2003.09.03

Japan to US: 'Approve the Nuke Test Ban Treaty'   As the only people  to be nuked (not counting 1950's residents of Nevada, Utah and some Pacific atolls), the Japanese still hold the high moral ground on this issue -- at least until they start building their own nuclear weapons. 2003.09.03

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Tokyo Thunderstorm   A fast-moving thunderstorm dumped 17mm of rain within 20 minutes on the Japanese capital. Major commuter rail service during the evening rush hour has been greatly disrupted.  Things have calmed now. 2003.09.03

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Things That Go Boom (Mainichi)   You can tell when  police and prosecutors in Japan are really angry with a suspect -- that's when when they charge him with a crime even if he is dead. See earlier version of this story from Stars & Stripes below. 2003.09.03

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N. Korean Parliament OKs Nuclear Force [AP World News] 2003.09.03

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Kim Re-Elected N. Korea's Military Leader [AP World News] Reuters version here. 2003.09.03

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Koizumi's Polyp (Reuters)     While Prime Minister  Koizumi undergoes surgery to remove benign polyp from his colon we have the Finance Minister, Masauro Shiokawa, in the hospital. Not a good medical day for the Japanese Cabinet. 2003.09.03

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DPRK-Kid Gloves (Topeka Capital-Journal)   Hold the presses -- the Topeka Capital-Journal has now weighed in on the North Korean nuclear crisis. We don't agree with the conclusion of the editorial, but here it is for you to ponder. 2003.09.03

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US stands by NK policy. AFP via SpaceWar: The White House said Tuesday that it has no plans to change course on North Korea and will pursue multilateral efforts to get Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. "Our policy on North Korea remains the same, and we are pursuing a peaceful, diplomatic solution through a multilateral forum," said Scott McClellan, chief spokesman for US President George W. Bush. "Some progress was made" during six-way talks last week in Beijing, where Washington's partners "made it very clear" that they support a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula, he told reporters. [The Agonist] 2003.09.03

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Things That Go Boom (Stars & Stripes)   As we have mentioned before there is a flourishing trade by civilians and SDF members in munitions -- some of it lifted from U-S military firing ranges. No, it is not ending up in the hands of terrorists but rather Japanese hobbyists who think that there can be no greater prized possession than having a live howitzer shell on display in one's humble abode. 2003.09.03

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Pot Bust (Mainichi)   This is also a big story in today's Yomiuri. It shows you how little marijuana there actually is in Japan when this ranks as a record homegrown dope bust. For those in other countries, we should let you know the stigma of getting busted for grass in Japan would be equivalent to being nabbed for trafficking in crack cocaine in the United States. That is not to say that many young Japanese do not enjoy imbibing in Amsterdam to the point that when they return to Narita Intl. Airport the Customs dogs go beserk from the smell of their clothing. 2003.09.03

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Koizumi vs. Three Losers (Kyodo) UPDATED 22:12 JST We reiterate that the biggest threat to Koizumi comes from Kamei, who knows how to roll up his sleeves and fight dirty. And Kamei says he is definitely a candidate. 2003.09.03

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