Hi Cherie,

Here are our answers to your questions.

> 1. What were your feelings when you heard about the accident?
> 2. Why did you feel that way?

* I could not understand the situation very well. I thought why such an acci dent had happened because it hardly ever happens. (Chie)
* "Why such an accident happened?" Because I thought such a thing could not happen If enough attention was paid. (Natsuki)
* I was so worried. I wondered why it happened because I have scarecely hear d of ship sinking accidents. (Maiko)
* I was very surprised because I think that nuclear-powered submarines do no t crash easily as they have a periscope, a sonar, and so on. (Asuka)
* "Is it true?" Because I could not believe that a submarine crashed a ship. (Sota)

> 3. I went to the Japan Times website and read this article called "A Crash and a Culture Clash"
(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?eo20010227na.htm).
This connects with our site purpose because both sides see it through *their* eyes, hearts, and minds.
Here's a paragraph from that article. Could you please respond and tell us your opinion and feelings about this paragraph? Is the quote an accurate description of Japanese culture?

* Considering the families' feelings, I think the Japanese way of expression s is better. (Chie)

* The paragraph shows the difference between Japanese and American ways of t hinking. We cannot say which is right or wrong. (Natsuki)

* It is true that the ship sank, but it has not been confirmed that all the people aboard the Ehime Maru are dead. So it is not right to use the express ion "search for the bodies", and I think it makes the families very unpleasa nt. (Maiko)

* I think it reasonable that the families of those still missing demanded th at the search be continued. I think it wrong to use the expression "bodies" because their death has not been confirmed yet. (Asuka)

* I think it tells the difference of national characteristics of the Japanes e and the American. (Sota)

> 4. This is also another paragraph in the "A Crash and Culture Clash" article. Could you please tell us your opinion about the "feeling of distrust"? Do you feel that way?

* This feeling of distrust may be caused by the "culture clash" between Japan and America. It would not have taken so long time to handle the proble m if it were the case of the Japanese ships. (Chie)

* If the accident happened although the crew of the submarine paid full atte ntion, it couldn't be helped. But the accident was caused by USS Greeneville 's negligence. It is not good that America does not explain about the cause of the accident properly. (Natsuki)

* I feel the same. America should clearly explain the reason why the acciden t happened. (Maiko)

* At first, America hid the fact that civilians had operated the submarine. It cannot be helped that the Japanese have the feeling of distrust that ther e must be more hidden facts. And I also feel distrust. (Asuka)

* I feel so too. (Sota)

> 5. Since we have been working together for a while now to discuss ways to preserve peace can we have your opinion on how you think the situation could have been handled better?

* When Japan demanded the search to be continued, did we explain the Japanes e citizen's feelings and ways of thinking? At the same time, did America exp lain the reason why they proposed ending the search for the missing? More ta lks would have been necessary. (Chie)

* What's done is done.... America should have explained about the situation of the accident much more fairly. (Natuski)

* America should tell whatever happened, and Japan should understand all the details. (Maiko)

* America should not have hidden the truth and should have talked with Japan sincerely. (Asuka)

* American Navy should not have hidden anything. (Sota)

Sincerely,
Chie, Natsuki, Maiko, Asuka, Sota
LABO Torigoe Party