Shumatsu_Samurai said...

Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:52 PM JST - 5th September

Japan’s next prime minister said Friday the financial sector must be regulated to foster healthy growth

Is he mad?! The Japanese financial sector is already too heavily regulated! That's one of the reasons why the economy is so reliant on exports - the services sector is too weak.

If he…

Posted in Hatoyama backs fiscal regulation; says he's not turning to socialism at 07:52 PM JST - 5th September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 04:05 AM JST - 4th September

The penny finally dropped for Hatoyama - he's only just realised that if he wants to be independent of the US, he would need to increase defence spending to ensure the military wouldn't need US support. He couldn't convince the public to accept that, so he'll continue to buy US…

Posted in Hatoyama tells Obama alliance is foundation of Japan's foreign policy at 04:05 AM JST - 4th September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:01 AM JST - 2nd September

Well that's a plan, solve the economic crisis through more talking, meetings and bureaucracy! After all it's not like there's a finance ministry or anything.......

Posted in Hatoyama to create economic recovery post at 07:01 AM JST - 2nd September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 09:48 PM JST - 1st September

No confidence in the patriot missiles???

That statement makes no sense by itself. Are you implying the Ministry doesn't have faith in the Patriot system? PAC stands for "Patriot Advanced Capability". PAC-3 is the patriot missile (the latest one).

The Ministry wants to increase the coverage of the anti-ballistic missile…

Posted in Defense Ministry seeks Y176 bil to bolster missile defense at 09:48 PM JST - 1st September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:08 PM JST - 31st August

viking, part of the problem is the bureaucracy, but the main problem are the politicians. The DPJ's plan to increase spending by 17 trillion yen is an example of this. It's not properly funded.

Until Japanese politicians balance the budget (as Fukuda was trying to do but sadly didn't have…

Posted in Calls already coming in for fast action after DPJ sweeps LDP out of power at 06:08 PM JST - 31st August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 02:21 AM JST - 31st August

cleo

Just because it doesn't happen in the US doesn't mean it doesn't happen 'around the world'.

It does happen around the world - the US is not the only country to not allow non-citizens to vote at national level, even if some do. Hence my use of the word…

Posted in DPJ crushes LDP in landslide victory; Hatoyama certain to become next PM at 02:21 AM JST - 31st August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:14 AM JST - 31st August

I agree that non-Japanese citizens shouldn't have the vote at least at national level. It's a common theme around the world. The US doesn't allow non-citizens to vote in federal elections. Some states allow it for local elections, but others don't. They have the right to make that decision, whereas…

Posted in DPJ crushes LDP in landslide victory; Hatoyama certain to become next PM at 12:14 AM JST - 31st August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:52 PM JST - 30th August

What I don't understand is why the DPJ say they will form a coalition government. If they gain anywhere near 300 seats they'll have a majority, so why have one of the dingbat smaller parties on board and just make policy making even more complicated than it will be with…

Posted in Voting under way in general election with DPJ favored to end LDP rule at 06:52 PM JST - 30th August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:49 AM JST - 16th August

herefornow

It is not a case of the pot and the kettle. Japanese politicians like Koizumi, despite what paranoid fantasists like to think, do not go to Yasukuni to annoy people. They go there to honour the dead and as free citizens are able to go where they like. If…

Posted in Koizumi, Abe among lawmakers to visit Yasukuni Shrine at 12:49 AM JST - 16th August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 05:37 PM JST - 15th August

I agree with virgo. They can honour the dead if they so choose.

hereforenow, they don't have to get into the stupid argument about Yasukuni's nature. They know what they're there for. If other countries can't deal with that then that's their problem. They're the ones that need to learn…

Posted in Koizumi, Abe among lawmakers to visit Yasukuni Shrine at 05:37 PM JST - 15th August