Asia in the news

Your favorite spot for news, entertainment, video games, TV, movies, books, your mom, etc.

Moderator: Tsuki

Post Reply
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

One of the last or possibly the last of the Japanese Zero fighter pilots to serve in WWII is profiled in today's New York Times. He's 98 and talks to young people in Japan who've never learned about the war.  Read the comments as well.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/04/world/asia/retired-japanese-fighter-pilot-sees-an-old-danger-on-the-horizon.html?ref=todayspaper
 
He flew the plane that the protagonist of THE WIND RISES invented.
 
He trained Kamikaze pilots toward the end of the war.
 
Just last Saturday, I went to Japan Society to see a Japanese film made during the war about Navy cadets being trained to die in the war. It was called TOWARD THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF VICTORY (aka THE YOUNG EAGLES). 
 
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

South Korea gave in to conservative stupidity and removed anything non-heterosexual from the sexual education curriculums:
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/south-korea-schools-banned-teaching-about-homosexuality020415
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Abe is putting increased pressure on the news media to conform to his positions:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/in-japan-bid-to-stifle-media-is-working.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
 
And here are letters in response to a recent New York Times editorial on the same subject. Check out the letter from the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, who reiterates the standard party line:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/opinion/a-spotlight-on-japans-wartime-past.html?ref=todayspaper
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Madara" data-cid="187523" data-time="1430168061">
Abe is putting increased pressure on the news media to conform to his positions:

 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/in-japan-bid-to-stifle-media-is-working.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

 

And here are letters in response to a recent New York Times editorial on the same subject. Check out the letter from the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, who reiterates the standard party line:

 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/opinion/a-spotlight-on-japans-wartime-past.html?ref=todayspaper
</blockquote>

Aren't those replies to a story about the government/Abe's recent talk and not about the Japanese mass media?


Anyway, every time I hear something about Abe, I like him less.

Wouldn't be surprised if his office was also involved in Asahi stuff I've mentioned some months ago.
Last edited by Ap2000 on Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
eri
ANGERME
Posts: 3295
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:50 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by eri »

NOBODY LIKES ABE. Dude, that guy is a straight up psycho Neo-con. 
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

News article in today's New York Times about Abe's visit to the White House yesterday:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/world/no-deal-but-progress-on-trans-pacific-trade-obama-and-shinzo-abe-say-after-meeting.html?ref=todayspaper
 
 
Ends with this interesting section about the comfort women issue:
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
<p class="">If Mr. Abe’s visit carried powerful historic significance and the promise of closer ties with the United States, it was also plagued by longstanding controversy. Korean-Americans and several members of Congress pressed him to use the occasion to make an official apology for the use of so-called comfort women in wartime military brothels.
<p class="">Mr. Abe did not offer one.
<p class="">“I am deeply pained to think about the comfort women who experienced immeasurable pain and suffering as a result of victimization due to human trafficking,” Mr. Abe said in response to a question about whether he would apologize. “This is a feeling that I share equally with my predecessors.”
<p class="">He said he stood behind previous <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/world ... tutes.html' title="A Times article.">government apologies</a> for the issue, and noted that Japan had provided $12 million last year for international efforts to eliminate sexual violence during conflicts and would provide $22 million more this year.
<p class="">That fell far short of the personal apology activists have sought.
<p class="">In a statement, Korean American Civic Empowerment, a nonprofit group, called Mr. Abe’s words “gravely offensive to the victims of the Japanese comfort women system.”
<p class="">The group called the previous apologies to which Mr. Abe referred “not clear” and “not acceptable to the victims,” and said it was enraged by the prime minister’s mention of how much money he has devoted to the issue.
<p class="">“The comfort women survivors are only asking sincere acknowledgment and apology, not money,” the statement said.
</blockquote>
 
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

This "apologize for something your grandfather has done" mentally is so damn retarded. I've said this about Obama too.

Nobody has the right to apologize for somebody else.


On the other hand, NHK constantly calls them "those refered to as comfort women" in their English news, which is a stupid way of calling them what they were, forced prostitutes. They even use exactly that over-complicated phrasing several times in articles.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Interesting article in Sunday's New York Times Magazine on stand-up comedy in China:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/magazine/can-china-take-a-joke.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmagazine
 
I wish they had discussed comedy in Hong Kong also, since I have some glancing acquaintance with it, but I guess that was out of the scope of the article. I've seen some examples of a particular kind of Cantonese comic patter, called "moletai" that's found in the earlier films of film star/comic actor Stephen Chow (best known today for KUNG FU HUSTLE).
 
 
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

A woman whose mother is Japanese and whose father is African-American and who grew up in Japan has been crowned Miss Japan and will represent Japan in the Miss Universe beauty pageant.
 
