The Official Blog of Japan Broadcasting.net 【JB】 ‘OUTSPOKEN SAMURAI’
Outspoken Samurai Yujiro Taniyama, Founder CEO, Japan Broadcasting.net, Inc. 不服従の武士 谷山雄二朗が書くJB Blog
Yujiro Taniyama – Japan Broadcasting.net CEO
The heat is on.
As the Tokyo Olympics 2020 gets under way, there’s a crucial issue I’d like you to contemplate.
We broadcast, you decide.
Thank you!
Yujiro Taniyama – Japan Broadcasting.net CEO
Masterpieces by Kai Kay and Joe Kay are ready.
From October 2 to December 9th, a special exhibition will take place at the Tokyo museum in Ueno.
I happened to find the poster on the train, and looks likely the masterpieces are coming all the way from DAION G TEMPLE in Korea, I mean Kyoto. It was founded in 1585 when the Shogun ‘Monkey’ Hideyossi was on the verge of unifying Japan. (He was called Saroo, meaning monkey by his boss Mr.Oda)
Also, I checked up on Joe Kay (定慶) the sculptor to discover he was a hot shot in the late 12th century during the mighty Kamacoora period.
So forget the Tokyo Disneyland fellas, head for Ueno station if you are traveling Japan!
Enjoy!
松下幸之助は言っている。「日本はよい国である。よいものがあっても、そのよさを知らなければ、それは無きに等しい」と。
全米オープンテニス女子を制したNaomi Osakaの偉業を、強調しすぎることは無い。心から祝福する。ただ、彼女を盲目的に「日本の大坂なおみが優勝しました」と持ち上げ、自己陶酔に国民を導くこの国の新聞とTVの無知蒙昧は、いかに我が民族に物事に対する物差しが欠如しているかの裏返しでもある。
結論から言おう。彼女の中身は、99.9%アメリカ人である。
AP通信の報道によると、Osaka選手は日本人の母とハイチ人の父の間に日本で生まれ3歳の時に米国に移住。それ以来、フロリダ州を住居としているとのことなので、厳密にいうならば「移民」（米国側からみれば）の如き存在である。トランプが度々取り上げる「不法移民」ではないが。
いや、言うまでもなくすでに米国籍を取得しているのかもしれない。とはいえ、”Japanese”として国際試合に出場している以上、TOKYO2020までにはそれを破棄し二重国籍状態をなくすと思われる。
世界のPanasonic創業者である松下幸之助の言葉を冒頭で紹介したが、彼のいう「日本のよさ」をNaomiは99.9%知らない。3歳からアメリカ在住なのだから当然だ。米ニューヨークタイムズ紙は、彼女の母であるTamaki氏がここ10年以上、日本家族とは “little contact” 即ちほぼ不通状態にあったと報じている。
それがおそらく事実であろうことは、Naomiがほとんど日本語を喋れないことからもうかがえる。優勝後の翌日に行われたNHKインタヴューで冒頭に「イマワ シンジラレナイ。スシ、オイシカッタ」と可愛らしい声で言ったものの、結局それだけ。続いての「大きな舞台にはるほどいいプレーができると思っている」「今月の東京の試合でも頑張りたい」などそれ以外は、完璧な米語。 つまり日本語では言えないということだ。ただ「日本人」として出場している以上、なにか最後に日本語で言わねばならないと思ったのか「キノウノ シアイ カッタ。オウエン アリガトウ ゴザイマス」（5秒）。そしてその後なぜか「コンバンワー ハハハ」「オヤスミー」と、米国アクセントでインタヴュー内容となんの脈絡もないカットが出てくるので、これは演出上、NHK側に言わされたのに違いない。
断っておくが、ぼくはここでNaomi Osaka選手を呵呵大笑するつもりも、卑下する考えも毛頭ない。前述したように、彼女はテニス界の新女王であり、これまでに血の滲むような努力があったであろう事は想像に難くない。ビッグな快挙だ。ただ、極めてプロブレマティックなのは、「では日本人とは何なのか」という根本的な命題が今回の一連の「大坂なおみ報道」からまったく欠けていることである。
単純な話、ぼくにはなぜ彼女が住み慣れたアメリカ国籍でなく、日本国籍で出場するのか不思議なのだ。なぜならばもしも本当に「日本人」としての誇りを持っているのであれば、間違いなくその言語を学ぶはずだからだ。僭越ながらぼく自身は8歳の時、父の仕事の関係で南オーストラリア州に引っ越したが、毎日漢字を20個書かなくてはお小遣いを貰えなかった。小学校は現地校だったが、通常の英語で行われる授業とは別途に通信教育（わずかな量だが）で日本語を学び続けた。日本人としてのアイデンティティを育むためであり、そうしてくれたことに対し親には感謝している。
ところが、Osaka選手はこうした日本人ならば当然行うであろう「母国語」の基礎教育をまったく受けてこなかったと思われる。でなければ、あの訪日外国人レヴェルのあの日本語は説明がつかない。名前こそOsaka = 大阪と、日本の第2都市ながら母親のTamaki氏には娘を日本人として育てる気持ちは毛頭なかった、と考えるのが自然だ。にもかかわらず、なぜNaomi Osakaは日本人として国際試合に出場しているのか。その点が、どうしても腑に落ちない。日本のスポンサーを得やすいとの打算が働いている可能性が極めて高いが、となれば一体「日本人」とは何なのか。所詮はスーパーで売買できる便利な商品にすぎないのではないか、との結論に達しざるを得ない。
たかが日本人、たかがオーサカナオミと言うなかれ。
というのも、言葉と国民は相即不離の関係にあるからである。
少子高齢化で労働者人口が激減しているわが国には今、過去最高の249万人の外国人が暮らしている。今年の6月、政府は2025年までに新たに50万人の外国人を新たに受け入れることを決定した。しかも新たに外国人労働者に求めるレヴェルは、日本語能力試験のN4、つまり「ややゆっくりとした会話であれば内容がほぼ理解できる」水準だが、農業と建設業ではそれさえも不要だとか。
