HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jwb@capek.rdt.monash.edu.au (Jim Breen)
Subject: Japanese Govt (Was: New era in American politics....)
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 03:54:00 GMT

underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:

>One of the first things that Japan should do is to reform the position
>of prime minister by making it a _directly_ _elected_ position and renaming
>it "president".  This will have the twin beneficial effects of (1) making
>it very hard for any single party (like the LDP) to control the Japanese gov't
>and (2) injecting youth and change into the position of prime minister.

Hmmm. While there are a lot of problems with the structure and functioning
of Japanese government, inflicting it with a US-style presidency is 
probably not an optimal solution. I greatly prefer a parliamentary
democracy to the semi-paralysis of the US's model, which is based on
a late 18th century concept of an elected monarchy with congress holding
the purse.

What Japan could do with is some electoral reform which resulted in people
having a real choice. The highly malapportioned multi-member
electorate system in Japan has meant a locked in arrangement of a
permanent governing party and a permanent opposition. Changing either
to a PR system (e.g. like Germany), single member with transeferable voting
(e.g. Australia) or even first-past-the-post would work wonders.

BTW 1, there is a team of Japanese electoral officials in Australia right
now studying or electoral system(s) as a possible model for change.

BTW 2, I suspect the fact that Japan is a Monarchy might make it just
a little difficult to have a "president".

BTW 3, after 8 years of Reagan, not to mention 68 yo Bush, point (2)
above is a little weak.
-- 
Jim Breen                           JIS:$B%8%`!!%V%j!<%s(J
Department of Robotics & Digital Technology. Monash University. 
PO Box 197 Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia (ph) +61 3 573 2552 
(fax) +61 3 573 2345  AARNet/Internet:jwb@capek.rdt.monash.edu.au  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Japanese political reform (used to beNew era in American politics....
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 15:54:03 GMT

Sorry for repeating all of Mr Ohtsuka's post, but I feel it does bear 
repeating.

In article <1dn7g7INN6hs@uniwa.uwa.edu.au> keis@psy.uwa.oz.au (Keis Ohtsuka) writes:
>
>1. Direct election of the Japanese prime minister
>
>Direct election of the Japanese Prime Minister enables voters to
>select best candidate for the job. As is, it seems the most
>incompetent ones get nominated to the job after lengthy infighting
>among LDP factions. However, I do not agree with DJ regarding renaming
>the post to "the president."  At best, such change is merely cosmetic
>and the Japanese bicameral assembly system closely resembles to
>that of the UK is fine only if voters could get their message
>across more efficiently.

Mostly agree.

>2. Introduction of absentee voting system for overseas Japanese
>citizens for national elections
>
>Japan is one of few industrial democracies where citizens 
>living overseas have no input in the political decision
>making process of a country. Quite a large number of the
>Japanese citizen live and work outside Japan nowadays who
>have the first hand opportunity to witness how Japan
>and Japanese culture is perceived by others. It is a pity
>that the experiences and expert opinions of these people
>are completely ignored. As a Japanese citizen, I demand
>my voting right not to be wasted.

Very slight quibble, here. You CAN vote if you live overseas; you simply have
to return your ballot BY HAND to your local city hall in Japan.

>3. Revision of the Japanese Constitution regarding Chap. 9
>(specifically on the definition of the size/role of JSDF)
>
>I strongly believe that it is more dangerous to fudge
>and skirt around the Japanese Constitution and interpret
>it as you please regarding the national defence.
>I would like to see the role of the JSDF clearly defined
>in Chapter 9 and how they participate in UN peace
>keeping activities as full participating members.
>As the second largest economy, Japanese must realize that
>the country has no choice but bear cost, responsibilities,
>and initiative to keep the world safe place for all
>people to live. I don't see any problem for defining 
>a condition in which JSDF is deployed outside Japan
>if it is under the command of the United Nation
>for a specified period based on the UN Security Council's
>decisions.

Agree fully. While in a more perfect world, Japan (and everyone else) would
have little or no need for any armed forces, the fact remains that Japan has
responsibilities in the world, and a legitimate right/need to defend herself
against aggression. HOWEVER, this must be codified into the law of the land,
so that it is unambiguous as to the role of these forces. I would further like
to see it written such that the ultimate leader of the armed forces (the 
Commander in Chief) is a civilian. As it is now, does anyone know who the
CIC of the JSDF is? 

