Peter Payne comments

Posted in: What to stream this week: Adam Sandler, 'Star Wars: Ahsoka,' Tim McGraw and 'Honor Among Thieves' See in context

Japanese bilingual people should watch Invasion. It's hilarious, with several Japanese-speaking characters in the show, but with scripts written by Americans, so they don't follow what Japanese people would totally do. So you have a young half Japanese girl talking sh*t to her superior, and it's okay because that would be okay to do in English, that kind of thing. And of course you had to shoehorn the LGBT relationship in even though that would be far rarer to find in Japanese stories.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Historian relates story of Japan's 'comfort women' during early postwar occupation See in context

Do people understand that the U.S. took over the Japanese "comfort system" of brothels in South Korea during the war (just watch an episode of MAS*H to know this.) Or that the US military made an official system of "comfort stations" in occupied Japan, with girls being told they needed to work there as part of their patriotic spirit? (https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18355292).

I am all for having a discussion about this, but the single-minded bashing of Japan by Korea is ridiculous to watch.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Posted in: Kishida, Yoon agree to restore ties, address N Korean issue See in context

VERY, VERY happy to see this. Now that we're three presidents away from Park Geun-hye, two prime ministers past Abe, and two Emperors past WWII, can we possibly, maybe start living in the present instead of the past?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: S Korea, Japan should pursue cooperation: Moon See in context

If South Korea is ready to stop living in the past, they'll find that Japan is already moving into the future and they'll need to hurry to catch up. Japan has apologized repeatedly, and I've personally seen the Emperor (Akihito) bow deeply as he expresses regret for the sad things Japan did to various countries in Asia. Going by the numbers, South Korea had its national destiny altered by Japan for 25 years, but did not suffer anywhere near the terrible sadness China suffered. They have created a distorted "national meme" that they are one of the most victimized countries in the world, when this is simply not the case, comparatively speaking. Japan did its best to apologize and pay compensation for the Comfort Women only to have South Korea renig on the deal after the apology was made and money paid. The time for that kind of nonsense is behind us.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: 15-year-old boy arrested over attempted murder of father See in context

Yikes, Isesaki Japan, where I live.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: Top court upholds fine on designer for child porn computer images See in context

If you mod an anime figure so that it's nude, the police often react strongly, arresting the person doing the modifications. I guess if there's a complaint by a copyright holder whose proper will be harmed, that's the line that can't be crossed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Criminal probe underway in fiery California boat disaster See in context

Several friends of my. niece were on the boat, and died.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: South Korean president appoints justice minister despite scandals See in context

Just like clockwork, he will bring up Japan's wartime past, and everyone around the world will think Japan has never apologized or tried to right by SK because that's the meme.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: S Korea begins military drills around disputed island amid feud with Japan See in context

I've researched the island for a detailed blog post. Neither country has a terribly good claim because it wasn't clearly marked on their maps and/or administered, and/or was treated in official documents as the other party's territory at times. For a ridiculously large amount of info on the subject, google "Dokdo or Takeshima blog" and read the excellent research by scholar Gerry Bevers. His partial support of Japan's claim cost him a work visa in South Korea.

Really, SK wins by default. Japan could say "whatever, have the stupid islands" but then SK would start claim Tsushima again. JP knows there's no end to what Korea will claim.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: New 'comfort woman' memorial unveiled in Manila See in context

pacificwest, yes I dislike the way this topic is always presented in ways most damaging to Japan without any care about context. Do people know that records exist by the US military of the situation (I tried to google some up but am not having luck, but I've seen them before). Do they know that these same comfort women (the ones in South Korea) were most likely servicing US troops during the Korean War? Do they know that during the occupation, the Japanese military set up similar facilities where Japanese girls serviced the US military men? (Google "Recreation and Amusement Association")? To say nothing about the rapes that we of course happened in all corners of the world, including by the "good guys" (us).

