My opinion of this week(480):
Kim Young Nam
As expected earlier, Kim Young Nam's press conference end up a
ludicrous farce. While his mother and sister met him with a flood
of tears, he looked like very cool and talked without any passion
at press conference.
According to the explanation made by commentators or academic people
on North Korea, that kind of press interview was carefully prepared
and staged by authorities of North Korean Government as in the past.
One of the biggest surprise about his explanation was about the abduction
case about him.
The South Korean man who disappeared 28 years ago claimed that he had not
been kidnapped by the reclusive state. While enjoying summing at South
Korean sea, his boat drifted into North Korea and was escaped by an agent
of North Korea. He stayed long there for he got such an exceptional good
treatment for many years.
Who can accept such silly explanation about what happened for him 28 years
ago?
There also exists almost 500 people who had been kidnapped from Korea to
North Korea. He is just one of those abducted as a matter of fact. Strange
to say , there is no word as such as abduction between South Korea and
North Korea at the moment regardless the fact the existence of those 500
hundred kidnapped people. I just don't understand why South Korean Government
has taken this stance for many years.
They take this stance for it is their long range strategy to realize
reunification of two countries. They have another purpose to let those
separated families to meet again regardless the existence of any of such
abduction cases.
That may be OK as far as the relationship between South and North Korean
governments are concerned. But Yokota and other abducted families and
Japanese Government can hardly admit such a silly explanation made by
Kim Young Nam.
Mr. and Mrs. Yokota did not conceal an anger against Kim Young Nam, the
husband of Megumi Yokota, their beloved daughter who was kidnapped by
North Korea. Kim said Megumi Yokota committed suicide in 1994 as Pyongyang
Government claims before. Yokota families had also expected the explanation,
of course. But they might have expected some more additional explanation
about what happened to Megumi. But there was none.
As a matter of fact, how can we expect to know some more new facts about
abduction from this "axis of evil" country?
While I was reading the related articles in a newspaper with a hopeless
sensation and an anger, I found one good news. That was about Summit
Meeting to be held in Russia this summer.
The paper reported that V8 foreign minister meeting decided to discuss
the abduction case at Summit in along with many other important matters.
That seems to be a good news indeed. I personally believe that the solution
for this abduction case will be realized only by a collapse of this
autocratic state due to strong and united international pressure such as
Summit nations.
2006/7/1
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(481):
Japanese Diplomacy
A big surprise came with the news on Wednesday that North Korea
suddenly had launched seven missiles toward Japan sea. International
communities including Japan and US announced a serious concern about
it. It is a big threat for Japan and US and any others about the
safety and securities of Far East.
It is natural that Japan took immediate action to submit the draft
resolution to UN Securities Council to denounce North Korea and to take
some economic sanctions against North Korea to stop further missile launching.
Regardless of some serious concern by Japan and US, there are a kind of
great difference concerning their seriousness between Permanent Security
Council members. China and Russia are against any economic sanctions
against North Korea. They would only agree to issue a chairman's statement
to denounce North Korea and would not agree to adopt any resolution itself
by Security Council.
It is very frustrating situation for Japan. But is the reality of diplomacy
at the moment as far as permanent member China and Russia have veto power
in Security Council.
While North Korea said missile launching had been done for military
training purpose, the target set for the launch is obviously Japan and US
and no others. Two allied nations China and Russia and South Korea are
never their targets in any sense.
It seems that even US did not take the situation so seriously because
Taep'o-dong 2 fall down into Sea of Japan without succeeding their
experimental purpose. US seemed to confirm the fact that Taep'o-dong 2
do not have enough capacity to hit the main land of US.
Japan, in this respect, is the only country who really felt threatened by
the launching missile by North Korea at this time.
Needles to say, Japan has every reason to submit the draft resolution to
UN Security Council in this sense. But there is an little chance for the
Council to pass the resolution as it is drafted.
The most fundamental issue here is the ability to conduct diplomacy of
Japan. In order to pass such resolution at UN, Japan must establish
stronger diplomatic power in the international communities in any
occasions as such.
There are two major issues concerning the Japanese diplomacy at present.
