taro67 comments

RealJapan Nov. 13, 2012 - 01:01PM JST

A 13-yo should not be put in that situation. Even asking him to decide is too much. That said, if the man really wanted to make amends after his punishment and reached out to the boy, it would certainly show sincerity on his behalf and would be a positive step...if the boy agreed. If done as part of the punishment, sincerity would not be assured.

You haven't even been able to come up with a suggestion that hasn't already been implemented, let alone a doubling of the existing ones.

List them with the dates of implementation.

As for the rest of your comment, it is nothing but standard talking points and just as meaningless to me. You would do better to ignore me in the future if you are going to say the same thing over and over.

Just have the servicemember due 15-days of community service with the family, pay for damages, and upon completion certified by a Japanese court, 10-days restricted duty on the base. No jail time needed. The community service may even allow the servicemember and the teen to bond together.

So, you want to punish the teenaged victim, too? What makes you think he wants to "bond" with the man who beat him up?

I do, however, agree that the CO - all the way up the Japan forces chain of command - should pay for this and all incidents involving people under their command. That would assure the elimination of all incidents.

Parents looking for some $$$ from the American gov't....not the weel being of their child.

So, we aren't supposed to disparage the entire US military because of the acts of a few drunken "idiots," but it's okay to paint Okinawan parents of a victim as greedy, heartless, opportunistic - and even thoughtlessly bad parents - (straight from the official Kevin Maher playbook) even though the article says nothing about a settlement? Nice.

Almost all of the suggestions you've listed above have been implemented for years

Just so we are clear, please list which of the suggestions I made are regulations and which are not. The dates that they became SOP would be interesting as well.

It's obvious that you obviously have no first-hand knowledge of the policies the military implements to mitigate this problem and you clearly have no idea what's required of us before we are cleared for overseas duty in Japan and stationed here.

You are correct. I don't. However, it does not take someone with this knowledge to know that the efforts are not effective in eliminating crime. So, perhaps the efforts should be redoubled until they are effective. But giving up on the goal of no crime seems like an effort which lacks seriousness. All other crime rates are irrelevant, though, I will give credit that it is moving in the right direction. Keep it up.

Why aren't you more upset about the far more numerous violent and sexual crimes committed by your countrymen than about the far smaller number committed by us?

That is Japan's problem, not yours. But the Japanese should not also be burdened with the problems of the US military. And the US military will always be a problem on Okinawa until some amount of consideration is given to the burden we have to bear. You might claim that we should address our concerns to Tokyo, but this is merely a ruse. If the US were to demand the the Marines, for instance, should move to mainland Japan, Tokyo would oblige. Most American proponents on JT don't get that Okinawa is not asking for relief from some of this burden, we are demanding it. So, if you don't want to see these incidents thrown in your face every time they happen, either stop them completely or act on our concerns (Henoko is not a solution).

On the other hand, the way in which the "free trade" of opium resulted in poverty and death, does not seem to be the same as that of commodities.

In fact, it is exactly the same. Moral considerations aside, free trade then and now is motivated by money and control. There would not be a call from developed nations for free trade today except that they have lost their competitive advantages in a global market. Free trade allows them to establish better conditions for their corporate patrons and a measure of control over developing economies. This is simply a cover for the failure of maturing economies who find that protectionism is no longer their friend.

China was brought into the modern economy because of the desire of corporations to take advantage of low wages, low regulations, and low taxes and to get a foot in the door of 1.3 billion potential consumers. That China has managed this situation for their own benefit (as they should) has caused the US to seek other avenues which would afford them greater control. Thus, after generations of protectionism, from which Europe, the US, and Japan built high levels of prosperity, free trade has suddenly become the rage, the newest assault on Asia by the West.

CrazyJoe Nov. 13, 2012 - 10:32AM JST

As for the hypothetical, you seemed to indicate that post-war peace in Japan was "built on the sacrifice of many Americans." This is an entirely American viewpoint. Many Japanese would have rather the US not showed so much interest in the affairs of Japan. American sacrifice has always been about American interests. Japan just happened to be in a location of US interest. Haiti is an example of a nation which the US has mostly abandoned because it does not serve US interests to spend resources there.

As for 罪を憎んで人を憎まず, it has more to do with the detrimental effects of hate on the individual who holds a grudge than for relieving the perpetrator from responsibility for his acts. One can forgive the person but the act should be punished. Forgiveness is a personal choice and not something for others to dictate or judge. Of course, all wisdom is open to interpretation for those who might use it to mitigate an unfortunate incident.

apologize repeatedly while bowing low, forehead to the ground. That is the Japanese way.