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - I'm only doing what the little voices tell me to do. 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: confused@cwis.unomaha.edu (stephen richard smith)
Subject: info on japan
Summary: need info on japan
Keywords: information/japan
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:17:33 GMT


  I apologize if this is the wrong group to post tis in. I am looking for
 information on Misowa (apologize if spelling is incorrct) Japan. I am in
 Omaha Ne. and there was a post to one of our local bbs via fido-net from
a gentalman in the U.S. airforce who will be transfered to Misawa afb. this
comming dec. and He would like any and all info he can get. I will transfer
to him anything I receive. My e-mail is confused@cwis.unomaha.edu
Thank You in advance.
  PS> on guns.. the U.S. is nohwere near as dangerouse as our media makes it
out to be.


--
__________________________________________________________________________
| the federal government is basically one enormous, ongoing meeting from |
| HELL-----Dave Barry                                                    |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: smittie@beach.csulb.edu (Smittie)
Subject: Re: Try it again - RE: Please give me your opinions...
Organization: Cal State Long Beach
	<1992Nov10.000753.13204@oakhill.sps.mot.com>
	<SMITTIE.92Nov10140803@beach.csulb.edu>
	<1992Nov11.220036.14920@midway.uchicago.edu>
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 01:13:04 GMT

>Let me point out that while this may be true in Mr. Smittie's case,
>it wasn't always so- let me suggest that you perhaps do a little more
>research, Mr. Smittie, into the reasons for this admittedly sad state
>of affairs- ie:consult whatever sources (outside of Business Week, as you
>say) which you have access to.

Having just finished up six months of interviewing, haggling, researching, etc
in the job hunt process I am not at all inclined to even try and guess at what
you might be hinting at. I have my own ideas on why "the sad state of affiars"
exists and I am fairly sure they don't agree with your's. Since you broached
the subject, I'll let you go first.

smittie
-- 
                             Tada mono de ha nai
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEnie, MCI, AOL:Smittie   All of these accounts except MCI will die on or
smittie@beach.csulb.edu   about Dec 31. UNIX will be forwarded for 2 weeks.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda)
Subject: Re: Japanese exchange student killed in Louisiana...
Organization: Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 02:39:40 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.185308.8461@blaze.cs.jhu.edu> arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee) writes:
>In article <Bx6oH8.IFM@ncifcrf.gov> masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:
>>   It is illegal to drive a car without a license. ...
>
>It's only illegal to drive it without a license if you are on public property.

  Can you run over someone in the next door when you are driving in your 
private property?
  Can you shoot someone in the next door when you are handling your gun in your
private property?

Michiaki Masuda
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: rtang@sunee.uwaterloo.ca (The One Your Mother Warned You About!)
Subject: Re: kanji on Star Trek TNG
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 01:26:11 GMT

In article <17301@mindlink.bc.ca> a7657@mindlink.bc.ca (Stephen H. Kawamoto) writes:
>RE: kei and yuri -- writers for TNG are manga fans.
>The sport looks like KENDO. Were Ryker and Ryker Sr. wearing
>masks that look not unlike fencing masks?

Kendo??!  Those masks can just as easily pass as hockey masks, in fact
they fight like they weere in one.
From: chuah@sail.cc.u-tokyo.JUNET (Chuah Yeow Chiang)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Please give your opinions...
Date: 5 Nov 92 04:37:46 GMT
Organization: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Tokyo

In article <Bx5wKv.11q@ncifcrf.gov> masuda@ncifcrf.gov (michiaki masuda) writes:
>In article <40436@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ee152fdm@sdcc15.ucsd.edu (Maiko Covington) writes:
>>
>> I must agree here that I don't like to be called "gaijin" either -
>
>  The US government calls me "non-resident ALIEN." Yes, I'm from another
>planet...
>

	Same here in Japan. Go to the immigration office or the airport and
take a look at the sign board with all the "Alien". All the foreigners in 
Japan have to carry an "Alien Registration Card" which shows you which planet
he/she came from!!:)
	Just wondering why they never thought of using the word "Foreigner"..?

