Sunday May 27, 2012

In protest

Picture expired.
REUTERS

A policeman looks at cars belonging to a right-wing group, bearing Japan’s national flags, during a protest to call on Russia to return a group of islands, called Northern Territories by Tokyo and Southern Kuriles by Moscow, near the Russian embassy in Tokyo on Monday. 

  • 0

    3RENSHO

    "Hey fellas, no parking here; buses only."

  • 0

    whiskeysour

    I wonder how long they were there ?

  • 0

    timeon

    it's actually a priority line for buses in the morning. the embassy staff was already too drunk at that time to care

  • 0

    BurakuminDes

    Wow - The Russians must've been quivering in fear!

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    I'd like to see one of these little old cowards walk up to Putin and try to say something to his face (since he's the one with the real power). He'd have them down on the ground in a split second.

    Why is it the police only WATCH these guys do illegal stuff and never actually arrest them? If it's a bus priority lane they're in that's at least a parking ticket or something. But nope... the J-cops are simply valets for them instead.

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    Anyway, these guys are idiots. Russia is probably laughing its face off, if it even bothered to take notice.

  • 0

    Jkanda

    The kings of naglost must have been wondering how to rob these cars? Khodorkovsky's guys are always there to teach Putin a lesson.

  • 0

    northlondon

    Why is it the police only WATCH these guys do illegal stuff and never actually arrest them? If it's a bus priority lane they're in that's at least a parking ticket or something. But nope... the J-cops are simply valets for them instead.

    The big difference being smith, that in Japan you are permitted to voice your political opinion. You want to know why you never see such scenes in Moscow?

  • 0

    northlondon

    these guys are idiots. Russia is probably laughing its face off, if it even bothered to take notice.

    Like I said. At least people are free to voice such opinion in Japan. I never saw this in Russia.

  • 0

    mushroomcloud

    Very entertaining.

  • 0

    Sarge

    "these guys are idiots"

    Protesting an illegal occupation and demanding the return of islands rightfully belonging to Japan makes these guys idiots?

    I'd like to see Putin go head to head with a Japanese judo expert.

  • 0

    seesaw2

    They were in Shibuya Hachiko this evening..!

  • 0

    Foxie

    Wow - those cars are so clean and shiny.

  • 0

    imacat

    Why do all of their cars have to be black? Why not have one in, say, red mica metallic or even silky beige?

  • 0

    noriyosan73

    It is great to see such a patriotic display of the Japanese flag. It is heart warming.

  • 0

    oberst

    They should do what the super-patriot Mishima did..........commit seppuku to shame the Russians into giving the islands back

  • 0

    just-a-guy

    Why didnt those Japanese 'underground society' grow up a little bit? If they have the courages to protest at the US navy 7th fleet HQ in Yokohama for similar reason? If Russian leader has irked Japan due to their footsteps on disputed soil then those 'nuclear powered US naval vessle was even more humilating if anchored in Japanese port!

  • 0

    ubikwit

    it's bigoted nationalism in a militaristic parade and a parade of militaristic nationalism!

    this is probably symptomatic of the causes for these islands no longer being a part of japan in the first place.

  • 0

    mushroomcloud

    just-a-guy,

    Great point. But Japan has grown accustomed to being a protectorate of the United States. This pseudo-colony status is acceptable to Japanese because General MacArthur did not place Hirohito and many members of the imperial family in front of a firing squad.

    Russia has simply annexed these Kurile islands and it's Russian Federation territory. That's what drives these right-wingers mad.

  • 0

    GenevaMan

    These guys need to get a jobby job.

  • 0

    paulinusa

    "OK Japan you win, we'll give back the islands!"

  • 0

    Antonios_M

    "OK Japan you win, we'll give back the islands!"

    Plus, half of Siberia would become autonomous as a buffer zone between the two nations.

  • 0

    just-a-guy

    @mushroomcloud: I feel pity for those Japanese officers that has to guard against those protesting vehicles,inhaling huge volume of combustion gas was really harzardous! By the way what does this protest has done? I am sure Russian leaders will keep goose steps on those islands when they feel necessary!

  • 0

    mushroomcloud

    I can sympathize to a degree with these protesters, as they have seen their nation cut down to miniscule size after the war.

  • 0

    BihakuRanger

    Uyoku is another name for chinpira, yakuza. They have a job. They are paid to drive those busses and cars around, 15,000 yen per day when I was there. Just look at their punch perms and sunglasses, dead giveaways.

  • 0

    Schopenhauer

    BihakuRanger is right. My friend at a construction company told me before that if they don't pay money to these yakuza wearing a mask of uyoku, they disturb businesses such as the road is blocked by their cars and the construction company trucks cannot enter the construction site.

  • 0

    soreleftarm

    @imacat: I saw one that was in urban camouflage parked in a Mini Stop parking lot at night.

  • 0

    sengoku38

    If they really wanted the islands, they should just go up and take them. Do some non-violent protests on Russian soil.

  • 0

    kurumazaka

    Imacat, they come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. Have seen none more virulent than the guys in the ****Shinsengumi****Buses. Live close to Yasukuni so I enjoy more than my fair share of these guys.

  • 0

    northlondon

    Protesting an illegal occupation and demanding the return of islands rightfully belonging to Japan makes these guys idiots?

    As usual, Sarge tells it how it really is.

    I'd like to see Putin go head to head with a Japanese judo expert.

    As I recall, didn't Putin bravely challenge some Japanese elementary school child to a demonstration bout? And it was a girl too?

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