Comments on: Shinzo Abe, the Ahmadinejad of the East?

By: mins0306

mins0306 — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:44:36 +0000

As stated above, I first thought the writer was Korean and then imagine my surprise when I saw the name of the writer. Okay the guy maybe playing the nationalistic card for his own benefit, or he might just not like the Japanese, whatever the reason, the fact remains that we will see more of this in the near future.

So one asks the question, when will all this stop? Yes I believe it is in Japan’s best interests to come to terms with its past, at the least it won’t have to endure other Asian nations throwings barbs at it for its wartime past and as a democratic and economically powerful nation it will have the moral high ground to match its status. But,the likelihood of the Japanese political system coming to terms is very low and the more the other Asian nations heckle the more reactionary the Japanese right will get.

I might get shot by the Koreans for saying this, but let’s leave it at that. Former Pres. Park Chung Hee signed a document which effectively gave up Korean claims to Japanese wrongdoings in exchange for Japanese aid and diplomatic relations. He also used part of what little the Japanese compensated for WW2 to build the Pohang Steel Works. Pretty much Korea doesn’t have the high moral ground.

So let Abe and the LDP do what it wants. Let them make a fool out of themselves and who knows, maybe the Japanese may get sick of what Abe and the LDP is doing and maybe vote the LDP out of office. Let the Japanese come to terms on their own.

Korea shouldn’t be shooting its own foot by saying things when it itself has no moral high ground.

By: Wedge

Wedge — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:42:28 +0000

#10: Oops, I think I read that wrong. I think you’re saying he’s trying to preempt Korean nationalists. Never mind.

By: Wedge

Wedge — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:40:28 +0000

#10: “Henry Seggerman wants to avoid becoming the next Lone Star by playing the nationalist card.”

I guess I missed Lone Star’s nationalist card playing. Can you provide any examples? However, I can see Lone Star as a victim of Korean prosecutors who have played the nationalist card big time.

By: tocchin

tocchin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:18:28 +0000

Accusing Japan of whatever she did to Korea and demanding apologies from her is Koreans national pastime to relieve stresses. As long as Japan apologizes, they keep demanding further apologies.
During the Korean War the Chinese Red Army killed more than a million Koreans. Koreans has never ever demanded apologies from China because they know the Chinese would never apologize. It is about time Japan neglected what Korea says.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:30:57 +0000

you should really check out what Japanese people say about Japan-Korean issues at enjoyjapan.naver.com, before you conjecture…incorrectly.

The Japanese public have been misinformed about Korea as much as Koreans have been misinformed about Japan.

Furthermore, why is the LDP always the winner in Japan? That result and what the LDP does, that responsiblity lies with the Japanese people and their society.

Otherwise, you would have to argue that elected politicians don’t represent the real people in anyway.

Can you honestly say that? Of course not.

LDP. Japan. Responsiblity.

By: dokdoforever

dokdoforever — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:00:31 +0000

I mistakenly assumed the writer to be Korean.. Sorry. Yeah, I agree with tocchin, Henry Seggerman wants to avoid becoming the next Lone Star by playing the nationalist card. Forcing Germany to acknowledge war guilt conformed to US goals of building a multilateral alliance in Europe to deter the Soviets. Germany had to get along with its former enemies. The US E Asian allies were too weak to contribute through a multilateral alliance, which is why Japan never faced the same pressure. On a more positive note, Korea and China are more important economic partners of Japan than ever before, so Japan may realize that it’s own interests are served by acknowledging it’s past.

By: dokdoforever

dokdoforever — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:32:35 +0000

Contrary to sentiments expressed in the article, Japanese would likely view themselves as victims of their own mlitary during the colonial era. The Mukden incident was carried out by the military without civilian approval - they never voted for military rule the way Germans elected Hitler w/ 34% of the vote. By the same logic we should blame the people of N Korea for not overthrowing Kim Jung Il. Koreans also conflate rising Japanese nationalism with Japanese militarism. Japanese blame their military for WW2, but not the right wing - opposite the German case, and do not support an active military posture, probably the most passive nation in E Asia. Yet Korean’s historical memories blind them to this reality. It’s understandable, but it’s about time both sides settled the mutual distortions.

By: Uri Onara

Uri Onara — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:35:52 +0000

Even though he worshipped at Yasukuni, Koizumi was much more likeable than Abe in my opinion. But as Peter has pointed out, the people here don’t elect the PM directly, or his cabinet, and the same party is always in power. Perhaps that is the reason most of the Japanese I try to talk politics with are rather apathetic. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

By: Abe: Ahmadinejad of the Far East » Japan Probe

Abe: Ahmadinejad of the Far East » Japan Probe — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:56:38 +0000

[...] [Hat tip to the Marmot’s Hole] [...]

By: snow

snow — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:28:27 +0000

Ouch, usually one hopes that people who run investment services are rational and relatively non-political people (politics and making good investments don’t necessarily mix). I wouldn’t invest in a fund by this Seggerman guy. Too much chance that he would act rashly and irrationally with my cash. No thanks.