Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq Hostages
Grok Headline matches for Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq Hostages
Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages (Reuters)
Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages (Reuters)
04/09/2004 11:47 PMReuters - A senior Japanese official headed
emergency meetings in Amman on Saturday to coordinate efforts
to rescue three nationals kidnapped in Iraq, officials said.
Whereabouts of Japan Hostages
Unconfirmed-Envoy
Whereabouts of Japan Hostages
Unconfirmed-Envoy
04/11/2004 06:50 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 10:50AM GMT
US envoy seeks new UN Iraq role
US envoy seeks new UN Iraq role
01/19/2004 12:37 AMThe US administrator in Iraq will try to bring the UN back to Iraq, a
day after a car bomb killed at least 20.
U.N. Envoy Seeks New Iraq Council by
Close of May
U.N. Envoy Seeks New Iraq Council by
Close of May
04/28/2004 12:17 AMThe caretaker government to assume sovereignty on June 30 should be
selected a month beforehand, Lakhdar Brahimi said.
Japan PM Seen Buoyed After Iraq Hostages
Freed
Japan PM Seen Buoyed After Iraq Hostages
Freed
04/18/2004 04:40 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 18 2004 7:48AM GMT
Japan PM Gets Boost, Iraq Hostages
Return
Japan PM Gets Boost, Iraq Hostages
Return
04/18/2004 07:08 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 18 2004 10:43AM GMT
Japan unsure of safety of hostages in
Iraq
Japan unsure of safety of hostages in
Iraq
04/12/2004 08:39 AMReaction of Japan to the Japanese
Hostages in Iraq
Reaction of Japan to the Japanese
Hostages in Iraq
04/30/2004 03:22 AMSeveral people have asked me to comment on an article in the NYT about the reaction of to the Japanese
people to the three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq. The article
describes how everyone including the politicians in Japan are angry at
the hostages for causing trouble to the Japanese government and being
irresponsible.
There are many conflicting reports about whether they were reckless
or not and what their motives were so I won't comment on that. I also
don't feel strongly personally on this issue so I'm not going to make
a judgmental point either. What I would like to describe is a bit more
background on how Japanese think about responsibility and
apologies.
I think one of the things that made many Japanese I know upset were
the parents of the hostages making public statements about how the
government should help get the hostages back without apologizing first
about causing trouble for the government. Even if they didn't believe
it, it would be proper Japanese etiquette to say this first. It's
quite cliche, but it's true that if you get into an automobile
accident in Japan, even if you think it's probably the other person's
fault, you apologize first. Japanese are warned not to do this in the
US because apologizes imply responsibility. In many cases, apologies
in Japan are a formality and skipping them is rather rude. I think
many people thought these parents were "rude" on a national scale.
Another example of a throw-away apology is that when you ask for a
waiter in a restaurant, you say, "I'm sorry... or excuse me." We often
apologize profusely when in doubt or are requesting any kind of
favor.
An important psychological element is that even though we are
individuals, we often represent the group. I have something like 16 or
so generations before me on my gravestone and I often feel like a mere
blip in the history of my family. Taking risk or tainting my family
name is not something that I can freely do without feeling the guilt
and responsibility to my ancestors.
It's also interesting to note that most Japanese children's
cartoons have story lines where they are a team. Often one of the
members get in trouble or drop out of the group and the whole show is
about how the group tries to help the drop out get back in tune with
the group. It's usually the group saving the single "problem" member.
On the other hand, many American cartoons are super-heros who are
independent and save the world through taking risk and being
different. I know I'm generalizing here, but people who watch a lot of
Japanese TV will understand what I'm saying I think.
I once talked to one of the directors of the Sumo Wrestling
association. She said she always had a great deal of difficulty
explaining one of the core principles of Sumo to foreigners. Sumo
wrestlers are not supposed to show anguish when they lose or happiness
when they win. They are to be emotionless and stoic. "Like a rooster
carved out of wood," she said. This is a very central theme to many of
Japanese aesthetics. This Japanese stoicism is central to much of the
Japanese lack of sympathy to heroics, I think.
