In a very interesting post, the Oranckay asked why it was that Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro might have become the first Japanese prime minister to become a household name in the United States, while President Roh Moo-hyun couldn’t even get his name mentioned in President Bush’s nomination acceptance speech. And then today, perusing the sports pages, I see this:
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, left, shakes hands with New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui before throwing out the first pitch in the Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at New York’s Yankee Stadium.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi throws the ceremonial first pitch to New York Yankees’ Hideki Matsui (55) for a game between New York and the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004.
Someone over at Cheong Wa Dae needs to find out who’s doing Koizumi’s PR work, because he or she is worth his or her weight in gold.
46 Comments
When Roh went to the States and said nice things about the place, he got accused of being overly pro-American, to humiliating proportions. Wonder what people would say with that flag on his right arm like Koizumi.
Little as I know about Japanese politics, I’ve heard Nakasone was cut a lot of slack for various shortcomings because he got along well with the Americans.
I imagine that in Korea as well, that will soon be seen as a valued trait.
Oh yeah, I also think getting less excited about whatever Jay Leno may say would help, too.
noh’s doing a fine.
being applauded or recognised by the bush administration is no measure of political or social success.
I don’t like this fuckhead. Period.
I would love to bash a basebal bat on his lionhead… banzai!
I swear to god its the hair. Hyun has the unassuming Asian middle aged man look. Koizumi on the other hand, has a swept back silver mane! The hair rays emanating from it are captivating.
Oranckay-
When Roh went to the States and said nice things about the place, he got accused of being overly pro-American, to humiliating proportions.
You may be interested in knowing that I watched his press conference on C-SPAN, and his personal English translator was giving a translation that was far more sugar-coated and ass-kissing than his words in Korean. It was SO bad that at first me and my friend thought it was the translator being incompetent or unprofessional, then I realized that it must have all been planned because they were reading straight out of a prepared script. A clever trick, because in Korea, Roh’s original (less ass-kissing) Korean words would have gotten reported in the newspaper, while in the U.S. it would have been the (more ass-kissing) English translation. If someone had re-translated the English version back into Korean and reported it in Korea, I’m betting he would have faced far more criticism.
all roh needs to do is learn how to like bush in the ass.
During his campaign, Noh Moo-hyun ran on an anti-American platform, and despite some conciliatory gestures, he really hasn’t changed his spots. I don’t think PR is going to make much of a difference, because Noh just doesn’t like the U.S. very much.
This might be another reason why: http://www.japantoday.com/e/?c.....;id=312746
I was browsing through yahoo sports MLB photos when I just said what the heck and clicked on a photo of Koizumi. The photo caught my eye, because it looked like an old man with fluffy gray hair on the mound, pitching with a form that looks like it’s been done before. Koizumi looks better than most celebrities doing the cermonial pitch. He actually looks good doing it.
Paul Webb is right. Roh ran on an anti american platform and this is not going to win points with America. Major protests with F***ing USA songs, burning the US flag with Americans not welcome sign hanging in windows will not help Americans like Korea.
Getting troops in Iraq after major hostilities while saying its good for Iraq and the world creates a good impression with Bush and many Americans. Finally getting troops in Iraq 1 and a half years later while saying well we don’t like it but we have to does not create a good impression.
These are leaders of countries and as a country Japan has been a MUCH better ally than Korea. Also, remember that Japan wants a permanent seat at the UN and this needs some backing from the US.
Japan has been a MUCH better lap dog…
SS, you mean the lapdog that more or less openly celebrated (what seemed to be) its coming domination of the US economy, not too long ago?
Or the lapdog that didn’t really send all that many troops to Iraq?
And you ought to see those demos in Okinawa, SS.
Though maybe by “lapdog” you mean that Japanese simply don’t hate the US with the same bottomless ferocity of the Koreans. If hatred is the gold standard, Korea certainly wins.
Wooj,
That part about the double-speak translation is fascinating. Do you perchance have a tape recording?
I saw this on TV since I was watching the game. I thought Koizumi looked like a dork. He’s a weird one. He got a big standing ovation at the stadium walking out to the mound. But he ruined the moment by hamming it up, raising both arms and waving like to a crowd of supporters. He even stopped walking at one point, paused and waved. He should’ve stayed more stoic and restrained like most middle-aged Japanese men. He did not look natural. In the acutal pitch, he took an absurdly awkward old-school wind-up and the pitch tailed way off to the right, out of the strike zone and nearly out of the batters box. Matsui saved the day by catching it and not scrambling too hard to do it.
