kitaryunosuke responds

Forn a few hours, I though that Ryunosuke Kita must have overslept. It was lunchtime before he got around to translating my piece about him from this morning's paper and his response to it, which I reproduce below. Too bad that he won't meet me for a drink. But I'm touched that he refers to me twice as "dear". I don't really mind if you call me names either, chucky egg . . .

The following is copied from here. Both the English and Japanese are those of the troll. Explanations in square brackets are mine. 

"Ooooo, that's scary (･∀･)," he begins. "いやーん、こわーい(･∀･)。

"I'm gonna cry, if you write such a bunch of lies, really.
そんな嘘八百書いたら、龍之介、泣いちゃうから。

Who translated for you, dear? A pretty Japanese girl friend? A memeber [sic] of the "absolutely fabulous" FCCJ [Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, another of Kita-kun's betes noires], perhaps? nudge nudge, wink wink...
だれが翻訳してくれたのかな？可愛らしい日本人ガールフレンド？「超セレブ」FCCJのメンバーかな、もしかして？つんつん、ウィンクウィンク…

I loved the last line, by the way, you know? "Fool! You are noisy!"... oh dear, really... I could weep.
ところで、最後の一行、気に入ったね～…ほんと。『ばーか！うるせーんだよ！』…って、あんたまったく…涙出ちゃうね。

I don't really hate anyone (too busy for that), but I really despise anyone who are stuffed with biased ideas.
私は誰も憎みはしないよ（忙しいんでね）。だが、バイアスがかった考えで一杯の連中を本当に軽蔑している。

Do the research! Come on!!
リサーチしろよ！どうしたんだ！

Tell me why Koreans do not agree to bring the Takeshima issue to the international court? [Reference to the tedious territorial dispute over a couple of barren rocks in the middle of the sea claimed by both South Korea and Japan.]
チョウセン人が竹島問題を国際司法機関に持ち込む事に合意しないのは何故だ？

Oh, tell us why, the wise one, why on earth the Nanjing increased its population more than that after the so called "massacre"? [People like Ryu-chan don't believe that the Imperial Army massacred hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians in Nanjing in 1937 - it's all lies, you see, spread by the nasty communists . . .]
嗚呼、賢き者よ、教えてくれ…南京の人口が所謂『大虐殺』とやらの後で増えていたのは何故なんだ？

TELL MY WHY THE ASSASINATED [sic] UNCLE OF PRINCE OF WALES SAID SUCH A THING ABOUT JAPAN. [Don't know what he's referring to here. Presumably some tactless remark made by Louis Mountbatten, long forgotten by the rest of the world, but engraved on the hearts of Japanese right-wingers. Any ideas?]
何故、チャールズ皇太子の暗殺された叔父が、日本についてあのように語っていたのは、何故なんだ？

You are the journalist and I'm the god-help-me idiot blogger, just as you wrote here.
記者はあんただ。俺はただの、あんたがここにそう書いた通り、箸にも棒にもかからない阿呆のブロガーだよ。

Should I ask, or should a top journalist of The Times to ask?
俺が尋ねるべきか、それともザ・タイムス紙のトップ記者が尋ねるべきか？

You won some sort of award, didn't you? Be worthy of it, or the award is not a really worthy thing?
なんか受賞したんだろう？それに値するような事しろよ。それとも、大して価値もないような賞か？

Oh, by the way, thank you for inviting me to look in your eyes (blue? green? I trust they are very green indeed) but no thank you.
ああ、ところで、君の瞳を覗き込む機会に招待してくれてありがとう（ブルー？グリーン？物凄くグリーンだと思うけどね）。でもノー・サンキュー。

Yes, yes, whatever you say. I don't mind, dear. [Jolly good, ducky.] Call me names and I forgive you, because I am a stereotype Japanese who is "so mild and friendly" and do not know how to express my irritation other than "urusai".
はいはい、なんでも仰って下さい。気にしませんから、本当に。お好きなように罵って下さい。許します。なぜなら、私は「非常に穏やかで友好的」であり自身の苛立ちを「ウルサイ」以外に表現する方法を知らない、典型的な日本人なのです。

Comments

[David McGregor]

Ermmm. You seem to be describing a cyberstalker, not a troll. I don't really think you can have a personal troll. Trolls live in newsgroups (typically on Usenet).

[Yusuke]

I always knew that the main task of most foreign correspondents in Japan is to find the wackiest things from somewhere in the country and to report it across the world. But isn't this way too much? I don't see any point of picking up this fringe blogger.

It's totally reasonable that he didn't come out and take risks of his privacy and identity being exposed and used for another "wacky-Japan story" by a correspondent who craves for his share of print space on the international news page..

Sometimes journalists forget how big their weapon is and how intimidating they are to most common people. Like anywhere in the world, all the mainstream journalists face criticism and scrutiny from bloggers. So this one little guy picks up your reports since he knows your influence of how his country, friends and family can be seen by the world, anything wrong with it? Aren't you overreacting? It's getting a bit mean, actually...

[Richard Lloyd Parry]

Aw, I'd hate to think that I'd meanly intimidated poor Mr Kita with my mighty weapon. My sense is that, with his racial slurs, his detailed fantasies about my lingering death, and his massacre-denial, he is a pretty robust little bigot who can handle a bit of verbal rough and tumble.

[Richard Lloyd Parry]

... sorry if I've got trolls and cyberstalkers mixed up. I do like the photograph of the troll though.

[David McGregor]

Here's a good place to learn what a troll really is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

[Thersites]

I'm enjoying this already. More!

[Alan Cummings]

Apparently the reference to Mountbatten is something that has come out of the National Archives, a comment that Mountbatten made about the Tokyo warcrimes trial to the effect that military figures should not be held responsible for political decisions.
Couldn't tell you what the original document was, but there is some blog-based discussion on the link.
http://ccoe.cocolog-nifty.com/news/2005/04/post_352f.html

[Sarah]

An interesting one. Ryu-chan certainly has a few bees in his bonnet, but on the other hand his comments are probably on a par with what most British people think and say about politicians, religious leaders and heads of state around the world (including their own). While he does, from what I have seen, appear to be rather biased, one cannot deny him his right to his opinions, and his word-play must make him an excellent choice for compiling The Times Crossword. I am not sure that Richard Lloyd Parry is displaying his journalistic talents at their most strong here, but it is a fun little read. One thing I can sympathise with Ryu-chan about is his contempt for the generalisations made about his fellow Japanese. I am fairly sure, with their warlike and merciless military and judicial traditions not ALL Japanese can be as mild-mannered as they appear. Perhaps it is their version of the 'stiff upper lip' - not bringing their emotions out at the slightest provocation? Or perhaps there is a wider spectrum of personality types than being assumed?

[mk]

[The author of this post doesn't give a name or email address. Leads me to suspect he's one of kitaryunosuke's right-wing chums - they all seem to be too timid to identify themselves. RLP]

What you did is to have used space of a newspaper for yourself.

And it is clear that you attacked a citizen by power of a newspaper.

Do you insist on attack if right?

If you say so, I insist that it is big violence of the media.

Because your opinion effected possibility in a neighborhood of a company and attacked it towards a private citizen.

[Alex Clarke]

Is there really no other news coming out of Japan than your blow by blow account of this trivial squabble?

[Robert Mertling-Blake]

I would have added fuel to the fire on the cyberstalker/troll debate, turns out one of my lecturers makes a sensible comment regarding Mountbatten. Just goes to show how good a student I am. Anyhow mk IS a troll, as he's stirring up trouble on your blog comments, which IS a public forum in a sense.

[at]

[Another anonymous commenter - presumably a Kita krony. Why are they so scared of identifying themselves?]

It is you that only false reports are writing Japan to not knowing.
Many Japanese get angry in your report not only Mr. Kita .Isn't even it understood?

[ｇｆｈ]

[And another ... is that an Ascii raspberry?]

（´・ω・‘）

[minamichan]

if you were a jounalist,you should have written the article sfter the effot to examine the history materials neatly.
The era when MSM was able to sit on information aristocrat's seat had finishied surely.
And silly media bias has just been under sentence of death.

[Obakke Dekita]

[Anonymous, again ...]

Domo arigato Mr. Kita-Kita Churrriiiiii. ^o^

[＿]

やりとりの内容がどうのじゃなくて
あれを書いて載せちゃうTIMESと貴方に驚かされました

['I was more amazed by the fact that you and The Times
carried this story, rather than by its content.']

