RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Boycott Japan, maaaaaaaaaan! :O

What's with the whole boycott Japan thing going on in Korea atm?
One of my high level students spoke to me about it during summer camp.
I know there was/is bad blood between Korea and Japan because of the past, but this is my 1st time seeing boycott Japan in Korea (in my 3 years here).

When I was in England, someone mentioned about an article in the paper about some Korean petrol station not filling up Japanese cars and thought it was just some stupid one off thing.

Then, refreshed after my holiday, I came back to Korea and am treated to a few banners in my small city with 'Don't go to Japan, Don't buy anything Japanese'.  So did some reading up and realised it was just another childish thing that the Koreans and Japanese have, but this time started by the Japanese.  It doesn't take much.  There were also two Korean guys stood with signs at the crossroads near my school with a picture of a target on Abe. 

Then I was talking to one of my well-travelled Korean friends who will be in Germany over Chuseok and they asked if I was doing anything, to which I replied, 'maybe I'll go to Japan as it's really cheap', but the reaction was not a normal rational one.    I don't know what nationalism does to people but it's really stupid, reactionary rubbish. 

I thought it was started here in Korea.
Wasn't it the Korean government's decision to seize local assets from Japanese companies (or at least, those assets belonging to companies that existed back during the Japanese Imperial era and that had employed forced Korean labour) that started it all?

Joung Ha-yoon, a 29-year-old banker, had planned to travel to Japan for summer vacation. Three weeks ago, she ditched those plans and went to Hong Kong, where she chose local beers instead of her favored Japanese Asahi. Until the trade fight ends, she has committed to suppressing her cravings for a Japanese tripe stew called motsunabe.

That wasn’t too much of a sacrifice, she said. “You can’t even upload pictures of Japanese food on social media anyway.”

www.wsj.com/amp/articles/when-hello-kitty-is-the-enemy-south-korea-takes-a-trade-dispute-to-heart-11566155283

Until the trade fight ends, she has committed to suppressing her cravings for a Japanese tripe stew called motsunabe.
That wasn’t too much of a sacrifice, she said. “You can’t even upload pictures of Japanese food on social media anyway.”

r/nottheonion

All of East Asia is in a state right now.

Boycott-wise it seemed to start out as just another kerfuffle but its escalated into a spat.

I don't care much for the anti-Japan stickers on the subway. I want my subway ride to be politics free. Also, I'm glad the locals protested the banners going up in Jung-gu. 
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/anti-japan-banners-seoul-public-outcry-190806084314476.html

From my vantage point the main people not falling into this are Japanophiles and alcoholics who refuse to give up their Izakayas with the sake and the Kirin.

While I'm against it, I also recognize that long after I'm gone, the Japanese will still be here and while, as a Westerner, I may think the Japanese are cute and cuddly and nice to everyone, I also recognize that they might be a different way to the rest of Asia.

Boycott Japan, maaaaaaaaaan! :O

What's with the whole boycott Japan thing going on in Korea atm?
One of my high level students spoke to me about it during summer camp.
I know there was/is bad blood between Korea and Japan because of the past, but this is my 1st time seeing boycott Japan in Korea (in my 3 years here).

When I was in England, someone mentioned about an article in the paper about some Korean petrol station not filling up Japanese cars and thought it was just some stupid one off thing.

Then, refreshed after my holiday, I came back to Korea and am treated to a few banners in my small city with 'Don't go to Japan, Don't buy anything Japanese'.  So did some reading up and realised it was just another childish thing that the Koreans and Japanese have, but this time started by the Japanese.  It doesn't take much.  There were also two Korean guys stood with signs at the crossroads near my school with a picture of a target on Abe. 

Then I was talking to one of my well-travelled Korean friends who will be in Germany over Chuseok and they asked if I was doing anything, to which I replied, 'maybe I'll go to Japan as it's really cheap', but the reaction was not a normal rational one.    I don't know what nationalism does to people but it's really stupid, reactionary rubbish. 

I thought it was started here in Korea.
Wasn't it the Korean government's decision to seize local assets from Japanese companies (or at least, those assets belonging to companies that existed back during the Japanese Imperial era and that had employed forced Korean labour) that started it all?

It depends how far you want to go back.

Last month, Japan announced it would tighten control over three chemicals — fluorinated polyamides, photoresists, and hydrogen fluoride — that are crucial to producing semiconductors in Korea. Under new regulations, Japanese companies would need a license for each chemical to import them to South Korea, and the process could take up to 90 days.

Semiconductors, a key material installed in most electronic devices, have long been Korea’s top export item, and a delay in their productions could pose a significant threat to its economy.

Then it turned into 'being off the white list' for preferred trade partners.  It's damaging for Samsung mainly.  Also bits about Seoul being a bit lax about allowing these three chemicals to go to North Korea. 

