NationStates Jolt Archive

I know something like this has been posted before, but I think it was more centered around american hatred toward the Japenese. I wanted to know what the asian perspective was. Korea was under harsh Japenese control for 35 years, and had to endure many atrocities. And parts of China that were under Japenese control also suffered horrible atrocities, as did other parts of asia that were under Japenese control. That generation has passed, and I wanted to know if these people have forgiven Japan. Being korean, I feel koreans really haven't let go.

P.S. No offense to any Japenese, I have many Japenese friends.

A lot of Hong Kong Chinese haven't let go. We had anti-Japanese demonstration a few months ago. But most of us aren't interested in history and international relations, and our government doesn't pump us with patriotic education, so we're quite cool.

But we haven't let go.

haha sure... why should we forgive the Japs?

Apologies from Japan is useless because we know they would never regret their wrongdoings.

edit: I admit that the Chinese community in my hometown (including myself) haven't let go either.

SHAME ON JAPAN!

haha sure... why should we forgive the Japs?

Apologies from Japan is useless because we know they would never regret their wrongdoings.

edit: I admit that the Chinese community in my hometown (including myself) haven't let go either.

SHAME ON JAPAN!

DOWN WITH JAPAN! WE LIKE NOTHING OF IT!

Except their sushi, anime, quality cars and quality electronics! :D

JUST JOKING! NO OFFENCE INTENDED!

haha sure... why should we forgive the Japs?

Apologies from Japan is useless because we know they would never regret their wrongdoings.

edit: I admit that the Chinese community in my hometown (including myself) haven't let go either.

SHAME ON JAPAN!


How is this any different from the Germans? Let people are okie with them. currently they work very very hard to whitewash the past by making anything historical from that time vanish.

For example, any world war 2 video games the german flag at the time is banned from the games. Sometimes they so far as to even remove hitler as the leader of that country, or rename him. For example the game Hearts of iron 2 a very very detailed world war 2 sim, with 15,000 leaders from around the world in its massive database. The german version all the german leaders are mispelled, Hickler or something like that, and in ALL versions world wide the german flag is the old imperial german flag.

DOWN WITH JAPAN! WE LIKE NOTHING OF IT!
lol
Except their sushi, anime, quality cars and quality electronics! :D
Sushi = good but sub par to my standard, 'cause its too sweet!

Anime = annoying

Quality cars = I drive a Pontiac

Quality electronics = I admit they make good MP3 players, especially Sony :D

DOWN WITH JAPAN! WE LIKE NOTHING OF IT!

Except their sushi, anime, quality cars and quality electronics! :D

JUST JOKING! NO OFFENCE INTENDED!
*Falls off his chair, laughing hard* Yeah, DAMN STRAIGHT!

You know, the sad part is that most Japanese do know what their country did, they are sorry about what happened and never want to see it happpen again, they LIKE Korea AND China, but are wondering why this keeps getting brought up and when it will be let go, and why the two countries keep interfearing in Japan's internal afairs.

Most Chinese and Koreans I know also like Japanese people, they DO love Japanese products, but can't seem to let this one go for some reason (I have my theories about that though).

Personally, yes, I think Japan has not really faced, as a nation, about what happened, and its idiot politicans have not been helping matters (But to be fair, every country has them. I mean, a Chinese general just said he would nuke the US). But I also think that Korea(s) and China need to also start getting over this and moving on. It's no longer even about what happened as it is about trying to take down Japan.

And as it has been noted, it is espcially silly in the light of most of the populations in the countries in question happen to like each other, and the toys that they make.

*Falls off his chair, laughing hard* Yeah, DAMN STRAIGHT!

You know, the sad part is that most Japanese do know what their country did, they are sorry about what happened and never want to see it happpen again, they LIKE Korea AND China, but are wondering why this keeps getting brought up and when it will be let go, and why the two countries keep interfearing in Japan's internal afairs.

Most Chinese and Koreans I know also like Japanese people, they DO love Japanese products, but can't seem to let this one go for some reason (I have my theories about that though).

Personally, yes, I think Japan has not really faced, as a nation, about what happened, and its idiot politicans have not been helping matters (But to be fair, every country has them. I mean, a Chinese general just said he would nuke the US). But I also think that Korea(s) and China need to also start getting over this and moving on. It's no longer even about what happened as it is about trying to take down Japan.

And as it has been noted, it is espcially silly in the light of most of the populations in the countries in question happen to like each other, and the toys that they make.

