Another brilliant idea from his brain trust.
Asahi News (Japanese)
Mainichi Daily news (English)
I’ve always wondered what tear gas tastes like…
Unfortunately, Kyoto has just finished building a geihinkan, a huge state visitor guesthouse complex inside the grounds of the old Imperial Palace Park (aerial view). Thus, it will be easy for security to keep the common folk far away. You’d probably need around 80 stout men with a really boss battering ram just to knock down the huge, wooden eastern gate to the Imperial Palace park, and that would only get you inside the first wall.
I hope they announce his sightseeing itinerary.
0 comments
lazyazian says:
Oct 19, 2005
that is really cool and big, I never imagined that japan had quests houses that big for improtant people and specially bush will alreayd feel like royalty since he is living inside the grounds of old imperial palace! lucky him!
I always wanted to own a big japanese style house! My mom and sister would dress in junihitoe while me and father and brother would be on a imperial court clothing almost everyday and we would have beautiful gardens and rooms, with servants and maids also guards. Oh well, I can only dream.
Jeffrey Friedl says:
Oct 19, 2005
My first thought was “my gosh, the traffic is bad enough alreday!”. If they do here anything like they do in The States when the US President travels, they shut down all roads, overpasses, etc., until he passes by. (Here, the everyday meiwaku-chuusha has almost the same effect)
This coming weekend is Jidai-matsuri, which means that lots of streets get shut down between the old Imperial Palace and the Heian Shrine. This includes Oike and Sanjou
(Schedule: http://regex.info/i/jidai2005.gif )
Jeffrey
Thomas says:
Oct 19, 2005
fun, I live just near the imperial palace !! Bush is coming to sign Kyoto’s protocole ???!!
Neil Fenemor says:
Oct 19, 2005
Wow, that would be amazing to say within the walls of the imperial palace…. I stopped by there on a sunday when I was over, watched a few games of softball…. but to stay there, neat :)
And as you say, I certainly wouldn’t want to be trying to knock down those doors/walls!
Jerry says:
Oct 19, 2005
Bush doesn’t deserve all that. Actually, Thomas brings up a good point; if Bush isn’t going to sign the Kyoto Protocols, then shouldn’t he go somewhere else? He’s just adding one insult on top of another.
Maybe if we disguised a copy of the Protocols as a guest book, and get him to sign it that way…
Jerry says:
Oct 19, 2005
Oh, and I have to say that my initial mistaken reading of “geihinkan” gave me more chuckles than I should have had. (“Gehin” is something coarse, common, crude, or vulgar.)
What can I say – it’s been a long, monkey-filled day.
HumanityCritic says:
Oct 20, 2005
Just passing through, cool blog by the way.
saffronsaris says:
Oct 20, 2005
The news networks only reported the cancellation of state visits by China and South Korea due to Koizumi’s visit to Yasukuni. There was no report on Bush’s visit–is it for real?
Hard to imagine cowboy boots in a Kyoto guest house.
nils says:
Oct 24, 2005
Sign ideas:
“Kyoto rejects you, too”
“Chirac was right”
“Please don’t drill for oil in Palace park”
“Worst. President. Ever.”
“Turn around. No misanthrope zone”
“War Criminal”
Theresa says:
Oct 24, 2005
Please post if you’re thinking of planning one.
He doesn’t deserve to stay in a third-rate love hotel, or heck, set foot in this city let alone stay the Imperial Palace.
More signs:
“Go home imperialist pig”
“Buck Fush” (I saw this pre-elections in Ohio)
Leonard says:
Oct 27, 2005
For those of you expats who might want to know the facts (rather than the lefty party line) the failure to ratify the Kyoto agreements rests with the U.S. Senate (dating back to the days when the Democrats ran the country) not the former nor current President. Check out http://www.energyadvocate.com/nontreat.htm
nils says:
Oct 28, 2005
Lefty? I come from Orange County, Calif. (aka “Reagan Country”) and I’ve voted for several Republicans. My objections to Bush have nothing to do with party, and the Kyoto Protocol, which is just a good faith and good will first step anyway, is hardly at the top of the list.
Anyway, the way you characterize it is odd, since the Kyoto Protocol never reached the Senate. If you remember the 1996 elections, Republicans picked up a lot of seats to gain a 10-seat advantage in the Senate. Although Clinton favored Kyoto and had Gore sign it, he knew he couldn’t get it passed and wastrying to get it revised to a doable form until the end of his term.
