Do you have any plan to visit Japan some day?

Japan may not be interesting enough to make you travel for over 12 hours.

However, if you check this news clip, I am sure you will change your mind.

Here, you will receive great services from MONKEY WAITERS.

Now I assume that you want to go to Japan and meet these monkey waiters

Last Tuesday was one of the most excited nights I have ever had in the U.S. It might be the most excited night. The country achieved one big historical movement and showed the rest of the world another aspect of itself. No matter who people voted for, people were deeply touched by both candidates, I think.

At the same time, President-elect Barack Obama’s victory was celebrated in a small city in Japan which is thousands of miles away from the U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/11/05/lah.us.elex.japan.obama.cnn?iref=videosearch

The city’s name is “Obama.” That’s why people in the city had been supported President-elect Obama and done several campaigns for him.

President-elect Obama said he knows “Obama” city when he talked to Japanese Prime Minister Aso over the phone.

People in “Obama” city are truly expecting and looking forward that President-elect Obama will visit their city someday in the future.

The world may be narrower than I think, or the U.S. may be bigger than I think.

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I was expecting Japan would have had the big election by now. However it has not happened yet. Prime Minister Aso can decide when Japan has the election. It is a big chance for other political parties to take control. The Democratic Party of Japan which is the second largest and the majority party in the House of Councillors wants to have the election soon because the popularity of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan has stayed low for a long time, and the party has a great possibility to win the election and becomes the majority party in both Houses. Prime Minister Aso doesn’t like to have the election now. He said he wants to settle the economic situation first because that’s what Japan is expected to do from the world.

The Nikkei stock average have repeated dramatic declining and kept recorded worst numbers in these days. The relative value of yen has increased, and Japanese international students are dancing because of happiness. Now they don’t have to spend that amount of money when they transfer their money from Japan to the U.S. However, economy in Japan is not good. The majority of companies decided to hire less. I assume that Japanese college students will be struggle with job hunting more in the next few years.

Many things have happened while I haven’t blogged.

In 2001, he was elected as the prime minister. He left his position in 2006 as his term expired. Japanese prime ministers’ terms in office tend to be short because many of them decide to quit before their terms expire. His term in office is the third largest after the World War II, and he is the second politician who fulfilled his term without resignation.

His popularity made it possible to stay his position for such a long time. He was fresh and he was succeeded in combining politics and entertainment. For example, when some members of the House of Representatives disagreed with his opinion, he decided to have the general election to ask people, “who do you think is right?” He also sent strong politicians as rivals to their electoral districts. It was like a game. Many people who were not interested in politics or thought politics was boring got wildly excited at his comments and actions. Diplomatically, he had worked hard to build the close relationship with the U.S.  On the other hand, he continuously visited the Yasukuni Shrine even though his visits aroused hostility from China and South Korea strongly.

I wouldn’t say he was a perfect politician, but I can understand why successive prime ministers after his term have been told that they have “Koizumi Complex.”  No one can act like him or no one can be popular like him. However, people always compare them with Koizumi. They are struggling with it while they are in their terms. It is “Koizumi Complex.” They have to overcome virtual enemy, Koizumi as well as they have to work on real political issues.

Now, he is gone. However, his influence is still alive. And “Koizumi Complex” is still there, too.

I hope he will do good job.

While they were searching for Ito and praying that he would come back safely, a lot of inaccurate information was released. The Taliban released the statement saying that they kidnapped Ito to remove foreigners from Afghanistan, which turned out was not true later. The Afghanistan government told the Japanese government that they found Ito on the same day, which turned out was not correct, either. This false information hurt Ito’s family and people who cared Ito.

On Aug. 27, Ito’s body was found on a mountain. He was shot and died because he lost too much blood. One member of the kidnapping group, Adil Shah, was arrested and he said other member of the group shot Ito when they saw the police and local people surrounded the mountain and they escaped. Shah said in the interview with a Japanese newspaper; “I had never seen Japanese people before. I am not sure where Japan is. I just wanted money. I am just a student. I don’t have any relationship with the Taliban.”

