Global Voices Online » Chris Salzberg

Japan: Views on the Sichuan Earthquake

Chris Salzberg — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:36:22 +0000

The earthquake in China's Sichuan province, besides taking its toll on tens of thousands of Chinese citizens, has also had reverberations far away in the Japanese blogosphere, where the topic ranked top among blogging keyword lists [ja] and sparked conversations in forums [ja] over the past few days.

Blogger Kobayashi Akihito at Shirokuma blog writes about the way that Twitter was used to broadcast early news about the earthquake, and how this indicates a change in the way journalism is now functioning:

これまでのジャーナリズムは、言うなれば「選ばれた人」だけが情報を発信するというものでした。最近は市民ジャーナリズムというかたちも登場していますが、ここでも「市民記者」という存在になれるのは限られた人であり、しかも（各サイトによって程度の差があるようですが）編集部の検閲が必ず入ります。つまり一部の人間や組織が情報を選別し、その選別に対する信頼感で、情報の信憑性が保証されているわけですね（もっとも最近では、それに疑いの声を上げる人が多くなっていますが）。

Journalism up until now has been the transmission of information by only so-to-speak “chosen people”. Recently a form [of journalism] called citizen journalism has also made an appearance, but this is also limited to people who are able to become “citizen journalists”, and on top of this (while there is a difference between sites in the degree [to which this happens]) there is also inspection by an editorial department. In other words, one segment of people or of organizations chooses information, and based on a sense of trust in this selection process, the authenticity of information is guaranteed. (Although recently there are many people questioning this idea.)

一方 Twitter が構築したネットワークの中では、誰もが自由に情報発信することができます。その分ウソやウワサ話といったものも多く含まれることになりますが、別に従来のメディアのように情報の信憑性を保証しているわけではありませんから、受け手はそれを鵜呑みにせず「これは本当だろうか？」と吟味することになります。その情報を発信したのが、普段から信頼できる発言をしている人物か。一人だけでなく、他の人々も同じことを語っているか。同じ情報を受け取った他のユーザーは、どのような反応をしているか。そういった要素をベースに信憑性を判断し、場合によっては自らも「中国で地震があったらしいよ」と発言する――それがまた別のユーザーに伝わって、という流れになるわけですね。もちろんこれは理想像ですが、今回「Twitterで目にした情報はすべて正しいようだ」という発言が出ているのは、従来のジャーナリズムとは別の仕組みで、正しい情報が伝わる仕組みが現れつつあることを示しているように思います。

Within the network that Twitter has built up, on the other hand, anybody can freely transmit information. To this extent, there are also lies and rumors included [in this information], but there is no particular reason to think that [Twitter networks] guarantee the authenticity of information in the way that traditional media do. It is therefore a matter of the receiver of information not believing everything they see, scrutinizing [the information] and asking: “Is this really true?” Is the one who is transmitting the information a person who ordinarily makes trustworthy statements? Is it only one person, or are other people saying the same thing as well? And other people receiving the information, how are they responding to it? Drawing judgments about authenticity on the basis of these elements, a person may in some cases themselves also declare that: “there seems to have been an earthquake in China” — this message is then transmitted to other users, and this is how the flow works. This is of course an idealized image, but the statements that came out this time that “all the information seen on Twitter appears to be correct” would seem to indicate that a new mechanism for transmitting accurate information — different from the mechanism of traditional journalism — is in the process of emerging.

Japanese TV broadcast about the potential influence of the earthquake on the Beijing Olympics

Whereas Akihito focused on the medium, most bloggers in fact were writing about the actual earthquake itself. In a post entitled “Will the Olympics be alright?”, one blogger expresses sympathy for victims of the earthquake while also questioning the strategy of rush construction, which apparently compromised the structure of some buildings:

まずは被害に追われた中国の、そして世界の方々にお見舞い申し上げます。
タイミングもタイミング、恐ろしいほどのタイミングで地震が起きてしまいましたね。
折からのチベット問題に加えて、この大地震。
しかも、死者は１万人を超えそうだと。
また、この被害は地震のみならず、急成長裏の手抜き工事が大きく影響しているようです。
こうなると素人のわたしとしては、果たして無事にオリンピックは開かれるのかと。
いや、むしろこれも愛国心の高揚に一役買うかも知れませんね。
オリンピックもいいですが、突貫工事で被害が拡大したという点も早急に対処してほしいですね。

First I would like to express my feelings of sympathy to all the people of China, and of the world, who have suffered.
And the timing, what terrible timing for an earthquake to happen.
On top of the problems happening at the same time in Tibet, this major earthquake.
And what's more, apparently there were more than 10,000 deaths.
Apparently the damage was not only caused by the earthquake, but was also greatly influenced by the shoddy construction behind sudden economic growth.
In this situation, a layperson like myself has to ask, will the Olympics actually take place without any problems?
On the contrary, however, this could perhaps play a role in heightening feelings of patriotism.
I have no problem with the Olympics, but I hope that they deal as soon as possible with this problem of increased damage resulting from rush construction.

