NYtoday comments

Ok, ok. We got it. Korea never needed it. Can we just let this go? Korea never needed it. Korea never made a good use of it. Japan begged for it. Ok. Can we agree? The great news is IT'S OVER AND DONE! Let's not do it again.

@5petals

I am an Asian looking person with a permanent residency, who has been living in the most liberal state of US melting pot over 15 years and people still think I am foreigner

Oh you poor thing! Seems I remember places in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii being almost 100% Asian. Dont want to move? The gov of Washington was Chinese. The SECDEF was a Japanese American. Look at the governers in Guam, Hawaii, youll find most of the time they are Asian. The governer of Lousiana is Indian. You can always move to a more diverse place.

What makes you say I am poor thing? I never felt that way. I don't have infriority complex and people always treat me nice wether they think I am a tourist, immigrant, ex-refugee, exchange student, or citizen.

People don't care about your personal history as much as you think. They would, as you get to know each other. And again, they don't think LESSER of being foreign like you might do. "Foreigner" isn't a discriminatory term or insult. If people don't treat you nice, it's probably because you nitpik every little word and claim you are discriminated against when not. Such a poor way to make friends.

"Are you foreigner?" "No, I'm not." That's all. What's the big deal. Let go. People don't mean anything.

And you don't need to suggest me to move anywhere. I am very happy with my state where everybody comes from every country of the world and mind their own business. Diverse? Sure? Melting pot? Not quite. Koreans live in Korean town. Chinese live in Chinatown. Japanese, while many are short-stay, like to bunch up in certain area, too. Same goes for other race/ethnicity. And you said it in your own comment.

From the media and comments here, it seems neither Korea nor Japan wanted to extend the swap.

Good. Finally something they did agree on.

@avigator

If the statistics make non-Japanese looking people small percent minority, you really can't be upset every time people make casual assumptions and call you "gaijin." I am an Asian looking person with a permanent residency, who has been living in the most liberal state of US melting pot over 15 years and people still think I am foreigner. I could be a citizen just like many other American people of Asian descents. But people naturally assume I am foreigner. Why do I let that bother me? Is it BAD to be a foreigner or something? Why should you care?

And a term gaijin(外人) simply means "foreign person" just like gaisha (外車) means foreign car. No offence should be taken.

@Thunderbird2

Are you serious? Dolphin = mammal, air-breathing animal, highly intelligent, social and with a language. Tuna = a big fish.

Well, the Japanese don't think so. Every livingthings is EQUALLY precious, intelligent, and divine—that's how most of Japanese views life on the planet. That's the very reason of "Itadaki masu," countless temples and shrines that worships animals as God including whales and dolphins, and why the vegetarianism hasn't widely spread out so much in Japan (because they feel plants are air-breathing lives.)

Look, you have your religion and moral principles. We honor that. Do you see Japanese protesing against what you eat in front of your embassy? No.

Now can you agree to disagree and learn to respect other "mammal, air-breathing animal, highly intelligent, social and with a language" called Japanese?

And if you are a self-proclaimed "sushi snob" New Yorker, you wouldn't be able to agree with this protest.

The reality is, we are severely fighting whales & dolphins over the giant food chain pyramid in the ocean. Without controlling the numbers of those giant predetors who eat far more than we do, there'll be no more sushi for us.

Hypocrites can just stop breathing all at once.

Yet no animal-rights activists including those guys and the Sea Shepard folks stationed in Taiji have said a word about billion dollar worth of red corals completely destroyed by illegal China ships...Too busy with Anti-US/Japan march, eh?

I agree with presto345 and nigelboy.

I wrote in other thread but he is not a journalist but a radical activist if you read his blog and learn his past.

Sugimoto had been with his "journalist" friend from Mainichi Shimbun before he blasted a bomb and killed an airport security at Anman airport, Jordan in 2003. (And imagine how much tax money was being spent on freeing this idiot.) The thing is, though, the truth will be forever unknown as to why the journalist brought a "bomb" to the airport. "Sourvnier?" Really?

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/06/19/national/freed-journalist-to-return-from-jordan/#.VN4frIE8KrU

So I don't blame the government if they decided that Sugimoto is "too dangerous" to get close to ISIS at this very time considering the circumstance AND his radical background.

