US Ambassador Squatting In Japan

[omae mona]

Some quick math: that's about 583,000 yen per month that the embassy has to pay to cover 1998-2007. I'd like to pay the same kind of rent. A 50 square meter apartment would cost about 2200 yen per month, at the same rate per square meter as the embassy's paying.

But it's going up to 833,000 yen per month in 2008.

[GomiGirl]

Some quick math: that's about 583,000 yen per month that the embassy has to pay to cover 1998-2007. I'd like to pay the same kind of rent.

Me too!!

But it's going up to 833,000 yen per month in 2008.

That is still bloody cheap.

[Buraku]

The Japanese Embassy in London has racked up more than 1 million pounds worth of unpaid road charges and penalty fines in a diplomatic dispute with city chiefs. Transport for London, the body which controls the capital's public transportation network, revealed recently that the embassy owes it a total of 1,003,300 pounds (approximately $2 million).

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/430217

[Mulboyne]

...The Philippines discussed selling five properties in Japan a few years ago including their embassy in Roppongi, the old embassy site in Shibuya and the consulate in Kobe. Although that plan was halted, a revised scheme was approved.

Another rethink on this issue:

Manila Standard: Sale of Japanese lot put on hold

THE Philippine government has suspended the planned sale of a prime property that houses the official residence of the ambassador to Japan. Sources in the Department of Finance revealed that the ambassador himself, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon, opposed the sale. He wanted only half of the 4,361-square meter lot disposed of, and the other half retained as his residence, the sources said. Nine companies have formally signified their interest to bid for the property in Fujimi Cho, Chiyoda Ku. The property was valued at P3 billion. The bidding committee originally scheduled the submission of the financial bids for the property on March 4. The deadline was extended to March 25 to give prospective bidders time to translate theJapanese documents to English. An English translation will also enable the Philippine Embassy in Japan to authenticate the documents and determine the proposal of the bidders. At least 22 entities gave letters of intent last Jan. 28. However, only six have been able to submit the required documents last March 4.

Apart from the Fujimi Cho property, the Philippines also owns other choice lots in Japan. The Philippine government has successfully awarded lease and development contracts for its 764-sq m property in Naniwa Cho and the 3,014-sq m property in Obanoyama Cho both situated in Kobe, Japan to Berg Co. Ltd. of Japan. It has likewise awarded the four-story building with a floor area of 2,489 sq m in Nampeidai in Tokyo Japan to Nagayama-Taisei consortium of Japan. The development of the Nampeidai property has been put on hold after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court issued an injunction preventing further government action until the resolution of a private dispute between members of the Nagayama-Taisei consortium.

[TennoChinko]

It's the ungrateful whiney Japs who are Indian-givers in this scenario. Although the events date back to 1883 when the US showed leniency toward the Japanese following the 1863-64 Bombardment of Shimonoseki by easing the Japanese reparation payments by $750,000. The Japanese government - grateful at that time due to their relative dire straits - granted the US rent-free status for their diplomatic mission. Sometime around 1970's, nationalistic backbone and Indian-giving set in .. triggering the move to 'collect rent'.

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Mainichi: Protests held against planned demolition of historic Philippine ambassadorial residence
A plan to transform the historic residence of the Philippine ambassador to Japan in Tokyo into a skyscraper has sparked off opposition from both home and abroad. Located on a hill in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, the Western-style residence was built in 1935 by the late Iwajiro Yasuda, a grandson of the Yasuda conglomerate founder. The building was later purchased by a former Philippines president in 1944, and subsequently was turned into an ambassadorial residence. However, according to a local news source, the Philippines government plans to demolish the house to construct a 21-story building, the top floor of which will be used as the new official residence. The Philippine government is expecting an income of about 5.7 billion yen by leasing the high-rise building to developers, with a tender scheduled for Nov. 11.

An opposition campaign has already been launched by academics and citizens' groups. Cesar Santoyo, a member of the Center for Japanese-Filipino Families, who handed over a protest letter together with other campaigners to the embassy on Tuesday, said that they would stage a demonstration in front of the ambassador's residence on Sunday afternoon. President of the Philippines-Japan Society Francis Laurel, who spent part of his childhood at the embassy with his father, a former ambassador to Japan, said: "We planted a lot of cherry trees in the garden when we were living in Tokyo. Our Tokyo residence is said to be the most beautiful among all the ambassadorial residences overseas. The historic architecture is an asset to both countries." The place also holds childhood memories for avant-garde artist Yoko Ono, a niece of the original owner. "I used to look at Mt. Fuji from a small observation deck on the third floor. I was really impressed to see that the building was well preserved when I visited there about six years ago," her agent quoted Ono as saying.

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Mainichi: Protests held against planned demolition of historic Philippine ambassadorial residence

Yoko Ono is now in Japan campaigning to stop the redevelopment because it used to be her uncle's place and she lived there for three years when she was younger. She took John Lennon and their son Sean to see it in 1977. (From the Asahi)

[IkemenTommy]

She was on SmapxSmap last night promoting her new book. This lady really has no artistic talent whatsoever.