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In Japan, Izu Definitely Not in Same Groove as Obama
Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Sunday, May 31 2009, 9:51PM
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Obama, Japan is a sleepy Japanese fishing port that went nuts for Obama -- cheering him on and dancing for him in March 2008 when "his winning steak in the U.S. presidential primaries stalled." And above, Obama village dwellers sing "O-B-A-M-A! Obama!" as a tribute to Barack.
But strangely and shockingly, in another part of Japan this past weekend, I ran into this "blackface" sign (pictured to the left) for the Savoiya Restaurant in Izu Kogen.
Blackface is considered by most to be racially derogatory and unacceptable.
I remember years ago when NPR and Fox news commentator Juan Williams visited Japan as the guest of the Hitachi Foundation to try and build better relations between Japanese and the African-American community -- in part an attempt to roll back the influence of Japanese publishing and advertising purveyors of then proliferating blackface signs and other anti-black racially charged commentary.
Izu didn't get the message.
It's just a single restaurant and Izu and its hot springs are well worth the trip.
But Barack Obama might want to stop by this spot in Izu Kogen and glare a bit at the sign before ordering a pizza there. I bet there would be quick change.
-- Steve Clemons
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Reader Comments (6) - post a comment
Wow. Reminds me of the old "Sambos" restaraunt signs I recall seeing as a child in the fifties.
And, uh, speaking of racism.
Its interesting seeing the reaction the Israelis are giving to Obama's supposed "demand" that Israel stop settlement expansion. The "Peace Now" website pretty well shreds the absolute horseshit that Israel is handing us about "natural growth" expansion, with real stats and Israel's natural enemy; the truth. Check it out, its well worth a visit. Be sure to go to the home page as well, to get the scoop on the rest of the horseshit they're feeding us, such as the so called "settlement evacuations", some of which which are apparently P.R. ruses.
http://www.peacenow.org.il/site/en/peace.asp?pi=66&docid=3657
Its gonna be a trip seeing how Obama handles backing down, backpedaling, and succumbing to the Israeli pressure, likely to manifest itself in our own Congress. Surely Obama knows what "Peace Now" knows, so its obvious his publically aired "demands" are bullshit. Netanyahu is spitting in his face, and Obama is not reacting in a manner that implies actual conviction.
Meanwhile, Saberi returns home to a heroe's welcome, while Tristan Anderson vegetates in a foreign hospital, brutally lobotomized while engaged in peaceful protest, and abandoned and ignored by his President and Secretary of State.
Re: Important news -- what POA says...
Regarding Japan and their hot springs -- you sooo reminded me of an amazing film I saw at the Seattle Film Festival... "Hula Girls" a "Full Monty" story Japanese style...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768116/
Well worth seeing IMHO
Steve- Great idea. I hope President Obama stops and glares at
the sign. Sometimes light is the best anticeptic.
The picture is not blackface. Blackface is a white person mimicking a black person. The sign is a tacky picture of a black room service waiter.
The Japanese are xenophobic, but that's not just about blacks. They're not interested in assimilating whites, Koreans, or anybody else.
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