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Gov't trying to confirm report 9 Japanese have joined Islamic State

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Let me guess...9 unemployed males with no fixed address.

16 ( +20 / -5 )

You have got to be joking?!

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

What a bunch of ignorant idiots

5 ( +7 / -2 )

What - a Returning Jihadis line for Narita, too?

12 ( +13 / -1 )

I was just wondering this, if any Japanese had joined, after seeing a report that China also admitted to some of its citizens joining ISIS/ISIL. They are very good at social media and reaching those lost or easily influenced people. And social media is global. Its no surprise some Japanese have joined and how do you stop ISIS/ISIL from advertising on the net?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

They'll return to Japan ........in tiny pieces in body bags ...losers

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Probably read some jihadi manga.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

from japan all the way to arabia? for what? lol

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I mentioned this to my students when we were talking about that mercenary from Chiba who went over saying he's only a journalist. My students were SHOCKED at a Japanese person getting involved in those things - but I said it's not surprising for a citizen of any country to get involved in Jihads, cults, drugs or whatever... people do things like that for various reasons and hey... maybe they just got bored, angry or wanted to "belong"to something... no society can completely satisfy everyone... even the Japanese society... IMHO.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

What else does Israeli intelligence know about Japan that Japanese officials don't?

13 ( +15 / -2 )

I had a chance to talk to a former imerial army soldier before. He said he liked his military life since there was no discrimination in there. He was poor and no educational back ground and had a hard time in the society while in the military, it meant nothing what people were doing in the society. All were all treated equal - rich or poor, educated or uneducated, etc. Why so many people in the world believe Islam? Capitalism is a cruel idea - the strong devour the poor.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Now I KNOW that people like Tamogami and others in government want a return of the 'glory' of Japanese military, and are using the revision of Article 9 to say they can attack other nations in the 'defense' of others, but this is crazy. They don't know a thing about this, with some making snide remarks about other countries' people joining, then all of the sudden there are 9 and no one knows what's going on?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Doesn't surprise me at all! If you remember AUM, many of the members were highly educated and from well to-do families. They were bored with their monotonous lives and easily influenced by something other than the ordinary. You'll probably find there are now members from every country in the world, recruitment has been going on for many years!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Let them go, please anyone who feels the need is welcome to go, BUT you cannot return

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Blundering fools! It will be for them a land of no return.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What else does Israeli intelligence know about Japan that Japanese officials don't?

Probably a hell of a lot I would say. Japanese "officials" often times seem to have their heads in the sand when it comes to issues regarding security.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

no japanese knew that before it was posted on the newspaper , yubaru Lol , your blogs is with fantasic comment are pre-notice event

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The news says 9 Japanese joined the islamic state. They would probably be begging the Japanese embassy and the Japanese govt once a splinter militant group abduct and hostage them. Only then will they remember the glory of living as Japanese in Japan and not in any other exotic place with its entire different and exotic customs and religion. Who knows they're taken for a ride to put Japan in an awkward situation. i maybe wrong.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I don't think 9 Japanese are not many and not even islamic, just ignorant axxholes, would be finally beheaded in chaos of war. Who cares.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Why on earth is anything Tamogami - the Nanjing Massacre didn't happen - being reported seriously in media. Why give ultra nationalists any air.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Schopenhauer, you seem tocan't nk Socialism is a panacea. Quite the opposite. Socialism subjugates all, yet the elites have all the power and all the wealth. North Korea is your nirvana?

As others have posted, it should come as no surprise that some disaffected, deranged individuals from ANY culture would choose to join that barbaric group. That's what losers do. If they can't find a way to succeed honestly, some will opt to violently assert their will on others, whether it be via religion(any/all) or socialism.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tamogami is an uber nationalist of the highest degree. Giving him credibility about this gives him general credibility. Google "tamogami was japan an aggressor nation" for his views on war time Japan. Scrutinize his motives for this before accepting it.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Many forget that not all of those who join Islamist groups came from poor families. Some of them were middle class, others were quite wealthy. One's financial standing doesn't prevent them from having demented ideals.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I would not necessarily believe this. The Israelis have a long history of provoking others to fight for them. This might be their boilerplate attempt at getting Japan involved to fight their wars or at the very least getting Japanese riled up. How serious is this guy who is reporting it? What is his connection to Israel?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tamogami is an uber nationalist of the highest degree. Giving him credibility about this gives him general credibility. Google "tamogami was japan an aggressor nation" for his views on war time Japan. Scrutinize his motives for this before accepting it.

Absolutely spot on - Tamogami is a far right wing revisionist - he was canned from the JASDF for publishing an article stating Japan was attacked (economically) first during WW II justifying the military attack on Pearl Harbor. He denies the rape of Nanking, the Bataan Death March, and every other Japanese WW II atrocity. He wants Japan to have atomic weapons..

He'll say anything to get his same in the press to bring attention to himself and his miniscule party,

I wouldn't trust anything he says..........

