AkashiAussie comments

Laughing at all of the posters who think they're going to go to any effort to rescue this dog, let alone nurse it back to health and regime it. Do you realize how many unwanted dogs get put down each year in Japan?

A realist, sure kill as many whales as you want in Japan, but where is it your cultural right to stomp on every environmental agreement in your never ending quest for more and more natural resources. I noticed the other day that there are lots of whale watching tours in Japan itself. Go and kill those whales if you want to kill whales. Stay out of the designated whale sanctuaries that Australians lost their lives for and spent so much money trying to create.

I know that Japan knows very little about sustainable fishing practices as evidenced from fishing practices from the recreational level to the commercial, but perhaps it's time you learn. Sure, it might be sustainable for your country to take out 1000 whales a year, but what if every other country decided the same thing? "If Japan can do it, why not us?"

I used to side with Japan on this issue, mainly due to a bigger hate for the environmental terrorists in SS than the whalers, but your arrogance and stubbornness on this issue has swayed me big time. I donated my hard earned cash to the Tohokou reconstruction effort, and it is nice to know that it is going to good use. Disgraceful.

It's almost laughable that somebody had the nerve above to say that there is not much more to Australian culture than drinking and sport. One of the keys to the creation of our identity as a young nation has been our involvement in the Antarctic. Australia has more than a hundred year history of involvement in scientific discovery and preservation of the Antarctic region. Australian legends have been created and generations of Australians have warmed their hearts with stories of hardship and survival from explorers such as Mawson and Davis.

We have a claim to an Antarctic territory which is based on discovery and a long historical association with the region. It is laughable that given some of Japan's ridiculous claims to islands in this region that they do not recognise this claim, especially when our goals are to preserve the region in its natural state rather than exploitation. Our desire to preserve the region is outlined in the Antarctic treaty which Japan interestingly enough is a signatory to.

http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~kpt/terraquest/va/history/treaty.html

We continue to maintain an extremely high presence in the region and our government spends a great deal of money funding scientific research activities. Australia is known globally as the gateway to the Antarctic.

Given all that we do there, to then have Japan bring naval vessels, factory whaling ships, refueling ships and the like and for Japan to breach our territorial waters in places such as Macquarie Island in a blatant disregard for everything that Australian explorers and scientists have worked so hard to preserve is a slap in the face. To then base your greed for protected resources on a false claim to scientific research is an even bigger slap in the face.

The only reason previous Australian governments have done nothing about it is because of our economic relationship with your nation, but now, the final straw has been pulled. Your cultural claim to whaling is a joke and you need to understand that public opinion in Australia is waning as a result of your stubborn approach to this situation.

Sure, it is your cultural right to eat whales and dolphins in your own region and I support this right, but stay the hell out of the Antarctic. I know Japan is often stubborn in diplomacy, but it would pay to heed and understand the feelings of your friends in the Asia Pacific region.

They came round the other day and I told them I didn't have a TV - even though it was on in the background. That said, I hook my computer up through the TV and watch tv shows and movies through that rather than watch crappy Japanese television. Everything NHK have is available online anyway. If I just say it's a 36" computer screen, will they still try and tell me I have a TV?

One day after Japan remove the order for SDF forces to shoot down any North Korean missile. Hmmm...

There are many problem gamblers in Japan already. Have you seen the number of people in pachinko parlors? If people want to gamble, they already can, despite the commonly held brlief that Japan has no gambling. At least as has been suggested, the casinos remain entirely Japanese owned, the money will stay here rather than siphoned off to Korea and China through the organised criminal syndicates that run the show now..

Bringing in casino districts in Japan is a no brainer. One of the biggest jokes in the world is that gambling is illegal in Japan. The Japanese people deserve better gambling options than merely pachinko and slots.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-05/02/content_16466380.htm

This is the Chinese take on things. Reads just like a CCP play book!

A friend and I once saw a Japanese policeman spend 20 minutes investigating the death of a pigeon. He was writing things down in his note book, meaduring the distance if the pigeon from the footpath and writing on the road with chalk. For a country with very inhumane pet shops and a pretty disgusting record of managing fisheries, it's amazing how seriously they take the death of birds...

So some girl notices a scratch and it makes the news? Seriously?! She could have accidentally done it herself. She's not even sure she did get slashed and she felt nothing!

It was only 6 on Awaji. In Kobe it was 3, and in most parts of Osaka it was a low 4. 2nd biggest I've felt.

I used to support the Japanese whalers, and I still support their right to conduct whaling in their own territorial waters out of respect for their culture, but enough is enough and they should be sent packing from the Southern Ocean. I donated a lot of money to your earthquake appeal - money that I couldn't really afford to donate, and to see your government spend funds earmarked for reconstruction efforts in Tohoku on this whaling program makes me angry, especially while those up in Tohoku are still living in temporary accommodation. Your flip flopping from one excuse for whaling to another is equally as infuriating.

Japan is a very stubborn country, and despite a massive chip on your shoulder about what everyone else in the world thinks about you, you have no respect for the wishes of other nations. To make matters worse, the last time you were in the Southern Oceans in an area which Australians have worked hard in and lost lives in, to forge a pathway to Antarctica and create amazing opportunities for scientific research, you are bringing naval vessels, refueling vessels and are brutally slaughtering some of the most intelligent creatures that inhabit the area. Last time your whaling ships even entered territorial water around Macquarie Island, which is world heritage listed and without a doubt Australian territory. What sheer and utter disrespect for one of your closest allies. Stories related to our exploration in this region are key parts of our birth as a nation and the establishment of our national identity.

