Mike DeJong's past comments

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  Mike DeJongMar. 16, 2013 - 09:55AM JST

  Totally agree with the comments by Bruce and Patrick. The Hague is just window dressing. The real problem is the systemic denial of parental rights following divorce or separation. Until this problem is fixed, thousands of children in Japan will continue to suffer.

  Posted in: Cabinet approves child abduction treaty

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  Mike DeJongFeb. 18, 2013 - 12:00PM JST

  Hey SFJP. MLB scouts actually say NPB is more like 4-A, not "poor quality AA baseball."

  And yes, while Nishioka sucked last year, other former NPB'ers were good to outstanding in MLB.

  Yu Darvish finished with 16 wins in his rookie season. After a slow start, he was 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his last eight outings. A 20 win season is not out of his reach in the future.

  We all know how great Ichiro and Hideki Matsui were in MLB. But how about Nori Aoki? The Brewers are considering him as their leadoff hitter this year after a solid season, where he batted .288 with 10 home runs, 37 doubles, 30 stolen bases and a .355 OBP.

  Hiroki Kuroda was the Yankees' best starter last year, going 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA.

  Finally, Ryan Vogelsong and Colby Lewis were only average pitchers in Japan. But both went on to become stars in MLB. Vogelsong helped the SF Giants to a World Series title last season with excellent pitching in the post season.

  The best might be yet to come from Japan though: Hiroyuki Nakajima. He should be a star this season as the Oakland A's starting shortstop.

  Posted in: ONE World Sports to televise Yomiuri Giants games in U.S.

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  Mike DeJongJan. 17, 2013 - 10:36AM JST

  Okimike... why don't you compare relevant statistics like these. Number of firearm homicides per country last year:

  Japan 11 Australia 30 England and Wales 41 France 35 Greece 29 Ireland 21 Netherlands 55 Spain 90 Canada 173 USA 9,146

  Need we say more? The US is a third world country when it comes to protecting its own citizens.

  Posted in: Obama unveils $500 million gun control package

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  Mike DeJongDec. 18, 2012 - 10:36AM JST

  What's a hockey kit? Do you mean skates and a stick?

  Posted in: Have an ice day

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  Mike DeJongOct. 26, 2012 - 01:33PM JST

  By the way, there are many more cases of Japanese child abdcution on this website. Some of the examples are heartbreaking...

  http://crnjapan.net/TheJapanChildrensRightsNetwork/art-thkoch06.html

  Posted in: Scottish author's book details efforts to locate sons taken by Japanese wife

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  Mike DeJongOct. 26, 2012 - 12:38PM JST

  AiserX: "It's my experience that often in marriages like these the foreign husband just so happens to be the domineering types. Which IMO partly explains why so often the child is "abducted" (oxymoron) away. Just looking at this mans intense gaze on that picture above makes me uneasy."

  That is the dumbest comment I have ever read on this issue and it belies the racism that lies at the heart of this problem. AiserX, not all foreign husbands are the "domineering types." In my case, my Japanese wife was verbally and physically abusive... one time causing neighbors to call the cops in Canada because of her screaming.

  Did you know that 20 percent of the abduction cases involved Japanese fathers and foreign moms? (One case is featured in that excellent movie From the Shadows). So should we count these foreign moms as "domineering types" too?

  The bottom line is that Japanese parents know that they can easily abduct their children and flee back to the safety and protection of the Japanese government.

  It's an international shame and a crime against children.

  Posted in: Scottish author's book details efforts to locate sons taken by Japanese wife

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  Mike DeJongOct. 11, 2012 - 03:23PM JST

  Where was the father?

  Posted in: Mother, son found dead in apparent murder-suicide

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  Mike DeJongOct. 10, 2012 - 01:28PM JST

  Do you people not read this story? Second line says the flight left from Kansai Airport.

  Posted in: Man on flight from Japan held in LA after smoke grenade, leg irons, body bags found in luggage

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  Mike DeJongSep. 03, 2012 - 10:59AM JST

  So wait a minute. A guy takes over from the worst president in recorded history, who left behind two disastrous wars and the largest deficit ever, complete with a banking crisis, auto industry crash, jobs flying overseas, etc... and you expect him to fix the mess in four years? Without the co-operation of the House and Senate?

