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I believe we, as Japanese nationals, should respond with all of our hearts by fully backing possible military action or revisions to the Constitution that will enable it should the Abe cabinet decide on such a course to recover abduction victims and demonstrate Japan’s sovereignty.

20 Comments

Takashi Igi, the mayor of Yanago in Tottori Prefecture, speaking at a symposium. He was indicating his support if Japan opted to resort to military action to bring back Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and '80s.

© Asahi Shimbun

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I am wavering on this. A Japanese invasion of NK to recover the imprisoned kidnappees should be a last resort. It will be potentially risky. Of course, the back up of USA will be expected. Maximum pressure should first be applied before any Military action, and a deadline given to NK for the return of all kidnappees.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

I love word-salad quotes from authoritarian-followers!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

when war breaks out I know who's side I will be on

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I believe we, as Japanese nationals, should respond with all of our hearts by fully backing possible military action or revisions to the Constitution that will enable it should the Abe cabinet decide on such a course to recover abduction victims and demonstrate Japan’s sovereignty.

I believe you, as Japanese nationals, should respond ALONE. Let's see how much guts you guys have without the Americans to protect you.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Yeah, backed by the US military to defend them when the nukes start flying and China weighs in, of course. These clowns never think very much, nor actually care about the people and the nation, given the last time they thought this way what happened. They just want some misplaced pride because they are insecure children.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

This is stupid. The government wouldn't do this.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Just some crazy talk from a little mayor in the least populated region of Japan.

The government is certainly aware they will never get the abductees back because they're either dead, or assimilated at this point. It's nothing more than a cheap political tool, nobody will ever go to war over it.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Sovereignty is a big word. May want to apply it to your citizenry too if you want to talk like that. Away from the collectivism garbage and towards a society of sovereign individuals. Wouldn’t need to huddle around in group-think nationalism, history revisionism nor exceptionalism then. Just imagine the potential.

How pray tell would this recovery of abduction victims take place in an actual real life scenario? Or does that not matter... It’s the statement that counts right?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

A local politician likely posing for a local nationalistic populace.  Japan has no military capability to conduct offensive operations.  They'd need JAL to transport any troops to the peninsula and they lack any significant offensive weapons to take on NKorea's military.  Then are you going to chance a nuclear conflagration on the bet that you'll be able to find some of these abductees?  This is local grandstanding... 

But it does highlight why nations who bore the bulk of Japanese fascism in the 1930/40's continue to fear a resurgence of militarism in Japan. And they should - there are still enough old far-right politicians around who dream of an all-powerful, imperial Japan. 

And that's the reason why you don't hear overt calls for the US to leave Japan and the US-Japan Security Treaty to be revoked from nations in the area. Even China, Russia and Korea tacitly support the US Alliance with Japan - it's the "cap in the bottle"...

7 ( +10 / -3 )

This guy is twit. He is advocating invading North Korea over abducted people who are likely no longer alive or who may very well die in the event of an invasion. A war with North Korea would be catastrophic to Japan and the Far East. Thank goodness Takashi Igi, is only the mayor of Yanago, somewhere in Tottori Prefecture. But even though he is only a provincial twit, his words are still dangerous to the security of Japan.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The best ways of those young guys crazy for the revision of J. Constitution (most are young generation or warmongers) to find in this near future tragedies of "military soldier duties" going abroad to be one of the invaders and the gvt. supremacy to manipulate all of those to die for the country, those respects to fascism will show how the hatred feeling and the sadness of sacrificing will bring some regrets of what is going on, before it will happen, recognize how far are the allied and how near are the enemies. My hope young generation who devote their life to "force" understand the real meaning of "power of self-insight"...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

when war breaks out I know who's side I will be on

Me too. The one who doesn't attack militarily has got my backing.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Is this a joke? Japan is going to get rid of the pacifist Constitution so it can invade North Korea to retrieve abducted Japanese nationals when Japan abducted 5.4 million Koreans??? Nippon Ganbare.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

He didn't just say those words. They were part of an official written request presented to the govt.

This is what happens when populism takes sway over common sense.

Igi - the young charismatic mayor, preaching to the converted, trying to score browny points for a future in the main ldp machinations.

Must be seen to be saying and doing the "right" things.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

One last mission for John Rambo?

We just can't take these guys seriously.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This statement is idiotic right wing foolishness; a product of the Japanese far right party's manipulation of this issue to stir up nationalistic prideful, "victimization/hurt" feelings in the Japanese public. Statements like this, concerning a handful of uncertain outcomes to serious abductions cases that occurred 40 years ago, should be set alongside the literally millions of Japanese family child abductions that, with intention, destroy children's psychologically secure development in low-to-no-standard court proceedings. A structural element in the order of Japanese governance with a widely-known and recognized international dimension- hundreds of thousands of global child abductions by Japanese nationals. Yet here is another politician making a play for military build-up and increased Japanese aggression over a minor issue that beneficiaries of Japan's return to militarization favor.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Military action? So they must actually know where these people are?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You know, I actually feel safe little sorry for PM Abe. He is walking up an escalator which is coming down, trying to restore Japan's image abroad, his country perpetually declining, and losing respect, trying to be diplomatic, but not getting far. He does try.

Then some Mayor comes out with something like that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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