Author: Adamu

More on Saito-san: The Japanese in Iraq


Still no word on whether he’s dead or alive. The French government has acknowledged his service to their country and that he left the Foreign Legion with the proper paperwork. Saito’s brother, as I have learned recently, has said that the government should not let the kidnapping affect their policy, a statement that both the government and the media certainly wanted to hear. Other family members of victims have used their national spotlight to criticize government policy, resulting in negative portrayals in the media (especially for the unfortunate Koda-san).

Also, the Iraqi government is apparently arranging for some kind of mediation to take place between local leaders and the armed group (Ansar Sunna (sp?)) responsible for the kidnapping.

Masaco always has a great perspective on things, so I’ll let her do the talking this time:

According to her comment on my last post on Saito, there is a media blackout of personal information about Saito. We’ll have to wait for either the information on his condition to come forward or for the less scrupulous tabloids to give us more dirt on him.

The Japanese, who are used to thinking only of peace, are confused as to why Saito would try and join a foreign army.
From her blog:

A left-wing activist, a soul-searcher, Japan’s top mercenary, and a freelance photojournalist.

Being captured by terrorists seems to be restricted to those who “expect/should expect it”, so that makes me feel safer. This time the victim is a soldier of a foreign army, so the Japanese government’s response is made a little more difficult: is he one of ours or one of theirs?

I was once shocked to read a book where (I forget the title, but it was a Bessatsu Takarajima book) an interviewee explains, “I was sick of the lukewarm atmosphere of Japan so I decided to join the French Foreign Legion.” The man interviewed had several moments where he thought “Now I’m going to die!” but did not feel like returning to Japan instead remaining to fight another day. I don’t remember how he got to thinking like that (I’m sure that the man himself said something like, “I don’t know why but at some point I noticed that’s how it was.”), but it makes me think that the idea that “The entire human race definitely wishes for a life free from warfare,” has something of a religious quality.

Whatever the circumstances, I pray that he will be able to fight another day.

Japanese Hostage Seems Like a Cool Guy


The face of a veteran

At the time of writing, the status of Security Guard Akihito Saito, kidnapped and reported injured in Iraq, was unknown.

As we all wait and pray for his safety, Japanese media outlets are busy digging up information on this enigma of a man. The 44-year-old former SDF member had a 21-year career in the French Foreign Legion, seeing action in Africa and Bosnia. A quiet man, it is unknown why he left the Legion to work in Iraq as a security consultant. The French Foreign Legion has a rule of not asking its members about their past and does not follow up on them after they leave. But it is known that he was fluent in French and acted as an interpreter for new Japanese recruits to the Legion (of which there are apparently quite a few!).

A lieutenant who served with Saito said, “He had a lot of friends at the Legion, so even if he has parted ways with us we pray for his safe release.”

UPDATE: I just had to add something. Japan, as a pacifist country, has few “veterans” save for the aging survivors of the Imperial Army. The positive representation this guy is receiving reminds me of glorification of soldiers that goes on in America. Could he be the first modern Japanese war hero?

WP: North Korea’s decreasing isolation

The Washington Post has an interesting article about closer ties between North and South Korean businesses and the South Korea’s increasingly positive attitude toward their brothers across the border. Some interesting points:


Despite U.S. Attempts, N. Korea Anything but Isolated
Country’s Regional Trade Boom Hints At Split Between Administration, E. Asia

North Korean housewares are the rage these days. The Lotte department store sold out its first shipment of North Korean pots and pans last December and followed up with a bigger sale in January, when another 7,000 pieces of cookware were carted off by eager shoppers. Lee, 39, is now working on the store’s largest North Korean venture yet: New lines of cutlery and frying pans go on sale within the next two weeks.

South Korea, China and Russia have increased their trade with the North, boosting its tattered economy. Fueled by imports of energy and manufactured goods, and exports of minerals, seafood and agricultural products, North Korea’s foreign trade increased 22 percent in two years, from $2.9 billion in 2002 to $3.55 billion in 2004; these levels are the highest since 1991, according to KOTRA, a South Korean government organization that monitors North Korean trade.

