Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans)

Japan is Ski Paradise!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:04:39 +0900

I was fortunate to be born as Japanese. I went to 3 places for skiing this year. All three places were fabulous.

I have skied in foreign countries such as Colorado in US and Switzerland in the past.

That was great experiences.

But I enjoyed skiing in Japan. Not just skiing but also hot spring after skiing.

Last week I went to Zao Hot Spring Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture. It has great view point with frozen trees (Soft rime) on top of mountain.

It makes you feel being in Fairy Tale.

You can ski down from there. After you reach the bottom, you can enjoy bathing hot spring and ease your body.

The below video summerises my ski trip of last week.

Japan has various places like the above and beach resort of Okinawa, where you can swim all year around.

Great contrast, isn't it?

I love my country because it has great fun places. I want to protect them.

US military base Relocation Plan was rejected by local citizens

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:48:00 +0900

A candidate who opposes US military's relacation of Futenama Marine base in Okinawa to Henoko located on the same island won the mayor election of Nago city which includes Henoko area. Former mayors all agreed the relocation plan. The below photo is Henoko beach. The relocation plan is to landfill beautiful beach and ocean that endangers dugongs and other wild life. More than 30 of new species were found by WWF Japan in this area. Even U.S. environmetalist groups oppose the plan by suing their government. S.F. Federal Court ordered the military to review the plan.

This relocation plan has been controversial since new ruling party took power in September. New ruling party, Democratic Party of Japan announced alternative plan but it has yet reached agreement with the U.S.

This mayor election result proved to be Henoko plan is no longer feasible.

So where would Futenma be relocated to? Well, that is their business, not ours. To Guam where local citizens have no right to choose American President or mainland or reduce the marines.

The U.S. military is useless in this country. It was important during the Cold War era because its presence functioned as deterrent to Soviet Union and we could get financial aid from the U.S. and export Japanese goods to the U.S. market in exchange for providing bases to the U.S. which countered communism.

Now Soviet Union fell down, the Cold War ended. Not just Futenma, Kadena, Yokosuka, Yokota, Atsugi, Zama, Misawa, Iwakuni, Sasebo, all should be gone. We can protect our country ourselves, in fact we have to anyway.

The below photo is sign near the beach that says "Beach is our treasure. Take garbage (and base) to your home. Environment and Sanitation Department of Nago City." (and base) is handwritten.

U.S. military, GO HOME where you belong!!

Film"W." He was a nice spoiled man!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:50:00 +0900

A story about former President of the United States, George W. Bush. He was born in wealthy elite family.

He never had any problem doing what he wanted to do because his family's wealth and name.

So he could attend Yale and Harvard. He became a governor of Texas and finally the most powerful man in the world.

The film featured how he and his administration made a mistake in provoking the war in Iraq.

There was no WMD, but they made it up to conquere the oil mines in the Middle East.

Luckily, the media and public supported the war because of the fear caused by 911 attack.

After all, the U.S. system proved to be problematic by letting such spoiled man become a leader of the country.

He was never self-made man. He never could accomplish anything by himself. Always relying on his father's power.

The U.S. has been actually feudal society ruled by dynasties. This article describes the detail and this novel tells it in drama format.

America was drastically changed by this man in a very bad way. The U.S. is now in big economic crisis having huge debt and getting involved in two failed wars.

Recently I and other Japanese have to complain about the U.S. very often.

Well, America is not dream country to me any more.

An Alliance Larger Than One Issue

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:40:00 +0900

Read this New York Times Article written by Joseph Nye, an prominent expert of US-Japan relationship.

An Alliance Larger Than One Issue

SEEN from Tokyo, America’s relationship with Japan faces a crisis. The immediate problem is deadlock over a plan to move an American military base on the island of Okinawa. It sounds simple, but this is an issue with a long back story that could create a serious rift with one of our most crucial allies.

--Ommited paragraphs from the original article.--

Even if Mr. Hatoyama eventually gives in on the base plan, we need a more patient and strategic approach to Japan. We are allowing a second-order issue to threaten our long-term strategy for East Asia. Futenma, it is worth noting, is not the only matter that the new government has raised. It also speaks of wanting a more equal alliance and better relations with China, and of creating an East Asian community — though it is far from clear what any of this means.

