Mike45 comments

@jj,

You make some very good points, and several good books are written on the subject. I dont think Japan is a democracy, there is allot of cronyism (same PM is elected/relected over and over) and the average Japanese wont vote and is apathetic towards any change in Japan. Their attitude is 'why bother?" I think, from what I have observed/gathered, that there was a window during the postwar period for Japan to become democratic but it was squashed in order to curb the growing communist threat in the region. As Japanese have never really known democracy, I think they are incapable of democracy as it happens in other countries.

As for what Biden was doing, I guess he was trying to cool things down and making a report for Obama on whats going on here.

please read the Nazi Rabin who was stationed there, his account of events. He tells a different story. Should I disqualify it and listen to a Japanese scholar? True, chinese have been in overdrive to hype the propaganda, but I dont think it was such a small time event as Ishihara says it was. My gut tells me it was a horrible attrocity, similar to what occured in Singapore. Transparency and accountablity is what Japan needs, not whitewashing.

"Put it aside, you may have seen China becoming nicer and nicer to S.Korea these days. As the result, you can see how DPRK beginning to stand against China recently. Now, the worst nightmare scenario for US is to lose both S.Korea and Japan from US side or having both US-S.K. and US-JPN relationship dramatically weaker in front of China. Japan is making things very difficult for Americans, that I can't deny. US govt needs to spend a lot more time with both Japanese and S.Korean government."

@jj

Im sorry I didnt read your 2nd paragraph closely. You stated many truths, and the S Korean/China alliance is something that has been written allot about recently. I think its an interesting topic that should be watched. If South Korea and China align over common ground (an aggressive Japan), then yes, thats a situation the U.S. doesnt need.

@tinawatanbe

Its interesting, because I get the same reaction from every japanese I talk with when it comes to Nanking. The same exact answer..."the population was not that big at the time" Where do you and the others get that information from?

@jj,

No, what the U.S. needs is a responsible and accountable Japan to help stablize the region, not destablize it with rearmament and imperialistic rehtoric. Japan is alienating Tawain and S. Korea while drawing China towards war. I dont know what you mean by loose Japan; if Japan decided to go rouge, the U.S. has many tools available to draw her in. Its a possible scenerio, but I think several scoldings will take place first. When you say the U.S. needs to spend time with Japan gov, what was Biden just doing in Japan, then once he left, Abe headed straight for Yasukuni?

He is not saying that the U.S. is an imperialist country, he is implying that the U.S. was the victor of WW2 because Japan attacked it and its allies, and has controlled Japan for its purposes in the region and will continue to do so. This is one of the benefits of being a victor.

I think the U.S. will let it ride out, then Japan might start making more ridiculous demands. Tarrifs, U.S. protectionism and regional unstability will ruin Ishiharas dream and put Japan back in line to contain China. The best thing to do is what Kissinger, Nixon and Carter did, that is open a dialouge with China and help steer it towards eventual democracy. I dont think using Japan as rouge cowboy to contain China will work, just make things much worse.

Sorry David, but your wrong. They wont have a say in it if 2/3rds vote for it as allowed by the constitution, and Abe is working overtime to manipulate the 2/3 rule anyhow. Basically, the 2/3 rule was written by the victors, thus it should be overturned and replaced with something more Japanese.

I agree with the other posters, it was invetiable that this was going to happen. I still think, however, that there is a misunderstanding when it comes to Japan culture. It has its roots in tribes and factions, warring peoples. This is perhaps true of China and Korea as well, sorry never lived there, but their tv dramas seem to glorify the same ideas. I think the lattest release by Exile "tribe" says allot about Japan culture. A bunch of united tribes ready to battle and dancing in unison in battle dress :)

"Are you really telling me that lanky-but-for-some-reason-a-hit-with-the-ladies-Takashi-with-the-hot-hair-and-pointed-shoes in Kabukicho will pick up an assault rifle and start mowing people down?"

Well pointy shoes is exactly why Abe and team want to rid Japan of. Ishihara and cohorts blame the U.S. for pointy shoes and other weird weakness about Japan. Its interesting that Japan has some obsession with taking the "best" from the rest of the world and making its own, but it usually turns out to be something worse than the original. Its why I cant see japan taking the lead on anything, whatever they touch it turns to comedy.