This news was kind of forgotten because of the sudden resignation of Fukuda, the former Japanese prime minister. The majority of the media had lost it interests on this case and focused on the resignation news. I was frustrated with the situation because I believe the media should keep reporting on why this case happened, how Ito lived there with his passion and how people are going to change to make sure this tragedy wouldn’t happen again.  The media’s role should not have ended when the body was found.  As long as there are people who care, the media should keep reporting, I believe.

What a crazy world we live in today. I don’t know why these tragedies keep happening, but I definitely know that we need to make changes not to let these happen again.

May his soul rest in peace.

After Fukuda’s resignation, the Liberal Democratic Party which is the biggest party in Japan decided to have the election for party president on September 22. The party president will be the next prime minister automatically because the LDP is the majority of the House of Representatives. There are about four candidates now and they are discussing mainly over economy issues, especially how Japan can get out of the business depression.

At the press conference, Fukuda explained what he had achieved and why he had chosen to leave calmly. He talked as if he was talking about somebody else’s issues. At the end of the conference, a reporter from a local newspaper asked, “Many Japanese people had been saying you always talked in a straightforward manner as if you were talking about somebody else’s issues. I had the same impression when I heard your speech today. What kind of influence do you think would your sudden resignation give to Japanese political system we have today?”

Fukuda started to answer quietly. He talked as if he was talking somebody else’s issues. However, suddenly he said with clear angry expression in his voice and on his face, “I can see myself objectively. I am not like you!”

I really don’t understand why he said, “I am not like you.” It was unprofessional and made me disappointed. I am just waiting for a passionate, energetic prime minister who can lead Japan in today’s unknown world. Fukuda could use his strong emotion not for prove he was different from other people but for make good changes to Japan.

Why can’t we get serious? I keep wondering the question.

That’s how the first case of marijuana possession by a Sumo wrestler in Japanese history came out. Later, the police found hash cannons from his apartment and his stable.

The news shocked Japan. Every day, every hour, news about the case was aired continuously. Many Sumo fans expressed how they were surprised and disappointed on TV’s interviews. The administrative director of the Sumo Association apologized at the press conference. Wakanoho was fired on August 21. Two other Sumo wrestlers, Roho and Hakurozan from Russia, tested positive for marijuana on September 2.

Many people in the world may wonder why this case is so big and makes people panic in Japan. In some regions in the world, smoking marijuana is legal. In the U.S., I think smoking marijuana is common even though it is illegal. I think it is shocking because many Japanese people think Sumo wrestlers should be respected by the society because of its long history as the most loved sport in Japan. It might close to semi-religious. Many Japanese people want Sumo wrestlers to behave properly as an athlete and a human as well. Also, smoking marijuana is big deal in Japan. It is taboo even though marijuana is prevalent quietly and gradually.

Anyway, the long history of Sumo wrestling without marijuana has ended. It is kind of shocking to me, too. But also it made me realize that the traditional style of Sumo wrestling and the world around it have changed.

              My name is Takako Iwatani, and I am currently a senior of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I am from Japan, and my home town is Kuwana, Mie. I was grown up there and came to Nebraska to study journalism when I was 18 years old.

My major is News-Editorial, and minors are Political Science, Economics and Spanish. I am expecting to graduate from the College of Journalism and Mass Communication in December, 2009.

              I interned at the American General Bureau of the Asahi Shimbun in Washington, D.C. in summer, 2007. I also interned at CNN Tokyo bureau in summer, 2008.

              I spent four months from January to May in 2008 in Havana, Cuba in order to study Spanish and its culture.

Meeting new people and diving into different environments are points which made me fall in love with journalism. Of course, the life is not that easy because of the se points. I am having the problem to stay in one place for a long time. I love my friends here and this small lovely city, but my curiosity starts to knock inside and say, “Hey, what’s next? Isn’t it time to pack your stuff and ready for next adventure?”  

This blog is for one of my journalism classes. I am not a big fan of blogs, usually. But, I hope you will enjoy my blog. Thank you for visiting!