$$

Asia Times Online - The trusted news source for information on Japan "To go or not to go is the question. Our man Prime Minister [Junichiro] Koizumi, just celebrating his 60th, states decisions be 'based on the situation, that is 'safe' or 'unsafe'. I, being over 60 myself, am at the same crossroads in a way. The difference is our friend [Koizumi] will proceed if safe and will not if there is danger, whilst I take the opposite position. Koizumi in his wavy lionesque 'do', and me bald as an elephant, our thinking as opposite as our hairstyles." - Hashida Shinsuke (1942-2004), from his collected dispatches,