Comments for AMPONTAN

Comment on Thoughts on Buddhahood, alliances, and polite fictions by PaxAmericana

PaxAmericana — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:08:49 +0000

I wouldn’t read spirituality in the comments of any politician, and I wouldn’t look for any in an equivalent American operative, such as, say, Rahm Emmanuel.

Wouldn’t a simpler explanation for Ozawa’s dislike for the Soka Gakkai simply be who they are affiliated with? As in, certain elements of the American power structure that have been allied with the LDP. Or, to put it in Chicago terms, “Who sent you? I don’t want nobody nobody sent.” So who sent Soka Gakkai? And aren’t those guys hostile to Ozawa and the DPJ in general?

Comment on Thoughts on Buddhahood, alliances, and polite fictions by Bender

Bender — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:24:57 +0000

Buddhism came from the west, where the sun sets. I bet you that many of the first Buddhist missionaries to China were blue-eyed.

Also, reading the Edda, you find that the Germanic peoples were created from trees and the world itself is one big tree- so you see tree worship, and a respect and awe for nature. Sounds similar to old Shintoism. Looks like many big trees in Shinto shrines were cut down since the Meiji era for construction- respect for the gods and nature indeed. There used to be Tancho cranes in the wetlands of Tokyo. Now you can’t even find them on JAL planes.

Comment on Thoughts on Buddhahood, alliances, and polite fictions by Fat Tony

Fat Tony — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:51:22 +0000

Actually, I’m wrong on the history there. It worked well when Japan was willing to trade and China wasn’t. The point is, there isn’t much stopping the U.S. and China from talking to each other without Japan to chaperon them. In fact, recent experience has been that if you get Japan in, they screw it up for everyone by talking about North Korean abductions. Again, another legacy of the “beautiful country” years.

Comment on Thoughts on Buddhahood, alliances, and polite fictions by Fat Tony

Fat Tony — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:53:56 +0000

“Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo called for an end to the post-war regime. Would it not be an irony if his political foes in the DPJ were the ones to achieve it?”

Well, Abe’s plan seemed to want to bulk up Japan’s power and status by maneuvering ever closer to the United States, which is kind of like getting a promotion by giving your boss certain work-unrelated “favors.”

“And owing to its history, that might be the best course for all concerned, because it’s uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between both.”

Yeah, the Okinawans served as a bridge between China and Japan, and that worked well for a while. But it only worked when China had a policy of only trading with tributaries and Japan was a closed feudal nation. Look at what happened after that.

The problem with being a bridge is that people walk all over you.

And its a shitty metaphor anyway. Did the United States and the Soviet Union need a third country to help them talk to one another when they needed to? (Yes, yes, I know, Iceland and all that. But that was simply geographically convenience.)

Comment on The world’s first whale soy sauce by JohnH

JohnH — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:03:30 +0000

“Just make sure to transfer it to a plain bottle or server when sensitive foreigners come to dinner!”

I lol’d.

Comment on From the overseas media by Kay B. Day

Kay B. Day — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:39:07 +0000

Well, I knew where to come for an authentic take on our president’s sublime bow. Excellent post. And I’d remind my fellow Americans that whatever Japan’s behavior more than half a century ago, the country is a good friend to the U.S. at present. There is no country on the face of the earth that is exempt from misdeeds done in historical context and judged with hindsight. For me, the bow simply came across as exaggerated and superficial, more in keeping with theatrics than diplomacy. Excellent post, btw. Very insightful. best, Kay B. Day

Comment on Translating Obama into Japanese by To Blindly Surge Ahead! > MTV Iggy Blog > MTV Iggy - Global Pop Culture, Latest Trends and New Music

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:04:59 +0000

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Comment on From the overseas media by Durf

Durf — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:25:29 +0000

In Bush’s case we haven’t seen how the children of the inbred idiot turn out yet. Best to wait a few more decades to make that call.

Comment on From the overseas media by St John

St John — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:21:49 +0000

“The current emperor of Japan is the son of a war criminal who was the son of a in-bred idiot who could seldom be taken out in public.”

So how do we explain George W Bush?

Comment on From the overseas media by Aceface

Aceface — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:43:05 +0000

“The current emperor of Japan is the son of a war criminal who was the son of a in-bred idiot who could seldom be taken out in public.”

But he could still make an American president bow.Not a bad job for a grand son of an in-bred.Me think.