Japan Awaits Release of 3 Iraq Hostages (AP)

Grok Headline matches for Japan Awaits Release of 3 Iraq Hostages (AP)

Japan Issues Video Demanding Release of
Hostages

Japan Issues Video Demanding Release of
Hostages 04/10/2004 12:38 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 10 2004 4:43PM GMT

Japan unsure of safety of hostages in
Iraq

Japan unsure of safety of hostages in
Iraq 04/12/2004 08:39 AM

Japan PM Firm on Iraq Despite New
Hostages Report

Japan PM Firm on Iraq Despite New
Hostages Report 04/15/2004 01:10 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 15 2004 5:07AM GMT

Japan PM Gets Boost, Iraq Hostages
Return

Japan PM Gets Boost, Iraq Hostages
Return 04/18/2004 07:08 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 18 2004 10:43AM 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.

Japan PM Seen Buoyed After Iraq Hostages
Freed

Japan PM Seen Buoyed After Iraq Hostages
Freed 04/18/2004 04:40 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 18 2004 7:48AM GMT

Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages

Japan Envoy Seeks Rescue of Iraq
Hostages 04/10/2004 01:01 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 10 2004 4:43AM GMT

Japan Hostages Said Safe in Iraq,
Relatives Anxious

Japan Hostages Said Safe in Iraq,
Relatives Anxious 04/11/2004 04:18 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 7:50AM GMT

Iraq Working for Release of Hostages
(AP)

Iraq Working for Release of Hostages
(AP) 09/19/2004 09:52 AM
AP - Three Lebanese men and their Iraqi driver have been kidnapped in Iraq, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Sunday, as Iraq's prime minister said his government was working for the release of two Americans and a Briton also being held hostage.

Insurgents in Iraq release 12 hostages

Insurgents in Iraq release 12 hostages 04/12/2004 02:03 PM

Negotiator Tells Japan Hostages Safe in
Iraq-Kyodo

Negotiator Tells Japan Hostages Safe in
Iraq-Kyodo 04/11/2004 03:51 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 7:39PM GMT

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.

Hopes Raised for Release of Seven
Hostages in Iraq

Hopes Raised for Release of Seven
Hostages in Iraq 07/25/2004 03:53 PM
Reuters via Wired News Jul 25 2004 7:39PM GMT

Japan Minister Appeals for Iraq Hostage
Release

Japan Minister Appeals for Iraq Hostage
Release 04/10/2004 12:38 PM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 10 2004 4:43PM GMT

Japan Welcomes Iraq Hostage Release,
Debate Goes On (Reuters)

Japan Welcomes Iraq Hostage Release,
Debate Goes On (Reuters) 04/15/2004 10:15 PM
Reuters - Japan rejoiced on Friday at the release of three Japanese civilians held hostage in Iraq, but the fate of two others remained unclear and debate over Tokyo's military mission in the increasingly violent country raged on.

TV job awaits child-killer's release
(USATODAY.com)

TV job awaits child-killer's release
(USATODAY.com) 06/16/2004 05:26 AM
USATODAY.com - The story is shocking, still. A 6-year-old girl, killed by blows delivered by the man who raised her. The man's girlfriend, herself a victim of his abuse, testifying that the couple smoked cocaine while the child lay unconscious on a bathroom floor.

Cheney Vows U.S. Aid for Japan Hostages
(AP)

Cheney Vows U.S. Aid for Japan Hostages
(AP) 04/12/2004 11:16 PM
AP - 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 AM
Three Japanese hostages arrive home as Pope John Paul II urges kidnappers in Iraq to free their captives.

Whereabouts of Japan Hostages
Unconfirmed-Envoy

Whereabouts of Japan Hostages
Unconfirmed-Envoy 04/11/2004 06:50 AM
Reuters via Wired News Apr 11 2004 10:50AM GMT

Militants Release 26 Hostages in Russia
(AP)

Militants Release 26 Hostages in Russia
(AP) 09/02/2004 08:54 PM
AP - Camouflage-clad commandos carried crying babies away from a school where gunmen holding hundreds of hostages freed at least 26 women and children Thursday during a second day of high drama that kept crowds of distraught relatives on edge.

Militants Release 7 Hostages Unharmed

Militants Release 7 Hostages Unharmed 09/02/2004 12:40 AM
Free Internet Press Sep 2 2004 4:26AM GMT

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.

Palestinian Gunmen Release Two French
Hostages in Gaza (Reuters)

Palestinian Gunmen Release Two French
Hostages in Gaza (Reuters) 07/16/2004 05:09 PM
Reuters - Palestinian militants released two French hostages after kidnapping four French civilians in Gaza in a bid to demand Palestinian President Yasser Arafat make reforms to his government, Palestinian witnesses said.

Seven new hostages seized in Iraq

Seven new hostages seized in Iraq 04/12/2004 03:44 AM
Insurgents kidnap a group of Chinese on the road to Baghdad as a fragile ceasefire holds in Falluja.

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 Turkish Hostages Freed in Iraq (AP)

Two Turkish Hostages Freed in Iraq (AP) 07/02/2004 05:10 AM
AP - Iraqi insurgents on Friday freed two Turkish hostages whose company had reportedly promised to stop working with the U.S. miltary in Iraq to with their release.

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.

Hostages Face Death in Iraq

Hostages Face Death in Iraq 09/19/2004 07:33 PM
Reuters via Wired News Sep 19 2004 10:38PM GMT

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.

12 Nepalese Hostages Said Slain in Iraq
(AP)

12 Nepalese Hostages Said Slain in Iraq
(AP) 08/31/2004 09:00 PM
AP - A gruesome video posted on a Web site purported to show militants beheading a Nepalese worker and shooting 11 others in the first mass slaying of foreign hostages during the Iraqi insurgency.

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.

Emergency talks on Iraq hostages

Emergency talks on Iraq hostages 08/29/2004 03:50 AM
The French prime minister calls a crisis meeting to discuss the kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq.

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

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

Russian hostages released in Iraq

Russian hostages released in Iraq 05/17/2004 08:56 AM
Two Russian hostages captured in Iraq earlier this month have been released in Baghdad.

Italians to March to Aid Iraq Hostages
(AP)

Italians to March to Aid Iraq Hostages
(AP) 04/29/2004 10:40 AM
AP - Hundreds of people from across Italy gathered Thursday for a peace march demanded by kidnappers of three Italians in Iraq.

Wait Goes on for French Hostages in Iraq

Wait Goes on for French Hostages in Iraq 09/04/2004 06:22 AM
Reuters via Wired News Sep 4 2004 10:37AM GMT

Three Japanese hostages in Iraq freed

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

Chinese hostages in Iraq 'freed'

Chinese hostages in Iraq 'freed' 04/12/2004 03:28 PM
Seven Chinese men seized in Falluja on Sunday have been freed, says China's official Xinhua news agency.
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Japan Awaits Release of 3 Iraq Hostages (AP)

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