It's just sad.
Daniel Kahl is an American whose Yamagata dialect Japanese became quite popular among the Japanese that launched his career as business owner (translation company) and TV "talent" personality in Japan.
This is his video from May 2011, berating the "international media" without identifying which one for reporting only the bad news about the radiation contamination in Japan, and telling people that the strict testing by the government cleared the agricultural produce in the disaster affected Fukushima and Miyagi. We now know how "strict" those tests were (one produce, in one farm plot, in one city).
His youtube video description:
I am sick & tired of the int'l media's constant stream of negative news on Japan. They purposefully select to broadcast ONLY negative items coming out of Japan, even though the situation is improving in many ways. Please do not allow yourselves to be fooled by scaremongers. They are NOT telling you the WHOLE truth.
I also sadly recall some "gaijin" (foreigners, in Japanese) sites that attacked any journalist or blogger inside and outside Japan back in spring and early summer last year for reporting the not-so-rosy news about the Fukushima accident, the radiation contamination, and the Japanese government's response to the nuclear disaster.
Saddest of all, Mr. Kahl seems to think that the "international media" actually reports something about the nuclear accident or the radiation contamination in Japan on a regular basis.
Uh... no.
My blog does, in a very small way, but almost all my news is from the Japanese media.
He has the uncanny timing, though. He uploaded this video on May 12, 2011 upon detection of radioactive cesium in teas grown in Kanagawa Prefecture. From that day onward, the detection of radioactive cesium in teas in all growing areas in Kanto ensued one after another.
He has another video, again ranting against the "international" news of radioactive cesium in Fukushima rice. The video was uploaded on November 18, 2011. Two days prior, 630 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found in rice grown in Onami District of Fukushima City. It was treated as "exception". Then on November 25, 1,270 becquerels/kg of cesium was found in the same district. So much for "exception".
His November video, this time in Japanese (I wonder why), calls Dr. Chris Busby a fear-mongering scam artist. I'd suggest he say the same in English so that Dr. Busby would understand what he's saying.
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53 comments:
Daniel Kahl is a sell out/stooge/enemy of the people. May his shoes glow in the dark.
Is most of this guy's work translation or interpreting? I imagine interpreting jobs fell off a cliff since the disaster. As he runs an agency he surely wants the world to believe everything is just fine. I know how terribly difficult it is for a foreigner to do business in Japan so surely he has scored points with the government and employers within Japan by spreading his propaganda. I run a small agency and no one has called for Japanese since the melt down.
Can you comment on how this has affected that industry?
Smoking Caster
I'm glad that this is the "BEST" that TEPCO and the Japanese Nuclear Industry can do...
I think they need to be more concerned about this:
MORE News first suggested here on HP by the Japanese Irregulars!
Report says RISK of terrorism greater after Fukushima
http://wp.me/p21p6a-7w0
snip
The Japanese government continues to strengthen it’s prospects of providing electricity from nuclear power in Japan, when a commission proposed that the government introduce background checks on workers at nuclear stations. Japan ‘s nuclear industry has been exposed for using illegal workers at nearly all of it’s nuclear power stations, usually saving these subcontract workers to avoid the Employment Security Law which is designed to ensure proper working conditions are in place.
The commission has been discussing ways to strengthen security at nuclear facilities in light of recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency.The background checks may cover criminal records and financial situations such as loan balances. Many of the subcontract workers have been found to be affiliated with a variety of international criminal groups, most notably the Yakuza, a Japanese crime syndicate....
he is old, and just need the money from TEPCO&CO... he cannot find another job...it´s survival for him and his family...he doesn´t care about Japan and it´s citizens..nough´said..
I must admit, I have no idea who this guy is but his Japanese is good. Everything he says in his Japanese video is worthless. He equates Busby with the foreign MSM. "The Japanese government never do anything to harm the public especially such a thing as spreading contamination." Uh, go ask Hosono what his job is. This guy is a tool.