The reason the Australian government has not made any real attempts to force your ships out of our territory is not because they know they have no claim to the area　as you suggest OKun, it is out of respect for the good relations and friendship between our two nations. This is why we are taking the matter to court, rather than arresting your crew and confiscating your boats, as we do with South Americans who come to fish in these waters. I will be interested to see what the new prime minister of Australia does about this issue once the current red headed clown is voted out.

I have eaten whale and I will continue to support your cultural rights, but I hope your corruption fueled, yakuza linked commercial whaling industry in the Southern Ocean gets the treatment from the IWC that it deserves.

http://i46.tinypic.com/21r43o.jpg

Here some information on the Antarctic Treaty, which I assume Japan is still a signatory to. What obligations does Japan have under the terms of this agreement?

scientific research to be freely shared? no military weapons? all activities in Antarctica to be assessed for their environmental impact? marine pollution and disturbance of wildlife? the living resources are protected?

Seems like the Japanese are acting completely against the interests of all member states. Added to that, they move into water around pristine, world heritage listed islands which are without a doubt part of Australia? Japan is like a stubborn mule with little regard for anybody else in this situation. Japan can whale all it likes around Japan, but please leave the Southern Ocean.

As far as I know, Sea Shepherd US have cut all ties with Sea Shepherd Australia which is now operating independently with Australian registered ships. As a result, the US has no authority right? The weak Australian government will probably do all they can to assist the Americans though. 'All the way with LBJ,' and all that...

Same place where that Chinese coral fisherman was detained a few weeks ago right? No regard for what the Jp authorities think, if there's money to be made, who cares right?

I wonder how the Japanese whalers how sailed into Australian water around Macquarie Island would have reacted if Australian authorities wrecked their boats?

All that said, I always flick across to the China Daily for a look at the Chinese take on any incident that occurs. Currently, there is no article about Japan threatening China with warning shots...

The study of Asian languages in general has been increasing in popularity over the past 20 years. 20 years ago the only languages on offer were French and German, but Australians no longer wished to be European outpost on the edge of Asia, but an integral part of the Asian region as our geography suggests we should be. Japanese was the first Asian language offered regularly in Australian schools, but now students can often learn other Asian languages such as Indonesian, Hindi and Mandarin. Just studying another language however in no way means that students will be developing conversational ability in said languages. The study of Asian languages is increasingly including cultural studies as well. Developing a life long interest is now the highest priority for educators of Asian languages in Australia, which is arguably one of the most difficult places in the world to learn languages other than English.

Currently, our two largest trade partners are Japan and China, and recently the federal government has issued a white paper on Australia's 'Asian Century'. The Australian eye is still on Japan, but we are starting to build stronger relations with our other neighbouring countries, and we are not putting all our eggs in one basket! Japan is very interested in our mineral wealth as well as our aquaculture. In some circles, Japan's reputation has taken a battering in recent times due to their disregard for Australia's environmentalist Antarctic treaties and unwillingness to compromise on the issue of whaling.

http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/

I used to live in a pretty remote part of Australia. Anybody who bought a Suzuki was on a losing ride to nowhere. I don't know anyone who was happy with how their Suzukis handled the serious offroad stuff that was required in that part of the world. As for their regular line of cars, they weren't in the same ball park as what Toyota and Nissan had to offer. Not surprised that they're deciding to focus on their bikes and ATVs.

One of my best friends in Japan is a Malaysian/Australian Muslim. He is one of the most respectful, kind and sincere people you would hope to meet. The main problem with this whole issue is that too many people on both sides are stereotyping and lumping everybody into the same basket. One preacher in the United States said something bad about Islam, therefore every American is at fault. A handful of Islamic extremists in Syria stormed an embassy, therefore every Muslim must hate America. Please get a reality check.

Seriously Sheetu? I hope you are joking as war is a terrible, terrible thing. Also, I think in all honesty that Japan would not stand a chance.

Waxman, Japan is definitely living in the bubble days. For all its technology, when I go into public offices, I am shocked at the antiquity of their duties. Everything is on paper and nothing is computerised, but I guess if it worked in the good old days, it must be the best way. In Tohoku, because everything was on paper, the government didn't actually have a proper idea of who was where and what was actually going on.

The education system is a joke too. In Australia, technology in the classroom is huge. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a school without at least one smart board in operation. In Japan, if you mention a smart board, you are met with vacant stares. People don't even know what they are. When I first came to Japan in 1998, high school kids were still using slide rules in their mathematics classrooms.

Japan's political roller coaster seems to replace one senile old man with another, none of who are never seemingly in it for the right reasons. Each tries to bring about a few short popular changes, but nothing ever actually changes. Nobody is in it for the long haul, and nobody is willing to risk losing face to bring about the big changes that are needed.

Perhaps they're attempting to mobilise the people into a working frenzy this time around by telling them of a huge threat on their doorstep. It's worked before right, so why not do it again?! Sheesh.

To all those people saying how unsafe Japan is becoming, you need to stop and think for a bit. Stuff like this happesn every Friday and Saturday night where I live and doesn't even make the news. Japan is still very safe, despite the opinion you have formed from reading Japan Today.

The Japanese seem to think that they have the hottest Summer in the world, which is very far from the truth. The number one rule for Japanese people should be to avoid the AC. The Japanese (and the reader), seem to spend their time in Summer hurrying from one air conditioned building to another and in Winter believe it or not, from one heated room to another .This means that the Japanese are either complaining that it's too hot or too cold almost the entire Winter and Summer season. If they spent more time outside, they would climatise and get used to the not so extreme temperatures. It might make life a lot more enjoyable!

Japanese girls are very naive and suckers for a bit of sweet talk. Probert hits the nail on the head with what he says. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.