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Actually, it was about Okinawa. The previous PM of Japan, Hatoyama, made loud noises about forcing the U.S. to move it's military base off of Okinawa ("The time
by _debug_ 16y ago
Actually, it was about Okinawa. The previous PM of Japan, Hatoyama, made loud noises about forcing the U.S. to move it's military base off of Okinawa ("The time has come for us to seek a more equal relationship with the U.S." @see http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1978647,00.html http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1978647,00....), and the Toyota episode was a way to slap the wayward child on it's hand and show him who's daddy.
After Japan cried "enough" and sent Hatoyama packing, things slowly started to return to "normal".
Toyota ADRs have rallied 19% since Hatoyama's resignation.
Also, by the way, there is a small U.S. presence (not 100% sure if it military or otherwise), but there is a clear area right in the middle of Tokyo in the Roppongi area which seems to be reserved for U.S. personnel. You can see helicopters (and they sure as hell looked military) land there regularly from the top of the Mori Tower building. The "H" for the helipad is quite visible even on Google Maps in Satellite mode, and whenever I saw a U.S. helicopter land there, I used to wonder how any country can be such a puppet to another and still act "free". The lack of awareness and discussion about that area and the lack of access to it by everyday Japanese spoke tons about the Japan-U.S. relationship. I believe Hatoyama stood for the right thing.
- GHFigs 16y agoThe lack of awareness and discussion about that area and the lack of access to it by everyday Japanese spoke tons about the Japan-U.S. relationship. I should hope so, given that it's the US Embassy.
- dicemoose 16y agoThe US Embassy compound is on the Akasaka side of Roppongi and the Embassy itself is towards Toranomon. There is also a small US Army base between Roppongi and the Aoyama graveyard, right next to the new National Museum. FWIW, it's not just the Japanese that can not get into that base, civilian US citizens will also probably find trouble getting in. Which is a bummer since the PX there sells affordable cuts of meat.
- _debug_ 16y ago> There is also a small US Army base between Roppongi and the Aoyama graveyard, right next to the new National Museum. Thanks. I finally found an article mentioning it : http://www.jpri.org/publications/friends/mcneill_JT_05-09-06.html http://www.jpri.org/publications/friends/mcneill_JT_05-09-06...
- _debug_ 16y agoNo, it is not merely an Embassy. It is a U.S. Military presence. I finally found an article with a photo and more concrete details : http://www.jpri.org/publications/friends/mcneill_JT_05-09-06.html http://www.jpri.org/publications/friends/mcneill_JT_05-09-06...