Shumatsu_Samurai said...

Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:16 AM JST - 3rd September

the point is that McCain's desires for policy will not drive APAC region policy. Japan is a political mess and China is the nation holding all the cards now.

Hardly. Japan remains a country that does not exploit its full diplomatic/military potential. On the other hand China does not "own"…

Posted in McCain expects Japan to take lead role in regional, global affairs at 03:16 AM JST - 3rd September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:46 PM JST - 2nd September

And just where does McCain obtain the authority to expect any other country to do anything he wants them to? He is not president

Duh, but he's campaigning to be. When people do that they make policy proposals and reflections on policy, etc.

Posted in McCain expects Japan to take lead role in regional, global affairs at 03:46 PM JST - 2nd September
Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:30 AM JST - 15th August

Definitely a great swimmer and Olympian - well done, Sir!

Posted in Kitajima makes it a double double at Olympics at 12:30 AM JST - 15th August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 08:37 AM JST - 9th August

All I can say is "boooooring!"

Sure it may have entertained people with little taste, but from a critical point of view it wasn't stimulating at all. I saw it as a rather obvious attempt at nationalistic back-slapping (e.g. "lookie what we invented!").

Posted in China opens Olympics spectacularly at 08:37 AM JST - 9th August
Shumatsu_Samurai at 08:32 AM JST - 9th August

It's called a close-up - the other athletes are behind her.

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Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:27 AM JST - 18th July

Rather than make recommendations for him to read partisan or irrelevant works, I would suggest he simply interact and socialise with as many locals as possible - that's what diplomats should do. The people that spend their time reading on the subject are those who have no real interest in…

Posted in New British ambassador to Japan looks forward to challenges ahead at 07:27 AM JST - 18th July
Shumatsu_Samurai at 08:19 PM JST - 13th July

more gray losers like him...same as its been since at least nakasone in '86

I'd say that Koizumi shook things up quite a bit. Shame he couldn't stay on longer, really - would have kept the reforms going.

Posted in Support rate for Fukuda 26.8% at 08:19 PM JST - 13th July
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:53 PM JST - 5th July

yeah good idea to give the LDP more money..there's not a more trustworthy bunch of guys anywhere

Read the article.

"The group, led by former financial services minister Yuji Yamamoto, presented a blueprint for the Japanese SWF and maintained that professional asset managers should be hired by the fund, which…

Posted in LDP team proposes pension-based sovereign wealth fund worth Y10 tril at 06:53 PM JST - 5th July
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:42 AM JST - 3rd July

There are actually many different factors that should play into having children and as a prospective parent, I'll decide when it's time.

You ignored the substance of my point. People can choose, but if they do so for purely selfish reasons then I question whether they should be parents at…

Posted in Japan needs to raise birthrate to remain economic power, say experts at 06:42 AM JST - 3rd July
Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:38 AM JST - 3rd July

I think it's a smart move on the part of Japanese women to not have (many) children. They must understand not only how expensive it is but how it limits their options given the current job market.

They can't expect things to change - they need to push to change…

Posted in Japan needs to raise birthrate to remain economic power, say experts at 03:38 AM JST - 3rd July