All I want for the New Year...

Up to now, this winter in the east coast of the U.S. has been mild, with most days stay at 10-15 degrees, and down to around 0 at night. And compared to snow storms in rocky mountain ares, no snow has ever piled up yet.

However, I miss the onsen in Japan, these are two of best known onsen resorts in Japan, Hakone under Mt. Fuji and Gunma west of Tokyo.

Have a successful and prosperous to everyone of you!

Letters from Iwa Jima-Best Film of the Year

According to New York Time's movie critic, A.O.Ｓcott, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwa Jima is the best of 2006. You can check out my previous post about the movie and preview clip (in Japanese) here.

A story told by Japanese side, Letters from Iwa Jima is a companion of Eastwood's Flags of our fathers. Opening this weekend in the U.S, letters from Iwa Jima stars Ken Watanabe (Memorial of Geisha, Last Samurai), who is considered by A.O.Scott as the best actor of the year and considered to be the leading candidate for a Oscar Award.

I am hooked with NYT's movie minutes about Letters from Iwa Jima, and I like Ken Watanabe's solid performance in several movies, so I am going to see this movie.

Merry Christmas, 圣诞快乐，メリー・クリスマス

I can't say more than this, however, I want to wish everyone, please have a most romantic day in Japan and China(Christmas Eve), and a most celebrated day in the U.S.

I won't be surprised for a couple in Tokyo or in Beijing to have to pay over 1,000 dollars for a hotel room on Dec. 24th, just to take advantage of the most romantic package most hotels offer, with roses, cards, fancy dancing parties, western dinners, wine and champagne.

I won't be surprised either that most Americans will be staying home with families, and they will reserve all romance until Feb. 14th, as Christmas Eve is when you go to church, or unwrapping gifts.

Wherever you are, Merry Christmas, 圣诞快乐，メリー・クリスマス

Rinko Kikuchi-a rising Japaese actress

Speaking of movies, a Japanese actress, Rinko Kikuchi is a clear winner, with or without winning Golden Globe.

a 25 year old, native of Kanagawa(a prefecture where I use to live in Japan), Rinko used to be Yuriko. Even she has been active in a dozen or so Japanese films, the real breakthrough for Kikuchi came when she played a young Japanese high school students in American movie-Babel, which also won he a Golden Globe nomination.

For an interview with Kikuchi on Babel with LA Times, click here.

Curse of the Golden Flower

Curse of the Golden Flower, a movie starring Chou Yun-Fat(Crunching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Gongli (Raise the Red Lantern) will be opening to US theaters this weekend. Even getting no nominations from Golden Globe, the movie is still visually appealing, with a lot Kungfu actions. If you like Hero and House of Flying Daggers, also directed by famed Chinese director, Yimou Zhang, you may like Curse of Gold Flowers too.

Japan China News Roundup

Six party talks open in Beijing, however, North Koreans behave like......well, North Korean. They require for lift of the UN and U.S. financial sanctions posted after Pyongyang tested nuclear weapons. The U.S. is not back off, asking to separate nuclear talks from financial sanctions. The result seems to be doomed from the start. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Chinese leaders generally agree to visit Japan, on the condition that Japanese leaders will not visit Yasukuni between now until the date of the Chinese's arrival.( It's my explanation of the term Generally). The leader will possibly be Hu Jintao, as a counterpart visit to Shinzo Abe's visit of China last fall. (Xinhua News)

China Japan to study History together

China and Japan open the door to study history together, a meeting is schedule to be held on Dec. 26-27, and then twice a year thereafter. The final result of the study will be due in the middle of year 2008. (Asahi Shimbun)

Japanese side of the team hopes to focus on not only before and during the WWII, but also after the Second World War, when Japan was converted into a democracy by the U.S. and successfully launched into a modern industrial nation. Japanese scholars also want China to be more aware of the Japan's contributions to China's economy, as a form of ODA Yen loan in 1980s and early 1990s.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe also applauded for the joint study of history, he said it would be very "meaningful" work for scholars from both countries to study the history "under a quite environment".

See my previous post on Sino_Japan disputes on History.

Shanghai movies in Tokyo

A Shanghai movie festival is undergoing in Shinjuku, Tokyo, according to Asahi Shimbu, one of the highlights is a movie called Shanghai Rumba(上海伦巴）.

Set in a Christmas day in Shanghai, the story tells a Chinese who is married to a traditional family, Wuanyu (Jade). When she saw and totally amazed by American film-Gone with the wind, Jade wants to be a actress. However, After getting to know that she passed the audition, her in-laws stripped her freedom and forced her to stay home. Jade eventually was allowed to go out after a bad illness. She got to union with her love for acting and love for a new man.

Check out more photos and details of the story here.

Christmas is getting more Chinese?

As most of Americans are ready to celebrate Christmas, people wonder around and ask, if this Christmas is more of Chinese than last years?

The reason, the consumption nature of the westerners vs. manufacturing part of Chinese.

From artificial trees to ornaments, from gifts of clothes to cameras, is China is financing American's Christmas? There are certainly some people crying out for the decline of American economy and rising of Chinese factory power.

Lester Brown is one of them, he authors the book-"Plan B 2.0", and he will host a teleconference tomorrow from Earth Policy Institute, where he is a president. the details are:
December 14th, 11am EST

CALL-IN: U.S.: 1-877-707-9632; International: 011-785-830-1914

Participant Code: Lester Brown

Nanjing remembered

Regarding History of the World War II, Dec 13 is 69th anniversary of the Nanjing massacre, China is organizing a biggest ever effort to remember "Japanese army's brutality". (Xinhua)

If you live in Nanjing, don't be surprised that siren alarm will be sounded all over the city, and first ever exhibit of Nanjing Massacre is currently being held in Italy, a photo archive museum will be opened for the event as well.

I believe all eyes will on the movie of Nanjing Massacre, which I covered months ago here, sponsored by former American OnLine's Ted Leonsis. Scheduled to be released in 2007, the movie will certainly draw attention regarding Clint Eastwood's high regraded movie on Iwa Jima.

Letters from Iwa Jima awarded

Letters from Iwa Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Ken Watanabe（Last Samurai, Memorial of a Geisha), is awarded Best Film of the Year by Los Angles movie critics committee. The movie is also a strong candidate to be contending this year's Academy Award.

Also directed applauded Flags of Our Fathers, Eastwood is certainly having a good year so far. the Flags is beautifully shot and captured many for the emotional moment when the three soldiers set up the flag in the island, and then eventually every single one of them died.

Letters from Iwa Jima will be released in Japan in Dec. 9th, you can check out the trail here (Japanese)

Japan's kanji of the Year: 命(Life)

At the end of every year, Japan will choose a Chinese character to symbolize the main issue, problem or concerns of the year, (Japanese people are worldwide well known for having a strong sense of crisis and forward thinking), this year, the chosen character is 命(Life), to emphasis the biggest issue of Japanese society- Suicides among youth and young men and women caused by ijime(bullying). I have been writing all along about this problem, you can find out from here, here and here.