Naomi Osaka選手は世界的なテニスプレーヤーだが、日本語に関してはこの「N4」のレヴェルにさえ達していないはずだ。安倍首相は、彼女と同レヴェルすなわち日本語の会話もままならない外国人を50万人受け入れることを「移民政策ではない」と、不思議かつ荒唐無稽として思えない発言をしているが、その背景にあるのは日本に未だ根強い排外主義だ。ぼく自身は、ファミリーマートや7Eleven一つみても分かるように現在の深刻な人手不足の状況からすれば、外国人労働者は当然ながら大幅に増やすべきだと考える者である。とはいえ、「N4」にも達しない、ほとんど日本語が通じない外国人を受け入れることに対しては反対だ。にもかかわらず政府が事実上それを許可し、どうじに「移民政策ではない」との詭弁に徹していることは「日本人」の定義があやふや千万だからではないのか。日本語ができない人は、日本人にはなれません。それが政府と国民の本音なのに、国際世論および排外的との批判を恐れてか誰も言わない。付け焼き刃は鈍りやすい、と昔から言うがこうした日本人の曖昧な態度が、国家としてのインテグリティを損なうことは明白すぎることだ。
そのご都合主義は、メディアも政府も変わらない。
「保守」とされ、移民受け入れにより懐疑的なスタンスを取る読売と産経にしても、今回のNaomi選手の快挙に関しては「日本人の大坂なおみ、優勝！」といったスタンスで美味しい部分だけを切り取っている。普段は、憲法9条改正とか独立自尊とか国家の誇りとか愛国心を基軸に紙面を作りながら、アメリカ人としてフロリダで事実上育ったNaomi Osaka選手に対してだけは、その日本語力の欠如を問わない紙面づくりに終始しているのはもう滑稽そのものだ。
最新の人口動態調査によると、日本の人口は2018年1月1日現在で過去最大となる37万人減少した。逆に外国人人口は、過去最多となる249万7656人をマーク。後者が今後、右肩上がりで伸びていくことを考えると「日本人」とは何なのかを真剣に我々一人一人が自問自答することが急務ではないか。
ドナルド・トランプ米国大統領の英語力は、小4レヴェルだとされる。
大坂なおみよ、2020年夏までに少なくとも同レヴェルまで日本語を磨いてくれないか？でなければ、ぼくはどうしても先のインタヴューの最後に「コンバンワー」「オヤスミ」と不自然な一言カットを挿入せねば日本人アイデンティティを匂わすことさえ出来ない君を、日本人としては応援できない。だいいち、天照す大神さえもおそらく知らないであろう君が仮に東京五輪テニスで金メダルを取ったところで、君が代を唄えるのか？猫ひろしが、カンボジア国家をまったく歌えなくても構わないが、全米覇者が「母国の国歌をしらない」となれば抱腹絶倒ものですぞ。
最後に松下幸之助はこうも言っている。
「もう一度この国のよさを見直してみたい。そして、日本人としての誇りを、おたがいに持ち直してみたい。考え直してみたい」と。
Naomi, 君はあらためて自分の国籍のほうを考え直してみてはどうだろう？
そして本当に”Japanese”になる覚悟があるならば、くどいようだが言葉だ。
And if you need a tough spartan, strict teacher, you know who to call!
Good evening and good nite!
谷山雄二朗 – Japan Broadcasting.net Editor in Chief
Yujiro Taniyama. Editor in Chief – Japan Broadcasting.net net Inc
SHOTIME Otani san has done it again.
Today, his team the Los Angeles Angels (LAA) crushed White Sox 5-2, thanks to the three-run homer by the Japanese two-way star.
As I was watching the game, suddenly one thought popped up on my mind.
“Why is this guy so damn beautiful?”
If you follow MLB, I know that I’m not the only one with that question.
There’s absolutely no denying the fact that Otani is a pure classic in the world of baseball – he can pitch, and he can bat. He smashed his 19th homer today, a record breaker as a Japanese rookie in MLB.
We all know that this “Babe Ruth of the 21st century” will make history.
But what fascinates me the most is the fact that he can be distinguished from the rest of the MLB players in a remarkable way.
That’s right, OTANI SAN never spits.
When 99% of the American major league players spit out their dirty salivas from their mouth every five seconds, Otani never does. Spitting is so pervasive in MLB that I find it disgusting. It contaminates the ball park. Houston Astros’ Altuve spit out his saliva every two seconds even when he is in the bench.
The American public don’t seem to care less about it, but one thing is crystal clear – ITs NOT CLEAN. Both sanitary-wise and visually.
MLB guys may think this “spitting” is cool (that explains why so many does it), but in Japanese professional baseball you would hardly see any player doing it. Yu Darvish never spat out his saliva when he was in Nippon Ham Fighters, but as soon as he started to play for the Texas Rangers he was brainwashed and became a “spitter”.
Shohei Otani doesn’t follow suit.