@warispeace

He was lecturing at meetings organized by Revolutionary Communist League, has a possible connection to 元カメラマン五味宏基アンマン国際空港爆破事件 (another "journalist" visiting overseas causing trouble (in this case, he bombed the airport and killed innocent civilian) in a danger zone, wasting tax money,) and etc. He is more likely to be anti-Japan and anti-government than an ordinary "journalist." If his purpose wasn't to stir up the pot, why did he leak his travel plan to Syria in the first place anyways?

Asashi Shimbun journalists crew went against government's request. The government didn't revoke their passport. Mr. Sugimoto Yuichi's case is an extreme case.

You should read his blog.

This self-proclaimed journalist 杉本祐一's personal blog had been dug out. According to his blog, North Korea is the paradise, Man-Gyong Bong is a rescue ship, Sea of Japan is East Sea, and etc. His past activities are also listed and it's possible that Public Security Bureau has kept on eye on him. Surprised left-wing media doesn't mention his background and his ties with some political parties at all. Hmmm....

Just to be fair, if you read news and blogs in Japanese, you'll find out that this self-proclaimed "journalist" Mr. 杉本祐一 is rather a sketchy guy. His blog reveals his past activities and unique ideology—he is a pacifist/pro-North Korea/pro-East Sea/anti-government. Pretty common profile for communists and radical lefts in Japan. It's possible that he was trying to stir up the pot just to use the news to propagate against Abe, which somewhat worked. It's also possible that 公安 went strick on him due to his profile.

Not sure about Yukawa, but for Goto, being a journalist, the reaction of the Japanese would have been different if only they didn't witness the three Japanese hostages being held in Iraq as well as Koda Shosei... After several incidents of Japanese citizens having gone to dangerous areas in the name of their "peace" and "justice" and been captured, used as a political tool, and what's worse, murdered, while large sum of tax money was being spent, it is not easy for people to approve of their action.

Just like the Iraq hostages and their family members who are activists and used the incident to criticize JSDF, nuclear power, and Japanese government, I see many media and politicians trying to glorify Yukawa and Goto's death and use it for their own agenda. (Even Goto's mother mentioned nuclear power.) Look what Mizuho Fukushima was doing after Yukawa's death. She was organizing a dance party with DJ and beer in front of PM's residence saying "Free Goto," "No War," "Free Okinawa." Really? Free Okinawa? Goto has nothing to do with Okinawa. Really? And this is just one of many.

http://www.j-cast.com/2015/01/27226287.html

Yesterday's news says one 21-year-old Japanese college student has been in close communication with ISLS and planning on meeting up in Syria. He wants to "see it with his own eyes," he says. Now, what should we tell him? What would you say to him?

Japan has gotten so caught up in their post WWII pacifism that simply stating an obvious fact is startling to some.

It's not just Japanese extreme pacifists and Article 9 believers. For some Western media, Japan voicing her opinion over its territorial disputes is a sign of her "Imperial Expansionism."

How long is Japan going to be bashed for wanting to stand up her own feet instead of hiding in a shelter made of fellow American soliders lives?

The Shape of Japan to Come by Alexis Dudden, NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/17/opinion/the-shape-of-japan-to-come.html?_r=0

@Fredrick Leach

Oh boy here we go again, if it was just the japanese army there whould there be a problem , certainly not , they whouldnt be complaining , i say america leaves and japan defends itself

I don't think it is about American base. It is about any base, any armed force Japan has/is going to have. Those who are constantly protesting against bases in Okinawa, if you follow the news closely, many of them are not even Okinawa residents.

While many are NPO and other groups with different agendas including Japanese Revolutionary Communist League (革マル派) and RCL National Committe (中核派,) both Chinese and Korean activists have been making significant apprearance in each and every protests in Okinawa. Such groups include Korean Unification Churchs, 従軍慰安婦を許さない朝鮮人会, 南京大虐殺を許さない中国人会, 琉球独立工作機関中国共産党友の会 and such.

