Hello, everybody

[EastMeetsWest]

I am an expat who has spent much of his life in Japan. Naturally, I want the best for both Japan and the US.

Over the past few years, i have ricocheted around various progressive sites like a pinball. The philosophy that I have developed after living in Japan for so long seems to be a bit different from that of the average American. And I'm not talking about Zen or anything like that, I'm talking about just life in general. I like living in a country where you don't have to worry about school shootings, or road rage idiots threatening you with violence (super heavy fines/punishment for road rage incidents in Japan now), where the crime rate is relatively low and you can feel safe just about anywhere you go. But at the same time, this is a country that has been threatened by some of its neighbors from time to time, including now. And many people I have encountered on other sites don't seem to give a crap about what happens over here.

So, that's the situation I'm in right now. As I said, I hope for the best for both Japan and the United States, and I hope that I can make friends here who feel the same way.

[NBachers]

1. When I saw your name was EastMeetsWest, I was hoping this was someone with a perspective we could

appreciate, with experiences that could bring different cultures together. Believe it or not.

Welcome to Democratic Underground, and I'm looking forward to your posts. Japan is definitely in a part of the world that is getting hotter and more dangerous. I'll be interested in reading about world trends and events from your perspective.

[EastMeetsWest]

2. Thank you so much for your kind words

I'll be glad to answer whatever questions that you or anyone else may have about my experiences in Japan.

[monkeyman1]

3. welcome , was there off & on during the V.N. war !! I'm going to look forward to your post !

[EastMeetsWest]

4. That's going back a long way

Japan has changed a lot since then

[Irish_Dem]

46. That is the most amazing thing, how much Japan has changed since the 1960s.

I was there as a child when my father was stationed near Tokyo during the VN War. The pictures and stories from modern day Japan are astounding.

My fond memories of Japan are of a quiet, slow paced, very unique country. We lived out in the farmland, but even taking the train and going into Tokyo was fun and relaxed.

[EastMeetsWest]

48. Japan has changed a lot, even since my first visit (1983)

It's gone from a smoker's paradise to a country where public smoking is severely restricted, to a country where beer vending machines could be found on many street corners to where beer vending machines are nowhere to be found. It seems you can't go into a grocery store these days without being reminded that teenage drinking is not tolerated and you have to be 20 years old to buy a pack of cigarettes.

[Skittles]

5. sounds good to me

[EastMeetsWest]

7. Thank you

Thank you so much

[littlemissmartypants]

6. Hi and welcome to DU, EastMeetsWest. Looking forward to your posts.

Be sure to check out the many groups here. There's no telling who you'll meet.



❤pants

[EastMeetsWest]

8. I'd really like to meet some friends

I've met too many people elsewhere who have no idea what's going on over here-- just a lot of knee-jerk reactions, and few people are interested in actually learning about what's going on over here. So, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to tell about my own experiences, and perhaps provide links to academic discussions about the situation in the western Pacific

[Soph0571]

9. Welcome to DU from London

[EastMeetsWest]

11. Wow!

Hello from Tokyo!

Not only I, but the people I work with, are always interested in the opinions of people from your part of the world. It's like, you're on an island on one end of Eurasia, and we're on an island on the other end, and a LOT of things are happening in-between. And we love to have input from people from other countries.

[NJCher]

10. I've heard the policing

Is very community relations oriented, but some have criticized it for being almost like busy bodies. A bit nosey. What’s your opinion, based on what you’ve seen and heard?

I love Japanese food. Would like to hear about your meals on the What’s for Dinner thread in our Cooking & Baking forum.

[EastMeetsWest]

13. Nobody in my residential area bothers me

In fact they cut me a bit of slack. I don't have to do "garbage collection site duty", for example. And so far, I've never had to serve as "hancho" (班長&quot , which is basically someone who has to pass out important information to the other residents of the neighborhood for a fiscal year (we don't have local newspapers or local radio stations here to speak of, so local news is generally spread through "kairanban" (回覧板 clipboards which contain information of local interest). If there's a flood or earthquake alert, though, we'll usually hear about it on our phones.

