In Japan, Patriotism is Mandatory

[amdg]

yep - the court made a mistake. It should be illegal for teachers to sit when the music plays. They should have a legal obligation to stand. While they're at it they should also probably salute and dance a bit too, just to show ultimate respect. If they don't then they should be fired. It's only natural.

Go yomiyuri! I can't imagine why I cancelled my subscription to you 7 years ago.

[Ketou]

In spite of that, the court likely came to its conclusion as it overestimated the importance of freedom of thought and conscience for the minority of teachers who filed the lawsuit.

Love that. No freedom of thought for minorities, we are a monoculture after all.

[Mulboyne]

Respect for the flag and anthem of one's own and someone else's country is neither rampant nationalism, nor pre-WWII revisited. It is simply respect.

I can agree with that. However, respect takes many forms around the world. We rarely sang the national anthem when I was at school in Britain and I don't recall seeing a Union Jack that often either. I think we had a picture of the Queen somewhere. Any attempt to make it mandatory to stand and sing the anthem would be seen as a restriction of freedom rather than a measure to ensure proper respect. I understand things are different in America regardless of the political inclination of the government.

The Yomiuri is right that Kimigayo is recognized internationally as the Japanese national anthem and the Hinomaru is also used extensively. Even if Japan was to agree internally to use these symbols formally rather than just by default, I would still understand why someone might wish to oppose mandatory singing and saluting.

[Buraku]

[Buraku]

pushing the Hinomaru flag and 'Kimigayo' national anthem
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061027f1.html
Abe to play hardball with soft education system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RKzfWlxOLQ

[Buraku]

Japan patriot bill clears house
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6153314.stm

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japan patriot bill clears house
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6153314.stm

Is that the whole cartoon, because I have no clue what it's trying to say. It's not a language problem, I can read it. I understand that the girl is Japan and the boy is Korea, but beyond that it makes no sense to me. Do any of you guys understand it?

[Greji]

Is that the whole cartoon, because I have no clue what it's trying to say. It's not a language problem, I can read it. I understand that the girl is Japan and the boy is Korea, but beyond that it makes no sense to me. Do any of you guys understand it?

My take is that it is a multi-facited slam at the Koreans. She is missing her panties and it turns out the K-dude's got them on his head. It brings to mind theft of undergarmets are a big problem in Japan (I know one girl that lost almost 10 man of bras and pants in one night from her 2nd floor balconey). The insinuation of course, is the Koreans are stealing them. Next, that it is the FG Korean after J-gals and their pants (nice thinking tho!). Lastly, that the theft of an important protective item such as an undergarmet from the J-girl by the FGK relates to the theft of other important assests of Japan by Korea.

Just my take. Dou da?

[Charles]

Is that the whole cartoon, because I have no clue what it's trying to say. It's not a language problem, I can read it. I understand that the girl is Japan and the boy is Korea, but beyond that it makes no sense to me. Do any of you guys understand it?

The clothes hanger with 7 socks (and the missing panties) represents the G8. The towel to its left symbolizes the UN. The mother figure represents SEATO, notice the diminutive Japan figure cowering next to her. The boy in the last panel wears green pants to symbolize the US military presence in South Korea, the panties on his head represent Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. The large building behind him represents America, and the green tree symbolizes the balance of trade.

It's all so simple once you know the iconography.

[Greji]

The clothes hanger with 7 socks (and the missing panties) represents the G8. The towel to its left symbolizes the UN. The mother figure represents SEATO, notice the diminutive Japan figure cowering next to her. The boy in the last panel wears green pants to symbolize the US military presence in South Korea, the panties on his head represent Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. The large building behind him represents America, and the green tree symbolizes the balance of trade.

It's all so simple once you know the iconography.

Damn, I should have seen that! It's all right there! I was thinking the panties on the head was just an Aum headset!

[Charles]

Damn, I should have seen that! It's all right there! I was thinking the panties on the head was just an Aum headset!

I seem to have made a hasty error. After a second look, it is now obvious that the towel represents Israel.
I apologize for the error and any inconvenience it may have caused.

[Samurai_Jerk]

The clothes hanger with 7 socks (and the missing panties) represents the G8. The towel to its left symbolizes the UN. The mother figure represents SEATO, notice the diminutive Japan figure cowering next to her. The boy in the last panel wears green pants to symbolize the US military presence in South Korea, the panties on his head represent Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. The large building behind him represents America, and the green tree symbolizes the balance of trade.

It's all so simple once you know the iconography.

Wow, Charlie, even for you that's a lot of bull shit.

