If you didn’t know that, then take a history class. They cut that out in the Japanese textbooks. Take a real history class. Do you know what the Japanese national anthem reminds me of? “Kim is leaving.” If you can’t interpret that, then take a Korean course and about your ancestors. Have respect for them too. You are so naive. Education in Japan fools Japanese citizens. It prevents them from learning the truth. It cheats the Japanese citizen. You know what? It tells lies about Koreans. The Japanese are so greedy. Do you remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor? You know why people are fed up with the Japanese? It’s because you guys cheat your way up but act like you’re so decent and fair. The Americans gave you power. You didn’t earn it at all. The Japanese are hypocrites. Looking for land? Earn it. Don’t kill people for it. Or you will get punished. Do you know why Dr. Seuss discriminated the Japanese in the past?

Is “bashing” what’s really going on here? Me personally, I would rather save that heavy-duty word for when it truly does happen. Saying that Japan “making a fuss” is counterproductive doesn’t sound like “bashing” to me.

Whatever you say, Nora.

In all honestly, I don’t think anyone knew about it. (For example I didn’t — it wasn’t in the papers or anything like that.) The average Japanese person doesn’t concern themselves with political matters. Less then 50% eligible voters do vote. I think that signals they are satisfied with how things are going, otherwise they’d work to change them. Recently people have become more interested in politics, perhaps they’re no longer satisfied, or perhaps it’s a response to the political attacks from around, I think it’s both.

There are still LOTS of pictures I need to put up. I should have waited to start this until my summer vacation started. I have many other books on my shelf I want to share, one of which is the always loud and obnoxious Kobayashi Yoshinori’s comic about the Yasukuni Shrine issue. I need to find a way to tell people that I neither agree nor disagree with him (in the context of the posts), I’m just sharing.

The USS George Washington is actually exactly what I was talking about. You do bring up a good point: no matter what the people think, they really don’t do anything about something until the next election. Yet my point remains factual, the people are very anti-nuclear, and they won’t allow the nuclear powered ship to dock — the government just goes over their head.

While the Japanese people have a healthy apprehension towards military use of nuclear reactors, the above statement is false. Us nuclear powered submarines dock in Japan every day (or at least frequently/regularly). I saw many LA class subs in the time I spent at Yokosuka. As well, the US and Japan have reached an agreement that the USS George Washington, a nuclear powered carrier, will replace the USS Kitty Hawk when the latter is decommissioned in a few years. I don’t know if that is a reflection of growing acceptance of nuclear elements or if it is an effort to acclimate the people to military related nuclear equipment, or neither.

Regarding the testing of missiles, there’s a natural “unfairness” where geographically bigger countries can test without affecting neighbors whereas smaller countries are much more restricted. Russia tests most of there missiles over the Kamchatka peninsula without worrying to much about any potential strays. However, missile tests ALMOST always are accompanied by warnings and maritime exclusion zones during the firing period and announcements regarding time/direction/expected distance, etc. Even the USSR issued these warning, albeit not consistently. North Korea couldn’t do that since the idea had nothing to do with “tests” but solely to do with making statements.

http://english.chosun.com/w21d.....00006.html