The problem is that rightists and uber-nationalists are on the rise in Japan again. Some of them think that Japan lost to the war because they were unlucky, and given the chances they would take up arms against the world order again. They are being aggressive. We are being defensive.

come on, its been 60 years. but of course, if i was the president of the U.S. when we took over japan, it would now be called the Oriental Coastal Colony Of The United States :D

The problem is that rightists and uber-nationalists are on the rise in Japan again. Some of them think that Japan lost to the war because they were unlucky, and given the chances they would take up arms against the world order again. They are being aggressive. We are being defensive.
Not as much as it is reported in the medias of China and Korea, which is why I say that this issue has moved beyond what happened and is now mainly in the realm of politcal use (for the nationalists on BOTH sides). While Kozumi IS an idiot who keeps going to Yasukuni Jinja, public opinion is not with him on this. A good chunk of the Japanese population is horrified and discusted at the actions and rhetoric being tossed around you know.

Not as much as it is reported in the medias of China and Korea, which is why I say that this issue has moved beyond what happened and is now mainly in the realm of politcal use (for the nationalists on BOTH sides). While Kozumi IS an idiot who keeps going to Yasukuni Jinja, public opinion is not with him on this. A good chunk of the Japanese population is horrified and discusted at the actions and rhetoric being tossed around you know.

I agree. The real issue is actually contemporary political. We have one economic giant (Japan) who is intent on keeping being one, one gigantic potential juggernaut (China), and a little one that is trying to keep on the top (Korea). History is just one of the political tactics the governments are juggling to get ahead of one another. But the civilians don't know better. I know a lot of Mainland Chinese youths who, encouraged by the government, still believe that Japan is a little country full of marauding savages. Beijing just wants to keep public opinion off domestic policies, but it's not going to achieve that with just pushing people to blame Japan for China's previous problems.

Yes should New Zealand forgive Japan no.

I agree. The real issue is actually contemporary political. We have one economic giant (Japan) who is intent on keeping being one, one gigantic potential juggernaut (China), and a little one that is trying to keep on the top (Korea). History is just one of the political tactics the governments are juggling to get ahead of one another. But the civilians don't know better. I know a lot of Mainland Chinese youths who, encouraged by the government, still believe that Japan is a little country full of marauding savages. Beijing just wants to keep public opinion off domestic policies, but it's not going to achieve that with just pushing people to blame Japan for China's previous problems.
Which does seem to be the case. It seems that this is a Chinese pressure valve for the central goverment to keep the people from taking to the streets. In Korea, its president was seriously embattled until he embarked on a "Blaim Japan and the US" (he alternates every other week) program.

Given that in another 10-20 years pretty much everybody involved is gonna be dead, it really doesn't fucking matter. Sorry, but in my opinion the sins of the father DO NOT pass onto the son.

Given that in another 10-20 years pretty much everybody involved is gonna be dead, it really doesn't fucking matter. Sorry, but in my opinion the sins of the father DO NOT pass onto the son.

But now the sons are doing wrong because they are thinking of altering the facts of history and taking territory which is not theirs.

I'm not so concerned about Japan's pass sins than Japan's current direction; the current economic downturn has meant Japan's ultra-right wing is becoming increasingly popular and its testing its waters in international affairs again, sending troops to Iraq (in defiance of its post-war Constitution).

Round 2...anytime soon?

As an American, I see Japan as our best ally.

We never should have taken away their right to have a military, hopefully they'll amend their pacifist constitution and start taking a more active role in the world.

Japan is our only reliable ally in Asia in combating international socialism.

As an American, I see Japan as our best ally.

We never should have taken away their right to have a military, hopefully they'll amend their pacifist constitution and start taking a more active role in the world.

Japan is our only reliable ally in Asia in combating international socialism.

We didn't. Just thier right to deploy that military outside of Japan's own territory. It's not like thier Army ever acted without government sanction outside thier own territory or anything, like invade Manchuria.

I think they should, I don't see Japan going to war with anyone that isn't in anime form these days and most of the people who did the stuff to them is either dead or sorry, You people could never completely forgive Japan but The japan of the past seemed to always be fighting either themselves or other people but the Japan of today don't even want to get involved in many war issues (Besides unlike my people (The American's) I think that the Japanese would of learned from their mistakes). I don't think that the grudge should be held aginst the people so much as the ones that were in power and the people who still support the old rule. Germany has mostly been forgave for WW2 but the Nazi's have never been forgave because they were the ones who caused the whole thing

Not until Japan attempts to make things right.