Analysts say North Korea may be calculating that if the United States increases pressure, Pyongyang’s other benefactors in Asia may be willing to mend fences, even after a nuclear test.
Continue reading WP: North Korea’s decreasing isolation

Japan the “Linchpin” of US Security Interests: Highlights from the Commission on Review of Overseas Military Facility Structure of the United States

As you may be aware, the US military has been attempting to streamline in order to meet the threats of the 21st century. Donald Rumsfeld has his own plans, and his proposals (Base Realignment and Closure [BRAC]) include a large-scale reduction of domestic and overseas bases.

Not everyone is thrilled with the idea of corporate downsizing for the US military. The Commission on Review of Overseas Military Facility Structure of the United States, an independent commission chartered by a $3 million act of Congress, released a report last week that criticized key suggestions of Rumsfeld’s BRAC policy. According to the report, “Base structure is strategy itself,” and dismantling the most extensive military presence in the history of the world would be a major blow to American power. “Basing is strategy itself” claim the retired generals on the Committee.

OK, you ask, what does this have to do with Japan? Bases in Japan have always been somewhat controversial. Not only are they a foreign force, but Japan gets all the problems of a US military base (loud, violent soldiers, noise, etc) but few of the benefits that make domestic bases so hard to let go of (jobs, federal funding). The movement to get the Marines out of Futenma has grown stronger lately Rumsfeld and the Committee seem to differ somewhat on base policy in Okinawa. Part of BRAC policy is a reduction of Marine presence in Okinawa. The Commission makes it clear that US bases in Japan are the “linchpin” of US security interests in the region. A reduction of presence in response to local opposition would be a “front-loaded” strategy that threatens to leave America unprepared for future developments.

The Commission does not believe that the current discussion calling for the relocation of US Forces in Okinawa meets US security interests.

They recommend instead that they be relocated from Futenma to Kadena and/or Iwasaki (on the mainland). The base has been a source of controversy, with incidents including the rape of a local girl fueling the rage of local residents.

The wording of the report belies a fundamental mistrust of America’s allies. If you are to believe them, even stable countries like Japan would fall apart without a US presence. Of course, the authors of the report are certainly realistic enough to know that Japan would step up to meet its defense needs if it came down to it. They just see things in terms of “bases = influence” and they can’t imagine why America would want to give that up. It’s a hard position to argue against, to be sure, but it’s equally easy to see why the Japanese would chafe.

Other sources:
i-Newswire
Stars and Stripes
DoD News (on BRAC)

Japan’s Self Defense Force on a PR Offensive

セイギノオマケ3
Some scenarios for the latest shooting game from Konami:

  • Terrorists have holed up in a building and threaten to detonate a nuclear weapon, and the only ones who can stop them are you and your fellow soldiers. Kill the terrorists, save the hostages and don’t hit civilians!
  • There’s a boat carrying drugs into the country. Stop the mafiosos and protect the citizenry from the corruption of narcotics!

    • Sounds like a pretty normal first level for an American SWAT simulation, right? Well, this game was not made for an American audience. “Heroes of Justice” is a simulation of Japan’s Self Defense Forces and is reminiscent of the similar “America’s Army“, a game funded by the US Army’s recruitment program.

    Despite its constitutional ban on the use of force to resolve conflict, Japan maintains the Self Defense Forces as a de facto military. Recent developments have accelerated Japan’s progression toward an official military and stronger defense policy.

    The SDF celebrated its 50th anniversary last year in quiet ceremonies that did not make the news in America but included appearances by PM Koizumi and calls for “a rethinking of Japan’s defense capabilities.”


    It is in such a spirit of revived military development that Toho is remaking the film “Warring States vs. SDF 1549” (Sengoku Jieitai 1549). If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Oda Nobunaga fought the Japanese Self Defense Forces, here is your answer. Go to the site to watch a trailer that features modern soldiers being killed with arrows.

    These two releases are only the beginning of the SDF’s public relations assault. As Japan debates constitutional revision, its more conservative elements are effectively using pop culture as a promotional tool. Many Japanese, in fact, know little of the SDF or its role domestically and internationally. Placing it in the context of popular games and movies should lessen public opposition to making the SDF a legalized, regular army. Even the juxtaposition of the Warring States Period with the modern SDF will make the transition easier by drawing parallels to what Japanese people learn in school with a modern army. I’ll let you know when a subtitled torrent opens up.

