Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Japan royal couple head to Canada, Hawaii

National Jul. 04, 2009 - 01:48AM JST ( 3 )

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3 Comments

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sensei258Jul. 04, 2009 - 06:02AM JST

I have a lot of respect for the Royal Family. Having said that, may I ask why they never go to Pearl Harbor? Is it out of respect for the father? I just want to understand. Is it national pride?
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elbudamexicanoJul. 04, 2009 - 06:27AM JST

I would love to go along with the Royal Couple and escape from this horrible heat and humidity here in Tokyo!
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BrunobearJul. 05, 2009 - 08:03AM JST

The Royal couple will be treated with great respect and dignity at all official functions in Canada and the US including Pearl Harbor if they were to change their itinerary at the last minute. Japan needs to understand it is respected in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Britain (its old WW1 allies, and its sadly WW11 foes).

There is no need for any Japanese to cringe or fear going to places like Pearl Harbor. To do so is to completely misunderstand these five Protestant Christian Countries. They are all very forgiving. For the last six decades they have all worked hard to assist and support Japan to become the success its own Japanese people made it and a great business partner and ally to all of us.

The best manifestation of Japanese sorrow about Pearl Harbour is for a Japanese war ship to sail in, with its Japanese flag flying at half mast to signify respect for those who died.

The Royal Couple could host a function on board for dignitories, including Presdident Obama and Secretary of State Clinton with some local US servicemen that were there that fateful 7 December 1941 day. The need to say they are "sorrowful" for those who died that day but and "glad" or "happy" for those who fortunately survived. The Americans will understand and respect this gesture. There is no need for another apology in fact it would detract from the occasion.

All young Japanese need to understand the facts and simply accept it was a 15 year mistake, 64 years ago in a several thousand year proud history, and leave it at that. They must focus their minds on getting on with making a success of their lives, being creative and clever and keep Japan a technologically advanced and productive economy.

The greatest gift Japan can give the World is to be an economically strong, enlightened, and creative country, a generous supporter of small struggling Pacific nations, but mainly a major part of the balance in world power to ensure world peace.

I was proud that Japanese soldiers served alongside Australian, British and US soldiers in Iraq, whatever, readers consider the merits of the war are. The thing is Japanese Army engineers, protected by Australian soldiers, did a lot of good work for the local Iraqi inhabitants with little loss or Iraqi lives to my knowledge. The local Iraqi's will remember this as us Aussies do.

Japan has to promote its culture and its natural beauty to the World. Thirty years ago it was dream for us Westerners to visit Japan to experience its natural beauty. I don't know what happened but it rarely gets a mention today. It has probably a lot to do with the overvalued Yen. Japan, you must open up yourselves and your Country to us Westerners, please.