New Komeito leader urges greater efforts to build trust with Japan's neighbors

illsayit: "Please voice your opinion about Syria (are not our neighbours neighbours, also our neighbours) while you are at it, Mr Yamaguchi, or otherwise we will have to assume you have an agenda,"

Sounds to me like his agenda is to improve relations with JAPAN's neighbours. What does that have to do with Syria? Personally I applaud any politician who wants to improve ties and backs it up with suggestions rather than the usual lip-service followed by a visit to Yasukuni or something.

New Komeito leader urges greater efforts to build trust with Japan's neighbors

What a good idea.

Build up trust, communication and trade with countries NEARBY.

A much better idea than TPP!

The close ties between Soka gakkai, a religious organization, and Komeito, a political organization, are very troubling and betray the Japanese constitution. Yet, if Komeito can keep the neo-nationalist and neo-liberal LDP in check a little and can effectively bring in policies or reject polices that will strengthen society (such as stopping a new casino law) and protect the safety net, then at least a sweeter fragrance can counter the caustic odor from their religion/politics money-laundering.

JoeBigs,

Since when has South Korea been a tributary state of the People's Republic of China?

This must be a very recent thing.

I do not agree with some New Komeito stands on the national level (collective self-defense), but in general I like their principled, consistent approach to clean politics.

I have been voting New Komeito for 2 elections now, mainly because their local-level agenda are very practical (voting rights for Zainichi, platform gates to prevent accidents/suicides), and they (along with the Japan Communists Party) are a shining example of clean politics in Japan. I am considering becoming a member.

I would be economically Libertarian / center-Right, and socially Liberal.

illsayit: "While you passively ignore the plight of Syria, and play ignorant to the effects it has on Japan and neighbours,"

What effects? If he wanted to talk about the possibility of Japan supporting the US on Syria, I can see it, but this is clearly focussed on the immediate relations between Japan AND ITS NEIGHBOURS, not on Syria. The Komeito have always been front-runners in improving ties with China in particular, and I see no reason why he, unlike you, needs to blast into completely unrelated matters.

"Some people might read your comment as padded and sound, others see razor like darts. "

Clearly some people will read anything into everything, but most would see his comments for what they are -- relations with Japan's neighbours should be improved, and that some of the steps the LDP are taking are not in the best interests of Japan with regards to putting manned stations on the Senkakus.

But hey, tell us all about how putting defense on the Senkakus has to do with Syria.

Please voice your opinion about Syria (are not our neighbours neighbours, also our neighbours) while you are at it, Mr Yamaguchi, or otherwise we will have to assume you have an agenda, one that is passive-aggressive.

I guess there are million people who wish that government does not persist in historical facts which no one knows what exactly happened and what true things are, but government does not really care about peace. What they care when they have to face with other countries politically is mostly for diplomatic profit and pride. Even neighbors should be friend, there is no profit to get along with China diplomatically.(except North Korea issue) China is clever, but they often act just like a child in the sea, so If Japan compromise something which is related to territorial dispute, then everybody can know that china will not start to get along with Japan diplomatically. Keeping distance is better way than any other things now.

The whole of Asia will be much better off if both Japan and China can be at peace. Nothing is to anyone's advantage if the situation deteriorates. Japan has to greatly improve her economy, whereas China has even more problems to solve. If Japan persists to give China no face, then China has to put aside her other pressing problems and go head on with Japan. The greatest winners would be the US and her European allies. Japan's past claims of liberating Asia from western imperialism would come to nought and the whole of Asia will be presented on a platter to the west.

Of course Mr Yamaguchi is Japanese.

@ JoeBigs How does these two statements tied up 1.0 South Korea running a trade surplus with PRC. 2.0 South Korea has been a tributary state of the PRC ( For your informationl South Korea has not been a tributary state of PRC?). Do you think you can write factual comments?

