7 Comments

• 

  Sarge at 06:00 PM JST - 6th April

  Thanks a lot, Ugbobu, for ruining the 2008 Yokosuka Friendship Festival. With most of the entertainment and visiting the Kitty Hawk canceled, and with visitors unable even to take cakes home, they might as well have just canceled the festival.

• 

  jambon at 08:43 PM JST - 6th April

  "Cabby's murder overshadows Yokosuka base friendship festival"

  Nice try but... no it did not. People already have forgotten about it. I'll bet this year there is record attendance due to the extremely fine weather.

  In fact, this incident has pretty much dropped from all but the most left-leaning news organs.

• 

  Taka313 at 10:37 PM JST - 6th April

  There weren't a lot of people on the base compared to past cherry blossom festivals. Obviously the recent murder and the lack of entertainment and food booths played a hand in that. However, what this story doesn't mention is that the cherry blossoms are about half gone here in Yokosuka and I'm sure that played a big role in the reduced attendance as well.

  Taka

• 

  VoXman at 10:42 PM JST - 6th April

  Local residents have “mixed feelings” about U.S. bases: Fuji-TV’s infotainment program “Mezamashi TV” reported on the arrest of the U.S. sailor on Thursday, airing the results of a survey it conducted of 50 local residents living near Yokota AB and Yokosuka Naval Base. When asked about the fact that it took 12 days to arrest the sailor after he was detained by the U.S. military, 66% of respondents said it took too long, while only 26% said the timing was appropriate. However, when asked if U.S. bases are necessary, 64% of respondents said “yes,” with just 33% saying “no.” The program quoted one resident as saying: “(The U.S. military) is helping us a lot, so I cannot say that the troops should leave immediately.” Another man was quoted as saying: “Japan has no choice but to depend on the U.S. military.” The program said that the survey results illustrate the “mixed feelings” of local residents, saying that, while furious about the crimes committed by U.S. service members, they also recognize that Japan is dependent on U.S. bases.”

• 

  jambon at 10:44 PM JST - 6th April

  "The U.S. military also chose not to sell alcoholic beverages and souvenirs to visitors at the U.S.-Japan Spring Festival, which first took place in 1994."

  Woah, missed that one. Cases of Bud going out the gate, one hoisted on each shoulder -- legendary stuff, photos I got. Why, there's our "missing cherry blossoms."

• 

  Taka313 at 11:54 PM JST - 6th April

  jambon,

  Cases of Bud going out the gate, one hoisted on each shoulder -- legendary stuff, photos I got. Why, there's our "missing cherry blossoms."

  Actually, the sale of alcoholic beverages in bulk has not been allowed at an open base event for several years.

  Taka

• 

  jambon at 08:40 AM JST - 7th April

  "sale of ABIB"

  Ho, ho, ho... It never has been "allowed."

  "Yasuo Koike, chief of the city government’s tourism division, said, ‘The murder case was inexcusable but we decided to hold this event as scheduled to help foster friendship with people in the U.S. military.’'’

  Had it been the the passing of the emperor, well, need I say more?

Register or login to add a comment!