Big News Brewing in Japan?

The American Thinker ^ | April 21, 2004 | Thomas Lifson

[quidnunc]

Almost unnoticed by the American press, the aftermath of Japan’s hostage crisis in Iraq is developing in a direction which may have permanent and serious positive implications for American foreign and military policies.

Prime Minister Koizumi’s response to the kidnapping of the first three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq marked a watershed in Japan’s posture for dealing with external threats. Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats against his citizens. As the Wall Street Journal notes (link requires subscription), Japan had previously embraced the notion that the lives of hostages must be paramount. In the words of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, who capitulated to Japanese Red Army airplane hijackers, “human life is heavier than the Earth."

Having watched the Red Army metastasize into a far larger and bloodier threat in the aftermath, Japan has learned some lessons. The specter of a nuclear-armed North Korea lobbing missiles over the Japanese Archipelago has also done wonders for the strengthening of the Japanese national spine.

Despite large public anti-war demonstrations and tearful pleas from relatives of the hostages, the public has been strongly backing Koizumi's tough stance.

Now, a steady stream of news, much of it leaked from governmental sources, is hinting that the first three hostages may have faked their kidnapping. If and when these suspicions becomes provable, the public backlash in Japan against the anti-war left could be fearsome, and drive Japan’s foreign policy even further toward muscular collaboration with American defense efforts. Given Japan’s formidable economic and technological resources , the coalition of the willing would benefit substantially for a long time to come.

-snip-

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[TheBigB]

Anything to do with the new Godzilla movie?

[glock rocks]

Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats

Ooooh. That's cold. I like it... catchy phrase!

[Semper Paratus]

Nippon is still mightly pissed at NK for the kidnapping of its citizens.

[Sunshine Sister]

This is good news!

[kcvl]

Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats

[mabelkitty]

Come take your bow...you deserve it.

You broke this first.

[kcvl]

bttt

[jcb8199]

FAKED it? And we aren't hearing about this why (other than the anti-intelligence Leftmedia)?!?!?

[Guillermo]

[tractorman]

Ping!

[cmsgop]

Way To Go Buddy! Ya did it again!

[jjm2111]

Hey we heard about the faker fooler here a long time ago.

[PureSolace]

Those three Faked it?! They'll be hell to pay if this is in fact true. The media spun this in their circus and tried their best to make the coalition look bad. God Bless the Japanese who still support us and God Bless our own troops abroad! Peace. :)

[Ditto]

"No one, least of all Japan’s Asian neighbors, doubts Japan’s capability to become a serious military power, once the will is present. Fortunately, this time around, Japan is firmly anchored to the cause of human freedom and democracy."

Something to ponder.

[Saturnalia]

PLEASE let the secret be giant robots!

[cspackler]

I believe that AmericanInTokyo broke it a while back here....

[Modernman]

Japan is waking up from it's 55 year slumber. The world is getting more and more dangerous and the US can't protect everyone. The free world needs Japan to step up and take its place as one of the world's great powers.

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.

[Bacon Man]

Good post! I haven't seen or heard this anywhere else, which actually doesn't surprise me.

[al baby]

Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats
Very sucient comment

[SkyPilot]

There were several threads that "outed" one of the hostages as a leftist fascist who hated American and sympathized with the Islamic vermin.

I don't know if the kidnapping was staged between the Japanese fascists and the Islamofascists.

I will say this though: if this is exposed as true, the leftists and Islamofascists will have awoken a Japanese sleeping giant, and filled him with a terrible resolve.

[al baby]

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.
Mark my words they will have "pocket" nukes soon Like a sony nuke man

[Republican Red]

I heard this last week. The woman had apparently told friends that something big was going to happen and she's be in the news (or something to that effect). Sent it to Drudge.

Japanese Female "Hostage" Had Recent Contact With Anti-US Iraqi Terrorists in Baghdad? (Breaking)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115326/posts

ANTI-USA/PRO-ACTIVIST JAPANESE WEBSITE OF JAPAN 'HOSTAGE' FOUND/TRANSLATED
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1113742/posts

[Cicero]

There were early indications that the Japanese hostages were peaceniks. Presumably the government has known that for some time but has deliberated what would be the best way to deal with such a situation. If true, this is good news.

[Skip Ripley]

The "nukeman", it will hold 5,000 mp3's and level a city the size of Wichita...

[livius]

Ping! What are you hearing over there?

[Bacon Man]

Wow I totally missed those. I'm obviously not spending enough time surfing. Need to fix that. ;)

[Iron Matron]

There is one thing I've always said about the Japanese:

They are not cowards!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Yukio Mishima would be proud.

[Iron Matron]

There were early indications that the Japanese hostages were peaceniks.

Really? Working againts the coalition?

Too bad they weren't set on fire.

[Tallguy]

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.

Is Japan still running those Breeder reactors. If so, they have plenty of plutonium to make bombs. Nukes in 2 years, at the outside, from the day of a decision.

[kevkrom]

The "nukeman", it will hold 5,000 mp3's and level a city the size of Wichita...

Accessories will include stylish but uncomfortable headphones, a DC converter for car charging, and a built-in 30 minute doomsday countdown timer.

[AmishDude]

I wonder, given the English in the signs, who exactly they are trying to convert to their cause.