The amount of selective forgetting of information when it pertains to your own group. The idea that 100% of girls in the sad comfort women were enslaved is nonsense. The fact that none were enslaved is also clearly incorrect. The fact that any army, including British or US, did not participate in the same system, likely with the same girls, is also false.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Posted in: Why 'Gone With the Wind' eclipses both 'Avengers' and 'Avatar' See in context

Fun fact: the "my hands are dirty too" scene from Empire Strikes Back is 100% lifted from the book version of Gone With the Wind.

George, you ol' smoothie.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: More wartime labor suits filed in S Korea against Japanese firms See in context

If South Korea can't be a victim 24/7 it will lose its national identity.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Made by war criminals' label proposed for some Japanese-made items in S Korean schools See in context

I often imagine a laugh track when South Korea is involved.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Trump says he is not concerned about being impeached; defends payments to women See in context

Trump: "The people would revolt."

Me: "The people are already revolted. By you and your 'family values' party."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Ghosn allegedly shifted personal investment loss of ¥1.7 bil to Nissan See in context

Gotta say, it's refreshing that Japan and South Korea have the balls to do this kind of think when it's called for. America sadly does not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Lawmakers in several countries slam Facebook's effect on politics See in context

This is a complicated issue, but basically, we look to the actions of others to determine what is acceptable, called the rule of "social proof” (everyone should read Cialdini’s great book Influence to learn about this). If, through an algorithm or other means, you suddenly have a bunch of people actively denying citizenship of the current American president, or calling all women “thots,” or sharing anime characters wearing MAGA hats, it will influence what you think is acceptable in the world. This is basically how we got Trump. While I am an investor in Facebook, I moved almost entirely to Reddit, which is a much better platform since you can choose what segments you want to be a part of.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Report: Ivanka Trump used personal email for government work See in context

Lock her up. No exceptions. Right, Republicans?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: S Korea to dissolve Japan-funded 'comfort women' foundation See in context

South Korea does an "Iran arms deal" reversal after signing the agreement and taking the funds. Lovely.

Japan should decline to negiotiate with them in the future. They can't stop living in the past.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: French singer and actor Charles Aznavour dies at 94 See in context

I swear, I am the only person to have noticed this, but this is the man on whom Char Aznable, the famous Red Comet of Mobile Suit Gundam, was based on. How is no one talking about this in the Japanese blogosphere? Char Aznable has died!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What ambition gap? Women as ambitious as men unless companies block them: study See in context

As a guy who's owned a company for 20+ years, this is NOT true. Outside of Tokyo, nearly everyone wants to be a full time housewives. Hell, my wife, the owner of our company and a super smart woman, would rather be a housewife.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch heads for confirmation as Senate tears up own rules See in context

As a former lifelong Republican, let me say that there will be a payback. Everything that has been bought will be paid for.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Fox backs O'Reilly after reports of sexual harassment See in context

NO ONE pays a nickel of money like this unless he's guilty. If he's paying millions to multiple women, it's because he's a p**** grabber and disrespectful person. I guess he'll be up for president in 2020.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What's your stance on the death penalty? See in context

A necessarily evil in many countries. In a country that loves to force confessions like Japan, no way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Saudi king seeks help on diversifying economy See in context

How's that 50% graduation in Islamic Studies by Saudi young people going? Thought so.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Facebook rape stirs questions about witnessing crimes online See in context

Does no one know that Kitty Genovese is largely revealed to be an after-the-fact error that became legendary, so everyone believed it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Kitty_Genovese

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: U.S. embassies ordered to identify population groups for tougher visa screening See in context

Wow, glad I'm white.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 5 reasons you should visit Fukushima - in their words See in context

I love Fukushima.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What do you think about the growing controversy over "fake news" circulating online via Google or Facebook, and efforts by the internet giants to weed out hoaxes and misinformation? See in context

Remember how much drama Alexander Hamilton had with his detractors. The New York Post was founded by him to give him a "blogging platform."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed Japan’s auto market is closed. Japan has rejected that claim, saying it does not impose tariffs on U.S. auto imports nor put up discriminatory non-ta See in context

I drove the first Saturn sold in Gunma, it was a nice car but started to rattle and be unpleasant after 5-6 years. Went to Mazda, which I love with a passion, for the next 4 cars. Now I drive a BMW.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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