In this poignant article she discusses her heritage, identity and the prejudice she faced in both Japan and the U.S.:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/asia/biracial-beauty-queen-strives-for-change-in-mono-ethnic-japan.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

I found this book review in The New York Times that I thought you guys would find interesting:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/books/review/daughters-of-the-samurai-by-janice-p-nimura.html
 
It's a book called Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back, and it's about three Japanese girls who were sent to America in 1871 to get an education and bring their knowledge back to Japan. The review is by Christopher Benfey, who's written about Japan himself.
 
Here's the Amazon page for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Samurai-Journey-East-West/dp/0393077993/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433609100&sr=1-1&keywords=daughters+of+the+samurai
 
Image
 
 
And here are the older two with an American friend:
Image
 
 
 
Last edited by Madara on Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Okinawa's back in the news, as opposition to the construction of a new American base heats up, with hecklers shouting down Prime Minister Abe and a new movement to rally around Okinawans' ethnic identity builds up.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/world/asia/shinzo-abe-faces-growing-wrath-of-okinawans-over-us-base.html?ref=todayspaper
 
I'm still astounded every time I'm reminded that the U.S. occupied Okinawa right up till 1972 when it finally turned over its administration to Japan.
 
I wonder what some of my favorite Okinawan-born pop singers think of this issue: Speed, Max, and Namie Amuro.
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

I feel like this thread has become a message dump for Madara and me.
 
 
I just found out there is quite a bit of "grandma" prostitution going on in Seoul:
http://www.care2.com/causes/why-are-korean-grandmothers-selling-their-bodies.html
User avatar
Elpis
ANGERME
Posts: 1546
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:28 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Elpis »

^ I don't really post here much, but I do usually read what you guys put down. 
 
Satoru Iwata, the CEO of Nintendo passed away on July 11th. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2015/150713e.pdf
Formerly Mizura
User avatar
aine
ANGERME
Posts: 3843
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:08 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by aine »

Adding to the dump:

Why does Japan have such a high suicide rate? - some interesting analysis and historical background in wake of the recent self-immolation incident on Shinkansen.

Diving into the world of the dead - about a father coping with the loss of a daughter who was never found following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Pretty touching.

Japan's lower house approves change to self-defence law - just your usual headline news. Until they don't transform into JSSDF, we're cool
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Madara" data-cid="189572" data-time="1436089344">Okinawa's back in the news, as opposition to the construction of a new American base heats up, with hecklers shouting down Prime Minister Abe and a new movement to rally around Okinawans' ethnic identity builds up.</blockquote>
Okinawans have very few reasons to love Americans:

Rape during the occupation of Japan
Cave of the Negroes incident
Yumiko-chan incident
1995 Okinawa rape incident
Michael Brown Okinawa assault incident

Anyway, last time I checked I thought the plans were to reduce and eventually phase out American presence there, so no wonder building a new base is making people upset.

Personally we didn't notice any signs of hostility towards Americans when we went there, or in fact many signs of American presence, but then we were there on holiday to enjoy our time rather than dig into the history and international relations. The most obvious American thing we saw were F-15s from the Kadena base flying above our beach for half a day. Not sure if we were just lucky to come across them or if it was an everyday thing - if it's the latter then it could be quite bothersome to the locals.
Image

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
#whereisyui #ゆいちゃん
~breathe your last and fall into my eternal embrace~
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

It's utterly disgusting what Abe and his fuckface buddies are doing.
Most people are clearly against this shit:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/mass-protests-in-tokyo-as-japan-moves-to-ditch-pacifism-1.2287221
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150713_26.html(unfortunately I can't find the full thing right now)
Last edited by Ap2000 on Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

[quote="Ap2000"]
It's utterly disgusting what Abe and his fuckface buddies are doing.

Most people are clearly against this shit:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/mass-protests-in-tokyo-as-japan-moves-to-ditch-pacifism-1.2287221
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150713_26.html(unfortunately I can't find the full thing right now)
[/quote]
 
The New York Times article on this:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/asia/japans-lower-house-passes-bills-giving-military-freer-hand-to-fight.html?ref=todayspaper
 
Read the comments, they're the most interesting part, including comments from Japanese readers.
 
I found this one from Singapore especially interesting:
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Ray Singapore
I am from Singapore.

At one beach even today skeletal remains wash up. These are from young men massacred by the Japanese during their WWII occupation.

My family like many others have missing members - mostly men.


I believe in the right to self defence for all countries and all people.


But in the case of Japan one wonders if the move to self defence is driven by people with values that started the occupation of many countries. After all they have chosen to honour the very people who planned and executed the occupation at their war shrine.


I would like to trust the Japanese government. But in the light of their continued whaling practices that would be akin to smiling with a crocodile.


That is something I would gladly do if the crocodile had less teeth.
</blockquote>
Last edited by Madara on Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

That's a very stupid and almost stereotypical comment.

