But probably 9 out of 10 people don't know who Hideki Tojo is, the 40th Japanese Prime Minister and General of the Imperial Japanese Army during WW2?
I don't remember much from History class in High school to give facts of what he did but Hideki Tojo is considered by the Japanese as the top evil bastard during WW2. As I am sure Hitler is considered in present day Germany.
So why isn't Tojo as infamous and hated in America as Hitler?
I've never quite figured this one out.
And just in case anyone gets confused, I hate both Hitler and Tojo.
I do not share their beliefs nor their lack of sanity. And I am Japanese American so I'm not trying to bash on the Japanese here either.
I'm just curious. If anyone knows the answer do tell.
2006-07-12 11:35:43 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
OK Sub-question,
So the number of victims you kill is what makes you more famous than the next crazy loony?
2006-07-12 11:43:11 · update #1
I don't know if Tojo was involved or not, but many Japanese war criminals were not punished because the US needed information and cooperation from them for the Occupation as well as to maintain control in the Asian Pacific region. Though the Soviet Union had been an "ally" in the war, there was considerable fear of socialism's growing power. It had quite a bit of a following in Japan pre- as well as post-war.
I'm afraid it's been a while so I don't remember details, but there were quite a few major politicians and companies involved in wartime atrocities who/which have gone on to be very successful. Don't quote me, but I believe the founder of the Japan Foundation (Sasekawa??) and the Mitsubishi Corporation were among the perpetrators.
I'm pretty sure I read this in the Tokyo Journal, among other places, but no doubt you could also find information on the net.
So much of history as we learn it is propaganda. War brings out the evil in all kinds of people, so it's easy enough to find a bad guy. War also gives people in power myriad opportunities to point out which bad guy is worse than another, and to use the effects to their own advantage.
2006-07-12 12:05:54 · answer #1 · answered by byama 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The only reason I can think of for Tojo to be so reviled in Japan would be that he successfully argued against surrender after everything was lost, and prompted the US to drop the two A-Bombs that killed so many. As to why he isn't as infamous in the States as Hitler, Tojo unquestionably commited atrocities, but nothing on the scale of Hitler. On orders from Hitler, there were 11 million people systematially murdered, either gassed, shot, or starved to death.
On your computer, pull up the Hollocoust. There will be material there to give you an idea of what was done.
2006-07-12 11:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heavy, complex question - but a couple of points that might be useful:
- Even more modern textbooks/history books tend to have a more Western slant or focus, for things good and bad. This would center on Germany (and Mussolini in Italy - I always remember him being hammered as 'bad!' in HS) over Japan.
- The West, America especially, tended to view Japan (and probably most of the 'brown people' as George Carlin once said) as a (inferior) mass, not a collection of individuals. A great book on this dehumanization (on both sides of the WWII propaganda) is 'War Without Mercy' by John W. Dower
2006-07-12 11:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by aaron_mucciolo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hitler is infamous for his genocide killings....did Tojo do same as Hitler? There are many infamous mad men like Tojo and others that have killed their own people or others....just cause theyre not in the "limelight" doesnt mean people dont know of them
2006-07-12 11:40:52 · answer #4 · answered by celine8388 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The propaganda of WWII was all about how bad, and evil Hitler was. Everyone in america, or rather, the press of America, focused on Hitler and all his doings. We fed off of it, and the wrong doings of Japans leader just sort of faded in the background, I do believe.
Thats just my idea.
If Hitler, or Tojo could have used their intellegence in some other way, maybe this question wouldn't even be pondered.
2006-07-12 11:39:24 · answer #5 · answered by ml_fiore_2005 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hitler is a complicated figure, he replaced right into a genius (socially, he ought to rally and encourage people) yet to boot a lunatic (ordering a genocide) data factors that he had many psychological themes and replaced into on methamphetamines. Later in the conflict he psychological state worsened, many extreme-score nazis needed to provide up yet hitler wa keen to win or die attempting. Hitler had continually deliberate on attacking russia, the clarification he signed a treaty replaced into to shop them out even as his blitzgrieg stress overtook each eastern eu u . s . a . between germany and russia. It replaced right into a good tactic genuinely. Russia notwithstanding, ought to have not joined germany's part in the conflict. too a lot hate. and no matter if or not they did bounce in the U. S. ought to have nevertheless got here in anyhow. We were making plans on jumping in, we knew the eastern were launching an attack, we %. up scouts on radar in the weeks preferable as a lot because it. We enable it ensue as an excuse to hitch. If we hadn't joined, a huge area of the international should be conversing german immediately and the interest nazi would not encourage the dislike that it does at present. Hitle performed russia like a mess round, yet were given a splinter even as doing so. wish this permits
2016-11-01 22:54:19 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess is, he's known as the crazy evil bastard of Germany, because he wasn't the crazy evil bastard of Japan. Did Tojo make it his lifes purpose to "cleanse" the world of a whole race of people? This is one thing I do know....Hitler wasn't even German. The man came from Austria. He moved to Germany and declared himself the ruler. He took it upon himself to try to extinguish all jews in Germany, (and the world). The man, I believe was another one of Satan's spawn. As are all dictators.
2006-07-12 11:48:51 · answer #7 · answered by willowdove 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best I can say at the moment is see "The Pianist", he was brutal .. He killed so many jews without any reasons .. he is not analogus to Hideki Tojo. Just read below http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/hitler_audio.shtml
2006-07-12 11:44:21 · answer #8 · answered by Deepak 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tojo didn't summarily execute 6 million people like Hitler did.
Funny how history works, isn't it.
2006-07-12 11:40:06 · answer #9 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hiter killed millions...That is why he is very well known
Dont get me wrong I hate that bastard but before WW2 he was a good man.
After WW1 he helped germany out of its depression and got germany back to its feet
2006-07-12 11:39:35 · answer #10 · answered by thatsob01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