Conflicts between Okinawa and Tokyo is one thing—of course it needs serious attention and the issue needs to be resolved in a peaceful manner, with a mutual agreement. But emerging anti-Japan, anti-US groups coming from China and Korea, trying to rip Okinawa apart from Japan and cause chaos cannot be overlooked, either.

@AlexCook

If I was the Primw Minister, I would warn everyone in Japan to not go to the Middle East under any circumstances.

They did warn Goto to cancel his trip. 3 times. 2 times over the phone and 1 last time in person. But the J-government really couldn't force it nor should they. It was, as we all know, Goto's own decision.

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH227HQ8H22UTFK00W.html

@WilliB

Jeff Huffman is probably talking about short-term stay visa exemption?

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html

3,703 criminals (2,101 Chinese, 361 Phillipine, 251 Thai) slipped the custom and later got arrested in 2006. Notably, it says both air and water so some took a boat to Japan...oh buoy.

17年中に警察が検挙した不法入国者及び不法上陸者の数は3,703人(前年比98人減)であった。これを、国籍・地域別にみると、最も多いのは中国(2,101人)で、次いでフィリピン(361人)、タイ(251人)の順となっている。また、正規に入国し、在留期間が経過した後も引き続き我が国に残留する不法残留罪の適用により、6,145人を検挙した(前年比309人減)。

http://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/h18/honbun/hakusho/h18/html/i3420000.html

What's up with posters who are against tightened-up security measure? Your what-you-think-so-precious time being spent on the extra security check at the airport isn't as precious as possible random innocent lives at risk.

If Japan ever gets attached by a terrorist, "Abe/government sucks! They murdered innocent lives!!" If Japan tries to guard up, "Abe/government sucks! Imperial Japan is back! Nazi! Nanking! Death march!!"

It's not terrorists that they dispise. It's Japan/Abe/Japanese government.

After 9/11, I was in Boston. The airport took anything sharp and weird from us including tweezer, a 2-millimeter-long exact design knife, and eyelash curler. The security line was over an hour long. But what could I say? I completely understood American people's fear and terror. I had no reason to complain about it. I love and respect USA (as well as any other country) and as a foreigner who has nothing to hide, I am always more than happy to take my time and cooperate, Luckily, I am always treated well by officers anywhere I go. Never met a mean one.

@Christpher Glen

Your "article" only suggests the writer Oi Mariko's personal experience and opinion and containts NO data or whatsoever. And what she writes in her column does not go against Sneider's research:

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic (his research shows 1% isn't=Mariko's case)

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. (Newsflash—it is about you and BBC. Perfect example of Western media recycling secondhand opinion of whoever without conducting their own research)

Just like other Korea-Japan issues, you only take testimonies and secondhand opinions of others to backup your theory. If we are just gossiping about our co-worker's affair or something lame like that, sure, fine, heresays and wishfulthinking might be enough to convince others. But we are not.

WE WANT PEACE! Of course. Nobody wants war, nobody wants to kill or get killed. We know all that and there's no point demonstrating that in the middle of one of the safest countries in the world. Do so in war zone if you insist.

Unfortunately, the golden shield of Article 9 hasn't done much while Japan's air and water being raided by China and Russia on a daily basis, precious Ogasawara corals being stolen and completely killed by Chinese, innocent civillians being abducted by North Korea, little island of Takeshima being occupied by Korean millitary force, and now two pelple having been kidnapped, tourtured, and murdered by ISIS.

Those who want Japan to keep the Article 9, though, they NEVER go outside of Japan and tell other countries to have one. If what you sell is that good, knock on every door in the neighborhood and have everyone buy it.

@noypikantoku

So asking for peace is stupid for you? with Bad economy, declining birth rate, aging population... Do you really think Japan is ready for war? do some estimation and think who is really the stupid one.

Instead of an extreme, irrational logic leap and aggressive choice of word like "stupid one," please suggest us the best way to bring peace. If you were in Abe's shoe, for instance, what have you done? Please be specific.

@Christopher Glen

Because they don't teach what really happened to their kids.

Again, you are repeating same lies over and over disregarding the facts. Unless your research on Japanese textbooks is more reliable than the one by Stanford University. Denying the reality makes you a "denier," eh?

