Well, I officially take back my comments from the other day. There's definitely something afoot here in Japan and it's no good.
Shin is right about an increase in racism here in Japan today.
A total lack of accountability for incomprehensibly idiotic comments means that we have senior Japanese politicians saying this?
"If something goes awry in Taiwan in the next 15 years, then within 20 years Japan might become just another one of China's provinces," Nakagawa said Monday in the central city of Nagoya, as quoted by the Sankei Shimbun daily."If Taiwan comes under (China's) complete rule, Japan could be next," he was quoted as saying later at parliament.
WHAT?!?!
I WANT THIS IDIOT OUT OF MY GOVERNMENT TODAY!
I don't see how that's racist. Stupid, yes.
Nakagawa's a nationalist, he likes making noise. He might have been drunk.
I've lived in Japan a while now. Less racism than there used to be. Still around, but far less blatant.
Adam, thanks for the comment. I'd love to hear more from you on your perception that there is less racism today than in previous years. That makes sense to me on a basic level (i.e. more exposure to non-Japanese culture, more international marriages, etc.)
Yes, in my anger, I was conflating the racism and the stupidity. I guess I'm just angry at the stupidity of the racism as well as the stupidity of the stupidity.
If there's one positive outcome from this statement, it's that he considers Taiwan's relationship to China as equivalent to that of Japans...meaning he considers Taiwan to be a sovereign nation. :)
Japanese politicians are always stupid enough to be controlled by officials.
Gen, you DO vote right?
Hi, its my first post here.
I don't think more racism in general, but appearently more nationalism.
but, as Abe came to power, it was so predictable. But does this reflect the Japanese society in generall? Not so sure about that...
But sometimes I feel intolerance is increasing...