As if the Japanese would care if a foreigner tried to tell them that their government is perfect. They're probably thinking the same thing we are: "Who the fuck is this guy?"
Meanwhile, the usual tactics are being employed against those who disagree with official accounts. Among the many "titles" that strike a chord into the hearts of the shallow: "anti-semites", "[insert here] deniers", "truthers", and now "scaremongers".
They seriously think that the goal behind trying to confirm facts regarding incidents like Fukushima is to scare others? Talk about paranoia. If they had a brain to think for themselves, they'd realise that obviously, our only concern is the continued safe existence of everyone and everything on this planet. But wait -- this is somehow "scaremongering". People who see it that way are clearly suffering from a fear of reality.
As more nuclear accidents occur over the next century (incidents that are certain to happen, as proven by humanity's long record of gross negligence and ignorance), I'm sure we'll see the media create more "titles" for those with anti-nuclear views. For example, "cavemen", "anti-technology", "electricity haters" and "power deniers". Feel free to create more ridiculous "titles" to laugh at, until people start treating them like personal attacks.
I'd like to add to my previous comment... I also have a friend who is easily scared and has panic attacks, but he knows that when I talk about these things, it's not with an intent to scare him. I do it because these things could be important, and he understands this.
If only everyone had this common sense.
Daniel Kahl is a no-talento, split-personality stooge. I have to wonder how much he is being paid to spread this ignorant, deceitful crap. And notice how he changes the tone of his voice and facial expressions between when he speaks Japanese and when he speaks English? Creepy as hell. Why does Japan have to attract so many of the weirdo, brainwashed otaku foreigners?
On the other hand, Mr. Kahl is completely right in much of what he spoke about concerning western media sensationalism. To deny that the western media doesn't engage in crass and gross sensationalism is nonsense and ignores historical fact. They did it for SARS, bird flu, Swine flu, Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons, Libya, now Iran, etc. etc. Even in the case of Fukushima, specifically, in one case, CNN and German news sources suggested that the entire 1/3 of Japan needed to be evacuated or that secret plans were being made for the evacuation of Tokyo. Here's a list of a many, but not all, sensationalist reporting (left side): http://www.jpquake.info/home-1/wall-of-shame-in-the-press
Maybe Kahl didn't specify in the video (possibly because it is common knowledge in the media industry that people rarely watch videos on Youtube that are over 6 minutes long) which news sources engaged in sensationalism but it is foolish to insist that they did not.
The truth lies somewhere in between the sensationalism and facts (as well as unreported incidents) before anyone can determine truth. Case in point: I can remember a few months back when, upon finding radioactive materials in my neighborhood in Setagaya (about 10 minutes walk from my house), that many news sources claimed that this radiation was from Fukushima... Facts came out weeks later that the radiation was from old buried medical equipment under a house that had been there for decades.
Kahl was wrong about many things. To claim he was completely wrong about mass media sensationalism is false.
Most major news have dropped this down the memory hole, but I clearly remember this being discussed on CNN (I worked at CNN in the late 80s ~ early 90s): "Scientists declare northern 1/3 of Japan uninhabitable and should be evacuated".
Gee, Mike, I remember reading your blog in the early days of the nuclear accident. You were attacking people who were escaping from Japan, even from Fukushima. You were saying there was no radioactive plume from Fukushima coming down to Tokyo, and it's just fear-mongering to say otherwise. No wonder you defend Daniel Kahl.
The really sick thing is I saw him on a TV show here in Japan the other week. He was being praised for his "efforts to set the western media straight."
Is he the same guy who decleared himelf a hero in the early days of the ongoing nuclear melt-through? The one who said he will stop working and filled his little truck up with food about seven times and handed it out?
Heroes don't hide the truth from inocent children and their parents so they all get contaiminated. "tool" is a good word.
@miketokyo,
Your comment is very defensive. I have no idea who you are as well but it does not reflect reality. If you think the international media is over reporting this please point us to the source. Over 99 percent of the people in the states have no idea re what is happening. Yes, present tense. I find you post as a piece of denial. I cannot help you with that only you can. This guy you are backing is criticizing people that called this correctly from the onset.
