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NEWS: Tarō Asō Again in the Picture to become Japanese PM


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Moomintroll



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Nottingham (UK)
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:29 pm Reply with quote
The Xenos wrote:
I just love that the words liberal and democratic are actually used for the more conservative party there, something sure to throw people for a loop.


In the US "liberal" tends to refer to social liberalism but in most of the world "liberal" generally applies to economic liberalism (i.e. laissez faire capitalism) which puts it firmly on the right of the political spectrum.

Quote:
I've heard a number of comments that lead me to believe that a good number of Japanese fans are actually rather conservative and that there's a decent and somewhat disturbing streak of nationalism in the fandom.


When you say "fans", do you mean otaku rather than non-otaku readers? You have to remember that the vast majority of manga titles are not aimed at otaku.
I get the impression that the politics expressed in manga as a whole (as opposed to otaku orientated stuff) seem to broadly reflect the range of Japanese politics in general - from overtly racist crap like Hating The Korean Wave on the one extreme to the socialist works of, say, Sanpei Shirato (of Garo and The Legend Of Kamui fame) on the other.
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frentymon
Forums Superstar


Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 2243
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:38 pm Reply with quote
Am I misunderstanding something or do Japanese PM's seem to have a compulsive habit of resigning whenever pressure mounts up and they lose their popularity?
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Gage



Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 469
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:25 pm Reply with quote
Kyogissun wrote:
...And is it just me or did the article get removed?


It's still there.
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dangerwhat



Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Posts: 150
Location: Northern Illinois
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:30 pm Reply with quote
frentymon wrote:
Am I misunderstanding something or do Japanese PM's seem to have a compulsive habit of resigning whenever pressure mounts up and they lose their popularity?


That seems to be the thing to do, apparently. It looks like that the Japanese political system, the way it elects such a position can support such a thing, so I guess they feel that they can safely step down when things "get bad" or such.

Also, I imagine its an attempt to preserve his honor.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 8423
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:33 pm Reply with quote
Tempest:
Quote:
Stop arguing for no purpose whatsoever.You could easily have stated your opinions (which have some validity to them) without trying to contradicts others in the process.


Weren't you just contradicting that other guy by stating your political affiliation, when it has nothing to do with the discussion, either? Rolling Eyes

Xenos:
Quote:
I just love that the words liberal and democratic are actually used for the more conservative party there, something sure to throw people for a loop.


Well, in the past, liberal used to be advocating unregulated trade.

Quote:
I think he's thankfully more moderate,


If voting against Martin Luther King Day can be considered "moderate", sure.

Quote:
Imagine if an American presidential candidate denied proof of the internment of Japanese Americans or the firebombing of Tokyo.


Well, Michelle Malkin hates her ethnicity, like most Republican minorities, and thus she advocated internment. Also, some
hick from NC defended it, before apologizing.

Quote:
Meanwhile, this also reminds me of the contrast between Japanese manga fans and American manga fans. I've heard a number of comments that lead me to believe that a good number of Japanese fans are actually rather conservative and that there's a decent and somewhat disturbing streak of nationalism in the fandom.


I doubt they're conservative as much as live-and-let-live types. Otherwise, they'd love to have another war with Kim Jong Il and China. It's just that they got their own neo-cons who keep screwing things up for the young people, too.

danger:
Quote:
Also, I imagine its an attempt to preserve his honor.


I thought it's so he doesn't have to commit seppuku! Laughing
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Mevious



Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 78
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:05 pm Reply with quote
frentymon wrote:
Am I misunderstanding something or do Japanese PM's seem to have a compulsive habit of resigning whenever pressure mounts up and they lose their popularity?


Seems that way. But also, the drop in popularity seems to coincide with their plans of reform not being voted through.

I don't know what kind of man Aso is, but based on the controversial statements that the media publishes, I've always found it odd that he would be chosen for the position of foreign minister. Then again, outside of his statements, Japan was not involved in much international tension (Yasukuni Shrine excluded) while he was in the position. I guess he did a good job.

