He's baaaaack! (almost)

[Taro Toporific]

Taro Asshole is staging a return to Prime Ministershit.

Yakuza-PM.jpg

THE ARISTOCADS
Japan's Trump-in-Waiting? Taro Aso is the Clown Prince of Politics
He is really rich, stunningly insensitive, stupidly honest, and possibly the next prime minister. He may be the perfect Japanese counterpart for The Donald.
thedailybeast.com | 08.04.17 9:15 PM ET
TOKYO--Japan’s Vice Prime Minister Taro Aso was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and enough room to insert his foot in as well—again and again. He is one of the wealthiest members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, which everyone knows is neither liberal nor democratic, and has a solid record protecting the Japanese Business Federation and its interests.
In that sense, Aso is an exemplary LDP member.
He was also once the prime minister of Japan, lasting a few days short of a full year.
He is famous for his gaffes: “Why don’t we learn how to do constitutional reform from the Nazis?”—and, “How long do these people over 90 intend to live anyway?”
He’s not very diplomatic or good at manipulating the press, but on the plus side, unlike Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he has a sense of humor...
...He’s also a dapper dresser. He and the most powerful yakuza boss in Japan, the 6th generation leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Tsukasa Shinobu, seem to have the same tailor ...more...

[legion]

“How long do these people over 90 intend to live anyway?”

He was, tactlessly, raising an important point about quality of life and for how long to we prolong it.

Perhaps he really is smart in his own way. Aso is definitely not stupid; but many in Japan call him baka-shojiki, an adjective in Japanese meaning “stupid honesty” or being overly straightforward.

He's smart, very smart, no perhaps in it. Jake really needs to dig deeper for his column inches, he's starting to sound like a scratched record.

[matsuki]

“How long do these people over 90 intend to live anyway?”

He was, tactlessly, raising an important point about quality of life and for how long to we prolong it.

Perhaps he really is smart in his own way. Aso is definitely not stupid; but many in Japan call him baka-shojiki, an adjective in Japanese meaning “stupid honesty” or being overly straightforward.

He's smart, very smart, no perhaps in it. Jake really needs to dig deeper for his column inches, he's starting to sound like a scratched record.

I don't disagree but what's your take on his Nazi comments? That shit is another level...

[Takechanpoo]

jake adalestien just have been ripping off atsushi mizoguchis works so far. but he doesnt quote mizoguchis articles and books and has pretended to be writing his j-underground articles by himself, taking advantage of the fact the english-speaking people dont know mizoguchi.
mizoguchi is the real deal whereas jake adalestaien is just a fake.

[wagyl]

I presume you are referring to the journalist specialising in yakuza reporting (including in maganizes) -- not entirely unknown to the English language world but yes, could be better known -- and not to the gastroenterologist at Harvard and Kurume (but then again, with your penchant for irritating bowels I can never be sure). Even so, I don't believe that Mizoguchi has any particular take on Taro Aso.

Jake Adelstein is just a portal to Asia Lite. For those who just want to dabble in the exotica of the Orient without troubling their little heads with root causes or logical consistency, he meets a need, but there comes a stage with most readers where they feel a hunger for more than he can provide, and they move on to other sources. There are any number of journalists in the Japonica field about which you can say the same. To be fair, most of them never ended up being played by Daniel Radcliffe in a Hollywood biopic, either, so they all have that in common, too.

[legion]

I don't disagree but what's your take on his Nazi comments? That shit is another level...

Well, as I understand Aso's family history the war was very good for their finances, so he probably doesn't share our deep aversion for anything associated with the Nazis.

We mustn't forget the notion of democracy was more or less imposed on Japan, for Aso&co getting elected is a troublesome formality. However he has survived and thrived in the factional melee of domestic politics for decades, which is probably the greater challenge.

[matsuki]

I don't disagree but what's your take on his Nazi comments? That shit is another level...

Well, as I understand Aso's family history the war was very good for their finances, so he probably doesn't share our deep aversion for anything associated with the Nazis.

Indeed, but apparently he's nor aware of how that comes across. (not that he faced much domestic backlash over it...that shit would be career ending in most 1st world countries)

[legion]

I don't disagree but what's your take on his Nazi comments? That shit is another level...

Well, as I understand Aso's family history the war was very good for their finances, so he probably doesn't share our deep aversion for anything associated with the Nazis.

Indeed, but apparently he's nor aware of how that comes across. (not that he faced much domestic backlash over it...that shit would be career ending in most 1st world countries)

I think western rather than 1st world, whatever first world means. What happened in Europe during the war is of at most secondary interest, and far enough removed to be of historical rather than emotional relevance.

I think the Japanese have a long history of ignoring stuff, they used to use human waste as fertilizer in the rice fields, if you can ignore that you can ignore just about anything. Aso cruises on that.

[wuchan]

I don't disagree but what's your take on his Nazi comments? That shit is another level...

I think the Japanese have a long history of ignoring stuff, they used to use human waste as fertilizer in the rice fields, if you can ignore that you can ignore just about anything. Aso cruises on that.

In the US you can buy "manure" that is waste from sewage plants...........

[Coligny]

Supposedly cleaned from "baaaaad (tm)" bacteria. Maybe not from all the hormones and drug coming out of human bungholes though...

