of reality. S. Korea is one of Japan's biggest trading partners, no matter how much that bugs you. Tossing them aside is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

80% of Japanese business says they don't need South Korea.

That's not what it said. Be honest.

No, SK is not our partner. We don't need SK.

Read Weekly Diamond, a Japanese business magazine, 80% of Japanese business says they don't need South Korea. What SK can do with Japan many other countries in Asia can. There is nothing outstanding about South Korea from Japan's view.

Japan admit your damned HISTORY so the far East can MOVE ON!! This is entirely on Japan. Japan cant say things we settled in 1965 & the NOW say there were no sex slaves, there WERE! admit IT! And admit a whole lot more!

Yes Japan does. S. Korea is one of Japan's biggest trading partners. Your stupid people if you cast that aside the over some misplaced pride.

No we don't.

Japan needs it too.

Japan doesn't need this meeting. SK does.

This meeting is not going to happen, unlike what the Japanese press is reporting. Basically, South Korea's stance has not changed. No meeting with Japan until they come clean against history revisionism. What South Korean government had said was that they want to hold a meeting with Japan and give them a chance for Japan to come clean. However, Japan is rejecting that offer. So therefore, there will be no meeting, and "humoring" by Japan will be necessary. End of story, because there's no story here, so move along everyone.

While quite frankly I'm on the side of being rather sick of South Korea on this issue, in fairness it must be pointed out since their Constitutional Court ruled on this issue (though I think that ruling is pretty B), legally speaking the South Korean government is obligated to make a push every now and then regardless of what it does to foreign relationships. The United States, China and every other country can change their minds and South Korea is still obliged to push, under the Korean Constitution and laws.

So I recommend Japan to just humor the push and not concede. They can raise the point. Japan can listen. It doesn't have to go anywhere.