Comments on: Foreigners in Japan Speak Out About Shinzo Abe’s Resignation

By: jb

jb — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:03:40 +0000

to be fair, it’s pretty hard to talk about politics in a foreign language unless you have the vocabulary. i love to talk about politics but to be honest i would avoid talking about politics with japanese friends: it’s too thorny an issue. as a result i doubt i will ever get much practice so hope i’m never interview about it for the tv news!

By: Karisu

Karisu — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:19:05 +0000

What is wrong with you people always criticizing others ability to speak a language that is not their first?

By: Karisu

Karisu — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:17:34 +0000

So, what’s it like being insane?

By: Dai-Cast Zeta 001 - The New Japanese Prime Minister at Dai-Cast

Dai-Cast Zeta 001 - The New Japanese Prime Minister at Dai-Cast — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:28:13 +0000

[...] Gaijin on the Resignation – japanprobe.com [...]

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:34:32 +0000

The surprising thing is not those that have only been in Japan for a few years, but those that have been for a decade or more. Someone here 15, 17, 20 years should be near-native, logically (like McNeil in this video, or the Korean woman). The supposition ends up being that the poor speakers tend to hang out in gaijin ghettos (this apparently being filmed in Azabu might be a reason), which doesn’t say a lot for ‘internationalism’.

By: MissLaVey

MissLaVey — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:34:43 +0000

(some of whom could only speak broken Japanese after living for many years in this country)mostly expressed disbelief at Abe’s actions.”>

Well, isn’t that a nice jab. Would you rather they have not taken any effort at all to learn the language?

By: STud

STud — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:26:39 +0000

people making fun of other people’s japanese are generally the ones who cant speak Japanese themselves, aint it a damn shame

By: links for 2007-09-14 | Samurai Soapbox

links for 2007-09-14 | Samurai Soapbox — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:20:42 +0000

[...] Foreigners in Japan Speak Out About Shinzo Abe’s Resignation : Japan Probe [...]

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:35:39 +0000

Some pretty bad Japanese out there – that big black guy, in Japan for twenty years? The Israeli guy, here for 17, knew a lot of words, but his accent was pretty heinous. David MacNeill was the best of the Westerners by a long chalk. And note too the announcer’s comments at the end, about how Japan is a country “hard to understand” for dem furriners. Mind you, judging by the fluency of most of these people, he may have a point….

I tend to like Fukuda. As McNeil said, he looks like a nice old dude. Bring back Nakasone! Those eyebrows were Japan’s secret weapon back in the ’80s.

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:25:20 +0000

The opposition in Japan historically seems to spend more time squabbling among itself rather than mounting a serious challenge. And the LDP has had a very strong base in the rural areas for decades – that is finally weakening as rural areas weaken (population and farming drops). Japan is definitely a democracy – there are other parties – it’s just that they aren’t voted in that much. Reminds me a bit of Mongolia (I think it was) that, after finally getting rid of its communist masters, promptly voted the communist party back in again….

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:40:30 +0000

Interesting video –

I thought it was pretty funny how they were interviewing most of the foreigners outside of National Azabu in Hiroo, since I guess that is the logical place for foreigners to “hang out” — haha.

By: shazzb0t

shazzb0t — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:27:51 +0000

Not sure why Koizumi is on the list here.. he will not be returning anytime soon.

Fukuda seems the logical choice for those hoping Japan will have better relations with its neighbors..

Aso… not so much. He is the uyoku’s preferred candidate.

By: Peter Pan

Peter Pan — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:39:56 +0000

Oh man this hurts to watch… Not only do the native English speakers have terrible Japanese, but the non-native speakers have better English than the natives do!!!

By: JJ

JJ — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:38:45 +0000

I chose other, but I don’t have anyone particular in mind. I am thinking “anyone other”, preferably another party, as almost uniformly continuous LDP government since WW2 just doesn’t seem right in a democracy! You would think they would vote for the other guys just for a change! (but that’s showing my gaijin colors, isn’t it…)

By: TofuUnion

TofuUnion — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:23:21 +0000

Mr. Taro Aso isn’t liberal(like Mr. Kouichi Kato) nor talented(like Youich Masuzoe). So Mr. Aso is hardly better than Mr. Abe.

Mr. Yasuo Fukuda is supposed to be more moderate or neutral, but he seems to be boring to me. If most LDP members think the lower house election campaign will be tougher with Mr. Aso, then Mr. Fukuda is the favorite.

By the way, I hope Mr. Masuzoe stay as welfare minister for fixing problems of the pension.