SJ comments

Why is the Japanese media so much interested in the domestic issue of S. Korea?

The resignation of Cho means that demagogues such as Trump are still popular and effective around the world, including S. Korea. The coordinated attacks by the 4 major conservative groups (the media, the prosecutors, the minor Liberty Korea Party, and the corrupted Koreanized Christians) on the reformists (e.g., Moon and Cho) seem to have been successful now, at least momentarily. S. Koreans are as easily brainwashed by the media as Japaneses, at least temporarily.

However, it is not yet ended. Most S. Koreans clearly recognized what is the problems of the media and the prosecutors, which are uncontrollable by the law. A new legislation is required to reform the prosecutors, which will lead to revolutionary changes in press companies, whose influence and finance has dwindled during the past 20 years due to the internet and the Social Network System. Unlike the U.S., in which most newspaper companies went bankrupt (e.g. Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, and even the Washington Post, only rescued by Jeff Bezos), most of Korean media companies have surprisingly survived well. The SNS is increasingly influential in S. Korea whereas the traditional newspaper companies continue to loose their subscribers. However, oddly, the newspapers are still prosperous in S. Korea (and Japan, too).

If you can guess how they could survive so well, you now understand the political topography of S. Korea, and its future.

The weak Yen has boosted Japanese tourism industry. I am curious how further Abe administration can maintain the weak Yen. I guess the Japan Inc. is on the brink of bankruptcy.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/20/japan-foreign-tourism-boom/80569424/

@Triring

ICBMs travels at 20 times the speed of sound.

Irrelevant information. Do you really believe that Russia and China (Maybe NK) ) are interested in or willing to use ICBMs to attack Japan?

Yes. Technically ICBMs can be used to attack a rabbit in Fuji mountain.

The territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima.

But, there is another small island called 'bamboo island' (Jukdo 竹島 in Korean) at 2 km (1 mile) east of Ulleungdo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukdo_(island)

You may see those abundant bamboos there: https://wayfaringflaneur.com/2018/09/02/jukdo%EC%A3%BD%EB%8F%84-bamboo-island/

Japanese government never mentions this real bamboo island (Jukdo in Korean) when they explain their territorial claim. They intentionally omit it, or obfuscate it with Ulleungdo. For example:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/takeshima/position.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/takeshima/page1we_000057.html

Long times ago, Japanese fishermen certainly recognized the existence of Jukdo 竹島 near Ulleungdo island. At that time, Takeshima did not designate the Liancourt Rocks, but Jukdo to Japanese fishermen. Both Jukdo and Ulleungdo are now Korean territories that Japan and the other countries acknowledge. Now the Japanese government claims the territorial right with a wrong name or a wrong location.

There are 7 Japanese islands called as the same name Takeshima (竹島 bamboo island) along the coast of Japan, and all of them have bamboo:  https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AB%B9%E5%B3%B6 

But only one exception is the remotely-located Liancourt Rocks,called 'Dokdo' in Korean, which literally means a rock island.  It is a consistency problem. Koreans knew that it consisted of rocks, and therefore bamboo could not grow there. The so-called bamboo island without any bamboo was just an imaginary island for Japan to forcefully occupy Dokdo. Now they still shout "the bamboo island without any bamboo is a Japanese territory". What a farce!

The territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima.

But, there is another small island called 'bamboo island' (Jukdo 竹島 in Korean) at 2 km (1 mile) east of Ulleungdo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukdo_(island)

You may see those abundant bamboos there: https://wayfaringflaneur.com/2018/09/02/jukdo%EC%A3%BD%EB%8F%84-bamboo-island/

Japanese government never mentions this real bamboo island (Jukdo in Korean) when they explain their territorial claim. They intentionally omit it, or obfuscate it with Ulleungdo. For example:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/takeshima/position.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/takeshima/page1we_000057.html

Long times ago, Japanese fishermen certainly recognized the existence of Jukdo 竹島 near Ulleungdo island. At that time, Takeshima did not designate the Liancourt Rocks, but Jukdo to Japanese fishermen. Both Jukdo and Ulleungdo are now Korean territories that Japan and the other countries acknowledge. Now the Japanese government claims the territorial right with a wrong name or a wrong location.

There are 7 Japanese islands called as the same name Takeshima (竹島 bamboo island) along the coast of Japan, and all of them have bamboo:  https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AB%B9%E5%B3%B6 

But only one exception is the remotely-located Liancourt Rocks,called 'Dokdo' in Korean, which literally means a rock island.  It is a consistency problem. Koreans knew that it consisted of rocks, and therefore bamboo could not grow there. The so-called bamboo island without any bamboo was just an imaginary island for Japan to forcefully occupy Dokdo. Now they still shout "the bamboo island without any bamboo is a Japanese territory". What a farce!

The territorial claim of the Japanese government on Takeshima is comical. Japanese people know what 'Takeshima' literally means: bamboo island 竹島, but there is no bamboo in Takeshima.