At Wakaba no Nikki, one blogger remarks on all the disasters hitting Asia recently, including the typhoon that took 30,000 lives in Myanmar:

このところ、ミャンマー・サイクロン（あまり『ミャンマー』という呼称は使いたくないが…）、中国・四川省大地震と、アジアで大災害が続発している。ほぼ１日たって大地震の死者は１万２千人と発表されたが、今なお９万人以上の人が生き埋めになっているとか。一刻も早く一人でも多くの人が救助されることを願ってやまない。私も僅かながら義援金を送ろうと思う。

The cyclone in Myanmar (I don't really want to use the title “Myanmar”, but…), the huge earthquake in Sichuan province, major catastrophes have recently been hitting Asia one after another. One day after the earthquake it was announced that there had been 12,000 deaths, but by now over 90,000 people have been buried alive. I keep wishing that many people are rescued as soon as possible, or even just one person. While it is only a small [contribution], I think I will also send a donation.

The blogger then comments on a strange phenomenon observed before the earthquake hit:

ところで、今回の「大地震の前に、同省の綿竹市で数十万匹のヒキガエルが一斉に移動するという異常現象があった」というニュースを読んだ。日本ではナマズが暴れると言われるし、以前読んだ地震の本には、雪の上を這いずっているヘビが確認された後に地震が起こったと記されていた。冬眠中のヘビを叩き起こすような変化が土中に起こったのだろう。また私の経験では、近所の犬が夜中にうるさく鳴き続けるので目が覚めたら直後に地震が起こったことがある。このような動物の異常行動を「宏観異常現象」と言うそうで、動物達は電磁気や化学物質の変化を感知しているのではないかと考えられている。

Incidentally, I read the news about “a strange phenomenon that occurred just before the big earthquake, in which several thousand toads in the city of Mianzhu in the same province started moving all at once”. It is said in Japan that catfish act very violently, and in a book about earthquakes that I once read, it was noted that an earthquake occurred after a snake was confirmed to be slithering on the top of snow. I guess there was some kind of change underground that roused the snake out of hibernation. I have had experiences myself in which I was woken up in the middle of the night by the loud barking of neighborhood dogs, and then an earthquake hit right afterwards. This kind of abnormal behavior in animals is apparently referred to under the title of “macro-anomaly”, and it is thought that such animals are perceiving electromagnetic or chemical changes.

Blogger Tatsuro Satoh at the Voice from Kobe draws a comparison with the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake:

テレビで、地震による空港での混乱の状況を放映していたが、テレビ画面からも「極めて強い揺れ」を感じ取ることができた。
　場面は全く異なるが、一瞬阪神淡路大震災を思い起こした。
　記事の写真は、余震を恐れ、路上で一夜を明かした人々を写し出している。阪神泡時代震災時、私自身もある意味で、写真が写し出している人々のように、茫然としていたことを思い出した次第である。。。

On television, they were broadcasting the confusion in the airport resulting from the earthquake, and from the TV footage one could sense the “extremely powerful vibrations”.
The context is totally different, but for a moment I thought of the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.
The photograph in the article shows people who passed the night on the street, fearing aftershocks. I remembered that I myself was also in a kind of daze at the time of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, like the people in the picture.

While bloggers were mostly sympathetic with the victims of the earthquake, online bulletin boards and forums expressed a different perspective. An anonymous poster in the 6th comment on a thread at 2channel about the earthquake writes:

6 : 名無しさん＠八周年：2008/05/14(水) 14:51:39 ID:4t7Tb1Oe0

売国政治屋だらけで支持する政党が無い国、それが日本。
５億払ったって中国共産党に流れるだけだ。
今まで兆単位で貢いできたＯＤＡもそれが日本からの支援だとは殆どの中国人は知らない。
なぜなら共産党はその事実を絶対に教えないから。
そして洗脳教育によって日本は中国に金を貢いで当り前だと中国人は思いこんでる。
今も昔もそこに感謝の念などは全く無い。

A country full of politicians who sell out, without any political parties to support, that's Japan.
Even if you pay 500 million yen, it just flows to the Chinese communist party.
Even now most Chinese don't know that the ODA [Official Development Assistance] which provided financing is also support from Japan.
Why? Because the Chinese government will absolutely not inform people about this fact.
Through an education of brainwashing, Chinese come to get the idea that Japan financing China is something obvious.
And now, just like in the past, there is absolutely no sense of gratitude for this.

