I can't eat anymore,,,,thanks to my friends, I have a great time here!!! In addition, I will visit a factory, the factory of the world in a literal sense, with the couurtesy of SUKI's brother. he is generous enough to accept my hopelessly terrible Chinese speaking, too. I just want top say here is that to experience something for the first hand is worth 100 times of thinking. At the moment, when I was asked, ZHONGGUO HAO BUHAO?, I answered ZHONGUO HAO with no time.

Arriving at hotel almost 0;00 am last night, yet my hunger reached to the extreme. After I put my baggage into my room, I went to a dinner beside the hotel. Even I am familiar with Chinese character itself, I have no idea about the TECHNICAL TERMS used in restaurants, I ordered fish burger expecting a steamed bread with fish stuffing,,,,,,the taste was not that bad though! I got up a  bit late and now I am typing it at Mongkok. I met nice local people in a restaurant here, and enjoyed Wantang Mien as my breakfrast. Following the advice by the local girl, SUZ, I will take a buss to Shenzhen. Finally, I will cross the border to mainland.

Finally I go back to China. It was almost 20 years ago that I traveled abroad for the first time in my life, and the destinations were Thailand and Hongkong. I still remember what I saw at that early moment of my life. I personaly believe that travel contributed to establish my attitude to foreign affairs. Now I've got older. I feel everything is much less impressing than to a 6-year old boy. But my excitement is never extinguished as I would see how things have changed this time. Before leaving, I would like to show my gratitude to you all  who generously offered any sort of help for plannning the travel.

   To sum up, Yasukuni is essentialy a demestic issue caused by a coufusion of some Japanese people on the political continuity of before and after the WW2;however it does not mean foreign country have no right to bare concern. In this sense, experiments for nuclear power plants in North Korea can be a domestic problem, but still countries around have to worry about the development of Nuclear Weapons. Moreover, if the issue is recognized as a domestic 'problem', it has to be 'solved' by Japanese people. To Japanese people, this is a great opportunity to realize a fairer and freer society in our country. One of the reason why it can be a chance is that, through this issue we can understand that there is a ideological conflict between loberarists and right extremists, and these right wings structurely have considerable influence on political desision even though they are minorities in terms of number. This problem is highly connected Japanese political system which is substancially run by right-beauroucrats.

 

  This gurantees the continuity of governmental policy whatever the result of election is. In fact, War Criminals were enshrined in 1978 only by the decision of these beauroucrats with no election nor debates by Japanese nations. In this sense the excuse of some politicians that War Criminals weere forgiven by Japanese nations is NOT TRUE. And this is why I think Yasukuni is really a serious domestic problem to Japanese people. Another problem with Japanese political system now is, I think to define Emperor in Constitution. As I explained, from a historical point of view, Japanese Emperor is nothing like legal nor governmental system for lmost 1000 years in any there were periods when some Emperors tried to regain their right to reign. Moreover, the concept of Japanese Emperor is completely different from that of Western sovereign. Thus defining them Emperor in constitution which is employed by western countries is a violation for the historical role of it and the concept of Constitution itself. When the time to refine our constitution comes, I think this point is much moore crucial and eargent than discussing wheather to abandan text No9, the text which relinguish the right to fight against foreign countries.

 

   I tried to show my understanding of the issue by focusing on the domestic aspect of this issue. Most of it will not be clear enough, or just WROMG. But I felt this is an obligation as a Japanese to show that, as our democravy seems to be breaking down. Even though Koizumi may seem to be the worst PM to some foreign people, his political conviction has been slightly modest and racional than Shinzo Abe, the presumable PM of the next cabinet, and GRAND SON of an ex-war criminal. While Koizumi admits War Criminals were guilty, but he wants to show his warship to those who died in the War, Abe, he himself may think that Tokyo Court was INVALID, and he may want to visit Yasukuni, to show his honour to War Criminals. To him, War Criminals were just VICTIMS OF THE WAR,,,,,,,unfortunately, we normal Japanese have no right to elect Prime Minister directly, thus I have no way to block him to be PM. Meanwhile, Koichi Kato's, ex-member of the cabinet and still an influencial member of Liberal Democratic Party, was burnt down by a RIGHT ACTIVIST, after he appeared on TV and criticized Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni. If it were plotted by someone around Koizumi, the story is simple and the situation is better thn the worst. However, the criminal would do that on his accord as a japanese citizen. And to me it means our democracy is DYING. And even I wrote all these paragraphs

from a domestic point of view, my concern about foreign affairs gets deeper and deeper. They the politician may only think how foreign GOVERNMENTS react, nevertheless, how foreign PEOPLE react is much more important at the end. As a GOVERNMENT itself is not a STATE, but a STATE consists of PEOPLE.  May democracy be set in MY country.

   The same thing can be said to the second and the third point. Provided the Tokyo Court was unfair, the acceptance of the judicial decision was one of the conditions to finish up the military regeme. And even Japanese nation missed the chance to judge them, I personally think they have to be punished by risking the lives of Japanese citizens to maintain their power. However loud those who supports War Criminals shout, what they did was not to deffend whole country, but INVADING FOREIGN COUNTRIES and RUINED their lives.