Yeah Mike,
there is a little difference.
In the case of sars et similia, we had everyday-front page-news about updates, which included how you could get infected (many different versions on that indeed) and how many more people got infected all over the world, every day, such us for instance: a man from Canada died today, a German got hospitalised yesterday, 10 more cases in Singapore etc...EVERYDAY and FIRST NEWS and GLOBALLY SPEAKING and on the media all over the world.
I wish they would have done the same about radiations...everyday news on how to protect you and your children from radiation, both internal and external, how far they could reach or had reached, plus everyday updates of highly contaminated food and land's findings...EVERYDAY and FIRST NEWS and not only about Fukushima but all Japan, and Pacific Ocean, and Usa, Canada etc., on the MSnews of all countries.
But this did not happen.
Now, in the previous case Sars et alia turned out to be nothing, yet the media did so much, in this case the media did and are doing nothing in comparison...it just makes me wonder what will it turn out to be?
I had seen his videos shortly after 3.11 and I seeing it again now simply enrages me. This guy is simply trying to karma-whore by telling the people it is safe when he (nor anyone else) can possible know the real risk.
His actions are completely irresponsible and immoral IMO. If he wanted to be a real hero he would have driven to Fukushima and driven families or at least children out of there permanently.
These types of foreigners living in denial are blinded by their love of Japan and have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. That and/or they have no other life possibilities outside of Japan.
It is truly sickening and enraging at the same time.
Here is another one (there are others of course):
http://www.youtube.com/user/tokyocooney#p/a/u/0/6xNtgHaqAyg
Also:
* japanprobe.com (total denial of any danger and deletes/bans anyone who comments otherwise)
Long term foreign residents share one important thing with the Japanese population: they practically have nowhere else to go. Their comfortable existence in Japan has made them "unemployable" (read: culturally non-adjustable) elsewhere. Their lives often depend on local circumstances and arrangements. They cannot simply move to Kyushu or Okinawa, or back to the US. So it is very difficult to face reality, the fact that Japan is (to some debatable extent) "poisoned" and that they have nowhere to go. That is a bitter pill to swallow and as with everything it is much easier to just blame the others. It's essentially denial of reality.
Dear anonymous and Chibaguy,
Chibaguy, there is a link to sensationalist articles in my comment above (red letters). As for me criticizing foreigners running away from Tokyo; Yes! I strongly criticized foreign management for running away. The rationale being that if they deemed the situation that dangerous, then they should have told their Japanese staff to go home. People confuse what I was saying. I was talking about the responsibility of management. Evidence? On March 24th, I wrote:"Foreigners in Japan: Where Are the Leaders? Where Have All the Real Men Gone?". On the other hand, if you need evidence of my criticism of the nuclear industry and the Japanese government response? http://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.com/2011/03/nuclear-melt-down-government-to-rescue.html That article was, by the way, published on LRC just after the accident.
Also, as I am a professional in the mass media for over 30 years, I am interested in both sides of any argument - as is the case here - my blog has been linking to this very blog since March 2011...
You will also find posts whereby I criticized faulty weather reporting.
PS: I never attacked people for escaping from Fukushima. That is an out and out lie. I received criticism in certain circles for criticizing people for living near nuclear power plants in the first place. From August 2011..."Japanese Gov't to Rent Land Near Fukushima? Nuts!". Quote: "There's some things going on about the Fukushima disaster that I just cannot understand. These problems all involve the government handling of the situation. I've written much about my dissatisfaction with that.
The problem with the entire situation stems from government incompetence and the desire to be all things to all people in this crisis...."
The trouble with the left (and the right) is when anyone doesn't repeat the mantra as they have come to expect, that person is labelled as an "apologist" for the other side... To try to bring fair and rationale discussion meets with unfounded claims and non-sense. Yes, I did criticize the mass media. Yes. I did criticize the reporting. Yes I did criticize the government and TEPCO... All were guilty of false claims.