Only in the country of Japan that a suicide club is something a part of social network. With the same goal of killing themselves, young people at their 20s or 30s, mostly shut out from the rest of the society because they are simply different or they choose to live outside instead being forced to join a social circle, that they are punished for being ignored by all other peers.

Inside the Japanese society in which homogeneous character is the ultimate virtue, and being a part of a group is the ultimate goal, the peer pressure is simply too big to shoulder. As a foreigner who had lived and worked in Japan, I had witnessed how someone that is different being treated. longer haired men wearing a ring are labeled as "homo", and Asians other than Japanese are being treated as third class citizens.

Can the publicity generated by the Kanji of the Year will wake Japanese up to a more equal society?

Abe, will you go to Yasukuni?

I want to ask the new Japanese Prime Minister this question, however, instead of me, a Japanese elementary student took the moment.

During a visit to a Tokyo school today(12/7), a kid asked Shinzo Abe, "I want to ask you about Yasukuni Shrine", and Abe, obviously embarrassed by the question, (Did someone plant the question beforehand?), He first reacted by pointing out it is a very difficult question, when further pressed, he lowered his voice, "I haven't decided yet","Yasukuni question can't be explained to you in a short time period".

Shinze Abe is playing avoiding strategy over Yasukuni issue, however, he can avoid repeated questioning from his won party, opponent parties and media, he can't avoid questions from an elementary student.

East Asian Economic Integration

Tomorrow in DC a major conference is held from 9 a.m to 1pm, jointly sponsored by The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Asia Society and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Titled, "East Asian Economic Integration and U.S.-Japan Relations." at 9:30 a.m, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), discusses "U.S. and Economic Integration in East Asia." and at 10:45 a.m., Kazumasa Kusaka, former Japanese vice minister of economy, trade and industry, delivers remarks.

Check out the conference agenda and a possible webcast (on the event date) here.

China Japan News Roundup

Tomorrow's Chinese stars are made by Japanese. It may sound extreme, however, Japanese art hunters are setting up shops to sign potential Chinese young artists to be Asia's next pop singers, actors. Niikei has an interview with Koji Araki (荒木隆司), CEO one of such company, エイベックス・グループ・ホールディングス.

Over 1,000 Japanese companies, aiming Chinese market, join together to create an association, in hope of developing and marketing energy conservation and environmental technologies to China. (Asahi Shimbun)

To tighten regulations over organ transplant surgery amid a high virus affection of HIV Aids and Hepatitis, China sets up a new monitoring agency to limit only certain medical facilities to be allowed to operate transplant surgery. (Yomiruri Shimbun)

Funny Japanese and Chinese

Certainly not well-known for being showy and making fun of people in public, Chinese and Japanese do have someone who is not afraid to show off on the crowded streets in Tokyo or Beijing. One is self-named as "Hard Gay" in Tokyo, he is actually quite a hit on the TV shows, and one is a Chinese street performer

Can Japan Hold on to its recovery?

Just in the time for Japan to celebrate its official exit from deflation, a long painful stagnation of zero-interest rate, zero or even negative growth in the past decade, some experts voice cautions that fast changing global economy, its domestic consumption and income growth can also derail Japan from moving along on the right track.

Wharton school of business at University of Pennsylvania, put out a report titled Can Japan hold on to its recovery? From real estate boom to Anime industry, from energy to world politics, the report details the progress and problems facing Japan.

Check out the report here.

Aids Day: HIV spreads to common people in China

December First is World's Aids day, what the status of Aids in China?

Xinhua reports that Aids has spread from high risking groups such as sex workers, underground blood sellers, drug users and homosexuals to university students, military personnel and laborers.

In a single province of Shanxi, a inland area well-known for coal production, 2/3 of the new HIV cases are affected through sex and drug use. Most of cases involved prisoned criminals.

how to deal ijime?

Recently in Japan, ijime(bullying) receiving a lot of attention. In a society that an individual is merely a part of a group. however strong he/she is, without belonging to a group, there is no end of being bullied for being eccentric.

In Japan, to deal ijime, one has to question how long such intolerance of being different from groups will last?

There are ample examples that helmets of the Japanese society have to retreat into their own world, some of them, Hikikomori, usually stay in a small rooms for more than a decade, in fear of being bullied by counterparts. Some escape to other countries, such as U.S., NYC has become a paradise for many young Japanese young women seek freedom and being different.

There is certainly no simple answer to how to deal ijime, however, there is a certain way that Japan has to think how to respect and tolerate the weak, the different and the foreign.

Tokyo Trail-the movie

Last night, I went to see a Chinese movie-Tokyo Trail, which I found out to be more of a Chinese side of the history event, and filled with a lots of emotions.

Besides almost all the Japanese characters involved in the historical event were played by Chinese actors, one of the main events that were covered extensively in the movie-Chinese Judge Mei's strong protest to be able to sit next to the main American Judge, shows that face is more important than sitting order.

After the movie, one cannot wonder the truth of the old saying, Winner takes it all.

China Japan News Roundup

Just came back from four day Thanksgiving weekend, ready to catch up with the What's going on in China and Japan:

1. Titled as China in Search of Imagination, New York Times explores the inequality in China's education system. Contradictory to common belief that Chinese is paying heavy cost for education, Chinese government only spends 3% of GDP investing in education, lag behind of U.S. and Japan, and only a handful of elite schools get the money from the government.

2. Visionary Vehicles，American auto seller cancels its plan to sell Chinese car Chery in the U.S. According to the plan, a total of 250，000 Chinese made car will be sold in the U.S. However, CEO of Visionary Vehicles, Malcolm Bricklin said, Chevy's car is not up to the company's standard.(Niikei NET)

3. Japan and U.S. delegates meet in Beijing to talk about restart of stalled 6-party talks. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Parasite Singles, Escaped ladies

Geisha girl, best wife, oriental beauty, these are all traditional descriptions about Japanese women, however, as new generation of Japanese grows up, two kinds of Japanese women emerge: One is called parasite singles, and one has escaped to NY.

Who should blame the Japanese women who seek freedom from either being a OL(office lady) who serves tea and run errands for OB(Old Boys) in big corporations, or being a Kyoichu mama (Education mother), however, facing increasing less child birth and more single women who delay marriage until mid to late 30s, Japan as a society does have a home work to do to stop the worrisome trend.

Wedding in China: 1.2 billion industry

This year, a year of dog is especially doing good for Chinese wedding industry, the reason? After the dog year, next comes the year of Gold Pig, when babies that are born will be Gold Pig Babies.

Today's wedding industry is no longer just a dinning banquet and photo sets with exotic backgrounds such as western style churches or cathedrals, wedding planning companies are taking care of everything, from renting tuxedos to booking honeymoon vocations. With a cost from 30,000 to 60,000 Yen ($4,000 to $5,500), it certainly is not cheap to average Chinese who makes average $200 per month. However, it does reduce hassles and costs less than arranging everything by young couples themselves.

Chinese Idol: Asexual

In the U.S., when a men is referred as Metrosexual, it means he is as fashionable as a women. However, in China, what's trendy is asexual, meaning girls are trying to look like a boy, while a boy dress like a girl.

If backdorm boys still look like boys, today's singers, stars only appear to confuse you.