I have never seen him spit on the ball park. Have you!? I don’t think so.
Not only does this simple fact make him an exemplary ball player, but a beautiful one.
The Japanese are probably the most ‘cleanest’ race in the face of the planet. Some girls take bath 5 times a day on weekends – in the morning, after the morning run, after lunch, after five and before going to bed.
Spitting is generally considered rude and dirty in Japan. So if you go to a public bath or an Onsen for example and see someone spit while washing up their body, the perpetrator always drains away his own saliva with shower or fresh water.
I mean, we all know that it is dirty, with germs.
So it simply strikes me as a pure mystery why the “Ball-park moms” in the U.S are never apoplectic when their kids or those in MLB are spitting around spreading filthy germs here and there. I do not mean to be disparaging to the Americans in any way, but it’s just incomprehensible.
Maybe its like the “Gun rights” in America.
Something that seems pretty unhealthy and ludicrous to my standard, when innocent kids and civilians are victimized in Sandy Hook and Las Vegas every now and then.
Lastly, we’ve got to bear in mind that the American kids who grow up watching MLB end up thinking “spitting germs is cool” by the time they are 18. Not only is it hazardous but also obsolete.
Spitting is like a CO2 emission from a four-wheel vehicle. It’s simply not cool. It’s not beautiful. So if MLB has a long term goal to turn baseball into a “Global thing” like soccer, then I humbly recommend that you find a way to mitigate this ‘unhealthy custom’ before its too late.
ShoTime Otani is beautiful.
Now we all know why!
Otani san for the ‘MLB Rookie of the year 2018’!
Arigato Gozaimass.
Yujiro Taniyama, CEO Japan Broadcasting.net
America honors its fallen heroes.
That’s probably the true greatness of America. And that’s what I learned yesterday afternoon, when I met one brave woman, Theresa at an old shrine in the off skirts of Tokyo.
This beautiful lady, from Illinois also had a lucid mind with voracious appetite to learn about Japanese culture.
“At the top of the temple, I saw a huge statue of two dogs. One had its mouth open, while the other had it closed. Can you tell me why?” , she asked.
To my shame, I did not know the answer.
“Good question. Those dogs are called KOMA-INU. They are de facto guard dogs that protect the shrine from evil spirits”
Theresa nodded. “I see, but what do we make of the ‘mouth’?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. I sincerely apologize for my ignorance”
One elder man that stood next to the lady made a little laugh. He resembled Clint Eastwood in a way. Together, they were visiting Japan for about two weeks.
By the way, I later learned that day that the KOMA-INU on the right usually has its mouth wide open and the one on the right ‘closed’. And that the former is barking the sound “A”, while the latter “UN”. According to some sources I found on the internet, these ‘dogs’ are in fact mythical creatures and not precisely ‘dogs’. And that they signify 「阿吽 =A UN」- the first and the last words of the alphabet of Sanskrit.
And subsequently, it derived the meaning “From the beginning to the end of life and the universe”. The Japanese alphabet today also starts from “A” and ends with “UN”.
So I suppose in a broader sense, we can understand that the ‘auspicious dogs’ are there to emphasize the greatness of the whole galaxy.
The collision on Aug.21, 2017
“On August 21, 2017, 10 sailors were killed when the destroyer collided with an oil tanker as it entered the busy waterway into the port of Singapore. The collision occurred two months after seven sailors were killed when the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off the coast of Japan” (ABC News, May 25, 2018)
I remember the tragic accident that occurred consecutively last year, and had a big impact on me since they had both departed from Yokosuka, a naval port in Japan.
At the same time, I recall being emphatically apoplectic pondering “Who’s responsible for this? A flawed leadership that took the lives of so many young brave men?”.
This was a time when the North Korean ‘Fatty’ Mr.Kim was intimidating Japan with his ICBM toy and nukes. U.S President Trump was also busy downplaying him as a ‘little rocket man’. And I must admit that when these two fatal incidents occurred, I became wary of the “Greatest military in the world” – that somehow kept crashing into commercial ships due to negligence and order.
Especially when the national security of Japan hugely relies on defense-treaty with Washington, it could not be overlooked.
We humans are pretty dumb that we often forget important things.
On the other hand, we remember unnecessary things like the ‘Blue GAP dress’ of the great bravado Ms.Monica Lewinsky.
So when I coincidentally banged into Brandon (U.S Navy strongman) at the shrine yesterday, and had a conversation with Theresa and ‘Clint’, it kindled a zeal of patriotism and pride within me.
“My son died in the USS John McCain collision last year”
I was left speechless when the blond lady told me her story.
Theresa’s son Logan was just 23 when the critical accident sent him to heaven. “He arrived at Yokosuka in May last year, and also left there on the same month. Then it happened”.
She showed me the photo of the great handsome man on her silver pendant.
It read 【REMEMBER PO2. LOGAN PALMER】. Poignant and stunned, there was a few seconds silence in the old shrine where people in Kimonos were also paying a visit.
What also moved me deeply was the fact that this beautiful mom whose beloved son was taken away from her had the indisputable strength and courage to share her sensitive story with a total stranger like myself. I had introduced myself as the “Most crazy outspoken Samurai in Japan” – which is probably true, and also probably eased our tensions.
Theresa was also an elastic thinker and savvy about politics.
She spoke her mind, on immigration and upcoming election – something I adore and undeniably lacks in the mind of the Japanese. In my country, there’s a saying “沈黙は美徳: CHINMOCK WA BITOCK” – meaning silence is beautiful. And such ‘silence’ is unfortunately ubiquitous in Japanese society. Not only is such a mentality misleading, its obsolete especially when we have the rise of our great neighbor China both militarily and economically.
