Donghae
Joined: 24 Dec 2003
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
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 Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:08 am Post subject: |
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| shakuhachi wrote: |
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Facts
Japan Then: Colonized Korea and tried to totally wipe out Korea's traditions, language and culture. They used thousands of Korean females as sex slaves during WWII.
Japan Now: Japanese school texts are written in such a way as to make Japan look like a perfect neighbor. There are no references to the crimes commited by the past governments.
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Ive heard all this kind of stuff from Koreans before. That the Japanese do not write about the occupation of Korea (they do). That the Japanese never paid reparations (yes they did - click here). That the Japanese never apologised (they did many times).
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My husband used to translate sometimes for groups of Japanese students visiting Korea, and after they hear what their ancestors did, they ALL cry. |
Absolutely disgusting. I would cry too if my tourguide started attacking me for something I had nothing to do with. Utterly pernicious! |
So you've heard it from Koreans before, and clearly didn't like it. Well, now you can hear it from a non-Korean who presently lives in Japan, can read the Japanese textbooks and has worked in the Japanese education system. It IS true that history textbooks in Japan do now make reference to the occupation of Korea and to what they euphemistically describe as "incidents" involving the Japanese forces on the Asian mainland. So whilst the Koreans you claim have told you "Japanese do not write" about it could be said to be strictly speaking incorrect, they're not exactly way off base given that to say it's glossed over is a massive understatement.
'Make reference to' is the key expression because that's all they do and very, very briefly. And that they even do that is only as a result of pressure from various sources throughout the years, not least a number of very courageous Japanese people who persistently challenged the official whitewashing throughout the last half century.
Granted, many other nations, including and especially English-speaking ones have a less than exemplary record of teaching their own country's previous misdeeds. But (a) that's no excuse for Japan and (b)if other nations presented parts of Japan's history in the same way as Japan does some of the above then we'd read things like
*...some historians believe there is a possibility that the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima was an atomic one and that the number killed was very high but other respected scholars have disputed this...*
As for the guide situation referred to....look, "shakuhachi", do you really think that what happens is that the tour guides pick on the poor Japanese kids saying "look what your ancestors did to us, you jap ****s" or something like that? If you do, then I've got a used car to sell you!! As if a tourguide is going to pick on her customers like this and keep her job.
Attempting to support some of what you wrote on another thread you claimed to be fluent in both Japanese AND Korean, the truth of which I am very unconvinced of. But if I'm wrong to doubt your Korean and Japanese ability, then you would be aware that quite contrary to the ridiculous guide scenario you imagined above, at historical sites in Korea signs are very sensitively translated into Japanese, frequently omitting facts of Japanese misdeeds involving the site concerned.
I've lived in Japan for a number of years, have learned its language and have plenty of good Japanese friends. I would also defend it (and have done many times) against what I see to be unjustified criticisms, particularly from ignorant and arrogant westerners. Personally, I generally find many Japanese to be very decent people. But their knowledge of their own country's role in 20th century history is shocking. A not uncommon view is that little Japan suffered terribly in the war, which the big powerful USA ended with two inexplicable atomic bolts out of the blue.
Incidentally, going back to the point of the original poster that Koreans shouldn't buy Japanese products/appear to have forgotten what Japan did etc... I think he/she has misinterpreted Korean feelings towards Japan. People haven't forgotten, but most have issue with the Japanese regime of the time and to a lesser extent the recent and present Japanese state's attitude, NOT with individuals or products per se. Of the hundreds of Japanese people I've personally met who've been to Korea, some didn't like the place, many loved it but hardly any complained of serious animosity because of past history. Many, many Koreans and Japanese of today very much want to get on well with each other and don't need any moralising westerners telling them how to do it. Having said that, I do think Korea will be at a disadvantage on the products issue in another way. Koreans taking to Japanese imported goods won't be reciprocated in Japan as many Japanese simply won't buy Korean stuff as much as other nations will. |
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