[Republican Red]

From the American Thinker artcle:

"Kyodo News Service of Japan reports that the Japanese government plans to charge the three hostages for the costs of the chartered airplane which took them from Iraq to Dubai immediately after their release. The government reckons this bill at 660,000 yen (approximately $6000). Meanwhile, the Asahi quotes a senior ruling party official as saying that the total cost to the government of the incident is about two billion yen (approximately $18.46 million dollars), which some influential politicians want to bill directly to the families of the hostages, if only for symbolic value"

Wow, that's some symbolism. Hope her tearful family wasn't in on the scam 'cause it looks like they'll get stuck with the bill.

[ModelBreaker]

Is Japan still running those Breeder reactors. If so, they have plenty of plutonium to make bombs. Nukes in 2 years, at the outside, from the day of a decision.

I strongly suspect that it's nukes in about 2 days from decision.

I would be shocked if Japan does not have all the elements of nukes ready to go in separate parts ready for assembly and, amazingly enough, the nukes just happen to fit on ballistic missles Japan has in the closet that just happen to have enough range to hold all of China and NK at risk.

Any takers on that bet :)

[Centurion2000]

Japan is waking up from it's 55 year slumber. The world is getting more and more dangerous and the US can't protect everyone. The free world needs Japan to step up and take its place as one of the world's great powers.

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.

About time. Of course, let us hope that Japan's and the USA's interests always coincide.

[Tallguy]

...amazingly enough, the nukes just happen to fit on ballistic missles Japan has in the closet that just happen to have enough range to hold all of China and NK at risk.

The Japanese already have a rocket capable of lifting a payload into orbit, so by definition, they already have at least an IRBM capability -- all they need in that neighborhood.

[humblegunner]

Cool!
There may be Samurai left after all.

[Bacon Man]

Cool!
There may be Samurai left after all.

Yes it's good to know there's still honor and courage in the Japaneese. Plus you know they make really cool cartoons. :)

[dozer7]

"The "nukeman", it will hold 5,000 mp3's and level a city the size of Wichita."

Jeez is Kechi beyound the event horizon? Should I move to Valley Center?

[hunter112]

Of course, let us hope that Japan's and the USA's interests always coincide.

I see this as another step in the maturation of Japanese society. To go from a warlike state, to a peacenik society, then back to a state that only fights for the freedom of human liberty, is a path many nations, including our own, have taken. That Japan is the first major society in Asia to do so is noteworthy.

I guess this is what Bush is trying to develop in the ME with Afghanistan and Iraq, and it will take a couple of generations before we see the fruits of our country's efforts.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

We heard early on that these "hostages" were anti-war activists. They will have made a HUGE mistake if they "played" the Japanese people. The Japanese people are NOT cowards!

We would welcome them any day as allies against terrorism. They would be "very" welcome!

[humblegunner]

Plus you know they make really cool cartoons. :)

I'd be lost without my daily Yu-Gi-Oh! fix.

[Future Snake Eater]

Japan is waking up from it's 55 year slumber.

People on this thread keep acting like that's a good thing.

God help us all.

[GOPJ]

hmmmmm

[Bacon Man]

I'd be lost without my daily Yu-Gi-Oh! fix.

Oh I'm sure. I'm still feebin since Showtime stopped running Dirty Pair a month or so ago.

[mware]

I recall on a thread earlier that there was speculation that the Japanese hostage story was a hoax.

[King Prout]

bang
just damn
fyi
zowie
ping!

[pending]

Bushido, literally translated "Way of the Warrior," developed in Japan between the Heian and Tokugawa Ages (9th-12th century). It was a code and way of life for Samurai, a class of warriors similar to the medieval knights of Europe. It was influenced by Zen and Confucianism, two different schools of thought of those periods. Bushido is not unlike the chivalry and codes of the European knights. "It puts emphasis on loyalty, self sacrifice, justice, sense of shame, refined manners, purity, modesty, frugality, martial spirit, honor and affection"

Along with these virtues, Bushido also holds justice, benevolence, love, sincerity, honesty, and self-control in utmost respect. Justice is one of the main factors in the code of the samurai. Crooked ways and unjust actions are thought to be lowly and inhumane. Love and benevolence were supreme virtues and princely acts. Samurai followed a specific etiquette in every day life as well as in war. Sincerity and honesty were as valued as their lives. Bushi no ichi-gon, or "the word of a samurai," transcends a pact of complete faithfulness and trust. With such pacts there was no need for a written pledge; it was thought beneath one's dignity. The samurai also needed self-control and stoicism to be fully honored. He showed no sign of pain or joy. He endured all within--no groans, no crying. He held a calmness of behavior and composure of the mind neither of which should be bothered by passion of any kind. He was a true and complete warrior.
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/bushido/bindex.html

A coincidence, Bush,,Bushido.
Japanese soul represented here. They will be a great ally. There is no aspect of "lightweight". There is no cowardice. Reluctance, as felt in Germany is understood, but the fundamental character is great. This changes the dynamic significantly, I find it very inspiring, It is a high level of trust that exists between us, and given history, is an inspirational mark to keep in mind when things appear a bit dark in this current struggle.

I fully expect that the future will see Iraqi people as
strong allies and loyal friends, if we absolutely stay the course, keep our eyes on the future, and do the right things for the right reasons.