Furthermore, unless you speak out, the world will easily forget critical matters.
Had it not been for Theresa’s brave heart to share her story of Logan, I would have never learned that such young American heros made ultimate sacrifices for their beloved nation but also for defending the Japanese people under the 1960 defense treaty then signed by PM Kishi and US President Eisenhower.
“You know what Theresa” , I said
“We the Japanese today are so dumb and complacent that most of us are ignorant of the fact Logan and his fellow comrades died on duty, protecting peace and stability for us as a whole”.
Of course when I say dumb, I myself is included.
Jackie Kennedy may have been capricious, but that goes the same with the descendants of the former Samurais, now nothing but a flock of sheep that’s deprived of the mentality of military independence. The Samurais are dead today. Without and American hero such as Logan, the national security of my nation would be under a grave risk.
CCP (Chinese Communist Party) hegemony shall result in pandemonium in the near future unless an appropriate measures are taken ‘by the Japanese themselves’. Our current overly subservient stance on Washington is counterproductive not only for Mr.Trump but for Tokyo as a nation. I recall the U.S President commenting “Isn’t Japan a country of Samurais? Why didn’t they just shoot the North Korean missile down?” after Pyongyang fired two ICBM mussels on 29 August and 15 September last year over Hokkaido.
Trump is correct.
And I deeply anticipate on the future of the little subordinate nation of gadgets and automatic toilets.
Rest In Peace 10 American Samurais
United States of America is not a perfect country, as far as I know.
But there’s no denying the fact that it’s a great one. Especially its eye opening how deeply their veterans and heros are respected. It’s not an understatement to underscore that spirit is the fabric of American strength, because without it no country is eligible to become a true global power.
“I’ve got a bracelet that has the names of all the ten sailors that died on the ship”, Theresa said.
The benign lady from Illinois is the true Samurai, I thought.
Jacob Daniel Drake, Dustin Louis Doyon, Charles Nathan Findley, John Henry Hoagland III, Logan Stephen Palmer, Kenneth, Abraham Lopez, Kevin Sayer Bushell, Corey George Ingram, Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr.
Theresa always carries the souls of the fallen American heros with her, no matter where she goes.
Tomorrow, 1 year anniversary of the US destroyer McCain will take place at the Yokosuka U.S Navy base.
Now I know why Theresa and ‘Clint’ is currently visiting my country.
Shall the souls of the 10 brave men Rest In Peace.
Thank you Theresa, for sharing your precious story once again.
Japan must honor fallen American heros today.
Japan Interview!
２日後に終戦日を迎えるなか、アムステルダムからの旅人インタヴューをお届けします。
広島を訪れたというミセス・ホランドは、意外な告白をしてくれました。
「原爆ドームでふとおもったことですか。旧オランダ領東インドで、わたしの家族は自由だったのかを考えました」(4分45秒）
赤坂見附の昼下がり、突然の発言にぼくは言葉を失いました。
「どういうことですか？」
「はい。わたしの家族は、オランダ人とジャワ人の混血だったので日本軍の抑留所に入れられたのです」(5分09秒）
「そのお話は、誰からお聞きになったのですか」
「おばあちゃん、叔母から聞きました。わたしの姪っ子は、その抑留所のなかで生まれたんです」(5分20秒）
1942年から1945年8月15日の敗戦まで、旧オランダ領東インドは日本の統治下にあったのは周知の事実だ。彼女は続ける。
「姪は、終戦時まだ四歳でした。彼女は、女性だけの抑留所に四年間いました。その後彼女は、父親と再会しましたが会いたくなかったようです。というのも、それまで彼女が接していたのは日本人の男性（日本兵）だけで、彼らは姪に対し厳しく接した。それで男性不信に陥ったようです」(5分28秒）
「厳しく、というのはどう厳しかったのでしょうか？われわれ日本人は、歴史から学び取る必要があります」
「はい」
「たとえば、ムチを使ったとか？」
「YES」
真偽はもちろん確かめようがないが、当時日本軍内（国内）に蔓延していた男尊女卑の思想、上官は絶対の軍の規律などから考えれば、混血児を手厚く扱ったとは到底考えられない。少なくとも、ぼくはミス・ホランドの言葉を信じた。
「だから姪にとって、その後も日本軍抑留所の経験はトラウマとして残ったのです」(6分3秒）
ぼくは朝日新聞社の特派員ではないが、それは3ミリグラムの想像力さえあれば、十分に考えられることだ。
「わたしの母、そしておばあちゃんはもう亡くなりました。先日、初めて訪日し広島にも行きましたが、果たして今、わたしがこうした日本にいることを天国の母たちが喜んでいるかはわかりません」(6分20秒）
一瞬、返す言葉を失ったがぼくは言った。
「その七十年前の歴史から、我々は学ばねばなりません」
「まったく同感ですね。よって広島の原爆ドームを訪れたとき、わたしは母たちの苦しみを感じるとともに、突然頭上から原子爆弾を浴びた人びとの苦しみをも感じました。あの時、誰もが非道だったのだとおもいます」(6分40秒）
「戦争は、人間を動物にします。残虐なアニマルに」
「ええ。なので今、なんとも違和感というのか不思議な気持ちで日本を旅しています」
訪日観光客三千万人。
様々なバックグラウンドをみな、各自が抱えている。
ミセス・ホランドとは、シリアスな話もしたが同時に日光や、パチンコ、カジノそして温泉の話などでも盛り上がった。ちなみに、オランダには各都市にカジノがあるとか。
ここからまた、新しいジャパーンが見えてくる。
Japan Interview!