Another Alien in Tokyo,
Y.C.Chuah
From: jhuang@futon.SFSU.EDU (Jason C. Huang)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: (none)
Date: 11 Nov 1992 18:10:23 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: a7657@mindlink.bc.ca (Stephen H. Kawamoto)
Subject: Re: Plutonium
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:51:56 GMT

CM>         At least one of the submarines is carrying Navy special
CM> forces SEALS, the sources said.
           ~~~~~                 Clarify this for me? Are these the trained
seals that the US                 Navy are exploiting because it's
cost-effective to use a non-                 human mammal to deal with
dangerous situtations? Or, does                     this refer to the Special
Forces emblem?

--
PGP 384/D7484F Stephen Kawamoto

a7657@mindlink.bc.ca.


UUENCODED on MIND LINK! Fri Oct 30 10:35:08 1992


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M\.7_P?#E_\'PY?_!\.7_P?#$_\'/X/_!\,3_P<_@_\'PQ/_!Q\W_/]+_P?#$
M_\''S?\
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,talk.politics.guns
From: cmort@NCoast.ORG (Christopher Morton)
Subject: Re: A Japanese student killed in Lousiana
Reply-To: cmort@ncoast.org (Christopher Morton)
Organization: North Coast Public Access *NIX, Cleveland, OH
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:32:21 GMT
Followup-To: soc.culture.japan

As quoted from <Bx6rqE.LF6@ncifcrf.gov> by masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda):

> In article <1992Nov4.073012.20676@adobe.com> pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai) writes:
> >If you would look at the statistics, you would see the number
> >of gun accidents is very low, much less than the number of
> >people who die in swimming pools or fall down stairs.
> 
>    Even if it's true that the number is not large, those cases are still a
> tragedy. If there's a way to decrease the number, wouldn't it be
> reasonable to go for it?
> 
Doesn't it matter what that way IS?  We could just as easily require all 
Japanese in the US to have an escort at all times.  They would be forbidden
to travel without one?  Would you accept that?

> >Yes, you want to make a criminal out of a man or woman (or
> >senior citizen) who wants to defend themselves.
> 
>    If the person who shot Yoshi Hattori had received a better training,
> they might not have had to make someone who could be judged as a murderer 
> out of those who want to defend themselves.  

And again they might have.  Police in the US have shot people under similar
circumstances.  They were ruled justificed too.


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------  

"Well whose opinions did you THINK these were...?" 
------------------------------------------------------------------
From: fabio@inagaki.nuie.nagoya-u.ac.jp (Fabio Casablanca)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: toogawa-jun
Date: 5 Nov 92 06:05:55 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Inagaki Lab., Dept. of Info. Eng., Nagoya Univ.


I lost any hope to find Japanese music that suits my taste.

Sometimes I find out something that I like;  for example, recently I
heard an intersting CD by a group called YAPOOS (leading voice: Toogawa Jun).

Somebody knows more about them? 
Discography?
Related Musicians?

Any hint will be appreciated.

fabio
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: yonatan@turing.toronto.edu (Jonathan Hanna)
Subject: Re: BATTLE FOR NICHIREN STATE RAGES OUT OF CONTROL IN HYOGO
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:33:31 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.163308.11220@u.washington.edu> yoichi@carson.u.washington.edu (Yoichi Ii) writes:
>>> What was this article?  American Joke????
>>> NONSENSE!!!! and not apropreate for s.c.j. newsgroup
>
>tatuya@isea.is.titech.ac.jp (9044430 YAMAMOTO Tatuya) writes:
>>His (Henry Robertson's) posts are totally nonsence.
>>Please ignore.
>
>I don't mind Mr. Roberston posting his fiction, but I suggest adding
>explicit warning that it is just that, a fiction.  Who was it ... 
>Orson Welles, who inadvertantly scared the pants off many people with
>his space alien invasion radio broadcast?  
>
># BTW, Hank, when is your book coming out? :-)

I really hate to admit this, but I'm starting to enjoy these
rather silly posts.  They _are_ a change in tone, and for the
recall-impaired, such as myself, figuring out exactly where the death
of Indira Ghandi ends and the total nonsense starts is a challenge.