[momta]

12. Welcome, EastMeetsWest.

One of the things I appreciate about DU is getting perspectives from all over the world.

One thing I'm curious about is Japan's relations with China, not just politically, but culturally. Over here (I'm in Colorado) China is seen as such a behemoth that I think we sometimes we forget about its neighbors.

Just curious.

[EastMeetsWest]

14. China is pretty much seen as a behemoth in Japan, too

And it is not hesitant to flex its muscles, whether it's to threaten countries that try to have good relations with Taiwan, or question the source of the Covid virus (like Australia), or usurping territorial waters of smaller countries (like Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia) in the South China Sea. And don't get me going on Hong Kong. China agreed to accept the territorial integrity of Hong Kong until 2047 (I watched the handover ceremony on TV in 1997), but it has been reneging on that deal, and I fear for my Hong Kong friends who have to live with that.

[SheltieLover]

15. Welcome to DU!

I look forward to your posts and learning more about the Japanese culture!

[EastMeetsWest]

33. Thank you

[Busterscruggs]

16. Glad you are here!

You will not find as many open minded and wonderfully accommodating people anywhere else!

[EastMeetsWest]

22. That's good to hear!

Thank you for your welcome!

[BigmanPigman]

17. Most of what I know about Japanese culture comes from

Tony Bourdain and his travel/food TV shows. He loved Japan and Vietnam and they were always featured on his shows.

I think your perspective will be welcomed on this site.

[EastMeetsWest]

40. Well, if you have any questions about Today's Japan,

feel free to ask them

[Sherman A1]

18. Welcome aboard

Look forward to hearing your perspective. I have been trying to learn more about the views outside the narrow box that our cable noise media offers and have been impressed by the reporting of foreign news English language sources including from Japan. I’m sure that there’s much more than what I’m seeing, but it is refreshing to have news be actual information rather than a blathering of opinions, what if’s and hyperbole designed to fill airtime between ads for drugs we never knew we needed.

[EastMeetsWest]

24. LOL!

Well, I can provide an opinion of an American who has lived in Japan since the Bush I era (I remember when Bush I vomited on the lap of the then-Japanese prime minister )

[EastMeetsWest]

85. Here's a good place to get an idea of what is happening over here

Asahi News in English (Asahi is one of the biggest and longest established national newspapers in Japan)

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/

[Sherman A1]

86. Thanks

I will check it out.

[abqtommy]

19. Welcome to DU. I'm sure you'll find that many of us here share your world view and

concerns so be patient.

[EastMeetsWest]

25. Thank you

Thank you so much

[druidity33]

20. Welcome!

I work in a grocery store in rural Massachusetts. I enjoy working with my 2 Japanese coworkers. I didn't realize baseball was so huge in Japan for one thing. Also, i had a good laugh about the Tanuki legend/statues (balloon balls? Really?) I'm not much of a city person anymore, but the Japanese countryside looks glorious. I do have a question about Fukishima though... is it still a concern for the people in the region? Are the nuclear power plants back on line? News doesn't cover that much about it anymore...

DU is a wonderful place! Some posters can be opinionated and it's best to cultivate a thick skin around here... but we all try to be civil at least!

K&R

[EastMeetsWest]

28. To answer your questions...

Baseball is VERY big in Japan. Many high schools have baseball teams that vie to compete in the national tournaments that are held at the Koshien stadium in the Osaka-Kobe area in July and March. There is a high school near me that has sent many teams to the tournament I work out with people who hope to become a pro someday At my age, I just want to get in shape

As for Fukushima-- the very worst persistent effects have been along the prevailing winds, which blow from SE to NW in that region. I have read where they are FINALLY allowing people to access their homes in that area (Futaba Town, etc.), the first time since March 2011. I feel so sorry for those people. A lot of them came to my area back then, and some Japanese (not all) didn't want them in the community because they they thought they would catch "radiation sickness" from them. My city had to make an announcement that you can't catch "radiation sickness" from Fukushima refugees. I doubt that Fukushima Dai-ichi (6 reactors) will ever come back, since I think that 3 or 4 of the reactors were completely destroyed, but they've tried to reactivate reactors in other parts of the country. I think they've reactivated a few reactors, but most are still down. I'd have to look up the actual statiistics.

