Dispute Over Okinawa, New Kyary PV, And More [Sunday News]

by 14 Comments

Every Sunday we gather the week’s weird and interesting Japanese news and present it to you in our Sunday News column. It might not always be hard-hitting news, but we hope that it still informs and entertains you. Enjoy!

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China Refuses to Confirm Okinawa Island Belongs to Japanese

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Japan and China have feuded over islands in the Sea of Japan for as long as anybody can remember, but it’s always been over minor, fringe islands. It seems as if China isn’t content with that, as it’s now beginning to eye Okinawa, an island that’s more or less been indisputably Japan’s for over a century. Next up: China claims that historically, Tokyo has always been a part of China. [via Reddit]

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Donald Keene’s Latest Japanese Adventure: Donald Keene is the oldest of the old school of Japanophiles. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun before you were an otaku-tinted twinkle in your father’s eye. Keene is now trying out something new and very Japanese: adult adoption. The Donald adopted a friend 20 years his junior as a practical way of dealing with getting older. Can he adopt me, too?

VIDEO: “Invader Invader”, the New PV from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It might not seem like news that a Japanese musician has a new single out, but when that Japanese musician is pop superstar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, I’ll make an exception. I haven’t watched the PV (promotional video) yet, but I’m guessing that there are brightly colored outfits, cute imagery, and bizarre happenings. (I joke because I love.)

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Japan Says It Will Abide by Apologies Over Actions in World War II: One of the hot-button issues in Asian politics has long been Japan apologizing for its aggression in WWII. Lately, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been worrying people at home and abroad for hinting that the Japanese government might take back its landmark 1995 apology for its wartime actions. Fortunately, a minister in the Abe cabinet has reassured the public that the government has no plans for such a reversal.

Yen Hits Century Mark the Old-Fashioned Way: The yen has been promising to hit the oh-so-significant ¥100=$1USD mark for months now but, yesterday, it finally did it. And, surprisinly, it wasn’t Abenomics that pushed the yen over the top—it was some anonymous currency trader doing a series of massive transactions that finally pushed the yen over the top.

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Author Murakami makes first Japan public appearance in 18 years

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Photo by AFP

Haruki Murakami is a strange breed. Even though he’s far and away Japan’s most famous author, he’s not really that Japanese. He’s lived for a while outside of Japan, wrote his first novel in English, and is generally not that fond of publicity in his homeland. Now, after nearly two decades of public silence in japan, he’s making a public appearance to promote his new book, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. [via News On Japan]

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Bonus Wallpapers!

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  • Chessir.

    Picked up 1Q84 2 years ago at a Barnes & Noble with a gift card my boss got me just because the cover looked interesting to me (a pretty girl haha) and I had no idea who Haruki Murakami was at the time. After reading it, I downloaded Janacek’s Sinfoinetta and bought Norwegian Wood. Never got around to seeing the movie though… Anyway, I’m just glad I got into an author’s work again who is still writing!

  • 古戸ヱリカ

    Hold on, is there really anything all that Japanese about Honshuu?

  • ZXNova

    Another case of, “China wants to own everything.”

  • DAVIDPD

    Oh China…

  • Mescale

    I totally thought okinawa belonged to the yanks anyway.

  • MrsSpooky

    China trying to claim Okinawa – Yeah, I thought that was mostly occupied by American troops anyway. Good luck to them trying to take it away from the US. Then again, they own so much of our debt, they could easily claim the island as a partial repayment. It would still be a lead balloon. Okinawa belongs to Japan, China. Get the F over it.

  • madbeanman

    My lecturer who lived in Okinawa for 14 years thinks Okinawa has always been an occupied territory anyways. I also know China had far more to do with Okinawa than Japan ever did before Japan took it over according to what we learned. I’d say you know just ask the Okinawan people what they want and let everyone be happy :)

  • Tora.Silver

    Texas is part of China, you know.

  • 古戸ヱリカ

    I guess they got bored of playing with Tibet and want something new.

  • http://www.facebook.com/perry.brown1 Perry Brown

    Today Okinawa, tomorrow… THE WORLD!!!!!1

  • Mariusz Gromada

    Well, China always wanted Okinawa to be independent, it’s nothing new. Centuries ago it was, before Japanese occupation. Okinawa still have it’s own language, tradition, even people living there are different from the rest of Japanese folks, mentally as well.

  • Henro 88

    What’s dangerous for Okinawa is that Japanese people have a myth of homogeneity – Japanese education is purposefully destroying the diversity in Japan, all in favor of the old men in Tokyo who think that THEY are “normal” and that everyone should be like them. Because, hey, Japan is homogenous, right? No, actually – there are unique and diverse ethnicities and languages in Japan that are just being ignored and erased in the name of “homogeneity.” They’ll happily destroy Okinawa’s culture and language without batting an eyelash, because at a fundamental level, they don’t even recognize Okinawa as different in the first place.

    On the surface, it seems like a nice, democratic view of humanity – we are all equal! We’re all the same! Well, no. Because, in Japan, you are only equal insofar as you toe the line and follow the rules. It’s egalitarian in a Cybermen/Borg kind of way. It would be absolutely wonderful if the Okinawan people were given a choice, and a voice, but it takes so much effort to push back against cultural imperialism like this – but it CAN be done.

    http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/05/19/national/okinawans-push-to-preserve-unique-language/
    “Since its reversion in 1972, Okinawa has tried hard to assimilate into mainstream Japanese society, including by discarding its own language, which many see as inferior.”

  • yx_wh

    Japan and China have feuded over islands in the Sea of Japan
    wrong

    Japan and China have feuded over islands in the East China Sea

    right

    just see
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Japan

  • http://twitter.com/Grey_Aragami Grey Aragami

    Imo previous Kyary’s PV was better :E