先進国の大新聞がパンピー捕まえて紙上吊るし上げ
理由は「言ってることが気に入らないから」

['A major newspaper in a developed country picked up and attacked a 'panpi' (???) on the grounds that 'I don't like what you say.']

AsahiとSankeiのケンカ文通より遥かに低劣w
英国のnewspaperってレベルたけー
かなわねー

['It's far worse than the fight between Asahi and Sankei (newspapers). How high level British newpapers are.']

[Anonymous.]

[Noelle]

[No email address ...]

It's scary that there are people who still deny the massacre. On another note, though, I think Mr. Kita is vocalising a frustration with foreigners for fetshising Japan and not really looking at the big picture.

For example, do you remember the whole "panties in a vending machine" issue? People all over the world (read: England, US, Canada) freaked out and assumed all Japanese were closet pervos just because one area in Tokyo vended "used" girls underwear, completely ignorant to the fact that several people pushed to get them made illegal:
http://www.snopes.com/risque/kinky/panties.htm

Secondly, I have not personally met many foreigners (to Japan) who have actually learned the language beyond, "Where's the beer," "Where's the women," and "Where's the bathroom?" (in that order, usually). There is indeed more than one way of saying "zip it," "stuff it," and otherwise. Naturally, you will not find them in your "Great Foreigner's Guide to Visiting Japan" book, which only covers the basics (e.g. "Where's the beer?").

Japanese is a versatile language. Generally, strangers still afford each other the common courtesy of not ripping each others' heads off. If you get to know Japanese people, however, you will find slang, colour, and an enormous vocabulary that isn't in the dictionary. Sometimes I muse that the versatility of Japanese exceeds that of English.

I have interpreted for business men who are so thick-skulled in dealing with Japanese it's unbelievable. Foreigners have this strange fascination with Japan that, when one Japanese does it, by extension, the whole country must vehemently support it. So if one Japanese man heats his sake, so must ALL Japanese men. You may understand how this would frustrate a Japanese individual who drinks his sake cold.

I'm not accusing you of this, Mr. Parry (although I get the impression that your knowledge of Japanese is only enough to "get around"), but I feel that part of Mr. Kita's frustration is with the lack of effort that foreigners put in to even bother understanding Japan and its culture.

[Karl]

[No email address.]

Don't you have better things to write rather than trashing this lonely blogger?

Why don't you follow up on fellow British reporter Fred Varcoe story?

I haven't heard about what had happened to him after he was fired from the Japan Times because of the pressure from Korean government.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,881746,00.html
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10192
http://www.fccj.or.jp/modules/wfsection/article.php?category=34&articleid=184

Reporters Without Borders
Harassment and obstruction
journalist Fred Varcoe was unfairly dismissed by the daily Japan Times on 4 July 2002 as a result of pressure from the South Korean authorities.

[at]

Oooo sorry.Do you want to know a mail address so much?
↑it's my mail address. I'm waiting for great mail.

[Thanks. The point of giving for an email address is to provide a degree of accountability (you can, at least, be responded to in turn my me or other readers). Some Times blogs refuse comments without an email address. I don't, although I prefer them.]

[官房長官]

エゲレスの記者ってヴァカですね

[[No email address. Author's name: Kambochokan - 'Chief Cabinet Secretary'. Translation: 'The British reporter is an idiot.']

[totoro]

Well..., most Japanese people do not deny the massacre in NanJing, Noelle. Instead, most of us doubt that the number of deaths in NanJing presented by Chinese government may be fraud and that Chinese government may be using the episode of the massacre for their hegemonism. (Astonishingly enough, the number of deaths in the massacre is getting higher without new pieces of evidence.) Thus, we usually ask for sources when someone like Parry talks about this kinds of touchy issues without any clear evidence. And, we, who believe deceitful news are emeny of people, do contempt those who broadcast important issues without clear evidence.

[I don't know why you have the impression that I have a drum to bang on the Nanking massacre. Apart from passing references in news stories on other subjects, I have never written about it. RLP]

[totoro]

I mentioned the NanJing massacre because Noelle stated, "It's scary that there are people who still deny the massacre," and it seemed to me that she was referring to the following statement of kitaryunosuke: "tell us why, the wise one, why on earth the Nanjing increased its population more than that after the so called 'massacre'?"

[totoro]

I feel you are at least somehow honest to post these criticisms in this website. But I would like to see your honesty as a journalist. How do you think about the fact that the Korean government try to avoid bringing "the Takeshima issue to the international court?" Can you come up with any reasonable arguments to support them? What are the sourses that you think trustworthy?

[VIPVIPPERVIPPEST]

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ''';;';';;'';;;,.,　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ザッ
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　''';;';'';';''';;'';;;,.,　　　ザッ
　　　　　　　　　　ザッ　　　　　　　　　　　　;;''';;';'';';';;;'';;'';;;
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　;;'';';';;'';;';'';';';;;'';;'';;;
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 vymyvwymyvymyvy　　　　　ザッ
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ザッ　　　　　MVvvMvyvMVvvMvyvMVvv、
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Λ＿ﾍ＾－＾Λ＿ﾍ＾－＾Λ＿ﾍ＾Λ＿ﾍ
　　　　　ザッ　　　　　　　　　　　　ﾍ＿＿Λ　ﾍ＿＿Λ　ﾍ＿＿Λ　ﾍ＿＿Λ
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　＿＿,/ヽ＿　/ヽ＿＿,.ヘ　/ヽ＿＿,.ヘ　＿,.ヘ　,.ヘ　　　　ザッ
　　　　/＼＿＿_／ヽ　　　/＼＿＿＿ /＼＿＿_／ヽ　_／ヽ　/＼＿＿_／ヽ
　　 ／''''''　　　'''''':::::::＼／''''''　　　'''／''''''　　　'''''':::::::＼　　 ／''''''　　　'''''':::::::＼
　 . |（●）,　　　､（●）､.:|（●）,　　　 |（●）,　　　､（●）､.:|､（ |（●）,　　　､（●）､.:|
　　|　　 ,,ﾉ(､_, )ヽ､,,　.::::|　　 ,,ﾉ(､_, )|　　 ,,ﾉ(､_, )ヽ､,,　.::::|_, )|　　 ,,ﾉ(､_, )ヽ､,,　.::::|
. 　 |　　 ｀-=ﾆ=- '　.:::::::|　　 ｀-=ﾆ= |　　 ｀-=ﾆ=- '　.:::::::|ﾆ=|　　 ｀-=ﾆ=- '　.:::::::|
　　 ＼　　｀ﾆﾆ´　 .:::::／＼　　｀ﾆﾆ　＼　　｀ﾆﾆ´　 .:::::／ﾆ´ ＼　　｀ﾆﾆ´　 .:::::／
　　　／｀ー‐--‐‐―´＼ ／｀ー‐- 　／｀ー‐--‐‐―´＼-‐‐ ／｀ー‐--‐‐―´
「vipから来ますた」「vipから来ますた」「vipから来ますた」「vipから来ますた」

[totoro]

By the way, I need to say that you should have learned logic (sweeping generalization, in this case) before writing the artcle at issue (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2150129,00.html). To say many Japanese have certain characteristics, you must use statistical data (not personal episodes!) to support it.

[ぽんた]

前からバカな人だと思っていたけど、ここまでバカだとは思いませんでしたw

[Author: 'Ponta'; no email address. Translation: 'I thought you were an idiot before, but I didn't think you were this much of an idiot.'

[awesome]

[Anonymous]

Is here The C*** S***ing Asshole's Blog?

[superDAIEI]

[No email address. Can anyone explain this?]

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ ﾌﾞｰﾝ

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ ﾌﾞｰﾝ

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ ﾌﾞｰﾝ

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ ﾌﾞｰﾝ

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ ﾌﾞｰﾝ

[カジュアルセレブ]

とりあえず、うんこでも食って落ち着こうよ。

[Author: 'Casual Celeb'; no email address. Translation: 'To start with, relax by eating s***.']

[VIPPER]

これはひどい
もっと常識を身につけたほうがいいと思いますよ＾＾

[No email address. Translation: 'This is terrible. I think you should have more commonsense.'

[EM]

[No email address.]

So why do not Koreans agree to bring the Takeshima issue to the international court?

信じられない。
新聞記者がこんなことするなんて。
よっぽど暇なんですね。
給料泥棒って言われたことないですか？
それともどこかから特別なお手当てでも貰えるんですか、ねえリチャードさん？

[Anonymous. Translation: 'I can't believe it. That a newspaper journalist would do such a thing. You must be very idle. Have you ever been identified as a salary thief? Or do you get a special payment from somewhere else, Mr Richard?'