From super popular superlady Li Yuchun to boy singer Song Xiaobo, from stars to common street walkers in any cities , gender line between girls and boys in China is certainly blurred.

Some praise the trend as increasing women's right, as economy continues to grow and 74% of Chinese women work and earn more income, women will become more equal to their peers, physically or psychologically. At the same time, to appeal to girls, young men will dress like a popular singer, with long hair and a slim body.

What is your take?

History, History

Good news from Hanoi, where Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso are attending APEC meetings, both Li and Aso agree to study history together and publish the result by 2008.

this joint study history will make history itself, as the study group will cover not only Pre-WWII and after the war history, it also covers Japan's economic contribution(Yen loans, ODA) to China since the two country normalized the ties in 1972.

The hope is certainly high for the study to shed some lights on such topics as Comfort Women, Rape of Nanjing, 731's Germ War, and the study is also free of political agenda and influence from both countries top leaders.

Japan all over the U.S.

Today is a day of Japan in the U.S., if not everyone, at least most of the U.S. will know something about what's going on in Japan.

First, a sad news of small Tsunami hits the Japan's Hokaida, triggered by strong earthquakes occurred in the northern part of the Pacific ocean. （CNN)

Then, Seibu Lions's pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka(松板大辅） got a bid from Boston Red Sox for 51.1 million dollars, and Matsuzaka will be flying to Boston to negotiate a deal with Red Sox.(ESPN)

China Japan News Roundup

A young Chinese student, Masakazu Motoki (端木正和），who came to Japan at age of 17 in 1989, reveals his own business, a Chinese stokes information provide for Japanese business. (Niikei Net)

More Chinese workers are exported to Japan to work as a fruit pickers, chick farm workers, etc, today's news reports that a Japanese clothing marker in Aomori failed to pay 3 Chinese sewers right amount of salary. (Yomiuri)

Why Robert Zoellick, considered to be a China hand, failed to stay, while Nicolas Burns, a mideast hand is making U.S. foreign policy? Xinhua new agency explores this topic.

Potola Palace-New 7 Wonders revealed

America's TV broadcaster ABC news and newspaper US Today jointly starts a process to select new world 7 Wonders, the first on the list is Potola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

ABC news sent its anchor to Lhasa to explore magnificence of the Palace, the video clips worthy checking out, if you don't want to go by yourself to the "backbone of the world", and endure massive altitudes sickness almost everyone suffers when first coming to Lhasa.

Put Human into Hu

The other day I saw a Advertisement on Washington Post, about how a U.S. chemistry company puts human first.

However, I have another thought, how about put Human into Hu, the Chinese president Hu Jintao, who took power with a promise to be a people's leader, motto to create a harmonious society. However, in today's China, there is never a day goes by without news of riots, social unrest, protests, just to name a few among others.

It's time to put Human into Hu.

Chinese buying power

Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York city, Chinese shoppers are everywhere these days. Thanks to a strong Renminbi, which has been dropped from 8.27 to 1 dollar to 7.9 and keeps going up. Who can you blame when you have the money and want to spend on some real stuff instead of fake brand name products found everywhere in China?

According to a New York Times Article, France is Chinese shoppers' top destination, mostly because EU is on China's list of approved tourist destination in the year of 2004. European countries are willing to trade its influence for more commerce from China, which certainly helps Chinese government encourages its tourists to go there.

How about America, which has the biggest Chinese population outside China? The picture is not that good. Even Chinese gamblers seems to have taken over Las Vegas from time to time, however, Shopping is a priority for Chinese tourists who visit the U.S. Most of such tourists I know are visiting relatives, and their consumption power is way much limited.

One reason is also that to get a American visa is still hard, and having an embassy staff treats everyone seeking a visa as potential immigrants, it certainly doesn't help Chinese wealthy tourists to come here easily.

China Foreign Reserve over 1000 billion Dollars

China's foreign reserve officially exceeds 1000 billion us dollars, draw a broad attention expanding trade deficits with the U.S and japan.(Niikei Net)

Beijing Olympics gets closer, Japan's Public broadcaster,NHK protests to IOC for change in competition times. Requested by America's NBC, which has exclusive broadcasting right to the 2008 Olympics, IOC changes such popular competitions as swimming, Gymnastics into Ｍｉd morning hours, so north American audience will be able to watch at night. However, it also means Japanese audience have to skip work to be able to catch up with their favorite players. (Asahi Shimbun)

Dogs for Olympics

As Beijing Olympics gets closer, dogs get busier.

A special training unit is conducting dogs trainings for possible terror attack during 08 Olympics, the dogs seem to be good fit for circus as they are good at climbing to a high tower, walking over a rope, and jumping through fire circles.

Look out a TBS video clip here

China's African Safari

China is all over the DC again. Ahead of Sino-African Summit to be held in Beijing this week, American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank in DC, holds a discussion titled China's African Safari to explore China's evergrowing influence in such African nations as Sudan, Angola, etc.

However, in terms of foreign relations with African countries, United States is not that clean, either. A today's Washington Post article-Security Council Seat Tied to Aid, cited a report conducted by two Howard scholars, who report that U.S. uses foreign aid to influence African countries sitting on UN Security Council in voting for the U.S.

The event video and press release here .

Besides China's African, will a possible class war break out in China? Even under Hu Jintao's carefully scripted goal to establish a Harmonious Society , China is still undergoing more riots and social unrests, with income gap and gap of rich and poor enlarges, a class war seems inevitable. Jamestown Foundation addresses this question in today's event, CHINA AFTER HU JINTAO: THE LOOMING CLASS WAR IN 2010?

check out the event details here.

Good Reading on China

I just finished reading a book, "Oracle Bones" by Peter Hassler, who worked as a freelance journalist for Boston Globe, New Yorker from 1999. Previously a English teacher and a peace Corp volunteer in Sichuan, Peter wrote his first book, River Town-Two Years on Yangtze, about his teaching in China.

Aimed to introduce China to American audience from its past to present, Oracle Bones did a good job in putting together such significant events and sensitive issues such as Beijing bid for Olympics, Urygur minority's fleeing from the country, Falungun, etc, mass demolishing historic areas in Beijing, etc, it also used the author's quest for prominent academics of Oracle bones-Chen Mengjia, as a thread to put together China's old glories and its new realities.

It is certainly helpful to know nowadays China better by reading Oracle Bones.

China Japan News Roundup

• Tickets for 2008's Beijing Olympics will be on sale starting next year, total 700,000 tickets will be sold through Internet and telephones. The number of tickets available for pubic to view openning ceremony will be about 60,000. (asahi)
• 
  China successfully launched a first MIC (made in China) broadcasting satelliate in Xichang, Sichuan province. (Niikei)
• 
  A top officer from Japan's ruling party-Liberal Democarcatic Party(LDP), Shoichi Nakagawa, held a TV conference with Taiwan's president Chen Shuibian. Chen called for a trilateral conference among Taiwan, Japan and the U.S. to discuss corss Taiwan Straits issue. (Yomiuri)

Laowai Superwoman in Beijing

Just when everyone in China thinks that it happens all the time and it is not dangerous and illegal to drive within bicycle special lines, a nicely dressed laowai superman steps in and insists changing this bad behavior.