  What more did you expect? In his inaugural speech, Obama himself said it might take two terms to fix all the damage done by the Bush years. Do you think Mr. company closer Romney would fare any better? What's his solution, more tax cuts?

  Posted in: Clint Eastwood mocked for Republican convention appearance

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  Mike DeJongAug. 30, 2012 - 10:08AM JST

  To say nothing of the fact that "Comme Ca Ism" makes no sense. It is like saying "Like This Ism."

  Posted in: Clothing ad touting Japan’s beautiful tradition features no Japanese faces

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  Mike DeJongAug. 09, 2012 - 10:01AM JST

  When will people realize that the media is a business and not a tool to "educate us"?

  A newspaper's job is to sell newspapers. A TV station's job is to attract viewers for advertisers. That's it. Full stop.

  When people start realizing this, they can stop depending on the media for education and turn to other sources.

  (NHK's job, by the way, is to promote the government line and not offend people. It is not about news either).

  Article Unavailable

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  Mike DeJongAug. 06, 2012 - 03:04PM JST

  Zhichi said: "The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a crime of war. The atomic bombing of civilians was a war crime."

  What are you talking about? Civilians were killed in both attacks. It would be nice to see the victims of Pearl Harbor honored in Japan too.

  Posted in: 50,000 mark 67th anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombing

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  Mike DeJongAug. 06, 2012 - 02:59PM JST

  As usual, Japan trails behind most of the civilized world.

  Posted in: France deplores Japan executions

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  Mike DeJongJul. 31, 2012 - 11:03AM JST

  Are there any other countries in the Olympics? I can't tell from watching NHK.

  Posted in: Matsumoto ends Japan's judo gold medal drought

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  Mike DeJongJul. 21, 2012 - 11:10AM JST

  Out come the gun apologists again. Guns are the problem here folks. Plain and simple. Sure, this guy was disturbed. But we will always have disturbed people and crime - recent stabbings in Japan and shootings in Canada demonstrate this.

  However, if you cut down the opportunities for these crazy folks to access weapons of destruction, you cut down the chances of mass murder. Would this guy have killed with a knife or sword? Not likely. Bomb-making materials? Perhaps. But less likely.

  Why do we have metal detectors at airports? Why do we restrict drinking and driving? To protect ourselves from people who can't function properly.

  Easy access to guns in America translates into easy access for criminals. Restrict guns and criminals will have a tougher time accessing those weapons. Some might still get them, but it will be much harder.

  This seems simple to most people around the world, but not Americans, unfortunately, who will continue to fall victim to crimes like this.

  Posted in: Vigil held after massacre at Colorado cinema

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  Mike DeJongJul. 19, 2012 - 02:51PM JST

  Can you guys please stop using the word "foreigners"? It's offensive.

  Posted in: Cool Japan? With new resident system for foreigners, 'Cold Japan' fits better

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  Mike DeJongJul. 12, 2012 - 12:23PM JST

  Should be called the Energizer Bunny Party because this guy just won't go away.

  Posted in: Ozawa, 50 backers form new party called People's Lives First

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  Mike DeJongJul. 11, 2012 - 02:43PM JST

  Those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it...

  Posted in: Clinton says 'comfort women' should be referred to as 'enforced sex slaves'

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  Mike DeJongJul. 10, 2012 - 10:11AM JST

  Nice article... but how about writing the opposite piece now... how Japanese women often disappoint their foreign husbands/boyfriends?

  I generally have found Japanese women to be cold, non-expressive and asexual. No hugging or kissing in public please, we're Japanese. Also no flirting, no romantic banter, nothing.

  If they can find time for you amid their 20 hour-a-day work schedules, you might be lucky.

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

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  Mike DeJongJul. 09, 2012 - 10:40AM JST

  "Japanese critics of The Hague treaty often charge that women and children need protection from abusive foreign men."

  The Hague Convention already provides protection against children being abused. Children cannot be returned to abusive parents.

  However, the difference with what Japan is doing concerns the onus of proof. The Hague requires that allegations of abuse be proven by the alleged victims. Japan wants to put the onus on the accused to prove their innocence. How can someone prove non-abuse? It's silly.

  Also, what about women who are abusive? Japan discounts this entirely.

  Finally, child abduction is also abuse. But Japan does not take this into consideration.

  Posted in: Parents urge Clinton to press Japan to take action on child abductions