Sunday, June 29, 2014

a more militant military protested

A man set himself on fire in central Tokyo (the BBC doesn't say when... today, I think) to protest a move by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to loosen restrictions on Japan's use of military force. Severe restrictions were written into the American-imposed Japanese constitution in the wake of World War II.
Under Article 9 of its post-war pacifist constitution, Japan is blocked from the use of force to resolve conflicts except in the case of self-defence.
But Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants a new interpretation of the constitution to be agreed on.
Japan has a well-trained military.

"Terrorism," while not mentioned in the story, is the go-to excuse for military action by any number of nations these days.

And, interestingly, the story says
Correspondents say the move will likely please the US, with whom Japan has a long-standing security treaty.
The man sat cross-legged, haranguing whomever would listen through a bullhorn. After an hour or so of criticizing Abe's proposal, suddenly, he was in flames.

2 comments:

  1. And he remains in guarded condition in a hospital. So many feelings and questions about his future.

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  2. Reminds me of an old anecdote of zen teacher Ta Hui from this blog, rather burning in flames an eternity than expressing dharma as an emotion.

    Hang around with me old Genkaku, I know you have aged as much as I have, still it's a Samantabhadra vow thing, hang around with us.

    I rather listen you bitch about japanese post-war news than my romantic interest about her new australian civilian-parachute experience.

    :D

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