However, even the fact that she is a laowai(foreigner) in China, she is a lady and she is politely smiling all the time doesn't stop her from being smashed by the Chinese drivers. Her bicycle was even taken away and thrown to the ground, however, the laowai lady was so determined to stop the drivers, she turned around and still stop her bicycle in front the violated car, insisting the driver to use the car lines instead driving inside the bicycle lines.

Viva and Bravo to the Laowai Superwomen!

Halloween in China:wedding

Just when most of the U.S. is embracing annual Halloween, when kids turn themselves into princes, vampires, superman and ninja, and adults turn themselves into kids, in China, Halloween is just to catch fire.

A bridal photo place promotes a package for new wedding couples, some photos include vampires series, prehistory sets, prison wedding sets, etc.

Any tricks for the treat of the photo for me?

Rice: US is to Denfend Japan

US secretary of state, Condi Rice, giving a speech on her last week's trip to Japan, China, South Korea. When being asked U.S.'s reaction to weather Japan should develop its own nuclear weapons, a topic that is hotly debated inside Japan, including both Japan's FM Aso and Defense Minister Kyoma, Ms. Rice promised that the United States will follow US-Japan Security guarantee agreement , and will defend japan.

Youtube vs. Toodou(土豆）

After Google bought Youtube for 1.65 billion dollars, Youtube MIC(made in China)-Toodou gets a lot of attention. If you are somehow like me, like reading technology news across the Pacific occean, you will notice there is Chinese search engine that a MIC of Google, Beidu, at the first trading day at NYSE, the price of Beidu jumped over 200 dollars per share.

Does Toodou has a Beidu future, too?

I doubt it. Youtube takes off on its speciality in video uploading and sharing, and speed of the website plays a big role in Youtube's success. However, I tried out Toodou and found it is sooo slow. It takes 15 seconds waiting for the homepage to open, and after clicking a title, it takes 30-40 seconds for the video to appear. While I tested Youtube, both tasks take less than 5 seconds.

Why is Cat's pee so smelly?

Have you ever wondered why your Neko-chan(pet cat) pee so smelly? I did, just one week ago when the boy cat peed by livingroom's windows. I barely had time to react, all in a sudden, the room is smelled like rotten rate house.

So, Why Cat's pee is way more smelly than human?

A Japanese research team in Rikagaku Research Institute and Iwate University, gave out their answers.

In human's case, only when a person is having kidney dieases, the pee will be consisted of large porton of protein, however, in cat's case, even when a cat is healthy, his/her pee will be filled with protein. Among the protein, one kind of amino acid is extremely smelly.

To know more, check out the Japanese report here.

Japan's Demon wife(鬼嫁)

A popular Japanese blog becomes a hot topic recently, named as " 鬼嫁"(Oniyome dairy)(Demon wife's dairy)", a Japanese housewife writes about everything she does considers to be "bitchty"in Japan. The blogs gets so popular that a TV drama shows was made by Fuji TV later last year. A woman dominating household where a houseband is subject to all kinds of "abuse" by his pretty wife is still rare in Japan.

In real life, even Japan is still a society that is heavly dominated by men, however, Japanese women, especially housewives, certainly have a say on making decisions.

Check out the Blog 鬼嫁日记 here and the TV show page here.

China stops flight to Pyongyang

One of the big three airlines in China, Southern Airlines stops its flight from Beijing to Pyongyang amid a stong urge by US Secretary of State Rice to strengthen sancitons over North Korea. The three flights a week will be stopped immediately, and will not be resumed until further notice. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Faced by a possible second round of North Korea's nuclear tests, China sent its top diplomat-Tang Jiaxuan to Pingyong, how Kim Jung Il will follow China's direction will be a big question mark. (Asahi Shimbun)

Car sales in China grows 31.4% from Jan-Sept this year, driven by a strong demand for light cars. (Niikei Net)

DC Asian Mania:Animals

DC Asia Mania goes on,from lots of academic discussions on China, Japan and South Korea, to a new Asia Trail in the Naitonal Zoo.

Asia Trail is home to seven Asian animals: sloth bears, fishing cats, red pandas, Japanese giant salamanders, clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, and giant pandas. The star is certainly the Baby Panda Taishan, now 15 months old has its own webcame on the Internet.

Openning ceremony for the Asia Trail is from today to 21st. If you are in DC, it may be a good place to hang out. For these of you who are outside of DC, Check out the site here.

Song Zuying in DC

Chinese Singer宋祖英 (Song Zuying) was spotted around the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Saturday, and she is in town for a solo concert.

Watch the video clips from Xinhua.

China all over in DC

Once in a while, all kinds of talks about China, from its policies toward North Korea, to impact of its energy policy to the world. Today around DC, there are following events on China,

8:30 a.m. -- The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission holds is second open meeting to prepare its annual report to Congress. Topics to be discusses include: China's regional, and energy activities, China's financial system and its effect on the United States, and China's proliferation to and relationships North Korea and Iran.

8:30 a.m. -- The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) holds a discussion titled, "China's Challenge in Strengthening its Energy Security." Participants include Delly Gallagher of the Energy Technology Innovation Project; Jeff Logan of the World Resources Institute; and Minxin Pei of CEIP.

12:30 p.m. -- The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) holds a discussion titled, "Toward a New Market Architecture: China's Recent Financial and Stock Market Reform," with Yang Yanqing, assistant editor-in-chief of China Business News.

Dating in Beijing, Shanghai

For young Chinese couples in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, finding a romantic place is always hard. Home is a big NO, NO, as traditionally Chinese homes are small and cramped. Several years ago, a couple would go to a McDonald's or KFC's, where the fast foods chains serve western foods such as hamburgers, fried chickens to young people who are willing to try new things and can afford them.

Nowdays, Shopping becomes trendy for young city hippies. Beijing Wangfujing (王府井）and Shanghai's Xintiandi (新天地)offers both Chinese brands and Western luxury stores. Kind like a Mall in the U.S., Xintiandi in Shanghai offers fasion stores, restaurants, movie theaters and fitness center. (See a Japanese article on Nikkei Net)

North Korea Nuke Clearing House Event

CSIS(center for Security and International Studies) held a press briefing on North Korea, With four experts/former Clinton/Bush administration officers giving their takes, I consider it as a Clearing house event for North Korea's recent Nuclear test.

Participants are: Kurt Compbell and Jon Wofthal(officers in Clinton era) vs.Michael Green and Derek Mitchell.

There are a lots of insights regarding China, South Korea, Japan and further implicaitons. Check out the full transcripts here or/and watch the video here from C-span.