Today marks the 73rd year since the notorious A-bomb attack on Hiroshima.
Pandemonium took over the Americans against Japan on Aug.6, 1945.
Journalist Paul Ham mentions in his book “Hiroshima Nagasaki” as follows.
“There is not a frisson of concern or regret here at the human cost. Observation and testing of the A-boom victims, not their treatment, were the priorities of the American scientific teams. ”
It’s highly regrettable to say the least. When thousands of innocent civilians were annihilated ‘instantly’, the figure amounting to 140,000 by the end of 1945 – it is also worth noting that according to the Hiroshima city government report, 308,725 names have been registered as the victims of the ruthless attack. This means that over 160,000 people had suffered from radiation sickness in the aftermath of the bombing.
I truly recommend you read “Kuroi Ame” (Black Rain) by Ibuse Masuji to understand what this “radiation sickness” is all about. An unfathomable tragedy, a pure war crime that downplayed mankind is what you will learn there.
U.S President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in May 2016, as the first sitting American president. The move of redemption was indeed poignant, though he did not apologize on behalf of his fellow Americans bearing in mind that the majority of Americans today still “justifies A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki” – well that’s how they are taught in high schools of the U.S. But what they don’t know, or learn is that Japan had already been de facto well defeated prior to the inhumane bombing, which targeted thousands of men, women and children.
Americans in the mid south often enjoy the term “Remember Pearl Harbor”. But the Japanese attack then targeted military targets, and not civilians. Over two thousand U.S servicemen died. This is a crucial difference compared to over 300,000 CIVILIAN CASUALTIES in Hiroshima. And moreover, when some of my great American friends point out that the Pearl Harbor attack was “sneaky” – a term often used, I cannot help but respond by pointing out the infamous “Battle of Tonking” in Vietnam on August 2, 1964 when the U.S made a sneaky attack on the North Vietnamese by claiming that “they had been attacked by Uncle Ho” – which was later revealed by the New York Times that it was nothing but a hype. A cooked up lie.
That’s war.
And neither do I justify everything Japan did during that war.
Inevitably today marks the 73rd year that claimed the lives of thousands in Hiroshima. And as a Japanese national, I cannot help but speak out on behalf of the deceased that it is a petty nonsense to take it for granted the unsubstantiated myths – that “A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved 1,000,000 American lives”. Truman simply used this narrative to justify his means. As Paul Ham has clearly pointed out, the Washington dropped the 2 bombs for the sake of dropping it.
As a human experiment.
Lastly, I want to wrap up the blog by revealing a shocking piece of story.
According to the book I ready recently – “The Day Man Lost” (Kodansha International Publishers/1972) , the prominent author Hando Kaztoshi writes;
“Enola Gay landed at the northern airfield of Tinian Island at 2:58 p.m on August 6th. The twelve crew members were greeted by hundreds of their fellow U.S servicemen to celebrate the success of the mission.
The club of commissioned officers was filled with buoyant laughter. That evening, a flamboyant celebration party was held on the island and by midnight, some passed out after consuming dozens of Bourbon whiskey bottles”.
Such a behavior well contradicts to the teachings of Christianity.
While men, women and children were left totally vanquished in Hiroshima, the fact that these ‘christian’ Americans were cheering like animals gives me the creeps. Racism was rampant in “White America” back in 1945 of course, and the “Japs” were considered nothing but a bunch of vulgar yellow monkeys. The Japanese were downplayed as an inferior race of Asia. Even the famous New York Times frequently used the term JAPS during the war.
I do not ask for any sort of penitence from the Americans today. But what I do demand is that they learn from the insane folly of their ancestors – who cheered and celebrated with Bourbon whiskey a couple of hours after dropping the weapon of mass destruction.
The lack of sensible humanity is extremely dangerous, given the fact that even North Korea possesses the sinister weapon today.
RIP all the victims of WW2.
Your Obedient Servant,
Yujiro
Yujiro Taniyama, Japan Broadcasting . net CEO
Japan is an obsolete nation.
Not industry-wise, but diversity-wise.
This island nation of 127 million is Gaijin-phobic; meaning it unfortunately resents foreign nationals to the bone. Shame, of course but an extremely conservative and homogeneous society as it is, its just the way it goes.
I know this little business hotel near Shinjuku Gyoen station that emphatically denies Gaijins, or foreigners. That’s right, there are lots of “Mr.Trumps” in the land of Sushi.
However, Tokyo better start changing its mind.
The Japanese in general, that is. Because the ‘land of the rising sun’ now faces an imminent demographic trap as the world’s fastest aging nation. Our population is said to be shrinking by roughly 270,000 annually, while over 25% of the Japanese are now aged over 65.
By 2040, it is plausible that Japan’s population will decrease down to merely 111 million, which is undeniably an entrance to perpetual pandemonium.
To begin with, our economy won’t survive. Unsustainable.
This is a crucial factor especially when considering the recent rise of China.
The authoritarian state defies human rights as you may already know, and imposes strict censorship nationwide. “Sensitive issues” such as Tibet, Taiwan and Uighur must be overlooked in order to justify their political means.
Beijing today uses its economic leverage to downplay Taiwan, successfully pressuring western corporate airlines such as Qantas, Canadian Airlines and the British Airways to label Taiwan as “part of China” on their websites.