It's quite interesting to watch all the different reactions, not just from Korea and China, for this.
Vietnam and Philippines is actually happy about this:
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/China-warns-Japan-not-to-harm-regional-security

Though clearly that's just because Japan has no interest in the Spratly Islands, while both Vietnam/Philippines and China do. So it's a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" way of thinking.
Last edited by Ap2000 on Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

China loves Korean dramas, esp. "My Love from Another Star," about an alien in love with an actress:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/arts/television/chinas-love-affair-with-irresistible-korean-tv.html?ref=todayspaper
 
Image
 
 
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Today, August 6, is the 70th Anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
 
This article in The New York Times today, "Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Pass Their Stories to a New Generation," by Jonathan Soble, is about survivors who pass their memories on to a designated successor or "denshosha" to keep the memories alive:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/world/asia/witnesses-to-hiroshima-atomic-bomb-pass-their-stories-to-a-new-generation.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

[quote="Madara"]
Today, August 6, is the 70th Anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
 
This article in The New York Times today, "Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Pass Their Stories to a New Generation," by Jonathan Soble, is about survivors who pass their memories on to a designated successor or "denshosha" to keep the memories alive:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/world/asia/witnesses-to-hiroshima-atomic-bomb-pass-their-stories-to-a-new-generation.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
[/quote]
 
More on Hiroshima's 70th anniversary observances in Japan in today's Times:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/world/asia/hiroshima-honors-70th-anniversary-of-atomic-bombing.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Prime Minister Abe's latest attempt at an apology for Japan's wartime actions, offered to commemorate the 70th anniversary (August 15) of Japan's surrender.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/world/asia/shinzo-abe-japan-premier-world-war-ii-apology.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-1&action=click&contentCollection=Asia%20Pacific&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article
 
+ a longer article on Abe's attempts to redefine the role of Japan's military through the prism of his grandfather who was imprisoned after the war and later became prime minister:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/japan-military-shinzo-abe-family-history.html?ref=todayspaper
Last edited by Madara on Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

On the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender, Emperor Akihito weighs in with his own expression of "deep remorse":
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/world/asia/emperor-akihito-expresses-deep-remorse-for-japans-role-in-world-war-ii.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Abandoned homes in Japan...
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/world/a-sprawl-of-abandoned-homes-in-tokyo-suburbs.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
 
I expect to soon see an anime ghost series based on this phenomenon.
User avatar
aine
ANGERME
Posts: 3843
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:08 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by aine »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91qXpHL0vlQ

I don't really get what were they trying to do to the old guy, pile him to death? In any case, I didn't feel like thinking about the issue at hand, so I just cynically chuckled when they damn near started crowdsurfing in their expensive suits. :jam:


<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Madara" data-cid="190933" data-time="1440410262">Abandoned homes in Japan...
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/world/a-sprawl-of-abandoned-homes-in-tokyo-suburbs.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0</blockquote>
I saw some of those in Japan earlier this year and was wondering what the story behind was. Good to know. Would love to settle in one of those.
Image

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
#whereisyui #ゆいちゃん
~breathe your last and fall into my eternal embrace~
User avatar
MejraThea
ANGERME
Posts: 3441
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:53 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by MejraThea »

"Land prices in Yokosuka are down by 70 percent since their peak at the end fo the 1980's."
 
Who wants to move with me?
User avatar
Ap2000
つんく♂
Posts: 9525
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:43 am

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Ap2000 »

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="aine" data-cid="191445" data-time="1442538289">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91qXpHL0vlQ


I don't really get what were they trying to do to the old guy, pile him to death? In any case, I didn't feel like thinking about the issue at hand, so I just cynically chuckled when they damn near started crowdsurfing in their expensive suits. :jam:
</blockquote>

It's so frustrating to see the asshole fuckface Abe pushing through his shitty agenda, despite the majority of people very clearly not liking the bills.
The opposition really did all they could.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if Abe and his pals were "convinced" by the USA to push through with this shit, no matter how the people dislike it.

 
 
 
 
How do you spot the women in the government? They're the ones not wearing black suits. lol
Last edited by Ap2000 on Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Apparently, South Korea is the latest Asian country to embark on school textbook revisionism:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/world/asia/south-korea-to-issue-state-history-textbooks-rejecting-private-publishers.html?ref=todayspaper
User avatar
Madara
ANGERME
Posts: 3104
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Re: Asia in the news

Post by Madara »

Korean comfort women are back in the news as a new statue is unveiled in Seoul, just in time for the Japanese Prime Minister's visit.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/world/asia/south-korea-statues-honor-wartime-comfort-women-japan.html?ref=todayspaper
 
Here's a picture of an older version of the statue, placed across from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul:
 
Image
Post Reply