Another poster, shortly thereafter in comment number 39 on the same thread, describes how they came to 2channel expecting to find sympathy for the victims of the disaster, only to be met with hostility:

39 ：名無しさん＠八周年：2008/05/14(水) 14:57:27 ID:I7toTpGP0

[…]

同じように心を痛めている人も多かろうと思い、インターネット掲示板
２ちゃんねるを覗いてみた。だがそこで目にしたものは、フリーチベット
支持者(ネットウヨクと呼ばれる若者達)の心無い、中国人被災者の方に
対する目を疑うほどの罵詈雑言の書き込みの数々だった・・・。

Thinking that there would be many people similarly troubled about this, I took a peek at the Internet bulletin board 2channel.
But what I saw there were thoughtless posts by Free Tibet supporters (young people who call themselves the net right-wing)
targeting Chinese victims of the disaster, so abusive that I could hardly believe my eyes…

Japan: Menu items on DoCoMo mobile phones up for bidding

Chris Salzberg — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:48:44 +0000

Blogger smashmedia comments [ja] on a CNET article [ja] explaining that mobile carrier DoCoMo is planning to change the ordering of certain “i-menu” items on mobile phones to reflect the size of monetary bids from companies, rather than reflect preferences of users.

Japan: Update on actions against Internet Censorship

Chris Salzberg — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:31:32 +0000

Shunichi Arai at Asiajin reports on the latest moves against Internet censorship in Japan.

Japan: Death Penalty Broadcast, 53 Years Later

Chris Salzberg — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:38:55 +0000

An audio tape recorded 53 years ago of a death penalty execution in Japan, aired by Nippon Cultural Broadcasting on May 6th and and by Asahi television's Super Morning show [ja] on April 29th, has triggered conversations among bloggers about the country's death penalty system. The 50-minute audio footage, which features the last moments of one unnamed death row inmate, is the first of its kind to have ever been released. The airing of the footage comes just as Japan is moving toward the implementation of a citizen judge system, with debate surrounding issues such as the Hikari murder case still ongoing.

At the Happy Road blog (ハッピーロード笑店街), one blogger writes:

やっぱり聞いてしまいました。文化放送は５３年前に執行された死刑の瞬間が録音されたテープを５月６日放送した。テープは大阪拘置所長が、死刑囚の処遇改善などのため１９５５年に録音したもの。約５５分間の番組では、死刑囚の氏名は伏せられいた、執行２日前に面会した姉との会話や絞首刑執行時の音などが約１０分間放送された。　死刑囚は姉に「泣かないで、笑って別れましょう」と語り、執行直前には刑務官と談笑。読経が響く中、刑場の床板が外れる音が放送された。感想は・・・んーだな。　凶悪犯罪が後を絶たない中、死刑廃止を考えさせられる。

Of course I listened to it. On May 6th, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting aired a tape, recorded 53 years ago, of the instant at which a death penalty execution was carried out. The tape was recorded in 1955 in order to allow the head of the Osaka detention center to review the treatment of death row inmates. In the 55-minute program, the name of the death row inmate was withheld, and they broadcast 10 minutes of sounds from a conversation with the inmate's older sister two days before the execution, as well as from the hanging execution itself. The death-row inmate told his older sister: “don't cry, let's say our goodbyes while still laughing,” and just before the actual execution, he had a friendly chat with the prison guard. The sound of the floorboards being removed was broadcast against the backdrop of sutra chanting. My impression was … hmm. In the midst of never-ending atrocious crimes, it made me think about abolition of the death penalty.

Many bloggers objected to what was perceived as a biased presentation by Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Blogger Moriri writes:

私は死刑賛成とは言いませんが、少なくとも死刑廃止には反対していますので、その考えに立てば今回の文化放送の行う内容では片手落ちであると考えます。なぜならこれは死刑囚が刑を受けて殺されるときの音声しか放送しないからです。これでは明らかに死刑囚寄りの放送内容であって、このような放送を行えば当然ながら「死刑囚が殺されるのは可哀想」という意見を醸成することになるでしょう。しかしこの死刑囚が本当の罪人だとするのであれば、彼が死刑を受けるに至った行為についてもきちんと説明する必要があるでしょう。それが公平な放送、ということになります。

I wouldn't say that I am for the death penalty, but I am at least against the abolition of the death penalty, and from that perspective I consider the contents broadcast in this case by Nippon Cultural Broadcasting to be one-sided. The only thing that was broadcast was the voice of the death-row inmate when he received the death sentence and was killed, this is why [I consider the broadcast to be one-sided.] This is clearly a broadcast that is biased toward the death-row inmate, and it is natural that broadcasting this kind of content will lead people to “feel sorry about the killing of death-row inmates”. However, if we take it that the death-row inmate is actually a criminal, then there would appear to be a need for a proper explanation of the actions that led him to receiving the death penalty. Then this would be a fair broadcast.