Chinese woman tops list of the Richest

Zhang Yin, a Chinese women business owner tops the list of the nation's 500 richest people, with a worth of $3.4 billion according to the annual Hurun Report. By exporting recycled paper to China and eventually produce high quality paper products from two factories in Dongguan, Guangdong, Zhang's story indicates the new Chinese rich that is rised from scratch to become billionaires. (Marketplace)

Kim helps Abe:China Japan News Roundup

North Korea Nuk is still dominating both China and Japan's attention, it even overshadows the Abe's visit to China and South Korea, Here are some highlights,

1. Is Abe getting a helping hand from North Korea's Kim? New York Times this article thinks so.
2. Abe gets not only Chinese top leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiaobao's hospatility, he also gets fanfare in China. Washington Post article reports.
3. China is obviously concered about nuclearanization of Japan after North Korea's bang, Xinhua news agency put out an article to assure China itself that Shinzo Abe still claims that Japan will stick to Non-Nuclear three principles. (Ff you so believe what a politican says...)
4. Even there is clear difference between Shinzo Abe and Hu Jintao in many problems facing SinoJapan realtions, and Abe didn't say he is not going to visit Yasukuni, as China repeately insisted. A commentary of Yomiuri Shimbun still think, the weekend Sino-Japan summit achieved substancial results.

China turns deaf on Abe's new controversy

Shinzo Abe, during a Japanese Congressal Q&A session, said,” According to Japanese law, WWII class-A war criminals are not criminals." Major Japanese media, even conservative Yomiuri Shimbun reported the statement; however, there is nowhere to be found in Xinhua News agency's website.

Compared to first time reporting of Koizumi's every statement on history and Yasukuni, Chinese government suddenly turns deaf to Abe.

What have changed?

Obviously, Hu Jintao wants to make a friendly environment for talks with Abe over this weekend. However, considering Abe's Yasukuni visit this year and strong stance on China, there is little to be expected from the talks. If Abe can open a door for further talks between the two leaders, I consider that to be a big Achievement.

A gift for today's Mid-Moon Festival? Happy Mid-Moon Festival to all!

Shinzo Abe(安部晋三)=Shintaro Ishihara（石原伸太郎）

Following my previous post, American journalist and author, Michael Zielenziger thinks that the new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has someone at his back, an ultra-conservative, governor of Tokyo, author of "Japan can say No", Shintaro Ishihara.

In his words, Zielenziger said, Shinzo Abe's weekend trip to China and South Korea is more a symbol, the result from these meetings will be extremely limited and a breakthough cannot be expected.

Is he right on Shinzo Abe and his first trip to China?

Japan according to Michael Zielenziger

I just came back from a discussion with Michael Zielenziger, author of “shutting out the Sun: how Japan created its own Lost Generation” at New American Foundation in Washington DC.

Some of Mr. Zielenziger’s points are:

1. On Japan in general：Even politicians start talking about Japan’s withdraws from deflation, Japan is not back yet. Compared to American’s growth rate of 3-4%, Japan grows at .2%, and national debt is 127% of Japan’s GDP.

Socially, Japan’s young people are isolated into their own world. A survey shows that nearly 50% of people under 25 years old have Zero friends of opposite sex.
Japan’s population is about half as many as that of the U.S but has same suicides.
Young women, called Parasite, live with their parents and don’t marry and bear kids until their 40s.

2. On Hikikomori: like NEET (Not in Education, Employment, Training), a social withdraw group. Most of them are men, and can’t be diagnosed. In his book, Mr. Zielenziger cited a young man called Kenji, who was bullied in school, decided to stay home to relieve social stress, and days turned to weeks, months and years。 Kenji has been locked himself in for two decades.

3. Roots for Japan’s failure: Japan knows how to make computers, cars, but never engages the system of innovation, appetitive for risks, check and balance of a civil society, NGOs and Watchdogs, etc. In Japan, individual expression is nowhere to be seen.

It seems Japan takes the Bullet train from a federal society to an industrialized nation, without a systematic modernization.

How to correct the problem? A Japanese men, who provides schooling for Futoko(refusing to go to schools), told Zielenziger, “there are Two things to teach: 1. choice, 2. responsibility

According to the author, even Japanese people express their frustrations over lack of changes, they say only changes can be done through “Kurofune (black boat)” or “A-bombs”

You can check out a video of the event here.

Hikikomori(引きこもり): Japan's lost generation

Just when news of laptop batteries made by Sony and cars made by Toyota got recalled flood the consumers worldwide,another Japan's problem draw attentions everywhere, being called "Japan's lost generation", Hikikomori(引きこもり)is the young people, most of them are men,give up on schools and society, and lock themselves in a cramped room inside their homes. there are 1-2 millions Hikikomori in Japan.

Is there is a relationship between Japanese falling quality and the anti-social, lost generation?

American journalist, writer Michael Zielenziger explores the topic, and in his book, Shutting out the Sun: How Japan Created its own Lost Generation" , he shows how Japan's social problem has affected its reputation as King of Quality.

China and Abe are on Honeymoon

Xinhua news agency, the Chinese government's mouth, is having a harmony with new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Xinhua not only puts Abe's photos permanentlyon its top page, International news section, but praise Abe's every move and word on Sino-Japan relations. For example, when Abe reiterate Murayama's statement on Japan's aggression during the WWII, and he has nothing further to offer, China's Xinhua put out a headline, praising Abe for "determination to build solid ties with China and South Korea".

No doubt China is having a high hope for Abe's visit to China this weekend, and China has restrained from critizing Abe for being more right wing than Koziumi. The result, will see...

Anime Mania in China, Part II

Animemania in China is going even bigger, the first ever Anime Exhibit opens in Beijing, over three hundreds fans line up outside the door waiting to enter.

Even Chinese government encourages Animation products to be MIC(made in China), and it even put out an order banning TV stations broadcasting foreign products during golden hours(6pm-7pm), however, Japanese comics books and characters dominate the exhibit.

To compete with established Japanese Anime, China has a long way to go. Chinese fans care more about good ones than MIC ones.

Shinzo Abe is to visit China this weekend

China Japan News Roundup:

1.New Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is planning a trip to China and a talk with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Oct. 8. It is certainly a chance for the two leaders to improve ties, and Abe's first trip to China and South Korea also highlights his determination to have a better relationships with the two neighbors.(Asahi Shimbun)

2.A 29 year old Chinese national in Tokyo is sentensed to death, for killing a Japanese couple four years ago during a robbery. (TBS news-製麺所夫婦殺害、中国人に死刑判決)

Love me but leave me alone

Welcome to this week's Funny Friday, it has been a while. Look at the photos, do we need any captions?

Read More

• panda
• panda
• babies

NYT to Shinzo Abe: Stop visiting Yasukuni

Yesterday, New York Times put out an editoral titled, Shinzo Abe's Asian Challenge. This article asks the new Japanese Prime Minister to go beyond Koizumi and Yasukuni, and "The obvious place to start is by rebuilding Japan’s badly damaged relations with China."

The article also points out that the greatest error of the Koizumi administration is to visit Yasukuni Shrine, which plays into the hands of China. To crictize the mistakes,

"The first step should be declaring that he will not continue Mr. Koizumi’s provocative practice of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where the spirits of convicted war criminals are honored."

Japan's Own: Peaceboat

Shinzo Abe, the new Japanese Prime Minister aims to build Japan as a county as trusted and beloved worldwide, there certainly has something for every Japanese to be proud of, Peaceboat.

In 1983, a group of Japanese college students, frustrated by the government's inability to break through its past history of aggression and build friendship with neighboring countries, took peace making into their own hands and rented a boat, sailed to the countries that were victimized by Japan's emperor army during the World War II. Their goal is to learn firsthand of the sufferings and historical facts of the war.