You never see the unfolding atomic disaster on TV as unlike the ridiculous propaganda spewed forth the explain away aggravated burglary the Japanese nuclear containment hoax is best served by never mentioning the scale of their Hubris.
I don't think the Western media is paying much attention to the Fukushima disaster. I've only seen them occasionally repeat stuff that's been posted on blogs like this one, many months later.
Tool...
@Miketokyo, you can criticize management for running until the sun is no longer a star. The same thing is happening with Japanese management. I do not know you nor am familiar with your blog but backing up this idiotic denier is something that I had to comment on. Fact is Japan is a socialist country when it comes to distribution of radiation. Fact, the Kobe earthquake and 3/11 earthquake created almost the same amount of rubble but with 3/11 all of Japan needs to share to pain (increased background radiation). Stick with the facts when you report. There are two sides indeed: one worries about the future of generations to come while the other worries about themselves. It is that simple.
Hi Chibaguy, I am not backing him up. All I said is that the mass media was involved with sensationalism. I even gave links. This seems pretty self-explanatory: "Kahl was wrong about many things. To claim he was completely wrong about mass media sensationalism is false." That's all. How in the world do you think that is backing him up? Get the chip off your shoulder. I haven't the clue as to why you think I'm defending the guy. I didn't want to criticize you but that should be pretty obvious by what I wrote. As far as management running, no. I had no evidence of any Japanese upper management running from Tokyo. If you have some, please submit. I mentioned Coca Cola specifically as I am friends with Japanese executives of that company who were furious that the foreign president ran away and left them to hold the bag (all the while the foreign management took paid leaves). In fact, I was the one who broke that story. Thank you.
Needs facts Chibaguy? Here are the background radiation levels in Tokyo everyday since before the earthquake until today. I have placed this japanese information on my blog for folks like you since the earthquake so that people can gets the facts you want: "都内の環境放射線量調査".
Background radiation in Tokyo on 3/10/11: 0.0372 micro sieverts
Background radiation in Tokyo on 2/16/12: 0.0597 micro sieverts
Background radiation on one one-way flight from Tokyo to New York 190 micro sieverts.
If anyone can find fault with these figures, please let me know.
Chibaguy,
Interesting points. I am curious about your comparison to Kobe, though. According to the following newspaper article, the Kobe earthquake generated about 15 million tons of debris--no small amount, to be sure--however, the 3/11 earthquake generated an estimated 80 million tons, or more than 5 times the amount of Kobe.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/03/world/la-fg-japan-trash-20110403
Thoughts?
Kahl is not alone in this nonsense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUfMlSzVoKc&feature=plcp&context=C3f926c7UDOEgsToPDskJ74SetMHhj91DrEp5EFN1e
There is more factual reporting of this disaster on this blog than all US media combined.
I am more concerned with the 3 reactors that have melted down, with broken containment, spewing radioactive particles into the air and water for more than 11 months and the complete lack of effective response on the part of TEPCO and the government to get the most vulnerable citizens out of harm's way.
Outfitting the school children with dosimeters, knowing full well the dangers of the exposure to young, growing bodies is criminal. Seeing a picture of someone wearing a dust mask is not the image informing people.
At this point, why would anyone trust the risk assessment being provided ?
No chip on the so-called shoulder. No mainstream media source I know of is overstating Fukushima. If they actually reported the facts, guess what would happen to the WW economy? I am not disclosing my information until I get out of here. Anyone with children should leave. Report on this instead on management. Children are more important than management that has enable this problem to continue. Sorry, but links do not work with the phone. Not trying to pick a fight but by saying the mass media is involved in some sort of sensationalism is not factual. They actually get all the facts wrong on purpose. "Tsunami-induced disaster." "Once in a hundred of years disaster.". What?!
mikeintokyo,
I think your New York - Tokyo flight example is actually for a round-trip flight (www.pnri.dost.gov.ph/documents/RadiationExposureinDailyLife.pdf), and the average ambient radiation reading in Tokyo on 2/16/12 at the link you provided was actually 0.0507 uSv (I assume that was just a typo).
