Japan - Prime Minister Koizumi to step down in Sept. next year

Kyodo News (Japan) ^ | June 15, 2005

[HAL9000]

Koizumi to step down in Sept. next year

TOKYO, June 15, Kyodo - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday he will step down as premier when his tenure as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party expires in September next year.

He made the comment during a meeting of the House of Representatives' special committee for postal privatization.

[SevenofNine]

WHOA Hal paging American in Tokyo

Now that dude with unmangable hair RIGHT

[MRMEAN]

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday he will step down as premier...

I don't think that anybody ever knows who the Jap Prime Minister is...I bet if you gave a pop quiz to the US Senators and congresscritters only a small percent would know, and even on the foreign relations committees there's be a fair number, maybe more than half who wouldn't know. It seems to be one of those facts that is unimportant to know. I wonder how many Japanese know...

[Doofer]

He's lasted longer than most who've held the job.

[Doofer]

Now that dude with unmangable hair RIGHT

With a little gray in it to boot. Used to drive by his private residence daily on the way to work at the Yokosuka Naval Base.

[AmericanInTokyo]

And even at that, more people can identify Koizumi than could Hata, Murayama, Uno, Suzuki, Fukuda, Ohira, Mori, Hoshikawa, and the other line of face less leaders of the SECOND LARGEST ECONOMY OF THE WORLD.

When someone at a COSCO checkout line back in the US (upon hearing someone is a visiting 'expat' just in from Tokyo, actually asks if 'do they have TV over there in Japan?', or 'how long by traing from Tokyo to Hong Kong', somebody indeed needs geography and culture lessons about one of the most important nations on the face of the earth--let alone come out of a brain dead knowledge base about who Japanese prime ministers are.

Just wait till Shintaro Ishihara becomes PM some day. THEN most Americans will know who is the big chief at Nagatacho.

[sushiman]

Hell , I bet most Japanese couldn't name all the Prime Ministers Japan has had since I arrived here in 1985 ! We've had 4 Presidents , and Japan has had 12 PMS ! Hata was PM for only a couple of months !

[DTogo]

When someone at a COSCO checkout line back in the US (upon hearing someone is a visiting 'expat' just in from Tokyo, actually asks if 'do they have TV over there in Japan?', or 'how long by traing from Tokyo to Hong Kong', somebody indeed needs geography and culture lessons about one of the most important nations on the face of the earth--let alone come out of a brain dead knowledge base about who Japanese prime ministers are.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Reminds me of the time I was in LAX renting a car, and when I said I lived in Japan the lady said, "Oh, so you must speak Chinese..." Haaaa??

Ishihara as PM? Nah, too non-P.C., even for most Japanese.

[DTogo]

Oops, forgot the...

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[monkapotamus]

"I don't think that anybody ever knows who the Jap Prime Minister is...I bet if you gave a pop quiz to the US Senators and congresscritters only a small percent would know..."

I can never forget the one named "Takeshita."

[Steve Van Doorn]

does Shintaro Ishihara have a chance?

[opocno]

Koizumi has been a pretty loyal friend to the U.S. While this is part of the normal LDP rotation, we should all regret seeing him go.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yeah, but wait until DPRK launches another Taepodong over the bow of Japan! Then Shintaro might advance in the polls.

[LongsforReagan]

Hey, speaking of which, it is my understanding that most Japanese speak English as well. Is this true? I am making the investment to learn Chinese for self interest and ultimately business reasons. How well can one get around in Japan without knowledge of Japanese?

I cant wait to get there someday...

[DTogo]

Hey, speaking of which, it is my understanding that most Japanese speak English as well. Is this true? I am making the investment to learn Chinese for self interest and ultimately business reasons. How well can one get around in Japan without knowledge of Japanese? I cant wait to get there someday...

Engrish is mandatory for all Japanese from 8th~12th grade in Jr./Sr. high school. The teaching stresses grammar and is generally taught by people who regurgitate the same thing they've taught for years, and who couldn't put a sentence together to save their lives. Hence, most Japanese can read simple terms, but can't speak it, and it is a common source of embarassment for many, "Oh no, I don't speak Engrish, a rittle, rittle..." That being said, there are those who have lived overseas and sound like they aren't Japanese (one person I'm very close to comes to mind).

Regarding Chinese, learning it for "business" reasons could be a nightmare as is doing business in/with China. You may want to try learning Japanese instead as the pronunciation is much easier, as is doing business, but maybe that doesn't jive with your plans. Good luck.

[LongsforReagan]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[latina4dubya]

oh--i'll miss this guy... he has the coolest hair...

[DTogo]

Oh, and for getting around in Japan without learning Japanese, there are many gaijin who live there for years without learning it, but your experiences will be enhanced exponentially even if you just learn some basics. Some tips for learning: observe signs/things around you, get familiar with seeing certain symbols and hearing certain sounds over and over (especially on the subway/trains). Make friends (it's often symbiotic when it comes to each other's language), watch TV (it'll drive you crazy at first), and practice reading, writing, and speaking when you can. Most other gaijin will likely echo what I've said. Good luck.

[SevenofNine]

OH LUCKY

You know what you ever caught Japanese PM with his hair really unmanagable coming out of Japanese private residence get morning newspaper LOL!

[maikeru]

Dtogo wrote: "Oh, and for getting around in Japan without learning Japanese, there are many gaijin who live there for years without learning it, but your experiences will be enhanced exponentially even if you just learn some basics."

All true. Spoken Japanese is quite pleasureable to the ear, and not terribly difficult to pronounce once the minor differences in vowel pronunciation are understood.

The written word is an entirely different matter, with Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana and, yep, Engrish all jumbled together in an incomrprehensible mess.