It would be one thing if you could just write his comments off as those of a crazy #&^@ who has taken every opportunity to make statements glorifying Japan's imperialist past and insult Korea and Japan's other neighbors, a politician on the far-right who'll do anything to agitate the masses for his own popularity.

At this point, however, we need to look the Japanese people straight in the face and ask if Ishihara's thoughtless statements are to be taken as representative of their views. His popularity goes up with every little gaffe like this, and there's no way for the Korean people to understand why in the world that is.

Ishihara's extreme statements include, for example, that Koreans and other illegal aliens are turning Tokyo into a lawless place and could riot in times of unrest, that China's more heinous crimes are the result of the DNA carried by Han Chinese and that China should be split into pieces. You would think this would bring his political life to an end, but he was re-elected in April for another four years as Tokyo's governor, and with overwhelming support.

Add to this that he continues to rank as the top two politicians in opinion polls, meaning that he would already be prime minister if that position was elected through direct popular elections. He's the Japanese Hitler, and what country other than Japan could have such a politician enjoy the highest levels of popularity?

Just what is it that the Japanese people want to tell their Asian neighbors through Ishihara? Would it be an accurate interpretation to say Ishihara is speaking for their desire to erase Japan's history of invading other countries so as to create the possibility for new invasions?

If not, then it's time the Japanese people be done with him. As long as Japan leaves politicians like Ishihara free to behave in such a manner, Japan will be forfeiting chances of reconciliation with other Asian countries. And forget becoming a truly leading nation: Japan will forever remain the peripheral oddball out. Oct. 30, 2003