Japanese journalist missing in Syria appears in video - Polidicks

[B]VIDEO IN LINK[/B] [t]http://i.imgur.com/m2UTpvg.png[/t] [quote](CNN)A Japanese freelance journalist who has been missing in Syria since June 2015 has appeared in a video posted online Wednesday. Although Jumpei Yasuda, whose identity Japanese media have confirmed through his family, references the date March 16, CNN cannot confirm the date the video was recorded. While Japanese media have previously reported that Yasuda was captured by terrorist organization al Nusra Front after entering Syria, there is nothing in the video that definitively identifies any captors. Bearded and directly addressing the camera in English, Yasuda delivers a short message, although he does not elaborate on his predicament. "Hello, I am Jumpei Yasuda and today is my birthday, 16 March. They told me that I can speak what I want freely. And I can send a message through this to anyone. I love you my wife, father, mother, brother. I always think about you. I want to hug you. I want to talk with you but I can't anymore. Just I can say: Please take care. "My life, 42 years, all was good, especially since eight years, so happy. I have to say to something to my country: When you're sitting there, wherever you are, in a dark room, suffering with the pain, there's still no one. No one answering. No one responding. You're invisible. You are not exist. No one care about you." [/quote] [url]http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/17/middleeast/japanese-journalist-syria/index.html#[/url] There's a lot of interesting related information in the article. Abe and his board will surely want revenge for this. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] Video of Yasuda: [url]http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/video-japanese-nusra-front-hostage-jumpei-yasuda-surfaces-1550042[/url]

This might give more reasoning to Abe's plan to amend Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. I think the US won't like it though. Then again, something must be done to rescue them.

[QUOTE=shutter_eye5;49950720][B]This might give more reasoning to Abe's plan to amend Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution[/B]. I think the US won't like it though. Then again, something must be done to rescue them.[/QUOTE] I absolutely agree with you on all three points you said. Japan is no longer the enemy of the west, we know it, they know it, but we still hover over them. I fear they'll break themselves free in a spirit of "No, we're helping you do this now. Japanese are at too great of a risk to sit back", and we'll see a reemergence of them in future conflicts.

Japan enjoys very healthy relations and trade with the United States. They are one of the United State's largest trading partners, and a lot of our tech originates from Japan. There is no point to hold onto post-WWII reparations any longer. Japan is now more trusted than a significant amount of nations on this world to possess a standing military. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] I can think of far worse nations who hold a military.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;49950739]Japan enjoys very healthy relations and trade with the United States. They are one of the United State's largest trading partners, and a lot of our tech originates from Japan. There is no point to hold onto post-WWII reparations any longer. Japan is now more trusted than a significant amount of nations on this world to possess a standing military. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] I can think of far worse nations who hold a military.[/QUOTE] You're right, but I can't help but think a remergence of Japan onto the world stage will hugely increase tensions coming from China with regards to the disputed islands. They have new tech and, thanks to the US, a modernised state -who wouldn't want to take it all for a spin? Who knows where it could also lead with North Korea's attacks on the Sea of Japan. Would even South Korea be at peace with the Japanese suddenly being "on it (as we say in the north)" again? It may even fray US relations with those respective nations for allowing Japan, themselves, to amend the constitution forced upon them due to WW2. Although it is healthy for Japan not to feel constricted and "post-war-guilt-ridden(?)", there's a lot at risk and a lot of Japanese citizens appreciate that too, hence the surge in peace protests nationally.

[QUOTE=shutter_eye5;49950720]This might give more reasoning to Abe's plan to amend Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. I think the US won't like it though. Then again, something must be done to rescue them.[/QUOTE] Why wouldn't the US like it? Japan is one of our closest allies and we are very close to them militarily. You have to remember that the State of Japan is so fundamentally different than the Empire of Japan from 70 years ago. It's night and day. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Cypher_09;49950728]I absolutely agree with you on all three points you said. Japan is no longer the enemy of the west, we know it, they know it, but we still hover over them. I fear they'll break themselves free in a spirit of "No, we're helping you do this now. Japanese are at too great of a risk to sit back", and we'll see a reemergence of them in future conflicts.[/QUOTE] The US is not holding Japan back, Japanese politicians are. The ones who want to keep the constitution as is are Japanese people.

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;49950867]Why wouldn't the US like it? Japan is one of our closest allies and we are very close to them militarily. You have to remember that the State of Japan is so fundamentally different than the Empire of Japan from 70 years ago. It's night and day. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] The US is not holding Japan back, Japanese politicians are. The ones who want to keep the constitution as is are Japanese people.[/QUOTE] I think you misunderstood... I did not mean legislatively or literally holding them back. I mean, because the US is a major influence in Japanese society after world war 2, they are always present and therefore serve as a reminder to why they are there so much in the first place, to children growing up wondering, or whomever. We don't have that as Brits (well, we have Roman roads and that sort of shit) or Americans, but Germany for example still does and you can still see the influence of world war two in their policies today. It's not a bad thing, it's just a thing that was set up for a reason and now, a lot of time has passed since then. [editline]17th March 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=InvaderNouga;49950867]Why wouldn't the US like it? Japan is one of our closest allies and we are very close to them militarily. You have to remember that the State of Japan is so fundamentally different than the Empire of Japan from 70 years ago. It's night and day. .[/QUOTE] Because it will increase tensions with China over territory and possibly with North Korea. These are only some cons, but there are probably more pros than cons to the US, such as counter-terrorism offenses and the like. Why do you seem combative about this? :v:

The Japanese have just as much a stake in not just ISIS but the world stage, China is making artificial islands and building influence where they can. I'd welcome a Japanese military again.

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;49950908]Why do you seem combative about this? :v:[/QUOTE] InvaderNouga was stationed in Japan so he has first-hand experience and knows what he's talking about when it comes to Japan.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;49950968]InvaderNouga was stationed in Japan so he has first-hand experience and knows what he's talking about when it comes to Japan.[/QUOTE] Really? That's awesome. What were you stationed there for, if I might ask? (Nouga)

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;49951303]Really? That's awesome. What were you stationed there for, if I might ask? (Nouga)[/QUOTE] I worked at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa. Had a great time, eventually met my wife there. Ta16 did the same except he lives in mainland Japan (fucking mainlander)

[QUOTE]When you're sitting there, wherever you are, in a dark room, suffering with the pain, there's still no one. No one answering. No one responding. You're invisible. You are not exist. No one care about you.[/QUOTE] Christ, that's dark.