Furthermore, we all know that international law don’t mean a thing to the Chinese authorities. When the International Court of Arbitration, or the Hague concluded that China’s so called the “9 dotted line” claim in the contentious South China Sea is baseless, both historically and legally, Beijing responded by merely uttering “The ruling is nothing but a rubbish” – whatever that means.
And instead, what China does is to flex its military muscles intimidating the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia needless to say Taiwan.
I mean, that’s not very healthy fellas.
We all know that deep inside, don’t we?!
That being said, Japan has a crucial role to play now in this 21st century.
To become a exuberant nation not only soft-power-wise, but also militarily too. It is only Japan that can actually contain China after all. In Asia, that is. And I’d like to underscore the fact that it is nothing but utterly ridiculous and hilarious when Beijing mumbles “Militaristic Japan once again? That’s a true threat to the region. We can’t acknowledge that” – whenever Tokyo beefs up its military strength to encounter Beijing’s recent military buildup.
Unless you are smoking pot, or really dumb, it is unthinkable that Japan will become a military superpower as we did back in the 1940s. It is China that is a pure, irrefutable threat today in Asia.
Go ask any Vietnamese or Taiwanese and you’ll get just one simple answer.
However, the biggest issue here is that the Japanese themselves no longer have the “balls” to contribute to the peace and stability of the region. Or at least to me that’s how it looks to my eyes.
Seriously, the Japanese’s post war infatuation with Americanism and capitalism has exceeded a decent level. Samurais are all dead today. If there are any, I’m pretty sure they are all fakes. In that sense, Trump’s petulant snub on Japan back in March 23, 2016 during the U.S election (CNN interview) that “The Japanese should defend itself against N.Korea” actually makes perfect sense.
“NATO is obsolete”, Ivanka’s father said some time ago.
“Japan’s constitution article 9 is obsolete”. I’ve reiterated this simple fact thousands of times already, but the polls still show that the descendants of the Samurais are nothing but an emasculated flock of sheep.
“We don’t want war!” screams the liberal women in their 60’s and the 70’s.
Of course nobody wants war. But Mr Hitler and Mr Stalin. The problem with the leftists in Tokyo today is that they have this inexplicable symptom to turn a blind eye to the recent Chinese military aggression, but instead assert “Defend article 9 of the constitution! Yah!” – wholeheartedly body and soul.
This is not only unthinking, but merely stupid.
And whats even more preposterous, the same people claim “Get out filthy Gaijins! No immigrants! No hairy white beasts and monsters from the third world!”
So the conclusion here is, that 127 million Nippon-Gin today are abnormally complacent that they don’t demand any fundamental changes in social structure. They may want raise in wages or course, but not Gaijins, or immigrants. This homogeneous, insular mindedness will prove costly in the long run, given the fact the current ruling Abe administration’s “Immigrant policy” is nothing but a sham reform.
The government don’t even refer to the immigrants as such, but calls them “guest workers”. What a dumb, euphemistic term that is, just like the ‘Comfort Women’. Whats even worse, though the Japanese government recently announced in June that by 2025, it will accept five hundred thousand “guest workers”, they will all have to go home after five goddam years. And they can’t bring their family members with them either. It’s banned. WTF!
Smart MP’s including Abe knows that the land of the rising sun desperately needs immigrants to sustain its strong economy. But at the same time, they are also well aware of the fact should there be any general election, the ruling LDP will lose as soon as they announce acknowledging “Immigrants”.
So in that sense, Abe is stuck in a dilemma urging him to speak from both sides of his mouth like his golf boss Donald. Japan needs a leader with lucid thoughts, to explain our current situation demographically as well as the threat of the disruptive Chinese.
There’s never been any coherent policy by the lawmakers in this country regarding immigrants nor boosting its low birthrate.
Bravado is all they have. No crotch.
Besides, the complacency of Japan also roots from the dominance of politics by ‘political elites’ from ‘political families’. Just because their father or grandfather was a MP, they become one. No matter how stupid you are, you get elected. Because the constituents are even dummer.
The current minister of finance Taro Aso’s grandpa was Yoshida Shigeru that rebuilt post war Japan under the “McArthur Umbrella”. The ‘rising star’ Ishiba Shigeroo’s father was a well known politician. Then comes Koizumi Shinjiro, an eloquent speaker but all he does is repeat what his daddy Koizumi Junichiro says – like “abandon nuclear energy! wow!”. This is a total farce given the fact LDP endorses nuclear energy as core energy supply of Japan.
What’s even more hilarious, the former PM Koizumi is now teaming up with Japan Communist Party (JCP) the former foe – calling Abe to abandon TEPCO and all the remaining nuclear plants nationwide, which is far from feasible.
So you see ladies and gentlemen, as the emasculated Japanese today repudiate war and military build up to confront China, they also resent the Gaijins, Immigrants or whaterver you call it.
And unless Kim Jong un or Mr Xi attacks Hokkaido or the Senkaku islands, the current murky system governing this ‘Sushi nation’ will never renovate.
GFS – Gaijin Friendly Superpower Japan by 2050 will never be achieved either.
It’s a shame indeed.
Good Gaijin, Good life!
Thank you.
A blatant farce I must say.
Oops, I’m not talking about Harley Davidson’s “rebel with a cause” against Trump. It’s FIFA referee chairman Pierluigi Collina’s ridiculously rigged and biased decision I’m referring to.