[名無し募集中。。。]

韓国オラ腋クッサー？

[Author: 'Recruiting Anonymous People'; no email address. Can't translate this, but I'm sure it's very rude. Any ideas?]

[Person of sorrow]

[No email address.]

It is not Japanese that killed Lucie Blackman.
It is South Korean of the name of real name money sage bell that lives by using a Japanese name of Obara jouge that killed.
The South Korean skillfully conceals the real name by using a Japanese name when a bad thing is done.
Do not cheat.
It was a South Korean priest (金保) to whom the event that two or more little girls in Japan raped and were done also introduced oneself a Japanese name (永田保).
And, the South Korean priest who raped and had done ran away to South Korea and returned.
The South Korean who uses sublime Catholicism for the desire cannot
permit.
The number of brutal events that the South Korean causes in Japan keeps increasing.

[ぽんた]

私怨で記事を書くのは止めたら？みっともないからｗ

[Author: 'Ponta'. No email address. Translation: 'Why don't you stop writing articles out of personal hatred? You're a disgrace.']

[minami]

[No email address.]

Takeshima which are disputed islets between Japan and Korea belongs to Japan.
There is enough evidence supporting for Japan.
So let me pick up one of them and show you some quote from it,
FRUS or "Foreign Relations of the United States", ( please see http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus.jpg )
the internal documents which seem to have been recorded in
the process of making peace treaty among nations including United States & related nations and Japan after world war II.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Quote from the FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VII, on page 900
"Article 6: Recommend reconsideration Liancourt Rocks (TAKESHIMA).
Japan's claim to these islands is old and appears valid"
( Please see picture of quote
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus1949-2.gif
Please also see on page 898-
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus1949.gif
)

B. Quote from the FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME VI, on page 1328
"3. Territory"
(omit)
"It is thought that the islands of Inland Sea, Oki Retto,Sado,
Okujiri,Rebun,Riishiri,Tsushima, TAKESHIMA, The Goto Archipelago,
the northernmost Ryukyus, and the Izu, all long recongnized as Japanese,
would be retained by Japan. "
( please see picture of quote
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus-undated2.gif
please see also
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus-undated.gif
)

C. Quote from the FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1951, VOLUME VI, note at the bottom of page 1203
"
In the document cited in footnote 2 above, Mr. Rusk continued:
as regards the island of Dokto ... this normally uninhabited rock formation was according to our information never treated as part of Korea and, since about 1905, has been under the jurisdiction of the Oki Islands Branch Office of Shimane Prefecture of Japan. The island does not appear ever before to have been claimed by Korea.
"
(please see picture of quote
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/frus1951.gif
)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See ? it's very clear to everyone that Takeshima belongs to Japan only from these quote.

Basically we Japanese do want to solve this issue peacefully under the international law.
Off course, we Japanese are ready to accept the judge by international community
even if they rule that Takeshima does not belong to Japan.
Japanese government has proposed to South Korea to solve it in
the international court room for long time.
But South Korea has refused it.
Adding to that, many fishermen were arrested and taken into custody in the Japanese
territory by Korea and
at least five Japanese fishermen have been shot and killed.
If you say yourself neutral and English gentleman,
I would like you to write article after enough investigation
and to appeal South Korea to solve this issue in the internatinal court room
through your article.

[nanasi]

[No email address:]

How did you do?
Are not you of a bite of the journalist to general person's Brogar?
Was such a painful point pointed out?
You should down it coolly a little.
(´-ω-`)

[pirori]

The level of the journalist of TIMES fell cruelly.
When the proof of the fact is not taken, the article is written, and it is pointed out, it is
upset, and it is annoying, and a fool. It only abuses it.
It was made to be honestly disappointed.
Please object after calmly receiving the point from the reader, and verifying the fact accurately
if you are a true journalist.

[m9(^Д^)ﾌﾟｷﾞｬｰ]

[No email address:]

Can I find here the notorious "SNEAK" English gentleman?

⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ﾌﾞｰﾝ

（＾ω＾ ）

　　 ∩＿＿＿∩
　　 | ノ　　　　　 ヽ
　　/　　＞ 　　● |
　 |　　　　( _●_)　 ミ　　　
　彡､　　　|∪|　　　） このスレ伸びるネ!!
/　　　　　 ヽノ　/／
ヽ|　　　　　　　/
　|　　　　　　 /
　ヽ　／　 ／
　　／　／ヽ
（´＿ ／ヾ_)

　　 ∩＿＿＿∩
　　 | ノ　　　　　 ヽ
　　/　　＞ 　　● |
　 |　　　　( _●_)　 ミ　　　
　彡､　　　|∪|　　　） このスレ伸びるネ!!
/　　　　　 ヽノ　/／
ヽ|　　　　　　　/
　|　　　　　　 /
　ヽ　／　 ／
　　／　／ヽ
（´＿ ／ヾ_)

　　　　　　∩＿＿＿∩
　 　(ヽ　 | ノ　　　　　 ヽ　　/)
　　(((i ) /　（゜）　　（゜） | ( i)))　　　　　ベロベロ～
　／∠彡　　　 ( _●_)　 |＿ゝ ＼
( ＿＿＿､　　　 |∪|　　　　,＿＿ ）
　　　　|　　　　 ヽノ　　 /´
　　　　|　　　　　　　　/

[ポコチノフ先生(Teacher Pokochinov)]

　　　　　　　　∧∧　　ミ　＿　ドスッ
　　　　　　　 (　 　,,)┌─┴┴───────┐
　　　　　　　/　　　つ.　TIMESはゲンダイ以下 .│
　　　　　～′　/´　└─┬┬──────--┘
　　　　　　∪ ∪　；;､`;｡;`││　_ε３

[Mark Devlin]

As a person who has dealt with many trolls and cyberstalkers Ryunosuke Kita doesn't appear to be either. He doesn't target you alone, he hasn't threatened you directly, he hasn't dug up or created embarassing stories about you (yet). He just doesn't agree with you.

I know most journalists find it difficult to think that someone could ever disagree with them, but some people (even Japanese people) actually do! Is Mr Kita any different from lauded Western bloggers? we don't have to agree with him, but let's celebrate, not condemn, the fact that Mr Kita can have his say.

By the way, ⊂二二二（　＾ω＾）二⊃ﾌﾞｰﾝ is someone hitting you with a bat.

[I'm quite happy to be disagreed with. I don't really mind the racist invective either. But it is racist invective, and I'm not restricting anyone's freedom of speech by pointing that out. RLP]

this is great!

[Suzuki]

I laugh 2ch user in Times online.
2ch users are crazy troll. Ahahaha.

[NullPoint]

Hey, a tabloid journalist!
I'm gonna tell you a proverb in Japan. It says, "Like attracts like."
I hope that you will continue to disgrace Times and yourself by writing inflammatory articles.
Say hello to Mr. Kita the next seat for me.

[friend]

Socrates
I went to one who had the reputation of wisdom, and observed him ―his name I need not mention; he was a politician whom I selected for examination ―and the result was as follows; When I began to talk with him, I could not help thinking that he was not really wise, although he was thought wise by many, and still wiser by himself; and there-upon I tried to explain to him that he thought himself wise, but was not really wise; and the consequence was that he hated me, and his enmity was shared by several who were present and heard me. So I left him, saying to myself, as I went away: Well though I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am off than he is, ―for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows; I neither know nor think that I know. In this latter particular, then, I seem to have slightly the advantage of him. Then I went to another who had still higher pretensions to wisdom, and my conclusion was exactly the same. Whereupon I made another enemy.

[The Economist]

JESUS OF COOL !!!!

[M]

Because the journalist who writes the article without investigating straight is employed, it might be a newspaper of the bottom of the heap in the tabloid ･･･.

Sadistic atmosphere peculiar to the racist occurs from the face of the journalist in the photograph well ･･･.

[Hide]

Mr. Parry
Wow! I guess you are the first westerner who is experiencing Japanese "Matsuri" or "enjyou."
I thought Brits are one of the most patient people in the world. But obviously you are not. I think you overreacted to Mr. Kita. You tried to show your supremacy over Japanese blogger but what you did was just exposing your stupidity. You should be ashamed of yourself for your unprofessionalism. Why don't you start by reading Journalism 101 text? Or why don't you start playing "Sudoku" to learn to be more patient and logical?

[SK]

Since when The Times has been sponsored by human-rights-infringing states?

[Yusuke]

Richard, congratulations. You have made another source for wacky-Japan story. It's actually fantastic.