Oh, that's right. Fukuda refused to go to Yasukuni Shrine, didn't he? Aso will definitely go if he's PM.
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Chiaki777



Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 62
Location: Bay Area, California
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:43 pm Reply with quote
Gage wrote:
Maybe ANN should be more politically driven. That'd be interesting. Or perhaps that should be left for the bloggers, huh? Let's see how it works. Gatsu, you up for the position?


As a news organization. I'd rather not see that.
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Josh7289



Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 1148
Location: NJ
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:05 pm Reply with quote
This guy sounds like an not-so-nice-person. (EDIT: Hahaha, the word I had here before it got censored started with a vowel.)

Although my knowledge of Japanese politics is limited, I hope someone from the Democratic Party of Japan gets elected next year. Hell, even the Japanese themselves don't approve of the current form of the Liberal Democratic Party...Sounds like the situation our Republican party, or at least our President, is facing right now.

By the way, looking through Wikipedia, it seems like Japanese prime ministers resign a lot. Why is this?

EDIT: Just read through the thread, so I have a better idea about the answer to my question.
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 7337
Location: Hsinchu City, Taiwan, ROC
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:15 pm Reply with quote
Josh7289 wrote:
Although my knowledge of Japanese politics is limited, I hope someone from the Democratic Party of Japan gets elected next year.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-05/magazine-for-the-otaku-elite
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Josh7289



Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 1148
Location: NJ
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:28 pm Reply with quote
Not sure why you linked to that, but it seems as though that magazine has gone under, if their website (or lack thereof, to be precise) is any indication.
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 7337
Location: Hsinchu City, Taiwan, ROC
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:49 pm Reply with quote
Josh7289 wrote:
Not sure why you linked to that

Quote:
The cover of the first issue will feature Hatoyama Yukio, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary-General.



Didn't you just say that you "hope someone from the Democratic Party of Japan gets elected next year"? I don't know about Ichiro Ozawa, but at least Yukio Hatoyama is aware of the otaku (sub)culture, although he might not have gone as far as Aso. Wink If DPJ gets more seats it's very possible that the next PM of Japan would be either one of those two prominent DPJ figures.
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Daimao Raki



Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 305
Location: Boro City, SC
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:54 pm Reply with quote
The guy that is running for Japan's top spot seems to be a certified lunatic, manga fan or not. Japan's recent upsurge in nationalism concerns me too.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 8423
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:57 pm Reply with quote
It's not an upsurge in nationalism. It's just some military nuts at the top rocking the boat. If anything, the Iraq war is probably what cost Koizumi his seat as much as Blair his seat, since the Japanese clearly didn't take too kindly to their troops being used as suicide bomber fodder.
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Josh7289



Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 1148
Location: NJ
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:03 pm Reply with quote
dormcat wrote:
Josh7289 wrote:
Not sure why you linked to that

Quote:
The cover of the first issue will feature Hatoyama Yukio, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary-General.



Didn't you just say that you "hope someone from the Democratic Party of Japan gets elected next year"? I don't know about Ichiro Ozawa, but at least Yukio Hatoyama is aware of the otaku (sub)culture, although he might not have gone as far as Aso. Wink If DPJ gets more seats it's very possible that the next PM of Japan would be either one of those two prominent DPJ figures.


Oh, yeah, it would probably be one of those two, but it's not like them being interested in manga or whatever would influence my opinion about them. I mean, yeah, it's interesting, but it's nothing that someone should base their vote on, of course.
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tempest
ANN Editor in Chief


Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 7059
Location: Montreal
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:04 pm Reply with quote
GATSU wrote:

Weren't you just contradicting that other guy by stating your political affiliation, when it has nothing to do with the discussion, either?


I was being accused of painting Aso in an especially positive manner. Perhaps this person thought I was doing this because I supported his politics? I stated my position n this to make it clear that wasn't the case. So no,I did not do it to be argumentative.
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