Khaldon Azhari, Tokyo

While taken by surprise, Japanese people, traditionally respectful of the law, saw Carlos Ghosn's fleeing the country's judicial system as merely a "coward act by a person who was given the chance to make his case to the court".

Comments from Japanese people on the news about the escape of Carlos Ghosn published in various media websites expressed mostly negative views not only on Ghosn but also on Japan "that needs to get a grip" on itself and not be "humiliated" again.

Most comments are written under anonymity with no description of their job titles. They are considered credible and reflective of the Japanese views of the events.

On the escape of Ghosn one comment said, "It is unbelievable for Carlos Ghosn to escape alone. It is a great escape drama that must have been achieved with the support of his wife and his friends. It is equivalent to Kim Dae-jun’s kidnapping incident as it is an infringement of sovereignty of Japan."

Another writer was "surprised to know that France issued multiple passports to the same person. As far as it is possible to obtain multiple passports from France and other industrialized nations, it is necessary to introduce an authentication system of faces and fingerprints for an entry-exit screening in cooperation with passengers’ native countries from the standpoint of anti-terrorism measures."

One writer advised Ghosn’s daughter "to understand her father’s mean humanity as long as she was not informed about his escape."

With Japan’s national pride taking a beating with this escape, one writer said, "Carlos Ghosn looked down on Japan. It won’t be surprising if any terrorism attack takes place in Japan and Japan will be invaded by some other countries.

Another one said, "after all, Japan is a mere defeated country" reflecting the bitter memories of the WW2 still lingering in the memories of the Japanese.

"Carlos Ghosn took a big bite of Nissan. He must have mistaken Nissan for his own. It is suitable to think that Nissan should have been vanished," one comment blames.

And the mass media has its share in this comment, "I don’t want media to report about Carlos Ghosn who won’t get back to Japan again and won’t be put on a trial any more. Media should report more about the big failure of the Japanese government this time.

Ghosn’s personality and integrity was also attacked by this writer, "his (Ghosn) human quality is the same of an extraordinary dictator somewhere."

Another lashed out at Ghosn but also tried to be fair and balanced by saying, "It is true that Carlos Ghosn is a master thief. It is also true that Japan is an iron-fist nation. Finally, Japan is going to reform its judiciary by the master thief. It is a well-known story that Japan could set itself right only with pressure from outside."

The country of Lebanon was not spared by some angry comments one of which demanded Olympic sanctions.

"I don’t want Lebanon to join the Tokyo Olympic Games. If that happened in Europe, it could be a war!"

Another one asked the Japanese government to "stop its yen-loan to Lebanon", while this writer made a legal approach "Japan should deal with Lebanon that backed up Carlos Ghosn in a determined manner as its pride was severely damaged by that country."

One comment said "Lebanese people who have been demonstrating since October last year for political and economic justice will never be supportive of Ghosn's escaping justice.

In the same line, a writer said, "I don't think Lebanese citizens will ever forgive."

The extreme call was made by this comment to cut ties with Lebanon. "I think Lebanon cannot protect Carlos Ghosn any more as the ICPO issued a red notice against him. It is natural for Japan to end diplomatic relations with Lebanon if it is going to protect him."

But the mother of all angry comments came from one who said, "Ghosn's act is simply nothing less than a criminal one by human small enough to be squeezed in a music box".