The Japanese countryside is indeed wonderful. Oh my gosh... As soon as I finish my "telework" jobs, I want to take a trip to the countryside!

[malthaussen]

21. Welcome to DU.

Mind the cat.

-- Mal

[EastMeetsWest]

41. Thank you

Until 3 years ago, I had a pet cat. A wonderful friend. Unfortunately. she succumbed to old age, at 17 1/2.

[Harker]

23. You're off to a good start!

[EastMeetsWest]

39. Thank you

ありがとうございます　

[Wounded Bear]

26. Welcome to DU!

Look forward to your perspectives and opinions. We don't have a ton of members from East Asia that I know of, so sounds like you could contribute a lot from that region. Right now, from a geo-political aspect, it looks like Putin is trying to distract us from our need/preference to focus on China and Western Pacific issues. Having a Japan based friend could be very informative.

[EastMeetsWest]

89. Well. here I am, in Japan!

I can give my opinion about what's happening over here in East Asia. It's my opinion, but it's also part of my job. We are very nervous about what China has in store for this part of the world.

[spicysista]

27. Welcome to DU, EastMeetsWest!

[EastMeetsWest]

38. Thank you!

I am honored

[Donkees]

29. Welcome :)

[EastMeetsWest]

37. つるだよ！Cranes!

Last edited Wed Jan 19, 2022, 02:40 AM - Edit history (1)

That reminds me of the first Japanese folk tale I ever read, "鶴の恩返し" -- "The Crane's Return Favor". I saw real cranes in Hokkaido many years ago-- they are truly magnificent birds.

In this part of Japan, there are what I used to call "mini cranes"-- しらさぎ-- white herons. I see them all the time during the wet paddy season. But apparently herons and cranes are from different families

[Irish_Dem]

30. Very happy to meet you!

I lived in Japan for 4 years of my childhood. I am Caucasian but have Asian relatives and friends.

I think Japan and South Korean are going to be in a difficult position because China wishes to be a regional and global superpower.

[EastMeetsWest]

36. Hello

Right now, the situation here is a little on edge. People are distracted by Corona, but people in my office feel the real threat is China. In my company, we have to keep track of what is happening in the world, and we're getting a little nervous about what China has in store. China won't do anything before the Winter Olympics, but after that, who knows? We remember Sarajevo, which hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, after which all hell broke loose. We hope it won't come to that here.

[Irish_Dem]

42. What do the Japanese see as the specific threat to them from China?

Is there a big concern about Taiwan? Or the South China Sea islands China wants? Hong Kong?

Does Japan see a direct threat to its own country?

China is gearing up to be a global financial power as well as military superpower.
It will want to exert regional power, so it cannot be too happy with the US military bases sitting in Japan/Okinawa. Is that the concern?

[EastMeetsWest]

43. The concern with China, from the perspective of people in my office

China wants Taiwan, very much-- not only for its semiconductor manufacturing technology (the best in the world), but also for the fact that Taiwan represents a main link in an island chain, from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, down to Indonesia, that provides a means of constraining the Chinese navy. Taiwan offers open access to the Pacific Ocean.

Japan has recently had territorial disputes with China, which led to China temporarily stopping exports of strategic materials (rare earths) to Japan, in 2010. The CCP also encouraged violent demonstrations against Japanese companies in China at the time. (The same thing happened to some South Korean companies when SK bought into the THAAD system a few years later).

Anyway, Japan is a neighbor of Taiwan. A recent former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has gone on record as saying that an attack on Taiwan can be construed as an attack on Japan.

[Irish_Dem]

45. Yes, that is what I am hearing.

To add to your items about Taiwan, China believes it is still a Chinese province that was stolen from them. It wants Taiwan back. Just like Putin wants back all the countries that broke away from Russia. They want territory which contains rich resources or holds military strategic value as you point out.

Yes I am aware that China has been very interested in rare earth materials and has been mining them in many places, including Africa. China also hopes to get Afghan minerals if it can.

