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Japan's 'survival game' fans play at combat, wary of war

19 Comments
By Linda Sieg

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19 Comments
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“But I don’t want to be caught up in an unnecessary war.”

Tell that to dear leader and the rest of Japan and particularly those in Yamaguchi who have the power to take him out of office!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Japan's Self Defence Forces are always in short of manpower. When the new defense law is implemented with a possibility that their lives may possibly be endangered, some may quit and there will be further manpower shortages.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Just re-label war as a "survival game" and they will be good to go.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

“We can’t always keep relying on the United States to protect us,” he said

Enough said there-

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Heh, heh, heh. Everybody has their head BURRIED in the sand except THESE guys, and those in Okinawa. 11% Japanese will FIGHT vs / 71% of Chinese....FIGURE it out.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Heh, heh, heh. Everybody has their head BURRIED in the sand

Thats because all these free-loaders know the bases in okinawa will make up for the 11% shortfall-

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Drums of war by any other beat... Let them practice the war games hard,they certainly need to, for, this is not pre- 1945 Asia and the casual walks in the parks they used to take. I'd just love a ringside seat to see an over-glorified so called Sam- what(?) " warriors's " mettle.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Now if they only used plastic pellets in actual wars . . . . .

2 ( +4 / -2 )

NATO 5.56. Silly kid, Trix are for kids.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Drums of war by any other beat

So, does that mean people in all other parts of the world who play Paintball are also drumming for war?! No, it doesn't. The reporter has clearly framed questions around war and attempted to establish a link to their hobby, which I think is absurd in this case. There are no drums of war here - just people looking for a bit of fun on their weekends. They state it quite clearly:

This is just a hobby, said another 24-year-old, Takuya Oki. I myself oppose war.

No smoke here.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Well, I would imagine part of the reason why Japan is so low is because most of the conservatives are also extremely old, and it's not likely that a 78 year old conservative man would be willing to fight for his country. Japan has a huge old population

But that also takes into account the fact that Japan is pacifist and has no military.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Japanese rather work long hour in office or bz with otaku then goto war. Japan population getting less young people, how big sdf can be. Might as well supplement with mercenary eg Gurkhas batallions. Best effective agst war is diplomacy and financial muscle.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ Tamarama ; "So, does that mean people in all other parts of the world who play Paintball are also drumming for war?! No, it doesn't."

No it doesn't, it just evokes memories of school kids in mass collective " games"( training) with bamboo sticks back in the years of yore.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I just been in one of the fields and I admit it was very fun. I would recommend to everybody. it could be your next hobby, I would recommend the war zone survival game field they have good layout, and all rental equipment for beginners, also bilingual staff. www.war-zone.jp

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I used to love this game, but I realize, is sensationalizing WAR really a good idea?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Really? It looks very silly when these guys dress and play war. Seems like something you should grow out of by the age of 12.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Really? It looks very silly when these guys dress and play war. Seems like something you should grow out of by the age of 12.

If that were true, paintball wouldn't exist.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My sixteen year old plays airsoft. His grandmother bought him a GoPro and i'm the one that's stressed he might wreck it, but he assures me he earns a nice little earner from Youtube.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Atari and other engaged in faux combat at Camp Devgru, a “war field” east of Tokyo, say their hobby does not equate with fondness for real conflict, reflecting an enduring public allergy to war that is a hurdle for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he pushes for a more muscular defense policy.

Ok, do they include a uniquely Japanese element to the game where you run out of ammo, starve and succumb to tropical illnesses while your superior equipped enemies shell you from afar and make a basic cable tv series about their experience, which includes suffering far less casualties and hardships than your team?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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