What about the biological weopon testings they performed during Chinese occupation?

They have to compensate for that.

It's so stupid how they're denying that it happened when it's been proven.

Hell, I'm still not understanding why so many idiots think America shouldn't have dropped the bombs.

Japan back then isn't Japan as it is now. The Rape of Nanking was justification enough to treat them like hostile assholes. Japan was a rabid dog back in WW2. I am not surprised China reacts as it does with Japan's government. (Though not the people. I need my ****ing playstation 3 for crying outloud.)

I wouldn't blame any Japanese person at the age of 50 and under. But those who lived during the war have a LOT to answer for no different than a nazi. Especially those who partook in the military actions. Those zealots were crazy.

I just cannot believe that cultures that are so much older than mine just don't seem to foster any sense of history in their peoples.
Both in Korea and China crap has happened before, and crap may very well happen again.
But instead of just getting over it (as Germans, French, British and Russians have for example - and even the Vietnamese have with the Yanks), those elements in China and Korea are just fostering the material for a new conflict.

So I say they should prove that their culture is worth the millennia and just walk away from a fight and forgive.

I feel that the situation East Asia is majorly screwed up. Neither of the two sides in the moral conflict is really doing things right. I feel Japan has a lot to make up for. You shouldn't forget your history, especially if it is shameful. That's when you have a heightened responsibility to ensure that it remains remembered. That aside, I was apalled by the anti-Japanese protests in Beijing recently; it reminded me of "Kauft nicht beim Juden!" (Don't buy at the Jew's) signs put up by storm troopers prior to the Nazi takeover.

Germany and France have managed to make peace and we've been in conflict ever since we ceased being the same country.

I just cannot believe that cultures that are so much older than mine just don't seem to foster any sense of history in their peoples.
Both in Korea and China crap has happened before, and crap may very well happen again.
But instead of just getting over it (as Germans, French, British and Russians have for example - and even the Vietnamese have with the Yanks), those elements in China and Korea are just fostering the material for a new conflict.

So I say they should prove that their culture is worth the millennia and just walk away from a fight and forgive.

You DO realize that:

1. They are a DIFFERENT culture than yours.

2. European countries have less natural boarders between most of its nations than that of Asian countries which causes people to have to deal with other nation's citizens less.

It has NOTHING to do with a nation's history leading to its development. A nation is not a person. It is a community with its own culture. I don't see why you have this pretty bad analogy for nations and people's life spans, but you REALLY need to learn the nature of how people in communities behave. Take the Spartans. They were completely alien and within a few days distance from Athens. Their "growth" was the result of a cultural ideas. Not its city state's age since its founding.

In fact, this isn't the first time I've seen this foolish concept before.

You DO realize that:

1. They are a DIFFERENT culture than yours.

2. European countries have less natural boarders between most of its nations than that of Asian countries which causes people to have to deal with other nation's citizens less.

It has NOTHING to do with a nation's history leading to its development. A nation is not a person. It is a community with its own culture. I don't see why you have this pretty bad analogy for nations and people's life spans, but you REALLY need to learn the nature of how people in communities behave. Take the Spartans. They were completely alien and within a few days distance from Athens. Their "growth" was the result of a cultural ideas. Not its city state's age since its founding.

In fact, this isn't the first time I've seen this foolish concept before.It's not as foolish as it sounds. There wasn't much room for forgiveness on sides of the French and the Germans. But we managed to get off of our asses and make peace and friendship. We managed to do this after the biggest catastrophe of the last century and while the cultures may be different, that's not an excuse for how both sides have bungled it.

Additionally, I recall there being problems with minorities in each other's territory, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

Long live Japan!

It's not as foolish as it sounds. There wasn't much room for forgiveness on sides of the French and the Germans. But we managed to get off of our asses and make peace and friendship. We managed to do this after the biggest catastrophe of the last century and while the cultures may be different, that's not an excuse for how both sides have bungled it.

Additionally, I recall there being problems with minorities in each other's territory, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

It is a foolish concept. Take a basic class in sociology or something. The french and germans are walking distance from one another along its boarders. Businesses and customers from both countries eventually meet one another through much traveling between borders. Germany and France are the size of some US states and travel is a regular occurance between people within the boarder regions. Thus, people from both countries exchanged and communicated with one another much more often than a Japanese and Chinese person could. France and Germany rural countrymen had to DEAL with one another every day for sixty years. Not so with Asian countries the likes of China, Japan, and Korea.

