AkashiAussie's past comments

  • 8

    AkashiAussie

    http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-05/02/content_16466380.htm

    This is the Chinese take on things. Reads just like a CCP play book!

    Posted in: China says U.S. should be concerned about Japanese nationalism

  • 1

    AkashiAussie

    A friend and I once saw a Japanese policeman spend 20 minutes investigating the death of a pigeon. He was writing things down in his note book, meaduring the distance if the pigeon from the footpath and writing on the road with chalk. For a country with very inhumane pet shops and a pretty disgusting record of managing fisheries, it's amazing how seriously they take the death of birds...

    Posted in: 17 crows, 1 pigeon found dead on Yokohama street

  • 0

    AkashiAussie

    So some girl notices a scratch and it makes the news? Seriously?! She could have accidentally done it herself. She's not even sure she did get slashed and she felt nothing!

    Posted in: Woman slashed on Yamanote line

  • -2

    AkashiAussie

    It was only 6 on Awaji. In Kobe it was 3, and in most parts of Osaka it was a low 4. 2nd biggest I've felt.

    Posted in: 24 injured after M6.3 quake hits western Japan

  • 2

    AkashiAussie

    I used to support the Japanese whalers, and I still support their right to conduct whaling in their own territorial waters out of respect for their culture, but enough is enough and they should be sent packing from the Southern Ocean. I donated a lot of money to your earthquake appeal - money that I couldn't really afford to donate, and to see your government spend funds earmarked for reconstruction efforts in Tohoku on this whaling program makes me angry, especially while those up in Tohoku are still living in temporary accommodation. Your flip flopping from one excuse for whaling to another is equally as infuriating.

    Japan is a very stubborn country, and despite a massive chip on your shoulder about what everyone else in the world thinks about you, you have no respect for the wishes of other nations. To make matters worse, the last time you were in the Southern Oceans in an area which Australians have worked hard in and lost lives in, to forge a pathway to Antarctica and create amazing opportunities for scientific research, you are bringing naval vessels, refueling vessels and are brutally slaughtering some of the most intelligent creatures that inhabit the area. Last time your whaling ships even entered territorial water around Macquarie Island, which is world heritage listed and without a doubt Australian territory. What sheer and utter disrespect for one of your closest allies. Stories related to our exploration in this region are key parts of our birth as a nation and the establishment of our national identity.

    The reason the Australian government has not made any real attempts to force your ships out of our territory is not because they know they have no claim to the area　as you suggest OKun, it is out of respect for the good relations and friendship between our two nations. This is why we are taking the matter to court, rather than arresting your crew and confiscating your boats, as we do with South Americans who come to fish in these waters. I will be interested to see what the new prime minister of Australia does about this issue once the current red headed clown is voted out.

    I have eaten whale and I will continue to support your cultural rights, but I hope your corruption fueled, yakuza linked commercial whaling industry in the Southern Ocean gets the treatment from the IWC that it deserves.

    Posted in: Australia to tackle Japan on whaling at U.N. world court

  • -2

    AkashiAussie

    http://i46.tinypic.com/21r43o.jpg

    Here some information on the Antarctic Treaty, which I assume Japan is still a signatory to. What obligations does Japan have under the terms of this agreement?

    • scientific research to be freely shared?
    • no military weapons?
    • all activities in Antarctica to be assessed for their environmental impact?
    • marine pollution and disturbance of wildlife?
    • the living resources are protected?

    Seems like the Japanese are acting completely against the interests of all member states. Added to that, they move into water around pristine, world heritage listed islands which are without a doubt part of Australia? Japan is like a stubborn mule with little regard for anybody else in this situation. Japan can whale all it likes around Japan, but please leave the Southern Ocean.

    Posted in: Australia to tackle Japan on whaling at U.N. world court

  • -2

    AkashiAussie

    As far as I know, Sea Shepherd US have cut all ties with Sea Shepherd Australia which is now operating independently with Australian registered ships. As a result, the US has no authority right? The weak Australian government will probably do all they can to assist the Americans though. 'All the way with LBJ,' and all that...

    Posted in: U.S. court calls Sea Shepherd modern-day pirates

  • 1

    AkashiAussie

    Same place where that Chinese coral fisherman was detained a few weeks ago right? No regard for what the Jp authorities think, if there's money to be made, who cares right?

    Posted in: Coast guard arrests Chinese boat captain over illegal fishing

  • -1

    AkashiAussie

    I wonder how the Japanese whalers how sailed into Australian water around Macquarie Island would have reacted if Australian authorities wrecked their boats?

    Posted in: Taiwanese activists demand Japan pay for damaged boat

  • -1

    AkashiAussie

    http://s12.postimage.org/l6mu8iz5p/image.jpg

    Just FYI, this is a summary of the Antarctic Treaty on display at the Tasmanian Museum.

    Posted in: Activists accuse Japanese whalers of trying to crash into their ship

  • 1

    AkashiAussie

    All that said, I always flick across to the China Daily for a look at the Chinese take on any incident that occurs. Currently, there is no article about Japan threatening China with warning shots...

