Mitch Cohen comments

Posted in: Dozens of lawmakers expected to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Friday See in context

Someone always defends Yasukuni visits saying there are only a handful of war criminals enshrined there, out of millions in total. They always forget to mention that more than a thousand war criminals are in fact enshrined there, of which 14 are class A war criminals.

For those new to this debate, this article sums up the reasons for the controversy:

http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-26/why-yasukuni-shrine-so-controversial

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Posted in: Chinese buyers in Tokyo lead charge in iPhone 6 global debut See in context

I walked past the Apple store in my town yesterday. People were lined up four blocks deep. They all looked chinese to me.

It comes as no surprise that they are buying the phones to resell them back in PRC. Get a job.

@hidingout - So what if Chinese buyers are buying Chinese made phones to sell in China? Maybe you should be thankful that they are spending tourist dollars in Japan.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Posted in: Suga says Japan will keep on whaling, despite resolution See in context

It's fun down-voting the pro-whalers comments, it's like playing whac-a-mole at the arcade.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Posted in: More than half of Chinese see war with Japan: poll See in context

That just over half of Chinese people seeing future war with Japan is certainly a story, but the below would also be a story in itself:

while 29% of Japanese view military confrontation (with China) as a possibility

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Posted in: Cilic crushes Nishikori to win U.S. Open title See in context

What a champion despite the loss. First player from an Asian country to reach a mens grand slam singles final (of course Michael Chang represented the USA), and his spectacular run to the final suggests he will win a few grand slam titles in his time. Such humility in his interview too, won me over after never having seen him before.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Posted in: Courtesy call See in context

In SKorea hate against Japan is in the schools. It's normal.

No it's not. I know because I attended 6 years of school in Korea. We learn modern history, including the Japanese annexation. We learn about Korean resistance to Japanese annexation in the same way French children learn about French resistance to the Nazis. And during breaks we would read Dragonball manga, play basketball inspired by Slam Dunk, and after school we would all rush to whoever has a Nintendo to play games all afternoon.

I'll never forget some anti-Japanese pictures drawn by children in Korean schools.

I know the EXACT video you're talking about. Some nutjob right-winger teacher made his young students draw hateful anti-Japan pictures. It made the news all over Korea because it was outrageous. If that was common in Korea, why would it have been on the news? If that was common in Korea, why would there be JUST ONE VIDEO of school children drawing anti-Japan pictures? Don't believe me? Find me just 1 more video of SK children drawing anti-Japan pictures. You won't find it, because it doesn't happen, and when it did, it made the news.

I know I'm not going to be able to reason with you, because you have already made up your mind (like the time you admitted you formed your negative opinion of Korea through ultra-nationalists on Youtube who claimed Italians were jealous of Korea), but I hope to at least give you some insight.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Posted in: Courtesy call See in context

business with SK is insignificant.

Tina, meet reality. Reality, this is Tina.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Posted in: Courtesy call See in context

The world would be a better place if these two countries broke up any kind of relation, also economic.

..

Would be very happy if Japan breaks diplomatic relations with the "republic" of Korea.

@Alex80 and YuriOtani: Do you realise that SK is Japan's 3rd largest trading partner (after China and USA), and that Japan enjoys a large trade surplus vs SK?

Not that it's ever going to happen, but cutting all diplomatic ties with your 3rd largest trading partner will have far-reaching ramifications on the economy of Japan. I bet you wouldn't be "very happy" at the result, and it's difficult to know if the "world would be a better place", but Japan would certainly be a worse place.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Posted in: Abe sent support message to war criminal memorial service in April See in context

In his message, Abe said: "I express my grief at the death of martyrs... who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today," according to two participants and a report by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Martyrs? They were responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity. Hardly martyrs in anyone's eyes, unless you're an ultra-nationalist with an Japanocentric, revisionist view of history.

11 ( +20 / -9 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

In SK movies don't need to be historically correct as long as it spurs national hate against Japan.

Haha, the upvotes to this post and the downvotes on my response to it (pointing out that out of the top 100 highest grossing films in Korea, no other film is about Japan) demonstrates a profound disconnect from reality in some people.

Some posts are matters of opinion and one is at liberty to agree or disagree, but that post was completely and utterly incorrect, but people chose to ignore the facts and take sides. Very interesting.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

They also said we are not able to create popular songs since the 90s, and this is one of the reasons why we envy them.

@Alex80 - Just WHO is 'they'? And why are you fixated on the notion that Koreans believe Italians envy Korea. I can tell you now, 99.9% Koreans don't think Italians envy Korea in any shape or form.

It was also mentioned in this thread that some Koreans believe the Japanese Samurai have Korean roots. Again, 99.9% of Koreans will frown and look at you funny if you ask them whether they believe the Samurai come from Korea.

Don't fixate on the 0.1%. That would be like judging the whole country of Japan by the black van nationalist idiots draped in imperial era Japanese flags abusing innocent bystanders.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

His claims cannot be verified by any other participating nations. No documents about any famous battle and can only be found as foot notes in people's diaries about a skirmish.

