Common sense
In his article Japan through the Looking Glass in the Asia Times, Alexander Bukh nails it squarely when discussing Western media and their coverage of the anti-Japanese demonstrations in Korea and China:
Speaking from the perspective of somebody who is based in Japan, most of the coverage seems to be focused on exploring some imaginary “Japan” that has very little in common with the Japan that I live in and interact with on a daily basis. For me, the numerous articles that discuss Japan’s “whitewashing” of history and its relations with its Asian neighbors…tend to reflect the strong anti-Japanese bias that dominates Western perceptions of Japan.
I share Bukh’s view that the Japan now being vilified by some people both in the East and West exists only in their imaginations–or, in the case of the wartime empire, no longer exists.
He certainly pulls no punches in his blunt appraisal of the comparison of Japan with Germany:
The “German analogy” which is often invoked in the debate is also a simplistic attempt to project the horrors of European history on a totally different region….Japan never had the well-designed and premeditated policy of genocide that is the main characteristic of the European trauma.
I can think of many people I would like to make shave their heads, wear saffron robes, and contemplate the article while standing under a waterfall, but all you have to do is click the link. Just don’t forget the contemplation part.
FWIW the Martin Jacques criticised in the Asia Times article opened his mouth again today - http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1488215,00.html . I sort of fisked it or at least pointed out some places where he was less than fuly correct - http://www.di2.nu/blog.htm?20050520b
May 21st, 2005 at 1:46 amJust to make a point, we only see bad things in the newspaper. If we want an acurate view of how the media portrays a country you have to enclude entertainment as well. Which, while it may be no more accurate, is at least more positive in its view of Japan.
Just playing the devils advocate.
– Richard Zeien
May 21st, 2005 at 8:24 amYou are kidding me right? What a joke of an article. You certainly missed out quoting certain parts as well.
No doubt that Japan’s imperial and colonial policies, just like their European equivalents, were brutal, discriminating and left a deep scar in the hearts of the people of Korea, China and other Asian nations. However, Japan never had the well-designed and premeditated policy of genocide that is the main characteristic of the European trauma.
Hmmm…so because it wasn’t a ‘premeditate’ genocide this means it wasn’t as bad? Give me a break.
Also, while Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s persistent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine cannot be described either as a sensitive or a smart political move, it is also important to know that the shrine is not Japan’s equivalent of Obersalzberg, which has become an area of Neo-Nazi pilgrimage. It is not dedicated to war criminals, but a memorial of all Japanese soldiers who have fallen in the domestic and international wars of Japan, and was built in the 1860s to commemorate the victims of civil war.
Oh Please! That in itself is a whitewashing of Yasukuni. All you have to do is read what is available at the shrine itself. It is the poster child of the glorification of the imperialist period in Japan’s history. When Japan’s own emperor refuses to visit the shrine, there must be something wrong.
In a poll conducted in 2000, when posed with the question of whether or not the Pacific War was a war of aggression, 51% of respondents replied affirmatively, with only 15% denying it. Fifty percent of the respondents expressed belief that the post-war generation bears responsibility for the imperial past. In another survey of university students, conducted by Dr Sven Saaler of Tokyo University, over 70% responded affirmatively to the same question.
And yet 4.5 million sign a petition not to apologize. Heaven forbid they actually do that.
No doubt Japan bears a certain responsibility for the recent wave of anger in China and Korea and the resulting diplomatic frictions. The Japanese leaders seem not to understand that certain acts send the wrong signals to their neighbors.
Gee, ya think so? I think he lets Japan off far to lightly here. Of course, he does live there and seems to be an extreme Japnophile so I guess that is understandable.
This entire article, many parts I didn’t quote, is full of “yeah, there is bad stuff in Japan BUT…” It is the typical way those in the wrong try and justify their positions.
In the US you get the same. “Yeah, the unibomber did the wrong thing but, his ideas on the environment were right!” or “Yeah, targeting abortion doctors is wrong, but they are baby killers!”
I also think Amponten has mischaracterized this article. He continually qualified his remarks, qualifications which Amponten ‘conveniently’ left out.
All in all a poor article showing to the perceptive reader that there are still major problems in Japan that need to be corrected, problems recognized even by a person who seems to love Japan.
I wish other Japnophiles were as perceptive.
May 22nd, 2005 at 4:24 amGreat article.
Very balanced.
“both in Korea and China, the state plays a major role in education, exercising complete control over what textbooks are chosen for usage at schools and put a strong emphasis on “patriotic education”"
Result=>King Ko-ree-u:mrgreen:
May 22nd, 2005 at 10:33 pm