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Jay Lee
Usernames sjade1, boxofmochi Bday March 29 Gender The one with PMS powers Life Graphic Design & Web Development Supporting Roles Artist. Musician. Code Freak. Entrepreneur. Planning Elopement with Japan. Communities AP | MT | DA MSN boxofmochi @ hotmail SKYPE mykorokke -
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Japan and WWII
Saturday, September 12, 2009 | Posted by Jay This might be one of the touchiest topics between America and Japan, and while studying in Kyoto as an American exchange student, it was bound to come up some time. To my surprise, however, it came up in one of the largest lecture classes available in the university, with about 98% of the 500-550 students being regular Japanese college students.
The lecturer was a retired British BBC reporter who was, interestingly, at the scene of Tiananmen Square 20 years ago. He had us watch several politically sensitive films that discussed the Showa Emperor (Emperor Hirohito from World War II), and Japan's and America's situation before and after Hirohito's final surrender. Many of these films were banned in the past due to some fear of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia), and even now are difficult to see in Japan.
I am not a Japanese citizen, and cannot understand what it must feel like to be a part of a country that lost a World War, or a country suffering from war guilt. I can only try to take note of the opinions of both sides of the war. I decided to post some of the comments that were shared among the students (the authors' names were kept secret). They're really quite interesting to read.
Note that these were written word for word in English by Japanese university students. Nothing has been translated.
The Showa Emperor's failure led to Japan's collapse, so he is a war criminal.
Hirohito was never held responsible for his role in WWII and some ultra-nationalists still try to justify the emperor's involvement. Japan has prospered but suffered guilt.
We all know WWII was the biggest mistake ever and the decision was made by him. If the film was correct, he was totally childish.
Japan doesn't want to admit it's wrong but actually feels regret about what it did.
Japan gave people a brain wash, Japanese government politics is not correct.
Since he was regarded so highly, it might be considered rude to assume what he did and for what reasons.
If people attack the emperor, the people who guard or protect the imperial family will fight us.
Some people don't want to accept the fact that Japan was defeated, but the Showa Emperor caused the war and should be judged as a war criminal.
The decision made by the Showa Emperor was wrong. It wasn't possible to win the war and he didn't think about what would happen after the surrender.
The emperor who advanced the war was the symbol of the Japanese nation yet he was not punished. Japanese people fought for him and then he changed 180 degrees. This contradiction makes us feel like we lost our mind.
People may believe that the Pacific War led to the bombing of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the atrocity bombing of Tokyo.
Thinking about the situation in Japan at the time, it is difficult to conclude who is wrong.
Hitoshi Motoshima, the former mayor of Nagasaki, was shot for talking about the responsibility of WWII in Japan. That shows the subject is taboo.
The Showa Emperor attacked China with armed intervention. He supported fascism and led Japan into WWII, so the damage is the result of his decision.
Japanese went to the battlefield fully aware it might cost them their life, for him. The matter was a great shock to Japan.
"Blood" (chi) is the keyword to understand Japanese history. Blood of "holy" imperial lineage, and blood of the many people who died.
When I was in high school, we studied persons of great renown such as Ito Hirobumi and Oda Nobunaga, their background was written about in detailed, concrete terms, but when it came to Emperor Hirohito, it's just a "name." He is still far from us.
Unlike post-Nazi Germany, where German citizens are very open about their feelings of war guilt, the Japanese hardly ever discuss their part in WWII. Being able to hear all these different views from current Japanese university students was definitely an eye-opening experience.- Megori
- Ongaku
- 2 Commented
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Megori @ Wednesday, September 16, 2009 -- 11:08 am
Lol. Ongaku mentioned an interesting post here, so I came running along. I do have to agree, I have been curious as well. It's nice to know what they think rather than continuously assuming. Though, in a sense, I can kind of understand why it's difficult to want to discuss such actions too. I'm just glad they were able to freely voice themselves in this manner. It's interesting.
It was definitely hard to talk about. Most Japanese just say "well...what about it?" when you ask them.
Ongaku @ Wednesday, September 16, 2009 -- 10:06 am
That is very interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I always wondered what the average Japanese thought about it.
^_^ Happy I could share!
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