Blogger Takao Yoshiki (高尾善希) meanwhile argues that the blame for the death penalty finally comes back to Japanese citizens through the game of shiri-tori:

尻取り遊びをしてみよう。死刑執行の時の床板は誰が外すのだろう。それは刑務官に決まっている。刑務官はどうして床板を外すのだろう。それは法務大臣から紙が来たからに決まっている。しかしなぜ法務大臣は紙に判をついたのだろう。それは法務大臣になったからである。じゃあなぜ彼は法務大臣の椅子に座っているのだろう。それは国民が選んだからである。そこでこの尻取り遊びは仕舞いになる。つまり床板は廻り廻って国民が外したという理屈になるから、床板を外す状況を国民に向けて放送したとしても何ら差し支えないということになる。この放送についてどのような意見を述べようと自由であり、法務大臣を誰にするかということも、当然自由である。

Let's play shiri-tori [Japanese word game/cap verses]. Who is it who removes the floorboards at the moment of the death penalty execution? That's the prison guard. And why does the prison guard remove the floorboards? That's because a paper arrived from the Minister of Justice. But why did the Minister of Justice put his seal on the paper? That's because he became the Justice Minister. So then I wonder, why did he take on the position of Justice Minister? That's because the citizens chose him. And that's where this game of shiri-tori comes to an end. In other words, since the logic loops around back to the start with the citizens removing the floorboards, broadcasting the removing of the floorboards to citizens is somehow permissible. [People are] free to state whatever opinions they like about this broadcast, and they are also naturally free to make whoever [they like] the Minister of Justice.

Japan: Common Web TV Standard

Chris Salzberg — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:13:34 +0000

Serkan at Tokyotronic reports on news that a common Web TV standard will be rolled out in Japan as early as next year. Companies involved in the move, such as Sony and Matsushita on the hardware side and acTVila on the Internet service provider side, are attempting to come to an agreement by next month.

Japan: Return of the Gas Tax

Chris Salzberg — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:12:07 +0000

Japan's “temporary” gasoline tax [ja] of 25 yen per liter of gas, extended for over 30 years and funding some 5000 road construction programs, has been re-instated after a short-lived battle with the opposition, and people aren't happy about it. Popularity of the administration of Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo, according to a newspaper poll on April 21st by Asahi newspaper, has dropped to a record low 25 percent, down from 31% at the end of March. A poll meanwhile showed that 63 percent of Japanese disapprove of the reinstatement of the gas tax, a sentiment reflected in blogs and forums as well.

Gas prices in Tokyo on May 2nd, up by 25 yen to 158 yen/litre (at this station in Tokyo).

Blogger Spray criticizes people who support the gas tax because they think that it will help the environment:

賛成派には色々な意見があるが笑ってしまうのが、環境への影響という。どだい今の日本は新車が売れなくて大変だと報道されているのに、税率が低くなったからといって急にガソリン消費量が劇的に上がるわけね〜ってつうの。車を維持するためには多大な経済的負担が必要で公共交通機関がないに等しい地方や俺のような仕事でどうしても車を使わなくてはいけないという人間以外はもつ必要もないんだから。今の若者が昔に比べて車を所有しなくなっているといわれているんだから、ＣＯ２は特に増えるわけではないだろう。

There are various views among supporters [of the gasoline tax], but the one that makes me laugh is the one about environmental impact. There are reports about how difficult things are in today's Japan with new cars not selling anymore, so just because the tax is reduced does not mean that consumption will all of a sudden rise dramatically. The reason is that there is a huge economic burden in maintaining a car, and other than in regions where there is essentially no mass transport system, and other than people like me who have to use a car for their work, there is no need for them. Compared with the old days, it is said that young people these days have stopped owning cars, so it doesn't seem that there is any particular reason that CO2 would increase.

Blogger bluetear described their experience of the hike in gas prices:

私も昨日の内にいつも行くGSに早めに行ったんですが、もう長い列が出来てました。
驚きました〜駆け込み給油をする人がこんなにも多いとは(>_< )
昨日は125円で満タン入れましたが、今度入れる時は信じられない程の値に上がってるって事ですよね？
最近は、バターが品切れで価格高騰していたり、小麦粉やいろんな物も値上がりして、家計を預かる身は大変です
・.。*゜・。。・゜／【＞△＜】＼ｴｰﾝ
皆さんの場所ではもうガソリンかなり値上がりしましたか？

Yesterday I went early to the gas station that I always go to, but there was already a long lineup.
I was surprised… that there were so many people making a last-minute rush to refuel
I filled up the tank yesterday at 125 yen, but I guess next time the price will have risen to some unbelievable level, right?
With butter going out of stock lately and the price rising steeply, and the prices of other things like flour going up, covering household expenses is really difficult ・.。*゜・。。・゜／【＞△＜】＼
And all of you guys, did the price of gasoline rise where you are?