I was not aware that China was using the rare earth minerals in essence to blackmail other countries into compliance. But that makes sense, they will corner the market and then kiss or kick people into actions favorable to China.

China wants to be a global superpower so it must first establish itself as the regional power. This does put Japan in an uncomfortable place. Both the US and Japan are going to have to consider if they really want to go to war with China over Taiwan and other disputed territory. It is a worrisome situation.

[EastMeetsWest]

50. It is particularly worrisome to me

since I have seen Chinese people on the Internet claiming that they have no problems with attacking Japan if Japan opposes the forced annexation of Taiwan. I have friends from Taiwan-- they love living in a free, democratic society. And of course, Japan has been a free and democratic society since the 1940s, and I am doing what I can to help Japan remain free and democratic, while helping my native country, the USA, at the same time. Japan loves the USA, we are now brothers, we need to help each other.

[Irish_Dem]

55. Yes I have friends from Taiwan too.

They are worried about the situation. They love their country and do not want to be a part of China.

Unfortunately, the US is in a weakened position right now. After $Trillions spent in a military boondoggle war which we lost, Americans have little appetite for another war. And it is one thing to fight the primitive Afghans, another thing altogether to fight China.

Additionally, Americans don't seem too keen on fighting to keep democracy in their own country, why fight elsewhere for it.

Edit to add: But the US industrial military complex would love a war. Certain people get very rich every time we engage in battle. Also there are treaties to honor. So it is going to be a difficult decision.

[EastMeetsWest]

58. I love Taiwan

Last edited Wed Jan 19, 2022, 07:24 AM - Edit history (2)

I agree, they don't want to be a part of China. China would just swallow them up and put Taiwan's leaders on trial for "rebellion", even though it was the CCP that was the rebel. The more I read about the PRC, the more I hate it, and that goes back to the 1980s. I can't understand how many supposed US "progressive" sites support the CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, and dis their own country!

And I have the utmost respect for Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. It's kind of interesting that the Chinese characters in part of her name, "Ing-wen" (英文 ) mean "English wording" in Japanese

[EastMeetsWest]

52. You really seem to have a very good idea of what is happening over here, in East Asia

I look forward to seeing other posts from you!

[Irish_Dem]

56. Thank you!

Since I lived in that area of the world in my childhood, I have maintained an interest in events there. I have also visited China several times. I love the Japanese and Chinese people. The Chinese government I don't trust any further than I can throw them.

[EastMeetsWest]

57. I heartily agree with you!

The Chinese people, and the Chinese government, are two different things. I feel sorry for the people of Hong Kong, who are being shafted by Beijing 北京. I also support the people of Taiwan, who have achieved a free and democratic society, only to be threatened and stymied by the mainland whenever Taiwan wants to become a part of the world community.

Thank you for your kind words. Here in East Asia, many of us are worried about what China has in store for us, especially after the Olympics. Some of us remember the Sarajevo Winter Olympics of 1984, and the horrible things that happened after that...

[Irish_Dem]

77. Yes Beijing totally screwed Hong Kong.

But I guess we were foolish to think it would be any different.

[EastMeetsWest]

88. You are my new best friend!

Yeah, the West was foolish to think that it would be any different (although many Hong Kong people I met in the late '80s/early '90s knew what was coming).

[3catwoman3]

31. Welcome aboard!

I lived in Japan for 2 years, back in the late 1970s. I was in the Air Force nurse corps, stationed at Yokota Air Base in Fussa City.

I loved being there. Single at the time, so had to live on base. If you were married, you could get the housing allowance to live off base, but not if you were single - you would have had to pay the rent out of your own pocket, and it was too expensive. I was out the base gates every chance I had, and explored as much as I could. I took the trains everywhere - the first time I tried to drive off base I got so lost I was afraid I would never get back. I had my Japanese phrase books with me, but none of the 3 contained the sentence, "I'm lost! Help!"

I met my now husband there. He was my next door neighbor in the BOQ.

Our home decor has a definite Japanese flavor. I purchased a number of woodblock prints and watercolors, which I still cherish, and a beautiful Imari sake set.

