Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[masako1228]

Hello I'm a Japanese college student.
I often hear saying that Japanese people are hard-working...
Possibly that was right about fifty years ago. But nowadays, some young people don't work so hard
I am shameful as those who live in the same generation

[lou lou]

I think you should all remember that we should never blame sons for the sins of their fathers!

Peace.

[Tonester]

For the record I'm currently a Junior High School English Teacher in Japan from Australia and having studied Japanese language and culture at university I have a few things to say in relation to the comments made in this thread.

As a person who is in Japan for the 3rd time I have come to an understanding that Japan is a country that has felt that it is a unique culture and that no other country can be exactly like it. Most countries have cultures that may be similar but all are different in their own way.

By reading some of the sentiments showing hate for Japan for what happened in World War II and in Nanjing I can understand the pain and suffering that China, Taiwan and Korea went through. I also however feel it's unfair for countries like them to continue saying that all Japanese are bad as the generation of Japanese that committed those atrocities are dying off and the younger Japanese people are understanding what their elders did and feel regret for what happened back then.

Remember that you should never hate anyone because of their nationality or the history of their country no matter what because such attitudes are the reason why countries cannot live in peace. As lou-lou said; the sins of the fathers should not be used against the sons as the sons are innocent and cannot take back the past no matter how bad the deeds of their elders were. Such anti-japanese sentiment based on Japan's military past is as illogical as France still hating Germany and wanting to kill all current generation Germans for their country attacking them in World War II. Those two countries are in peace with each other and are now close friends!!!!!!

I also have Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Singaporean, Indian, Indonesian, Canadian, and British friends and repect them as people because I judge them as people and not because of the country that they are from and regardless of their country's history. If only we could all be able to forget about nationality and focus more on seeing people as human beings with individual personalities.

By saying these things I do not wish to belittle any country's suffering. I just want everyone here to know that war hurts everyone involved and creates tension not resolves it. I feel that it is about time that all the people who still hate Japan based on the military past should meet a current generation Japanese person and try talking with him/her and know that there is no legitimate reason for there to keep holding an over 50 year old grudge against the sons of the generation that committed those terrible things.

This post has been long but after reading what people have written here I felt I just had to reply. I have no intention of trolling or flaming and I give my respect to everyone here.

If anyone feels unhappy with what I've written please tell me as I do like hearing different perspectives.

Thanks,

Tonester