Blogger kochibox had a harder time:

　朝の出勤時間からすでにGSには駆け込み給油の車が３０〜４０台ほど列を作っていました。
　「ま、仕事帰りには少し落ち着いているだろう」とタカをくくっていましたが、
　とんでもない！車列はさらに長くなり、数え切れないほどの長蛇！
　さすがに仕事帰りに並ぶ気力も無く家に帰りましたが、うーん、やはり給油しとかないと・・

When I left for work in the morning, there were already around 30 or 40 cars lining up in a last-minute rush to fill up.
“Well, I suppose this will quiet down a little bit by the time I come back from work,” I thought optimistically,
but not even close! The line of cars had become even longer, a long snake [with so many cars] you couldn't even count them!
As would be expected, I didn't have the energy to line up on my way back from work so I just went straight home, but I thought, I'd better fill up…

　夕食後、さすがにさっきよりは・・・などと希望的観測を持ちながらいざ出陣！
　もちろん惨敗。

After dinner, it will get better… with this kind of wishful thinking, I departed for the front!
And of course, it was a crushing defeat.

　セルフ給油所はあきらめ、近くの有人スタンドに行ったのですが、なんとそこは
　「売り切れ」の文字が！！

I gave up on the self-service and headed to a nearby service gas station, but when I got there
there were the words: “Sold Out”!!

　始めて見たゾ！売り切れなんて！　さて、現在午後１１時。どうするオレ！？

That's the first time I've seen that! Sold Out! Well, it's now 11pm. What am I supposed to do!?

Japan: Nagano red for Olympic torch relay

Chris Salzberg — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:21:56 +0000

Update: Video footage added below.

The Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay came to an end on Saturday without serious incident, but many Japanese bloggers who attended the event were left with lasting — and often bitter — impressions. The story of a Tibetan exile living in Taiwan, who jumped at the runner and was taken down by police, sparked hundreds of posts on 2channel, as did the choice of police to block protesters holding Tibetan flags from entering the area around the finish line.

Clash of flags at the Olympic torch relay in Nagano. (from Mousan's Flickr page)

Many bloggers pointed out how Nagano, for one day, seemed to transform into China. Blogger shuyan writes:

私の印象は「この一日だけ長野は完全に中国と化した」ということです。
テレビや写真などで確認できる映像は、とにかく赤い国旗のオンパレードでした。
物々しい警備などを見て「本当にこれが日本？」と思われた方も多いでしょう。
この異様な雰囲気は、平和の祭典とあまりにかけ離れているといった感じです。

My impression was that: “For this one day only, Nagano has transformed completely into China.”
The images confirmed on television and in pictures were at any rate that of a cavalcade of red national flags.
I suppose a lot of people, seeing the overbearing security, must have wondered: “Is this really Japan?”
This strange atmosphere had a feeling that was worlds apart from a peace festival.

In a post entitled “Nagano was red”, blogger Vasi (ヴァスィ) writes:

真っ赤に染まった沿道。
ぶつかり合うチベット支援者と中国人。
何重にも取り囲まれて走る聖火ランナー。
ゴール地点に中国人しか入れさせない長野県警。
弱腰で偏向なマスコミ。(これは異様ってこともないか…)

Roads steeped in a deep red.
Clashing Tibet supporters and Chinese people.
The running torchbearer, surrounded by many layers [of security].
The Nagano prefectural police, admitting only Chinese people to the finish line.
The weak and biased mass media. (This is nothing out of the ordinary…)

Olympic torch relay in Nagano. (from Mousan's Flickr page)

Many bloggers expressed frustration at the police presence. Blogger ae0800 writes about their own experience:

僕はスタートの約2時間前、午前6時前後にスタート地点を通過したんですが、その際も持っていたメッセージボードをバッグにしまうよう、警察から指示を受けました。曰く「君たちをトラブルから守るため。それに従えないなら、ここを通すことは出来ない。」ということ。スタート地点周辺は既に中国の国旗が多数はためいている状況でしたが、それでも「埋めつくされている」という状態ではなくむしろスペースかなりがある状態だったにも関わらず、チベット支援者が国旗やボードを掲げる行為、あるいは「そこに留まること」は許されませんでした。同行していた何人かが抗議の声を挙げましたが、「それはここで話す内容ではない。説明や質問は一切受け付けない。」という形でかなり高圧的な対応をされていました。

I passed the starting line around 6am, about two hours before the start of the relay, and at that time I was told by the police to put the message board I was holding into my bag. The pretext was that: “It is to protect you guys from trouble. If you can't follow [these rules], you can't continue past here.” Even though there were already many Chinese flags fluttering in the area around the starting line, and regardless of the fact that it was not “packed [with people]” at all and there was lots of space, Tibet supporters were not allowed to wave national flags or to carry boards, or to “remain there”. Some people who were walking with us raised their voices in protest, but they were met with very oppressive treatment and told that: “That is not something we should talk about here. No explanation or questions will be accepted.”