Japan will play Belgium within about 36 hours from now, on a knockout stage of FIFA World Cup 2018. And the Italian man who in a way resembles E.T has made an utterly most unthinking choice possible.
That’s right, to appoint a Senegalese referee for this crucial match. He must be truly out of his mind.
What’s worse not only the main referee Malang Diedhou, but also Djibril Camara and El Hadji Samba as the 2nd and 3rd referee all from Senegal.
Undoubtedly this is pouring oil on trouble waters.
Let me explain why.
The Samurai Blue just played to win under the FIFA rules
Just 3 days ago, Japan played Poland in the group stage match – while Senegal battled against the Colombians. While Japan and Senegal needed a mere draw to advance to the knockout stage of round 16, it was the Poles that shook the goal net first to lead 1-0 in the early second half.
At this point, Senegal and Colombia were to advance to round 16. The Samurai Blue needed to score a goal back to avoid elimination. So Japan’s coach Nishino sent in attacker Inui onto the field. However about fifteen minutes or so later, Colombia also scored with a brilliant header which then consequently leveled Japan and Senegal in every statistical point.
I’m sure those of you following the World Cup know the whole story, but to make the long story short the Samurai Blue no longer needed an equalizer due to the fact they were ahead of Senegal by FIFA’s new rule of “Fair play points” – meaning the number of yellow and red cards given by the referee.
Japan had 4, while the rival had 6.
That being said, the odds were against the Senegalese as all Japan had to do was to “lose fair and square 1-0 against the Poles” to qualify for the best 16.
So Nishino clandestinely gave orders to his boys to just keep the ball for the remaining 10 minutes or so, by introducing defender Hasebe onto the field.
The crowd BOOed, of course. They have every right and reason to do so. But at the same time Nishino’s move was more than risky – since had Senegal scored an equalizer 400 km away, then Japan were to be eliminated.
It was a gamble, and Nishino prevailed. Nothing less, nothing more.
And to those of you who blame Japan’s tactics as unfair or cowardly or a pussy, let me emphatically refute your claims by saying this.
Don’t cry over spilled milk. Period.
Because the Samurai Blue did not cheat or use hands like Maradona did in 1986, but instead they humbly abide by the great FIFA rules. Let me make one thing crystal clear once again.
Japan could have lost.
No different from a game of Poker, Nishino took the risks, and won.
Nevertheless, the pundits put a total blame on Japan’s side as sneaky or cheesy which to my understanding your one sided antipathy simply don’t make sense. Well, then fine, sneaky, absolutely. The Samurai Blue was indeed sneaky fellas, and in a remarkable way. And let me also tell you this; I saw Colombia’s “El Tigre”(Tiger) Falcao’s NHK interview before this FIFA World Cup 2018, and was quite impressed when he mumbled “Soccer is about deceiving the opponent, especially in the penalty area”.
That’s the irrefutable truth ladies and gentlemen.
And it is indeed not an overstatement to say that the Samurai Blue did not deceive anybody in the ‘contentious game’ against Poland. It was a pure math. It was the Samurai’s bloodthirsty aspiration to win the game that proved decisive.
Therefore, there isn’t a slightest reason for the Japanese squad to feel guilty or apologize. Instead they should be proud for being the only Asian representative to advance to the knockout stage.
Senegal’s handsome 42 year old manager Cisse is truly a good sport and I like him. He’s funny and entertaining too. And I humbly hope that nor he or any other Senegalese fans do not bear a grudge because Japan advanced to round 16 instead of them.
But still, I must admit that FIFA’s Collina’s decision to appoint 3 Senegalese referees for the crucial match between the Samurai Blue and the Belgians is nothing more than an inexplicable parody.
As a matter of fact, such a choice should have been a last resort.
When there are dozens of FIFA referees registered from over 200 countries, why did it have to be Senegal? If FIFA was and is indisputably a “FAIR” organization, it should reject the Italian E.T’s biased choice and act accordingly. Because having 3 decisive referees from a country where some may be thinking “Japan cheated its way to round 16 at the cost of Senegal” is extremely UNFAIR, to my knowledge. I mean, it’s like bringing in an Argentine referee right after 1982 Falklands war – in a game between the Brits and the Argentines.
It’s that ridiculous.
It’s synonymous for Belgium having 14 men on the field.
So FIFA, please reconsider the E.T’s unbelievably shallow minded hypocritical choice if you actually value fairness.
As the old saying goes, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”.
Thank you very much.
Yujiro
It seems as though he has done it once again.
The incumbent U.S President, for the first time in its post war history has officially announced that he will hold a dialogue with the North Korean despot. Given the fact that no sitting U.S President has ever met Pyongyang commander in chief in post WW2 history, yesterday’s announcement was indeed historic.
When the Korean War ended in 1953, it was not the Lee Syngman’s South Korean puppet regime but the “UN Allied powers” (de facto U.S military) that signed armistice with the North. As the Japanese have never signed a peace treaty with the Russians due to the prolonged territorial dispute in the “Northern Territories” adjacent to Hokkaido – Etorofu, Kunashiri, Habomai and Shikotan islands, the same goes with the Washington and Pyongyang.
“I want a peace treaty with you, Sir Donald” – Kim Jong un shall suggest in May.
Purportedly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his comrades are skeptical of Kim Jong un “giving up it nuclear weapons” – and fiercely oppose Trump’s move to meet Kim “without preconditions”. Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe on the other hand, almost lost face when his “golf partner” suddenly announced to the press that he’ll meet the obese dictator – but was later revealed that Trump had called Abe right after he answered “Yes” to the South Korean counterpart visiting Washington.