    “Planet” connects everyone

    The biggest thing keeping me from being an avid fan of history, sports, Roman mythology, Pokemon, or what have you has always been the countless names you have to remember. It’s never enough just to know who Ichiro is or that he steals bases because that doesn’t come close to answering why his team hasn’t been to the world series in years. Who else is on the team? How do they train? Why are tickets so expensive? Why is it so stupid to root for the Yankees when you know they’re going to win? These are questions with no answers, yet they inspire some to spend their entire lives following statistics and analyzing the significance of every trade, every injury, every management change… but even a relatively contained and uncomplicated system such as American Major League Baseball is impossible to completely understand. That’s why you so often see people relying on superstitions (some of my friends swear by their rally caps) and curses to make sure their team wins. But curses, too, are occasionally broken. Where will it stop?! When can my mind finally take a break?!

    Thus, it has become clear to me that the daunting task of trying to comprehend the world on a macro level takes up valuable time that could be better spent blogging. As you may have noticed, I prefer to take comfort in the agenda-driven generalizations, half-understood slogans, and other baseless name-calling that make for great blog posts. However, when a cool article such as this one comes out, even I must sit up and take notice (OK, I sat on it for 2 months but who’s counting?). Enjoy my translation:

    By Nishida Mutsumi (March 21), editor, Nikkei Shimbun

    Few have heard of him today, but once there was a strange man named Hisahara Fusanosuke. After founding Hitachi and Japan Energy he went into politics, eventually to become the leader of the prewar Seiyukai. The man lived a roller-coaster life, eventually being brought before the Marunouchi Military Police Headquarters (the charges were later dropped).

    “The Planet Revolves” by Furukawa Kaoru (published by Nikkei BP), from Yamaguchi Prefecture (same as Hisahara), is the story of Hirahara’s life. “Planet” was a common nickname for politicians at the time, meaning “surprisingly able but somewhat reckless.”

    Hisahara married the younger sister of Aikawa Yoshisuke after being introduced by Inoue Kaoru, but previous to that he was dating a different woman and produced a daughter named Hisako. A young Ishii Koutarou (former House of Peers President) married this Hisako.

    Shimomura Nankai, Ishii’s professor at Kobe Business School who later became his boss at the Internal Affairs Ministry, suggested the marriage. “At first Ishii was against it, saying, ‘If I marry a famous person’s daughter, people will think all my achievements are because of him.’ But Shimomura was a skilled persuader, reassuring him, ‘That is up to your attitude. I don’t think you’re the type to break under pressure like that.'” (From “Reflecting on 88 Years” by Ishii Koutarou, published by Culture Publishing). That is what Ishii had to say in his memoirs.

    “Besides my older sister, there were several female members including Ishii Yoshiko, but in terms of age, Morimura Atsushi (who went blind at the Imperial Horse Show immediately after the War) was the youngest, and then next was me, then next was Umasugi Kikuko (Later Inoue Kikuko), a master equestrian rider (馬場馬術 — bababajutsu, possibly the coolest word in the Japanese language) who went on to perform in the Olympics after the War.” (From “The Distant Showa Period” by Ogata Shijurou (Asahi Shimbun Publishing)).

    The “me” in the previous paragraph is Ogata Shijurou, former Bank of Japan board member who took the job of Vice Chairman of the Japan Development Bank. Here Ogata tells of a prewar youth who enjoyed riding horses at the Tokyo Equestrian Institute.

    Ishii Yoshiko, who would later become a chamson singer, was the daughter of Ishii Koujirou and his wife Kumiko. Shijurou’s father was politician Ogata Taketora, and The Distant Showa Period’s subtitle is, “My father Ogata Taketora and Me.”

    Back when Shijurou the boy and Ishii Yoshiko were riding horses, Ishii Koujirou and Ogata Taketora were working at Asahi Shimbun together. Both Ishii and Ogata went on to become powerful politicians after the War.

    Shijurou’s wife is former UN High Counselor for Refugees Ogata Sadako. If you climb up Sadako’s family tree, you will find that her father was Nakamura Toyoichi, former minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Finland, her grandfather was Yoshizawa Kenkichi, a former Foreign Minister, and her great grandfather was the famous former Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, whose assassination signaled the end of Taisho democracy. In Yomiuri Shimbun’s “Witnesses of an Era”, Sadako writes, “If you put the families of my husband and me together, the hidden areas of Showa history may come uncovered.”

    How interesting to look at recent and modern history while tracing the connections between people!