It wasn’t dead in the U.S. until Bush came in and said it was. Bush rejected Kyoto. He could still bring it back today, it wasn’t over and done with during the Clinton admin. That’s why I wrote what I did. Kyoto Protocol (Wikipedia )
Merry Fitzmas!
kyo.thomas says:
Nov 4, 2005
So, are folks gonna be demonstrating or not? If so, I am so there.
Ron says:
Nov 5, 2005
Anyone wishing to get involved in protesting Bush’s visit, there are people now actively planning, getting police permits, etc. for the afternoon of Tuesday, 11/15, some members of Democrats Abroad Japan, many not.
Everyone is welcome, of course, and the protest as far as I know will not be under the name of Dems Abroad Japan, though they may have a banner. One or more Japanese groups will also be protesting later in Maruyama Park around 6 PM, and I’m sure all are welcome to that as well.
For more details, contact either or both these people below. They’re really eager to get more people involved, with ideas for signs, places to stand/march, ideas for performance art, etc.
Jenise Treuting — jenise_treuting AT yahoo.co.jp
Linda Crawford — crawford AT kta.att.ne.jp
kyo.thomas says:
Nov 7, 2005
Thanks for the info, Ron. Any news about actions on the 16th? I’ll be in Kobe the 15th and so can’t attend then, alas.
Dave says:
Nov 7, 2005
Another sign idea:
Our Dear Leader!!!
Ron says:
Nov 8, 2005
kyo.thomas and others… some (long) updates below on different actions being planned… Sorry everyone for the length. It seems important to get the word out.
Note that Japanese sponsors of the events at the end are apparently having some difficulties coming to a final agreement with the police, so time, location and route are extremely subject to change. The police are evidently being very wary after the media’s unfair focus on the violent anti-Bush rioting in Argentina (as if the Japanese police aren’t already wary about things…).
Two messages here. The first one (from yesterday, Nov. 7) is the latest message I got from friends involved in organizing one event (afternoon of 11/15). The second, also sent to me Nov. 7, is a few more details about the Japanese protests on both 11/15 and 11/16.
A (long) note to everyone who has expressed interest in protesting Bush’s visit on Nov. 15th up to date. We are planning to protest as a small group in the afternoon of the 15th and then those of us who choose to will join the larger Japanese sponsored demonstration at 6:30pm leaving from Maruyama Koen. (The Japanese groups are apparently having a difficult time coming to an agreement with the police so time and location will not be finalized until the 9th or so.)
It was impossible to get a permit for us to protest anywhere near the Imperial Palace, where Bush will be staying, so I settled for the best location the police would allow. As it stands now, the permit will be for:
a smallish group to demonstrate at the intersection of Shijo and Kawaramachi (in front of Takashimaya department store) from 3-5pm
I will push for more time (2-5pm or so) when I go back on the 9th.
Since we’ll be appealing to the Japanese public, as well as the Japanese and international media, we would like to have prepared placards in addition to any of their own signs people would like to make. My sense is that the prepared placards should say something fairly broad, straightforward and easy to translate into Japanese – while handmade signs could be much more personal and creative. Possibilities for the placards include:
“War is not the answer”
“No illegal war and occupation!”
“Kyoto rejects you, too”
Any other suggestions? Linda [Crawford] has generously offered to get the needed supplies. If people are interested and able, we could meet at 11 or 12 at my house on the morning of the 15th to make signs and placards before heading to Shijo-Kawaramachi. I live in northern Kyoto close to Hachimanmae station on the Eizan Densha (Eiden) line (20 minutes north of Keihan Demachiyanagi station). It’s a bit far, but fairly easy to get to by train. Neither Linda nor I have actually made placards before (have carried many, but…), so if you have any expertise in making them, please let Linda Crawford know (crawford@kta.att.ne.jp).
Please let me (jenise_treuting@yahoo.co.jp) know if you are still planning to join us in the afternoon, if you’ll be bringing any friends (the police want as close to accurate a headcount as possible), any preferences or suggestions regarding placard slogan, and whether you’d like to help make signs or meet later close to Shijo-Kawaramachi.
