Daniel Moore comments

I'm happy to know that Abe admits that Japan did wrong and they will not do that again.

On the contrary, Shinzo Abe is the face of Japan that to this day refuses to fully acknowledge their past wrongs. Formal apologies have been offered by Japan in the 1990s but have largely been tainted by numerous attempts by high ranking Japanese politicians to deny, question, or downplay the war crimes, including Abe.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/shinzo-abes-inability-to-face-history/2013/04/26/90f5549c-ae87-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/opinion/another-attempt-to-deny-japans-history.html?_r=0

In Berlin there are many memorials to victims of their war crimes. There aren't any in Tokyo, to my knowledge. In fact, most Japanese youths grow up knowing precious little about Japanese imperial era, so no wonder they scratch their heads at why they struggle to get along with their 2 closest neighbours.

@kiyoshiMukai - PS4 users will also require a paid subscription for online play I think. I've had PS1 through to PS3, but I gradually play less and less games and not sure I'll get either console, although if one of them comes with great media centre features I might pick one up by Christmas.

Quick, everybody mock Korea because that student clearly represents the entire nation and its people!

Dogs are too easy. You give them a cuddle, a bone, a piece of meat or a toy and they're happy.

Cats on the other hand, you really need to work to earn their approval.

Having been both a dog owner and cat servant, I think dogs are more fun but cats were more intriguing.

Say yes to the flavoursome English ales. Lagers are overrated, no matter how fresh.

Well the report you linked says that in the previous year (2011), Korean attitude towards Japan was predominantly positive (68% positive vs 20% negative). This article is about decreasing Japanese tourism to Korea in recent months. Am I being irrational by suggesting that the 30% devaluation of the Japanese currency vs Korean currency, on top of the recent threats of nuclear strike by NK is responsible for this? Or is it because Korean attitude towards Japan?

I doubt it's the 1 can of soda that is causing diabetes. People who drink soda are also less likely to be health conscious, to eat poorly, to do little exercise if at all etc. There are too many confounding factors. For example you can't say a cigarette lighter causes lung cancer, as most smokers carry cigarette lighters.

I really hope Dortmund get over the line. Modern football is dominated by the big teams with money, who simply buy all the best players. Madrid, Barcelona the two worst culprits.

@dcog9065 - How does that BBC survey serve as proof of Peter Payne's initial claim? I don't think SK are doing too badly overall. From your link - "Of the 22 countries surveyed in 2012, 15 countries hold positive views, four hold negative views, and three are divided". But why does this matter to you anyway?

Here in Australia, there was a muslim riot when the California-based amateur film maker apparently insulted their prophet. An angry mob took to the streets, and there was a 5 or 6 year old boy holding up a sign that said "behold those who insult the prophet". Most religions try to expand their influence by spreading their teaching, but Islam is unique in believing that those who do not share the same view need to be killed. Religion from the dark ages if you ask me.

I believe that a week-long trekking along Milford Sound and Fiordland of South Island, New Zealand is the closest to heaven you can experience. Google it if you don't believe me ; )

@Peter Payne - would you mind showing proof of that advertising campaign? I thought so. If you bothered to read the article (or if you bothered to think at all), you'd see that the falling value of the Japanese Yen was in large part responsible for the decrease, as well as recent nuclear threats from North Korea, not to mention some of the recent diplomatic standoffs between the two countries.

I've just received a reply to my e-mail to Korea Red Cross. He tells me donations collected in Korea were forwarded to Japanese Red Cross (my contact tells me it was as per request by JRCS), which is why list of direct donations to JRCS from individuals did not feature Korea in top 20. Japan Red Cross is aware of this issue, and have apparently asked Asahi Shimbun to publish a story in this regard. Stay tuned.

@Fadamor - thanks for clearing that up. The published list by Asahi Shimbun is irresponsible in that it gives a misleading impression of contributions by other countries. What's next, give gold/silver/bronze medals to top 3, and name and shame countries that gave very little?

