Comments on: Apologies, surrenders and Yasukuni http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:53:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46743 sunbin Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:13:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46743 sorry about that. i don't remember the exact wording. but it is basically that it is japan's internal affair and should be respected, with a tone of a koizumi supported. anyway, this is the IHT article by howard french. he talked a bit about korea's reaction as well. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/18/news/letter.php sorry about that. i don’t remember the exact wording. but it is basically that it is japan’s internal affair and should be respected, with a tone of a koizumi supported.

anyway, this is the IHT article by howard french. he talked a bit about korea’s reaction as well.
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....letter.php

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46575 snow Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:50:36 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46575 Sun Bin, actually, he's not my president, as I'm Canadian, but what did Bush say? I've obviously missed the show on this one (I would prefer that the US stay out of this Asian catfight). Sun Bin, actually, he’s not my president, as I’m Canadian, but what did Bush say? I’ve obviously missed the show on this one (I would prefer that the US stay out of this Asian catfight).

]]> By: baduk http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46556 baduk Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:59:17 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46556 Koizumi is doing the right thing. And, thanks two cents for bringing the pertinent data about how the Japanese are backing Koi in good numbers. Japan has to mobilize now to fend off NK-China alliance from attacking it. Time is running out. Buy American weapon systems, fighter planes and missiles in large (astronomical) quantity. This will also help SK to buy more weapons, thus strengthening its defense against NK-China alliance. SK needs to wake up as well. Koizumi is doing the right thing. And, thanks two cents for bringing the pertinent data about how the Japanese are backing Koi in good numbers.

Japan has to mobilize now to fend off NK-China alliance from attacking it. Time is running out. Buy American weapon systems, fighter planes and missiles in large (astronomical) quantity.

This will also help SK to buy more weapons, thus strengthening its defense against NK-China alliance. SK needs to wake up as well.

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46544 sunbin Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:43:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46544 2 cent: hmmm, i was under the impression that many think he should not, but i guess i was wrong. but the survey does depend on how the question is phrased (nevertheless, 60% is quite a large number) snow: the problem is, your president did say something. something different from what you just said. 2 cent: hmmm, i was under the impression that many think he should not, but i guess i was wrong. but the survey does depend on how the question is phrased (nevertheless, 60% is quite a large number)

snow: the problem is, your president did say something. something different from what you just said.

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46526 snow Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:07:29 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46526 "only when US and other NATO countries could make real impact on this issue, unfortunately US govt’t, is too myopic." I disagree sun bin, I don't think the US should get involved in this issue, certainly not publicly. “only when US and other NATO countries could make real impact on this issue, unfortunately US govt’t, is too myopic.”

I disagree sun bin, I don’t think the US should get involved in this issue, certainly not publicly.

]]> By: Two Cents http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46521 Two Cents Fri, 18 Aug 2006 08:28:54 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46521 But Sunbin, you can't ask your president to lie. In a survey taken by the NHK on the night of Aug. 15, 63% supported Koizumi's visit. (Breakdown by age: below 19- 62%; 20s- 72%; 30s- 72%; 40s- 63%; 50s- 54%; above 60- 54%.) I have yet to see a survey taken after Koizumi's visit with results in his supporters being the minority. But Sunbin, you can’t ask your president to lie.
In a survey taken by the NHK on the night of Aug. 15, 63% supported Koizumi’s visit.
(Breakdown by age: below 19- 62%; 20s- 72%; 30s- 72%; 40s- 63%; 50s- 54%; above 60- 54%.)
I have yet to see a survey taken after Koizumi’s visit with results in his supporters being the minority.

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46512 sunbin Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:56:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46512 i think Bush could have just said, “let’s not FORGET that the majority of Japanese do not endorse such visit”. but unfortunately he chose to antagonize the 2 asian nations. i think Bush could have just said, “let’s not FORGET that the majority of Japanese do not endorse such visit”. but unfortunately he chose to antagonize the 2 asian nations.

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46511 sunbin Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:54:58 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46511 cont'd re:japan. japan does not deserve hatred. but it deserves the mistrust. it is unfortunate that the sane voice in japan (many are against the shrine visit) are now less heard of, especially given the encouragement from US. i think Bush could have just said, "let's not note that the majority of Japanese do not endorse such visit". but unfortunately he chose to antagonize the 2 asian nations. cont’d

re:japan.

japan does not deserve hatred.
but it deserves the mistrust.
it is unfortunate that the sane voice in japan (many are against the shrine visit) are now less heard of, especially given the encouragement from US. i think Bush could have just said, “let’s not note that the majority of Japanese do not endorse such visit”. but unfortunately he chose to antagonize the 2 asian nations.