I will send finalized details for all the protests when I have them, probably at the end of the week.
Thank you all for your willingness to get out on the street.
Bush and Koizumi Meet to Step Up Cooperation in Iraq and Okinawa!
No to US-Japan summit talk!
============================
Protest in Kyoto November 15-16
============================
* Do not allow our leaders to further strengthen the Japanese-U.S. military alliance!
* Stop construction new U.S. base in Henoko, Okinawa!
* Oppose the illegal invasion, war and occupation of Iraq! U.S. army and SDF forces OUT OF IRAQ!
* Oppose the November APEC summit in Busan, South Korea and the December WTO meeting in Hong Kong, which will only further war and poverty!
* People around the world come together to oppose war and neo-liberalism!
Guest speakers:
- Native Taiwanese plaintiffs in lawsuit opposing Prime Minister Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visits
- Committee Against Construction of U.S. Military Base in Henoko
Date: November 15 (Tue); Gather at 6:30pm
Place: Protest march leaves from Maruyama Koen Park radio tower (10 min. walk east of Keihan Shijo station)
Date: November 16 (Wed); Gather at 10:00am
Place: Protest march leaves from Kyoto Education and Cultural Center
(Kyoto- Kyoiku-Bunka Center / 5 min. walk northeast of Keihan
Marutamachi station); followed by protest at Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection
Sponsor: Kansai Committee to Oppose Prime Minister Koizumi-President Bush
Meeting (tel: 0774-43-8721; fax: 0774-44-3102, email:awckyoto@hotmail.com)
–
AL in Kyoto says:
Nov 11, 2005
I just thought this blog I put together earlier this year (at the time of the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol) may be of interest.
Even if the U.S. Government were coming here to sign the Kyoto Protocol,as has already been done by the Japanese, it would all come to nothing without us personally taking responsibility for its implementation.
So far Kyoto City has only provided us with an example of how a lack of leadership from local government can stand in the way of progress on reducing greenhouse emissions.
AL in Kyoto. 05.11.11
AL in Kyoto says:
Nov 11, 2005
That blog address again
( in case you couldn’t find it)
http://kyotoinkyoto.blogspot.com/
Ron says:
Nov 11, 2005
Here is the final announcement I just got from my friends in Kyoto…
-
Negotiations for protest permits are concluded. The protests that I have direct information on are scheduled as follows:
[ November 15 (Tue) ]
* 2-5pm Americans (and friends) against Bush/Iraq War
Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection in front Takashimaya and/or Hankyu department stores
* 6:30pm Protest march sponsored by Kansai Committee to Oppose Koizumi-Bush Meeting
Meet at Maruyama Koen Park radio tower (10 min. walk east of Keihan Shijo station)
[ November 16 (Wed) ]
* 10:00am Protest march sponsored by Kansai Committee to Oppose Koizumi-Bush Meeting
Meet at Kyoto Education and Cultural Center (Kyoto-Kyoiku-Bunka_Center; 5 min walk northeast of Keihan Marutamachi)
* (possible) 2-5pm Americans (and friends) against Bush/Iraq War same as above
Since the police seem very interested in a rough headcount, I would greatly appreciate it if people who are planning to join us for the 2-5pm protests at Shijo/Kawaramachi on either day would email me (jenise_treuting@yahoo.co.jp) to let me know.
A group of us will also be meeting at my house in Kamitakano, Kyoto near the Hachimanmae Eiden station at 11am or so on Nov. 15 to make signs and put placards together before heading downtown. Please email or call (075-712-1204) for directions if you plan to join us then.
According to the Kyoto police, quite a few different groups have applied for protest permits for roughly the same time and place — so it sounds like there will be quite a few people out opposing Bush’s visit!
If you have any questions or need more information, email me (jenise_treuting@yahoo.co.jp) or Linda (crawford@kta.att.ne.jp).
-
gh says:
Nov 16, 2005
Not everyone will be protesting President Bush–some of us would like to welcome him to Kyoto. You are certainly welcome to protest if you like and to hold your views but not all of us expats feel that way. President Bush has done a great job of standing up for the truth and moral issues. I wish him and his wife a wonderful visit to the city of Kyoto in all its fall beauty.
nils says:
Nov 16, 2005
I respect different views. You won’t get shouted down by me.