Thanks Chibaguy. Kahl's video was from just after the event in 3/11 (wasn't it?)...That's what I was referring to. The western media today don't even talk about Fukushima from what I can see... I don't usually report on this sort of thing... As I mentioned, I link to this very blog for that purpose. He does a very nice job of this and I have nothing useful to add. I write about media and marketing - that's why what management does is pertinent to my blog. Also, in order to check facts myself, I bought a professional use geiger counter from the Ukraine and after several trips around Tokyo was unable to find any high radioactive areas (trust that I did try to find them)... Though, upon a few trips to Ishinomaki, we did find highly elevated levels.
Yosaku, thank you. I stand corrected. The background radiation is even lower than I mistakenly stated.
It's not background radiation when it is more than previous >natural< radiation.
Besides we all know now that these sensors are from the 1960s and sit on a 20m rooftop or pole. Not sure why you bother quoting this, also the transatlantic flight nonsense. We might have believed this in April last year, but people are much more educated now.
@Yosuka,
Just search thus site or ask Ex skf for the link. Yes Kobe created more debris but it was about the same without radiation and Kobe dealt with it on their own. There was no kizuna during this period.
Chibaguy,
I'm afraid I don't follow your post. Could you rephrase? Thanks.
@Miketokyo
Hate to harp on this but background radiation levels mean nothing when compared to internal contamination. I do not know if you understand Japanese but but on 3/17 the government drastically raised limits to 10 to 20 fold including plutonium and anz of recently they have decide that they precious increase for infants should be 10 fold as it was of pre Fukushima. There is no science e backing these claims. Report on this please.
@Yosuka, the Kobe disaster created around 1.3 percent more debris than the 3/11 quake but they burned all the debris locally. However, this time all of Japan must share in the pain. It does not make sense. When I get to a computer I will post you the link.
mikeintokyo,
Do you think that the low readings in Tokyo and the feeling that the problems are only "up north" are contributing to the lack of response regarding the children still living in contaminated areas ?
10 years after Chernobyl there was a program done by the Japanese on the effects of that disaster on the people and the environment.
This is a very complicated situation, but the children have no options outside of the adult decisions being made.
I am interested in knowing what people not living in the hot areas are thinking about this.
@Chibaguy, the levels used for food contamination were established years ago in order to use them in case of a nuclear accident. Before March, Japan only had cesium contamination limits for imports from Europe. It seems they were using the EU limits for infant food (370 Bq/Kg of Cs-137).
@Chibaguy, "the Kobe disaster created around 1.3 percent more debris"
lol check your sources.
The problem with the Debris in Iwate and Miyagi is that those are not rich prefectures with big cities with big incineration facilities able to process the amount of debris generated by the tsunami.
Little Daniel is really R2, the crazed Finn, a troll lab product. Found out.
He has a new title. Troll Translator.
Creepy, as per 9:02 PM's description.
He probably works for HSBC, antics similar to those describe in this,
http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/paypal-american-express-implicated-in-bank-fraud/
Thanks, Chibaguy--I don't mean to be difficult. I look forward to the receiving the link.
Busby IS a con artist and a fearmonger. This Kahl guy is a pathetic shill. So?
Chibaguy,
I kept searching, and I think you're referring to a Fukushima Diaries article from 2/16/12. In true Mochizuki-fashion, however, his second source directly contradicts his own conclusion. Anyway, I'll keep looking around to see if I can get some better numbers.