Today, Peaceboat sails around the world; it brings the world to Japanese nationals, bridges the gaps between Japanese people and a real world view of Japan, not through government's filters or lens.

In Japan and Korea relationship building, Peaceboat is working hard, however, Sino-Japan relations seems not yet takes off.

Japan's Future Depends on Past

Washington Post editoral has a pretty harsh words for Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, asking him to be honest with the history. Check it out here.

Japan as Quality King is NO More

An article on New York Times talk about Japan's recent accidents, in which Toyota has to recall cars and Sony has to recall batteries.

Is Japan as a king in quality No More? Regarding the article-Japanese Fret that Quality is in Decline, my initial views are,

1. Japanese workers, especially younger ones are not demanding in quality control as their parents, and some even anti-traditions.
2. Technology changes so fast and gets so complicated, Japan has to catch up and to learn, too. Some old traditions such as strictly following manuals, are not applicable any more. Japan is known for being slow to change dramatically.
3. Facing fierce competitions from both the U.S. and Korea, China, Japanese companies turn to American style of profit seeking, and bloody cost cutting, quality control also suffers compromise.

Abe is able to improve sino-japan ties

No bad is too bad and no good is too good, everything has its opposite effect. When China is facing a a more conservative, younger Abe compared to Koizumi, a chance may be present itself, too.

Just as no one predicts that China and Japan bilteral ties can't be too bad with Abe is offically elected to be Japan's next Prime Minister, China cautiously hopes Abe maybe a good start, at least he repeated his intention to improve ties with China and South Korea at his first policy speech as a Japan's ruling party-LDP's president.

I certainly hope that Abe will be able to delivery, but first I have to see where he will choose destination for his first overseas trip, U.S. or China?

At the same time, I will take the rest of the week off, and will return next week. Have a good weekend!

Koizumi's Heir:a Beautiful Japan

Even the final result of Japan's LDP president election will not be announced until some 15 hours away, it seems Shinzo Abe, 51 years old, will be the winner and thus Japan's next Prime Minister.

This forecast has been going on for a while, now even American media seems to favor Abe over Aso and Tanigaki in this 3 way race. In today's Washington Post arcicle, Abe is described as an avowed nationalist, and his slogan, Beautiful Japan, is to offer a Japan pride.

"I have a sense that the postwar generation of politicans in Japan-including Abe-have lost the older generation's sense of war guilt.", the arcitle quoted Takayoshi Miyagawa, a political strategist adn noted pacifist in Tokyo.

Mooncake War heats up

Moon festival is not here until Oct. 6, which is 20 days away, however, a war has been undergoing in China.

In Shanghai, a city wellkown for being Chinese captial of sweats, has launched a kind of mooncakes that is not sweat at all, it is not even edible, a set of four gold mooncakes, each is carefully put in a cystal stand.

I find it is find to image a mooncake that is not to please you taste buds, however, I am not surprised that today's mooncake is not yesterday's moonkcake any more, when I was little, a moonkcake filled with cystal sugar cubes, with a price of 0.5 yuan(less than 10 cents), meant a joy of enjoying a full, harvest autumn moon and the cake, however, today, fewer are fond of eating the cakes any more, whatever you put into the cake, nuts, eggs, dates, won't cause any excitement, so, why not just make a gold mooncake?

Mooncake has changed, so has China.

US congress concerns about Yasukuni Issue

During a congress hearing regarding Japan’s diplomacy in Asia yesterday, several U.S. congressmen showed their concerns over Koizumi’s Yasukuni shrine visit.

Co-host of the hearing, titled Japan’s Relations with Its Neighbors: Back to the Future?, Congressmen Lantos(D-CA), said,

"My massage to Japan’s incoming Prime Minister is very simple, paying respects to the war criminals is morally bankrupt and unworldly for a great nation such as Japan. This practice MUST END.”

Chairman of Congress International relations committee, Congressman Hyde(R-PA)， who blocked Mr. Koizumi’s attempt to give a speech in the US Congress on a visit to Washington this April, also criticizes the Yasukuni Shrine’s newly open museum hall, 遊就館, he said, that it is perplex that (the exhibit of the hall) focus Japan as a liberator to free other parts of Asia from invasion of Western imperialism.

Republican congressman Rohrabacher of California, point out China’s role in Japan’s foreign policy with the U.S.,

“Chinese regime in Beijing, which is a dictatorship, wants to drive at a wedge between the U.S. and Japan, they would like us to focus on the past.”

I don't see why the U.S. should not concern about the Yasukuni issue, I am only surprised that why it takes so long to get here. Now that U.S. Congress has voiced out concerns, the ball is now in the President Bush's court, for him to throw the ball to Japan's leaders.

Dragon &Elephant: China races with India

No topic hotter than the raising of China and India, and with both courtiers, with each has over 1 billion people and huge pool of talented engineers and students pose to be the No. 1 economy in the world, but at the end of the day, between China and India, who will get there first?

Yesterday, The question is tried to be answered by Pieter Bottelier, SAIS senior adjunct professor of China Studies, SAIS of John Hopkins University in Washington DC. "India's Economic Progress and Prospects: Perspectives from China's Experience"

Compared to China,

1.India has a democracy, rule of law and people enjoy greater freedom. However female education is much lower
2. India has limited infrastructure to start with, the nation has no reliable electricity supply, and no big cities in India meet international logistic standards. All Multi-Nation Corps have to build their own systems out of the current ones.
3. India has more private companies, better corporate governance. Both India and China has a state dominated banking system.

India, China's Relationship with the U.S.
Sino-US trade is much larger, due to bigger Foreign Direct Trade to China from the U.S.

Access to Capital:
Indians enjoy easier access to capital, Chinese rely more on personal savings.

In Conclusion,

India is on a way to something every significant, however, the sustainability is not assured, five factors will decide:
1. manufacture sector, currently the ratio in GDP is too low.
2. Agriculture
2. Infrastructure
4. National saving has to raise
5. greater political consensus

Anime, MIC(Made in China)

China is planning to develop its own anime industry, instead of just importing from Japan, Chinese governmnet certainly sees the Anime's huge business chance and the potential influence to Chinese youth.

If you have read my previous post on Anime, Everything about China and Japan in DC, you won't be surprised by how popular the Anime is among American youth and even adults.

I grew up with Japanese Anime cartoons TV series, everday at 6:30pm is the unchangealble channel for such hit shows such as the 阿童木 (ｱﾄﾑ)(Astoy Boy). However, I don't remember any such cartoons made in China, can such shows be made in China without being poor quality?

Books that I read and like

Here are the list of books that I read and like,
China:

One billion Customers

Asian Woman:
Geisha Girl, Dragon Lady and Asian Mythstic

Self-Improvement:
Now, Discovery your Strengths

Business
Blue Ocean Stragety

Roh in DC, but no Korean Wave

South Korean President Roh( prounced as Noh in Japanese) is in Washington DC today, he is scheduled to meet President Bush tomorrow, North Korea will dominate their talks.