Maybe Mark Crispin should change names and places to do a
"GUESS HOW MANY YEARS AGO TODAY?" series...
-- 
Jonathan Hanna				yonatan@turing.toronto.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: ar12@quads.uchicago.edu (Andre Robotewskyj)
Subject: Re: Try it again - RE: Please give me your opinions...
Reply-To: ar12@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 22:00:36 GMT

In article <SMITTIE.92Nov10140803@beach.csulb.edu> smittie@beach.csulb.edu (Smittie) writes:
>
>I receive no money from any Japanese concern at the moment though I will be
>going to work for Japanese company in January. I can assure you Mr. Mathes that
>I have studied Japan extensively. I do not limit my sources to Business Week. I
>take the time to read the Japanese views on things as well. It should be
>pointed out that if we are to determine baises here, your have far more
>motivation to be bais, working for Motorola. I currently do not work for
>anyone. I chose to work for a Japanese company because they offer me a
>salary comparable to or better than any American company and they offer me at
>least the hope of excellent job security. Something that few American companies
>offer. Lastly, I do not live in anyone's fantasy land.
>
>smittie

I would just like to point out a certain irony here:
Mr. Smittie claims to have chosen to work for a Japanese company because
they offer him "a salary comparable to or better than any American company"
as well as "hope of excellent job security" Mr. Smittie goes on to say
that these are things "that few American companies offer."
Let me point out that while this may be true in Mr. Smittie's case,
it wasn't always so- let me suggest that you perhaps do a little more
research, Mr. Smittie, into the reasons for this admittedly sad state
of affairs- ie:consult whatever sources (outside of Business Week, as you
say) which you have access to. 
Andre
.
From: blamb@hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Trip Information
Date: 9 Nov 92 19:01:50 GMT
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.

In article <1992Nov6.214223.16695@lsil.com>, mitch@lsil.com
(Mitch Sako) writes:
=> Are there luggage forwarding services in the Tokyo area that will ship my luggage
=> to Narita from Tokyo?  I know that there are services from Narita to Tokyo and I
=> plan on using those.  What about the reverse case?  I would like to ship my
=> suitcase a day before departure and pick it up there if possible.

Yes... there are such companies, and I'm sure your hotel would be happy
to arrange such a service. One such company I (and others) have used
is "abc" shipping company, and you could pick up your luggage at their
office on the departure floor at Narita.

- Bill Lambert
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: miket@hermes.tcs.com (Michael Turner nmscore Assoc.)
Subject: Re: Japanese Major Suggests Military Coup:Your Opinion? (mod. long)
Keywords: 'democracy' in Japan
Organization: Teknekron Communications Inc.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:56:41 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.195550.5492@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>In article <1992Nov4.012300.18974@tcsi.com> miket@hermes.tcs.com (Michael Turner nmscore Assoc.) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov3.175303.4143@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>
>>>...why do the opposition parties (SDP, JCP, etc) also oppose
>>>redistricting when it comes up? It seems to me that they have the most to
>>>gain, but they oppose it as strongly as the LDP.
>
>>... The strength of the rural electorate is in their ability to turn
>>power over to the SDP and/or JCP if the LDP doesn't serve them
>>adequately.  In fact, that's probably the only reason why the SDP and
>>JCP exist as serious parties, since the factional spectrum within the
>>LDP is really rather wide.  It's a no-win situtation for JCP and SDP,
>>but also a no-lose situation.
>
>Again, I don't follow this. I think that in the last few elections, both
>Tokyo and Osaka have voted more SDP than have the rural regions. If this is
>the case, they would seem to have more to gain by promoting this sort of
>reform than the LDP. As the rural electorate has NEVER turned over power to
>the opposition, you'd think they (the SDP, etc) would have smartened up by
>now.

