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Japan launches newest submarine Kokuryu amid party atmosphere
Japan Daily Press ^ | Nov 04, 2013 | John Hofilena

Posted on 11/04/2013 12:47:23 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki

It’s not the usual kind of fanfare you would associate with the launching of a nation’s cutting edge new submarine, but this is Japan – and they do things a little bit differently here. Amid balloons, party banners, the odd “rising sun” war flag here and there, and confetti (lots of confetti, there has to be confetti), the Japan Marine Self Defense Force (MSDF) launched its newest state-of-the-art toy – the submarine Kokuryu, which literally means “Black Dragon”.

The submarine Kukoryu was made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and is said to be made with leading edge technology, costing Japanese taxpayers a hefty 53.4 billion yen (around US$540 million). But not only was the submarine itself expensive, it seems that the MSDF spared no cost for the launch ceremony, having cool party stuff that would be the envy of any 7-year-old boy. The launch committee had put out streamers, lots of balloons, and confetti to decorate the ceremony venue – making the launch ceremony a cross between a war rally and a really fun kiddie party.

The submarine is not yet fully fitted out internally, sources say, and it will sit in the dock until the internal fittings have been finished. But it is a significant event that Japan is putting out a new high-tech submarine, complete with “rising sun” war flags that are sure to attract the ire of neighbors China and South Korea, especially since South Korea is not too happy with Japan right now and Korean citizens actually think that Japan may still be a military threat to them in this day and age. Be that as it may, we learn one valuable lesson here – that if you want to throw your kid a party, you know whom to get in touch with. Those guys at the MSDF really know how to throw a fun children’s party, eh?



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: japan; jmsdf; ssk; submarine
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1 posted on 11/04/2013 12:47:23 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Ye Gads! They sure picked a winner to write this piece, didn’t they? Rising sun, “war flag”?

That’s the Japanese Navy Jack, you idiots!

I guess this is what Obama supporters do when they come to Japan.


2 posted on 11/04/2013 12:50:51 PM PST by Ronin (Dumb, dependent and Democrat is no way to go through life - Rep. L. Gohmert, Tex)
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To: Jeff Head

Ping.


3 posted on 11/04/2013 12:52:32 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

If you spent $540 million on a cutting edge sub it’s probably not out of line to blow $50,000(?) on the launching party. Hundreds if not thousands of people were directly involved in getting it to that point.


4 posted on 11/04/2013 12:58:13 PM PST by Pan_Yan (Who told you that you were naked? Genesis 3:11)
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To: Ronin

Geez, for another $100 Million they could have built a web-site that doesn’t work. Ronan, I guess this isn’t a good weak for Navy Jack appreciation.


5 posted on 11/04/2013 1:10:50 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

The “Black Dragon” may be a fitting name. See kokuryukai....kind of a ninja thing...


6 posted on 11/04/2013 1:12:03 PM PST by petro45acp (It's a fabian thing.....how do you boil a frog? How's that water feelin right about now?)
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To: Ronin
I recommend we carry it on our books, not as Kokuryu, but rather Kusoryu. たわごとのドラゴン or "Dragon manure". Just because.
7 posted on 11/04/2013 1:17:36 PM PST by donmeaker (The lessons of Weimar will soon be repeated.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki
Watched a Japanese sub cruise into Pearl Harbor several years back for a RIMPAC.

Very different looking animal from other subs.

8 posted on 11/04/2013 1:17:42 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: sukhoi-30mki

“But it is a significant event that Japan is putting out a new high-tech submarine, complete with “rising sun” war flags that are sure to attract the ire of neighbors China and South Korea”


Whoever wrote this nonsense apparently doesn’t know that Japan kept its traditional naval ensign (the one with the rays coming out of the rising sun) when it formed its “maritime self-defense force” in the early 1950s, just like it kept the “meatball” for its military aircraft. So seeing a Japanese warship flying a flag it always had won’t set off many alarm bells. BTW, $540 million seems quite reasonable for an attack sub these days, even a diesel-electric one.


9 posted on 11/04/2013 1:18:04 PM PST by steelhead_trout (MYOB)
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To: petro45acp

I read somewhere there were 2 old ninja left and they were not passing on the knowledge.


10 posted on 11/04/2013 1:23:37 PM PST by GeronL
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To: sukhoi-30mki
We hosted a Japanese boat in Pearl Harbor back in the early '90s. They brought their own saki to a softball game between us submariners.

First rule of softball sakiball....you had to have a can of saki with you at all times...had to drink before you hit and ran to each base...had to drink whenever someone yelled 'SAKI!!!!'. I don't know how I made it back to the boat for duty that night....worst drunk of my life. GOOD TIMES!!
11 posted on 11/04/2013 1:26:03 PM PST by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: Ronin
That would be an Ensign:

This is the Japanese naval Jack:


12 posted on 11/04/2013 2:08:51 PM PST by GreenLanternCorps
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To: rottndog

Was it a Japanese cruiser/destroyer?
We were docked to the stern of a Japanese ship in Pearl back around February ‘94.
MAN! Their morning colors music was........different.


13 posted on 11/04/2013 2:47:01 PM PST by RandallFlagg (IRS = Internal Revenge Service)
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To: RandallFlagg

It was a submarine. Yep...they did things a bit different.


14 posted on 11/04/2013 2:55:34 PM PST by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: rottndog

AH! Okay.


15 posted on 11/04/2013 2:57:01 PM PST by RandallFlagg (IRS = Internal Revenge Service)
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To: doorgunner69
Watched a Japanese sub cruise into Pearl Harbor several years back for a RIMPAC.

I'm curious: Did they render honors to the Arizona?

16 posted on 11/04/2013 3:05:27 PM PST by MeganC (Support Matt Bevin to oust Mitch McConnell! https://mattbevin.com/)
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To: Pan_Yan

“If you spent $540 million on a cutting edge sub it’s probably not out of line to blow $50,000(?) on the launching party. Hundreds if not thousands of people were directly involved in getting it to that point.”

Electric Boat launched the U.S.S. DAKOTA SSN784 this past Saturday. I am certain more than $50,000 was spent there on a party.


17 posted on 11/04/2013 3:24:52 PM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: castlegreyskull
I was on the precommissioning crew of a sub but that was in Newport News, VA. I'm sure the graft rates for getting dignitaries to events in Connecticut is much higher.
18 posted on 11/04/2013 3:26:22 PM PST by Pan_Yan (Who told you that you were naked? Genesis 3:11)
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To: castlegreyskull

Correction, “Christened”


19 posted on 11/04/2013 3:27:08 PM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: MeganC
I was down at the west end/tip of Ford island, would not have been able to see that if they did since the Arizona is at the other end.

Mentioned before, when another Japanese surface ship came in, the crew lined the rails in full dress uniform. Those are some proud sailors.

20 posted on 11/04/2013 4:46:59 PM PST by doorgunner69
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