Comments on: TPR News: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - Sanctions, Aso, Shiozaki and Japan’s consumer spending http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:49:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Alex http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5475 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:29:49 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5475 Ken, you're qutie right. In fact I'm glad you mentioned that. The big players int he region, China and Korea mainly, have a lot to gain by seeing Japan get hit with bad P.R. The more negative the P.R., the more opportunity they have to slither in and take some business away from firms who would otherwise do business in Japan. Even China's booming film business is doing direct target marketing to take business away from Japan. So indeed there are many many reasons indeed for those nations to want to poke holes in Japan's PR. Ken, you’re qutie right. In fact I’m glad you mentioned that. The big players int he region, China and Korea mainly, have a lot to gain by seeing Japan get hit with bad P.R.

The more negative the P.R., the more opportunity they have to slither in and take some business away from firms who would otherwise do business in Japan.

Even China’s booming film business is doing direct target marketing to take business away from Japan. So indeed there are many many reasons indeed for those nations to want to poke holes in Japan’s PR.

]]> by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5405 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:32:33 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5405 This is somewhat against what I personally believe, but I think the Japanese government is reacting to what they see as undue pressure from other Asian nations. At this point in history, Japan stands at the top economy in the region, and their claim is going to be that other countries will try to hurt them through negative PR. So, in a way, annoucing their intention makes sense - saying, "we're going going to find holes in your arguments and show just how petty you're being by bringing up these past issues that should be dead and buried." Whether they're right or wrong is another issue, but what they're doing is forcing the other nations to focus on the past just at a moment when they feel they have an economy booming enough to bring them through it. This is somewhat against what I personally believe, but I think the Japanese government is reacting to what they see as undue pressure from other Asian nations. At this point in history, Japan stands at the top economy in the region, and their claim is going to be that other countries will try to hurt them through negative PR. So, in a way, annoucing their intention makes sense - saying, “we’re going going to find holes in your arguments and show just how petty you’re being by bringing up these past issues that should be dead and buried.” Whether they’re right or wrong is another issue, but what they’re doing is forcing the other nations to focus on the past just at a moment when they feel they have an economy booming enough to bring them through it.

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5282 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:01:49 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5282 Got me, John. When I'm in an exceptionally cynical mood, I wonder if they get together and ask each other, "How can we make absolutely sure that our credibility doesn't increase, our neighbors continue to hate us, and we are unable to discuss more pressing issues?" Then they find the trusty answer. Got me, John. When I’m in an exceptionally cynical mood, I wonder if they get together and ask each other, “How can we make absolutely sure that our credibility doesn’t increase, our neighbors continue to hate us, and we are unable to discuss more pressing issues?”

Then they find the trusty answer.

]]> by: John Sheridan http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5273 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:59:06 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5273 I find it very odd that they would announce their intentions, but perhaps I'm missing something. It seems to me that decisions are usually made and left unexplained, not the other way around. I don't really see the point in retracting an apology; it's probably something every government could have done on behalf of wrongs committed in its name. Is it that bad to apologize for something? I find it very odd that they would announce their intentions, but perhaps I’m missing something. It seems to me that decisions are usually made and left unexplained, not the other way around. I don’t really see the point in retracting an apology; it’s probably something every government could have done on behalf of wrongs committed in its name. Is it that bad to apologize for something?

]]> by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5189 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 01:22:32 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5189 <em>The very fact that group members are publicly seeking to prove that comfort women were never forced into it, rather than seeking to find out what happened. The very fact that their public comments show that they are unwilling to accept any conclusion other than that the wartime government and military leadership did nothing wrong.</em> This is hardly a new position, right? It just seems to ebb and flow in its degree of being stated in public. I think the real danger here is that the kantei will lose credibility. Making an investigation by starting with the conclusion is hardly a respected way to go about doing business. I'm sure they know that already. So, their taking matters from the attendant stance must have some reasoning behind it, though I confess I don't see what it could be. The very fact that group members are publicly seeking to prove that comfort women were never forced into it, rather than seeking to find out what happened. The very fact that their public comments show that they are unwilling to accept any conclusion other than that the wartime government and military leadership did nothing wrong.

This is hardly a new position, right? It just seems to ebb and flow in its degree of being stated in public. I think the real danger here is that the kantei will lose credibility. Making an investigation by starting with the conclusion is hardly a respected way to go about doing business. I’m sure they know that already. So, their taking matters from the attendant stance must have some reasoning behind it, though I confess I don’t see what it could be.

]]> by: Alex http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5168 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:42:54 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/12/27/tprnews-122706/#comment-5168 <i>Criticism and Japan-bashing are certainly not going to abate in the face of such a farce as that being condoned, if not actively pursued, by the kantei. China will surely always find a reason to criticize Japan, as will Japan’s other rivals. This is no excuse, though, to lend legitimacy to criticism over historical issues by doing exactly what the government’s critics accuse them of doing, viz. </i> 100% on the money. Absolutly agreed. <i> Denying wrongdoing and attempting to distribute rose-colored glasses to the world. It hasn’t worked, it isn’t working, even domestically, and it is unlikely to do any good in the long run.</i> Once again, right on the money!! Criticism and Japan-bashing are certainly not going to abate in the face of such a farce as that being condoned, if not actively pursued, by the kantei. China will surely always find a reason to criticize Japan, as will Japan’s other rivals. This is no excuse, though, to lend legitimacy to criticism over historical issues by doing exactly what the government’s critics accuse them of doing, viz.

100% on the money. Absolutly agreed.

Denying wrongdoing and attempting to distribute rose-colored glasses to the world. It hasn’t worked, it isn’t working, even domestically, and it is unlikely to do any good in the long run.

Once again, right on the money!!

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