More Hostages Held in Iraq, Deadline for Japanese (Reuters)

Grok Headline matches for More Hostages Held in Iraq, Deadline for Japanese (Reuters)

Japanese Hostages Safe in Iraq -
Japanese Media (Reuters)

Japanese Hostages Safe in Iraq -
Japanese Media (Reuters) 04/11/2004 12:20 AM
Reuters - Three Japanese civilians kidnapped in Iraq were safe near Falluja on Sunday, Japanese TV said. Government officials could not confirm the report.

Iraq Group Gives New 48-Hr Deadline Over
Hostages (Reuters)

Iraq Group Gives New 48-Hr Deadline Over
Hostages (Reuters) 07/23/2004 01:12 PM
Reuters - A group in Iraq which has threatened to behead seven foreign hostages issued a new 48-hour deadline to their Kuwaiti employers Friday and demanded Iraqi prisoners be freed from Kuwaiti and U.S. jails, Al Jazeera television said.

Hostages in Iraq Face Death as Deadline
Nears (Reuters)

Hostages in Iraq Face Death as Deadline
Nears (Reuters) 09/20/2004 04:50 AM
Reuters - A deadline set by militants who have threatened to behead two Americans and a Briton seized in Iraq was due to expire Monday, and more than two dozen other hostages were also facing death unless rebel demands were met.

Group Holding 7 Hostages in Iraq Extends
Deadline (Reuters)

Group Holding 7 Hostages in Iraq Extends
Deadline (Reuters) 07/26/2004 03:34 AM
Reuters - A militant Islamic group holding seven foreigners hostage in Iraq said it had extended the deadline for negotiations to spare their lives and repeated a demand that their Kuwaiti employer pull out of the country.

Two Japanese Hostages Released in Iraq
(Reuters)

Two Japanese Hostages Released in Iraq
(Reuters) 04/17/2004 07:38 AM
Reuters - Two Japanese hostages were released in the Iraqi capital Saturday, saying they had been moved from house to house during their three days in captivity but had been treated fairly well.

Iraq Group Says Will Free Japanese
Before Deadline (Reuters)

Iraq Group Says Will Free Japanese
Before Deadline (Reuters) 04/10/2004 08:33 PM
Reuters - Families of three Japanese civilians kidnapped in Iraq rejoiced on Sunday at a report that they would shortly be freed, while the Japanese government scrambled to confirm the information.

Freed Japanese Hostages Arrive in Dubai
from Iraq (Reuters)

Freed Japanese Hostages Arrive in Dubai
from Iraq (Reuters) 04/16/2004 06:17 AM
Reuters - Three freed Japanese hostages arrived in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Friday from Baghdad after being released by their Iraqi captors.

Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq, Iranian
Killed (Reuters)

Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq, Iranian
Killed (Reuters) 04/15/2004 11:49 PM
Reuters - Three freed Japanese hostages were due to leave Iraq on Friday but the murders of an Iranian diplomat and an Italian captive were chilling proof of the risks foreigners face as rebels battle the U.S.-led occupation.

Japanese Hostages Safe in Iraq -
Japanese Media

Japanese Hostages Safe in Iraq -
Japanese Media 04/11/2004 06:50 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 10:50AM GMT

Iraq Group Gives New 48-Hr Deadline Over
Hostages

Iraq Group Gives New 48-Hr Deadline Over
Hostages 07/23/2004 04:49 PM
Reuters via Wired News Jul 23 2004 9:03PM GMT

Deadline threat for Iraq hostages

Deadline threat for Iraq hostages 09/19/2004 12:30 AM
Militants threaten to execute three Western hostages unless all female Iraqi prisoners are set free.

Group Holding 7 Hostages in Iraq Extends
Deadline

Group Holding 7 Hostages in Iraq Extends
Deadline 07/26/2004 03:33 AM
Reuters via Wired News Jul 26 2004 7:53AM GMT

Japanese hostages in Iraq freed

Japanese hostages in Iraq freed 04/15/2004 09:08 AM

Three Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq; Italian Captive Killed

via Al

Three Japanese hostages in Iraq freed

Three Japanese hostages in Iraq freed 04/15/2004 10:31 AM

Two More Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq
(AP)

Two More Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq
(AP) 04/17/2004 06:05 PM

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Japanese hostages freed in Iraq

Japanese hostages freed in Iraq 04/17/2004 08:39 AM
Iraqi militants free two Japanese hostages, a day after a US soldier is shown on video with armed kidnappers.

Last Two Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq
(AP)

Last Two Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq
(AP) 04/17/2004 03:36 AM
AP - Two remaining Japanese hostages in Iraq have been released, Arab TV stations reported Saturday, two days after three other Japanese were freed.

Two Japanese Hostages Released in Iraq

Two Japanese Hostages Released in Iraq 04/17/2004 10:06 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 17 2004 1:35PM GMT

France Races to Save Iraq Hostages,
Deadline Looms

France Races to Save Iraq Hostages,
Deadline Looms 08/31/2004 01:27 PM
Reuters via Wired News Aug 31 2004 5:16PM GMT

Reaction of Japan to the Japanese
Hostages in Iraq

Reaction of Japan to the Japanese
Hostages in Iraq 04/30/2004 03:22 AM

Several 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.

Japanese hostages threatened with
cannibalism in Iraq

Japanese hostages threatened with
cannibalism in Iraq 04/09/2004 03:56 PM

The Japanese news has been suppressing the more vivid videos of the hostage situation in Iraq and continue the "we are not pulling out" line. One piece of news that even the West seems to be suppressing is that the Japanese hostages are being threatened with cannibalism.

Reuters

"We tell you that three of your children have fallen prisoner in our hands and we give you two options -- withdraw your forces from our country and go home or we will burn them alive and feed them to the fighters," the group said.