While Japanese will show approval of this display for minor incidents, without the cultural understanding of the apology and the bow, it is an empty gesture from a foreigner in this situation. That said, stereotyping other cultures seems to be a easy step for Americans. And, yes, I just stereotyped all Americans.

CrazyJoe Nov. 13, 2012 - 09:29AM JST

So, we should be thankful to the US for doing their job? Does that mean accepting a certain amount of collateral damage? Bus drivers also do their jobs. Should we also consider the fact that they do their job if they beat up children in a drunken incident, too?

As for "peace in transience," the US tightly controlled Japan for many years after the war and the current security agreement one of the results of that control. It seems rather out of hand for the US to constantly drag out this excuse when the situation was created by the US. Nor should Japan be blamed for adapting to the environment created by the US. No one knows what Japan would be like if their was no Japan/US security agreement.

And I would follow it up with... And You Young Japanese Parents, People, Are Welcome for the Freedom and Prosperity that was given to you by the U.S and NATO!

Too many good Americans gave their Lives for it... Respect Americans...And they will in turn Respect you!

Respect works both ways. How long should the present generation have to be held accountable for the acts of their ancestors? And when you are talking about Okinawa, you are talking about a people who have been victims of both the Japanese Imperialists and the US military. Lest you forget, the war ended 67 years ago except when it is dragged out to beat Okinawa over the head with it. Move on from the past and show respect to those who host the US on their traditional lands.

The article reports that so far this year there have been 496 sexual assaults attributed to navy personnel worldwide. That means one-tenth of one percent of the navy's personnel were involved in sexual assaults. If you can come up with a way to reduce that number further, we're all ears.

Yes, and it also represents 496 women, their families, and the surrounding communities that do not hold the US military in the highest esteem. One would think that the military would not want to keep creating so many people worldwide each year who lose respect for the US and don't want them around. Look how it has affected Okinawa after 67 years. Statistics mean little if communities affected harbor ill will in growing numbers.

If you can come up with a way to reduce that number further, we're all ears.

Okay, I'll give a few. The military can start by dealing in a effective manner with the culture of alcohol that exists in the military, particularly when it comes to those poor, lonely sailors and troops who are stationed overseas. Any incident of drunkenness or being involved in a disturbance off the base is a cause for losing the privilege of leaving the base regardless of whether a Japanese was involved. Next, you can make new troops and sailors earn liberty through quarantine and education before letting them loose on the local public. That would eliminate transients causing problems like the last assault case.

For Japan, troops should be educated that the Japanese are not a conquered enemy but a trusted and respected ally. Many in the US - and one has to assume, the military - retain the notion that the Japanese should still pay for Pearl Harbor or that they are conquered foe with few rights. No one assigned to Japan should have this mindset.

Then more education that explains that not all Japanese girls and women are prostitutes or can't wait to have sex with foreign men in uniform, despite what sailors coming off of shore leave might tell them (brag about) or that they read about online. Such talk in the military should be reason for reassignment elsewhere. It is telling that prostitution is allowed near military bases not to provide entertainment for the troops but as a means to protect the local girls and women from assault by troops.

More...unit punishment, including the CO, for the acts of individuals, no off-base living for single troops, more restrictive passes for off-base activities, and an effective system to monitor the off-base, off-hours activities of troops. Okinawa is the home of a mission for the US military, not a frat-party resort. All members of the military should have this drilled into them to the point that they would rather be home than posted here unless they deem it an honor to be stationed here among a very generous Okinawan public and treat it and the people as such.

The TPP is less about free trade and more about the establishment of a regional bureaucracy controlled by the US and major corporate interests. For free trade to be effective, one must have free markets, something that does not currently exist. This thing will be a disaster for the Japanese people. Noda is merely a stooge for the US, trying to give them everything they want before he is kicked to the curb. Japan needs less US, not more.

USNinJapan2 Nov. 12, 2012 - 09:56PM JST

The Okinawans people have no "half of the bargain." Such a bargain would mean a general acceptance of rapes and assaults committed by foreign troops on the local public, something that would not be accepted by Americans if the roles were reversed. The general crime rate in Japan - much lower than in the US - is irrelevant to the actions of US military on Okinawa or anywhere in Japan.

USNinJapan2 Nov. 12, 2012 - 05:24PM JST

If the goal is not 100% elimination, then the US is not trying hard enough. Why should the Japanese people accept anything less? To be sure, the military chain of command in Japan would not appreciate a member of the military, a representative of the US people, and an ambassador of the US government to make such a public statement.

