Yay!! 100 Posts!
Hi all. Sorry that I am so very late. It was this week that I discovered that we've hit our 100th post! This is 101. Reading through the posts of the last little while, I've felt the tone to be growing a bit more critical of Japan-land than loving. And I wondered why that is. At first I thought it may be because people tend to write more about bad things when they write journals and the like. But reading through, we seemed to write about both the good and the bad. Which led me to think that just maybe it's Japan that's becoming more of a negative place. Looking at the recent spike in violence in the news, it certainly could be said. So what's causing the change? The older population of Japan often complain that the younger population are rapidly becoming more westernized, losing some of the important cultural values and aspects of old Japan. Many, including me, say it's for the better that Japan finally internationalize and realize Japan is only a teeny-tiny part of the world, a fact often forgotten. I suppose, if Japan opens its doors to the world, it lets in both the good and the bad. But I'm not certain the young are to blame for the recent changes in Japan. In the socially repressed and over-crowded country that Japan is, speaking or acting out is a definite taboo. As the younger generation develops and watches the world around them, they yearn to be like other countries, and speak just as openly. Though the process is slow, older Japan is finally modernizing itself and its culture. Though there are some important things that have been left unchanged.One of the problems I have with Japan is its ignorance to human rights and proper law enforcement. While publically (and privately) sexually abused women and children are brushed off with a shrug, bike stealers and smokers in non-sanctioned areas, be aware. The police will use every resource and as many officers available to hunt you down. Something's definitely wrong with that. It's time the people of Japan learned liability for their actions and proper punishment when someone has so obviously done wrong. Don't you agree?
Pop Goes the Weasel
Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay.Now, I don't know much about politics, much less Japanese politics, but soon-to-be-ex-Prime Minister Abe of Japan and his posse are something that has been mildly entertaining over the past year.
What do you do when your public, your opposition and your own posse doesn't like how things are going down? In a public address on Wednesday, Abe decided to get while the getting's good. Blaming it on clearing the political gridlock surrounding the debate on continuing in Afghanistan, he did not announce a specific date. He did, however, make it clear that there is a necessity for a new prime minister. Huh, perhaps he can provide some inspiration to a certain North American president. Or so I thought.Just a day after the prime minister's public address, he was checked into the hospital for stomach pains from fatigue and stress. These symptoms had apparently begun a month earlier and Abe's condition had since deteriorated considerably. With the confirmation of the rumors of his bad health, those who had witnessed his address began to wonder the real reason for his hasty departure from his position. Toshifumi Hibi of Keio University Hospital confirmed in a news conference that the prime minister would not be able to perform his duties from within the hospital. And, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano advised there would be no need to replace Abe with a temporary prime minister since he'd soon be leaving anyway. With the recent happenings people have begun to wonder if his somewhat noble intentions are just another scandalous coverup. Well so much for inspiration.
A Good Business Opportunity
Ah, once again, the stench of commercialism is in the air.This past week Osaka held the annual IAAF World Athletics Championships. And no one made more profit than the businesses hawking their products or restaurants on the sidelines.But isn't that how it always is? I'm sure Beijing businesses plan to take every opportunity to boost their sales and image when the Olympics roll around. But when did these sport-based events stop actually being about sports? Normally, some Japanese companies/people/restaurants are a bit foreigner wary (it's true!) due to language or even personal issues. But in light of this event every Osaka company has jumped on the "We love Gaijin! (foreigners)" bandwagon. And with the sudden gaijin fever, came extra funny signs in Japanese-English to try to appear foreigner friendly.Osaka businesses and government also did their little monkey dance to attract foreigner media in the hopes that they would report only good things about Osaka to boost either their business or the city itself. This dance included free admission and a generous free tour around the city. Did it work? Unfortunately, most of the foriegn journalists interested were in fact Asian themselves from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea. Other than little tidbits about sightseeing in Osaka, complaing about the weather, most English-language publications seem to be focused on the heart of the event that in the light of all the commercialism becomes forgotten, the sports.--For an interesting article, please read this--
