Picture of the Day

Seen here is UK born Julia Maeda dressed as a mountain priestess. She conducts private tours of Japan and from what we can tell from her website, it looks pretty awesome. If you would like to know more, please visit her website at Tokyo Personalised.

Signs of Dangerous Times: Tokyo's 1st Military Attack Drills Since WWII

This week for the first time since the end of the Second World War, Tokyo citizens held evacuation drills to rehearse in the event of an military attack. Only now. the threats no longer come from waves of American B-29 bombers carrying clumsy incendiary bombs. Rather they come from North Korea's missile launches that could potentially carry nuclear warheads with a kiloton yield far greater than what destoryed Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the closing days of WWII. And while this was just a simulation, recent events must have added a sense of urgency if not panic among some of its participants scambling for cover as messages read over loudspeakers:"We have information that a missile launch has occurred. Please evacuate calmly inside a building or underground." Monents later, a second message was announced via loudspeaker: "The missile passed. The missile likely flew over the Kanto region towards the Pacific Ocean." Scary stuff!

With the unstable leadership from Washington now entering it's second year and increased missile tests from the rogue nation seeking to use it's growing nuclear arsenel as a means to blackmail the world into giving Kim Jong Un's totalitarian regime aid, we can expect the need for more drills to prepare the Citizens of Japan for the real possibility of a war that will spill over from the Korean penninsula that Japan nor it's vocal pacifists can not avoid. We at American Mishima certainly hope and pray that war does not befall Japan or the region but these are dangerous times and the realities of the 21st Century are upon us. Please continue to pray for peace.

Playing With Fire? Beijing Talks Tokyo

In what seems to be the latest round in the never ending South China Seas disputes, Chinese Military Spokesman Yang Yujin made some pretty bold threats to Tokyo this week. Apparently, the PRC objects to the recently announced plans on the part of the Japanese Defense Ministry to conduct Joint Patrols with the U.S. Navy in the disputed South China Seas. Yujin alleged that Tokyo was "Playing with fire" and that his military was not going to sit by and watch idly. To what purpose do such threats serve? The International Community has already ruled against the PRC in The Hague. Not only does China's artificial island building in international waters which they now claim based on some 500 year old map has little legitimacy, it's bad for business. Let's face it, the economic boom and rising wealth among Chinese under 30 would have never occurred under the Communist Rule of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. This is only because China has embraced limited Capitalism which has made many Chinese very wealthy. To date, China now has more millionaires and billionaires than any other country combined meaning they rely on business and business happens when you use trade. That's why none of this makes any sense. Militarizing International Waters threatens commerce and trade for the entire region upsetting the delicate balance of trade between nations. It's clear that someone in Beijing feels that to take it all for themselves at the expense of others offers China some short term economic advantage but ultimately this just sets China up for more problems than they solve. It's unfortunate that their leaders have embarked on this path. I suppose the grand irony is that while the Communists love to bash Japan for it's past  military aggression of 80 years ago, it engages on some of its own. We have long said we hope such saber rattling will cease with cooler heads prevailing but the ante has been raised and some people as we have read want a confrontation that will serve no one. Until either the PRC backs down from this course of action or adheres to the international court ruling, Japan will exert its right to protect its sovereign islands and participate in internationally conducted patrols with its most important ally the United States. As we say in America, Bullshit Talks and Bullshit Walks. Let's hope nobody gets killed over this. Peace out!

Heisei Emperor Greets New Years Well Wishers

Seen here are photos first published in Japan Today of His Majesty Emperor Akihito as he greets the throngs of well wishers who annually flock to the Imperial Palace to catch a glimpse of their symbolic monarch who to this day at age 82 remains very popular with the Japanese People. Please enjoy!

 

 Thousands make this annual trek to the Imperial Palace on New Years. 

 Seen here is both the Emperor and Empress along with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as well as other members of the Royal Family.

 

We at American Mishima wish Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko as well as the rest of the Royal family and the People of Japan a very Happy New Years!

 

Happy New Years 2016!

Seen here are thousands of balloons released at the stroke of midnight marking the arrival of the year (Gregorian Calendar) 2016 New Years Celebration at the old Tokyo Tower. Happy New Years everyone!

あけまして おめでとう ございます!

China Sends New Message

As if things could not make a tense situation on the South China Seas any more tense, the Chinese Navy has equipped their Coast Guard with three former warships including a frigate armed with 20 and 35 millimeter auto-cannons as seen in the photo above. This spells trouble for Japanese commercial fishing and international commerce. Evidently, Beijing is trying to send Tokyo a message which furthermore rises tensions in an already escalating tit-for-tat series of provocative moves on the part of the PRC ruling government in Beijing. That or the Chinese Navy is pissed at Japan's SDF forces lining up anti-ship missile batteries on islands that sit between the Chinese mainland and their recent man made island claims which has created this whole mess in the first place. This latest incident marks the 139th incursion into Japanese waters near disputed Senkaku islands since 2012 which Beijing claims is its sovereign territory. Strange, in China's 3000+ year history only now are they claiming islands in the last 4 years? Pretty convenient timing as the PRC flexes it's muscles in an attempt it's growing naval might in an attempt ti both intimidate and dominate it's surrounding neighbors. We'll continue to monitor this situation and give you our take on the ever growing dangerous game being played out now on the South China Seas.

New Years Greetings

You know it's just not New Years around here without an appearance by the reigning Heisei Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko marking this 27th year of their reign on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Some 81,000 visitors flocked to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to see the Emperor and the Imperial Family make their annual New Years appearance from their balcony to the throngs of visiting well wishers. We at American Mishima wish them a Happy New Years and long may they continue to reign.

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

おめでとうございます! US Ambassador to Japan John Roo's seen here with happy Tokyo High School Students celebrating the US Election results re-electing incumbent President Barrack Obama. すごいねReposted from Japan Today.