However, even Japanese women go crazy about South Korean Men, so called Korean Wave didn't reach to American shore at all. Compared to evergrowing popularity of Anime, Japanese carton comic books and movies, Korean idols, men or women, still remain unknown to most Americans.

China Japan News Roundup

1. Chinese again asks Japan to make moves to improve ties, right before Japan's Prime Minister electioin, a gesture to make sure that Japan's next PM will focus on frozen cold bilateral ties. (Xinhua)
2. 1 out of four college students in Beijing suffers from depression, and suicidial rate is increasing. What's alarming is that out of 19 students who committed suicides in year 2004, eight students are from the Beijing(Peking) University, nicknamed Chinese Harvard University. (Asahi Shimbun)
3. To Chinese, A photo seems to be enough to improve ties with Japan. At ongoing Eurasia summit, even both Japan's PM Koizumi and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao didn't talk, except handshakes and exchange of greetings, Chinese still took a photo of Wen shaking hands with Koizumi and ask the host, Finland government to post it on the website. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Chinese Youth Hunger for Sex Ed

"Food and Sex, are human's desires", by the Confucius, is actually only partially true in China. Yes, Chinese foods are worldwide known for being delicious and desirable, however, the Chinese don't talk Sex, at least not publicly.

Today's Washington Post has a feature story on How Chinese Radio stations hotline operators educate high students on Sex. A story I like is like this, a 15 year boy asked that since he and his girlfriend had experiment and they both wear underwear, weather she will be pregnant.

A very good article, check it out here.

911 five years and pearl harbor

There is no other comparison between 911 terror attack and Pearl Harbor, when America was under attack. However, if you consider how many non-Americans died on September. 11, 2001, from annual reading of victim's names in NYC, you will realize how the world has changed.

Five years from the horrible event, the World Trade Center is gone, here comes a more globalized world, even terror attacks has gone more global, not only in New York, Washington DC any more, you see in London, Bali, India, Spain, etc. Some experts even suggest the world of terror is not about Osama Bin Laden any more, but a worldwide Islam extremists' movement.

Pear Harbor leads to a war and a resurgence of Japan and Germany, War on terror is still going on, five years after the 911, there is still no clear winners.

Mao's anniversary, the day I can't forget

9/9/06 marks the 30th anniversary of Mao Zedong's death, however you think about Mao, he is a certainly a controversal person. (Xinhua)

What I remember about Mao is the day when he died. At 1976, I was a kinder garden student, when the news of his death came out, everyone cried out. Everyone around me, old or young, men or women, for real saddness or for fear of cost of not doing so.

The funeral day is dark, rainy and gloomy. Our kids were arranged to line up along the streets, actually every walkable person was there, with a traditional mourning black banner on their arms, cried along with live broadcasting of the funeral held in Beijing. To me, There seemed to be a competition of crying going on, several person, who cried out so loud that they fainted and had to be carried away, and then more people fell to the ground.

That took place at a small mountain village where my family resided. Now I realize that the same scene must had taken place everywhere in China on that day. For me, that day was unforgetable.

High School killings, Japan and China

Just when a male student of a high school in Tokuyama, Japan killed his female classmate, and then hang himself, Chinese media reports a story that a male high schooler killed a senior girl in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang provience in southeast China.

Compared to Japanese media questioning why it took 10 days to find out the suspect, who killed himself just 7,000 meters away from the school, Chinese media didn't ask why the Xiaoshan killing, which took place in the summer of 2005, didn't surface until now, a year later, but instead focus on the vitcm's parents presenting a thank you banner to local police. Take a look at the video.

Baby Boom

Just when Tom Cruise's baby Suri debuts in the U.S., appreaing in the Vanity Fair mag, Japan's Princess Kiko gives birth to a baby boy, no name announced yet, but the boy is already placed in the 3rd place to become Japan's emperior.

Everyone in Japan seems happy, however, no one doubts that hotly debated topic of woman emperior will be pushed off the table, and a chance of leveling women to a higher social status will be delayed further.

Ramen Cup Noodles, BEST in Japan

Japan Ministry of Economy and Industry, in an effort to promote products "Made in Japan", decieds to select BEST of JAPAN 100. One hundred products, ranging from foods to electronics, from robots to Anime, will be named BOJ.

Among the 240 candidates, there are Instant Ramen Cup noodles, One time use Hand Warmer and Art Gallery constuction, etc. My vote will go to Instant Ramen noodles, even Ramen noodles were invented in China, Japan is certainly the place to go for a cup of hot, delicious, mouth watering, so-many-kind-to-choose Ramen noodles.

Especailly when I am in DC, writing this on a raining, cool, gloomy early fall day.

What's your choice for BEST of Japan?

Livedoor's Horiemon big in China, too

China Japan News Roundup:

1. Today, Horie Takafumi, fromer president of Japan's Livingdoor, is under trail in Tokyo. Even Xinhua news agency also post the story as a breaking news in its website.
2. Sino-Japan economic coopreation continues to grow, even amid the frozen political environment. A Japanese delegation is sent to China to discuss with Chinese counterparts on energy saving and environmental technogoly. (Asahi Shimbun)
3. Japan's Womon only train cars spreads to Taiwan, however, the good intention doesn't work out well, as more men use the women only cars than women, which draws criticizes from all. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Japanese women crazy about Korean Men

Korean wave catches big in Japan, with Japanese women are crazy about young Korean singers and actors. Washington Post has a feature story and a slide show about Star Power of Korean Men.

Venice Movie Festival-A Japan China Take

The 63th Venice Movie Festival opens, with two Japanese movies and two Chinese movies(from Hong Kong and Taiwain, none from Mainland China)join the race for Gold Loin. However, The Banquet, a heavy weight class movie made in Mainland China, will make a debut in Venice, too.

Staring Zhang Ziyi(Hero, House of flying diggers), Ge you(Farewell My Concubine, To Live) , Zhou Yun(star of Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress), The Banquet seems to be similar to "House of flying diggers", "Hero", is about love and conspiracy inside a Chinese emperior's palace. You can check a trail and photos here.

Tokyo is selected to bid 2012 Olympics

JOC, Japan Olympics Committee selected Tokyo over Fukuoka as Japan's representative to bid to host 2012 Olympics Games. However, As Japan is getting lonely in Asia, and Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara is wellknown for srongly supporting Yasukuni visit and critizing China and South Korea, It is unlikely Tokyo will gain support from Internatinal Olympic Committee(IOC) Chinese and South Korean members.(Yomiuri Shimbun)

China again voices concerns regarding Japan's request for China to stop gas exploration in East China sea, along sea lines bordering China and Japan.(Xinhua)

Japan's emerging thought police

Burndown of Kato Koichi's house because he publicly criticizes Koizumi's Yasukuni visit, Firebottles thrown into Yotaro Kobayashi's house for voicing concerns on Yasukuni issue, threat letters sent to a Keio University Professor for supporting female emperior.

The list goes on...

People can't help but wondering, how far the right wing in Japan will go to selence different voices? Threat such as these (火炎瓶、脅迫状、実家全焼) certainly has more effects than just silencing the different voices, but also impacting directly on how people will voice out their opinions or not at all.