At least he did throw it the full 90ft. without a bounce though - like John Forbes Kerry. At least he can throw better than the long, gaunt, uncoordinated, effeminate, pretend-to-be-your-average-Joe, pretend-not-to-be-a-fortunate-son, pretend-to-be-able-to-throw-a-baseball-and-a-football, John Kerry.
Sugar:
I’m with you. As I have said, Japan has done such a good job selling itself to USA, and sucking up.
It’s like having a neighbourhood bully whose daddy happens to own the block.
Yes, Koizumi knows how to play to the gallery. His son got a smallpart in Tom Cruise’s Last Samurai and when Mr Toothsome went to Japan, Koizumi actually met him..of course, it was the perfect photo-op for both!!
Right - Japan wants a seat on the UN Permanent Security Council. And US of A will back its favourite Japanese Chin dog, of course. But guess who holds a veto??
Sugar:
I’m with you. As I have said, Japan has done such a good job selling itself to USA, and sucking up.
It’s like having a neighbourhood bully whose daddy happens to own the block.
Yes, Koizumi knows how to play to the gallery. His son got a smallpart in Tom Cruise’s Last Samurai and when Mr Toothsome went to Japan, Koizumi actually met him..of course, it was the perfect photo-op for both!!
Right - Japan wants a seat on the UN Permanent Security Council. And US of A will back its favourite Japanese Chin dog, of course. But guess who holds a veto??
Yen Jun, now that Eugene Armstrong’s been beheaded, you and SS can add one more notch to your respective belts (or down another shot, whatever). Hell, why not add two more in anticipation?
I?€™m with you. As I have said, Japan has done such a good job selling itself to USA, and sucking up.
It?€™s like having a neighbourhood bully whose daddy happens to own the block.
…
Right - Japan wants a seat on the UN Permanent Security Council. And US of A will back its favourite Japanese Chin dog, of course. But guess who holds a veto??
I don’t know… the other neighborhood bully who’s pissed off the other bully’s daddy took the block away from him?
Ooohhh…was anyone pissed with THAT bully’s daddy? I don’t think the bully’s daddy took the block away, Marmot.
The bully tried on his own - but never could make it. It needed daddy’s muscle.
And I think daddy is the one pissed with the other bully - because it `lost’ (fill in the blanks) after the last big war.
No 18:
It’s so sad, you won’t even show your handle.
Try to get your facts,dear, instead of ranting.
Those BIGGGG.GGG demos in Okinawa (who loves ya, baby?). Could it be possible that, uh, some segments of Okinawa can still remember that they were not really part of Japan till the mid-19th century (somewhere around there, i think).
They were called Ryukyus, braveheart.(not seeing your name, I guess you’ve got be “embedded” in Iraq or something, ducking rubber bullets.)
The Lunar New Year is still celebrated, as in Korea, China and Vietnam…unlike Japanese Chin dogs who decided to follow Western practice.
Oh, back to those big demos…’sides, dear, there was the matter of some, uh, rapes??
Marmot:
Anyway, wasn’t someone saying something about some irrelevant organisation when it flouted `international norms and standards’- which it always insists that other countries must follow - and shot its way in, somewhere, like last year?
Of course, `Old Europe’ has one seat on the Security Council, and Russia ain’t somebody’s best friend, either. Only one English toady. We need another one.
OK, Yen yun, obviously, my message wasn’t clear. Allow me to elaborate:
I don?€™t know… the other neighborhood bully (CHINA) who?€™s pissed off the other bully (JAPAN) ?€™s daddy (UNITED STATES) took the block (EAST ASIAN HEGEMONY) away from him?
Hey, you’re the one who came up with the analogy, not me.
Marmot:
Right. OK, but I don’t think China is pissed off with the United States. Or not before the 1952 face-off, anyway.
Talking history: It was the US that “saved” (kind of)China from being gobbled up by all the imperialist powers after the 1900 Boxing Uprising, declaring the Hays Open Door Policy.
Not generosity - just “enlightened self-interest” - US was busy with the Philippines, and its own West Coast development. But it still helped keep China in one piece.
