2007-12-14 18:47:23 · 14 answers · asked by benny 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Oh Benny... I teach international students, and we constantly have many heated discussions over what happened during WWII. The Chinese and Korean students are taught in their schools that the Japanese army was a demon army that delighted in killing not only soldiers, but innocent women and children. The cruelty of the Japanese army was exemplified in the way that they treated civilians. Korean women were forced to be comfort prostitutes to help the Japanese soldiers. Japanese soldiers used their bayonets to cut open pregnant women and kill their babies.
On the other hand, Japanese students are taught that the Chinese used women and children as forces to link hands and protect the Chinese soldiers and people. (This was also the case in the Middle East.) The horrors of the Rape of Nanking were only committed by about 20% of the Japanese army, while the rest of the army looked on in terrible pain. No one mentions how many men of the Japanese army
cried themselves to sleep and wished they could have their mothers cook for them and their girlfriends hold them.
Fear and fanatacism fueled this mess.
They know that these things happened, and are deeply ashamed. In my classroom, Korean and Chinese students
like to attack the Japanese students, who were taught a different history. I tell them that Germany has paid out much money and reparations. The Japanese are filled with shame and do not wish to get this message out.
My message to all my students: You are the hope of the world. Do NOT let any of this happen again.
My Japanese students bow to me and thank me.
I bow back.
2007-12-14 19:26:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Let it go, there are very few Japanese people alive today who are guilty of any wrongdoing. Most countries have done something terrible at some point in their history, we can't hold it against future generations who had no part in it.
2007-12-15 02:52:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
In japan honor and respect are very important. It's why they greet each other by bowing. Japanese go to great lengths to ensure one does not " lose face " by being dishonored. Japan knows it's army did terrible things in ww2 , but talking about it is difficult for them. It causes them to " lose face " with the rest of the world. That loss of respect and honor is very difficult for them. Especially when the Japanese that did these things mostly dead now.
2007-12-15 04:44:00 · answer #3 · answered by old-bald-one 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
very simple. In their eyes they didn't do anything wrong. just as with today's conflicts, we were viewed as the "wrong doers." Now, why assume they were wrong? they were only trying to do the same thing every other nation was and is doing. trying to expand and protect. "Manifest Destiny," ring any bells? We, as Americans believed in the right to own all the land we could see. Were we wrong? if not for that, it is possible that we would not be in the same situation economically and technologically that we are today. Were the Spanish, Dutch, French or English wrong when they came to colonize the Americas? It is quite funny how often we view others as "wrong" after doing the very same things we ourselves have done. You could say,"Well, i had a good reason to do it." Did they not? Did you know their situation as well as your own? Perhaps they had a better reason for the action than you yourself did. Who would be wrong in that situation?
2007-12-15 04:25:21 · answer #4 · answered by Dezz44 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Nazis gas chambers took most of the heat off of the japanese, who were absolute monsters. Their behavior toward the Chinese and the Koreans was one of the most appalling acts of the 20th Century. Who wants to admit to those atrocities?
2007-12-15 04:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by Richard M 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
dezz and old bald both have good answers,japan lost ,to a japanese losing is dishonour,i dont think they feel dishonour from evil actions as much as 'we lost' 'we let our emperor down',they felt they were the USA of the far east and wanted [like usa does now] to dominate their sphere of influance.they never really wanted to tangle with america,yamamoto said to emperor 'i can give them hell for a year but then we will lose' he was correct.
2007-12-15 05:36:56 · answer #6 · answered by ole man 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are any of us responsible for the actions of our grandparents? We live in the here and now, let us go forward to a brighter tomorrow and try not to repeat historical mistakes.
2007-12-15 11:41:31 · answer #7 · answered by acmeraven 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
At this point, does it really matter. Think about it. I am sure your life could not possibly be any better due to it. And if it is, it is because you have made it that way. move on
2007-12-15 03:05:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They've actually apologized -- several times. It's just that they didn't word their apology the exact way the Chinese government wanted them to word it.
2007-12-15 02:51:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its natural for Japanese. Read more about them u shall know
2007-12-15 04:18:20 · answer #10 · answered by Mike 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