Although I understand what the NYT article is saying and I don't
necessarily agree with the way the hostages are being treated and
picked on right now, I think that lack of initial apologies and the
feeling of Japanese to heroics in Japan is behind the reaction. Having
said that, I think this attitude is what is hampering Japan's
entrepreneurism as well as Japan's ability to participate as a leader
in global affairs. It's a fairly deeply rooted cultural theme that
won't change very easily though.
As usual, I'm happy to hear dissenting opinions.
Japan PM Firm on Iraq Despite New
Hostages Report
Japan PM Firm on Iraq Despite New
Hostages Report
04/15/2004 01:10 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 15 2004 5:07AM GMT
Japan Awaits Release of 3 Iraq Hostages
(AP)
Japan Awaits Release of 3 Iraq Hostages
(AP)
04/11/2004 11:42 PMAP - Japan waited anxiously Monday for the release of three Japanese
civilians taken hostage in Iraq, as the government struggled to
determine whether they were safe and if armed captors planned to set
them free as promised.
Japan Hostages Said Safe in Iraq,
Relatives Anxious
Japan Hostages Said Safe in Iraq,
Relatives Anxious
04/11/2004 04:18 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 7:50AM GMT
Negotiator Tells Japan Hostages Safe in
Iraq-Kyodo
Negotiator Tells Japan Hostages Safe in
Iraq-Kyodo
04/11/2004 03:51 PMReuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 7:39PM GMT
Sent to Rescue Shiite Hostages, Iraqi
Troops Find None
Sent to Rescue Shiite Hostages, Iraqi
Troops Find None
04/17/2005 03:10 PMThe three Iraqi Army battalions sent to the town of Madaen found no
armed Sunni mobs, no cowering Shiite victims.
Saudis Rescue Hostages in Khobar, Arrest
Militants
Saudis Rescue Hostages in Khobar, Arrest
Militants
05/30/2004 04:38 AMReuters via Wired News May 30 2004 7:55AM GMT
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi commandos
rescue hostages
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Saudi commandos
rescue hostages
05/31/2004 01:02 AM"The nine had their throats cut by the kidnappers when they tried
to escape at night by the stairs," .. Saudi commandos stormed the
luxury compound .. the real world .. From the
Beeb
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3761263.stm
track this
site | 4 links
Japan Hostage Whereabouts
Unconfirmed-Envoy
Japan Hostage Whereabouts
Unconfirmed-Envoy
04/11/2004 06:50 AMReuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 10:50AM GMT
Mitsubishi seeks new rescue plan
Mitsubishi seeks new rescue plan
04/30/2004 02:11 AMThe car firm meets angry shareholders to talk about its heavy losses
and debts, after being left in the lurch by DaimlerChrysler.
Cheney Vows U.S. Aid for Japan Hostages
(AP)
Cheney Vows U.S. Aid for Japan Hostages
(AP)
04/12/2004 11:16 PMAP - Vice President Dick Cheney thanked Japan's prime minister Monday
for not giving in to Iraqi insurgents and kidnappers who are demanding
withdrawal of Japanese troops in exchange for the release of Japanese
hostages. He condemned "sudden random strikes" against innocent
civilians in Iraq.
Japan hostages home after ordeal
Japan hostages home after ordeal
04/18/2004 11:02 AMThree Japanese hostages arrive home as Pope John Paul II urges
kidnappers in Iraq to free their captives.
NASA seeks Hubble robot rescue input
NASA seeks Hubble robot rescue input
06/02/2004 12:06 PMSuggestions on a postcard by 16 July
Japan Issues Video Demanding Release of
Hostages
Japan Issues Video Demanding Release of
Hostages
04/10/2004 12:38 PMReuters via Wired News Apr 10 2004 4:43PM GMT
Envoy: Iraq Scientist Doesn't Want PM
Job (AP)
Envoy: Iraq Scientist Doesn't Want PM
Job (AP)
05/26/2004 04:30 PMAP - With only a few days left, the U.N.-led hunt for candidates to
fill the 30 posts in a new interim Iraqi government heated up
Wednesday, but a nuclear scientist who had been jailed by Saddam
Hussein took himself out of the competition for the top job of prime
minister.
