'Naughty' Gov. Ishihara blames ministry for bomb

[Taro Toporific]

Ishihara blames ministry for bomb
Asahi Shimbun, Aug 12
....Ishihara on Thursday refused to apologize for saying a Foreign Ministry official deserved to have a bomb planted at his home.
In fact, the governor added the ministry to his list of people and things to blame for the time bomb found at the home of Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka on Wednesday.
``I only stated the obvious,'' Ishihara said in a speech in Tokyo.... a history of events that led to Tanaka to get what he deserved. It is natural for people to get angry.''
.... in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly, Takashi Kabayama of the LDP said Ishihara's comments should not be taken so seriously.
``I'm sure he didn't mean anything sinister,'' he said. ``He was probably teasing the Foreign Ministry for being so willy-nilly about the North Korean issue.
``It should be written off as just another wild comment made by our `naughty' governor.''

[Steve Bildermann]

And really what he says in public absolutely pales by comparision to what he says and advocates in private.

[Taro Toporific]

Ishihara blames ministry for bomb
Asahi Shimbun, Aug 12....
``It should be written off as just another wild comment made by our `naughty' governor.''

I wonder if this lower than 'Naughty' Gov. Ishihara's approval rating? Every Japanese I meet seem to looooove the 'Naughty' Gov.

Poll: Fat lady sings, 81% favor Koizumi
Asahi / Sept 12

[cstaylor]

Well, he's bringing shame on the Japanese from the New York Times:
Bomb Threat Targets Japanese Official

Even Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara appeared to support the extremist's view if not his methods.

"A bomb was set at Tanaka's, but I think he deserves it," the avowedly nationalist governor said during a visit to the city of Nagoya.

"He is under their thumb. Such a person cannot go head-to-head with North Korea."

[cstaylor]

Just sent in a letter to the editor... like the rest I expect it will be placed in the round-file.

[cstaylor]

I wonder if this lower than 'Naughty' Gov. Ishihara's approval rating? Every Japanese I meet seem to looooove the 'Naughty' Gov.

I think he wouldn't be nearly as popular if he hadn't had such a famous brother.

[blackcat]

the sad truth:

Ishihara is popular because his narrow minded, predjudice and nationalistic views are mirrored in japanese society...most are unaware how predjudice they are Ishihara is to them...a leader, they are also so naive and uneducated about their past they are unaware they are heading down the same path as before, and cant see the danger signs.

Hitler was popular beacuse what he said struck a chord with the public at the time.....it took years of history making speeches and propoganda.

The same happened in japan with far less effort, japanese are loyal to the point of being robotic. ....just the flick of a switch......and thats what Ishihara is trying to do.

[Taro Toporific]

Just sent in a letter to the editor... like the rest I expect it will be placed in the round-file.

So, what happened to that letter to the editor?

Ishihara says comments on Tanaka meant to sting Sept 27 / Yomiuri Shimbun

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said during a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly plenary session Thursday that his remarks about a bomb threat to a deputy foreign minister had been made in a deliberate attempt to raise awareness of unresolved abductions of Japanese by North Korea.

Ishihara has been criticized for saying that Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka deserved the bomb found outside his home because of his lenient attitude toward North Korea.

Ishihara said, "I made the remarks to make the issue a point of contention ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election as the abduction issue is fading away a year after (five Japanese abducted by North Korea returned to Japan in October)."

[cstaylor]

New York Times flushed it, like they do everything I send in.

Nice CYA on Ishihara's part... trying to make amends for the Soga gaff.