"Hatoyama Vs. Obama -- The Scandal That Nobody Will Report" (Obama in Japan: My Translation)

Shukan Bunshun Weekly Magazine (Translated to English) ^ | 22 November 2009 (26 November 2009 Edition) | Shukan Bunshun Staff Writers

[AmericanInTokyo]

"(Japan Prime Minister) Hatoyama Vs.Obama -- The Scandal That Nobody Will Report" (由紀夫 vs オバマ「書かれざるスキャンダル」）

Reporters at the weekly Shukan Bunshun news magazine here in Tokyo, Japan have written a rather caustic report about President Obama's 23 hours in Tokyo last week, from a frank Japanese perspective, exclusively in the Japanese language, and released to the newstands just now. In that sense this is more or less an *FR Exclusive*. A number of eye-opening claims, pieces of information and details emerge about Obama's brief stay in Japan as part of his disastrous Asian trip--over and above the very controversial, near-"dogeza" bow delivered as a Head of State of a superpower to the Emperor of Japan. There is criticism in this article for both the Obama Administration and their behavior, as well as within the Japanese government either in response or through their own incompetence. Either way, it does not make for a very pretty picture and is squarely at odds with the Administration which announced upon arrival in the US that the Asian trip was a "success". By what benchmark?

This Japanese magazine is a major weekly publication in Japan. I have as a courtesy provided a synopsis English translation, not word-for-word, of the main gist of the article. As always, the original Japanese authors' Japanese language version of the article prevails over the English. For general discussion, research and historical purposes.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you. I see American Thinker has now picked it up. Now to make THAT go viral, we need Freepers to start sending to the usual big league US media outlets. Rush, FOX NEWS, Washington Times, Weekly Standard, Glen Beck, Savage, Levin, Ingraham, etc. If anyone can help out it would be appreciated.

[aragona]

Great work AiT!!

[Mamzelle]

Here's my theory about the bow, which continues to boggle my mind.

First of all, bowing etiquette is complex and foreigners should probably avoid the matter altogether and endeavor to be pleasing and friendly in Western ways. Two people of different status bow differently to one another. The one of higher status still shows respect. Anyone reading "100 things to remember when you visit Japan" would know better than what Obama did.

I think this was impulse on O's part, and he may well have been warned by protocol not to bow. But the narcissist thinks he's above all that, and that everyone that sees him must love and adulate. So, he figures, the normal manners and rules are beneath him and, hey, he's in Japan and he feels like bowing, so he just does it. Every move he makes is by definition "cute."

[Mamzelle]

Your story got picked up in American Thinker, with some creds going to FR!! Congrats!!

[Stultis]

Do the Disney people have that Animatronic Obama up and running yet? Sounds like we could avert further diplomatic embarrassments next time by sending that abroad in place of the less poised, competent and intelligent biological version.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Glenn Beck has the FR story on O(af)bama-ish in Japan, now, too. Let’s see what happens. Of course, Obamacare might Donald Trump everything, and rightfully so. We will just have to see what happens.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If you can get us some stuff from the Singapore leg of the Zero trip to Asia, especially foibles, foul ups and f-.. ups down there at APEC, that will add more gas to the tank for sure. Yoroshiku! (Please, whenever you can)....

[TigerLikesRooster]

Boy, two incompetents with huge ego clash and predictably create a big mess. Both Japan and U.S. have the wort kind of leader at one of the worst time in their respective history.

So what LDP boys are making out of this? They are undoubtedly keen on regaining power. If they do and Obama is still around, we will see some interesting development. Hatoyama made the situation worse, but with Obama in power, LDP will figure that they cannot trust U.S. and fan this concern into general public, getting some positive reaction. That would be conductive to pushing some long-time LDP projects(Amending constitution and having active military force.)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thanks again!

[expatguy]

It is not going to be until Monday or Tuesday, still waiting on everyone to get back from Singapore

[AmericanInTokyo]

thanks! got it!

[Mamzelle]

It certainly should be part of the whole Asian story--the bow, the amusing way that the Chinese limited his audience so that he didn't have throngs of fans about him, the Chinese scolding him for spending too much money.

And, you know, India was also snubbed in this Asian trip in deference to China, who does not want India to become a major power. Remember Mumbai massacre?

The whole trip was a fiasco.

[bronxville]

BRILLIANT!!!!! Thank you so much for reporting what our state-run media fail to report. :)

[bert]

It can argued that the Japanese are showing the world the way.

It is not necessary to show respect for a clown who has no credential but affirmative action promotion

[Cicero]

I certainly agree that Obama is a clown who needs to be shown up. Maybe that would put an end to the idea that the whole world hates America because it’s too conservative.

Unfortunately, the current prime minister of Japan is also a clown. The Japanese got tired of voting in the Perpetual Party, but regretably elected a clown instead. Hopefully for a short term in office.

[Gene Eric]

LOL! Hilarious observation.

[bronxville]

Big Government picked up your story American:
http://biggovernment.com/2009/11/22/us-media-ignores-obamas-muffed-japan-visit/#more-35282

Well done. Let’s hope it gets even more legs

[bIlluminati]

Obummer-san is a Geisha girl.

Do not insult Geusha in that manner, please.

[Jake from AZ]

[okie01]

Forgive me, but is this episode representative of the Obama administration's rank incompetence in foreign relations?

Or is it, instead, part of a comprehensive effort to reduce America's standing in the free world?