Olympic torch relay in Nagano. (from Mousan's Flickr page)

An article at OhmyNews cast suspicions, however, on the motivations of some of the pro-Tibet protesters. As writer Fujikura Yoshiro explains:

26日、長野市で行われた聖火リレーのスタート前に見かけた「チベット側支援者」の小競り合いには、現場で取材していて、ある不自然さを感じた。というのも、その場の「チベット側支援者」の言葉や態度が、これまでオーマイニュースでリポートされてきたチベット人のデモ行進や関係者の発言とは、明らかに違ったのだ。

On the 26th, in the skirmish of “Tibet supporters” that happened before the start of the torch relay in Nagano City, I was covering the event at the site, and I felt a certain unnaturalness. The words and attitude of the “Tibet supporters” at the event were clearly different from the demonstration marches and speeches of Tibetan people that have been reported on in OhmyNews in the past.

The article goes on to explain that these “Tibet supporters” were actually Japanese “fake Tibet supporters” deliberately trying to cause problems:

スタート地点にいたチベット側支援者たちは、中国人に向かって「帰れ！」「虐殺糾弾！」など、強い調子で非難の言葉を吐いていた。「帰れ」という言葉が、ここでの小競り合いの原因にもなっている。しかし、これまでオーマイニュースでリポートされてきたチベット人のデモなどには、これほどの攻撃性が感じられなかった。ただひたすら「フリーチベット」とコールしているだけで、中国への非難や恨みをモチベーションに活動しているといった印象をまったく受けなかった。

The Tibet supporters who were at the starting line of the torch relay faced the Chinese people and yelled words of criticism in the strongest terms, things like “Go home!” and “End the bloodshed!”. The expression “Go home!” was the cause that triggered the skirmish at the event. However, at Tibetan demonstrations that have been covered in the past for OhmyNews, I never felt this level of aggressiveness. I never once had the impression at the other demonstrations that the protesters were just calling out “Free Tibet” to cause problems, or that they were motivated in their activity by criticism of China or by resentment.

The article concludes with these thoughts:

　チベット人グループと主張が違っていたとしても、チベット旗を掲げ、「フリーチベット」を唱えていた以上、チベット人を支援する意思はあるのだろう。しかし、果たして彼らの存在はチベット人のためになるのだろうか。

Even assuming their claims are different from those of the Tibetan groups, they are waving a Tibetan flag and chanting “Free Tibet”, so I guess that their intention is to support the Tibetan people. However, I really doubt that them being at this event is of any benefit to the Tibetans.

　むしろ彼らの行動や態度が、「似非チベットvs中国人」のトラブルを「チベット人vs中国人」であるかのようにメディアや世間に見せつけ、チベット人の足を引っ張ることになりはしないか。

Instead, don't their actions and attitude just make it seem to the media and society that the trouble of “Fake Tibetans vs. Chinese” is the trouble of “Tibetans vs. Chinese”, in doing so dragging down the Tibetan people?

　今回の聖火リレー騒動では、長野市が北京に見えてしまうほどの中国人の動員力と統率力に驚かされ、チベット人グループのまじめで悲痛な訴えにシンパシーを感じた。しかし同時に、“似非チベット”の醜さも見せつけられたイベントでもあったように思う。

In the disturbance at the torch relay, it surprised me that the mobilization and leadership of Chinese people was so great that it made Nagano city look like Beijing, and I felt sympathy for the diligent and heartbreaking appeal of Tibetan groups. However at the same time, it also seemed to me that this was an event which displayed the ugliness of the “Fake Tibet”.

Meanwhile, a 40-year-old truck driver, blogging at Kurukichi no hitorigoto, was fed up with both sides:

正直、中国人留学生とチベット支援者がバカ騒ぎするだけの集まりにしか見えませんでした。
留学生も支援者たちも行けばどんな風になるか、わかっているようなものなのに、現地に行って、いざ小競り合いになって怪我人出してたら世話ないですね。

Honestly, the only thing I saw was a gathering of Chinese students in Japan and Tibet supporters messing around and making a disturbance.
Even though both the Chinese students and the Tibet supporters knew what kind of thing would happen if they came, they go to the spot anyway and quarrel with each other, so if anybody is injured, they don't deserve any help.

