politics

Ishihara wants to meet Noda to discuss Tokyo's purchase of Senkakus

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The two men seldom meet and are known to have different views on a number of issues.

Ishihara has different views to everyone.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Noda should tell the jumped up little Tojo wannabe to remember who he is, a mayor of an unimportant bankrupt capital city. Stop trying to make a name for himself, once he's out of office no one will even mention his name. Does the idiot really think China will even acknowledge this purchase? China is a very, very big powerful country it could crush Japan in a morning's work without even breaking a sweat, corrupt scumbags like Ishihara need to remember that.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Exactly what Tokyo buying these islands achieves is a myastery. just a publicity stunt by the old xenophobe

7 ( +7 / -0 )

About this Senkaku issue, Noda should support to let US involved with developping or making military base in order to prevent making china to decide getting in military action. I would say good job Ishihara who could force Noda to involve on it.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

if this meeting is materialised, Noda's forthcoming visit to US will be quite interesting.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Governors shouldn't meddle in foreign policy.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Don't meet him Noda!!! meeting him will only make him think this is a good idea!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Noda should tell the jumped up little Tojo wannabe to remember who he is, a mayor of an unimportant bankrupt capital city.

Lol! Little Tojo is perfect name for him. I'll call him that from now on.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Sure dude! Ishihara will meet Noda and we can all agree to send his old senile ass out to them rocks out in the middle of the sea called the Senkakus by the Japanese.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So Ishihara wants to waste a heap of the taxpayers' money on an Olympic bid that only HE wants, and now he's planning to waste more on illegally purchasing islands that, as the nation claims, already belong to Japan? I wish this guy would actually put his money where his mouth is -- protecting Japan -- instead of in stoking his own ego. If he did, Japan might actually be better off, but as it is this guy knows he'll be long dead before the nation goes bankrupt thanks in part to him.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The really sad thing is that while here in Japan Today almost every person is contrary to what Ishihara is trying to do, if you check the opinion of the Japanese population you see that some, if not the majority of them, are in favor of this act of "patriotism". A survey was made by Yahoo Japan recently, allow me to quote:

"On the 16th of April the Governor of Tokyo Shintarou Ishihara announced his intention to buy the Senkaku Islands. On the next day Yahoo Japan did a survey asking his users if they were in favor of such an action. The results were that over 90% of the people that answered to the survey were in favor and support Ishihara on this matter. Meanwhile many enraged Chinese are asking for "the beginning of a China-Japan war"

I wonder what will be Japan's biggest problem in the next few years: the deflation, the lack of an energetic population, the lack of energy sources, the corruption....or having millions of Chinese soldiers in their shores.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

someone switch little tojo to decaffeinated please

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Exactly whose money is he planning to use? Wouldn't he need the approval of the citizens of Tokyo? Either directly or at least through whatever legislature exists. From what I have heard, the people are still paying for his foray into banking (100billion lost on ShinGinko Tokyo) and are not so keen on all of their money being spent on getting the Olympics.

It is very hard for me to understand why on Earth they keep electing him.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oh Syn, that is sad. We really do live among idiots.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Readers, no more references to Tojo please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hm, it seems bunch of ppl dont like Ishihara at all, but guys here dont say the islands are belong to china. sooner or later chinese military will begin trying to occupy those islands, before that Noda has to clear what japan does when it happen. i think tokyo having the islands doesnt matter, bringing out Noda thought into public is important.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Ishihara has different views to everyone"

Except for the clear majority of Tokyo voters, apparently.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan asserting sovereignty on the islands is definitely a good thing, given that China thinks the islands belong to them. It'll be also a good test of the Japan-US alliance. Sounds like most people on this forum would rather leave the issue to the Chinese government and wait for it to decide when to occupy the (Japanese) islands. Puzzling, very puzzling, especially as I suppose many of them live in Japan to enjoy the Japanese peaceful and quiet lifestyle. Maybe some time in Beijing would change their views.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Since when does a regional governor decide a foreign policy of Lebensraum?

Did anybody see that fawning display of his "interview" on the golf course on this morning's news? It was like watching a North Korean broadcasting network setting up a candid Q&A session with the dear departed Dear Leader.

This crook needs taking down a peg or two. I'm still waiting for his detailed account of where all the money he "lost" on the last failed Olympic bid went.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Synbios, did Yahoo say where they conducted this poll, and who participated in it?

I won't be surprised if the poll was conducted only in Tokyo (the only place Ishihara has any legal power), and if it was done by calling the NTT landlines of retired women at home (Blinky's base), then the 90% figure isn't much of a shock.

Anywhere else in the nation, and it's clear that (as Ivan has pointed out) a local governor has no business meddilng in the affairs of a faraway island in another prefecture, much less foreign policy.

If a government is going to buy these islands from their rightful owner, it should be the government of Ishigaki city, the neighboring island which has always claimed its northern neighbor islands as being a part of that municipality. Fishermen from Yonaguni (the next island over, to the southwest of the Senkakus) have also long used the waters surrounding these islands, and a claim by that town's mayor would also make sense.

Of course, Ishigaki probably doesn't have the money -- all the jobs, and the taxes that go with them, have long since been sucked away by Tokyo!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Isn't it time that Mr. Ishihara retired?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It'll be also a good test of the Japan-US alliance. Sounds like most people on this forum would rather leave the issue to the Chinese government and wait for it to decide when to occupy the (Japanese) islands. Puzzling, very puzzling, especially as I suppose many of them live in Japan to enjoy the Japanese peaceful and quiet lifestyle. Maybe some time in Beijing would change their views.