As a Japanese national, I must say that it is a pure shame that while the Pyongyang nuke-warheads are locked onto Tokyo and Kyoto, we are virtually left out of the talks. Our overly subservient attitude towards Washington since our obsolete post war constitution was promulgated in 1947 undoubtedly is the primary factor why things are the way they are today.
Like the British former PM James Cameron was often mocked as the “Panting Puppy” of America, Tokyo unfortunately is nothing different.
Time for a change
Personally speaking, I condone the drastic move by Trump.
Though it is simply unthinkable that Kim will actually abandon his “Toy” (Nukes, of course), there still is about a 30% possibility that “something could change” – which I think is a positive thing. Change is always good, to my understanding.
The Tokyo-Pyongyang relationship had reached a point of ‘stalemate’ since Pyongyang tested its first “nuclear bomb” in 2006. Condolezza Rice and state department official Christopher Hill made a crucial mistake back in 2008, when they were overwhelmingly “Pro-North Korean” to lift the U.S sanctions imposed on Pyongyang under the Bush administration. (Without even consulting Tokyo)
But nothing changed.
Why!? Of course, North Korea is truly a master of repudiating “deals”.
And we all know that, don’t we!?
In 1994, Hillary’s husband was also duped. The Kim dynasty is truly a master of provocation, intimidation and deception. And the West was dumb enough to repeat the mistakes.
Then now comes Donald, the “Tough Negotiator”.
Will he be duped again!? Possibly. But one thing for certain is that Trump meeting Kim vindicates tough U.N sanctions strategy imposed on the North. That’s right, its working.
Though optimistic, I am not a prophet so whether or not a “striking a DEAL” will occur is yet unclear.
The “UNPREDICTABLES” (Trump and Kim) could call the whole thing off anytime. Yet based on the current vulnerable, unstable and combustible circumstances, let me suggest that should the “dialogue” take place, TOKYO would be the ideal host.
Here are 7 reasons why.
1. Tokyo is the “safest city” among the G7 nations. We all know that. You cant buy guns for $199 at Walmart here. And of course the U.S President’s security concern. By maintaining 2000 km distance from the Korean Peninsula, he shall be safe and sound, protected by the Japanese army and the 50,000 American troops (Including Mr. USS Ronald Regan in Yokosuka) stationed in Japan.
2. Geopolitically, Tokyo lies between the Asian continent and the North American. Beijing is eager to host the dialogue as the “rising global power” of course – but Kim fears being blown up on the railway track, just like his father was.
3. Fujiya Hotel in Hakone Onsen – about an hour car ride from Tokyo by Mt.Fuji is where the historic meeting should be held. JOHN LENNON used to visit this classic hotel established in 1878 following the renowned Meiji Restoration. The two leaders can send the message of “LOVE” and “IMAGINE” as they hop into the Onsen together fully naked. As the old Japanese saying “Hadacano Tsukiai” (Naked friendship, intimate as they take bath together) goes – the two fat guys in one boiling hot Rotenburo will dominate the headlines.
Kim can fly directly to Shizuoka Mt.Fuji Airport, then a car. That way his security will be guaranteed even further.
Trump on the other hand must use Tokyo Haneda Airport, and not Yokota as he had previously done. His entrance thorough a monstrous U.S base ( size equivalent to 157 Tokyo Domes!) will not only prove provocative to Kim, but a sitting U.S President entering Japan through the backdoor (defying the official, legal procedures) will only humiliate Tokyo as the ‘Colony of America’. (Remember, that any CIA spies or U.S government officials can enter and leave Japan through Yokota without leaving any legal record, which I believe is a concrete proof that my country is far from being defined as a sovereign nation. Sad!)
4. North Korean nukes are locked on to Tokyo. Therefore, Kim should show his credibility to “abandon Nukes” at least by setting his foot on the “targeted soil”. He’s got to impress the world that he’s got the balls.
5. DMZ is by far too risky. We’ve got to bear in mind that there are over 1,000,000 troops on stand-by across the border on the other side. Should some sort of “accident” occur, Mr Trump will be a dead meat. No escape.
6. Trump wants to ‘strike a deal’ ahead of November’s U.S midterm election. And that could mean enforcing Kim to abandon ICBMs that can reach the U.S mainland (N.Y Trump Tower, his home), but on the other hand acknowledging Pyongyang’s short-range missiles that is capable of striking Shibuya’s Hachico Dog in merely 8 minutes.
That’s unacceptable to say the least, and surely undermine the “top notch relationship” among the allies. And in order to avoid such a unilateral move by Donald, Tokyo must put strong pressure on the “Wig Man”.
7. The Japanese today are nothing but a flock of sheep these days. By holding direct talks in its capitol, it may work as a remedy to wake up the emasculated nation unaware of the imminent threats not only from the North but by far more powerful neighbors Xi Jinping the ‘indefinite ruler Pooh” and Vladimir “Machoman” Putin.
In order to maintain peace and balance within the region, it would be crucial for the descendants of the proud Samurais to have concerns over global issues by abandoning its insular mindedness. Remember fellas, all our neighbors possess nukes, whether as we do not. Where’s our ‘nuclear deterrent’ ？ Oh, Mr. Flip-flop?
To be blunt, that is pretty risky.
Should any contingency occur on the peninsula, S.China sea or Senkaku – WW3 could break out. Who knows!?
Yujiro Taniyama – Japan Broadcasting . net Editor in Chief