    Posted in: Japan talk of warning shots heats up China dispute

  • -1

    AkashiAussie

    The study of Asian languages in general has been increasing in popularity over the past 20 years. 20 years ago the only languages on offer were French and German, but Australians no longer wished to be European outpost on the edge of Asia, but an integral part of the Asian region as our geography suggests we should be. Japanese was the first Asian language offered regularly in Australian schools, but now students can often learn other Asian languages such as Indonesian, Hindi and Mandarin. Just studying another language however in no way means that students will be developing conversational ability in said languages. The study of Asian languages is increasingly including cultural studies as well. Developing a life long interest is now the highest priority for educators of Asian languages in Australia, which is arguably one of the most difficult places in the world to learn languages other than English.

    Currently, our two largest trade partners are Japan and China, and recently the federal government has issued a white paper on Australia's 'Asian Century'. The Australian eye is still on Japan, but we are starting to build stronger relations with our other neighbouring countries, and we are not putting all our eggs in one basket! Japan is very interested in our mineral wealth as well as our aquaculture. In some circles, Japan's reputation has taken a battering in recent times due to their disregard for Australia's environmentalist Antarctic treaties and unwillingness to compromise on the issue of whaling.

    http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/

    Posted in: Twenty years ago when there was greater economic focus on the relationship between Australia and Japan, people seemed to understand that Japanese was worth studying. I think that profile's been lost.

  • 0

    AkashiAussie

    I used to live in a pretty remote part of Australia. Anybody who bought a Suzuki was on a losing ride to nowhere. I don't know anyone who was happy with how their Suzukis handled the serious offroad stuff that was required in that part of the world. As for their regular line of cars, they weren't in the same ball park as what Toyota and Nissan had to offer. Not surprised that they're deciding to focus on their bikes and ATVs.

    Posted in: Suzuki to pull out of U.S. car business

  • -2

    AkashiAussie

    http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/11/04/365299_most-popular-stories.html

    Where were Sea Shepherd when the dolphins and whales needed them? ;(

    On the other side of the coin, the Japanese could get whales cheaper by paying coastal nations money for their beached whales.

    Posted in: Watson to join anti-whaling campaign despite Interpol arrest notice

  • 3

    AkashiAussie

    One of my best friends in Japan is a Malaysian/Australian Muslim. He is one of the most respectful, kind and sincere people you would hope to meet. The main problem with this whole issue is that too many people on both sides are stereotyping and lumping everybody into the same basket. One preacher in the United States said something bad about Islam, therefore every American is at fault. A handful of Islamic extremists in Syria stormed an embassy, therefore every Muslim must hate America. Please get a reality check.

    Posted in: Obama urges Americans not to be disheartened by images of protests

  • 0

    AkashiAussie

    Seriously Sheetu? I hope you are joking as war is a terrible, terrible thing. Also, I think in all honesty that Japan would not stand a chance.

    Waxman, Japan is definitely living in the bubble days. For all its technology, when I go into public offices, I am shocked at the antiquity of their duties. Everything is on paper and nothing is computerised, but I guess if it worked in the good old days, it must be the best way. In Tohoku, because everything was on paper, the government didn't actually have a proper idea of who was where and what was actually going on.

    The education system is a joke too. In Australia, technology in the classroom is huge. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a school without at least one smart board in operation. In Japan, if you mention a smart board, you are met with vacant stares. People don't even know what they are. When I first came to Japan in 1998, high school kids were still using slide rules in their mathematics classrooms.

    Japan's political roller coaster seems to replace one senile old man with another, none of who are never seemingly in it for the right reasons. Each tries to bring about a few short popular changes, but nothing ever actually changes. Nobody is in it for the long haul, and nobody is willing to risk losing face to bring about the big changes that are needed.

    Perhaps they're attempting to mobilise the people into a working frenzy this time around by telling them of a huge threat on their doorstep. It's worked before right, so why not do it again?! Sheesh.

    Posted in: 5 LDP candidates, in 2nd debate, push for hard line with China

  • 0

    AkashiAussie

    To all those people saying how unsafe Japan is becoming, you need to stop and think for a bit. Stuff like this happesn every Friday and Saturday night where I live and doesn't even make the news. Japan is still very safe, despite the opinion you have formed from reading Japan Today.

    Posted in: Woman, taxi driver attacked by knife-wielding assailant in Kitakyushu

  • 2

    AkashiAussie

    The Japanese seem to think that they have the hottest Summer in the world, which is very far from the truth. The number one rule for Japanese people should be to avoid the AC. The Japanese (and the reader), seem to spend their time in Summer hurrying from one air conditioned building to another and in Winter believe it or not, from one heated room to another .This means that the Japanese are either complaining that it's too hot or too cold almost the entire Winter and Summer season. If they spent more time outside, they would climatise and get used to the not so extreme temperatures. It might make life a lot more enjoyable!

    Posted in: Summer in Japan: A survival guide

  • -10

    AkashiAussie

    Japanese girls are very naive and suckers for a bit of sweet talk. Probert hits the nail on the head with what he says. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

    Posted in: 10 things foreign guys do that make Japanese girls fall head over heels

  • -4

    AkashiAussie

    I'm guessing that none of you have actually been to Taiji. There is already a big whale and dolphin museum and marine park. You can already sit in a pool with dolphins and give them commands to make them do tricks and all for less than $20. Afterwards you can feast on fried whale which is unbelievably tasty.

    Posted in: 'Cove' town in Wakayama plans to open dolphin park

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