@SamuraiBlue - So we have a 400+ year old historical record, with no other existing records which contradicts it.

So your logical conclusion is ..

Basically a fabrication by the author

I don't follow your logic.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

The whole story is a fairy tale

@SamuraiBlue - Your opinion seems to be the minority opinion not in line with the rest of the world, similar to your Japanocentric views on other historical issues like the 'comfort women'

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-6/nanjung-ilgi-war-diary-of-admiral-yi-sun-sin/

You'd better write UNESCO an e-mail quicksmart to let them know they got it all wrong, and the whole thing is a complete fabrication.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

In SK movies don't need to be historically correct as long as it spurs national hate against Japan.

@CGB Spender - It looks like your posts don't need to be factually correct as long as it spurs your hatred against SK.

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls052624288/

Please take a look at the above list of top 100 highest grossing films in Korean history, and tell us which other film comes remotely close to spurring hatred against Japan? (hint: answer is zero).

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

True, occasionally there have been other Korean hit movies that are not about defeating Japan.

@intlobserver - are you sure?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films_in_South_Korea

Out of the top 50 highest grossing films in Korea of all time, NO OTHER FILM is about defeating Japan.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

SK just can't win in any case, can they?

(1) This movie is not made -> Nobody praises SK for NOT making this movie.

(2) This movie is made, and is not a box office hit -> People will say oh look the pathetic Koreans made a propaganda movie and couldn't even make it a hit.

(3) This movie is made, and is a box office hit -> People say oh look the pathetic Koreans made a propaganda movie and everything flocked to watch it.

I haven't seen it (and probably won't because I dislike period films), but maybe it's just a great popcorn summer flick?

Have the SK bashers ever heard anything about SK that they didn't immediately try to turn into some negative rhetoric about 'pathetic Koreans with deep seated inferiority complex?'

Uniqlo is massive in Korea, Koreans in their millions flock to Japan to enjoy their holidays every year, and Japanese restaurants everywhere in Korea are premium dining establishments. How about some of you drop the same hatred that you accuse Koreans of?

-6 ( +9 / -15 )

Posted in: Film on 1597 victory over Japan breaks Korean box office records See in context

Predictable SK bashing is predictable.

Irony is people here who accuse Koreans of hating Japan seem to hate Korea just as much, if not more.

The film 'Taeguki, a.k.a. Brotherhood' about 10 years ago attracted 10 million moviegoers. So does SK have some kind of huge inferiority complex vs NK?

The mutant monster movie "The Host" attracted 13 million. So Koreans have some sort of complex against SF monsters?

Korean heist flick "The Thieves" attracted 12 million. So what kind of complex do Koreans have here?

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Posted in: Japanese firms hurt by tensions with China, S Korea See in context

Some will say it's okay to reduce trade and investment in China/SK as long as SE Asia takes its place. But truth is Japanese economy could benefit greatly from trading with and investing in both.

While China and SK (unjustly in many people's eyes) continue to air 70-year old grievances against Japan, Japan isn't doing itself any favours by giving them fuel, with cabinet members visiting Yasukuni in droves, questioning past apologies, voting history revisionists into power.

No single party is at fault, but bottom line is Japanese economy is taking a hit, with flow-on effects on the average Japanese citizen. If Abe was a shrewd politician he thinks he is, he would put his nationalistic agenda aside and do what's best for Japan. History will remember him (among other things) as someone who set Japan - China/SK relations 30 years back.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Posted in: 'Patriotic Wives' praise Abe, censure China, S Korea See in context

Yeah Mitch, I get that you've been the victim of several decades of the indoctrination that is the ROK education system. and that you believe what you were taught with all your heart, but please try to show a bit of objectivity.

@hidingout - I have, on numerous occasions, been critical of SK's extreme position on Japan. In fact I even remember you applauded some of my previous posts (when it suited you). So I have shown 'a bit of objectivity' several times. The ball's in your court.

I realize it has become "legend" among pro-ROK posters here that the words "kill the cockroaches" were shouted. I suspect if these words were actually shouted, the shouting was being done by a few of the black truck folks and was in no way representative of the thoughts of most people participating in the protest.

Don't just suspect it. Believe it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pE2ms1P56I . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYdmGIEphB8 . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMl8iqZkbi0.

That depends on how tenuous the "association" is. For example, is everyone who attended the soccer match last year "poisoned" because a handful of idiots held up a "Japanese only" banner? Let me be clear. If those words were actually shouted (and I know of no one who would ever say such things in public), and if they were directed at individual Koreans (particularly those living in Japan), its a nasty thing to do, and I do not support that in any way.

Again, Japanese behaving badly = 'few bad apples, no biggie'. Pity that logic applies to Japan only in your thinking. Some objectivity perhaps?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: 'Patriotic Wives' praise Abe, censure China, S Korea See in context

ROK and PRC are fully deserving of any condemnation they may receive from Japanese citizens. They have brought it on themselves with their constant whining and their inability to move into the 21st century. Totally support these ladies.

@hidingout - So actions of ROK and PRC governments are worthy of condemnation, but not the actions of the Japanese government?