スタート前、右翼の関係者ともめて、怪我をした留学生もいるようですが、これは右翼側が悪いにしても、そんなところに行って御騒ぎすればどうなるかわかると思います。
また、チベット支援者も物を投げたり、乱入しようとしたりと、ただただ迷惑をかけているようにしか見えませんでした。

It seems that before the start of the relay, there were some Chinese students who quarreled with right-wingers. Even if these right-wingers were wrong though, I think the students knew what they were getting into going to this kind of place and creating a disturbance.
Also, these Tibet supporters throwing things and trespassing, all I see here is people trying to create trouble.

いろんな言い分はあるにしても、私は双方どちらともいいことをしたとは思えません。
正直、このリレーより善光寺で行われた、チベット騒動の犠牲者の追悼法要の方が落ち着いた感じで視れました。

Even if they had various things to say, I just don't feel that what either party did was a good thing.
Honestly, more so than the relay itself, the Buddhist memorial service at Zenkoji mourning victims of the Tibet uprising seemed to have a feeling of calm.

Finally, blogger OTO tried to move beyond the dispute and hoped for a resolution of the conflict:

北京五輪聖火リレーで少し問題があったみたいです。でも、日本ですから大丈夫です。中国とチベットの問題は２国で解決してし欲しいです。聖火リレーはみんなの人たちにして欲しいです。

Seems like there were a few problems at the Beijing Olympic torch relay. But it was in Japan, so it was okay. I wish that the problems of China and Tibet could be solved by the two countries. I wish that the torch relay could be for all people.

Video footage of Nagano torch relay from Channel Sakura. (via i-morley.com [ja])

Japan: Japan Today supports Scientology

Chris Salzberg — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:51:28 +0000

Ken at What Japan Thinks writes about opposition from readers of Japan Today to video ads for the Church of Scientology.

Japan: Yomiuri article on Japanese chemical weapons buried in Chinese land

Chris Salzberg — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:03:25 +0000

Sayonara, Mata Ashita comments on an article in Yomiuri shimbun, Japan's largest newspaper, about chemical weapons buried in Chinese land at the end of the Second World War.

Japan: Twitter in Japanese, with ads

Chris Salzberg — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:17:15 +0000

The new localized version of Twitter in Japanese has been launched, as reported by Joi Ito, Asiajin, and the Polar Bear Blog. The Japanese version, unlike the current English one, includes advertisements, and there is a plan to eventually export these ads back to the English version.

Japan: Food Crisis added to G8 Agenda

Chris Salzberg — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:26:27 +0000

The GLOCOM blog reports that the world food crisis will be placed on the agenda at the G8 Summit in Hokkaido, Japan this summer.

Japan: About40, and what next?

Chris Salzberg — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:31:20 +0000

Changing times in Japan are opening the door for a new style of television. About40 (Japanese site), aired on Tokyo network TBS for the first time on April 11th, has done something novel for a Japanese TV drama: aim at the age bracket of 35 to 45 year old women, and hit it big [ja]. The new drama, which registered an average viewer rating of 15.7% with its first episode, targets the late-thirties demographic of single childless Japanese women who entered the work force during the 80s bubble, captured in the newly-coined term “arafo” (アラフォー). While this first wave of 30-something “makeinu” have featured as the regular butt of jokes in the media, their rising numbers are turning the tables, with one of four women ~~above 30 now single~~ remaining single after turning 30.

Advertisement for About40

About40 features actress Amami Yūki/橋部敦子 in the role of 39-year-old psychiatrist Ogata Satoko/緒方聡子 [ja], highly successful, single, and touchy about her age [ja]. Her friends include 35-year-old magazine editor Morimura Nao/森村奈央 [ja] (played by Otsuka Nene/大塚寧々 [ja]), who claims she will not marry, Okumura Natsumi/岡村恵太朗 [ja] (played by Fujiki Naohito/藤木直人), a 33-year-old male psychiatrist who has just joined the hospital where Satoko works, and housewife Takuchi Mizue/竹内瑞恵 (played by Matsushita Yuki/松下由樹). The show is produced by screenwriter Hashibe Atsuko/橋部敦子.

Around40 starring Amami Yūki

Blogger sugarvine82, who is herself single, reflects on the first couple episodes of the new show:

２週分見終わって、思った。「確かに身につまされる」
もちろん身近にあんなに綺麗な女医さんもいないし、セレブな（私この”セレブ”）って言葉大キライですが）
友人もいないけど、でもうちのダンナさまがその時言った台詞
「４０って折り返し地点やもんなあ。」
そう！そうなんだよな。なんとなく折り返し地点に近付いてるのかな、でも
まだまだ自分は若いと思っていたのにな、という複雑な気持ち。
今までは突っ走ってきたけど、ちょっと一息つけて「これでよかったのかな？」なんて
ふと思ってしまう気持ち。誰にでもあるんだろうな。
今子育てしている友人はまだ子供も小さいからそんな風に思うこともないのかも
しれないけれど。

After seeing two weeks [of the show], I thought: “This really hit close to home.”
Of course I don't have such beautiful women doctors like that in my immediate circle,
and I don't have any celebrity friends either (I really hate that word “celebrity” [see translator's note below]), but
the remark that my husband made when he saw it, that:
“40 years, I guess that's the halfway mark, right?”
Right! Exactly. I guess I am approaching the halfway mark,
although I felt that I'm still young — it was that kind of complex sensation.
I've been racing along up to now, but then just to suddenly take a pause and think:
“Have I been doing the right thing?” — that was the feeling. I guess everybody gets [that feeling].
Although I guess my friends who have kids right now don't think about this yet, because the kids are still young.