The SDP/JCP might have more to gain in the short run, but in so doing, they
would *permanently* lose any hope of getting rural votes.  True, the rural
electorate has never voted SDP/JCP, and would probably only do so holding
its nose, but they wring concessions from the LDP (including the maintenance
of a districting that favors them) by holding over the LDP the *threat* of
voting SDP/JCP.  The LDP knows this, the SDP and JCP know this, and the
farmers know this.

Play out the scenarios.  Let's say the SDP/JCP start favoring redistricting.
Boom.  They gain some percentage in the cities, but permanently turn off
the farmers.  The LDP is then completely safe -- all it has to do is continue
favoring the current districting, and it never has to worry about being
voted out.  The SDP/JCP aren't going to allow *that*, are they?

Let's say that the LDP starts favoring redistricting, and the SDP/JCP hold
fast.  Boom.  The farmers, together with urban voters, vote in an SDP/JCP
coalition.  Well, the LDP isn't going to allow *that*, are they?

Let's say the SDP joins forces with the LDP to favor redistricting.  This
would work, probably, since the JCP isn't very strong.  However, the
SDP is thereby giving up hope of controlling the government in coalition
with other parties, and might as well just become the left wing of the LDP.
Why would the SDP do that?

Either the SDP has to get much stronger, or the LDP has to split, or some
attractive new party has to come on the scene.  I'd say that all three are
slowly growing in likelihood, at the moment.
---
Michael Turner
miket@tcs.com
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: justin@mik.uky.edu (Justin Sullivan)
Subject: Re: Safety of Japanese cars (Was: Re: A Japanese student killed in 
    Lousiana)
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 14:48:28 GMT

> It depends. I have personally translated documents from the Japanese
> steel manufacturer NKK that specifically state that the steel used in
> Japanese cars meant for use in Japan only is cheaper (and of lower
> tensile strength) than the Japanese cars meant for export to the US.
> (Tensile strength is directly proportional to fatalities by the way.)
> 
> Why? Because weaker Japanese regulations allow it. From what I can see
> though, Japanese cars that *are* sent to the US are made out of some
> of the strongest steel available anywhere on the face of the earth.
> It takes that level of strength to pass US safety regulations too. NKK
> was in fact scurrying, in the translation in question, to increase
> their manufacturing capacity for a new type of steel that would be
> demanded in the US market due to new regulations.  Domestic Japanese
> demand for this steel was cited as negligable as some of the
> reinforcements it is used to make inside the doors are not even
> *present* in most domestic Japanese market cars.

Oh, I would be careful about talking about US regulations..
Remember 'DEregulation?' I hope those days are over, now that 30 years of
Republican tyranny (if you don't use your poetic license, you'll lose it! :)
have come to an end. We'll just have to wait and see on that..

Remember when commercial aircraft were coming apart (and taking people with
them) because deregulation said that they no longer had to be very thorough
with inspections? Consider also, that most of the commercial aircraft in
service today are around 20 years old, and with everything in a slump
(thanks, Bush!), there's no sign of that improving. In this country (which I
can vouch for, as oppossed to Japan, which I cannot :), it always takes a
fatal accident to get any response. America is very reactive, but not at all
proactive.

Even in this city (Lexington), I frequently see large pileups with fatalities
because the local government refused to put up a stoplight until after
someone was killed (curiously enough, wealthy neighborhoods that don't even
need them ALWAYS have lots of stoplights). The accidents usually stop after
measures have been taken, but by then, it's too late for some poor fellow.

Besides, with people screaming at me for buying a Japanese care instead of
some coffin-on-wheels American car, I can tell you that US import standards
are not generally designed in the interest of safety.. Just to keep other  
people out. Don't be naive.. Think about it: Since when did your
Congressional representative do something in your best interests?
From: ymatsumo@sys.titech.ac.jp (Yasuhide Matsumoto)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: manslaughter
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:32:51 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.


Last post, I worte that I never forgot a word "freeze".
Now I memorize the new one : "manslaughter"

I forget who killed a Japanese Exchange student, but 
I hope that this accident will not become an international 
problem between two country.

I want to believe that the reason why such accident happened
is " Not Man,But Gun! "


--

ymatsumo@sys.titech.ac.jp "Love is the all you need."

--

ymatsumo@sys.titech.ac.jp "Love is the all you need."
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,talk.politics.guns