[matsuki]

Supposedly cleaned from "baaaaad (tm)" bacteria. Maybe not from all the hormones and drug coming out of human bungholes though...

Probably still safer than the Japanese method...why do you think they have the whole rice washing tradition?

[Coligny]

For the same "family" of reasons that make you wash any vegetable before incorporating them in a recipe ?

Or in your case because some psycho girlfriend threw them on the floor the minute she came back from the grocery store ?

[matsuki]

You don't like your veggies spiced with crazy?

[wagyl]

Probably still safer than the Japanese method...why do you think they have the whole rice washing tradition?

To get rid of starches which form a film on the top of the pot. What were you thinking of?

[Wage Slave]

Probably still safer than the Japanese method...why do you think they have the whole rice washing tradition?

To get rid of starches which form a film on the top of the pot. What were you thinking of?

Are you suggesting that Matsuki is not aware that white rice is pretty thoroughly threshed, milled and polished? Surely not. Or maybe he eats unthreshed rice. After washing it thoroughly of course.

Strange to say, it's not only in Japan that people wash rice thoroughly before cooking it.

[matsuki]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

[wagyl]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

Let me guess, these are the same locals who were convinced that I must be a Nikkei because there is no other way that I could communicate like I do in Japanese, and the same ones who are convinced that you married to get a visa, and the same ones who are convinced that you are stealing all their women. Add the rice thing, and they still only score one out of four.

Local claims are not always based on fact. You would be the first to say so.

[legion]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

I an see how back in the day people would feel a need to give their staple a final wash.

Door handles, smart phone screens & computer mouses often have detectable traces of human feces.

[Coligny]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

I an see how back in the day people would feel a need to give their staple a final wash.

Door handles, smart phone screens & computer mouses often have detectable traces of human feces.

Do you lick door knobs...

Often ?

And the issue is not feces but e-coli...

[wuchan]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

The reason to wash white rice is to remove any insects that may be in there. There is a small worm like bug that likes to eat white rice. These days almost all farmers store their rice in a refrigerator. Left out these bugs grow in about three weeks in the summer heat and humidity. Washing the rice forces them to float to the top making them easier to remove. Rice delivered to the JA is dried to a standard 15%. Once there it is dried further to make it more stable in storage without refrigeration. Part of the secret of expensive sushi is that the rice they use has more moisture in it than store bought rice. Drying the rice down to 5% also allows the JA and food companies to mix in rice from overseas. Very few supermarket rice bags contain 100% Japanese grown product.

Go to your local inaka rice shop and buy a bag of brown then mill it at one of those ATM looking rice mills. You will notice the difference.

[legion]

Do you lick door knobs...

Often ?

And the issue is not feces but e-coli...

I'll be licking your windows later tonight

[legion]

Go to your local inaka rice shop and buy a bag of brown then mill it at one of those ATM looking rice mills. You will notice the difference.

Does this mean there is a downside to brown rice?

[wuchan]

Go to your local inaka rice shop and buy a bag of brown then mill it at one of those ATM looking rice mills. You will notice the difference.

Does this mean there is a downside to brown rice?

It make you poop more?

It is by far more healthy but it's harder to cook unless you like the crunchy thing. Many years ago milling removed all the nasties that grew in storage. Today, most of it is put in a refrigerator within hours of being husked so the risk of contamination is pretty low. The problem is many of the local stores don't have huge cold storage areas so milling is still recommended especially past April.

[Coligny]

Go to your local inaka rice shop and buy a bag of brown then mill it at one of those ATM looking rice mills. You will notice the difference.

Does this mean there is a downside to brown rice?

Great, now I'm horny...

[matsuki]

Oh I'm aware what it goes through til it hits the plate nowadays. Just saying I've heard more than a few locals claim that the origin of washing the rice is to wash the human feces fertilizer stew off it.

Let me guess, these are the same locals who were convinced that I must be a Nikkei because there is no other way that I could communicate like I do in Japanese, and the same ones who are convinced that you married to get a visa, and the same ones who are convinced that you are stealing all their women. Add the rice thing, and they still only score one out of four.

Local claims are not always based on fact. You would be the first to say so.

Point taken but TIJ we're talking about here...though they probably like to think their fascination with scat and eating it is some sort of intangible link to Mozart. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_and_scatology )

[Taro Toporific]

*It's a fact": Taro Aso is cursed.

Tokyo Olympic Games 2020
'That's a fact': Olympics are 'cursed', says Japan's deputy prime minister
--Taro Aso highlights 40-year cycle to make point
--Tokyo officials and IOC insist Games will go ahead
--Taro Aso has said holding the Games would ‘not make sense’ if other countries were unable to send their athletes.
theguardian.com | Thu 19 Mar 2020 03.26 GMT
Japan’s deputy prime minister has said the Tokyo Olympics are “cursed”, as speculation mounts that the Games will have to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Taro Aso, who has a history of making gaffes, told a parliamentary committee that the Olympics appeared to be blighted by world events every 40 years.
More...

[yanpa]

Taro Aso has said holding the Games would ‘not make sense’ if other countries were unable to send their athletes.

Sounds like a win-win situation for Japan if you ask me.

[matsuki]

We should learn from the Nazi's, Hitler's motive was right, the Olympics are cursed...Aso reminds me of an obnoxious, mentalcase, chain smoking, jiji at the local kissaten.