RepublicofTexas comments

Besides, how about criticizing the rough way these protestors were treated?

The protestors themselves weren't exactly blameless.

Is this true? Not too long ago I saw a show on the History Channel showing Tokyo's state-of-the-art flood control systems (like the G-cans). Maybe they exaggerated the system's capabilities, but it seemed like it would work.

The US doesn't "need" to have bases in Japan or a lot of other places, but it does help maintain US dominance in world affairs.

As for whether Japan "needs" Us bases, I believe despite the isolated scandals that hit the US bases (rapes, murders, etc.) and the noise pollution, the US bases have done more good than bad (at least in Japan). However, I believe Japan is fully capable of defending herself against North Korea, and despite tensions, I highly doubt Japan and China will ever come to blows.

And many posters mix up “Europe” and “Italy”.

I agree with that statement, but recently there has been an anti-immigration backlash throughout the EU and the developed world. The Dutch, the French, the Americans, everyone is starting to believe enough is enough. However, many forget that illegal immigrant/legal immigrant labor is what drove the housing and other booms that took place in countries like the US and Spain. Illegal immigrants are a major component of the US economy and just kicking them out will never work. However, the recent economic slowdown as well as harsher immigration laws and growing public apathy has caused the number of new arrivals to sharply decline in recent years.

I meant Japanese hospitals, put money first

Welcome to the world of medical care, it's not just in Japan, been to a US hospital lately?

Fox News

Haha, even in Texas (reddest state in the US) most people believe that to be far-right propaganda.

Japan puts money before treating kids, shame on you Japan.

What kind of idiotic generalization is that? Most Japanese parents love/care for for their children just as parents in other countries do.

I'm usually open to the quirks of national cuisines but this is a little weird to me. Actually, more than a little weird...

So...are they going to send out checks or what?

I think the apology was a good thing, but I don't think compensation is. First of all a few generations have passed. Second, the Africans/Arabs who first captured the blacks as well as the primarily European traders who shipped the slaves over to be sold in the new world are also guilty. It's impossible to keep track of, not to mention the blacks who have immigrated/emigrated to and from America since.

That was a chance to stop the islamists, and it has passed. Turkey is solidly on the way to becoming another mullah state like Iran. Lets see how long Kemalism holds up.

It was for the best that the AKP was not banned. If you look at recent Turkish history, Islamists always become more radical after a party ban. The army's constant interference is counter-productive and merely increases fundamentalism. The only reason, Turkey seems to becoming more Islamic is the recent influx of rural Anatolians into the main cities. However in a few years once the Anatolians and others assimilate into the secular life of the main cities Turkey will return to its secular path. You can't just ban a party that enjoys the support of a vast majority, that's undemocratic.

I think the two are more alike than they claim.

my beef against the anime otakus is that that's thier ONLY motivation to come to Japan. Nothing else. My b/f hates those types.

I agree, there are so many better reasons to like/want to come to Japan.

Same as in any country, some are good, some are bad.

I think that is an unfair generalization. The American people are not anymore selfish than people from other countries. Also every government is looking out for their own interests, so the American gov't isn't anymore selfish than other gov'ts. It just seems like the Americans are selfish b/c they are the world's leading power, I think any country in America's position would act/be perceived in the same way.

I think they'll be about the same, both for the Japanese people and for the Japanese gov't.

But the Russian foreign ministry stressed any trial should be “impartial,” accusing the U.N. court of “an often biased approach.”

Russian hypocrisy...

However, in the case of Jews, they usually keep to themselves and don't get into the politics of the area

What? The Jewish lobby, is one of the most influential in the US. It's the main reason the US is such a staunch supporter of Israel.

Good for El Rey

Love matcha ice cream, good stuff.

I fully support Israel's right to exist and to ensure the security of their people, but I'm always disappointed when they build a new settlement or extend the security fence.

Is Tokyo more expensive for foreigners than locals or is it the same?

It's just an old tradition, and it's not like they're opening the hydrants and wasting large amounts of water. The water's probably used bath water or laundry water or something. It's not meant to make a big difference, or waste a lot. Every country has it's quirky customs and traditions, live and let live.