Most reports are saying "killed" or "burned alive".

via The Command Post

Iraq Group Says Will Free Japanese
Before Deadline

Iraq Group Says Will Free Japanese
Before Deadline 04/10/2004 09:41 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 1:43AM GMT

Two Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq,
Falluja Calm

Two Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq,
Falluja Calm 04/17/2004 04:41 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 17 2004 7:44PM GMT

Japanese Hostages in Iraq to Be Freed
Sunday -Kyodo

Japanese Hostages in Iraq to Be Freed
Sunday -Kyodo 04/10/2004 09:41 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 1:43AM GMT

Militants Vow to Behead New Hostages in
Iraq (Reuters)

Militants Vow to Behead New Hostages in
Iraq (Reuters) 07/31/2004 03:40 PM
Reuters - Militants purportedly linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said on Saturday they had kidnapped two truck drivers in Iraq and would behead them in 48 hours unless their Turkish company quit the country.

Iraq Group Says Releases Eight Hostages
- TV (Reuters)

Iraq Group Says Releases Eight Hostages
- TV (Reuters) 04/11/2004 01:20 PM
Reuters - Eight foreign hostages held in Iraq have been released, a masked man said on a videotape aired by an Arabic television station said on Sunday.

Turkey Says Three Hostages Released in
Iraq (Reuters)

Turkey Says Three Hostages Released in
Iraq (Reuters) 06/29/2004 06:02 AM
Reuters - Turkey on Tuesday said three Turkish hostages held under threat of execution by an al Qaeda-linked militant group in Iraq had been freed.

Talks to Free Seven Hostages Start in
Iraq (Reuters)

Talks to Free Seven Hostages Start in
Iraq (Reuters) 07/31/2004 07:00 AM
Reuters - Talks began on Saturday between an Iraqi mediator and a representative of a Kuwaiti firm to try to free seven of the company's employees held hostage in Iraq, the mediator told Reuters.

Bulgaria Confirms Its Hostages in Iraq
Alive (Reuters)

Bulgaria Confirms Its Hostages in Iraq
Alive (Reuters) 07/11/2004 08:46 AM
Reuters - Bulgaria confirmed on Sunday that two Bulgarian truck drivers taken hostage in Iraq were still alive after a Friday execution deadline expired.

Four Jordanian Hostages, Two Turks Freed
in Iraq (Reuters)

Four Jordanian Hostages, Two Turks Freed
in Iraq (Reuters) 08/04/2004 06:24 AM
Reuters - Four Jordanian hostages were freed by Iraqi gunmen who raided their captors' hide-out, one of the released captives said on Wednesday, while a video from kidnappers said two Turkish hostages had also been released.

Diplomats Work to Free Six Hostages in
Iraq (Reuters)

Diplomats Work to Free Six Hostages in
Iraq (Reuters) 07/22/2004 02:41 AM
Reuters - Diplomats in Baghdad battled on Thursday to win the release of three captured Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian after their kidnappers threatened to behead them one by one unless their employer pulled out of Iraq.

Anxious France Accelerates Bid for Iraq
Hostages (Reuters)

Anxious France Accelerates Bid for Iraq
Hostages (Reuters) 08/31/2004 07:58 AM
Reuters - An anxious French government accelerated its diplomatic bid to save two French reporters held hostage in Iraq on Tuesday as a fresh kidnapper deadline neared for Paris to scrap a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.

Powell in Iraq; Hostage Deadline Looms
(Reuters)

Powell in Iraq; Hostage Deadline Looms
(Reuters) 07/30/2004 03:28 AM
Reuters - Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Baghdad for talks Friday, the most senior U.S. official to visit Iraq since Washington handed over sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government a month ago.

Iraq Militants Behead Hostage, Set New
Deadline (Reuters)

Iraq Militants Behead Hostage, Set New
Deadline (Reuters) 09/21/2004 01:17 AM
Reuters - Militants beheaded an American in Iraq and said two fellow civilian hostages would meet the same fate within 24 hours if Washington failed to accept their demands.

Kuwait Firm Assured Iraq Hostages Will
Be Freed (Reuters)

Kuwait Firm Assured Iraq Hostages Will
Be Freed (Reuters) 07/25/2004 02:14 PM
Reuters - The Kuwaiti employer of seven foreign hostages in Iraq said on Sunday they had assurances that the captives would be freed.

Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages (Reuters)

Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages (Reuters) 04/09/2004 11:47 PM
Reuters - A senior Japanese official headed emergency meetings in Amman on Saturday to coordinate efforts to rescue three nationals kidnapped in Iraq, officials said.

Militants Threaten to Kill 3 Turkish
Hostages in Iraq (Reuters)

Militants Threaten to Kill 3 Turkish
Hostages in Iraq (Reuters) 06/26/2004 10:23 PM
Reuters - Militants loyal to suspected al Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatened on Saturday to behead three Turkish hostages unless Turks stopped working with U.S.-led forces in Iraq, days before a formal transfer of power.

Iraq Council Member Hopeful Hostages
Will Be Freed (Reuters)

Iraq Council Member Hopeful Hostages
Will Be Freed (Reuters) 04/12/2004 08:51 AM
Reuters - A member of Iraq's Governing Council said on Monday that 12 hostages had been freed and he hoped all remaining hostages would be freed later in the day.

Iraq Militants Threaten to Kill
Bulgarian Hostages (Reuters)

Iraq Militants Threaten to Kill
Bulgarian Hostages (Reuters) 07/08/2004 05:34 PM
Reuters - Militants in Iraq threatened in a video tape broadcast on Thursday to kill two Bulgarian hostages within 24 hours unless U.S.-led forces freed prisoners.
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More Hostages Held in Iraq, Deadline for Japanese (Reuters)

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