I personally would rather not "test" any sort of alliances. I also don't think that not wanting Ishihara to meddle means we are siding with the Chinese - what kind of thought line IS that?? What is puzzling is why someone would support a governor with no right to use taxpayers money for this kind of thing. Haven't the people of Tokyo lost enough money with this guy?

Um, I just got back from Beijing. Had a great time. Very friendly people - a little crazy with their driving but lovely people, great food and a heck of a lot cheaper than Tokyo.... Also a lot quieter. Election crap is kicking off where I am so have already been bombarded with megaphone and speakers...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Readers, please do not refer to Gov Ishihara as "Blinky."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The two men seldom meet and are known to have different views on a number of issues.

Two men? No ! 1 and 1/2

Ishihara Shintaro - A Real man

no-da - 1/2 man

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Is so BORING these posters nikkyoso-hanniti!!!

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

If Ishihara wants the islands bad enough, why doesn't he pick up a rifle, and man a post on the islands himself?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Buy them from who? As far as I knew Japan already owned the islands

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan : 1st rate country / 2nd rate economy / 3rd rate leadership.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Yeah, who is going to sell Japan the islands if Japan already owns them? Or is that the point? But anyway, I still think Ishihara is way out of line meddling in foreign policy. But then again, Ishihara isn't usually in line.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

and now he's planning to waste more on illegally purchasing islands that, as the nation claims, already belong to Japan?

No smith. A municipal government purchasing a land from an individual is not illegal. In this way, Tokyo can actually deploy/station MPD within the area.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

even if that islands are japan's territory jgov cant build anything without asking the owner. actually jgov had tried to negotiate the owner to sell the islands to gov though he had refused it because he dont trust JDP. Ishihara is kinda fascist right wing but at least he wont gift japan territory to other nations. guess if it was Hatoyama, he might present easily any of properties to china as Yu-ai gift.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I salute Mayor Ishihara for taking the proper steps towards what the J-govt should have done already in he firset place. Nationalist? Tojo? The biggest one party authoritarian dictatorship in the world is threatening all of Asia with a military and territorial expansion agenda and some posters are bashing Ishihara. I wonder if these same posters are aware that the U.S. is currently conducting joint military excercises with the Phillipines near the islands that China are also claiming Ibig surprise) and the Chinese have their undies in a knot over it. Come on people let's take a step back and look at the big picture shall we?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

These islands are part of Japan and if the Tokyo prefecture wants to develop them so much the better. T this time all China has to do is land a small force which would make Japan the aggressor. Once people are on the islands it makes China the aggressor.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Governor Ishihara good for you. Full speed ahead and forget the China song-and-dance act. Buy the rocks and put a gambling resort on it.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The biggest one party authoritarian dictatorship in the world is threatening all of Asia with a military and territorial expansion agenda

Karma's a b*tch isn't it?

And how exactly has China threatened anyone??

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Shonky really shouldn't have discussed this until negotiations were complete. It would serve him right if there was a bidding war for the land there now. I get the feeling that he only wants to cause trouble.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

WHAT AN IDOIT? Is this guy still around? Why try to stir up trouble? China is not going to care if you buy the islands or not. Meaningless, mind numbing, nonsense. Just dying to stir up trouble and make a name for himself. Why can't we call him what we want, JT? That is what we call him. There is nothing wrong with a nickname. That is his. Everyone called the ex-prime minister "iyairakan". What's wrong with calling him after pac man character?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Ossan, Why salute a warmongering, antagonizing, self-promoting racist? I don't get that. Plus, I agree with everyone calling this guy what he is. If he were prime minister he said he would dissolve all marriages between Japanese and foreigners and made a horrible comment about "half" children. Hey, I have a daughter and she is just as good as every other kid. If he were to become prime minister, he would be exactly what other posters have called him.

As for the US doing joint exercises of the cost of P.I, no kidding? Duh? China has ignored its own signature on the laws of the sea pertaining to EEZ's in the UN. China signed it and ignores its own signature. They are claiming the whole South China Sea. Even when it is not even close to its shores. It is ignoring five countries and their claim to their EEZs. That is ridiculous, and the US is doing everything it can to keep ChIna from getting more and more belligerent and aggressive. If China can control the South China sea, than the oil industry will be seriously affected. Know your facts, please. It is not that simple. I am not on either side and think the islands should be off limits to all because everyone is acting like children and can not work together to utilize it for what it is worth in the name of being neighborly.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Furthermore he has no business involving himself in international situations. He is acting exactly what other poster have called him. It is not his business. He knows it. Everyone knows it. But for all the believers in Ishihara , they tend to forget that this is more for self-promotion. He loves the spotlight. This is just self-promotion of a racist, xenophobic, fanatic who tries tries to stroke the arrogant egos of some half witted Japanese people who live in the past instead of understanding that Japan is not a planet. Just a small island nation amongst many. People like this guy are everywhere in every country. Another word would be "demagogue". Don't buy into it. We all have to live on this planet together.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Most Japanese are not half-witted. Please do not get me wrong. But I do have to wonder why such a guy was elected governor, not once but twice, by what i supposed to be one of the most intelligent population of people on the planet. But then again, we also elected George "Baka" Bush twice, so oh well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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