 

   Even more, they could not deffend Japan, as it was stroke by so many air bombings and 2 atomic bombs. Obviously they had an option to surrender before 1945, the year most of big cities were reduced into ruins. So whatever people say, I cannot accept them as HEROS who died at their posts. From the poinht of view, the Tokyo Court was a celemony to demonstlate our rebirth as a non-military country. For example, Europeans and Americans accept the San Francisco Pact in 1951, and Chinese goverment accepted the apology in 1978 by regarding these invations by japanese empire was led by the military regeme. So again if we denied the validity of the Tokyo Court, it would internally mean we did'nt appreciate the life with freedom but without air strkes and would externally mean Japan and Japanese Empire has a complete continuity in its political characteristic.

 From these point of view, the validity of these 3 arguements are OUT OF QUESTION, to me, as I want my country to be free, democratic and peaceful.

   First of all, I personally think that even the Constitution appears to be agift by the US, it was the completion of the revolution after 1875. Japanese citizens had been struggling to gain the equal political rights to everyone and a democratic constitution which guarantees freedom. However, the movement was brokendown at the end by the promulgation of the Constitution of Japanese Empire which guarantees the equal rights and freedom of nations not under the law but under the power of the Emperor.

 

   Even after Japan became a Constitutional Empire, the majority might think Japanese Emperor was just a SYSTEM which reigned the country as the head of state. It means that their would be a chance to change the system when it is needed to be altered for the whole state. However on the course of the military coup, the theory was banned. Instead, the military regime defined Japan as a NATIONAL BODY which belonged to Emperor,this is what is called KOKUTAIRON(国体論) now. The concept is something like treating Japan, including its teritory and people as ORGANS of Emperor, and regarding Emperor as the CHARACTELISTIC, SOUL or SPIRIT of Japan. Unfortunately, I could never understand the theory even I myself is Japanese, and may have to say the definition is worse than Sadam or J.I. Kim have been employing. There was no logic nor evidences to support the idea and it was even against the traditional position of Japanese Emperor. When it comes to REVOLUTION, I have to say, there was no revolution complished in Japan unlike China or European countries. Some say that is one of the unique characteristics of Japanese history. Instead killing or bunishing emperor and his family, Japanese lords just ignored them substancially. As a result, emperors had been out of goverment almost 1000 years before that, moreover, even 1000 years ago Emperor was not the almighty but just head of state. So obviously the theory, KOKUTAIRON had no room of justification in historical points of view. And take this into account, I think the acceptance of the Potsdom Declaration was a part of the CIVIL REVOLUTION from 1875. And even the constitution was given by the US, that was the Gospel to Japanese citizens who had been longing for a democratic society.  

 

  However, some people educated during by the Military Regeme still take the KOKUTAIRON THEORY granted, and seem to believe almost blindly that the inational dentity of Japan has to be based on the theory, but not no the whole historical context nor people's will to the democracy. But they might not recognize that if they deny the vilidity of the constitution nor the Potsdam Declaration, they  support the continuity of Japanese Empire. And surely, if we Japanese support the continuity of Japanese Empire by denying the alternation of governmkental and social system, it would mean that WW2 still continues. If WW2 continues, not only Korea and China but also the UK, the US, Russia, Australia, and so on, could justify the hostile atacks  against Japan. But unfortunately, people who still take the KOKUTAIRON THEORY for granted might not think the meaning seriously.

  Since yesterday morning, our TV has been occupied by so many heated, and pointless debates about the issue of Yasukuni Shrine. In short Koizumi justifies himself for two reasons;1st, he visited Yasukuni to satisfy his religious and political convictions. 2nd, the Yasukuni problem is not a diplomatic problem but a domestic problem. According to Koizumi, the reason why he visited there in 15th August is that 'they blame me anyway everytime I visit Yasukuni, then I dare to visit today(15th August) as the criticizm on me is the same.' Apart from his over-simple minded, childish reasoning why he chose theremembarance day for his visit there, and ofcourse there is no argument that Yasukuni causes serious political conflicts among Japan and neighbouring countries, though I personally believe that the nature of the problem is highly domestic, and can be crutial to the future of Japanese ourselves. 

 

   Politicians including Koizumi claim that as Yasukuni is a domestic political issue, any requests from foreign countries are INTERFERENCES,though my point of view here is COMPLETELY DEFFERENT from this. What I want to say is that as the nature of Yasukuni issue is essentially domestic, WE JAPANESE have to solve the problem by ourselves. And this task really is highly challenging that requires great efforts, and sacrifices of some sort. In another words, this issue is a challenge to our DEMOCRACY if not it is too exaggerated.

