Japan's new prime minister

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I had heard this story unfolding on NPR last week. Japan's prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, resigned due to falling public support triggered by his failure to resolve a dispute over a U.S. military base relocation in Okinawa and money scandals.
I wonder if the new prime minister will make a decision about Okinawa and how the US will react if their miliary is asked to leave Okinawa.
I guess I don't understand politics that much because I feel that if the Okinawans don't want the US in Okinawa, then the US should leave without it affecting US/Japan relationsships.
But then again, I guess that's why I'm not involved in politics either.

[Anonymous]

Well, the US seems to have this problem all over the world. They look for any reason to open strategically based military operatives in every country. My brother was stationed in Kirgestan??? for about a year while they built a base their so they could be closer to Iran and Iraq. Sometimes the people appreciate them being there and feel more protected, especially if they are within missle range of countries like North Korea, but most of the time they feel that the US makes them a target.

[Anonymous]

A picture is worth a million words. The photo of the resignation showed the Prime Minister standing with a slight bow and hands together. It showed the respect and the culture that remain.

[Anonymous]

If somebody is going to leave anybodies country, then somebody has got to get an indemnity. Those are the rules that were established long ago. Old habits die hard.

[Anonymous]

This is such a great example to use when students ask why they have to take history! Because history affects our present! This Okinawa dilemna has been with us since the battle of Okinawa in 1945. That's 65 years ago and we are still feeling the repercussions of that bloody conflict. The way that I would use this conflict is to review the battle. Look at pictures, look at film footage, look at statistics of the casualty lists on both sides and then ask the question, "How could the American military bases not be at issue here?"

[Anonymous]

Some things never change, naoto kan has pledged support to build stronger relations with the US, too bad okinoans! Military bases are impossible to get rid of, think guantanamo! We will see how the "salaryman" with a quick temper does in japan.

[Anonymous]

There was also a news report about the dire predictions the new prime minister is making about Japan's economic future if they don't take strong preventive measures. He predicted that their economy would eventually move Japan into the same economic disaster that Greece has recently experienced. He was speaking in relation to their retirement system for the elder Japanese.

[Anonymous]

Again if it were not for this seminar I would not understand what is going on in Japan. I better understand how the younger voters were frustrated and showed their sentiment by voting for the Democratic candidate. I did a quick online searched and fund and article that showed a t-shirt with the slogan "Yes We Kan" ... cool connection to our campaign 😉 Mr. Kan like any leader has a very difficult job, I just hope our country doesn't make it more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Is it just me, or does Japan get a new prime minister about once every three weeks? I can't even keep up with their names any more. I used to try and imopress my father in law, who is japanse, with the fact that I was current on Japanse politics, but I have since given up on that tactic.

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