The first, most important issue is concerned with the allied relation
between Japan and US. What is Japan's stance on this issue from now
on? Prime Minister Koizumi visited Bush and both showed a very strong
tie of two nations. But is this really only a way to continue such
relationship?
Ichirou Ozawa, Representative of Democratic Party of Japan was visiting
China by chance and stressed the importance of establishing stronger
ties for Japan with China in along with US. It was not only the coincidence
as a matter of fact. It provided a big opportunity to start big national
argument on this issue.
The second issue is related with whether or not Japan will become
permanent member of Securities Council of UN. If Japan were a permanent
member of Securities Council, the situation would be entirely different
at this time. The stance of Russia and China against Japan's resolution
would be much more different and be affected by that fact.
The permanent membership issue is not well argued yet in Japan while it
is so important.
The missile launching of North Korea is a serious concern for Japan's
securities. But it is not the only issue by itself at all. The two most
important issue is the lack of fundamental themes of Japanese diplomacy
at the moment.
2006/7/8
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(482):
Unreasonable veto power
Japan and seven other U.N. Security Council members -- which include
Britain, France and the United States, three of the five permanent members
with veto powers -- circulated a sanctions resolution immediately after
North Korea's seven missile launches. But due to strong opposition by
China and Russia that indicate veto power to reject resolution, France and
Britain changed their original stance on the resolution on sanctions.
They indicated the importance of issuing unified message and to change
the contents of the resolution to avoid the rejection of the original
resolution by veto power by China and Russia.
Contrary to the original resolution, Japan could move to China-Russia
proposal which does not include any strong measures such as sanctions in an
apparent compromise to China and Russia. This move may be better than
nothing, of course.
The unified message of denunciation from UN to North Korea has some strong
impact, of course which is major purpose of the original resolution.
But I really don't understand the existence of such veto power granted for
five permanent members of Security Councils of UN. Why did England and
France change their attitude later on after they had agreed to submit the
resolution of sanctions with Japan and US? Because they considered
to keep the unification of permanent members of Security Council. One of
political critics who is versed in UN matters said those permanent members
have a strong sense of community as permanent members. This is very
special vested right which is granted to those five countries only in
international communities.
I know the historical background why such veto powers had been granted to
those countries when UN was organized in 1945. But the world has changed
drastically since the birth of UN. It is very necessary to reform UN
and Security Council in one way or the other including composition of
permanent members and veto power system of Security Council.
Japan's trial to become permanent members of Security Council has not
been successful so far. US supports Japan's permanent membership but has
not taken any concrete measures to realize it.
Regardless the difference in any political and international issues
in Security Council, those five permanent members seem to have a kind
of strong ties each other to keep their vested interest and not to
give this power any other new comers including Japan.
My simple and primitive question is this. Japan is No.2 UN fund
contributor sharing almost 19% of total fund next to US. Japan is paying
much higher money than those other permanent members such as England,
France, Russia and China. Why does Japan only have such weak voice in
UN while Japan is such a big sponsor for UN?
I just wonder why Japanese people do not have any fundamental doubt
about this fact as we see and read what's going on in UN at the moment.
2006/7/15
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(483):
Emperor Hirohito's displeasure and political decision
Only one month left before Prime Minister Koizumi resign from the position.
One of a key concern at this time is whether or not Koizumi revisit Yasukuni
Shrine on and around August 15, the day World War II ended.
There was a news that Emperor Hirohito expressed strong displeasure in 1988
over Yasukuni Shrine's decision in the late 1970s to include Class-A war
criminals on the list of people honored there, citing a memorandum by a
former Imperial Household Agency official.
The news caused a serious confusion over Yasukuni Shrine issue again to
let China and South Korea criticize Koizumi's visit to the Shrine if
happened by dividing Japanese public opinion into complete two side.
Asked at press conference, whether or not he would visit to the Shrine
under this circumstance, Koizumi answered he felt no pressure or concern
regardless emperor's words concerning Yasukuni Shrine's decision to
include Class-A war criminals on the honored list in order to make decision
on his visit to the Shrine.