 

   First of all I think the problem roots the understanding of Japanese nations about the continuity of Japanese society before and after WW2. In theory, after Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration in 1945 and the Constitution was effectuated, Japan has become a democratic, and constitutional state. After the completion of Imperial Revolution in 1889, Japan had been an constitutional empire. From 1940 to 1945 it was governed by militaly regime. So on one hand the new governmental system was completely different from the goverment before and so did the society. On the other hand, fortunate or unofortunate, Japan lost almost no teritory except Northern Islands, never be devided into pieces. This resulted in that Japan maintained its national identity before and after the governmental change. In addition, based on the governning policy of the US, Japanese Emperor was not accused of his responsibility against the war and even be given a definition in the new constitution. What is worse, the Korean War started in 1950. This acceralated the' Come-Back' of ex-war climinals and so did the 'Red Purge'. In my understanding then, the whole situation made the ALTERNATION of the country vague and inperfect both internally and externally. At the same time, it led not few Japanese people misunderstand that JAPAN AFTER WW2 IS COMPLETELY THE SAME AS JAPAN BEFORE WW2. In another expression, there was a lack of REVOLUTION explicitly when we changed to a 'democratic' country.

 

    So those who stick to this point tend to insist that 1, the Constitution is invalid as it was the US who made it but not Japanese. 2, the Tokyo Court was unfair and invalid in both legally and ethically, and 3, As the Tokyo Court was not valid, those who accuesed of as 'War Criminals' were not war criminals, abd they are innocent after especially after their death. These 3 opinions are actually (or just hopefully), not supported by the majority of Japanese people. And ofcourse they are completly defferent from my opinion. However, even they understand the logic, those who are too emotional, old, or just hopelessly idiot support these arguements at least emotionally. So in the next part, I would like to explain why their opinion is inadequite and even challenging Japan as a democratic country.

Mosquites are buzzing around.They sense our smell and CO2 we emit, and come to us to suck our blood. Even they don't suck our blood, the buzzing noise is annoying enough. They are random flyers, and fast flyers. So, beating them down is not that easy.  We use mosquite coils instead, sort of inscense which contains harmful subatances to mosquites. But the smoke from the coils doesn't smell good. Our joy of having meals are ruined by using the coils. Another alternative is mosquite spray. The smell is not that terrible and is very effective weapon, though the ingridients are harmful for us, too.On the other hand, mosquites, they are just struggling to survive. Although they transmit some diseases occaisionaly, they just attack us to obtain plenty of nutritions in order to bear eggs.This makes them sink too deep into sucking blood when they LAND our skin. So the moment is the best chance to beat them down. Sometimes I let mosquites land on me on pupose, so that I can beat them easily. Our ancestors were less offensive in this sense;they used something called MOSQUIE NETS to surround their room, and tried avoiding massacur mosquites. In a sense, let them alone can be the best way to protect ourselves then neverthless, we've got much less patient. Lack of torelance drives us to an extreame. So sometimes the hygene authorities spray very powerful chemicals around waterfronts, risking the good health of ourselves a bit. Be concious about your surroundings but be patient as you can, don't react too much against tiny things. That can be the most effective way to protect ourselves at the end. Never hate them, but try to understand what they really want.

Again I have not recieved any documents from UEA and again the person in charge is out for the vacation. They might repeat this for ages, and have made thousands of foreign students frustlated every year. I have got used for their laziness,,,only to a small extent,,,,though, I am not that patient nor obedient and just want to warn them that it is they who are losing their business chances but not me. If they think them of something,,,like they are providing un-cultured Asians a  sophisticated education service,,,it would be nothing but misunderstanding themselves. They are just losing their customers by sucking their money in an obviously awkward way. Well, I AM the fool who still expect something on nothing though!!

Back again from Tokyo. It ended up an unexpectedly busy day travel. Getting up 6 in the morning and took the bullet train in order to arrive at the British embassy by 9:30. In spite of my attempt, though I could not reach there before 10:20,,,since I lost my ticket in the train and had to waste so many time to look for the ticket and negotiate with crews of Tokyo station. When I somehow arrived at the British embassy, it was already so crowded as I had expected.And obviously it seemed to take more than 1 hour to get my VISA,,,it meant that I would be late for the appointment to see a professor of my university. I left a message the professor, apologizing being late. Then, now that only thing I had to do was just trying my best to be patient with the British way of business:each procedures takes ages to be done and so many intervals between each procedures.When I finally got my visa at 11:45, it was 45 minutes late from the origianl appointment, I noticed that my visa expires at 1st of March, though my course finishes 1st of September! Ofcourse I asked why and the reason given was simply because my offer is a conditinal one. Yes, it is, but,,,so what? In my case, the condition is just taking a presettional course on math and statistics. And this precondition would be almost for everyone, in other words, it is virtuallty a part of the course !! But I have to pay extra fee for the presettional course and to renew my visa, too!! How dirty the business is?! Obviously it is a scheme to suck extra money up from a oversea student!! Moreover, I am really reluctant to bring my bank notes to the UK to prove my fiscal situation, but to take another option, i.e. having new visa from British embassy in Tokyo, I have to pay extra cost to take the bullet train,,,a cost which bears nothing. I enjoyed a highly stimulating conversation with the professor later on. I even visit Chinese Union in Japan to make sure about my visa condition to travel around Guongdong. Visited CREED company to take an informal job interview before I met Hiroyuki to hand him in some books which he left at my house, aned finally, I could get on the train back to Nagoya. It was a long day, Can be said full of events, and quite exciting ;however, still I feel really disappointed and furious about the VISA situation. Bullshit cheaters!!