U.N. Envoy Sides With U.S. on Iraq Vote
(AP)
U.N. Envoy Sides With U.S. on Iraq Vote
(AP)
02/13/2004 07:57 PMAP - A U.N. official sided with the United States in its dispute with
Iraq's powerful Shiite Muslim clergy over elections, saying Friday it
would be hard to organize a vote before the June 30 deadline to hand
power to the Iraqis.
UN envoy defends Iraq government
UN envoy defends Iraq government
06/02/2004 07:08 AMIraq's new government faces a tough task, the UN envoy says, as
Security Council members debate its future.
"Diplomats: Pakistani may be envoy to
Iraq"
"Diplomats: Pakistani may be envoy to
Iraq"
07/09/2004 02:51 PMEgyptian envoy abducted in Iraq
Egyptian envoy abducted in Iraq
07/23/2004 02:33 PMGunmen in Baghdad have kidnapped an Egyptian diplomat, the country's
embassy says.
Envoy: Iraq Security Key to Elections
(AP)
Envoy: Iraq Security Key to Elections
(AP)
04/14/2004 10:26 AMAP - Security in Iraq must improve "considerably" before elections now
slated for Jan. 31 can be held, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said
Wednesday.
Annan names new UN envoy to Iraq
Annan names new UN envoy to Iraq
07/12/2004 03:39 PMThe UN secretary general has chosen Pakistan's ambassador to the US to
be the new UN envoy in Iraq.
Iraq Envoy Expects Better Ties With Iran
(AP)
Iraq Envoy Expects Better Ties With Iran
(AP)
07/19/2004 04:54 PMAP - Iraq's new government expects to have good relations with
neighboring Iran despite President Bush's branding of Iran as part of
an "axis of evil," Iraq's top diplomat in the United States said
Monday.
Iraq envoy condemns prison abuses
Iraq envoy condemns prison abuses
04/30/2004 04:52 AMPictures of Iraqi prisoners being abused by US troops are branded
"absolutely terrible" by Tony Blair's special envoy to Iraq.
Iraq envoy welcomes Baathists in
politics
Iraq envoy welcomes Baathists in
politics
06/29/2004 05:29 PMIndia sends hostage envoy to Iraq
India sends hostage envoy to Iraq
07/30/2004 10:58 PMAn Indian minister heads to Iraq to try to free three Indian hostages
whom militants threaten to kill.
Envoy 'to veto' early Iraq poll
Envoy 'to veto' early Iraq poll
02/19/2004 01:35 AMThe UN envoy to Iraq is expected to recommend against early elections
in Iraq, diplomats say.
U.N. Envoy Warns U.S. 'Tread Carefully'
in Iraq
U.N. Envoy Warns U.S. 'Tread Carefully'
in Iraq
04/25/2004 05:53 PMThe United Nations' special envoy to Iraq strongly warned the United
States today against using military force in Falluja or Najaf.
U.S. Iraq Envoy Bremer Contradicts Blair
on WMD
U.S. Iraq Envoy Bremer Contradicts Blair
on WMD
12/28/2003 11:25 AMReuters via Wired News Dec 28 2003 9:38AM ET
Bush Picks His U.N. Envoy to Be
Ambassador to a New Iraq
Bush Picks His U.N. Envoy to Be
Ambassador to a New Iraq
04/19/2004 04:36 PMIf confirmed, John D. Negroponte would become ambassador once
sovereignty is turned over to Iraqis on June 30.
Lord Hurd calls for UK Iraq envoy
Lord Hurd calls for UK Iraq envoy
04/10/2004 05:01 AMA British politician should go to Iraq to ensure the UK is involved in
decision-making, the former Foreign Secretary says.
Iraq militants free Egypt envoy
Iraq militants free Egypt envoy
07/26/2004 04:01 PMMilitants in Iraq free an Egyptian diplomat who was abducted on Friday
after leaving a Baghdad mosque.
Saudi Envoy: Iraq War Was 'Colonial' and
About Oil (Reuters)
Saudi Envoy: Iraq War Was 'Colonial' and
About Oil (Reuters)
05/24/2004 07:52 AMReuters - The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was a
colonial war and there were some in the United States who saw
it as a means of getting their hands on Iraqi oil, a senior
Saudi ambassador was quoted as saying Monday.
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Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq Hostages