I took 3 evening courses in Japanese, and learned just enough to ask questions but not understand the answers. The Japanese people seemed to appreciate my efforts.

[EastMeetsWest]

34. Wow! That is such an interesting story!

I'm lost! Help! -- (Watashi wa) michi wo mayotta! Tasukete! 私は道を迷った！助けて！

The first time I came to Japan was in 1983. Things have changed a lot, even since then.

If you are a foreigner in Japan and act like you are lost, chances are, someone will try to help you Unfortunately, it's difficult for first-time visitors to come to Japan right now. I really hate these Covid restrictions.

[EastMeetsWest]

51. I've never been anywhere near a US base

It's nice to hear about your experiences with Japan back then.

I had a friend who was part of GHQ (US post-war occupation of Japan), and he loved the country. He especially loved Enoshima. I visited that place once, and I can see why he loved it. Enoshima is like, the place to go for sunbathing in Japan

[Irish_Dem]

53. Sorry posted in the wrong spot.

Meant to answer the Air Force nurse just above.

[Irish_Dem]

54. Yokota AFB

I lived at Yokota AFB too!

In the early 1960's during the VN war. My dad was stationed in Japan and later Okinawa, accompanied tours. We lived off base as there was not enough housing for families on base. It was bare bones living there at the time. Housing off base, groceries at the commissary were just the basics at best.

The Japanese were quite poor at that time and everything was very inexpensive. They were still struggling from WWII and that was still on the adult minds. The children were unaware of anything except that it was a great adventure.

I loved everything about Japan, the people, culture, etc. It was a great time.

Living in Japan and Okinawa as a child shaped my tastes and preferences. I still have people take off their shoes when they come to my house. I prefer a clean, tasteful, minimalist decor. I have Asian prints and decor items in my house. And am a regular at the local Japanese restaurant.

Before she got married to my Dad, my mother was an Air Force nurse stationed at a military receiving hospital at Castle AFB during the Korean War.

[EastMeetsWest]

60. It's so wonderful to hear of your experiences!

My ersonal: experiences with Japan start at the early 1980s.

Yokota is still there. Hopefully, it's still helping to protect my friends in Japan.

By the way, I remember the transfer of Okinawa from GHQ to Japan in 1972. My best friend's dad at the time was an old Navy vet, and he had a love for US-Ryukyuu stamps. It was a fun time.

[Irish_Dem]

63. When I was on Okinawa it was not part of Japan.

Still under US administration from the war.

That would have been neat to be there for the turnover to Japan.

We had been living in the Tokyo area for several years and then moved to Okinawa for another several years. We thought Okinawa and its people were very different from Japan and the Japanese. It was a wonderful island.

Yes Okinawa had a number of Navy bases, it was loaded with military when I was there.

I am sure you would not recognize the Japan and Okinawa that I knew. Very very different from what it is like now.

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

[EastMeetsWest]

64. My friend's dad was a big collector of Ryukyuu stamps

He introduced me to the US stamps at the time, not only when Okinawa was being transferred to Japanese sovereignty, but also including the Cape Hatteras stamps which were issued in a vignette of 4 stamps and quickly sold at a premium to their original face value (8 cents per vignette). Oh, the good old days...

[Irish_Dem]

66. Goods and services were very very inexpensive.

It was unbelievable when I think about it. I was a young teenager and trying to babysit to earn some money. But it was hard to compete with the Japanese who charged very little. I babysat for 25 cents an hour and was glad to get it.

[EastMeetsWest]

68. Well, the Japanese yen was set at an artificial rate of 360 yen per dollar for a long time

from the post-war era until 1971. After 1971, the yen was allowed to float, but its value was artificially changed with the Plaza Accord of 1985, when it went from around 220 yen per dollar, to 160 yen per dollar, in just a few months. And the '90s were really difficult for Japanese companies, as the yen went from around 80 yen per dollar in 1994 or so, to 143 per dolllar in 1998.

[Irish_Dem]

70. Yes that is right, it was 360 yen to the dollar when I was there.

Yes I know the Japanese economy had some difficult times in the 90's.
I had a Japanese neighbor here in the US at that time and she talked about the hard times in Japan.