"Divided Memories: History Textbooks and the War in Asia by Daniel C. Sneider

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. . http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-memory-war-asia-040414.html http://fsi.stanford.edu/publications/divided_memories_and_reconciliation_a_progress_report "

@kcjapan

Japan was the innocent victim of WW2? Really? Who is pushing this interpretation of history?

Please stay tuned. Mr. Christoher Glen will be right back with the source to back up his statement.

I'll make up my own mind as to how I feel. Drop the holier-than-thou tone and stop presuming things about other people. My comment had nothing at all to do with whatever other research has been conducted. Your comment has nothing whatsoever to do with what I said, unless there's supposed to be some sort of implication in the book that the Japanese government has in fact been totally objective and impartial.

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

This person talks about "reliable" source yet refuses to investigate and examine many sources suggested on JT. No matter what research or documentation from Japanese/Korean/USA/etc... is presented, with this cherry-picking, holier-than-thou attitude, discussion won't go anywhere.

For example, a poster Hotmail claims that

But in Korea, there's no doubt in everyone's minds that the forced recruitments of women in Jeju Island, did happen.

so I asked his opinion over this article in response to his claim

The Jeju Newspaper 제주(濟州)신문 済州新聞 (Aug. 14, 1989) concluded that there was no evidence nor testimony of Japanese Army forcefully kidnapped girls.

and he remains silent.

What do you think, Mr. Simon Foston? Is the Jeju Newspaper a reliable source to you? (They haven't retracted their article just like someone else, did they? Ha ha!) How about you, Mr. Chrstopher Glen? If what other posters have presented isn't good enough, please enlighten us with your super awesome HARD SOLID EVIDENCE that you hide from rest of the world.

Just as Prof. Sor says, the activists have their goals and facts are important as long as they contribute to their goals

＠boweevil

And Miichael Yori is probably of Japanese descent-so he is not going to be unbiased on this matter.

Stop being a child...But then again, I am glad that you will listen to your fellow Korean professor Park Yuna, Sarah Sor and many more. They are Korean so they are not biased.

And his name is not Yori. Michael Yon. ヨン様！

@5petals

As for the comfort women issue, you are correct, I have no evidence, except what I have read. The is quite a library of evidence that shows massacres and mayem occured. Perhaps my Western logic is too dry, but I would conclude from those works that the comfort women attrocity did occur. I am not the one on trial here so no need to cross examine me. Kazuaki, we outsiders are asking you why do you deny such events might of occured?

You talk as if you were the representer of the West but lack of evidence has changed people's opinion over the comfort women issue throughout years.

For instance, here's US war correspondant/writer Michael Yon's comment on this law suit:

An interesting aspect: The so-called revisionists joining the lawsuit are actually the people who are trying to stick with documented history.

And so to be clear -- the revisionists who allege the widespread sex-slavery, label anyone who demands proof to be revisionists. Many books, documentaries and movies are made. Comfort women statues are deployed, and any Japanese who object are labeled revisionists, by the real revisionists, who happen to be newspapers like Asahi Shimbun. Asahi and others are the real revisionists, who label anyone who calls them out, "revisionists," and even holocaust deniers, despite that the Holocaust had nothing to do with Japan.

The people who have joined the lawsuit are predictably the ones being called revisionists, despite that the real revisionist is Asahi and others.

And if you claim that "such events might have occured," you can't expect Kazuyuki to prove that "such events did not occur." The burden of proof is on you.

@Christopher Glen

Please read the provided link throughly before jumping into your narrow-minded conclusion. I understand you hate Japan and it's all okay I got ya but please chill out and learn to examine the material throughly with your own eyes.

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality. Those textbooks – produced by one Japanese publisher – are used in less than 1 percent of Japanese classrooms

You were saying?

No, Daniel C. Sneider of Stanford University was. If you don't read source, don't bother to comment. We all know what your opinions are since you keep posting the same things over and over and if there's nothing new to add, please don't bother.

Well, I just learned something interesting on a Korean web forum. Those Korean peeps were talking about how Japan is an evil revisionist who whitewashes their history, downplays their WW2 action, never apologizies, compensates, whatnot whatnot...