US again blocked Japan’s rising naval power in 1928. Japan’s “special” relationship with Britain (the Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902) ended, and a new treaty was negotiated, including US, for a 5:5:3 ratio of naval power. Japan had the smallest - that could have influenced WW2, but I wasn’t there, I don’t know.
So is China pissed off with the United States? Not the China I was brought up to believe in. It just wants a change to get back on its feet - unfortunately, under a system that’s anti-thetical to the American belief.
And I ain’t pissed off with US, either, just some policies. Nor with Japan - just one thing as well.
No 21:
I am sorry about Eugene Johnson, I really am. No one except He has the right to take EJ’s life, claiming some holy war. Moderate Muslims themselves are ashamed, and horrified.
I am sorry,too, for those 1,000 soldiers whom their families won’t see again.
But, please, ask as well: who sent them there, and in the name of what?
yen jun… aRe YOu a KoREAn 1.5 GEneRaTIoN LiViNG iN LoS AnGELeS? YoU SuRE sOUnD lIKe it.
Won Joon Cho-
No, I don’t have a recording, although I imagine you could get hold of one if you really wanted to. I wouldn’t really call it “doublespeak.” The English was just more exaggerated. For example, if he said something like “??¸????? ????°? ?¿??§Œ ????????¼ ?§???Œ?œ¼?¡œ??? ?¡´?²½????²Œ ???????????¤” then the English would be like “And I have come to appreciate the United States not only in my mind but truly and sincerely from the bottom of my heart” (Translator adds emotional emphasis on “truly” and “sincerely”). Something like that.
Yen Jun, now that Eugene Armstrong?€™s been beheaded, you and SS can add one more notch to your respective belts… ?Œ¿
Dunno what to say. Where’s the connection to my (impolite, yes) post about Koizumi and the cozy US-Japanese relationship?
Listen, I’ve commented often enough about my attitude towards Islamistic terrorists and the beheadings - regardless of any nationality. Nice attempt, man, you’ve to learn a lot about INTELLIGENT polemics. Sigh, sigh, sigh…
Yen Jun, my handle is “?Œ¿.” Couldn’t you see it?
Okinawa - It may have developed seperately from Japan, but it’s been a part of that nation for a very long time. They may not view themselves as 100% Japanese, but they certainly know where they stand regarding the rest of the world. I don’t see how you can claim an Okinawan “consciousness” has somehow motivated the demonstrations. And the demos that followed that filthy rape were widely publicized, but others go on frequently.
SS and “intelligent” polemics - You get the polemic you deserve. As far as your attitudes on terrorism etc., the implications of what you say are more meaningful than your actual claims. If you’ve defined the US as an overarching evil, all those opposed to it have a justifiable, moral claim to fight it. They may be doing it for reasons that are (possibly) abhorrent to you, but the reasons aren’t important, the effects are. You can “condemn” the Islamicists all you want to, but objectively, according to your definitions, they’re fighting the good fight. Killing a single American (or Briton) advances this fight, in however small a way, and is justified under the moral claim you’ve allowed them.
I opposed the war and find the situation in Iraq (for the Iraqis) almost unbearable to think about, yet alone observe. But what’re worse are fellow travellers like yourself with your complacency masquerading as righteousness.
You get the polemic you deserve. As far as your attitudes on terrorism etc., the implications of what you say are more meaningful than your actual claims. If you?€™ve defined the US as an overarching evil, all those opposed to it have a justifiable, moral claim to fight it. ?Œ¿
Hey, bucko, where did I define the US as an overbearing evil? Any proof for your claims?
Btw, I deserve an ice-cream, but definitely not idiotic drivels from you…and according to your definitions - wow, you’re really a pomous guy. Putting “definitions” in my mouth and then making your assumptions about my political views. For how long are you reading and observing Marmot’s blog? I’ve always represented a stringent position: I’m a US critic, but for nutjobs like you, that means total hostility towards the US. Binary thinking: on/ off, good/ evil etc.
How simple is your world?
Oh, it should be “pompous” above. But with your magic, clairvoyant eyes should now that already,?Œ¿.
Oh, it should be “know” above. But with your magic, clairvoyant eyes you should know that already, ?Œ¿.
Don’t you?
Evil White Oppressor:
You probably can’t even `oppress’ a pouf chair if you were to sit on it!! Why don’t u just crawl back into the Mississippi creek you came from?