"A simple and sincere apology may have been made repeatedly, but a speech in the Diet, going down in history like the German President's speech, that would make a real impact."

Very much agreed, but it would anger to many constituents and special interest groups. Better yet, the Emperor could do it in parliment, but "its not his job" His job is more as a dear leader role, not international affairs, except to travel. Its easier to wave off these issues as gaijin interference or "they dont understand us" than to take the courage and do it. Lets just rearm and get it on.

"Former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew said that allowing Japan to send peacekeeping troops abroad would be "like giving chocolate liqueur to an alcoholic"

Yeah I agree. A strong military used for self defense purposes for a pacifist country sounds reasonable, but a military build up for posturing Japans interest around the globe, sorry I dont buy it. I could only imagine the headaches of having a joint anything with Japanese, look no further than the business world to see the nightmarish entanglements that creates. A uniquely Japan vision for the world, ummm, Id rather not know about it. I prefer the current status quo with the U.S. calling the shots, as imperfect as it is, than anything Japan or joint Japan. Mr Yew is a wise man, and amazingly he implemented everything British for his new country. Japan should stick to what it exports best, cars and AKB48.

All biz as usual, but what is to become of the US bases in Japan if Japan builds its own military?

@Jeff lee,

Can you explain how to get the private surplus savings put into circulation? And who owns most of the private surplus, old pensioners or corporations? Wont inflation only create more hoarding by the majority senior citizentry? Or will that class be discounted, and the big corporations/rising military industry be the targets for the new inflationary cycle? It is my understanding that the older people embraced the left because deflation meant their fixed income would not be affected by inflation. Wont Abenomics alienate this class? Im interested in how all this is supposed to work.

"I think a good part of the blame rests with the decision makers in the American government at the time; they allowed a considerable amount of what the Japanese officials they put in place have managed to get away with today."

This dilenma has been discussed briefly in many books I have come across, known as the "reverse course" As I wasnt alive during those immediate post war years, I dont know what really took place. Was real democracy about to take hold in Japan? Or were the socialist/communist about to hijack the system for their own agenda, thus a right wing neo facist government was the better alternative? Its an interesting topic, but I havent seen much in depth disscussion about it, only a few paragraphs about the reverse course.

Thank you Toshiko for your reply. I have read several of your post, while they may seem disconnected (a real problem in Japan with English grammar, but your not alone and no judgement from me) I have gained some insight. Unfortunatly, your revelations are not common knowlede and are not the norm. If you had a more transparent media and educational system, then we could give credit to your post. My post are not parroting the media, its the opposite, Im parroting what mainstream Japanese post. Scroll and read, you can find much of it there.

I think we can gain from the posting of many of the Japanese here that there is still allot of hate towards the Koreans and Chinese and nationalism at play between all the countries. They bring to the conversation what they were taught. Asia is not known for being a progressive region of the world, so accountablity or other "mature" characteristics are words not applicable to this region. I think thats the main issue that people misunderstand when trying to force apologies from Japan.

"Only on the basis of this honest accounting......"

Sorry, this is Western logic. No need to apply that in Japan. Its the crux of the issue.

"The Japanese is a fiercely proud people. The Samurai spirit is always in them"

Oh boy, another generalization about Japan. Its not about pride, and the Japanese are not an especially proud people, more than any other country. . Many mistake group conformity and control with pride. During the post war years, there were many former "proud" IJA leaders who disowned their loyality to the countrys leadership. The reason Japan can never be like a Germany and forgive/forget is because their culture is diffierent. There is nobody to be held accountable, thus no reason to offer an appology. Who should apologize? To outsiders, this may seem childish, but its how things are done in Japan.

" How about his brilliant son Nobuteru who never agreed with Ishihara group"

Many say that, but blood is blood. When it comes to Japanese, we get many instances of "Im against this or that" but when faced with group conformity, the "power" overcomes them and they succumb to "we are japanese". Sorry, I dont think his son is so much opposed to his fathers views; he just wants to be a bit of a rebel to distance himself as any son will do, but their both cut from the same cloth.

Japan is a country of many contridictions (including my post) and it may appear that Abe is being desparate, however I would watch things more closely; I dont think he is desparate at all, he is just making plans for something else to suprise us. As Joebigs posted, there isnt really anything to fear from the Left, they have long been disposed of.