Then, they were shocked to see this report made by Stanford University:

Divided Memories: History Textbooks and the War in Asia by Daniel C. Sneider

In Japan, most of the textbooks are factual and not overly nationalistic

One misleading perception of Japan in the West, China and Korea is that Japan's most nationalistic textbooks are in widespread use, he said. But it's not true, according to Sneider. Heavy media coverage of a few provocative Japanese textbooks somewhat distorts reality.

This extensive, ongoing research has been conducted since 2006 to present and it concludes that Japanese history textbook maintain more balanced view and is the least nationalistic material compared to China and Korea.

http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-memory-war-asia-040414.html

http://fsi.stanford.edu/publications/divided_memories_and_reconciliation_a_progress_report

Those posters who constantly bash Japan calling "revisionists," "nationalists," "whitewashers" or whatever, please do not forget to yell the same at China and Korea.

＠Hotmail

Yes! Those dastardly Zainichi Koreans! They are the ones who created this fake story! Asahi is a non-Japanese traitor Korean paper! Ah-ha! That's it! We Japanese would never print this type of fake story!

First, I want you to calm down. There's nothing in my post that suggests messed-up zainichi conspiracy like your comment above, so chill out.

I said In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with hiring zainichi. Negate and twist my opinion otherwise is considered as bad as trolling.

You see zainichi names in Asahi articles, that's the truth, and I expressed my opinion as "nothing wrong." Period. DO NOT twist my comment and propagate as if I was discriminating against certain people. Nice try, though.

Secondly, and most importantly, it looks like you skipped my other post. Nice try, though. Please kindly take your time and share your opinion with us. Thanks.

The Jeju Newspaper 제주(濟州)신문 済州新聞 (Aug. 14, 1989) concluded that there was no evidence nor testimony of Japanese Army forcefully kidnapped girls.

Tell us, with your great imagination, why the Jeju Newspaper published this article after Yoshida Seiji's book had translated into Korean.

＠cheeserock

Yes, there are zainichi Korean editors and reporters in Asahi Shinbun. You see Korean names in editorial and there's no secret. (In my opinion, there's nothing is wrong with hiring zainichi, anyways.)

There's a book written by a zainichi Asahi Shimbun reporter: "朝鮮高校の青春 ボクたちが暴力的だったわけ" by 金 漢一

Interesting read. According to the author, he attended North Korean school in Japan and he proudly talks about how he and his friends used to bully Japanese school kids and beat him up. And when the police involves, he'd go on and on about Japan's warcrimes until the police would shut up and let him go. Definitely worth a read.

@Hotmail

Just because the Ashai withdrew their story for their own public interests, doesn't mean what really happened, didn't happen.

But in Korea, there's no doubt in everyone's minds that the forced recruitments of women in Jeju Island, did happen.

The Jeju Newspaper 제주(濟州)신문 済州新聞 (Aug. 14, 1989) concluded that there was no evidence nor testimony of Japanese Army forcefully kidnapped girls.

Tell us, with your great imagination, why the Jeju Newspaper published this article after Yoshida Seiji's book had translated into Korean.

Why Koreans choose to believe Yoshida Seiji's ficton, which he had admitted it was a fiction writtent to aim at a sensationalism, over their own Jeju Newspaper's report?

Let me guess...

the Jeju Newspaper was being threatened by J-government

the Jeju Newspaper is a revisionist, pro-Japan right-wingers

You and fellow Korean may or may not have seen this article before during countless countless Comfort Women debates online—but WHO CARES?! CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO THOSE POOR VICTIMS' VOICES!!!! JAPAN=NAZI!!!!!!!!

@Reckless

In a perverse way I could see that used against me if I use the J## word when they call me gaijin,,,,

How can a word gaijin 外人 be offensive/hate speech to you?

Are those words are offensive to you, too?

a foreign country is gaikoku 外国 a foreign car is gaisha 外車 a foreign affair is gaimu 外務

Every time USCIS or DHS calls me a foreigner or an alien, should I be offended?

And this is a perfect example of why "hate speech law" would not work.

koreasentry.com JAN. 28, 2015 - 11:01AM JST

Samurai Blue.

Chosun Korea was highly developed, more so than most European countries at the time and Japan out of jeaously >attacked Chosun Korea to steal her resources.

Best post of the month!