Aljazeera recently hosted a brief discussion on the Nanjing Massacre between a Chinese historian and a professor of Japanese history. It is available on Youtube
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Well, that's definitely a very frightening topic, and I must admit that I was myself barely aware of Nanjing until we had a japanese historian and his lawyer (Kasahara Tokushi and Oyama Hiroshi) passing in my university to talk about how the japanese government tries (and unfortunately obviously achieves) to deny that the massacre ever happened. I'm very far from being an expert on that matter, but what scared me most on that topic is the unfortunately successful brainwashing in the japanese national education system, which shows that it is still very possible to manipulate a large part of the population even in so-called non-totalitarian nations. When you think that there are even popular manga series (whose name I can't remember right now, sorry) published to deny the massacre and that they are read by a lot of children and youths, that's just... scary. Very very scary. Fortunately, there are not only Chinese and other non-japanese who are trying to make the world aware of that, but also a few Japanese, like this historian and the
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which shows that it is still very possible to manipulate a large part of the population even in so-called non-totalitarian nations.
Japan is only a democracy on paper.
When you think that there are even popular manga series (whose name I can't remember right now, sorry) published to deny the massacre and that they are read by a lot of children and youths
wow, this is sure an hard topic... I studied japanese war crimes during the 2nd world war 'cause I' studying japanese and chinese language at university so I'm aware of the problem, but many people don't know anything and many times I've been asked 'why chinese people hate so much japanese?' I don't know if official excuses from tha japanese government can solve every problem between Japan and east and south est Asian people... bout sure it would be hepful!
is it sure that prime ministers who still visit Yasukuni shrine aren't helpful at all -____-
The Japanese pacifist left wing is dying off. That's the biggest change I see on the Japanese side.
In China and Korea, hostility to Japan over the war has been there continuously. My guess is that prosperity makes it less likely that it will translate into action.
Yeah, nationalism in Japan is rising to an extent, but honestly most of the university students I ever spoke to couldn't give a flying peice of fugu sushi about international politics. The girls are concerned about Gucci bags. The boys needed to arrange the next drinking party.
This is a very scary topic for me because it makes me wonder what my government might be hiding from me.
I was thinking about writing a research paper on this and asking some local Taiwanese students and Japanese internationals on this topic, but I think with this topic I might end up biting off more than I can chew.
I have never heard people in China speak of Japan but in extremely hostile terms. It is sad that so few people there seem to think for themselves, or to have the means, know-how or desire to cut through the government's propaganda. On the other hand, my sense has been that the Japanese are pretty much the same way when it comes to their neighbor.
Taiwan's feelings toward Japan were much more ambivalent and moderate. Some older people detest Japan, but the younger ones import Japanese pop culture and do business with them left and right. But then again, the Japanese treatment of Taiwan was less harsh, and they did leave behind a few good things in Taiwan, like infrastructure and, well, manners.
How can it be so hard for each country to see that it is better for each if they are allies, not enemies? Ah, nationalism...
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I'm very far from being an expert on that matter, but what scared me most on that topic is the unfortunately successful brainwashing in the japanese national education system, which shows that it is still very possible to manipulate a large part of the population even in so-called non-totalitarian nations. When you think that there are even popular manga series (whose name I can't remember right now, sorry) published to deny the massacre and that they are read by a lot of children and youths, that's just... scary. Very very scary.
Fortunately, there are not only Chinese and other non-japanese who are trying to make the world aware of that, but also a few Japanese, like this historian and the ( ... )
Reply
Japan is only a democracy on paper.
When you think that there are even popular manga series (whose name I can't remember right now, sorry) published to deny the massacre and that they are read by a lot of children and youths
If you think that is something, check this out:
( ... )
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I don't know if official excuses from tha japanese government can solve every problem between Japan and east and south est Asian people... bout sure it would be hepful!
is it sure that prime ministers who still visit Yasukuni shrine aren't helpful at all -____-
Reply
Reply
In China and Korea, hostility to Japan over the war has been there continuously. My guess is that prosperity makes it less likely that it will translate into action.
Reply
Reply
I was thinking about writing a research paper on this and asking some local Taiwanese students and Japanese internationals on this topic, but I think with this topic I might end up biting off more than I can chew.
Reply
Taiwan's feelings toward Japan were much more ambivalent and moderate. Some older people detest Japan, but the younger ones import Japanese pop culture and do business with them left and right. But then again, the Japanese treatment of Taiwan was less harsh, and they did leave behind a few good things in Taiwan, like infrastructure and, well, manners.
How can it be so hard for each country to see that it is better for each if they are allies, not enemies? Ah, nationalism...
Reply
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