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Post by Marty on Jan 25, 2014 19:31:16 GMT 9
What are your thoughts on Japanese politics? Is Japan basically a oligarch?
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Post by Marty on Jan 26, 2014 16:57:21 GMT 9
Talking about life in Japan. Prime Minister Abe is under pressure to end Japan's reliance on nuclear power - something he doesn't want to do. ![]() |
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Post by Marty on Feb 13, 2014 19:59:38 GMT 9
Last Sunday's Tokyo election for a new Governor saw the conservative, nuclear power supporter, Masuzoe take the grand prize. A former TV talk show panelist, Masuzoe enjoyed pontificating on a range of issues from politics to Global Warming. The man, I thought, spoke for his own self-aggrandizement. Indeed, he is not as popular as the media would have us all believe. Right now my wife, Chico, is reading reviews and forums from thousands in the capital who believe Masuzoe is just the next puppet of Prime Minister Abe.
So, the question that begs to be asked is if Masuzoe is so unpopular, why did he win and why was there such a low turn out of voters? Well, first of all, he won simply because he had the backing of the Government as well as a huge religious group that pretty much "insisted" its members vote for him. The other reason is, many Japanese have little or no interest in politics - the attitude is: voting is pointless as nothing changes. They (the masses) just don't want Masuzoe. It was also too cold go out a vote.
It is widespread apathy that allows the Government to do all kinds of nefarious things. For example: statistics have shown that a large percentage of the population want the Government to begin phasing out Japan's reliance on nuclear power. Abe and the new Tokyo Governor, on the other hand, want to maintain and even increase nuclear power technology. You see, it is all about money - money in the pockets of the already filthy rich.
So a small percentage of the population demonstrates - carrying placards, chanting and creating petitions but, alas, nothing changes - the money people win.
To the young people in this country of the stoic, get off your asses and vote these old, conservative, greedy curmudgeons out of office. They fear change and hold back Japan's progress.
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Post by Marty on Feb 16, 2014 17:32:14 GMT 9
Last night, at the North Korean school I teach at, someone had thrown a huge concrete block through one of the windows in the staff room. There was glass everywhere and the Korean staff were standing around scratching their heads trying to figure out why someone would vandalize the school. The police were called however, before they arrived, all photographs of Kim Jong iL and his Dad, Kim Sung, were removed from view. Clearly the school principal and other teachers didn't want to antagonize or upset the police by having, the pictures of the now deceased Kim Jong iL and his Dad, Kim Sung, smiling down upon them benevolently from high up on the opposite wall.
I also noticed that all staff suddenly stopped speaking Korean to each other while the police were photographing, and dusting for prints. For over an hour the office banter was only Japanese - so much so that I had to keep reminding myself that I was, in fact, in a Korean school. It was surreal to see these staunch followers of the North Korean way of life, basically shun or "hide" their beliefs simply because police officers were present.
After the police left a group of University teachers and professionals arrived to observe classes. The pictures of the Kim Dynasty remained hidden. It was 12:30 when the professionals capped ball-point pens, shoved notebooks into battered briefcases and bowing their thanks, left the school. It took all of five minutes after the last guest walked out the gate, before the Kim pictures reappeared from their hiding place and were back hanging in their usual place. The teachers also, reverted back to the Korean language - the police and university visitors never to accused them of being supporters of Kim Jong Un.
It was only the school's acerbic Korean gardener who ventured to give a reason for the vandalism. "Many Japanese around here," he said waving a down-jacketed arm, "don't like us. Us Koreans. Do you know that Ian sensei?" I faked surprise, "Really?" I said, "Surely not now, not after all the years that have passed since the Second World War." "No, many still don't want us here," he said then he muttered something in Korean which I took to mean, "Fucking assholes!" and he shuffled out the door.
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 70 
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Post by henry on Nov 5, 2019 14:12:56 GMT 9
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