Yokosuka Naval Port Cruise
ATV reporters Sahel Rosa and Alain visit Yokosuka and take a cruise around the naval base:
Since Japan is in the midst of a Sakamoto Ryoma boom, they romantize the cruise as if their viewing of modern American warships is similar to Sakamoto’s encounter with the American “black ships” back in the 1850′s.
I actually went on the same cruise boat earlier this year. The most memorable part of the experience was the group of pacifists who held a demonstration of sorts in the area where ticket holders were waiting to board to boat. They wanted people to sign a petition demanding that the Japanese government dismantle its “unnecessary” Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Everybody in line had already paid to go on a cruise so they could view Japanese and American warships and they did not appear to have much sympathy with the ultra-leftist views of the pacifists. Most people turned away and completely ignored the protesters. I didn’t see anybody sign the petition.
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