European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                --$.$".fc/��-ti.iy&? of s a h ii or  of see Phi latest fad in Japan s a Black thing by mar Yamaguchi the associated press to Ohashi says he loves Black music but does t quite get the lyrics. With his baggy pants and a knit Cap pulled Down Over his ears you know he s striving for the inner City look. I like rap music and i wanted to look like the rappers said Ohashi 26, checking out the sneakers at a Tokyo clothing store opened in september by Spike Lee the Black american movie director. I think their fashion looks really Kakko ii in Japan these Days the truly Kakko ii the closest japanese word to Cool Wear the fashions and listen to the music of Black America. The fad began a few years ago As basketball stars Michael Jordan and magic Johnson Lee s movies and rap musicians ice cube and Public enemy found audiences in Japan. Young japanese dressed like Ohashi who is a video director can be seen everywhere. In Tokyo s teen scene Shibuya District youngsters stroll about in Trie latest after school uniform a knit Cap or backward baseball Cap baggy jeans and basketball sneakers. In a popular television commercial members of a japanese pop group in dreadlocks and dark sultans imitate Michael Jackson. Malcolm x also is being marketed As a result of Lee s latest movie which will be released in Japan this Spring. Sales of Malcolm a related products primarily clothing Are expected to soar. Not everyone has joined in. How can we be Blacks views Magazine a widely read general a lot of Young japanese like the hottest aspects of american Black culture even though they admit they Don t get it. Interest monthly asked the japanese in a rhetorical headline. It certainly seems an Odd trend in a country where politicians make racist remarks and companies sell toys and books featuring Sambo like characters. Two years ago Seiroku Kajiyama then the Justice minister compared prostitutes to american Blacks. He said they ruin the atmosphere of the neighbourhoods they move  Young japanese May feel Black is Beautiful but that does not necessarily make them More sensitive to Blacks or other ethnic groups said Kenichiro Embon a journalist who specializes in minority issues. Although the japanese avidly adopt Many foreign customs and fashions As part of what Embon Calls the import culture there is virtually no racial diversity in Japan. The japanese tend to simply copy things without taking crucial cultural background into consideration he said. Chief editor Yasutomo Matsubara of Boon Magazine which specializes in Black fashion said japanese fads Are like eating chinese food served on a Lazy  Many japanese just want to try a Little bit of everything that looks attractive Matsubara said. So they can become anything even the Irish the chinese or whatever. Right now they re interested in american Blacks but soon people will get tired of it and jump on to something  Tokyo condom store doing great business by Peter Kenny United press International when Shoichi Ryukai tried to open a condom shop in Tokyo s trendy a Rabuku neighbourhood a Little Over a year ago astonished landlords refused to rent him space. Now thriving on the fear of aids the first store in Japan devoted solely to prophylactics is doing a booming business after less than two months of operation in a country where Public mention of condoms still evokes blushes and embarrassment. With the average japanese still woefully ignorant about the lethal disease Ryukai s store peaches featuring 200 varieties of condoms in All shapes sizes and colors has become a favorite spot to shed inhibitions and learn about prevention. I at peaches it s not unusual for the patient Ryukai to spend up to 30 minutes with customers too shy o. Confide their fears to anyone eke. When customers seem to have questions but hesitate to ask speak to them and let them talk he said. Some people come to the shop to just look for funny stuff and i try to pick up humorous ones and we laugh  More than 70 percent of Ryukai s customers Are women with 200 to 300 visiting the shop each Day. That suits Ryukai Fine. He named the shop peaches to evoke the image of healthy women that the word peaches has in English. Unlike Many asian countries which have unleashed graphic television campaigns educating the Public about aids there has been Little in Japan although general information can be found in a pamphlet published by the Tokyo metropolitan government. Japan had the Opportunity to learn from other nations. But As usual in its own xenophobic Way it stuck its head in a Rice Paddy and said it cannot happen to us " said or. Alain Youell an american and British trained sexologist involved in setting up aids education programs around the world. Recent surveys indicate surprising naivete about the disease. One poll showed 50 percent of those queried believed aids could be transmitted by a Mosquito bite and 26 percent said the infection could be passed on from casual Contact such As using the same drinking Glass As one afflicted with the virus. In the face of such misconceptions Ryukai believes his shop is helping Bridge a serious information Gap. Aids can be prevented if each individual takes appropriate measures. As an expert on condoms i just want to help by distributing the necessary product and information said the 29 year old Ryukai. The cheapest condom a simple single goes for 350 yen about $2.80 while the most expensive an assortment in a luxurious gift wrapped wooden Box retails for 19,800 yen $160. Readers action line Legal office candid debt collection \ t during the summer of 1990, son then 6, was attacked by a neighbor s a Soldier unfestra1ned,dog. He was attacked twice by the dog before its owner arrived Andas a result needed numerous stitches. We sued and the Soldier was found negligent. Payments were based on the amount awarded by the court. The Soldier had a permanent change of duty station scheduled for september 1992. In june contacted the Soldier s company commander on advice from the local Legal assistance office informing him of the situation. In addition i let it be known that i Felt the Soldier. Would depart without settling his debt. About week later in june i gave the Soldier s  showed that the Soldier had paid Only half of the amount owed. Upon my return from leave in late August i visited my attorney to see if any payment had been made. None had. I went to the Soldier s unit and attempted to see the commander but i overheard him Tell his lieutenant to handle it because he was out the door for whatever reason i believe leave. After explaining the situation to the lieutenant and his doing about 10 minutes of research i was informed the Soldier had left three weeks earlier. I have since returned to the Soldier s former organization and spoken with the first Seargeant and the lieutenant. They forwarded this information to the Soldier s gaining command so i was informed even though they could not provide me with a copy of this correspondence. I have done what i could but have received no support from the commander. What is my next Legal move sgt 1st class Curtis l. Douglas or. Bremerhaven Germany a opt. Michael e. Hokenson Bremerhaven Legal services Headquarters 543rd area support croup replies i failure to pay a just debt is a violation of the uniform code of military Justice and can result in nonjudicial punishment court martial or Adverse administrative action to include a memorandum of reprimand Adverse ears and possible separation from the service. Now that the Leaf assistance office has been notified of the debt collection problem it has contacted the gaining command. Appropriate command attention should resolve the debt. It should be noted however that military pay cannot be garnished to satisfy this debt. In some cases such As when the Soldier leaves the service the debt must be pursued through further court litigation inthe United states. Although Legal assistance attorneys cannot represent soldiers in court we can often assist in following up on the collection of court judgments. The Correct Legal move is almost always to Contact a Legal assistance attorney to seek Legal advice. Readers action Une which appears mondays and wednesdays strives to answer questions about life in a military environment. If you Don t know Whereto turn for help write readers action Une co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed. Please include address and phone number. The stars and stripes monday february 1f 1993