[Charles]

[quote="Samurai_Jerk"]Wow, Charlie, even for you that's a lot of bull shit. ]
Maybe so, but I bet you looked at the cartoon again and counted the socks.

[Greji]

Maybe so, but I bet you looked at the cartoon again and counted the socks.

[American Oyaji]

ZING!!!

Nice comeback Chuck!

[AssKissinger]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003480543_japanmil16.html?syndication=rss

TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government pushed through landmark laws Friday requiring Japanese schools to encourage patriotism in the classroom and elevating the Defense Agency to the status of a full ministry for the first time since World War II.

[Big Booger]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003480543_japanmil16.html?syndication=rss

A glorious day for all! Hail the Neo-Kamikaze!

[Buraku]

Abe vows bold departure from postwar Constitution, education system

JapanophileToday
http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/397279
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared Friday he will "boldly revise" Japan's postwar regime to realize his nation-building vision, in the strongest expression yet underscoring his desire to imbed more patriotism in the education system and rewrite the pacifist Constitution.

[Russell]

[SIZE="3"]Ruling puts brake on severe punishments[/SIZE]

A Supreme Court ruling Monday that found severe discipline over the issue of the "Kimigayo" national anthem "unconstitutional" is expected to put a brake on authorities trying to impose excessive punishment over teachers' refusal to sing the anthem.

The Tokyo metropolitan government began meting out punishment to public school teachers and staffers who refused to comply with orders to stand up and sing the "Kimigayo," apparently out of concern that such an act would disrupt school events and make it difficult for teachers to maintain discipline.

The metropolitan government had seen recurrences of people refusing to rise and sing the anthem even after such actions became compulsory in 2003.

It took action against defiant teachers and school employees who repeatedly refused to stand for the anthem during school events, such as at entrance and graduation ceremonies held more than twice a year, by cutting their pay or suspending them from work.

It apparently forced teachers and staffers, who did not want to endure such punishment, to stand and sing the anthem.

In May, the top court ruled such actions did not unacceptably infringe on the freedom of thought and conscience guaranteed under the Constitution. But it also said the orders indirectly restricted such freedoms to some degree.

The latest ruling appears to reflect the top court's concern that the metropolitan government's current mode of punishment could interfere with people's private thoughts and beliefs.

The decision appears to establish that the severest punishment for the refusal of standing up to sing the "Kimigayo" is a reprimand, a court decision that will likely end the legal debate over the degree of the punishment non-compliers should face.

Justice Ryuko Sakurai said in her supporting opinion for the ruling, "It is desirable that repeated refusals to stand [for the anthem] and resulting punishments will end without further delay."

[matsuki]

Kimigayo is just another one of those things that the Japanese themselves don't understand, yet feel obligated to participate in because it makes them feel Japanese...despite being a poem in ancient Japanese set to music by a German. I'm actually surprised by the amount of Japanese that refuse to sing it.

[sublight]

Kimigayo is just another one of those things that the Japanese themselves don't understand, yet feel obligated to participate in because it makes them feel Japanese...despite being a poem in ancient Japanese set to music by a German. I'm actually surprised by the amount of Japanese that refuse to sing it.

Have you ever sat down and tried to parse out "The Star Spangled Banner"? My wife was assigned it in her translation class because, in the words of the teacher, "nobody has ever done a completely accurate Japanese translation of it."

The first half basically comes out as, "Hey there, now that the sun is starting to come up, can you see that thing again that, as the sun went down last night, while looking over the walls at the broad stripes and bright stars that it has and which were streaming gallantly all through the night that was full of danger, we waved at proudly?"

Compared to that, Kimigayo is Dick and Jane.

[matsuki]

You're assuming Kimigayo can actually be translated. Ask a few Japanese around you if they know what it means. Try researching the meaning and you'll get all kinds of nuttiness.

[Coligny]

Meanwhile, The Marseillaise, while making perfect sense is the most ill fitting anthem for France, quick translation:

"Mess with us and we will fuck your shit up real good."

That was before that whole 'pissed of Germans coming down like a hotdog thrown in a hallway' thing...

[matsuki]

Not to hate on the Canadians but playing hockey I've heard that anthem enough to know it by heart. This line always got me...

"Our home and [color="Red"]native[/color] land!"

Home yes...but native? mmmm I think there are still enough tribes up there that may beg to differ.

[Samurai_Jerk]

"Our home and [color="Red"]native[/color] land!"

Home yes...but native? mmmm I think there are still enough tribes up there that may beg to differ.

Fuck those Mongol immigrants.

[Mock Cockpit]

Well at least you lot aren't "girt by sea".