Picking up some fringe conservative blogger, highlighting and "translating" some of his "opinions" for readers who cannot verify it anyway, intentionally or not having your site address posted on a message board full of kids, now getting full of childish nonsense posted all over as a result, mostly not in English or poor English so even more childish and rubbish and, voila, you can pull whatever typical report on Japan you want.

I looked through this guy's "opinions" and, surely, he is quite conservative and nationalistic, but still not quite sure why he is picked up and pushed into the global stage via your blog.

As you suggested, if you think you can pick up some people simply because you decide their comments on the web allow you to expose them to "verbal rough and tumble", I'm afraid that I think you should take a little break here.

It's a bit like political correctness madness after the Danish cartoon. You pick up some conservative bloggers who express certain opinions, but unfortunately use some uncivilized words. Now all you have to do is just call them racists or Islamphobia or whatever and silence them. Now you can even say the West is full of racist warmongers....

I think many Japanese are used to this sort of attitudes from many foreign correspondents. But a bit disappointing when it comes from someone like you. May be time to quit Times and join CNN or, even better, Japan Times?

I'm really sorry that I may sound a bit too negative, but just so disappointed to see this ugliness all over and, even worse, I'm adding my comments to make it even noisier....

[nora]

Internet vs Papers

The future will be hard for "paper" journalists because those bloggers may point out the false informations (or their lack of researching?)

[observer]

Excuse me to interrupt, but it looks like a bunch of pathetic psychos (you can probably find them at www.2ch.net) trying to annoy a professional journalist and a company. They may pretend as if they were always just and democratic - but what they do usually turn out to be a "despotism of majority." (It may be something like a joy-riot without reasons.) The Japanese really should know that they have their so called freedom to be rude in public only at the expense of generosity of cultured men and women. My suggestion: The best thing to do is ignore them, as they are obviously ignoring a common protocol and manners to communicate with other human beings. (P.S. What makes me worry is that, "the" Japanese people are disturbing free speech and directly or indirectly harming human dignity of others. I am worried that it would consequently undermine a part of democratic values. In terms of international relations and geopolitics, Japan is situated at a very important location, which has a stake for the peace of Pacific Ocean, Canada, and US. (Please guess what I want to write) Then it leads to my undeveloped assumtion that a fall of Japan could therefore become a concern for NATO (allies). (So it after all involves all around the north.). I think that what can be done at least is to give general Japanese public an education about democratic/univesal values (including Kant etc.). I do not want usual arguments like "imposition of western value," which is only a "misunderestimation." In my opinion, societies in the world can achieve some sort of symbiosis in various senses through "getting to know."

[vipper]

When 2 channels & vipper is spent in the enemy, it is scary. Foolish British.

[r363_jp]

A fool plays with a idiot.
I feel so.

Is this your journalism?
I stopped the fan of Rolling Stones with Beatles that loved for years today.

[turibito]

Are, Parry, and a lewd royal family in your country alive and well?

[釣り人]

Are you how much money get from the South Korean, and writing as for the
manuscript?

[David McGregor]

Ermmm, Robert Mertling-Blake, no. This guy was writing on his *own* blog. The only controversy here was invited in by RLP writing about what Ryunosuke Kita was writing on his own blog. Ryunosuke Kita was *not* trolling on RLP's blog. Hence, he is not a troll.

[TOKUMEI KIBOU]

Dear Harry.
Basic culture in Japan when general person makes remarks by the Internet to make remarks by anonymity because damage of crime is not receivedI must not want you to know about the respect. Because yakuza and the spy agency in North Korea are acting in a dignified manner in Japan.
Though the British heard it is humorous in the gentleman
Your sentences seem to drip and to throw the propaganda of a Chinese government emotionally.
It seems to be a journalist of the high class newspaper in Britain, and it wants you to verify the fact to you deeply more.
And, the boast of the British for remembrance' sake. When the Japanese sees your sentences, everyone shocks.

[Masa]

I could understand your grudge against Kita somewhat but the action you had taken by writing this article was completely unprofessional, emotional, and infantile.

[Suzuki]

Mr. Parry

⊂二二(　＾ω＾)二⊃ﾌﾞｰﾝ <- This is a Naitou horizon. It's a mascot in 2chvip.

[terayabasu]

.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　 　 　 ＿＿＿＿
　　　 _ 　　　　　　　　 　 　 　　　| （・∀・） ｜
　　　｀)）　　　　　　　 　　　　　　 |￣￣￣￣
　　　 ´　　　　　 　　 　　　　　　 ∧
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　／⌒＼　 　　　　　 ｼﾞｻｸｼﾞｴﾝ王国
　　　　　　 ＿＿＿＿＿____］皿皿［-∧-∧、
　　　　／三三三三三三∧_／＼_|,,|「|,,,|「|ミ^!、
　　＿_|￣田￣田 /￣￣Π . ∩　 |'|「|'''|「|||:ll;|
　/＿_,|==／＼＝ハ,￣￣|「|￣￣￣￣|「|￣￣|
/_| ロ ロ 「￣￣￣ | |　田 |「|　 田 田　|「|［［［［|
|ll.|ロ ロ,/| l⌒l.ｌ⌒l.| | 　 　|「| 　 　 　 　|「|ミミミミミミ

[Hiya]

I will explain to those who cannot understand why many comments are posted suddenly.

2ch.net is Japan's lagest bullten board
where they basically come.

ref:NY times
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/asia/09toky.html?ex=1399435200&en=c8bb27cc740761e0&ei=5007&partner=USERLAN

People who write and post on 2ch are called 2channler.

In your case,
They like finding any internet articles that come from newspaper or TV News programs etc. and do not have primary or secondary sources.

In other words, they like making fun of trumped-up story.

When they find these kinds of articles, they make
thred on 2ch.net with your blog and start posting comments.

At this stage, they try to find primary and secondary source with URL.
If these sources are reliable, they start to blame you.

As you see, you are on the fire.

2channeler calls this bunch of process "MATSURI"(festival in English translation because many people know the issue and join).

Only you can do is to find reliable sourece and put URL. Then, you do claim that "all I said are totally correct because this article says ......

I cordially advise you that you need bibliographies that are reliable.
It is like an essay at university.

[Noelle]

Totoro: I didn't mean for the part about the massacre to be misinterpreted. You are right that I was referring to Mr. Kita's calling it a "so-called massacre". I agree with you 100% on the government blowing its numbers out of proportion (which many governments do and have done in the past when their population is attacked/massacred/genocided -- if that's a word), but I also think it is alarming that some people are so nationalistic that they still deny it ever happened. I certainly was not referring to population of Japan as a whole. :)

[Dennis Bloodnok]

I am glad to see Kita is alive and well, and in the land of the living. He was on a previous UK MB with me and others, and always raised the level of debate. He was always courteous and had a wicked sense of humour.

The issue for me is that whatever his politics, that Kita should have the same freedom of expression as we all wish for ourselves.

I will never agree , I think, with Kita's interpretation of Korean "comfort women", nor with Ikuko's idea that the various Asian nations welcomed the Nihonese invasions of WWII as freeing those states from the slavery of Western imperialist rule. To me, anyway, it was one empire being replaced with a more tyrannical empire

But at least we could discuss it as friends.

[It would be nice to debate with Mr Kita as a friend. Unfortunately, his good manners seem to desert him in japanese. RLP]

[totoro]

obserber, I think you should have looked up "sweeping generalization" and "hasty generalization" in google before writing those sentences.

I wonder why some of you guys (i.e. obserber and Parry) ignore some critical opinions or questions. I think being academically honest means to deal with the most critical and important issues (e.g. "why Koreans do not agree to bring the Takeshima issue to the international court") rather than marginal ones (e.g. nasty ascii arts).

[Shinsuke]

Funny. Stupid damn ass is fighting against someone he is even not sure if the enemy really exists.
Moreover, on the newspaper! Which people pay to read!
And moreover, the damn ass is shouting he is VERY CLEVER! And is always RIGHT!!
Even without evidence, he can tell what happened and what did not!!!
How great!
Everyone! We finally found GOD!!!!

Where can I find a doctor for this MR. JOURNALIST anyway?

[Ｇ・Ｂｕｓｈ]

Ode to Mr Parry.
I am a Journalist! he claims Mr Parry.
A name sounds funny.
Are you a racist?
Or a rapist?

[Richard Lloyd Parry]

I’ve been putting up all the comments on this post, but the job of reading and translating them has become tedious so I’m going to be selective from now on. I’m not sure if they really tell one very much. Even allowing for language differences, the quality of the responses is very low, given their volume. Ninety per cent are straightforward abuse. Obviously, with a few exceptions, there isn’t any attempt to establish a debate here. Very few of these people seem to have read what I have written – there is an assumption that I hold opinions (about the tedious Tokto/Takeshima island dispute, for example) that I have never expressed.