Irony, Japan went from the world's most staunchly anti-communist country to having a communist party, and now many communist youth. However I highly doubt that this book or anything else is going to lead to some kind of a communist revolution in Japan.

The fact that the Koreans are using WWII as the reason for occupying Takeshima is hypocritical to the extreme. Just because the Imperial Army committed a lot of terrible crimes, forever shaming Japan, does not give the Koreans the right to steal land from Japan's post-war democratic gov't.

Westurn,

with some last week beheading live pheasants, Japan’s national bird.

This just proves how uncivilized the Koreans are when it comes to serious issues. The Japanese despite their faults have proven themselves to act with far more maturity when it comes to issues like this dispute.

Bibric,

As for Japanese conservative rule, better conservative rule than the lying, hypocrisy that is the Korean gov't. Conservatism is simply a political philosophy that values tradition, and careful, planned change and as a philosophy is neither good nor bad. Liberalism, in the non-Enlightenment definition is a political philosophy valuing more abrupt change. I don't think you understand the political spectrum well.

No there is no difference, especially when one sits back and allows the other to kill, maim, and slaughter in it's name with nary any opposition

Every religion has its fundamentalists, but not every religious person is a fundamentalist. Your comment proves you no nothing of Islam. It's unfortunate that b/c of people like you the US will most likely never have stable/friendly relations with the nations of the Middle East. Also there are many Muslims who are angry that terrorists and radicals have used the name of Islam to kill innocents. Most Muslims did not just sit back and enjoy watching the twin towers fall. The only reason so many Muslims have become antagonistic to the US is b/c bigots like you preach hatred toward all Islam. You my "friend" are in the minority.

The movie's really good. I'm not a comic book/spiderman etc. person myself, but the movie was really good.

I agree with hermitage, South Korea's supporters need to stop playing the WWII card. It's about time to move on. Forgive but do not forget.

Because it's the Middle East and Islamic traditions require it ! Pick up your Koran, read it, and deal with it ! Thousands of years of war for the sake of Mohammed !

Westurn,

I think you are confusing Islamic fundamentalism with mainstream Islam. There is a difference. Islam itself does not believe in the killing of innocents, etc. In fact, at its founding Islam was a far more enlightened religion than Christianity in terms of women's rights and tolerance. It's the ignorance and bigotry of people like you that got us into a war without the people in charge understanding the differences between Shia and Sunni as well as the customs/culture of the Middle East.

After their defeat in WWII the punishment was outlined in the Cairo Accords og 1943 and was part of the Unconditional Potsdam Surrender Documents. Specifically, the Accords read "ALL LANDS TAKEN BY VIOLENCE OR GREED, SHALL BE RETURNED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS." This was acomplished and immediately Japan tried to get these areas returned and when oil was siscovered in the area of the Senkaku Islands there were "secret deals" made to get the Ryukyu Islands returned. Japan has already learned Russia is a lost cause and the Island of Taiwan is more or less being protected from Japan by a "hovering China."

The Marion,

You seem to use the same argument every time, so here it goes, Japan has no claims to Taiwan, and hasn't had any since the end of WWII. Next, the Ryukyus were to be returned to Japan long before anything valuable was ever found. Also, the Ryukyus, were conquered by the Satsuma domain (Shimazu family), not by the Japanese gov't, so the Ryukyus were never included in the Cairo Accords. The Shimazu were vassals to the Tokugawa and have no connection to the post-Tokugawa gov'ts. The Ryukyus are Japanese and always will be. Russia isn't a lost cause, in fact the Russian gov't agreed to return part of the Hopo Ryodo in return for the renunciation of other Japanese claims. However, the Hopo Ryodo were gained through treaty not war, so the whole of the Hopo Ryodo is Japanese. You need to get your facts straight.

As for Takeshima, the Japanese have a legitimate claim and so long as the South Koreans refuse to discuss the issue, there can be no closure.

I think American cars are rather good now (there are exceptions). Main problem is there is a lingering perception that they are poor in quality, too big, and gas-guzzling. It will take a little while longer for people to start believing in American cars again. However a lot of people are starting to reexamine them.