[EastMeetsWest]

73. At one time, I had an ESL student who was in the Japanese shipping industry

His company had a lot of difficulties in the '90s, due to the extreme fluctuations in the USD/JPY rate.

[Irish_Dem]

78. Here in the US, the wives of Japanese professionals refused to go back to Japan.

I live in an area of the US with quite a few Japanese manufacturing/research companies.

During the rough years of the Japanese economy, the wives of the Japanese professionals refused to go back home to Japan. Life was much better here for them and I guess it was causing problems in the marriages and in the companies.

[EastMeetsWest]

79. Well, the '90s were a "boon time" for me

with my knowledge of Japanese and ability to use a Japanese word processing program I feel I was really lucky to have been given that opportunity, as no one in the US was interested in my abilities in the 1980s. But now, I'm working for an institution that has the interests of both the US and Japan in mind, and my boss is one of the most prominent scholars in his field. So I feel like, that is what Fate had in store for me

[Irish_Dem]

82. You had a unique and timely skill set. And saw opportunity and jumped on it.

Good for you. I am so glad it worked out for you.

[EastMeetsWest]

80. I can understand that

Things were a lot different in the 1980s and 1990s.

[Irish_Dem]

83. I heard too that the Japanese women felt they had more opportunities

here for them.

[EastMeetsWest]

84. Yeah, that was probably true in the '80s and '90s

Things have changed since then

[EastMeetsWest]

81. Yeah, the 1990s were very hard times for the Japanese to adapt to

Not only for the exchange rates, but also for other things, like interest on savings accounts (which went to virtually ZERO).

[EastMeetsWest]

69. In 1972, I might have been glad to get 25c/hour for a job

Last edited Tue Jan 18, 2022, 05:58 PM - Edit history (1)

I had a paper route-- 2 hours work, for 6 days a week (no Saturday paper), for around $50/month. Big money for a kid

[Irish_Dem]

71. Ha.... the good old days....

[EastMeetsWest]

72. Yeah, the good old days

$50 was BIG MONEY to me back then. I remember the first time I got a $50 bill-- that was 1973. I was SOOOO happy! I blew half of that on a GE cassette recorder/player! I still have some old cassette tapes from back then References to President Nixon!

[YoshidaYui]

32. hajimemashite!! dozo Yoroshiku!! Yui desu!

Last edited Mon Jan 10, 2022, 03:14 AM - Edit history (1)

NICE to have a new connection to Japan. I am half Japanese ..the other half is Hawaiian native. and my parents are from Hawaii but I was born in California. I HOPE you will visit the ASIAN group... I am one of the mods there.. and post a lot of music especially Japanese.
Here is a link; https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1250

by the way, my ancestors came from Miyazaki, Japan and of course Hawaii.. (well the entire Pacific ocean actually since I am part Polynesian)

I hope you enjoy your stay here at DU...I been here a number of years and Enjoy it!!

Mata ne!

[EastMeetsWest]

35. Wow! That's interesting!面白い！

One of the first places i visited in Japan was in Miyazaki! I had a friend in Miyakonojo who let me stay at her rental house. Ah, that brings back memories!

日本に初めて来た時に、都城市に行きました！友達の貸し家で一泊した。なつかしい〜い〜い

I'll have to visit the Asian group. I'm not so much into contemporary J-pop, I kind of lost interest in it a couple of decades ago. But I'll take a look.

アジアグループを見なければならないだろうね。現代のJ-popに興味があまりないけどね。９０年代に興味が段々なくなった。でも、アジアグループの様子を一応、見に行きます。

[Irish_Dem]

47. I was living in Japan when JFK was killed. The Japanese people were very kind.

Another memory to share about the Japanese people. We were stationed in Japan in the early 1960's. My father was career Air Force. We lived off base due to a housing shortage. No American TV, no telephone. We were isolated.

We bought food from the Japanese and one of the women who sold us eggs came to our house and told us our president had been shot. She was upset and wanted us to know what was happening. She was very kind, had tears in her eyes as she told us. The other Japanese with whom we interacted with were all kind and understood what we were going through.