Or better still, take a walk into Harlem and let them skin you alive. At least you’d have served a purpose: become an alligator bag.
See you later, alligator. Or is that, in a while, crocodile?
‘korea is not an ally.’
‘korea is NOT YET the third largest contingent in iraq.’
‘japan has been the better ally to the us.’
korea has had almost as many troops in iraq as japan has had. and they’ll be sending thousands more. yet, japan is considred the better friend.
this subject has come up before and i’ll ask the same question that none of you want to answer because it’ll show your true sentiment about korea and koreans.
how many japanese soldiers and/or civilians have died on behalf of wars initiated by the us?
five thousand koreans lost their lives in the american war on vietnam. are the koreans ever thanked for that? nope. you get guys like mr marmot telling us they were mercenaries. so many americans just can’t be gracious and thank korea for the sacrifices it made in vietnam. it doesn’t matter whether they were mercenaries or not, they were there assisting the us, weren’t they? they were korean and not japanese, right?
when korean soldiers die this time in iraq, we’re sure to see the members of the brigade start talking about business contracts.
respect begets respect.
‘japan on security council.’
you mean america would support a country whose prime minister pays homage to war criminals? if a european leader visited any shrine that housed nazis, he would become an instant outcast. japanese leader does the same thing and he’s invited to pitch a ball. to me, it’s a another sign of contempt.
lastly, for those interested in good korean movies, here’s a few you might have missed:
’save the green planet’: one of my favorites. this movie wasn’t a hit in korea but it sure was with western audiences. the story is strong, the cinematography is superb, and the special effects are worthy of hollywood. if you get a chance to see this movie, don’t miss the opportunity. btw, it’s about a guy who believes the head of a chemical plant is an alien from outer space.
‘eternal empire’: the dvd doesn’t come with subtitles but if you’re interested in seeing expressions of korean art, you shouldn’t miss this one. i think the koreans have done a lousy job at promoting the beauty of their traditional culture. beautiful film with a strong story of political intrigue at the palace.
‘face’: this ghost stroy wasn’t a hit but it’s entertaining enough to recommend. a few scares here and there. nothing new. story makes sense and the ghost effects are pretty good.
Well thank you for the movie list nulji maripkan.
Considering Japan’s constitution of not sending troops has recently been changed, it makes it difficult for them to send a large amount of troops. Japan has also forgiven A LOT of debt and has contributed A LOT of money. It has also contributed in such a way that is more sincere than Korea’s well we have to do this even though we don’t want to attitude.
Also,Koizumi does not pay his respects to war criminals. he goes to a sight for past soldiers that does have a few war criminals to pay respect. He has never said why exacly he does so except that it is a private thing for him. Maybe he is paying respect to a long lost relative or to the many soldiers over 100’s of years buried there that are not war criminals.
Non-American has the Korean part right. Not as much left-handed horses**t coming from the Japanese as comes from the Koreans.
As for the Japanese sucking up, I would disagree. After 20 years in Japan, I still see a lot of goodwill toward the US in appreciation for what the US did for the country. In short, *gratitude*.
Many Japanese have told me that having the US defeat them in the war and then overseeing their reorganization in the postwar period was the best thing that ever happened to the country. Would it actually kill the Koreans to admit the same thing?
That this is seen as sucking up is more a reflection of the state of mind of the people making the comment than an interpretation of the circumstances.
Nakasone was rather well known in the US. One reason Japanese prime ministers are not well known is that traditionally, few stay around more than two years, and second, they do not have real power (the head of the primary LDP faction has that). This aspect is changing. So, longevity is part of the recognition factor. Also, Nakasone/Reagan and Koizumi/Bush are ideological soulmates in the same way Reagan/Thatcher were.
As for appearing at baseball stadiums, former Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park in Boston more than 10 years ago. But Boston is not New York, where media attention is focused.
A private thing for him non-korean? Hardly, Koizumi’s Yasukuni shrines are deliberate and public. Why does the Yasukuni issue rise to the forefront regularly every year? It’s because a public pronouncement is made of it every time. It is probably not genuine emotional attachment, but likely a political maneuver to appease highly-conservative elements within the LDP elite in order gain support for divergent reform policies which they are loathe to support. But thats just my theory.
You can think of it as you want Jing. The fact is we don’t know why he goes there for sure- it is private since he goes there as a citizen not the prime minister and he has never told why.