I’m surpised to detect, too, an undercurrent of something like fear. I genuinely was hoping to meet up in Tokyo for a chat with Mr Kita, but clearly this is something he would never entertain. I know that pseudonyms are customary on these kind of forums, but why do so few of the abusive bloggers supply an email address – even a false email address? A refusal to engage in dialogue is part of it. But I suspect too that there’s a subconscious fear operating here, the sense that if you give an address away I might somehow crawl through the ether and pop up in your living rooms. Or perhaps it’s closer to shame.

[totoro]

Noelle: I also think those extreme nationalists in Japan are problematic. Probably there is only a small population of those people, but the Internet helps them get together.

Nevertheless, I do think that Japan is no longer (morally or legally) obligated to apologize or compensate Korea and China for those past issues. I am aware that it is practically impossible for anyone to prove that there is "no reason." So, what I would like to say is that I am willing to discuss with anyone who thinks there are reasons (which must be scientificlly valid and significant!) for Japan to apologize or compensate China or Korea. (I really hope that Parry has some ideas.)

[jon]

If you cannot handle criticisms by the readers, perhaps journalist is not a right job for you.

It might be a right time for you to seriously consider career changes?

Why are you acting so childish?
The TIMES reporter bashing on some personal blogger?
That act itself is a joke!

[I don't undertand why my work as a reporter should disqualify me from responding to personal remarks made about me. Mr Kita did not simply criticise my writing. He used a public forum to describe me as a "rotten devil gaijin reporter", a "private part", a "Welsh mountain monkey", and called for me to be beheaded. I quoted these remarks in a different forum, and observed that they reveal him to be a racist. What's wrong with that?]

[totoro]

At least I did not assume that you have written something on the Takesima issue--I just asked how you think about it (April 26, 2006 at 03:06 AM).

I asked for your opinions on this sort of "critical issues" (April 26, 2006 at 06:52 PM) because answers to those issues shall reveal how well you know about Japan and its neighboring countries. (By the way, I put "e.g." on the comment I posted at April 26, 2006 at 06:52 PM because there are many more critical issues other than the Takesima issue.)

You might say that you are fair for all of those countries (e.g. Japan and Korea), but do you seriously think that those countries have the same quality of evidence? Surely not, right? So if you have investigated claims of those countries, you must have some opinions. You might not want to express your opinions in the news, but here is your blog.

Though this sort of issues are critical, it is not very difficult for you to answer if you have few pieces of strong evidence. I am really looking forward to seeing it.

Lastly, I apologize that I was biased to say, "Can you come up with any reasonable arguments to support them? What are the sourses that you think trustworthy?" (April 26, 2006 at 03:06 AM) When I wrote those sentences, I meant Korea by "them." But, obviously, you can also come up with some reasonable arguments to support Japan, if you would like to.

[I don't have a firm view on the rights and wrongs of the Tokto/Takeshima dispute. Like a lot of foreign observers, I regard the heated emotions displayed on both sides with bemusement. Perhaps I'll return to this subject later. RLP.]

[Masa]

You are denying the "simple pleasures of invective, sarcasm and rudeness" of Kita.

[No, I'm not. He's entitled to say whatever he likes. And I am entitled to respond. RLP]

[Gareth Edwards]

パンピー is, I believe, an abbreviation for 一般ピープル, or a member of the public, the common man.

I have been reading Mr. Kita's blog in the hope of some insights on the source of his objections, but at the moment my only conclusions are that humour is lost on him, that any criticism of Japan's history for things of which England is also guilty draws his ire, and that he writes racial insults with an overly free pen. I also note with distaste that his blog's comments draw a worrying number of people prepared to speak in similar terms, partly, one is tempted to think, because they're able to hide behind the shield both of anonymity and language.

I happened to notice that, unsurprisingly perhaps given his maniacal thoroughness when it comes to your output, Mr. Kita had obliged his readers by translating not only your little snippet on Mekazonu but also--fame at last!--my comment. At this I could hold my tongue no longer, and rattled off a fairly stiff comment to him to note that while he might find British humour unremarkable and that my comments may actually not have been funny, he could at least refrain from referring to me as a madman and a stupid foreigner. I'll post up the full text on my blog at some point.

Some have commented that it is unfair of such a mighty organ as the Times to smite the little man in such a way, but to my mind the little man deserved to get smote in this case.

[We are not amused.]

I often think that we can trace almost all the disaster of Engkish history to the influence of Wales. Think of Edward of Caernarvon, the first Prince of Wales, a perverse life, and an un seemly death, then the Tudors and the dissolution of the Church, then Lloyde Georoge, the temperernce movement, Noncomformity, and lust stalking hand in hand through the country, wasting and ravaging.

[totoro]

Parry wrote: "Like a lot of foreign observers, I regard the heated emotions displayed on both sides with bemusement."

I agree that they display hatred emotions. However, they do also provide what they call "evidence." So, you must be able to at least state whose evidence is better than the other and why you think so, if you have scrutinized their claims.

Edwards: I guess you did not explain this part well:

"Some have commented that it is unfair of such a mighty organ as the Times to smite the little man in such a way, but to my mind the little man deserved to get smote in this case."

What is your supporting argument or evidence? Is it just your mind? If you do not have any supporting argument or evidence, what you said is non-different from what those extreme Japanese nationalists said.

[I haven't scrutinised the "claims" of Japan and South Korea closely enough to form an opinion. To be honest, the thought of one day having to do so brings me out in hives ...]

[David Cohen]

Excellent, Richard!
The best comment on this thread has been: 'Are not you of a bite of the journalist to general person's Brogar?'
closely followed by:
'I stopped the fan of Rolling Stones with Beatles that loved for years today.'
It's interesting how some bloggers are very keen to monitor mainstream media and point out its faults, and then get nervy when attention is directed at them.

[神山満月]

>I don't have a firm view on the rights
>and wrongs of the Tokto/Takeshima
>dispute. Like a lot of foreign
>observers, I regard the heated emotions
>displayed on both sides with bemusement.
>Perhaps I'll return to this subject
>later. RLP.]

If you continue to pretend to be a "journalist", you OUGHT TO reserch Takeshima issue first and have accurate knowledge.

No wander "The Times" became a tabloid paper. You could be a "Page3" editor, but not foreign correspondent nor any other serious subject.

I think you are not qualified as a journmalist, you'd better go back to Walesh mine! Grenn is the valley of Mother Wales!!

pu pu pu

[For Pete's sake, the fact that I am a journalist doesn't mean that I'm expected to have an encyclopaedic knoweldge and an opinion on everything. So Pu Pu Pu to you too! RLP]

[金正男]

We Koreans welcomes you as a member of "the honarable Korean race"!

Please come to our Heavenly country on the earth!

[Pippa Jeory]

I actually feel saddened reading all this. At first, when I read RLP's response to the attack of Mr Kita, I thought ‘what fun, a bit of a blogging-slanging match'. I even wrote a rather flippant comment, then I read on and was alarmed. I note that in one comment against RLP he is berated for generalising about the Japanese. Look a few comments later and the phrase ‘We Japanese…’ is used a number of times. As a foreigner living in Japan, it is impossible NOT to generalise about Japanese people when the phrase ‘We Japanese…..’ is heard literally on a daily basis, from a wide spectrum of people, people who are intelligent, well travelled and extremely likeable. I don’t profess to know the ins and outs of the issues confusingly raised in this thread. (Korea, Takeshima etc), however I also fail to see the relevance. RLP was attacked, quite viciously, for his work on a personal blog, and he responded on his own blog. If people are unable to a) separate journalistic reports from a blog then perhaps they should cease to read both for fear of confusion, and b) re ‘Journalism 101’, one of the first things I learned (and I’m going back now) is that journalism is one part fact, one part interpretation of that fact. Nowadays people should be media savvy enough to realise this and not attack a journalist because they don’t agree with his interpretations/ angles/ viewpoints whatever. But, if they do choose to attack that journalist, then at least expect a response. It’s not like RLP put an article actually in The Times. I think most of us can realise that this Blog is a separate entity (if not then why does it exist at all). Anyway, that’s all I want to say really. I enjoy your reporting Richard. And I enjoy and can identify with your blog. A Japanese person can’t see Japan through the eyes of a foreigner, your observations are often affirmations of my own. I love Japan. I love many people here who have become life long, good friends, and I think a number of the comments made on this thread would embarrass many of them.