But, there is another small island called 'bamboo island' (Jukdo 竹島 in Korean) at 2 km (1 mile) east of Ulleungdo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukdo_(island)

You may see those abundant bamboos there: https://wayfaringflaneur.com/2018/09/02/jukdo%EC%A3%BD%EB%8F%84-bamboo-island/

Japanese government never mentions this real bamboo island (Jukdo in Korean) when they explain their territorial claim. They intentionally omit it, or obfuscate it with Ulleungdo. For example:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/takeshima/position.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/takeshima/page1we_000057.html

Long times ago, Japanese fishermen certainly recognized the existence of Jukdo 竹島 near Ulleungdo island. At that time, Takeshima did not designate the Liancourt Rocks, but Jukdo to Japanese fishermen. Both Jukdo and Ulleungdo are now Korean territories that Japan and the other countries acknowledge. Now the Japanese government claims the territorial right with a wrong name or a wrong location.

There are 7 Japanese islands called as the same name Takeshima (竹島 bamboo island) along the coast of Japan, and all of them have bamboo:  https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AB%B9%E5%B3%B6 

But only one exception is the remotely-located Liancourt Rocks,called 'Dokdo' in Korean, which literally means a rock island.  It is a consistency problem. Koreans knew that it consisted of rocks, and therefore bamboo could not grow there. The so-called bamboo island without any bamboo was just an imaginary island for Japan to forcefully occupy Dokdo. Now they still shout "the bamboo island without any bamboo is a Japanese territory". What a farce!

Hiro Aug. 14  07:08 am JST

Is just precaution.

Yes. It is just precaution. What would the Japanese government say if other countries boycott the Tokyo Olympics for precaution on possible radioactive contamination?

The typhoon seems very powerful, as the wind is very strong even in S. Korea and the waves are fierce in the coast. Heavy rain is expected in the eastern part of S. Korea. I am going to stay in the western part.

And there are always a few people who dare to have a BBQ party outdoors when the typhoon approaches. It is rare, but ubiquitous.

@extanker Today  08:11 am JST

I'd like to see a link to something backing up your claim.

S. Korea: https://www.yestrade.go.kr/user/userBoard.do?method=board&BD_NO=4

U.S.: https://www.bis.doc.gov

Japan: http://www.cistec.or.jp

BTW, your claim is not from Japan government, but from Fuji TV, which is a tabloid-like media and its claim was already refuted by S. Korea government: http://motie.go.kr/motie/gov_info/gov_openinfo/sajun/bbs/bbsView.do?bbs_seq_n=161887&bbs_cd_n=81&cate_n=

@Mitsuo Matsuyama Aug. 12  06:15 pm JST

I will ask again. Why do you guys think Japan is wrong after SK minister acknowledged 156 cases of illegal exports to NK?

It is not surprising that naive and ordinary Japaneses are so much easily brainwashed by Japanese media.

The detection of 156 cases proves that SK is doing a good job in preventing illegal export, as those cases were prevented before going to NK. In the case of the U.S., they detect thousands cases of illegal exports every year. Japan does not disclose fully the statistics of detection, while SK has fully disclosed it in public. Even your Japaneses government already denied that the detection of 156 cases is a factor in considering change in export regulation for SK. Sigh....

@tinawatanabe

Indeed, sometimes Japaneses PM did apologize truly, which were later soon negated or obfuscated by the successors. For example:

https://thediplomat.com/2015/08/the-abe-statement-did-abe-apologize/

https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/06/09/kono-murayama-criticize-abe-over-70th-anniversary-war-statement/

Japan has already lost its credibility.

@peppy kids Today  08:34 am JST

If this is the case, Japan will come out on top due to economic scales and demographics.

Another common misunderstanding on economic wars. Have you ever heard about 'the cod wars'?

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-were-cod-wars

Japan's export regulation is as much as suicidal as Kamikaze, and can not last long, unless Abe is a crazy man.

@Snickers Today  06:58 am JST

Relations soured in 2015 when Korea reneged on the 'final and irreversible' agreement -

A common misunderstanding of the term. That kind of expression is commonly used in Japan, but it is not a legal term.

For example, if you and I agreed that we settled compensation "completely and finally", then will any court in S. Korea or even in Japan accept it as a supporting evidence for ruling on any civilian legal dispute? If no, why? The reason can be applied as the same for the 1965 treaty.

"I think there is very strong pressure, especially toward major media such as NHK," said Kozo Nagata, a former NHK producer and professor of media studies at Musashi University.

Opinion polls show Japanese are mostly supportive of the government's tough stance.

This summarizes well the current status of press freedom in Japan, and how easily Abe can manipulate and brainwash naive and obedient Japaneses. Abe recants what his predecessors have done, losing Japanese credibility from the world.

The rulings of the Korea supreme court in 2012 and 2018 are a domestic and civil issue, neither Japanese or Korean government is allowed to meddle in. I do not think Abe is so much ignorant not to know this, but he brainwashed ordinary Japaneses to believe that the the Korean supreme court provoked Japan first. The fact is that it is logically, diplomatically or legally impossible. The Abe administration will never bring this issue to the ICJ, as they know very well not only they will be lose, but also may have to sell the entire Japan to pay for damage compensation in S. Korea, N. Korea, China and etc. I believe they are no so much foolish, but I will be happy they are indeed so much ignorant to commit another Kamikaze attack in the form of international judiciary.