 

(That's why I'm not sure about my Japan holiday for Chuseok.  And no amount of your Kyndo carrots are going to make me tell you either way, whether I'm going or not)

All of East Asia is in a state right now.

Boycott-wise it seemed to start out as just another kerfuffle but its escalated into a spat.

I don't care much for the anti-Japan stickers on the subway. I want my subway ride to be politics free. Also, I'm glad the locals protested the banners going up in Jung-gu. 
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/anti-japan-banners-seoul-public-outcry-190806084314476.html

From my vantage point the main people not falling into this are Japanophiles and alcoholics who refuse to give up their Izakayas with the sake and the Kirin.

While I'm against it, I also recognize that long after I'm gone, the Japanese will still be here and while, as a Westerner, I may think the Japanese are cute and cuddly and nice to everyone, I also recognize that they might be a different way to the rest of Asia.

I don't think it's just Japanophiles and alcoholics not giving into the boycott. I have regular students that aren't buying into it (a couple are buying into it).
A bunch of my co-workers traveled to Japan during the boycott thing as well, just to sight see.

But thanks for the article, it was interesting!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2NmE62bmhk

'90 days to export'

Pfft!

Like most of the fukcing furniture I order off Gmarket...

Sorry, so you're saying I'm not allowed to hit up Lotteria after work for a Bulgogi burger? 

Sorry, so you're saying I'm not allowed to hit up Lotteria after work for a Bulgogi burger? 

Your bukkake days are numbered too, Frites.

Sorry, so you're saying I'm not allowed to hit up Lotteria after work for a Bulgogi burger? 

Your bukkake days are numbered too, Frites.

Laughs in Japanese.

Credit card spending in Japanese brand stores plunged to 4.98 billion won as of the end of July, from 10.23 billion won a month earlier.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190818000198

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X0X2eF6yJpI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X0X2eF6yJpI

sigh...there went the nice low prices to Japan...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X0X2eF6yJpI

sigh...there went the nice low prices to Japan...

Most of the nice low prices were for during Chuseok, I think a lot of the flights being cancelled start a week after chuseok.
There are still other cheap airlines that go to and from Japan too :p

All South Korean airlines – both full-service and budget carriers – now have cut back their flights to Japan amid escalating trade tensions between the two neighboring countries after Air Seoul Inc., Korea’s fledgling low-cost carrier with hefty reliance on Japanese destinations, has decided to suspend and reduce its operations to Japan.

https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2019&no=627126

Following Korean carriers’ decision to roll back flights to Japan, each company has cut more than 180,000 seats monthly heading to Japan so far, which totals to about 2 million seats a year. Carriers rolling back flights to Japan plan to instead expand services to China and Southeast Asia to make up for their losses from rolling back their flights to Japan.

62.8 percent said they were participating in the anti-Japanese boycott
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190725000414
Only 12 percent said they have a favorable view of Japan
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/07/120_272185.html

Better do a piece on Fukushima to get people's minds back on Japan!

https://japantoday.com/category/national/s.-korea-calls-in-japanese-diplomat-over-plans-for-fukushima-water

All South Korean airlines – both full-service and budget carriers – now have cut back their flights to Japan amid escalating trade tensions between the two neighboring countries after Air Seoul Inc., Korea’s fledgling low-cost carrier with hefty reliance on Japanese destinations, has decided to suspend and reduce its operations to Japan.

https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2019&no=627126

Following Korean carriers’ decision to roll back flights to Japan, each company has cut more than 180,000 seats monthly heading to Japan so far, which totals to about 2 million seats a year. Carriers rolling back flights to Japan plan to instead expand services to China and Southeast Asia to make up for their losses from rolling back their flights to Japan.

A lot of those budget carriers went to some really neat but smaller destinations within Japan. You'll always be able to go to Tokyo or Osaka, but interesting locations like Kumamoto have been cut. This really sucks for those of us that really love Japan. They are upping their flights to China, but who wants to go to China in this political climate? You might get detained there. 

Just got back yesterday from a much-needed extended R&R break in Sri Lanka... Glad to see that, while it is quite warm here, the humidity seems at least manageable...

 Anyhow, with regard to the Japan travel theme, here's some grist for the mill...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwK5rJTxLdE&feature=youtu.be

and another:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUX0pcUQOMs

  The bits on the Tennis courts, Baseball, and the Rowing venues were particularly disturbing...!

   There are actually quite a few articles/ videos on this subject if you look online (You Tube has some good ones...); they can't all be wrong!!

I was planning to head over for some RWC action, but will be cancelling next week; this video is a prime example of the lies, manipulation, complete lack of conscience, and the duplicity and amorality of Japan's government and corporate (esp. the Nuclear power industry...) sectors!