1 ( +3 / -2 )

This rumour is going on since last year. It looks like a few japanese went to the area as "tourists", or photographers. Some made friends with al Qaeda and/or ISIL members. It's a strange story and if they are still there some of them could be dead by now. More about this here: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2013/10/japanese_reporter_joins_al_qae.php

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I don´t know where the surprise is. Of course, there are some Japanese converts, and ISIS represents full-bore, no holds barred, in your face, fundamentalist sunni islam. Add to that attraction of adventure, power, and the vision of paradise. That is a powerful mix, especially for young, hormon-laden males.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That's what happens when dark age meets 21st century. In the past, those evil thinking countries or groups couldn't have done as many damage and commit as much atrocities as they can now with state of art technology like planes and modern weaponry alongside with social media to solicit sympathizers. That's why developed world always attempts to prevent countries like North Korean or Iran from from possessing nuclear technology and weapons of mass distraction.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Readers, please note the information is coming from a senior Israeli government official.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why would any Japanese person become a Jihadist let alone a Muslim is beyond me.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

JohnKen6: I agree with your comments but it appears most posters already believe this UNCONFIRMED bit of information, from just a single Israeli source. Until it's confirmed we can only guess, and your comment is just as possible as many of the other posted opinions.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Quite the opposite. Socialism subjugates all, yet the elites have all the power and all the wealth. North Korea is your nirvana?

You wrote 'socialism' but described America (capitalism). Which one exactly is it that you're talking about?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

AiserX:

" Why would any Japanese person become a Jihadist let alone a Muslim is beyond me. "

You can replace "Japanese" here with British, Australian, American, German, Dutch, French, or dozen more Western countries. Yet, tens of thousands of such young converts are in Syria and Iraq, living out their jihadist phantasies.

Face it: All it takes is buying into the ideology.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Misinformation to justify Japan joining the bombing coalition?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Some Chinese joined as jihadist I cud understand due to their Muslim Uighur background, but 9 Japanese joining is beyond me? When did Islam come to Japan?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

No surprise. ISIL is a magnet for crazies worldwide. Every loser, psychopath and people who couldn't pass the army psych exam but is just itching to kill, only needs to 'convert to Islam' and go over there and they'll give him a gun an let him fulfill his fantasies - or likely die in the attempt. They're drawing malcontents and nutters from all corners of the globe.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There are at least two Japanese serving in the French Foreign Legion. I don't see why they wouldn't go adventure hunting elsewhere. After all, a dozen or so members of Japan's United Red Army wreaked havoc for two decades, hijacking planes and taking hostages at embassies. So we should not rule it out. But Tamogami is something of a goofy idiologue and it would actually be a diplomatic gaffe to inform him in person when he does not represent the Japanese government. I suspect he was told in confidence as a friendly gesture and then betrayed that confidence to attract attention to himself and his new political party. (He also writes a weekly column for Asahi Geino, which is one of, if not the, slimiest of the weekly magazines.) So there's something funny going on, and I suppose it will be revealed in due time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Right. This information is coming from a senior government official. A good reason to doubt this story until it is proven to be true.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

ISIS fighters get paid 1000$ a month. Which is not bad if you are unemployed or really screw up your life

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"Nine Japanese nationals have joined Islamic State, Japan’s former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami quoted a senior Israeli government official as saying, but the government’s top spokesman said on Friday it had not confirmed the information. Tamogami, now a senior official of a tiny new political party, said on his blog that Nissim Ben Shitrit, the director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry, told him this month that nine Japanese had joined Islamic State."

Tamogami says the Israeli official told him that, but the article cites no confirmation from Nissim Ben Shitrit or the Israeli government. The Japanese government says it can't verify it, and I assume Israel's government has the phone number of its counterparts in Japan, and vice versa. We cannot say that the information comes from an Israeli official, only that Tamogami says he got such word from an Israeli official. Therefore, comments on Tamogami's credibility are appropriate.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can't imagine falling further than giving up life in Japan for life in the Islamic state. Nightmare just wouldn't do such an experience justice. They really are naive fools, whatever their motivation. But every country has its ignorant and mentally unstable I'm afraid.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It is important to acknowledge the news translates to National Security issue how Japan needs to deal with them when they return home. IMPORTANT.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

9 isn't a lot. The number of idiots from the USA is anywhere from 12 to 50. The UK suspects they've 500 fools who like being haters.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@warispeace

a lot more then They know

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Otaku with no job and permanent address, no family and friends and nothing to do with their life, bored and depressed and suicidal... Yeah the sum of all fears!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Damn... American bombs might kill Japanese people again...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The title of the article as of Monday is still: "Gov't trying to confirm report 9 Japanese have joined Islamic State", although the article makes no mention of any such J govt attempt.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ayukawa Datoc:

" Otaku with no job and permanent address, no family and friends and nothing to do with their life, bored and depressed and suicidal... "

and you know that how?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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