Is Baby Kim Serious or Just Looking for Trouble?

The Korean Peninsula's favorite moon-faced assassin of joy baby Kim Jong Un is at it again talking smack and threatening the United States with Nuclear War. Yes, that's right. The half starved malnourished militarized hermit kingdom whose portly leader won't properly feed his own people has once again misprioritized what few scarce resources the tiny isolated nation has to create weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems to wag at the United States it's so-called “Sworn Enemy of the North Korean People.” It was reported last night on CNN that North Korea threatens to deliberately provoke a confrontation with the United States by conducting a nuclear test firing a long range rocket capable of reaching the continental United States at the US mainland. I would love to say I'm shaking in my boots but the fact of the matter nuclear war is nothing to joke about. Just ask any surviving Pacific Islander or Japanese fisherman who happened to be down wind of an open air nuclear test during the 1950's. It's deplorable if not downright repugnant for this novice dictator to be making such threats to an already tense region. One has to ask if he is crazy or just trying to be a tough guy in front of a captive gun pointed audience? Normally this would be laughable right out of an Austin Powers sketch minus a Mini-me if it weren't for the fact this pudgy North Korean dictator didn't actually have nuclear weapons. Seriously! How does this help his people? It doesn't. And why stir up trouble? There are much easier ways to get attention but belligerence should not be one of them. In our opinion, this is most likely just talk to make the “Dear Leader” look like he's leading his country into some glorious 1950's styled Communist Propaganda Fantasy Film. We'll say good luck with that Baby Kim. American Mishima laughs at you.

ばか! Aflac Spokesman Quacked!

If there ever was a more appropriate use of the Japanese expression ばか, it is certainly appropriate to describe the reckless and insensitive statements made by actor, comedian, and voice of the Aflac Duck Gilbert Gottfried. Seriously! What was this guy thinking making jokes about missing Japanese girlfriends he obviously does not have. Has this man lost his mind or is he that insensitive to the sufferring of the Japanese People? Whatever the case, Aflac has fired their spokesman and voice of the Aflac Duck of the last ten years and rightfully so. In times of great human tragedy it is never correct to make jokes while people are sufferring. I am sure Mr. Gottfried would not appreciate holocaust jokes on the anniversary of Kristalnacht so it should not be done at all. In a related move and effort to save face, Aflac has donated 100 million Yen to the International Red Cross.

We at American Mishima applaud Aflac's swift action in both firing Gottfried and making a sizable donation to the relief efforts. No amount of money can erase the pain his words may have caused but then again those who are sufferring the most were likely unaware of this incident and have more important things to concern themselves with. We should never endorse this type of humor in the wake of catastrophie. We can only pray for those missing and those struggling to survive.

核危機 Post Disaster Nuclear Crisis in Japan

The recent 8.9 earthquake & tsunami in Japan has dealt the country a series of devastating events in what could be described as the worst crisis since the end of WWII. With the mounting death toll still rising, Japan is now facing one of its worst fears of having to contain a nuclear disaster in the making. With two reported hydrogen explosions having taken place over the weekend, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant is now spewing radiation into the disaster zone hampering relief efforts and exposing an already devestated populace to deadly radiation. Over 1500 people in the Sendai area have been tested for low level radiation. So far no reports of radiation sickness have been reported but time will tell. One helicopter from the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan had been exposed to a radiation plume which resulted in the massive carrier repositioning further off the coast to avoid further radiation exposure. We hope that emergency iodine tablets and contingency supplies reach the survivors in the disaster zone in time. I need not mention what this means to the Japanese people. The subject of nuclear power has always been a sensitive one. Not discounting the people of Chernobyl, this disaster is a reminder of the horrors of the after effects of radiation from the nuclear bombings of WWII. With six reactors shut down and in crisis mode it is our hope that this will be contained so that the rescue and recovery efforts from the resulting tsunami can continue.

The scope of this disaster has reached unprecedented levels. It had been truly heartbreaking to watch from a world away. We wish we could be there to help search for survivors. It hits hard to see the people we love suffer through so much grief, hunger, and the stinging cold. And yet our feelings toward the crisis do not begin to compare to the ongoing agony of people both here and abroad who have yet to reach family or friends that are still among the missing. All we can do is pray and use the power of the internet to spread the word so people know that people are suffering and continue to need our help. Our hearts continue to go out to the People of Japan. We may be an ocean away but our hearts are with you.

If you would like to help, please donate to the Red Cross for Japan’s victims in this ongoing crisis.

American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief

Please continue to show your love and support the People of Japan in their most desperate hour.

ども ありがとう ございます.