[Thanks for your comments, Pippa. In fact my remarks on Mr Kita did appear as the 'Tokyo Notebook' in Tuesday's paper, as well as in my blog. Personally, I don't think this makes any difference. RLP]

[Keith Richards]

You don't have an elemental knoweldge as a journalist.

Learn from her;

Jane Macartney

http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/sinofile/

[Jap Ape]

Stop your cyberstalking.
You are MAD !

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/kitaryunosuke/e/3d4e5269662b725929fd13f98aa7656c

[popper]

What is this fuss is all about?

[Japman （・∀・）]

　　　　　　　　∧∧　　ミ　＿　ドスッ
　　　　　　　 (　 　,,)┌─┴┴───────┐
　　　　　　　/　　　つ.　No more TIMES .│
　　　　　～′　/´　└─┬┬──────--┘
　　　　　　∪ ∪　；;､`;｡;`││　_ε３

[bugiewugie]

Dear Richard Lloyd Parry,

much as I dislike offending people, you are a weirdo.
You should put your feet up and have a bottle of Becks or whatever, fortune cookie, Sushi: it's such a lovely,lovely day you should make the most of it.
&^*
Regs

[金正男]

I learned from a Englishman that the degree of civilization is England > Scotland > (Piltdowns) >>>>>>>> Ireland >>> Wales.

I believe the Welsh are Koreans (Zainichi) of Britain. You may come and live North Korea! This is much better place for a highly sophisticated, educated and self-high esteemed liberal journalist like you!

We have many bald mountains of coal mines here in Korea! You may find Pyongyang looks like Cardiff. And Korean language sounds like beautiful Gaelic.

I advise you to leave Japan at once and move to North Korea! We will welcome you as much as Serg. Jenkins!

With my best wishes!

Kim-Masao

[Honesty]

Mr. Parry,

First, I must admit that I have only read the article you wrote and had published on the Times criticizing Mr. Kita's acts in his blogging, and the subsequent exchange of blows in each other's blog site -not all of your articles that he cites in attacking you. Thus, the following comment is purely my opinion based on what's written on the article/blogs and my personal experience. (I did a little search on the Times homepage for your Japan-related articles. The search returned so many articles that I figured that there would, in no way, be enough time to go through all of them. However, if you could email me the link to the articles that you suspect are related to his attacks on you, I would appreciate it and promise that I would read them all and get back to you later on.)

In general, I get offended by an article, the author of which, in writing it, apparently, selectively uses facts or purposefully ignores or omits relevant facts in order to reach a predetermined conclusion and/or to support one side of the parties involved. I also get annoyed when an author purposefully employs sensational or inflammatory rhetoric and/or wording for the apparent purpose of drawing attention of readers and for eventual financial gains. This is OK for tabloids on football games or celebrity scandals, but not for prestigious national newspapers on serious political matters or social issues. Whether it's purposeful nor not, unintended or otherwise, the article will have a significant impact on the image of the person/society/nation and may affect a delicate balance of international politics.

Yes, I agree that a journalist is entitled to select and interpret facts in writing an article, and that it is unrealistic and virtually impossible to collect all relevant facts in doing so. No one expects such exhaustive research, unless you are writing a book or a treatise. I, however, find it reasonable to expect a journalist to collect and present facts from various angles on both sides of the issue being discussed and to produce a balanced view fair and equitable to both parties involved. I know that you, being an editor for such a renowned, prestigious newspaper, are well aware of all these. Watching all this "matsuri" (fuss) I just can't help but wonder what went so wrong.

I (and hopefully the Japanese as a whole) am not afraid of being criticized nor offended thereby as long as the criticism is fair and equitable based on facts from various angles, not on prejudice or stereotype.
Sir, that is all I have to say.

I wish you the best on your career as a journalist and look forward to reading your articles from time to time.

Honesty

P.S.
I'm only giving you my handle name here, but I will be happy to disclose my real name upon request. Just send me an email of request, and I'll email you my name right away. (I just don't feel very comfortable putting up my name on the public domain like this.)

[Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I agree with everything you say about the responsibilities of journalists - although I can't quite tell whether you think I've lived up to these high standards or not! A handle is fine, by the way - I don't expect everyone to sign comments with their real name, although a genuine email address is a courtesy which seems to separate the reasonable people from the abusive nutters. RLP]

[Himajin]

During the Falklands conflict I recall asking my British friends what’s all the fuss about. I said something to the effect that it seemed crazy to go to war over a god-forsaken piece of land right in the middle of nowhere. They all bristled and told me that it’s a matter of principle rather than some economic value (virtually nil) of the land. Yes, I could see that, yet….Now the joke is on us. The “island” in dispute between Korea and Japan isn’t really an island unless you are willing to call a puddle in the pavement a “lake”. It’s a sodden piece of rock – uninhabited and uninhabitable – sticking up like some sore thumb in the Sea of Japan. In other words, it’s not even Falklands. If Liechtenstein laid a claim to it, I’d be temped to say “Help yourself”, except it’s not mine and I can’t say it. But I suspect many Japanese share my view. There are several Korean expatriates in our office which is predominantly Japanese, but I don’t think this subject was ever raised around water-coolers – not because of any desire to avoid tension and ill-feeling but simply because no-one gives a damn. Majority of Japanese (and Koreans for that matter) are not wild-eyed, foaming-at-the-mouth psychos; a few wacko bloggers are hardly representative of the population, or so I hope.

[You are a deceitful journalist.]

Anyway, YOU must examine the massacre neatly as a JOURNALIST.
Hey Richard! Do not bend the history.

[You are misinformed. I have never written directly about the Nanjing Massacre, and have not had any opportunity to "bend" history one way or the other.]

[Masa]

Of course you are entitled to respond. It just seems the way you had responded was a bit unfair in a sense that his blog was not well-known but the Times is a major periodical. It is like a child shooting you with a toy gun and you are fighting back with an assault rifle.

By the way, you will be very much welcomed in my living room!

[I don't regard my piece in The Times about this character as a weapon. I reported accurately on what he has written and made a few observations about him - as he has been doing about me. Everything I have published has been under my own, real name, while Mr "Kita" snipes from behind a pseudonym. If anyone is mounting an "assault", it's him, isn't it?]
My comments h

[Masa]

For journalists. More attacks, more credits. Lighten up!

[Chen Yongzi]

To Mr. Parry and Mr./Mrs. Totoro

It’s too complicated for me to understand Mr./Mrs. Totoro’ s commend that “Chinese government may be using the episode of the massacre for their hegemonism “, for so far as I concerned, making more a-bombs are much efficient than prating the experience of being slaughtered(just see what the Americans did). Also, I can not understand why Mr. Parry has retreated like a timid girl when you come across an issue of conscience (aren’t you so brave asking Mr. Kita to face you). I agree with Mr. Parry’s view that Japan is the most polite and the modest place in the world. And I suggest you to read the bestseller 「国家の品格」 in which the author boast their humble feeling and what is called もののあわれ（some kind of sensual ability as to be feeling pity to an dying fly, etc.）. And, as I am a Chinese, I also know my fellow folks are much more coarse. But Mr./Mrs. Totoro’s comment suggest me an fundamental difference between our two nations. I think both of you two should know the tragedy occurred in Fukuok where the Chinese Students killed all 4 of a family. All of my Chinese friend has been very sad and sorry for the victims. Non of us tried to find any excuse. The point here I argued is that if you really feel sorry for the massacre, how can you count the difference of the number of the victims so resiliencely and use it to blame them? You worship the slaughterer and trick some chicanery that you believe they became Buddha when they died, as well you fell pity for the dying fly . But how about the victims and their offspring?

[Honesty]

Mr. Parry,

>I agree with everything you say about the responsibilities of journalists - although I can't quite tell whether >you think I've lived up to these high standards or not!

NO, sir, I didn't say you haven't (because, as I admitted in my last post, my knowledge about you, particularly with regard to your articles is substantially limited, which is of course a fault on my part.) I trust you have. I just wanted you to stop, calm down, and contemplate. Upon reflection, if you still believe you've lived up to those professional high standards, that's fine. I have no problem with that.

I remind you, though. Unfortunately, thanks to this ado, your articles will likely attract more attention from the Japanese public and subjected to closer scrutiny and potentially harsher criticism than before.
This is by no means a threat, of course. As Mr. Himajin finely put it, "a few wacko bloggers are hardly representative of the population."