That is refreshing, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Smile always. Amitabha

Clearly some people will read anything into everything-that's a good one. Why dont you reread what I intially wrote

"Please voice your opinion about Syria (are not our neighbours neighbours, also our neighbours) while you are at it, Mr Yamaguchi, or otherwise we will have to assume you have an agenda, one that is passive-aggressive"

and see who first took the tangent, and read something that wasnt there. Why would you do that anyway? Of course when Komeito leader talks about foreign politics, is it not natural to ask his opinion about the current event of the day, that is Syria. Or is his focus just China? Which in that case the little pull your cords-neighbour comment-has no meaning what so ever. And is a passive-aggressive statement.

"Science of relationships is not based on chemistry; and negligence still means you are guilty."

Does this need repeating.

Buddhist or not, Komeito is, in the words of the late Meiji University professor Hirotatsu Fujiwara, "a completely self-serving organization" that forms political alliances for its own benefit. It's disturbing to me that laws are cannot be passed in this country without the approval of Soka Gakkai leaders. The Japanese Supreme Court has had several opportunities to make rulings upholding the separation of church and state, as clearly stipulated by Article 20 of the Japanese Constitution ("No religious organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority") and inexplicably failed to do so.

"“What is more important on the Senkakus is, regardless of the differences of opinions, how do we overcome that to improve relations between the two countries,”

He should head over to Beijing and ask that question.

"“We’re not at the stage where the public can understand this, that’s my feeling,” Yamaguchi said of collective self-defense."

If Japan gets attacked Americans die. If America gets attacked Japan just watches. What exactly is so hard to understand? Doesn't Japan have a term called 不公平？

BertieWoosterSep. 13, 2013 - 09:31PM JST JoeBigs, Since when has South Korea been a tributary state of the People's Republic of China? This must be a very recent thing.

Where to begin......When the PRC gets upset the Korean nations follow suit, almost like a master and it's puppets. Wonder why?

Well that is real simple, trade trade and more trade.

South Korea has been running a trade surplus with the PRC since 2004 and since then the governments attitude to the PRC has changed. They make sure not to upset their new found wealth even though that wealth comes with a giant pricetag, their own voice.

Even the PRC deems that the Koreas are and I quote,"Gojoseon, Buyeo and Balhae, to be Chinese tributary states".

The people may have been outraged with the PRC claiming this, but the government of South Korea wasn't. Where was the governments outrage, no where, all they did was spin spin spin and change the subject to Japan.

So yes, they are tributory nations to the PRC and their governments toe their masters line.

LDP and Restoration Party are the only crazy ones.

When the PRC and it's tributary states of North and South Korea begin to act like civilized nations Japan should follow suit.......

But until then Japan needs to arm up and be prepared to defend itself from invasions......

Best defense is a darned good offense......

Once more let's try it again......

Even the PRC deems that the Koreas are and I quote,"Gojoseon, Buyeo and Balhae, to be Chinese tributary states".

The government of South Korea never condemned those words nor did it deny them, so yes, Korea is a tributary state of the PRC and being so must be treated like an extention of the PRC.

I have been told that Sokka Gakai has close ties with some leading officials in the Chinese government. If so, I wouldn't trust them on their position, as stated above, on the Senkaku islands. Japan should go ahead and station government officials on the islands. Then see what China tries to do in response to this challenge. Should pose an interesting situation ...

smith-injapanornot: "Sounds to me like his agenda is to improve relations with JAPAN's neighbours. What does that have to do with Syria? Personally I applaud any politician who wants to improve ties and backs it up with suggestions rather than the usual lip-service followed by a visit to Yasukuni or something."

Perfect example of passive agressive. You ask a question where it makes out everybody else, me, other political parties, are aggressive. While you passively ignore the plight of Syria, and play ignorant to the effects it has on Japan and neighbours, By your classification neither is Australia a neighbour of Japan. You state your sentences in a way that says you applaud improved ties, while you give reference to Yasukuni, as if by referring to a war related refernce, you highlight violence. And so on.Some people might read your comment as padded and sound, others see razor like darts. Science of relationships is not based on chemistry; and negligence still means you are guilty.