Aljazeera.Net - Iraqi group to free Japanese hostages

Grok Headline matches for Aljazeera.Net - Iraqi group to free Japanese hostages

Aljazeera.Net - Purported Iraqi group
executes US soldier

Aljazeera.Net - Purported Iraqi group
executes US soldier 06/29/2004 05:19 PM
Al Jazeera .. depressing

english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4E4D8BDF-ED99-40F1-8C9C-E 98BAFC543C6.htm
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Iraqi man claims Japanese hostages will
be executed one by one from later
tonight

Iraqi man claims Japanese hostages will
be executed one by one from later
tonight 04/12/2004 06:12 AM

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

An Iraqi man claiming to have spoken to the kidnappers says the hostages will be executed one by one from later tonight if the demands are not met.

Via The Command Post

Iraqi Militants Are Today Threatening To
Burn Three Japanese Hostages To Death
Unless Their Country Quits The US-Led
Coalition

Iraqi Militants Are Today Threatening To
Burn Three Japanese Hostages To Death
Unless Their Country Quits The US-Led
Coalition 04/09/2004 04:08 PM
hostage-taking and threats .. is our cultural betters .. threatened .. ThisLondon

thisislondon.com/til/jsp/modules/Article/print.jsp?itemId =10169441
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French Hostages Handed Over to Iraqi
Group (Reuters)

French Hostages Handed Over to Iraqi
Group (Reuters) 09/02/2004 03:24 PM
Reuters - The editor of the French newspaper Le Figaro said Thursday that Islamic militants had handed over two French journalists to an Iraqi group that has said it was in favor of releasing them.

Iraqi Gunmen Free Four Jordanian
Hostages (AP)

Iraqi Gunmen Free Four Jordanian
Hostages (AP) 08/04/2004 08:39 PM
AP - In an extraordinary assault, gunmen in the city of Fallujah stormed a kidnappers' lair and forced the overmatched militants inside to flee, freeing four Jordanian truck drivers held captive, local officials said Wednesday.

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

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.

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.

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

Japanese hostages 'freed'

Japanese hostages 'freed' 04/15/2004 07:34 AM
Three Japanese civilians taken hostage in Iraq last week are reported to have been freed unharmed.

Japanese hostages 'to be freed'

Japanese hostages 'to be freed' 04/10/2004 08:31 PM

Japan ese hostages 'to be freed' - BBCi

Iraqi group to free Japanese hostages - Aljazeera

The Japanese hostages in Iraq are supposed to be freed in a few hours. I'm watching the TV news for more information now.

Three Japanese hostages in Iraq freed

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

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.

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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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

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

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
(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.

Japanese ex-hostages billed $21,000 for
travel expenses

Japanese ex-hostages billed $21,000 for
travel expenses 04/26/2004 02:24 PM

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

Chilly reception for freed Japanese
hostages

Chilly reception for freed Japanese
hostages 04/23/2004 04:24 PM

For Japanese Hostages, Release Only Adds
to Stress

For Japanese Hostages, Release Only Adds
to Stress 04/22/2004 08:10 PM
The young Japanese taken hostage in Iraq returned home this week, not to the warmth of a yellow ribbon embrace but to a disapproving nation's cold stare.

Three Japanese Hostages Freed, Safe But
Shaken

Three Japanese Hostages Freed, Safe But
Shaken 04/15/2004 10:14 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 15 2004 1:46PM 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

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

More Hostages Held in Iraq, Deadline for
Japanese (Reuters) 04/10/2004 12:48 PM
Reuters - More foreigners were reported missing or seized as hostages in Iraq Saturday after a spate of kidnappings, which included three Japanese civilians under threat of being killed Sunday.

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

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.

Iraqi PM urges calm over hostages

Iraqi PM urges calm over hostages 04/17/2005 02:48 PM
Iraq's PM urges calm as troops fight to free Shia hostages believed held in the town of Madain.

'No hostages found' in Iraqi town

'No hostages found' in Iraqi town 04/18/2005 03:57 AM
Iraqi forces say they can find no hostages in the town where Sunnis had reportedly taken scores of Shia captive.

Iraqi Insurgents Report Grabbing 6 More
Hostages

Iraqi Insurgents Report Grabbing 6 More
Hostages 07/21/2004 09:52 PM
Insurgents threatened to behead one foreign hostage every 72 hours unless their employer shut down operations in Iraq.

3 Turkish Hostages Released From Iraqi
Captivity

3 Turkish Hostages Released From Iraqi
Captivity 06/29/2004 05:40 AM
The hostages, held by an Al Qaeda-linked militant group in Iraq, were freed in response to Muslims who demonstrated against President Bush at the NATO summit.

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

Group Threatens to Behead 6 New Hostages
(AP)

Group Threatens to Behead 6 New Hostages
(AP) 07/21/2004 07:59 PM
AP - Militants took six foreign truck drivers hostage and threatened Wednesday to behead them unless their company ends its business in Iraq, and their countries — India, Egypt and Kenya — pull all their citizens out.

Group threatens to kill hostages

Group threatens to kill hostages 09/18/2004 05:39 AM
Arab TV channel al-Jazeera shows footage of what it says are three Western hostages kidnapped this week.

Editor: Hostages in Iraq Given to Group
(AP)

Editor: Hostages in Iraq Given to Group
(AP) 09/02/2004 08:54 PM
AP - A Paris newspaper editor said there had been positive movement in the effort to free two captive French journalists Thursday, while a separate militant group in Iraq said it had killed three Turkish captives.

Iraq Group Says Releases Eight Hostages
- TV

Iraq Group Says Releases Eight Hostages
- TV 04/11/2004 03:51 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 7:39PM GMT

Iraqi Militants Say Kill Three Turkish
Hostages (Reuters)

Iraqi Militants Say Kill Three Turkish
Hostages (Reuters) 09/02/2004 08:02 AM
Reuters - Iraqi militants said Thursday they had killed three Turkish captives, as France pressed on with diplomatic efforts to win the release of two French journalists held hostage by another guerrilla group.
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Aljazeera.Net - Iraqi group to free Japanese hostages

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