The annual long holidays, aka Golden Week are just around the corner. Some may be lucky enough to say it's here already. Does The Times grant you the same privilege? Anyway, I hope you'll have happy holidays. Cheers!

[Wooops...]

Wow! Crazy idiots!!
Even Mr.Parry said he didn't write any direct Nanjing Massacre and did not say right or wrong in the company side view against Takeshima / Tokto, they continued to abuse with ugly oath!
I also watched Mrt.Kita's and his little friend's blogs, too. But I couldn't the Times URL which represented their opinions such as Nanjing Massacre or Takeshima or others. They also distorted the comments of Mr.Parry.

If they have something to state, then it's just O,K, for them to state what they want. How does it come to need to send cryptic short Japanese comments or Ascii diagrams!?

These Japanese seem to be Chinese anti-Japan members called as "Feng Qing", who blindly-motivated with belief of Chinese Communist Party's lies.

[Gilles Murray]

One thing that reinforces the impression that some of the Japanese participants in this debate are a bit crazy is the fact that they are using translation software which mangles English very badly. To paraphrase Shakespeare, "The fault lies with their software, not with themselves."

I believe RLP was criticised for not being a fluent Japanese speaker. There seem to be any number of reasons why a good journalist need not speak Japanese.

(1) Mastering Japanese may well take up too much time and leave you too exhausted to train or function as a journalist. (2) Speaking in Japanese will automatically involve you in a web of hierarchy and obligation that makes it that much harder for you to express independent opinions. (3) From Kawabata downwards, one is told that what is not said in Japanese is more important than what is said. If so, language skill may well be somthing of an irrelevance.

As everyone knows, journalists are rotated around countries to keep them fresh and are provided with interpreters and translators to help them with their work. One can certainly find cases of journalists who speak the local language but write awful articles (I'm thinking in particular of Robert 'Ranter' Fisk here.) Foreign-language ability is surely much less important than energy, curiosity, wit and a nose for a story.

Also it's worth mentioning that Japanese is so all-consuming it can have a deleterious effect on one's ability to communicate in English for several years. This is dangerous if one is making one's living as a writer.

There are plenty of fluent Japanese speakers working in the business side of journalism, but that is really just a branch of the PR industry, and independent points of view are a rarity.

Here endeth my pedantic contribution.

[神山満月]

Gilles Murray wrote
>As everyone knows, journalists are rotated around countries
>to keep them fresh and are provided with
>interpreters and translators to help them with their work.

I think what Mr. Murray want to say is that it is high time for Mr. Parry to leave Japan.

I quite agree with his opinion.

He has already been in Japan for ten years. It seems that his mind became stagnant, his conscience covered with moss and his passion for facts died away.

It might be better and refreshing for him to move to Korea or China and breath the cold air than tumble around in his small blog/trash paper(the Times).

[Japanese citizen]

I can't agree more with Richard LP that the quality of the responses is very low indeed. I find even some of them very unpleasant. Personally I think he writes good, insightful stories about Japan, not so biased. Good luck.

[Korosuke]

Richard:

Have you eventually seen where Ryu-chan and other's concerns are?

Good example was given by Chez - As far as I have understood, Totoro seemed just to suggest that, although most evidences of a massacre in Nanjing must be fabricated, there seems to be almost consensus that it happened in reality as the government of China has claimed. Why not elaborate the possibility that the Gov of China has mislead the world so? I have felt some times that we are forced to turn to the blind and not to request for justification for it.- if you doubt me, you could post an article supporting Japan's position on it. I can guarantee that, even if you indicated reliable sources, you would be the target of thundering criticisms including request for shutting up. - It goes without saying that you will receive thousands of similar "fan letter" in case you criticize either North or South Korea (Do not you know where the word "netizen" was from?).

You might wonder why it happens. That is the question that I feel an editor who has the responsibility for reporting to the foreign country might want to answer. Why not have you given it try? Is that because you found it much safer NOT to approach the facts? Is not it editor's duty to seek truth?

While I am under impression that Ryu-chan is too straightforward, may be consciously to get the attentions of visitors to his website, I do not think that he is quite wrong. In particular, his call for more and more research needed aroused a sympathetic feeling from me. I trust that any report made by a public journalist shall be provided on the basis of and accompanied by reliable sources. and non-evidential scribble should be regarded as a graffiti on the wall of a public lavatory.

One way to stop losing Times reputation any more you would rather invite him and interested people to a public debate (It is essential to keep transparency as you have already got a number of people involved with this) than publicly have infantile quarrel words. As a proponent I would be happy to offer some contributions to this in terms of its arrangement. .

"Nothing is too late" is my favourite expression I have leant from my English friend. I hope my idea makes your good sense and that you will somehow have a great weekend!

[NK]

Richard,

First of all, forgive me for posting this comment while I'm a bit out of the loop on the subject. I have just done a quick pick from your articles, Kita's blog and readers' comments and thought that you need to respond to this to convince those who are attacking you.
Of course you have a right not to respond :)

> I haven't scrutinised the "claims" of Japan and South Korea closely enough to form an opinion.

I'm rather surprised that you haven't scrutinised the claims of Japan and South Korea before you mention the Takeshima dispute in your article.

> For Pete's sake, the fact that I am a journalist doesn't mean that I'm expected to have an encyclopaedic knoweldge and an opinion on everything.

Of course you don't need to have an "encyclopaedic" knowledge and no one expects that, however, it seems that you don't have even basic knowledge about the issue. If you do, you couldn't have brought those issues (Takeshima, Senkaku Islets and Okino-Torishima) together. They are entirely different issues.

>In fact my remarks on Mr Kita did appear as the 'Tokyo Notebook' in Tuesday's paper, as well as in my blog. Personally, I don't think this makes any difference.

So do you say that the articles on THE TIMES and those on personal blog are essentially same? Then what makes a journalist different from a high school student? Because you are paid? I think high school students are capable enough to write the similar article as you wrote and post on their blogs.

Cheers,

[NK]

Dear Mr Chen Yongzi | April 30, 2006 at 07:41 AM

I don't think Totoro has intension of criticizing Chinese people. He is blaming Chinese GOVERNMENT.

If Japanese government does wrong, you can blame Japanese people because Japanese politicians are elected by Japanese people. However, sadly, there's no democracy in China so we won't attribute it to Chinese citizens, whatever does the Chinese government.

I personally travelled many places in China ,learned some Chinese and have a bunch of friends there. China is a great country with long, marvelous history. We learned many things from China.

But those have nothing to do with what Chinese government is currently doing.
We don't intend to make any excuse or distort the history but just cannot accept the fabricated facts.

[Chen Yongzi]

Dear HK SAN, Thank you for your explanation. I agree with you that now our country is not as innovative as in 2000 years ago; and we have all kinds of problems such as the disproportion of wealth, environment, delaying of political reform, etc., which I mainly attribute to our government. But do you think that “ what Chinese government currently doing” should be used as to deny a massacre occurred half a century ago? I must thank you for you separated me sharply from our government and I were mercifully put to not being blamed, though I have not any intention to blame you for your government. Here we confront a rather profound question that sometimes democracy is not as beautiful as people imaged. Just see how many people have been killed under the name of democracy & freedom in Vietnam, Haiti and Iraq. Japan had taken lead among Asia countries to introduce the parliament system, yet led to raise the war full with massacres. You said that “ We don't intend to make any excuse or distort the history”. What does your “ we” mean? Does it mean you and “ Totoro “ , or does it mean the ordinary Japanese, or Mr. Kita, Mr. Ishihara Shintaro, and perhaps Mr. Koizumi? The words you mostly like to use is “fabricated facts” when you talk about the Nanjing Massacre. The reason is that you dare not looking strait at the firmly improved fact that tens of thousands civilians, including young babies and pregnant women, were slaughtered in Nanjing Massacre. As I mentioned, if you dare and have any conscience and a little bite pity feeling those you paid to the dying fly, then you would not turn ahead to collect what you called the “fabricated facts”. There is another fact, too. Do you know how many Japanese peoples have been killed by China on Japan proper? Let me tell you: Ｎone! Just think about it, please. Besides, think about how furry you have been when you knew a dozen of your people were kidnapped to North Korea, though it seems that most of them have led a much richer life than the ordinary Koreans(the issue will lead to the newest article on this page, just see how you have treated the captive workers during and after the war).

[NK]

Dear Chen Yongzi,

What you say appears to be exactly same as what the Chinese government says. We (when I say 'we', it means average Japanese including myself whom I have seen in person, in media or on the net) are not afraid of emerging China in arms/economic race but feel a sort of fear when we saw every Chinese people has the same view on a particular topic - usually using quite similar words and phrases. I think it's due to two reasons: 1) Anti-Japan education and 2) Suppression of the freedom of speech in China.