Time and time again, when specific Japanese politicians come out with outrageous remarks you condemn only those individuals, but when Korean politicians do the same you think it's fair game to tar 50 million South Koreans with the same brush.

Yeah I get that you've been in Japan for several decades and you dearly love Japan with all your heart, but try a bit of objectivity.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Posted in: 'Patriotic Wives' praise Abe, censure China, S Korea See in context

Five hundred members nationwide?

Wow, that's almost as many as the Japanese Charlie Chaplin Appreciation Society.

.

They good part of this article is that these groups are a minority. The bad part is just how extreme right-wing they are, the possibility that their membership will grow, and that they could actually affect nation policy.

@lucabrasi and FullM3taL - Yeah the group is small but they aren't the only like-minded organisation.

You can't blame these ladies for doing what they are doing. Look at Japanese culture which has Japanese remaining silent and generally turning away from loud confrontation while apologizing over and over and over again.

@KnowBetter - Classic line for Japanese apologists, to a tee. I think you forgot the part about Japanese denials and efforts to revise/retract apologies by the ruling party of nationalists.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Posted in: Hashimoto says allied soldiers raped women after D-Day See in context

In general many Japanese people don't seem to care too much about politics (given low voter turnouts etc), but most people have surely heard of him and have an opinion of him by now. The fact that he keeps on getting re-elected mayor to Japan's 3rd largest city is a sad indictment for the Japanese.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Posted in: Japan kicks off first whale hunt since U.N. court ruling See in context

Japan made a mockery of the ICJ ruling with this move.. will be interesting if they still push for South Korea to take the Dokdo/Takeshima issue to the ICJ...

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Posted in: Gov't official heads to Seoul for 'comfort women' talks See in context

Time and again the ROK has accepted apologies and money only to turn around and start the bleating all over again. Its begun to feel like Groundhog Day.

@hidingout - Yes Japan has apologised. Yes Japan has paid compensation.

But I don't know on what evidence you say Japan has apologised and paid compensation 'time and time again'. The only apology that specifically apologised to the comfort women was the 1993 Kono Statement, which has been the subject of debate as there were calls within the Japanese government to revise or rescind the apology. Japan decided to let it stand, but damage is already done that it was even considered. How often do you see other countries consider revising a 20 year old apology?

You fail to mention the countless statements of denial by numerous Japanese politicians and media personnel which thrust the comfort women issue back into the spotlight since 2007. If you leave your staunch Japanese supporter stance aside, I think you will see Japan has done plenty of things to infuriate the survivors of comfort women and their supporters. But I'm sure you disagree, as you seem to only highlight the gestures of goodwill from Japan and discount the gestures that destroyed the same goodwill.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Posted in: Japanese whaling group says it intends to resume hunts See in context

Surely Japan knows better than to make a mockery of the ICJ ruling? I won't believe it until I see it. Japan isn't stupid and I don't think they will actually resume hunts.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Posted in: Japan says it has made no decision on 2015-16 whaling See in context

Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has filed court briefs in the United States stating it intends to return to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean for the 2015-16 season with a newly designed “research” program and will seek a permanent injunction against Sea Shepherd USA, the group said.

If Japan circumvents the ICJ ruling to continue hunting whales, it stand to lose a lot of credibility in the international community, not to mention undermining their efforts to have a certain territorial dispute heard in the ICJ.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Posted in: Cabinet minister visits Yasukuni shrine See in context

Japan, China and Korea will never agree on what Yasukuni actually represents.

But increasingly, it appears as though any visit to Yasukuni is an akin to an own goal by Japan.

I totally understand Japan's POV on this issue, that Yasukuni honours all war dead and does not focus on WW2 where Japan was the aggressor. I think if I was Japanese I would 100% take this stance.

But China and Korea seem to have managed to convince the world that Yasukuni is evil. And as a result, Japan will not win any friends by continuing to visit it . It's a lost cause.

I do wonder why J-politicians shun the Chidorigafuchi. Surely the spirits lying there feel a little ignored and upstaged by their more controversial neighbour..

-3 ( +10 / -12 )

Posted in: Anti-Korean stickers posted at several points along Shikoku pilgrimage route See in context

Unfortunate but these sort of things happen. And even more unfortunately, incidents like these only add fuel to the anti Japan crowd, who will latch onto every little example like these to 'prove' that 'all' Japanese are narrow minded bigots and racists.

@oldman_13: Japanese people never ever use examples of Koreans who are anti-Japan to 'prove' that all Koreans are racist, do they now?

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Posted in: First day on the job See in context

Interesting social commentary of a pic.. should be titled 'conformity'. Looking closer, there are many women who blend in with their dark suits.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Posted in: World court rules Japan's Antarctic whaling not scientific See in context

It was the only likely outcome of the court case.

Japan's claim to the 'scientific whaling' line was as much an affront to everyone's intellect, as a fast food company claiming to care for your health.

Today, current affairs programs in Australia were talking about the possibility of Japan continuing to hunt whales under a 'commercial whaling' banner, but Japan stands to lose a lot of international credibility if they take that course of action.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

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