@Farmboy

Is all of this really helpful for anybody?

It doesn't matter at all. All are symbolic and ritual.

Trump hesitates to say anything on this matter, because Abe is imitating exactly what Trump is doing against China. He may have better say like "Abe, don't copy me!".

@AlexBecu Today  07:36 am JST

Japanese citizens have been very restrained in this dispute with Korea.

Until their leaders order to do it.

@OssanAmerica Today  07:29 am JST

And two, that there are still a minority of sane people in South Korea who recognize that this is wrong.

In any country and in any district, no politician succumb to a minority.

While the naive and obedient Japaneses are busy following the doctrine of Abe, propagandized by some Japanese media such as Sankei and Yahoo Japan, this clearly shows that S. Koreans can defy the government and the government will kneel down. Was there any single case in the Japanese history that ordinary people defied the Japanese government who subsequently succumbed?

@oldman_13 Aug. 6  10:40 am JST

There is a monument to the Korean victims of the atomic bomb attack within the park grounds.

FYI, the monument is a kind of sidebar in the museum. They never explain why the atomic bomb attack happened, whether it is right or wrong. It is weird.

@Mas

Japan already lost its credibility. Please tell Abe that WW2 is over.

Abe forgoes Yasukuni visit on anniversary of WWII surrender, sends ritual donation instead

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/08/15/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-sends-ritual-donation-tokyos-yasukuni-shrine-wwii-surrender-anniversary/#.XUiBDG8zY2w

@saitamaliving Aug. 5  09:25 pm JST

The real loser will be the young generation of Koreans growing up in indoctrinated hate by demagogues.

Have you ever met any young Korean?

Unlike native and obedient Japaneses prone to governmental brainwash, young Koreans can tell differences between ordinary Japanese people and their ultra-right politicians and leaders. The political opinions of young Koreans are far more diverse than Japaneses youngsters. For example: https://note.mu/tabi_gari/n/n0222be99d9e2 

BTW, one of my friends who drives Toyota said to me that he already worries about the price of his car when he sells. I once drove Toyota Sienna for about 15 years, but scrapped it as some vital car parts were no longer available. Toyota has better provide car parts of any model for more than 30 years. I will not buy again Toyota.

All Koreans learned and know the following event:

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%96%A2%E6%9D%B1%E5%A4%A7%E9%9C%87%E7%81%BD%E6%9C%9D%E9%AE%AE%E4%BA%BA%E8%99%90%E6%AE%BA%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6

From the history education, we learn how not to repeat the same mistake. Without history education and the subsequent reflection, the same will happen again and again.

Contrary to reports of tabloid-like Japanese newspapers, S. Koreans are still friendly to Japaneses.

For example:

https://note.mu/tabi_gari/n/n0222be99d9e2

Don't be fooled by Japanese tabloids such as Sankei. S. Koreans oppose to Abe and his ultra-right wing group.

Contrary to reports of tabloid-like Japanese newspapers, S. Koreans are still friendly to Japaneses. For example:

https://note.mu/tabi_gari/n/n0222be99d9e2

@Mitsuo Matsuyama

The purpose of history education is not encouraging hatred, but for better understanding. S. Koreans do not hate Japanese people, but oppose to Abe and the right-wing politicians. S. Koreans are rather sympathetic with native and obedient Japanese people brainwashed with distorted history education.

Abe sang is just a lapdog of Trump, but tries to assume a savage beast to Moon. At least President Moon can read Trump's mind and knows how to play with him. It is marvelous that the people of both the US and Japan are tolerant of their leaders.

@Mitsuo Matsuyama

Your rationale is that the past history is irrelevant in your life. But without knowing the past, you can not face or solve the problems of today. Atomic-bomb victims is just one example: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL873WMNL87UBQU00B.html

http://www.hiroshimapeacemedia.jp/?p=27496

Why does Abe try to revoke the Murayama Statement?

@oldman_13 Today  10:40 pm JST

As I have said many times, the most ridiculous irony is that those who are loudest to accuse Japan of distorting and ignoring history, are the very same people doing it to Japan.

The more ridiculous is that Japanese leaders like to negate or reverse what their predecessors said. Japan has already lost its credibility.

https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/06/09/kono-murayama-criticize-abe-over-70th-anniversary-war-statement/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/12/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-rejects-kangs-new-apology-call-comfort-women-issue/#.XUbjcOgzaUk

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/30/672423391/japan-times-newspaper-redefines-comfort-women-and-forced-labor

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/satoru-kihara/e/87524d735c458f849f8f3e6e875b8a87

@Mitsuo Matsuyama

I ask again, and you may study history a little bit to answer it, as you have never been taught or heard in Japan.

Approximately how many Koreans were killed by the atomic bombs?