He said the visit is be made on his personal religious belief and that has
nothing to do with any political interest. So his belief on this matter
would not be affected at all in any way at this time.
As I wrote several times in the past, I agreed with Koizumi's stance on
this issue, although I have not basically supported many of policies
conducted by Koizumi administration.
Contrary to Koizumi's reaction, there raised a lot of criticism against
such Koizumi's stance both from ruling and opposition parties and mass
media. I don't agree with many of criticism based on the fact that Emperor
Hirohito expressed his displeasure against the existing Yasukuni Shrine.
I was surprised to read the critical comment made by the Communist Party
that does not admit Emeperor system itself as their political stance.
It is a very strange phenomenon.
Many mass media reported many of such reaction by ruling and opposition
parties. Asahi Newspaper explained Emperor Hirohito's displeasure and
intention on this matter rather in detail. That's fine. But the problem is that
the editorial of Asahi concluded based on this Emperor's displeasure that the
Shrine had made a wrong decision to include Class-A war criminals on
honored lists. The editorial continued that this is why China and South
Korea show strong opposition against Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine.
I have a very basic doubt about such argument made by many mass media and
political parties at this moment. The criticism against Koizumi's visit to
Yasukuni Shrine have been intensified based on Emperor Hirohito's expression
of his displeasure on the issue. Is this the way how political matters
are settled? No, never, as far as I understand the basic principle of constitution
of Japan.
I just wonder who worked out to disclose the memorandum of a former Imperial
Household Agency official. The case is serious provided that such memorandum
have been disclosed to create such political confusion which is now going on
in Japanese politics.
2006/7/22
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(484):
My daily life cycle
In the evening of Wednessday of this weekAh happened to watch NHK's
variety TV program called "Tameshite Gatten" (Try and Understand) at a
hotel on my short trip. The program is to introduce a standard
and desireble sleeping pattern of people everyday. The program took
an example of an old man whose sleeping pattern seems to be a kind of
abnormal.
The old men wakes up 4:30AM every morning. He takes breakfast at 7:00 AM.
After spending his day without going out so much and doing not much
physical and spritual works, he takes dinner early evening and goes to
bed at and around 7:30 PM. His daily life cycle as such does not much
that of his life.
My first thought and impression to watch this case was very simple. "So
what? What's the problem? This seems to be very standard kind of sleeping
pattern compared with that of mine, for example.
But the approach to the case of this old man in the TV program was quite
different. A doctor specialist concenrning sleeping pattern appeared in
the program and advised to correct sleeping pattern of this old man warning
the possibility of causing various adult diseases if such abnormal sleeping
rhythm continues.
Then, the program introduced the way how such sleeping pattern man had
been corrected by various measures in accordance with the advice made by
the doctor. His sleeping pattern was finally corrected to more standard
pattern and he seemed to become happier in many ways about his daily life.
Three panelist appeared in the TV program agreed to show their understanding
about appropriateness about the advice made by the doctor.
I didn't understand and agreed with the advice at all while I admit
appropriateness about changing his daily lifecycle adding something new
to his physical and spritual activities. Yes, that's the point. Sleeping
pattern is not the issue as a matter of fact. That is rather the result of
daily lifecycle to be changed.
My daily sleeping pattern is much more abonormal compared with this old
man. I usually go to bed at 8:00 PM in the evening. I use to get up at
and around 2:00 AM in the morning and start doing various works on
PC including homepage renewal, BLOG presentation, Mailing List comments
and so on. I usually continue such work untill 6:00 AM in the morning.
Then I goes out to make physical exercise at the park near to my house.
I took breakfast at 7:30 and goes out for various schedules set for weekdays.
I tend to take an hour or an half hour nap if possible everyday.
Even this a kind of abnormal sleeping rhythm, I normally take at least 7 hours
sleeps in total everyday and I have no compain about it at all physically
and mentally. I have no special problems as far as my health condition is
concerned at the present. I have good apetite and total physical condition
is good alright.
I have no intention to change my daily sleeping pattern as such for I am fully
enjoying my life in every sense.
2006/7/29
Tadashi HAYASE
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