General Japanese Culture Thread

Except for the fact with the recent troubles plenty of people are calling for that line in the constitution to be amended to ditch that. Quite a few don't believe that the U.S. will step up and actually protect Japan.

The topic comes up any time that the islands dispute makes the news.

Well, not to mention that at least a few folks don't want the US military in Japan. If you want the US military out of the country, it stands to reason that you don't want your nation's defense to hinge on the presence of that same US military.

You need to change the minds of the leftists, anti-war (and pro-Article 9) activists and families who don't want the JSDF involved overseas because of their loved ones executed as hostages (with a few exceptions like the one in Cambodia).

The Asia-Pacific region also needs to be convinced of the same thing.

@ Achaemenid

Don't you mean "Tojo?"

edited 29th Jan '15 5:17:38 AM by HallowHawk

Probably. Togo was a naval commander in the Russo-Japanese War. I don't recall if he ever got involved in any of the land-based stuff Japan got into in the early 20th century.

Yes, sorry. Was thinking of Tojo Hideki but wrote about Togo Heihachiro.

I killed fiddy Tojos m'self. They blew off my shins.

Slight tangent: I just found out that one of my co-workers is a Japanese-American citizen who immigrated from the islands. We talked for a bit, and she was impressed by my knowledge about Japanese culture. I explained to her that I've spent the past three years studying every aspect of the country that I could, and she offered to have me discuss some things with her and possibly other Japanese-born faculty members.

If this thing happens (and I really hope it does), I'll let you guys know what I learn.

So how do current people in Japan who know about their WWII era feel about the nation's past atrocities?

Some hate what their government did, some didn't, and some just don't care because they have their own shit to deal with, just like the people of every other country.

It's a pointless question. Countries aren't monolithic blocks.

Opinion polling from the Asahi Shimbum found that 33% of respondents in their 20s and 26% of those in their 30s believed that WWII was not a war of Japanese aggression. A majority of both groups support the Japanese prime minister visiting Yasukuni Shrine, though 43% of those in their 20s were not aware that Class-A war criminals are commemorated there.

This article is instructive.

One guy had this to say to Japan on this issue:

"Makes me want to vomit when I read that ! Japan your are the disgrace of our planet. Just few hours after the ceremonie in Auchwitz you should at least shut your mouth. Take example on our German friends who did a great work of memory and ask for forgiveness. Japan is brainwashing millions of young japanese people since 3 or 4 generation and when you meet some of them who are adults now they tell you that all those crimes, all those sex slaves, all those experimental medical experiences on prisoners are big lies from the rest of the world ! This country is a disgrace and there is no way they recover a full army.

Japan, how do you want to have good relationship with your neighbors when you spit on their grave every single time you can. Do you think Korea, China, Philippines forgot what you did ?

The way you cheat on your proper history is the best way to create soon or later, the same insane criminals you had 80 years ago. History can be a repetition when a country is manipulating its own people like you do. Shame on you!"

You think Japan may end up repeating their atrocities if this goes on?

edited 31st Jan '15 7:47:42 PM by LDragon2

Maybe.

At the very least, I've seen a disturbing acceptance of "Comfort Women" by citizens of Japan lately. I blame part of this on lingering gender inequality and possibly on the fact that comfort women are an extremely common trope in their erotic fiction.

So is Japan no better than they were all those decades ago, as that post I just pasted implying?

"Better" at what, exactly?

Being extremely racist and with a sense of superiority, looking down at all others as inferior and the like.

Basically, their WWII mindset.

I think that's going a bit far, but there's no denying that the government (particularly Ishihara and his bunch) are saying and have made a career out of saying some disturbing things. I think the average Japanese citizen nowadays is ignorant of these issues rather than malicious, which is still dangerous, but it's a mistake saying that the whole country is a cesspit.

For what it's worth, when those in Japan who are ignorant of the fact realize the truth, most of them are horrified at what happened, so it's not like they are still in that WWII mindset.

As for Shinzo Abe, I think he's not so much malicious as he is naive. All he knows is that his grandfather was one of those convicted members who was tried and acquitted for warcrimes, and he is determined to keep his grandaddy's honor intact and as shiny as he can make it appear, but at the cost of his nation's reputation. For him to admit to Japan's past crimes is to admit that his grandpa may have partaken in such acts, and he can't accept that.

That is something rather common with various other countries and leaders after some generations. Like the North and South for like 100 years after the civil war and certain dynasties in China.

edited 1st Feb '15 12:01:53 AM by Memers

I knew the grandson of one of Generalissimo Franco's generals. If you talk to him, the Republicans were a bunch of church-burning monsters bent on mutilation and body horror, and his grandfather did no wrong at all; at worst, he shot a few Commie dogs.

Possibly. I mean, I'm hardly an expert on the matter, but from what I glean from this thread and others, they do seem to have a bit of an inflated sense of nationalism. Also, from what I can glean from their pop culture, they still seem to think of foreigners like these weird mythical creatures that may or may not exist.

Remember, Japan is one of the most homologous societies on the planet. There are very few immigrants.

I think you meant to say "homogenous".

Yes, I did.

Could it be said that Japan is a successful fascist society, that is to say, one that doesn't need to expend huge resources on being a Police State because people police and repress themselves and each other?

edited 1st Feb '15 2:25:40 AM by TheHandle