Of course that is not just China's fault. Many foreign states and organizations are actually lending their hands, for instance, most of Japanese media are somewhat under pressure of Chinese government and it is well-known fact that Yahoo, Microsoft and Google are cooperating on the Chinese gag in order to enter the Chinese market. Yet Russia and France are trying to sell weapons to China knowing many Chinese citizens are starving.

The mistake which Japanese people had made before WWII was that we couldn't think of doubting the government, doubting the media and thus doubting any information we had been given. I really hope that Chinese people won't make the same mistake as Japanese did in past.

I wouldn't step into the details of so-called 'Nanjing massacre' here because it is still under argument while there have already been a number of discussions, studies and verification. I just want to tell you two things here: a) Neither of me, Koizumi nor Ishihara denied the existence of the incident. You can read the official view of Japanese government here -> http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/q_a/faq16.html#q8
b) Chinese government keeps denying suggestions to setup an international study group for verification of 'Nanjing massacre'. Chinese government always does like this; "We don't need to talk because I am right!" Obviously we need to talk to determine if a fact is truth or is fabricated one.

> There is another fact, too. Do you know how many Japanese peoples have been killed by China on Japan proper? Let me tell you: None!
This is not right. Many Japanese civilians are killed by Chinese solders in the history. I can assure it's not on Chinese textbook of history though... as you can imagine, this is one of the roots of problem. Chinese government ingeniously hides the facts - facts that is not favorable to Chinese government - from people.

You always mention Japanese pity for the dying fly but please remember that the pity is not expressed to an imaginary fly.

Nevertheless, I'm on the same view as yours on some points. I don't have any belief in democracy. It is not almighty. I sometimes wonder why people adhere to democracy so eagerly. It was proved to be just a passing point, not a goal of mankind, in ancient Greece era.
Every war is massacre and it always involves civilians. There's no war of justice even if it's for democracy. I think, however, democracy is still better, if not the best. Because at least we can choose not to fight.

[Chen Yongzi]

Dear Mr. HK,

Thank you for you let me read a fairly interesting article and got rather a lot of new knowledge.

1 You admitted that you and other Japanese, your media, Mr. Ishihara, Mr. Koizumi and your government, rather synchronized, have known the “incident” (the word you deliberately selected, so lightly, that make me associate with a scene one car bouncing to another in a street. Anyway, be aware that all of this “incidents“ had occurred on the China mainland, none in Japan) in which “the killing of a large number of noncombatants, looting and other acts occurred”. Yet the “incident” is not worthy to reflect on yourself the least. Whenever it is mentioned, you would be going to collect the “fabricated facts” and blame Chinese Government (though you mercifully forgave their starving people). Just see the bombardment on this blog. The logic you always hold is that there are “fabricated facts” and Chinese government is an evil one, so the massacre (this is the word I use to denote “the killing of a large number of noncombatants”) is wholly ‘an imaging fly” which worth not any pity. Your are very clever here to find the best way to Deny.

2 I like the Japanese way of statistics, but I do not believe that some mere precise numbers can develop more conscience and purify a nation. On the contrary, even a pot of uncertain “false bone ash” can arose a new tide of bore there.

3 I was astonished that you blame (?) me “appears to be exactly same as what the Chinese government says”. I must claim that the symbol of Mononoaware (by the way,
I appreciate your agility to create the notion of ‘imagine fly’, but as it is a kind of sensual ability, it must not be a real fly) and mention the incident of kidnapped are my own idea. I guess what you really want to say is that the attitude towards the Nanjing Massacre are rather the same among us. But, why not? I can not image anyone who come across those brutal villainy could obtain some kind of feeling other than we felt, no matter whether he/she have an “anti-Japanese education”or not.

4 It is very interesting to here that “most of Japanese media are somewhat under pressure of Chinese government” So far as I know, the Manichi and the Asashi had been much liberal in the last century. The Nikkei turns to be friendly, but I can not perceive any pressure from China, only the eagerness of Japanese businessmen. Anyway, you can go to any bookstore to see the Chinese corner where must be covered by books full of condemns and hostile towards China (you got most of your impressions of China from there, I guess) . And, the bookstores are much different on the other side of the sea. You have traveled a lot and should have had some idea.

5 You reminded me the single sound. It is very important. We experienced the Great Culture Revolution and have a painful memory. But, it is domestic and basically, Chinese are individualist. I’d like to remind you that never repeat the agony and check whether there is similarity in contemporary Japan with the wartime.

6 Of course I have never leant the history, neither from China nor from Japan and anywhere else, that “Many Japanese civilians are killed by Chinese solders”. I think you must have known that I meant the period within the war on mainland Japan, but as you lengthened it to a “history”, I would like to learn it. Would you be kind to tell me where, when, and how many Japanese civilians are killed by Chinese solders? As it is afforded by you, I believe it must be an undistorted, un-fabricated history with perfectly precise number. But it would be too shaky for you to quote some describes from or tell me the tales of .

7 It seems that you are very proud with your freedom of thinking and expression. I really envy you for that. So, just cherish it and think with your own mind, please.

[Richard Lloyd Parry]

I don't want to declare the correspondence closed, but I sense that interest in this discussion is flagging. I won't necessarily put up new comments unless they move the subject forward in a way that's interesting for the general reader. Those who wish to debate the finer details can always do so by private email.

[NK]

Dear Mr.Chen,

There seems to be some misunderstandings between us and I would like to clear them up. Firstly we must return to our starting point; I'm not blaming you but blaming Chinese government and the purpose is not to let the war happen again.

We don't intend to deny the 'massacre' by blaming Chinese government. We simply want to know what exactly happened in Nanjing in December 1937. We want to know the truth, not the propaganda of China Communist Party.

We feel very sorry and really want to apologize Chinese people who suffered the wartime aggression. However, if we do so without verification of facts, people in the world might think that Japan has admitted the 'propaganda' is the historical fact. Here is an irony - it is China who prevents Japan from apologizing by keeping exaggerating wartime damage.

This is not a matter of pity or conscience. Because Chinese government is always looking for opprtunities to demand so-called 'reparation' and 'sincerity' for what Japan did in past - regardless of whether or not it's true. China wouldn't stop doing so until they have deprived Japan of everything.

Asahi and Mainichi are in fact the most pressured papers among them. The word 'liberal' means something different when it is used with Japanese media, that is, "kissing China's ass". They tend to refrain from writing articles that are not favorable to China. Even when they write, they use 'deliberately selected word' to soften the impression of China's hegemonism, military threat and human rights suppression.

Above is not my delusion. There is an agreement between two governments that "If a Japanese press criticized the Chinese government, China can exile the Japanese correspondent from Beijing." Also, I think it is astonishing enough for you that the biggest sponsor of Japanese media is Korea and China. They govern Japanese media indirectly through pachinko, consumer loan industries and a particular faction of cult buddhism. Those who know the gimmick don't trust the media at all. They are always somewhat biased and often assist negative campaign against Japan to flatter their sponsor.

Interesting view on the Chinese corner in bookstores. But I'm sorry that I haven't read any of them before my experience made me think that China was wandering out of the right way. Have you reflected why there are so many anti-Chinese books in Japanese bookstore? Because China aims at Japan and people began to aware of that. Does China demand endless 'reparation' and 'sincerity' to 'the other side of the sea'? No. Do they get their sea invaded by Chinese nuclear submarine? No. You must thank to the lobbying activities and western ignorance about Asia, otherwise such books will definitely become the best seller on the other side of the sea.

After the war, Japan has never once invaded to other countries and not a single person has been killed by Japanese soldiers for 60 years. That is because we regret the war and don't want to battle any more. However, if Japan was invaded, we would fight until the very end - and tragedies would happen again.

What I want to say here is that a war makes modest people cruel, brutal and insane. Every war is massacre and we should avoid it at any cost. To avoid the war, we have to know how it occurs. To know how it occurs, we have to examine past wars from an objective point of view.

I don't think Chinese government's attitude, blaring propaganda and rejecting to meet, is the right way to do that.

[Richard Lloyd Parry]

This has been a very interesting dialogue, but I think that it has now runn its course. Thanks to Chen Yongzi and NK for their thoughtful and well informed comments - I think their exchange will be best continued in private. If they wish to comment further on this blog, I'll put up one more contribution from each of them of no more than 100 words, but no more after that.

I hope that they'll both contribute comments to other posts on this blog. What do you both think of the Harajuku maids, for example?