Part one
This is for all you people interested in Sino-Japanese relations:
Those of you who have been following the relatively recent China-Japan spats over the revisionism of certain Japanese school textbooks with regards to Japan's behaviour in China during the last Big One (i.e. World War II). There were demonstrations in China, which included the vandalising attacks on Japanese (or Japanese-themed) restaurants and businesses. Tensions were high.
Then came in 11-year-old Japanese girl Saaya Irie, whose photo of here in a bikini was posted on a Chinese Internet forum called "100," where "she immediately caused a sensation."
This was because "she wears an F-cup bra, though she has yet to reach her teens"...her photo was accompanied by a message rendered in mock Marxist rhetoric, reading: "An 11-year-old Japanese girl with large breasts has a proclamation for all Chinese people! Dear elder brothers, a beautiful young Japanese girl is beseeching you."
No telling if this might really improve Sino-Japanese relations though.
(read the full article here)
No nude pictures for you paedophiles out there. This is a family site, dammit!
Part two
Meanwhile, across the Sea of Japan, from ex-Cold War rival [or rather, rival of Japan's Cold War patron the United States] Russia comes news of a controversial new reality TV show.
A "raunchy reality television show hosted by Russia's first "it" girl has aroused the wrath of Moscow's council, which is trying to have it banned on the grounds that it promotes moral degeneracy.
Watched by millions, Dom-2 (House-2) is broadcast nightly and follows a group of single young men and women as they build a house on the outskirts of the city.
It is presented by Ksenia Sobchak, 23, a glamorous socialite who is close to President Vladimir Putin."
Ahhh...Putin. Gotta just love that guy; another example of "bread-and-circuses democracy". Crack down on "criminal" oligarchs, fine, why don't you; but when it comes to sex and other things that sell to the de-politicised masses, patronage is everything.
You'd wonder if she would put out for Putin.
As it is, she and the creators of the program probably won't get more than a slap on the wrist.
Let's read on a bit more of that article:
"Sobchak looks certain to weather the storm, however, not least because of her impressive personal credentials. Her father Anatoly Sobchak, who died five years ago, was the mayor of St Petersburg and a mentor to Mr Putin, his deputy during his early years in politics.
Mr Putin has known her since childhood and regards her mother as a friend."
Oh well, I suppose that's alright then.