    Review: Into the Sun (SPOILER ALERT)

    Thanks Amazon

    This is a review (with spoilers) of Steven Seagal’s latest crapfest, Into the Sun, but first some background:

    Steven Seagal was 17 when he first made his way to Japan. By the time he left at age 32, he was the head of a major Aikido dojo in Osaka and spoke fluent Japanese. He then returned to his native California to become personal trainer to the stars.

    Eventually he met Hollywood mogul Michael Ovitz and the rest was history: crappy action movie after crappy action movie. Yet something always puzzled me about Seagal’s career: he rarely if ever brings up Japan and hasn’t really attempted to become a gaijin tarento despite his fluence in Japanese and obvious desire for stardom.

    There are a few possible explanations for such reluctance. In interviews, Seagal comes off as extremely humble (even though he could beat your ass just by thinking about it), a trait he likely learned in Japan. When asked why he left Japan, Seagal betrays his tough exterior and claims to be shy of the spotlight:

    When I was in Japan, people tried to deify me, and the reason I left there was that deification is truly a death trap. That is a reason why I kept my spiritual practice to myself in America. I don’t think deification has been one of my biggest problems in life because I am lucky enough to have understood a long time ago what adoration and power really are about. I think the great obstacle was just a lack of understanding of the way.

    My translation: “There’s no money to be made in Japanese showbusiness.” (See this good article for more on the Japanese entertainment industry)

    Anyway, Seagal’s first wife was Japanese, and depending on how bad their divorce was I would understand if he didn’t feel like immersing himself in Japanese stuff for a while.

    The actor seems to be coming out of his shell, finally, with his new movie Into the Sun. Let me start out by saying some nice things about the film. It was well-shot, there are lots of good-looking actresses dressed impeccably, and Japan is filmed very realistically and without the usual stereotypes. Seagal wrote the screenplay and obviously wanted to make sure his beloved Japan got treated well. The plot is ripped from the headlines as well, dealing with such up to the minute subjects as Japan’s ultra-conservative, anti-foreigner governor Ishihara Shintaro and the Chinese mafia’s expansion into Japanese territory.

    The plot: Seagal stars as a retired US government agent (CIA? Special Forces? We are never told) who grew up in Japan and has decided to live out his golden years as a part time sword salesman and a full time badass. However the yakuza/triad-related murder of the anti-foreigner governor of Tokyo forces the CIA to bring him out of retirement in hopes that they can crack the case. Why is the CIA investigating the murder of a Japanese politician? “They could be terrorists.” Welcome to post-9/11 America, where non-sequiturs like that are the major themes of presidential addresses.

    However, what the CIA (and the producers for that matter) didn’t bet on when they put Seagal on the case is that he is a complete fuck-up. Continue reading Review: Into the Sun (SPOILER ALERT)

    Japanese Billionaires

    I was bored on the Internet one day when I found the Forbes list of the World’s Richest People. Pretty interesting: 3 people from Microsoft and Michael Dell are in the top 25, and the IKEA founder is #6. So since I only really give a crap about Japanese stuff, I’m going to introduce you to Japan’s billionaires (names are given name first this time). There are quite a few of them, so expect this as part of an ongoing series. Or you can just read it for yourself!

    The first billionaire from Japan doesn’t even show up until number 77. It’s Nobutaka Saji, heir to Japan drink giant Suntory. Love the mustache. I went to a school owned by Suntory, so I guess I should be grateful:

    Nobutada Saji & family 77
    59 , inherited

    Source: beverages

    Net Worth: $5.8 bil down

    Country of citizenship: Japan
    Residence: Hyogo, Japan
    Industry: Beverages
    Marital Status: married
    University of California at Los Angeles, Master of Business Administration

    While Suntory sales fell nearly 5% last year, profits rose 13% to $219 million thanks to more effective supply-chain management. From a spiffy new $190 million new headquarters in Tokyo’s bay area the company is aggressively pushing its products in China, mainly Shanghai. Though it specializes in liquid and food, Suntory—against all odds—engineered the world’s first blue rose, which it plans to introduce to the market in a few years.