We immediately turned on our TV which was only Japanese language, but we could see the pictures and video about the assassination. Being so far away from the US at the time of a national tragedy was very hard, we felt isolated and disconnected. But the kindness and understanding of the Japanese people at the time was really comforting, I remember that even as a child.

[EastMeetsWest]

59. My late boss told me of the time when his family was the first in his neighborhood

to get a TV. So, his family always had a lot of neighbors over to watch the "new contraption". When the first satellite transmission was available on Japanese TV, everyone in his neighborhood was at his house to watch it. As it turned out, the first satellite transmission of a TV signal from the US to Japan was about the assassination of President Kennedy, November 22, 1963.

[Irish_Dem]

61. Thank you for this. You answered some questions I had.

I always wondered how the Japanese woman who came to our house knew of the assassination so quickly. And when we turned on our TV set we could see the pictures of the assassination right away.

In the turmoil at the time no-one asked these questions but I was curious about it.

[EastMeetsWest]

62. Just thinking about it, 60+ years later,

still brings tears to my eyes. And now my boss has been gone for more than 10 years. His father was in the Philippines and was held as a war criminal for 3 years until GHQ decided he was not a war criminal. My boss was born around 9 months after his father was released by GHQ and was allowed to return to Japan

[Irish_Dem]

65. Yes I can still remember how sad and shocking it was to learn of JFK's death.

Post war Asia was very grim. The war had devastated the land and the people. And the US occupied much of the territories. That post war atmosphere was still pervasive in the early 1960s.

I am glad your friend's dad made it back home. Yes the baby boomers. So many children were born when the men of the world came back home after the war.

[EastMeetsWest]

67. Oh, my gosh

My boss's father made it to 2003 or so. My boss died in 2010. It was so sad, he was such a wonderful person. I still keep in touch with his widow.

[EastMeetsWest]

74. You can watch part of it on NHK's archive

https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/tv60bin/detail/index.cgi?das_id=D0009030052_00000

OMG, the references to President Kennedy...

...just bring tears to my eyes

[Irish_Dem]

75. Yes that is what we saw. Everything a bit fuzzy and in Japanese.

Yes so sad as I watch it.

Thank you for posting this.

[EastMeetsWest]

87. Indeed, so sad

It always brings tears to my eyes to think of what not just the US, but the world, lost on November 22, 1963 I was just a little kid back then, I really didn't know what was going on. I was old enough to know that something very bad had happened, based on the reactions of the adults around me, but I didn't know exactly what

[Irish_Dem]

90. Yes the adult reaction is one thing I remember, too.

I was 11 years old so I know what it meant, at least that the president had been killed. I had no idea the impact on the world for generations to come, etc.

But the adult reaction around me was shocking to me. Parents, teachers, priest, neighbors, all crying or very upset. Military families overseas back then were tough little groups, isolated, by ourselves. So it was of note to see the group show emotion like this.

I also remember some of the military men, our dads, were quite angry that this had been allowed to happen. These were men flying dangerous combat missions into Viet Nam every week, told that they were keeping America safe. And back home those in charge weren't even keeping the president safe.

My dad was first generation Irish and had been raised in Boston, always reading and knowing about the Kennedys. So the assassination was hard on him.

[EastMeetsWest]

91. Wow! That is so interesting!

My mom told me that her first vote for President was for Eisenhower, but her second vote was for Kennedy

[Irish_Dem]

93. Before we went to Japan, I was in Catholic schools and the nuns loved Kennedy.

We were still in the US when Kennedy ran for president. The Catholic nuns and teachers were all agog over JFK.

[EastMeetsWest]

94. I'm not quite that mature

My only memories of President Kennedy were about his assassination and subsequent funeral I remember John-John, and Carolyn. And Carolyn was Ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration. I wish she was still the ambassador. Now we have Rahm Emmanuel. Meh.

[niyad]

49. Welcome to our DU family, a very international one. May you truly find your home here,

as so many of us have.

[EastMeetsWest]

76. Thank you

ありがとうございます！

[Akoto]

92. I'm half Japanese. Got a friend in me! :)