S Korea would easily rank top 5 in total donations alone (counting money from Korea Red Cross from donations which were basically private donations), not to mention deployment of relief workers. However facts won't stop the anti-Korea rhetoric on Youtube from ultra-nationalists.

Sorry, correct link: http://www.jrc.or.jp/vcms_lf/kaigaikyuenkin_uchiwake_130402.pdf

@titaniumdioxide: The report is false. In Japan Red Cross official documents, Korea gave the 5th largest donation. Have a look for yourself (see line 48) - http://www.jrc.or.jp/vcms_lf/kaigaikyuenkin_uchiwake_130402.pdf

Something is not right. Look at line 48 of this document from Japan Red Cross. Korea donated 2.9 billion yen, the 5th largest donation. There needs to be some explanation. ---> http://www.jrc.or.jp/vcms_lf/kaigaikyuenkin_uchiwake_130402.pdf

Quote from article linked below - "The Korean government’s decision to dispatch a rescue team within days of the earthquake was the earliest action taken by any foreign government. Korea sent 53 tons of boric acid to help control the badly broken Fukushima nuclear plants, and on March 19, delivered 100 tons of water and 6,000 blankets for the Japanese people in shelters.

The government was not the only helping hand. On March 12, the Chosun Daily initiated a movement for donations from Korean citizens, which drew more than 10,000 participants in a single day and led actions from other media and public organizations. The Korean Red Cross amassed over $19 million in 2 weeks—the largest amount of voluntary donation at times of natural disasters both in and outside Korea. "

http://thediplomat.com/a-new-japan/2011/04/18/post-earthquake-japan-korea-ties/

Japanese girl calling for massacre of Koreans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oOW6QJfeoo&list=LLqMHbxAJcsWazUzGHx8DIkg

Donations from Korea surpassed US$19 million (1.8 billion yen) by late March 2011. Something is very wrong with these published numbers. http://asiancorrespondent.com/51275/korean-donations-to-japan-setting-records/

South Koreans donated money, time and resources to Japan in their hour of need. Due to ongoing territorial disputes and traumatic scars of the recent past, they were not in the top 20. For people to turn around and vilify Koreans saying they did not give enough of their money, time and resources is unbelievable. Imagine how Koreans who donated money feel, when they read comments posted online.

"South Korea sent the first team consisting of 5 rescuers and 2 rescue dogs who arrived in Japan on March 12, while another team of 102 rescuers arrived on March 14.[89] About 100 additional rescuers are on standby and waiting for Japan's permission to be dispatched. Korea also proposed to send an additional 1,000 rescue personnels upon Japan's request.[90] In addition to human aid, Korea is sending boric acid to weaken nuclear reactions and power sources for electricity."

“Wow, China donated quite a bit. The standards of its people surpass those of South Korea.” -- Does this person realise that China's population (1.3 billion) is 26x that of South Korea? (50 million).

I think it is a low act for Japanese Red Cross to publish this list in the first place. Donations are made in good faith, not in order to show off your generosity.

If NK ever attack SK/USA/Japan, the country of NK will be wiped from the world map within 24 hours. NK knows this, and will never ever go beyond the missile testing (and failing) they've been doing for decades.

@SamuraiBlue - it's true that this type of 'bi-polar' protests have only been seen in Japan, but remember than protests in Korea were not directed at Japanese people passing by.

It's very telling that the most liked comment so far is "These anti-Korean groups are national disgraces. We will be regarded not much different from Korea and China." It sounds like most people aren't concerned about the racist chants being directed at the Koreans, but more about how Japan will be viewed by the world as a result.

It's interesting that foreigners (Americans, Canadians, Brits, etc) in Japan seem to take Japan's side in these disputes, whereas foreigners in China/Korea/Taiwan each take their residing countrie's sides. Is it possible that bias creeps in?

Japan is in terrotorial disputes with every single Asian neighbour.. what's happening here? Is each Japanese claim to various territories totally legit?