Read this over at Japan Today. Japan has a problem, a fixable problem to be sure. The old boy network has flung big money into public works. To construction firms they have a financial state, conflict of interest?. This comment (titled: “Japanese too unpatriotic, says education report”) hits the problem right on the head. The comment was in reply to this article. I completely agree with this opinion and would say there are other problems that need addressing.
I have been reporting on the tug of war between Japan and North Korea (NK) and the families that make up the rope in that struggle. It’s in the Japanese news nearly daily. A quick backtrack: NK admitted to abducting 13 Japanese citizens 24 years ago to help train agents in NK. 5 of those 13 remain alive; the other 8 are reported to be dead of natural cases (or so says NK). The 5 came back to Japan and have been given support by the Japanese government so they could stay. The 5 have children back in NK and one of the 5 has an American deserter husband back in NK. The Japanese government says the American may come to Japan to be with his wife but there is the issue with the US government and the fact he deserted while in military service in the DMZ (demilitarized zone). The US has not said if they would bring charges about the desertion and there has been a report there has been an interview with the husband and children and they want their mommy back. Mom wants to be with her family but the Japanese government has asked for time to get the family to Japan. What’s a poor mother to do? The other 2 couples (4 Japanese abductees) also have children back in NK but they seem more resolved to get their children to Japan. Maybe I’m just a pessimist but I think there is not going to be happy reunion in Japan with all the families. I certainly hope so but doubt it.
Update
Here’s another article I found to put the whole story of the Soga’s into perspective.
