From: wohfuchi@splash.Princeton.EDU (Wataru Ohfuchi)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.china,soc.culture.hongkong,soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Re: An open letter to the Emperor Akihito of Japa
Date: 27 Aug 92 05:58:06 GMT
Organization: Princeton University
Originator: news@nimaster

In article <1992Aug25.230222.3257@ducvax.auburn.edu> kim@magneto.physics.auburn.
edu (Han-jung Kim) writes:
>[posting deleted]
>>in fact an individual Japanese?  I mean, I would like to know what
>>Japanese politicians represent!  All it smells like multi-face
>                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>chameleon showing its own customized face and color at different
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>occasions.

[NOTE by wo: The above statements were written by Mr.Jeong-Gyun Shin.]

  Ideally, politicians in any country represent the country. I cannot
totally deny a possibility that Japanese politicians' opinions
in fact do represent those of the Japanese people. Some problems
in Japan was already discussed by some netters even though it might
sound just an excuse to those who want to see a drastic change.
  I admit I myself already gave up changing the government and
politicians quickly. I know I deserve blame from you. I just feel
helpless. There are actually, IMHO, some good politicians. They,
however, don't seem to be many enough to have power nor even to be
visible.

  I am not so sure what the above marked statement means. But let me
interpret in the following way.
  I have been trying to be as honest as possible in this net. I,
however, haven't done anything really needed to improve Japan. I am
actually even not so sure what we really need. (Forget about voting
here.) In this case, I may be a chameleon.
[...contined to the below]

[Very thoughtful and encouraging opinions omitted]

>You gave new question to Japanese netters asking that they really think
>their government has two faces. This may be an interesting one
>most of korean want to hear, I believe.

[continued from the above...]
  I have a feeling that Japan loses many things by behaving as she does.
For example, by refusing to apologize or to compensate war victims, the
Japanese government loses real respect from other countries. Actually,
not only the government, but the Japanese people suffer the loss.
Even though the treaties we already discussed might justify the refusal,
obviously it is not a very wise idea.
  Now maybe Japan wants to lead a really good project in international
relations. Japan, however, would get negative reactions from other
countries, no matter how good the project is.
  I am not so positive if it's a good example. (Apparently NO. I knew
it!) But the government may be a chameleon in this case.

[stuff omitted]

> Someday after The old generation of Japan dies, I see that new and
>desirable Japan will give its fresh appearance, because I belive new
>generation has the healthy and kind and open mind as well as
>korean has.

  I personally feel the situation here on the net has improved very
much during the last week. Some people, including me, now think we can
discuss rather sensitive problems without flaming.
  We, however, should remember it is just a net world, and the real
problems are in the real world. We have to consider what we should
realize in the real world. (Eh, I myself haven't thought it very much
yet. Another chameleon here! :-) Otherwise we might end up with just
knowing some nice individuals.
  Well, I am a narural optimist. Hope we can come up with practical
ideas, too.

>.                                 Hanjung Kim from Alabama.

...Wataru
-- 
  ...Wataru Ohfuchi
     Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University
     w1o@gfdl.gov _or_ wohfuchi@splash.princeton.edu