When I helped to develop the Pentagon’s East Asian Strategy Report in 1995, we started with the reality that there were three major powers in the region — the United States, Japan and China — and that maintaining our alliance with Japan would shape the environment into which China was emerging. We wanted to integrate China into the international system by, say, inviting it to join the World Trade Organization, but we needed to hedge against the danger that a future and stronger China might turn aggressive.

After a year and a half of extensive negotiations, the United States and Japan agreed that our alliance, rather than representing a cold war relic, was the basis for stability and prosperity in the region. President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto affirmed that in their 1996 Tokyo declaration. This strategy of “integrate, but hedge” continued to guide American foreign policy through the years of the Bush administration.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the United States-Japan security treaty. The two countries will miss a major opportunity if they let the base controversy lead to bitter feelings or the further reduction of American forces in Japan. The best guarantee of security in a region where China remains a long-term challenge and a nuclear North Korea poses a clear threat remains the presence of American troops, which Japan helps to maintain with generous host nation support.

Sometimes Japanese officials quietly welcome “gaiatsu,” or foreign pressure, to help resolve their own bureaucratic deadlocks. But that is not the case here: if the United States undercuts the new Japanese government and creates resentment among the Japanese public, then a victory on Futenma could prove Pyrrhic.

Joseph S. Nye Jr., a professor of government at Harvard and the author of “The Powers to Lead,” was an assistant secretary of defense from 1994 to 1995.

The photo of planned relocation site for Futenma, the construction plan threatens lives of endangered marine mammals, dugongs and a lot of other wildlives.

Watch this video, too!

Saw Our Majesty

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:48:00 +0900

On 2nd of January, 2010, I went to the imperial palace to see annual new year greeting by the Emperor Akihito and his family members.

That was the day usually closed area of the palace becomes open to public. People with Rising Sun flags entered the palace and saw the emperor on the palace balcony covered by glass from the ground. He said "I am glad to have new year with all of you."

I am usually asked what the emperor means to us. Well, the answer is nothing. We are told that the emperor is symbol of the State.

But generally, he is far away from us. We know he does exist but we are not interested in him and his family.

I do think I have to appreciate his existence because the emperor functions great deal of our society.

Some claims the imperial system suceeded by bloodline should be abolished but I disagree. The system benefits our nation.

Under the emperor, we are all unified as Japanese. That's a good thing.

The emperor works as great diplomatic tool when it comes to dealing with big nations like China and the U.S.

Last month the emperor met with China's No.2 politician regardless earlier appointment than usual.

That gave a signal to the U.S. that Japan is placing more importance on China than ever.

The U.S. and Japan have a quarrel recently. China has now become a big card for us.

Anyway, I am glad we have such a great imperial system. Imperial system is a tradition of over 1000 years.

A Happy New Year with the Emperor!

Isn't he stupid?

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:44:00 +0900

I wouldn't do the same thing although I know importance of taking action like "Civil Disobedience."

He is like German Red Army and Japanese Red Army who were active in 1970's.

Interview with him reminds me of German film "Baader-Meinhof."

Their activity started with arson in department store and ended up with hi-jacking, killing innocent people and finally killing themselves in prison.

I don't like extremists, not real saver but egoist. They just enjoy their own party.

Really Stupid!

Novel "Kokoro" by Natsume Soseki

noreply@blogspirit.com (Masagata) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:49:00 +0900

The story was written by Japan's infamous novelist, Natsume Soseki. The novel was released in early 20th century. The novel starts with the sentence "I always called him "Sensei (Sir)." It is a memoir of a man who met a cool older guy on the beach. When the two guys first met, they both wore swim suits like this.

He was attracted to this Sensei. He actually fell in love with him. Sounds like gay love.

But Sensei was married. He said he cannot accept the main character's love because he had bad record in the past.

The past is that he betrayed his best friend in order to get his current wife. His friend then committed suicide by his action.

The main character learnt that after Sensei committed suicide.

I first knew this story by theatre play. That was really good. Then I read the book. That was good as well.

I always want to be a novelist like Soseki. I write novels on this blog and my Japanese blog.

Is it bad to live as novelist? "Novelist" is my dream job.

I've never got any chance of becoming one.

Next year, I hope I can make it. So, please, somebody give me the chance!!