Yomiuri Survey: 65% Japanese distrust China

Japanese's attitude of distrust towards China reaches to a new record. According to a Yomiuri survey, 65% surveyed Japanese said, they can't trust China. a 10 percentage increase from the last time of survey in 2002, at the same time, 30% Japanese people say, they trust China, a 8% decrease from 2002 survey.

When being asked which country will become economic power, 70% people choose China. 44% Japanese think China poses a military threat to Japan, next to North Korea(78%).

The Japanese marine self-defense officer, who was investigated for going to China multiple times to meet a Chinese lady in Shanghai, and a suspect of disclosing classified information, was found hanging himself dead in Nagasaki, Japan.

Koizumi indicates Yasukuni Visit on 8/15

In answering a question regarding his intention to go visit Yasukuni on August 15, the date when Japan decleared defeat and end of World War II, Koizumi said, He will keep his promise (visit Yasukuni)made in five years ago. (Asahi Shimbun)

"いかなるものについても、皆さんも公約は守るべきものと思っているんじゃないですか."

Regarding history issues, according to a new book about former Chinese President Jiang Zemin's foreign visits, brother of Japanese Showa emperior apologized for Japanese Emperior Army's invasion in China, during Jiang's visit to Japan in 1998. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Hiroshima Carp Ball Park

Talking of sports, Japan's national pastime, Baseball is a summer favorite for millions of fans in Japan. Certainly another summer favorite will be Hanabi, (fireworks), however, nothing beats watching a ball game in a stadium while watching fireworks at the same time on a humid, hot summer night in Japan.

In a Washington Post article, reporter David Nakamura, a JET(Japan English Teaching) alumni writes about the local baseball team, Hiroshima Carp's recent game with Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

Two years to Beijing 08/08/08

Two years from today, Beijing is going to hold first ever Olympics to be held in China, in August 8, 2008. (8 is a luckiest number in Chinese, and there are already three 8s in the openning, I wonder Beijing is going to open the games at 08:08:08 on 08/08/08?)

Even there are still more than 700 days to go, Beijing already attracts attention from the worldwide. Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported progress of the construction of main stadium, nicknamed as "bird's nestle".

Yasukuni: Shinzo Abe visited in April

The leading candidate to be next Japan's Prime Minister, current Japanese cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine in April.

Even it was found out recently, it certainly stirs up the hot debated Yasukuni issue again, just before the August 15th, when all eyes will be on Yasukuni Shrine, the date when Japan was officially defeated in the WWII, and push the Yasukuni issue further become a topic when voting for next prime minister to succeed Junichiro Koizumi.

China hasn't put out a statement regarding this news, which is unusual considering China's strong position against Japan top three officials(PM, FM, and Cabinet Secretary) visit Yasukuni Shrine.

U.S. Focus on Teaching Mandarin Chinese

Today, temperature in Washignton DC again reachs 100 degree F (32 degree C), Two events are going on related to China and Japan,

1.U.S. Department of Education in Washington DC holds a two-day workshop for American teachers on how to teach Mandarin Chinese, along with critical foreign language such as Arabic. Secretary Margaret Spellings deliver remarks on "critical foreign language instruction." It is in a sharp contrast to Japanese language education in American schools, which is undergoing a lack of funding and shortage of teachers. Chinese language is gaining grounds.

2. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) holds a public forum titled, "China's Role in the World: Is China a Responsible Stakeholder?" And a Panel will discuss China’s Activities and Diplomacy in Asia. It will be very interesting to find out how China-Japan's winterlike relationship will be reviewed. (you can click here to find out panalists' bios and transcirpts)

New Info on Japanese Diplomat suicide in Shanghai

A Yomiuri article disclosed a new piece of information on the Japanese diplomat in Shanghai who committed suicide.

The Chinese women who alleged to have a affair with the diplomat, and made a news headlines as Japanese government accused Chinese intelligence authority used the relationship and tried getting information.

The women, who worked at a Karaoke bar in Shanghai, obviously had talked with more than one Japanese man. This time, a Japanese marine self-defense officer was investigated for bring intelligence to Shanghai to see her.