Job Discussion Forums

[organix]

Im curious how Japan is reacting to the events that are happening in China right now. Im a foreign teacher in Shenzhen, so I can witness it firsthand. I did miss the 10,000 strong protest in SZ yesterday as I was in Hong Kong, but I was brought to the front lines in class today, which was "you are the teacher" day. One of my students launched into a tirade of why Japan should not be able to join the UN. I doubt she even knows the purpose of the UN. Another student "taught" the class how to draw a Japanese person (it came out looking like a fat turtle) The level of hatred for Japanese is intense. I hadnt really noticed it until now.

So how are the Japanese people and particularly the students reacting to the events that are happening right now in China? Whats the general public opinion and perception of Chinese people and of the whole textbook issue?

[Glenski]

Be careful about turning this into a political, instead of teaching, thread.

I would say that to get an idea of how the general public thinks, you should read online The Japan Times or some other newspaper. In my high school, the topic just doesn't come up. Kids are just starting school, so they have things more urgent and closer to home on their minds right now.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Cshannon]

[Gordon]

This is not something I'll bring up in my university classes either. It is the beginning of the school year and first impressions are vital. I would like to talk to a few students outside of the classroom and ask as I too am curious. This is a good topic though. My guess is they will say: China is bad, Japan is the victim. Why do they hate us. I do feel sorry for the Chinese living in Japan, wouldn't be surprised if they get victimized here, sort of a reciprocal agreement.

[Travel Zen]

The feelings of hatred are intense in China. I know two japanese women who felt threatened physically by all this. One quit her job and left China some time ago.

Having first-hand experience in China, i would easily say that the government fosters this hatred in many ways.

On thelevision just last week tv shows of 'the hated' japanese killing and looting. Chinese actors dressed in japanese army garb overdoing the blood and guts, chinese patriots rallying their people to hate the oppressors.

Images of Japan, women in kimonos and such, being hit and spat on by chinese men. Stupid, hateful things that I see on tv.


There's going to be war in Asia soon enough.

[organix]

we are all adults here and this topic as stated above does fit within the parameters of the forum. i just want to know what the kids in your classes think about china/chinese. i have first hand experience in chinese classrooms, but not in japanese classrooms, so im curious for the sake of comparison. the fact that its the beginning of the school year is noted. i teach J3 and S1 so perhaps my kids are a bit older and more informed than yours. but any bit of information, however small, in response to my orginal question would be appreciated. thanks.

[guest of Japan]

Come on Glenski, the ban on politics was on the general forum. This is a regional difficulty that has the possibility to truly effect the lives of us living in Japan and those living in China.

When the riots were on the news the other night my wife said to me, "They hate us." To which I could only reply "yes."

The way I see it, the Chinese government has a whole lot of problems ready to boil over. It's directing the anger of the Chinese citizenry toward an outside antogonist.

If I were a high powered Japanese government official (and problably it's lucky for Japan I'm not) I'd propose a full scale trade ban on China. The Chinese government would quickly change tack.

[AndyH]

Regimes which are corrupt, incompetent, or disrespectful of civil liberties often try to wind their people up against other countries, to divert attention away from their own shortcomings.
China is a good example.