Some great "factual" links:
Nuclear Lies: Japanese History of Fake Reports
http://wp.me/pSjep-1Zx
+
Japan Times: Journalist says Tepco not telling truth — Blacking out key docs — Evidence mounting Fukushima meltdowns caused by quake — Would delay reactor restarts “by years” http://enenews.com/?p=21243
snip
Evidence is mounting that the meltdown at the nuclear power plant was actually caused by the earthquake itself
Scientific findings have given rise to serious suspicion of Tepco’s claim that the crisis at the nuclear power plant was caused by the tsunami, and not by the earthquake
A view that blames the tremor as the true culprit is becoming more and more trusted
+
Yukio Hayakawa's Volcano Blog
http://kipuka.blog70.fc2.com/
I want to add to this from an American's perspective. When this happened it was all over the news. No one knew what was actually going on. Some folks like myself with training in science were drawn to the nuke disaster and have followed it closely. I have Japanese friends there and fell in love with Japan since my first visit.
As was covered here, the president of the USA shamefully went on a trip with his family to Brazil while this tragedy was unfolding along with the uprisings in the middle east. The US initiated a war in Libya in a campaign of regime change while trying to keep relations going with new "leadership" in Egypt. Once these happened what was going on in Japan fell off the radar.
Thinking and reasonable people knew this was a disaster like never before. By March 17th I told my friends in Japan to get out. My friends in Tokyo I instructed them to take what they could carry and leave for the south and to make plans to resettle in another country. I offered assistance for the families to setup in the US. I told them the air, water and food would all be spoiled and today we find that my words were true.
There has been nothing in the news here about Japan. Only brief news bits of information handed out by Tepco. In the grand scheme of things the story about Japan ended by late April in the US.
There has been no fear mongering coming out of the US media. There has been no coverage at all. I think most of what this guy in the video is railing about comes from a drop in demand for his services. I have not looked at the visitor numbers recently and I know they are up from the lows just after the disaster but I think most business people from the US won't travel to Japan mostly because of radiation fears and to a lesser extent the weakness of the dollar or the strength of the yen.
As a business person who loves Japan and has been there many times I am saddened to say that I won't be going back anytime soon. My attitude is shared by a lot of people and that hurts the bottom line of the agency director shown in the video above. His video is all about self interest and desperation.
Smoking Caster
The guy tried so much; may be he became more japanese than the Japanese.
Another kind of sickness.
Post from 8:38 :
'The guy tried so much; may be he became more japanese than the Japanese. Another kind of sickness.'
So true. Yes, it is a sickness. I have to laugh at the foreigners in Japan who act like that. Society will never accept them as 'Japanese', no matter how hard they try. In Japan, once a gaijin, always a gaijin... even for the fluent lifer foreign residents that do try to be more Japanese than the Japanese. Unfortunately Japan does seem to attract many of these foreigners with weirdo personalities.
I don't think these foreigners want to be accepted as "Japanese", because that would destroy their marketability as "gaijin" TV personality.
@Yosaku
I think you your are correct re debris comparison. I apologize for that.
I just think this sharing the pain thing is ridiculous they. They should have removed the people and called Fukushima what it is instead of burning the problem up into the atmosphere.
Chibaguy,
No worries. I think we're on the same side of this thing.
"... even for the fluent lifer foreign residents that do try to be more Japanese than the Japanese. Unfortunately Japan does seem to attract many of these foreigners with weirdo personalities. "
2:41
Like they've forgotten the Orient is not beyond encouraging them to .. forget.
Mr. Busby, it's really simple: no news from a power plant and/or about radiation is the only good news there is. As soon as there is a nuclear accident and/or release of radiation, there is no such thing as good news anymore. Making process in accident mitigation is only good news if one accepts the new "real bad" as the new standard. I, for one, do not - period. And what little reporting there is about Fukushima can, therefore, hardly be "good," no matter what.
My continued thanks to laprimavera for so diligently collecting and commenting on the news about Fukushima. Especially for one not located in Japan, it is not that easy to stay abreast of things precisely because there is so LITTLE media coverage outside Japan. Thanks, laprimavera, you're doing an important thing here.
oops, I meant: Mr. Kahl, it's really quite simple ...
If he made the video about Busby in English, I think Busby would have sued him for libel. Maybe that's why he spoke in Japanese.
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