    Next up at number 80 (tied with British nobility and a Saudi banker who pays no interest in accordance with “Islamic banking rules”) is personal finance mogul Yoshitaka Fukuda, founder of the dreaded Aiful (slogan: “With heartful communication”). Their commercials are inescapable in Japan (they feature an old man who decides to go into debt after falling in love with an adorable little dog), and they have spawned a slew of equally-annoying imitators:

    Yoshitaka Fukuda & family 80
    57 , self made

    Source: credit

    Net Worth: $5.6 bil up

    Country of citizenship: Japan
    Residence: Kyoto, Japan
    Industry: Finance
    Marital Status: married , 3 children
    High School, Drop Out

    His Aiful took the lead as Japan’s largest consumer finance company in terms of sales, thanks to the stumble of scandal-tainted rival Takefuji. Last year profits rose 4% to $4.5 billion. A Chihuahua featured in Aiful commercials became an overnight sensation, and Chihuahuas selling for $1,500 a pop replaced dachshunds as pet store favorites. But all was not rosy. In August Fukuda was found guilty of failing to declare $647,000 in income between 2000 and 2001. Fukuda ias (sic) an avid fisherman, focusing on sweetfish in particular.

    At 84 we have another personal financier, the head of Takefuji, who has been embroiled in a scandal of sorts:

    Yasuo Takei & family 84
    75 , self made

    Source: credit

    Net Worth: $5.5 bil down

    Country of citizenship: Japan
    Residence: Tokyo, Japan
    Industry: Finance
    Marital Status: married , 3 children

    Two years ago Takei, founder of consumer loan giant Takefuji, was arrested on wire-tapping charges stemming from allegations that he compelled employees to tap the phones of journalists critical of his company. He was found guilty in November and sentenced to a four-year probation of sorts. Should he violate the terms of that agreement, he will face a prison sentence of at least three years. The results of his bad behavior haven’t been good for Takefuji, which saw rivals like Acom and Promise encroach on its turf. Last year (year ending March 2004) Takefuji’s net profit fell 21% to $708 million on diminished sales.

    We won’t find another Japanese billionaire until number 103, politician, businessman, and golf course heir Eitaro Itoyama. Seems like the consummate Japanese businessman. Oh, and did I mention he’s a blogger?

    Eitaro Itoyama 103
    62 , inherited

    Source: golf courses

    Net Worth: $4.9 bil –

    Country of citizenship: Japan
    Residence: Tokyo, Japan
    Industry: Real Estate
    Marital Status: married , 2 children
    Nippon University, Bachelor of Arts / Science

    Owns vast, privately held real estate portfolio. Itoyama, a former politician, is a large shareholder of Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and JAL. A vocal shareholder, he publicly criticizes Mitsubishi in his sporadically maintained online journal. One of his entries includes a vociferous gripe against Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takashi Nishioka, for throwing money into rebuilding Mitsubishi Motors. “If he was really that capable, he would have been able to inflate the stock price much higher,” he said. “What in the world kind of math did he come up with?”

    That’s all for now. Stay tuned!

    Gyoza Ohsho opens in Shanghai to surprisingly warm reception

    From TBS (video available at the site):

    In Shanghai, where anti-Japanese demonstrations have been occurring for weeks, the recently-opened Japanese-style ramen (the Japanese name for Chinese noodle soup) stores are enjoying healthy business. So in order to keep things smooth in the legal side of the business, it may have been imperative to research information like the alabama llc filing cost. One, a ramen store , specializing in Japanese flavors such as tonkotsu (hogbone) and salt flavor, opened very close to the Japanese Consul General in Shanghai. The store, owned by Osaka Ohsho Co., owners and operators of the famous Gyoza No Ohsho chain, is their first expansion into China.

    However, the infamous anti-Japanese protests occurred when they tentatively opened their doors preceding their Grand Opening festivities.

    “After hearing that some other Japanese restaurants had been damaged, we hurried to postpone our Grand Opening,” said Mr. Fujioka Hisashi, a manager at the restaurant.

    Since then, they have been doing business while avoiding promotional activities, but the curious people of Shanghai, always craving new things, have made the new restaurant busy through word of mouth.

    “The only trouble was on the day of the demonstration, and it’s disarmingly normal ever since,”Said Fujioka.

    The youth of Shanghai display their anti-Japanese feelings at the demostrations April 16, but at the same time you can’t deny the reality that people in Shanghai are strongly enamored of Japanese fashion and food, showing that you can’t just look at one side to explain the complicated Sino-Japanese relationship.