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46509 sunbin Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:50:35 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46509 travolta, i agree with you about the majority of japnese today are pretty peaceful. in fact, i would even say there are some right wing who are not as extreme. i was lazy in typing when i said used 'right wing' to refer to the fundamentalist. as you know, in many population fundamentalist represents at most 5-10% -- maybe japan has more, but i wouldn't guess anything above 15-20%. from what i learned (through discussion with japanese friends/etc). the middle and moderate right are mostly educated into the belief of jungle law. i.e. invasion itself is part of realpolitik, what was unfortunate in 1945 was that they lost. this does not mean they would support a war though. i know many chinese, korean. american are also realists in this sense, but i personally found it quite troublesome that the japanese seems to have "institutionalized" such concept. however, i should say that this is just an observation. maybe there has not been systematic education (brainwashing), maybe it is just because japanese are pragmatic in general and this is just an extension of their approach to problems in the world. --- about the joint in NK. i would not stereotype korea this way. this is one man who got control of half korea due to accident of history. SK are not to be blamed for what KJI did in the North. about china. from all the chinese people i know (who share similar view on the yasukuni issue), we are equally (and even more critical) of the CR and TAM. it is a bigger guilt to kill your own people. you did not hear this now (you must have heard this much louder from the Chinese in the summer of 1989, hadn't you?) because 1) Even CCP avoided mentioning it. They did not glorify it like Koizumi did. 2) the democracy 'mainstream' (i.e. US) did not say we should endorse these crimes or that these crimes are none of your business. I can assure you there is even more uproar if Bush said you should leave CCP alone if Hu Jintao is picking the wound again. Now, does this mean China is more dangerous? 1) If history is going to repeat itself, it could be more dangerous to its own people, but not to anyone outside China 2) We have seen evidence that even the stubborn CCP wish TAM and CR did not happen. So the Chinese do believe there was a lesson learned, even though the lesson was only half-learned. travolta,

i agree with you about the majority of japnese today are pretty peaceful. in fact, i would even say there are some right wing who are not as extreme. i was lazy in typing when i said used ‘right wing’ to refer to the fundamentalist. as you know, in many population fundamentalist represents at most 5-10% — maybe japan has more, but i wouldn’t guess anything above 15-20%.

from what i learned (through discussion with japanese friends/etc). the middle and moderate right are mostly educated into the belief of jungle law. i.e. invasion itself is part of realpolitik, what was unfortunate in 1945 was that they lost. this does not mean they would support a war though. i know many chinese, korean. american are also realists in this sense, but i personally found it quite troublesome that the japanese seems to have “institutionalized” such concept.

however, i should say that this is just an observation. maybe there has not been systematic education (brainwashing), maybe it is just because japanese are pragmatic in general and this is just an extension of their approach to problems in the world.

—
about the joint in NK. i would not stereotype korea this way. this is one man who got control of half korea due to accident of history. SK are not to be blamed for what KJI did in the North.

about china. from all the chinese people i know (who share similar view on the yasukuni issue), we are equally (and even more critical) of the CR and TAM. it is a bigger guilt to kill your own people. you did not hear this now (you must have heard this much louder from the Chinese in the summer of 1989, hadn’t you?) because
1) Even CCP avoided mentioning it. They did not glorify it like Koizumi did.
2) the democracy ‘mainstream’ (i.e. US) did not say we should endorse these crimes or that these crimes are none of your business. I can assure you there is even more uproar if Bush said you should leave CCP alone if Hu Jintao is picking the wound again.
Now, does this mean China is more dangerous?
1) If history is going to repeat itself, it could be more dangerous to its own people, but not to anyone outside China
2) We have seen evidence that even the stubborn CCP wish TAM and CR did not happen. So the Chinese do believe there was a lesson learned, even though the lesson was only half-learned.

]]> By: Two Cents http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46472 Two Cents Fri, 18 Aug 2006 01:13:58 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/15/apologies-surrenders-and-yasukuni/#comment-46472 Sonagi, >but since Yasukuni is a private, religious shrine, couldn’t the emperor visit? Since the same reasoning doesn't seem to work for the visits of prime ministers (the de facto democratic leader of Japan) for China and Korea, I don't see how a constitutional monarch could take such bold political steps on what has become a sensitive diplomatic issue. The emperor's role in the Shinto religion is the head shaman, since he is supposedly a descendant of the highes-ranking deity in Shinto. His influence over the Japanese society is similar to a pope's influence over the Christian society. His words are heavy, but are no longer absolute today. The Shinto religion really has no clear-cut doctrine and, over the history of Japan, has integrated other religions that have been introduced to Japan, that most people probably don't know or care to know what exactly Shinto is. If Christianity had been blended into Shinto, Mother Mary probably would have been transformed into the godess of fertility and protector of small children. Shinto is also a weakly binding religion, so that a majority of the Japanese have no problem with going to a Shinto shrine on New Years Day while being a Buddist. Because Shinto has no sects at odds with each other like Buddism in Japan and require no bodily remains for enshrinement, a Shinto shrine was convenient as a wardead memorial since most Japanese families prefer to have the remains in the familiy tomb. Sonagi,
>but since Yasukuni is a private, religious shrine, couldn’t the emperor visit?
Since the same reasoning doesn’t seem to work for the visits of prime ministers (the de facto democratic leader of Japan) for China and Korea, I don’t see how a constitutional monarch could take such bold political steps on what has become a sensitive diplomatic issue.

The emperor’s role in the Shinto religion is the head shaman, since he is supposedly a descendant of the highes-ranking deity in Shinto. His influence over the Japanese society is similar to a pope’s influence over the Christian society. His words are heavy, but are no longer absolute today.

The Shinto religion really has no clear-cut doctrine and, over the history of Japan, has integrated other religions that have been introduced to Japan, that most people probably don’t know or care to know what exactly Shinto is. If Christianity had been blended into Shinto, Mother Mary probably would have been transformed into the godess of fertility and protector of small children. Shinto is also a weakly binding religion, so that a majority of the Japanese have no problem with going to a Shinto shrine on New Years Day while being a Buddist. Because Shinto has no sects at odds with each other like Buddism in Japan and require no bodily remains for enshrinement, a Shinto shrine was convenient as a wardead memorial since most Japanese families prefer to have the remains in the familiy tomb.

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