Okaji Masatoshi Nov. 12, 2012 - 12:26PM JST

Yes, well, still waiting after two decades of the same failed policies.

Hate to say it but it's as good as it's going to get.

Pathetic

Public opinion be damned. The Japanese people are very low on the list of priorities of the Japanese government. And, hey, Obama won which was great news for his BFF and economic adviser Jeffery Immelt, CEO of GE. Meanwhile, Japan, Inc is getting tons of taxpayer subsidies to build wind and solar farms and other alternative energies which apparently won't be needed if this guy is correct - and I believe he is.

Interesting. Of course, in Japan (and the US and Europe) the politicians don't even make the promise to end corruption because it would be an admission that it existed and would confirm the public's opinion about the lack of integrity and honestly in the government. If the communist Xi accomplishes it, he would shock the so-called "free" world and destroy their self-held moral authority. I, for one, hopes he can do it. Do not underestimate the Chinese leadership's desire to retain power in a changing China. We just might witness a purge worth watching during this 5-year period.

JT has written at least one article a week over the past month or so depicting a new low.We KNOW.

LOL. But the ratings keep setting new lows.

But I find it fascinating that a PM with such low ratings could push any legislation knowing that he has not even a marginal mandate to do so. Time to call and election.

Neither America nor Japan is a democracy. They are forms of representative republics. In order to make either into a popular vote democracy, the constitutions of both nations would have to be amended. But that is not wise because such a system would not reflect the views of minorities within the nation. 50.1% of the people would control the remaining 49.9%. The electoral college is one of the last vestiges of states rights and should be kept.

Interesting. He has very high ratings in the US government (few in America know who Noda is and the majority don't care) because of his pro-US stance. Perhaps there is some subconscious correlation in these results.

Japanese government done to acknowledge the fears and complaints of the Okinawan people aside from token "yes that is too bad" support?

You assume that the J-government is not influenced by the US. That aside, Tokyo takes the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) approach to US bases and are quite happy to have the bases in Okinawa. However, that would all change if the US would express its desire to, say, move Futenma to Kyushu for example. Tokyo would have to go along. Yet, the US, peacekeepers of the world, global human rights protectors, and the spreaders of democracy (whether a nation wants it or not), refuse to relieve the burden on Okinawa. For all of their own unique reasons, everyone is would rather listen to Okinawa complain than do anything about it. The US is supposed to be above that but it isn't.

As for the media, everyone who doesn't like the reporting thinks the media is biased against the truth. The CIA funded media in Japan after the war to promote the "goodness" of America and, later, to promote nuclear power. Those incidents provide specific evidence of media bias (propaganda) by the US so we know they are capable of it. Perhaps they continue to do that in Japan. I would prefer to see it from the POV of the first sentence of this paragraph.

Photographers did too good job to emphasize topic. I hope that Japanese media will propagate more scientific data to remove distorted image of Osprey.

Oh, sure. It's all a big media-fueled conspiracy against the US military. The poor Okinawans suffer from ignorance (according to Matthew Simon Nov. 05, 2012 - 08:37AM JST "I also must say that much of this protesting and anger incidents aside is due to poor information and ignorance on the part of those involved through no fault of their own.") of the situation because the media hasn't reported the facts correctly and the people are unable to find pertinent information on their own. Glad you all could take the time to clear that up.

is going out of their way to try and acknowledge the fears and complaints of the public in Okinawa

67 years on with very little change. Please list those times when the US has done anything to acknowledge the fears and complaints of the Okinawans. I'll give you the short-term curfews when a local girl is raped.

Yes, well, the Japanese don't have a good track record of picking effective leaders (to be fair, neither have the Americans). As for the Chinese? They don't have any record at all.

Matthew Simon Nov. 05, 2012 - 07:29AM JST

The US military could be the most beneficial organization in the history of mankind (nowhere close), it still doesn't justify its massive, decades-long presence on the small island of Okinawa where a growing number of citizens would prefer them gone to a greater or lesser extent. Stick with the issues that matter.

smithinjapanNov. 03, 2012 - 01:26PM JST

You're just arguing for arguing sake. The last sentence clarified "guests" from the previous statement. Even you should be able to understand that.

smithinjapan Nov. 03, 2012 - 01:18PM JST

So, what other terms does the US use to deceive the local population? And, you know, 67 years seems like a lot of thanks just because Okinawa is unfortunate enough to be situated in a location which the US considers "strategic" for their own purposes.

One more thing...the US might have an easier sell on the "protection" angle if they would send a few ships out to patrol the Senkakus, you know, just to send a clear message to Okinawa and China.