Note: “celebrity” in Japanese has a slightly different meaning from the English word, signifying someone who lives a rich and extravagant lifestyle.

Blogger poncoco on the other hand, a housewife, related more to the character of Matsuhita Yuki:

天海祐希は独身の医者の役なので私の今の人生には当てはまる事がないのですが
松下由樹の役どころは専業主婦。子育てにも一段落し、周りを見ると同じ世代の人達が
何かを始めている。
自分は？．．．と焦り出すわけですよ。
私もこの数年、同じような事を考えていました。
「このまま主婦で終わるのか？」「なにか出来る事は？」「社会から取り残されていないか？」
そして２年半前からパートを始めました。それでも何か足りなくて半年前からは雑貨屋も・・・
２０代から30代になる時には感じる事のなかったこの焦りや不安な気持ち、
アラフォーになると強く感じるのは何故なんでしょうねぇ～。

Amami Yuki plays a single doctor, so there is nothing that applies to my life currently,
Matsushita Yuki on the other hand plays the part of a housewife. She has settled down and is raising children,
and when she looks around herself at the friends of her generation, they are starting something new.
And what about me?… [she thinks this and] gets impatient.
I've also been thinking the same thing these past several years.
“Will it end here just like this, as a housewife?” “Is there something I can do?” “Have I been left behind by society?”
Then as of two years ago I started working part-time. That wasn't enough, so from a half-year ago I started also [working in a] general store…
This feeling of impatience and of anxiety that I never had when I went from my twenties into my thirties,
I wonder why I sense this so strongly as I become an “arafo”.

Not all bloggers were quite so moved by the show. Blogger Katsuragi Aoi (桂木碧) questioned points about the show's plot:

でも　なぜ年上の男性ばっかり紹介するんでしょう
なんだか　見ていて納得できません
しかも　相談員のひとも　コレ以上条件にあった方はあなたにはいません
とか　はっきり言っているし・・・・・

But I wonder, why do they only introduce guys who are older than her?
Somehow I see that and I'm not satisfied.
And on top of that, the counseling staff tell her that she won't get anybody with better conditions than this
They say it straight out like that…

Blogger yomuchan2006, meanwhile, couldn't relate to the idea of “arafo” at all:

「Around４０」はちょっと見たけど、つまらなかったのでパスしました。
今後は見ないだろうと思います。やはり先週の１話目で、どうにも興味を
持てなかったということかも・・・。
４０前後の女性に感情移入できないし、「アラフォー」なんて新語を
流行らそうとしているあたりにも、なんか共感できないので・・・。

I saw a bit of “About 40″, but it was boring so I passed on it.
I probably won't watch it again in the future. Last week was of course the first episode,
and maybe it was just that I couldn't get interested in it…
I can't empathize with 40-year-old women, and also just the fact that they seem to be trying to make this word “arafo” a new fad, I can't really relate…

Japan: Why can't I be an anarchist?

Chris Salzberg — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:01:05 +0000

Japanese university student Hasan at hasanhujairi[dot]com describes a class in which his professor, outlining the progression of the study of Economic History in Japanese academia, ends by telling his students: “Just don’t be Anarchists; we can’t have rebellious Anarchists running amok on campus.”

Japan: Thoughts on the Tachikawa flier case

Chris Salzberg — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:30:18 +0000

Japanese blogger Dr-Seton describes an urban legend [ja] about children in public housing who were kept inside, only allowed out to play in a small park. When one day the children were let free outside, rather than run around, they stuck to a very small space. He uses this story to discuss the issue of private and public space in the Tachikawa Flier case, in which three Japanese anti-war activists were arrested for distributing fliers in the Tachikawa army barracks. The Japanese Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the three activists on April 11th.

Japan: Footage of Tibet and East Turkestan

Chris Salzberg — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:41:35 +0000

Japanese podcaster Morley Robertson at i-morley makes an appeal to the global press to take up video footage from Tibet and East Turkestan. Part of the footage is of the home of the Dalai Lama, shot in 2007, a building which he explains was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (later rebuilt) and may be destroyed again. He also offers other footage of ethnic Uyghur farmers protesting being forced to work without pay.