Japan needs to diverge from status quo of following U.S., says adviser to Hatoyama

Thursday 27th August, 06:55 AM JST

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OssanAmerica at 09:27 PM JST - 28th August

ha ha japan 's gonna pull away from daddy?? Japan is always the little >follower. But yes let little japan stand alone against Korea, Russia and >China. How long before it runs back to daddy??

The only thing that could make Japan "run away from daddy" is if daddy no longer can afford to or decides not to provide it with protection. Even then the position of the U.S. that Japan shoulder more of it's own defense which has been ongoing since the Korean War 1951 will not change. It is in Japan's benefit to remain among the free democratic nations, rather than butt kiss China's dictatorship and risk eventually becoming a new chinese province.
Badsey at 11:19 PM JST - 28th August

The Federal Reserve (and its' owners) were feeding Japan in its' conquest for Manchuria (Dynamit Nobel etc). At one time these corrupt bankers owned China thru an exclusive drug trade that damn near destroyed the country --> they wanted back in.

-Reason for the nuclear+fire bombs. -They wanted Japan to be destroyed so they could be indebted to the banks. =That is they bottom line and they will play both sides to get it. Some how much of Japan is owned by these corrupt banks? I believe Japan is under the same corrupt money system as the U.S.
sfjp330 at 05:06 AM JST - 29th August

If Japan went on it's own, they will difficulty on defining roles of military with it's neighbors. Japan has weak Prime Ministers that lacks support from public and govenment, past and present. Compare to U.S., the govenment of Japan does not have any type of unity and support for one leader, regardless of if he is doing a good job or not. The head of the country has been like a revolving door, which makes leaders uncomfortable and lack confidence. With the debt of the country mounting, especially with aging population, the course of independence from U.S. might be of difficult challenge. Japan trust more of U.S. than China and I doubt the changes will take place.
guest at 09:06 AM JST - 29th August

Go ahead and disobey your masters, the USA will have no trouble finding a next best friend, South Korea must be loving this, looking forward to selling more Kia, Hyundai cars, electronics, and appliances, all nonexistent in Japan. Think about reality and the massive amount of jobs created directly interacting as Americas best Asian friend, not to mention the financial, and human burden of having to defend ones own country! I guess on the bright side all of the unemployed workers could be employed in the newly expanded Japanese army. Look around has a close friendship with America been a bad thing for Japan, the second biggest economy in the world?
guest at 10:33 AM JST - 29th August

The would be a good opportunity for Japan to discuss the possible territorial and other issues with the** friendly neighboring countries**,

Name some, name one??

products were of far higher quality and priced more competitively than their shoddy American counterparts.

were....heard about the IPOD, IPHONE,...? Dwelling in the past cannot possibly change any minds.
mareo2 at 11:21 AM JST - 29th August

Alliances is not about "love" or "friendship", is about what is convenient for the country. In fact, the words friend and democracy are just retoric. J can be a dictatorship torturing japanase citizens and the USA still can use J as a base. J and SK wealth is from hard work, a lot of US allies never get inside the first world, even if they have good trade agreements. For the USA is convenient have J as an "unsikable aircraft carrier on Asia", its a key for project their militar power in the region. The deal is that the US can use J as a base, if the US defend J. If the US want that J become able to defend itself, then SOFA lose meaning for J.
zurcronium at 08:17 AM JST - 31st August

All you military types better start applying for english teacher jobs if you want to continue to live here in Japan. Base closures are coming soon. The poor suffering people of Okinawa must be dancing in the streets right now.
seijichuudo9sha at 08:33 AM JST - 31st August

I don't understand.What don't the new ruling party like about Obama?Now if ever is the time to follow America.
taiko666 at 12:19 PM JST - 31st August

YuriOtani: If Japan wants to stop being America's lapdog it should stop being America's lapdog. Simple as that. You seem to blame the US for Japan's whining obsequiousness.
palisadez54 at 11:28 PM JST - 31st August

All you military types better start applying for english teacher jobs if you want to continue to live here in Japan. Base closures are coming soon. The poor suffering people of Okinawa must be dancing in the streets right now.

We'll be here for awhile. We wouldn't be here if something called "Pearl Harbor" never happened. If s**t hits the fan, I'll be defending this country while whiners run the opposite direction toward their home countries.

YuriOtani: I'm ready to defend Japan. Are you, or will you be hiding behind me? If we leave, you are on your own.
hworta269 at 10:28 PM JST - 1st September

I highly doubt that all the American bases are going to be packed up and shipped elsewhere anytime soon. Americans in Okinawa account for like 4 percent of the population and account for less then 1 percent of the crime or something like that so them leaving wont drastically impact anything except for the local economy taking a big fat dump.
hworta269 at 10:31 PM JST - 1st September

I also think Terashima is smoking something if he thinks the current SOFA agreement is somehow unfair to Japan. Other then the Japanese government paying a lot for the bases the rest of it is highly favorable to the host nation.
Sarge at 10:44 PM JST - 1st September

"has a close friendship with America been a bad thing for Japan?"

Incredibly, the DPJ seems to think so.
BobIshdia at 10:54 AM JST - 2nd September

two options I would present: 1. become the 51th states of the US. 2. find a better lover than the US.
helloklitty at 06:29 PM JST - 2nd September

Stories like this always beg the question, just what exactly does Japan do for the USA ?

The Japanese give the U.S. money, by buying treasuries, so Americans can buy things that they can't afford.

This is not going to continue and Japan will become more Asian centric.