TOKYO — A French language teacher and 20 other plaintiffs filed a damages suit Wednesday against Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara for his insulting remarks against the French language last year.

Malik Berkane, a 46-year-old principal of a French language school in Tokyo, filed the suit at the Tokyo District Court, together with 20 other French and Japanese people, demanding an apology over the remarks and 500,000 yen in compensation for each plaintiff.

According to the petition, Ishihara said Oct 19, "I have to say that it should be no surprise that French is disqualified as an international language because French is a language which cannot count numbers."

He made the remarks at a meeting of a support organization for Tokyo Metropolitan University, which opened in April after integrating five universities and colleges run by the metropolitan government, when he criticized university employees who opposed the integration, including those teaching French and other languages.

"After all, those guys desperately clinging to such kind of language are lodging opposition for the sake of opposition," he said.

The plaintiffs said the governor's remarks give a false impression that French is a poor language, which is not acceptable by international standards, and brought disgrace to the plaintiffs, many of whom are involved in running language schools.

Berkane said, "I was shocked when I heard his remarks. We decided to file the suit as the governor has not responded to our letter demanding his apology." (Kyodo News)

Not a very shocking remark considering the number of things he's said in the past (i.e. the 'DNA' of non-Japanese was the most controversial).

I don't think anything will happen to Ishihara (again). He's got a strong political support group mainly because he's so un-Japanese - he speaks his mind and is a very outspoken figure. This is another storm he'll probably weather...

I wonder what his problem is, French is a beautiful language.

Choses de prise de personnes à sérieux.... bâtards libral

i wonder how many peole n the world talk siht about other languages but don't get $hitted upon.

I'm sure he'll come out of this one on top as usual. As for the french being offended...who really cares?

Ishihara needs to be shot, tortured, and executed. He's the biggest F4G evar.

Don't get me wrong: I care about the French as much as I care about hay. And I found his remarks about the French language particularly amusing. But Ishihara should've been more diplomatic with his remarks. If he wants to criticise the French (who doesn't?), he should act like a politician (plenty of euphemism and a little discretion) not a circus act.

you know, the french counting-system is really retarded sometimes, that's what he actually meant.

Yeah Ishihara is an @$$ but what can anyone do? It's just his opinion. Personally I find Cantonese to be a terrible sounding language so what? I disagree with him however as I find French and most Latin based languages beautiful and better sounding than Japanese.

I agree with you.

How about German numeral system?

great attitude, Ogumo
exactly what the US thinks of you
enjoy the bases

Ogumo is a patriot of America. he is the reason why US will continue to rape Japan...

i like it. it's really nice as long as you know how to multiply.

4x20=80
quatre-vingts

(4x20)+19=99
quatre-vingts-dix neuf

french sounds so cool.

Lmfao... I actually find this statement funny and amusing.

how does the french counting system work anyways?

This topic singlehandedly had proven me wrong about his friendship with Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Goddammit, this topic now has concluded that he's Pat Buchanan of Japan.

You arent telling me anything new american. America doesn't care about anyone. Nor does it show outside countries any respect. America will get what it deserves in the end. They already had a taste a few years ago.

Ogumo

If you're talking about 9/11 thank Bush for making it happen, along with the conservatives.

Doesn't make a difference to me who was responsible. I couldn't care less.

hm...how are you different from the "americans" you speak of when you dont care for USA for 9/11....those were firefighters, policemen, businessmen, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers... you're disrespecting the lives lost in that event, and mind you that wasnt a tactical military assault. it was an attack on american citizens

if america DO have those feelings you spoke of, back in WWII, the A-bombs werent hesitated to drop on japan. america wouldve left japan rotting in nuclear fallout instead of helping the economy to make whatever the hell you're typing on.



SO dispite all your talking, AMERICA MADE WHAT JAPAN IS TODAY! now quit talking back at the country that is owning you. your country lost its honor as soon as they bought american products, so funny how USA showed whos daddy in WW2 after a wussy sucker punch.


your country HAS the exact personalities you speak of that america has, no respect for any country. not only ATTACKING all of its neighborings, but to not formally apoligize for its atrocities, japan is a monster in a sugar coated electronic economy asking for sympathy.

so Japan can drink all the sake they want, eat all the sushi they want, or grope as many woman as they want on the train.

sooner or later, your country wont be number 1 in economy, run out of land for the people, or be safe if USA left your puny weak country all alone in the ocean.

GG

[QUOTE]hm...how are you different from the "americans" you speak of when you dont care for USA for 9/11....those were firefighters, policemen, businessmen, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers[/QUOTE]

I guess you can say that Ive learned from the "best".

[QUOTE]you're disrespecting the lives lost in that event, and mind you that wasnt a tactical military assault. it was an attack on american citizens[/QUOTE]

Why should I care? America certainly doesn't care when it does similar. Though I should be more respectful and let those people enjoy their time in hell.

[QUOTE]if america DO have those feelings you spoke of, back in WWII, the A-bombs werent hesitated to drop on japan.[/QUOTE]

It didn't.

[QUOTE]america wouldve left japan rotting in nuclear fallout instead of helping the economy to make whatever the hell you're typing on.[/QUOTE]

No of course not. Had they done that they couldn't have exploited japan's location. Not to mention it would have made them look just as bad as the soviets. That's really all there was to it.

[QUOTE]SO dispite all your talking, AMERICA MADE WHAT JAPAN IS TODAY![/QUOTE]

A dependant state? Destruction of our society? Yes america is truly responsible. It will take a true rightist to deal with the american problem.

[QUOTE]now quit talking back at the country that is owning you.[/QUOTE]

No need. The muslim terrorists have explained things better than I ever could. With the burning of american flesh. It was a beautiful speech that I nor any american will soon forget. I look eagerly forward to the next one.

[QUOTE]our country lost its honor as soon as they bought american products[/QUOTE]

Don't be ridiculous. If buying from an outside sources is shameful. America is the most shameful state in all history.

[QUOTE]so funny how USA showed whos daddy in WW2 after a wussy sucker punch.[/QUOTE]

Typical caucasion attitude. Not surprising comrade.

[QUOTE]your country HAS the exact personalities you speak of that america has, no respect for any country.[/QUOTE]

Incorrect. If that was the case japan would be in a much better position.

[QUOTE]not only ATTACKING all of its neighborings, but to not formally apoligize for its atrocities, japan is a monster in a sugar coated electronic economy asking for sympathy.[/QUOTE]

As if america truely shows remorese for it's atrocities throughout history. If that was the case those poor native americans would control all of the land in the states. When happens then you can talk american. Not a moment before.

[QUOTE]sooner or later, your country wont be number 1 in economy, run out of land for the people, [/QUOTE]

That's fine by me. I don't we'll be running out of land anytime soon though. However we'll manage.

[QUOTE]or be safe if USA left your puny weak country all alone in the ocean.[/QUOTE]

Nothing would make me happier than to see the American infection leave our shores. Well...there is one thing. Thats all the time I'll waste you yankee.

My goodness...I hope Ishihitler drops dead one of these days from a heart attack.

That dinosaur is getting old....making enemies as the days go by.

I don't see why he gets support from the brain-washed Japanese constituents.

French counting system is retarded.

if i want to say 85, i would have to say 4, 20,5 in french. HUh?
LOL

in english if you want to say 120 or 85 or 16, you just say it. not french....if you want to say 120 you have to say 100, 20. lame counting system.