Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2012

CAMP FIRE

The comments by [writer C. B.] Liddell (“Art of Gaman,”Art, November 20) are ignorant and inappropriate and one is left to wonder what possible motives are behind the down-playing of this shameful, horrific event. The US concentration camps can and should be compared to the Nazi concentration camps in that they targeted an ethnic minority and forced them at gunpoint behind barbed wire. Mass sterilization of the internees was proposed in the US Senate as they lost all they owned on the outside. Inside conditions were deplorable and many died of diseases such as dysentery. There were no partitions between toilets, the food was often garbage like fish heads, they lived in tar paper shacks that were freezing cold in the winter and boiling hot in the summer. Many suffered the rest of their lives from post-traumatic stress disorder. Sixty percent were US citizens by birth (as Japanese were not allowed to become citizens until 1953). In Canada, the Japanese were also put into concentration camps and those were so bad the Red Cross had to step in to keep the Japanese-Canadians from starving. Why this so called reviewer was allowed to write on this exhibit when he or she has so little knowledge of the subject is beyond reason.—USNisei

GOLD N ROSES

Regarding “Guns N’ Roses” (Agenda, Dec 5): ¥17,500 for the Axl Rose band is way to steep. I am a huge GNR fan but I can’t afford the admission price. Who knows if Axl will even be on time?—Ed Legatie

J-PAP

Regarding “Does J-pop Suck?” (The Last Word, Nov 25, 2010): I think you should state a few more concrete examples/singers to explain why J-pop isn’t faring so well in the global music industry. I used to be an avid listener of J-pop but it all started going downhill for me since AKB48. Like most things Japanese, I believe that J-pop caters only to Japanese fans and they don’t bother adapting to the tastes of the outside market. K-pop on the other hand banks heavily on training and promotion to get their talents prepped up for international stardom.—Tommy

The bottom line, and I’m not closed minded about this, is it’s not in English. When I play songs in the English language, people are more accepting of them. Most though, will pick anything on the radio over a foreign song any day. Until America gets over itself and appreciates music for expression and creativity, it will just be words they can’t explain and nothing more.—Ahamkara

MOVIE TIME

I always enjoy reading the entertaining movie reviews and info. But this time you guys cost me ¥500 in a bet with my wife. According to the print article, Moonrise Kingdom was released here on 12/8 but it’s actually going to be in theaters here on 2/8. Send me some free tickets and we’ll call it even…—Steve Zissou

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

I have been to that bar a few times (“Haikyo Bar,” Bites, February 28), hoping to meet the owner and maybe other people who’ve there like myself in order to share our experiences. However, what I found was quite different: it seems that the bar has been renamed to Gunkanjima after a customer came in and said that the bar reminded him of the ghost island! Interestingly, the bartender decided to use it as the main theme (using the name and the books). The people frequenting the bar are locals, and were used to that bar before it was named Gunkanjima. That said, the drinks are extremely good and the bartender has excellent music taste, and that makes it one of my favorite bars in Tokyo!—Jordy Meow