Quote from kenokabe:
Hi hapaboy,
Oh, I'm from Kobe, too. I graduated Hyogo- highschol, but not sure which Hyogo public highschool you worked for. I was home at the earthquake, more precisely my girl friend's house. Good Japanese, I hope more native teachers like you were in public schools.
what is right and what is wrong? Yeah, you can ask issues from this point, too. Things are comlicated, and we only can reach at compromise point. Simply, to me, I feel it is very dangerous a powerful public person can speech Justice thing without any hesitation and the most citizen don't quesntion about it.
Regarding Koizumi, he is a prime minister after all, he acted for thier ppl sake. As you know, N.Korea sucks next to Japan, and everyone knows the power balance is secured by the US army. Basically, Japan is always chasing after the US. Personaly, I think it is ok as long as it works. A fact the world doesn't pay attention is JP goverment pay a lot for war everytime. They can't send a war-force because of the Constitution, but they do a lot in faincancially.
I sometimes in NY, sometimes in LA, but if you come visit Kobe, let me know. 
Ken
Uso! Hyogo jin desu ka? Zyaa, sore de, Kansai-ben de hanashimashyoo ka? Moo karima ka?
Kakogawa no koko de oshiemashita. Tsuma wa Sanomiya ni hatariate orimashita. Kanojyoo wa Nikkei-jin desu. Sansei da shi, Hawaii shyushin. Watashi wa hafu-desu. Haha wa Hawaii no Nissei, chichi wa St. Louis no hakujin desu. Ima Hawaii ni sundeimasu. Okabe-san wa koko ni ikeba, oshiete kudasai. Biru ippai nomu zo!
I understand that Kobe has been rebuilt and is now more beautiful than ever. You're lucky to live there. Urayamashii desu yo!
You're too kind about my Nihongo. Like any language, if you don't practice it you forget it. Your English is quite good! Doko de benkyoo o shimashita ka?
As far as powerful people speaking about justice, well, as I'm sure you know, millions of Americans don't agree with Bush and there have been many protests around the US against him and the war with Iraq.
Is Japan contributing financially to this war? I know that the last time Japan contributed a couple of billion dollars. I hadn't heard or read anything about Japan contributing money again.
I'm also curious when you say that "Japan is always chasing after the US." Do you mean that Japan is always agreeing with the US in international affairs, or do you mean that Japan tries to emulate the US culturally? Or both? My personal opinion is that Japan is undergoing fundamental changes in its culture, especially among younger people, and in the corporate world as well. Life-long employment is no longer guaranteed, and women are gaining more and more opportunities, albeit slowly. Yet, despite these changes, Japan remains very Japanese. It's just my opinion.
Is there any increase in the Japanese level of worry regarding North Korea since this war began, or is there just a general feeling of "shikata ga nai"? I would imagine the issue of the kidnapped Japanese citizens returning from North Korea would have increased the tension. Did all of them return to North Korea? I thought I heard that some stayed in Japan while others had to go back to N. Korea because of threats against their families if they didn't return. In some respects Kim Jong-Il is similar to Saddam.
By the way, how is the Orix Blue Wave doing since Ichiro left? I was lucky enough to see him play in Kobe and thought he was incredible. Matsui-sensh mo US ni kimashita ne?
Zyaa nee.
.