A timely article by Steven Clemons, director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation and co-founder of the Japan Policy Research Institute, titled "the rise of Japan's Thougth Police" (Washington Post)

You can email Steven to voice out your support on this issue.

Asian Stories

Here is a trail for Asian Stories, a movie filmed by Asian Americans. It looks to me a coming of age story in Asians in American. Have a good weekend!

Japanese cellphones usable in China, with a cost

Finally, Japanese cell phones can be used in China, a combination of Japan's Hi-Tech with China's cheap minute charge, sounds like a deal, except a Chinese who does this got arrested today in Tokyo.

For a foreigner, If you walk around in electronics district in Akihabara, Tokyo, one thing that surprises you is, How come so many brandnew, Generation-3 cell phones costs you Nothing? Yes, Tata, Free, period.

The secert is, Japan wireless carriers charge you nothing to own a phone, but charge more to use the phone. And, becuase of SIM card was locked, (SIM Lock), Japanese phones cannot be used in other countires, So the phone companies can reap the profits when you start using the phone.

At least one company, L&K, that have shops in both Tokyo and Shanghai, use software to delock the SIM card. The owner, Lu XiLin(陆锡龄）was arrested today for charges of violating property laws.

The biggest victim is Vedepone, who is said to lose 400 million Yens each month for the delock.

SinoJapan's Winter in the middle of the Summer

Mr. Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine again stirs up a debate , a debate not about The United States, not China or South Korea, but about Japan itself. How Japan is going to define its own role in International arena?

Japan's foreign minister proposed Japan to be Asia's Thought Leader, however, facing strong oppose from its two major neighbors, China and South Korea, Japan's leadership role in Asia no doubt faces challenges.

Last week, A prominent Japanese politician, Koichi Kato, well-known for speaking publicly against Koizumi's Yasukuni visit and focus on improve relations with China and South Korea, whose home and office got burned down by a self-proclaimed “rightist".

In the middle of summer, there are chills here and there. Even US scholars are concerned about the strings of worrisome incidents.

Today's SinoJapan Temperature

-10C. UP from -20C.

reasoning:
Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso vows to improve ties with China, in a press briefing to disclose his policy if he be elected next Prime Minister.

Does America really care Yasukuni Issue?

In a commentary titled Uneasy Sleep of Japan's Dead, written by a conservative Washington Post commenter, George Will thinks that to a easy sleep for Japanese is to go beyond Yasukuni.

However, I wonder how much America cares about the Yasukuni issues. After all, Mr. Will's commentary is 2nd piece appeared regarding Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni visit on August 15, 2006, which has strained relationship among Japan, China and South Korea, in Washington Post, a national newspaper in the U.S.

A mechanism that will push both Japan and China to go beyond Yasukuni seems to have stopped too, with Mr. Abe seems to be certain to succeed Koizumi, and he himself spoke publicly to go visit Yasukuni if elected. China, on the other hand, shows no signs of willingness to hold talks with Japanese leaders without them stopping visit Yasukuni first.

Aso joins the race, New bar in China

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who is known for proposing Japan as Asia's Thought Leader, offically joins in the race to succeed Koizumi as Japan's next Prime Minister. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

A bar, or a prision cell, or both? A new bar opens in Suzhou, a city one hour drive distance from Shanghai.(Xinhua News)

吴倩&Jesse:East meets West Wedding

Contiune our Chinese related wedding series, Today brings a wedding ceremony held in Nanjing, a city north to Shanghai, Nanjing is a city that is both beautiful and easy to approach.Want to take a look at their VERY traditional(literally, I mean even Chinese rarely practise it today) Chinese Systle Wedding Ceremony? Here is a Youtube Video Clip.

Beyond Yasukuni: Bush,Please throw the ball to Koizumi

Even most optimists will be heartbroken by now, as new weave of cooling water pour over already frozen Sino-Japan relations, the bad news comes in double, with Mr. Koizumi has not even tried to show a gesture to improve ties with China, the almost certain will-be next Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, not only said that he would go to visit Yasukuni Shrine when he becomes the Prime Minister, even before he becomes one, he already visited Yasukuni this Aprilin a secretive trip.

Let’s back off a little bit and look at the issue from a cross-cultural person’s point of view. No one will question that even there are similarities between Chinese and Japanese cultures, however, they are like day and night. Put into the lack of communication between two countries leader, deep rooted distrust towards each other, and no gestures showing mutual concerns being considered, you just got the formula for a extremely harsh, if not dangerous relationship.

Have you seen two women fight? Compared to a fight between two men, the fight between two women seem to be less violent and aggressive. However, that doesn’t mean the fight will be peaceful and civiziled, quite the other way around, it only indicates that the fight will last to the end of the day, and both sides will hate each other to their bones and will not talk to each other for the rest of their lives.

Both China and Japan are feminine societies. I know it is in direct contrast to Geert Hofstede, influential crosscultural expert. "masculinity vs femininity"- refers to the value placed on traditionally male or female values. Masculine cultures value competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition, and the accumulation of wealth and material possessions, whereas feminine cultures place more value on relationships and quality of life. Japan is considered by Hofstede to be the most "masculine" culture, so does China" The U.S. and U.K.are moderately masculine.”(Wikipedia)

Let’s the men step in, let’s the United States play a role here, not only Bush can say something to his dear friend, Mr. Koizumi, but he certainly knows that a -20C degree between China and Japan is much colder than the U.S. bears to carry, the U.S. interests certainly has a stake here.

Koizumi surprises no one, didn't Beyond Yasukuni

Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi, with all eyes on him, amid 2-day protests in Tokyo, with both strong indication to go and later silence, surprises no one by indeed going to Yasukuni on August 15th, the day that Japan declared to be defeated 61 years ago.

China and South Korea's reaction surprise no one, too. With strong warning from South Korea's President Noh, amid tightened security at Japanese embassy in Shenyang, China, even with some cautious voices inside Japan's LDP party, Japan indeed further agonize her two close neighbors, further downgrade bilateral relations, and further isolate herself.

This posting is Beyond Yasukuni's 201 posting, From today, we will have a new feature, Called Beyond Yasukuni: Sino-Japan Relation Thermometer(中日关系温度计). Today's temperature is -20C.

Amid Mid summer heat waves, Sino-Japan's Winter has come, however, it also means that the Spring will not that far either. At least, both Japanese and Chinese view themselves Optimists. (乐观论者,楽観論者)

Protesters made Koizumi silent

Two day in a row protest over Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi had one obvious effect, silence. When being asked if he plans to visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th, Mr. Koizumi, unusually didn't put out his statment that He would make his own judgement, but prefer to ignore the question.

The time I write this post, (by the way, it is also the Beyond Yasukuni's 200th posts, what a coincidence!), Both Japan and China has entered August 15th. China has tigthed security around Japan's embassy in Shenyang, and South Korea's President Noh put out a strong warning, when people wake up, they will see whether Mr. Koizumi will go to Yasukuri or not.

Caption this: Wedding in China

Wedding is a happiest thing on earth, and is celebrated everywhere. Last week, Beijing saw a bicycle wedding, today, Beijing has a BMW wedding. Take a look!