I have to agree with Lowly. "Shopping while being foriegn" or "out and about while being foriegn" is sometimes more trouble than its worth for me. I just try and not bother with it. Sure, i get some special treatment at times, but it doesnt compare to anything I have received in other countries. The whole Japan experience is extremely overrated, unless your just here in transit etc, then it can be nice to share your newbie experience, but thats not reality. The negatives far outweigh the positives. Its more enjoyable to go through a drive thru in the states, get a tasty albiet unhealthy meal, and get on with a scenic drive to work or whatever in the U.S. than experience a sit down meal in Japan with the waiter approaching you with caution, admonishing you she cant speak English even though you order in Japanese, and 99% of the other customers gawking at the alien in their midst. Im sorry, I cant equate that experience to anything pleasant.

"if Abe can connect Hashimoto and his Japan Restoration Party with Jiminto, then he won't have to rely on New Komeito for help in running the country"

This is a good point; he is probably trying to shed the new komeito and its headaches with pacifism and colablorate with the JRP. I think we will see new polarized diet, something like whats going on in the U.S.

A possible scolding by the U.S. might of done it, as Hashimoto experienced the same thing. All very predictable. I think Abe predicts the economy will falter, or a possible drop in support. and is preparing for it. Many have said that Abe was never aligned with Hashimoto/Ishihara. I see, but that was just feel good talk. He did well with the economy for awhile, but why take a turn towards the right?

"Some Asian countries tend to view Japan more as a liberator than an aggressor"

This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have read on this site, even outrating the japanophiles who defend all things neofacist Japan. Yes, you might read such a statement at the yasukuni muesum, but not by any natives of any of the countries Japan once colonized. From Singapore, HK, Guam, Tawain, Korea, Thailand, I have never heard anything positive or nostalgic about the occupation by Japan. I dont see HK or Singapore requiring mandatory japanese language lessons, instead they reverted back to the English education and legal system; might of had something to do with being massacred for not acknowleding the emperor in the correct manner? Maybe you can ask Mr. Yew what he thinks about it. They did latter adapt some of Japans economic policy, but Im not convinced any former colonies would trade their independance or what they learned under English occupation for Japan.

@Cohen,

"However Japan is too proud to emulate Germany"

Its not really a case of pride, its a case of there is nobody to blame in Japan. When troublemaking occurs in Japan, the blame is shifted, because there isnt anybody to be held accountable. Its a puzzeling but clever manipulation of events. In the case of WW2, many say Hirohito should be blamed, but in Japan he was seen as a god or diety, so how can he be held accountable? Many Japanese say the Army was to blame, but who in the Army? Enjoy the mystery. Sex slaives? Corporations provided them, not the Army. Abe visits Yasukuni? Well, he isnt to blame, its the interest groups or "strange" interest groups who have extremist agendas that ask him to go there.

“The Americans are dissatisfied? Too bad. Will they still be our ally? Yes,”

exactly. If you dont like it, too bad, we are going to do as we please. I think the current administration underestimated Abe and friends real intentions, now they are having to backpeddle? There isnt really any central accountablity in Japan; its why we can never get anybody to take responsiblity for WW2. Abe has his own fans to please, thus the visit to Yasukuni. Its business as usual in Japan, with the usual "played with the snake, got bit" approach by outsiders.

I guess some have a Japan pet syndrome, others a Korea pet syndrome- they think, from their bored comfort zone, that these places are interesting but completely disconnected from the reality of what really goes on. Poor dude is stupid.

This seems to be written by somebody who thinks Japan is the center of the world. I have to agree with Bernice, I dont think Japan has contributed that much to the world, if anything, Japan takes from outside countries contributions and makes them its own, in the process destroying their originality, but claiming them as orignial Japanese inventions. There seems to be very little original in Japan. Cant say I would miss anything, except perhaps certian dishes. Most of the goods you buy are over engineered and have lost their originality.

if I remember correctly, it the case of not getting paid, you refer to the rodokujinkan or whatever its called, they send a warning letter..nothing happens, another, repeat cycle then you have the option to go to court.

@ Mirai,

I think she wants to escape Japan, but needs a visa in order to stay long term in the U.S. I think she has some property in LA? Hard to live in the U.S. without the right resident status.

If I were betting on this, my bet is on the same results as the first marriage. Gajin euphoria will be replaced with reality; time to run back to comfie zone Tokyo.