deanzaZZR comments

It is Japan after all. Ainu were only granted status as indigenous peoples in 2008.

Peak performative politics. リッチ is 100% correct.

The motto "be careful what you wish for" comes to mind. Everything in the proper dose is best.

Sounds like the situation in India that Biden loves so much.

While Maduro went on to schedule an election for July and invite international observers to monitor voting, his inner circle has used the ruling party’s total control over Venezuela's institutions to undermine the agreement. Actions include blocking his main rival, ex lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, from registering her candidacy or that of a designated alternative. Numerous government critics have also been jailed over the past six months, including several of Machado's aides.

LOL. The "Free Trade" Giant has clay feet.

A cheap Yen helps exports and restricts imports as they are more expensive.

fix the yen, this is becoming ridiculous

Bombs mean more profits

Diplomacy anyone?

Cliff notes

CPC = bad

CPV = good

和平 or 平和 it means peace in both languages.

A friendly reminder that Japan has territorial disputes with all surrounding nations and even Taiwan.

Rahm will never be confused with a Kennedy, Reischauer or Mondale that's for sure. I'm pretty sure skipped diplomacy boot camp.

You certainly are a high stakes roller then. (Shanghai girls' reputation).

Getting back to noodle dishes shoyu based in now my favorite but I like a more balanced approach of veg. v. meat. Best ramen ever was Kitakata style in Fukushima which honestly isn't the most balanced in terms of veg. v. meat but it was damn tasty.

@DT is your wife originally from NW China as lamb is more popular out there.

Kishida says 'hi'. The responsible response to all of this is to call for a cease fire and immediate implementation of the Two State Solution per UN resolutions.

EU behaviour is absolutely disgusting

PS German Chancellor Scholz is traveling in China.

I'm not sure about Meloni but one thing all the others share is being hugely unpopular in their respective countries.

How ironic that Japan tries now to have a bigger impact on international relations at the same time the economy sputters and it slides down the list of the globe's largest economies.

Is ironclad the word for the week?

笑 The author's ignorance and bias is showing.

Meaning, in effect, a China-dominated set of arrangements where Beijing rather than Washington sits on top of the pile. Lesser powers would then be required to see the error of their ways and form tributory structures under the Chinese mandate of heaven.

@theFu You do recognize that the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have competing claims, right?

Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia have great relations with China and will not get involved.

Take a look at what the Malaysian PM said recently while visiting Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9VdVlZ3GHU

One more step down the path of the Perpetual Security States of America.

@Mr Kipling Look at the map from a NHK Japanese language article. It's not only Tohoku and Hokkaido.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240412/K10014420151_2404121746_0412174824_02_05.jpg

Resistance is futile ...

It's entirely predictable for Kishida and the LDP to cling tightly to the salad days policies of the 1960s, 70s & 80s when the Asia Pacific was an American lake. Today's world is multi-polar and will only continue going forward. Maybe the next LDP leader will realize that trend but I wouldn't wager any money on it.

The photo is Akebono beating the great 65th Yokozuna Takanohana.

RIP Champ. I cheered you on in the 1990s when I was in Japan. Akebono truly had the heart of a lion.

@OssanAmerica And I thought you were a big fan of democracy.

How do you say lame duck in Korean?

Excellent