The issue comes to the forfront because Korea and China make such an incredible stink about it every year.
I highly doubt it is to secretly honor the few war criminals there. Hey some murderer might be at the same cemetary as my grandfather but I don’t go there to honor that guy. Bush and Roh might go to a vietnem soldier’s cemetary to honor most of the good soldiers there while I’m sure 1 or two in there did something not honorable.
One problem is most Koreans actually think he goes there only to honor the war criminals- which I highly highly doubt.
Ah, the sweet mystery of life…
SS says:
“…where did I define the US as an overbearing evil? Any proof for your claims?”
US actions in the world, taken together, amount to either good, neutral, or bad. In over a year of reading your posts, I’ve never seen you attribute any good to US actions (I’ll grant that I may have missed some posts here or there). Given the power of the US, both the scope and depth of its bad actions are amplified to such a degree that “evil” would be the appropriate way to describe them, from this perspective. What you’ve written implies this, whether you intend it or not.
“Btw, I deserve an ice-cream, but definitely not idiotic drivels from you?€?”
Then why did you respond? I don’t deny your right to an ice-cream, though.
“Putting ?€œdefinitions?€? in my mouth and then making your assumptions about my political views.”
I’m reading you honestly. Do you not want that? If I mention definitions it’s because your writing implies them.
“For how long are you reading and observing Marmot?€™s blog?”
See above…
“I?€™ve always represented a stringent position: I?€™m a US critic, but for nutjobs like you, that means total hostility towards the US.”
No, that’s not what I think. I don’t think criticism is the same as hostility. But the implications of your particular position, as you’ve presented it here (ok, or as I understand them), are little different than if you _were_ directly hostile.
I mean, a pacifist says it’s wrong to fight. This position is admirable, in itself. However, nasty people are nearly always willing to fight. Faced with such, the pacifist’s position amounts to an endorsement of the nasty people’s goals. Just like a vote for Ralph Nader in the last US election.
“How simple is your world?”
If it were simpler, I’d certainly be happier.
In over a year of reading your posts, I?€™ve never seen you attribute any good to US actions (I?€™ll grant that I may have missed some posts here or there). - ?Œ¿
Hey, this is cool, I’m reading and commenting at Marmot’s blog for 7-8 months only. And you’re reading my comments for over one year already. Wow, another magic ability!
Japan needs to take the deed to korea again. Korea was a dump b4 japan and a dump after japan left. Koreas golden years was 1894-1945. Japan was more gentile to korea then any korean ever was.
BS:
Koizumi/Bush are ideological soulmates in the same way Reagan/Thatcher were.
Wow. great observation. We know what’s next in store, when Bush finally wins an election, and Koizumi gets another Japanese mandate.
LOL, who are these “new kids(?) on the blog,” yen jun and ?Œ¿?
SS says:
“Hey, this is cool, I?€™m reading and commenting at Marmot?€™s blog for 7-8 months only. And you?€™re reading my comments for over one year already. Wow, another magic ability!”
Ok, I should have said “…in over a year of reading Marmot’s blog, and your comments therein, which were written over the course of less than a year, but I’m not sure precisely, since I didn’t keep track.”
I knew you’d get me on that after I posted it. And the only magic ability I have is an uncanny ability to fail to find a seat on the subway.
Woojay:
“who are these ?€œnew kids(?) on the blog,?€? yen jun and ?Œ¿?”
As for myself, I’m a mere primate.
“We know what?€™s next in store, when Bush finally wins an election, and Koizumi gets another Japanese mandate.”
Bush has won three elections, including the one in 2000, by any standards anyone can name. Those who suggest otherwise remind me of the people who thought Clinton had Vince Foster killed in the White House and transported to the park.
However, Koizumi is unlikely to last that much longer, though how long is hard to say at this point. He will reshuffle the Cabinet soon (standard practice in Japan). He perhaps has stayed longer than he intended, and has admitted it’s a struggle at times, but there is no clear successor in his party, which is likely to revert to its old ways if given half a chance.
It may be difficult to see this if you don’t live in Japan, but Koizumi has launched a revolution in Japanese politics. Like most Japanese revolutions, however, it could be compared to the fire under a pile of burning leaves. You can’t see the fire, just a little of the smoke. The leaves get burnt in the end, however.
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