Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2011
phil couzens
Apathetic Fallacy
Regarding “Apathy Meltdown” (The Last Word, Apr 28): If Japan Inc. is at the root of many of the current society’s problems, then the only way to affect real change here is for the youth to stand up and push back. Not just throw up their hands and say, “shoganai.” These folks have their whole lives ahead of them. Are they simply going to resign themselves to over 50 years of paying for others’ mistakes in a system they probably don’t support? TEPCO’s blunders are going to cost these young folks in both direct ways (higher taxes, lower government services), as well as indirect ones (less foreign investment in Japan, lower esteem for Japan internationally). The fact that they aren’t up in arms about this just shocks me. If the young folks in Egypt can topple a government, can’t the ones here at least [find] their voices?
—herefornow**
Interesting article but just speculation and nothing new—someone please tell us all something we don’t know.
—miamun**
Q: “Could Fukushima provide the catalyst for Japanese youth to reach criticality?”
A: Not in a million years!
—tamanegi**
I have had a few heated arguments with other foreigners over the prospects for Japan’s anti-nuclear movement in the wake of 3/11. The sad truth they can’t get their heads around is that Japan has no viable alternative solution to meet her energy demands. The second hard-to-digest reality is the cost to replace nuclear power that the mainstream will not be willing to fund.
I am 100% for replacing nuclear power with clean solutions. But the current protests and movement lack the popular support and political insight to succeed in much more than raising a little noise. Until that movement has a tangible political and fiscal plan to replace the energy needs of Japan with a non-nuclear solution, then it will not be a catalyst for anything, including the drifting youth of Japan who make up a tiny portion of the movement in any case.
—tkoind2**
Seeing as how zero people have died from radiation at Fukushima, I am not sure what it should be providing a catalyst for.
—sengoku38**
There are youth in Japan? Since when?
—BurakuminDes**
Japan’s youth is its future, so I hope the young are thinking about safe ways for their country to generate electricity. Going green with a trash-to-steam power plant would reduce landfill space. Stuff like that.
—Utrack**
Shame, Shame
First, I would like to say shame on you Metropolis for printing the disgusting slander written by Charles Gachichiro in your April 2011 issue. If you were true lovers of Japan, you would have then deleted this letter from your email box! Now on to you, Charles. Who do you think you are, saying such filth to Japan? Japan is one of the most loving countries in the world. They deserve your prayers not your CURSES! Even Pope Benedict (mind you a true worker of GOD) prayed to Japan saying “GOD HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU!” Not only did he say this but he also donated $ 100,000 to help Japan recover. Now if you think the Pope was wrong to do that then you, sir, have no soul!!!
—Marisa Lattanzi
You go, Kazusa!
Regarding “High School Heroics” (The Last Word, May 6): Great article—funny, thoughtful and well written. More like this please!
—shearchitect*
Kazusa, Sayaka, Megumi et al, you guys are awesome!
—nipponophile*
* via Metropolis
** via Japan Today