Africa will be a prosperous continent before Asians get along....

Should they? In the warm-fuzzy world where everyone gets along; sure.

But how can you convince people to forgive each other? Heck, I'd settle for a couple of generations passing and everyone forgetting the whole affair. Pretty soon they'd find new things to kill each other over.

No, so long as they don't Balkanize or something like that, I'll be reasonably pleased.

It is a foolish concept. Take a basic class in sociology or something. The french and germans are walking distance from one another along its boarders. Businesses and customers from both countries eventually meet one another through much traveling between borders. Germany and France are the size of some US states and travel is a regular occurance between people within the boarder regions. Thus, people from both countries exchanged and communicated with one another much more often than a Japanese and Chinese person could. France and Germany rural countrymen had to DEAL with one another every day for sixty years. Not so with Asian countries the likes of China, Japan, and Korea.Not if the borders get closed. I'm sorry, but you can't blame the issue solely on culture and geographical differences.

Forgive? Yeah. Forget? No.

Though it's in the past, we shouldn't carry our hatred towards the Japanese, But we shouldn't just pretend it didn't happened either.

Hmm.. There should be a lesson in all these.

I'm Chinese btw, and I love Sashimi. :)

Of course they should forgive. The Japan that exists today is not the Japan that exists then. You cannot hold the sons responsible for their fathers' actions, nor can you hold a democracy accountable for the crimes of an autocracy.

I think the reason many Chinese and Koreans haven't let go is because no one really knew about it until recently. It was greatly overshadowed by the Jewish Holocaust (another great tradgedy). What happened in China is just getting out, and what happened in Korea is largly unknown in the western world. I think that many Koreans and Chinese haven't let go is because the lack of recognition.

I think the reason many Chinese and Koreans haven't let go is because no one really knew about it until recently. It was greatly overshadowed by the Jewish Holocaust (another great tradgedy). What happened in China is just getting out, and what happened in Korea is largly unknown in the western world. I think that many Koreans and Chinese haven't let go is because the lack of recognition.

France, poland, the former USSR and the channel islands have forgiven Germany for their part in World War Two. What difference is there between Korea/China and Japan compared to the countries in Europe?

This war of words is not helping the region. I don't know what more Japan can do to please China. The Schoolbooks problem a few months ago was, in my opinion, exaggerated (only 3 schools decided to use them), and at least Japan has a democracy where one has free speech to write school books.

Perhaps the two countries need a fluffle. :fluffle:

They are a DIFFERENT culture than yours.
And yet the same rules of rational thinking apply to them.

European countries have less natural boarders between most of its nations than that of Asian countries which causes people to have to deal with other nation's citizens less.
So ignorance is a valid excuse for hatred now?

And yet the same rules of rational thinking apply to them.

Maybe, but by being different cultures, their values are different. Both asian countries honour the values of Honour and Tradition. Both countries want to keep their honour.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

I doubt the general public really hates Japan, they simple want an apology. Yes, Japan has apologised for it's former self, and it has made up for it, but only for somethings. Tha Japanese still deny that some things ever happened, for example, the testing of biological weapons on the Chinese. However there are many diseases that are crippling Western Chinese farmers that could not have been caused naturally. And it all leads back to the Japanese.

You say that the European countries have forgiven Germany, yes, but Germany has paid its dues.

I doubt the general public really hates Japan, they simple want an apology. Yes, Japan has apologised for it's former self, and it has made up for it, but only for somethings. Tha Japanese still deny that some things ever happened, for example, the testing of biological weapons on the Chinese. However there are many diseases that are crippling Western Chinese farmers that could not have been caused naturally. And it all leads back to the Japanese.

Japan has apologised many times, and the offical word is that yes, all things did happen. Japan does not deny that Unit 731 operated, it has sent and keeps sending cleanup units to China every time a new bunch of chemical weapons or regular odience is discovered. It denies NOTHING. It does have right winged idots who do deny these events, but so does every other contry on the planet (See China in regards to Mao, the US in regards to indian wars, some aspects of slavery, the UK about Africa, and neo-nazis everywhere in regards to the death of 12 million people).

Did Japan fully atone, no, I don't think so. I think it also hides behind the treaties it signed too much in order to avoid looking at things it doesn't want to see, just like every other country.

But I really do feel that the current situation has less to do with Japan than the usefulness that the CCP and the Korean goverment(s) find in holding up Japan and whipping up nationonalist furies against it in controling their own populations.

And, of course Japan does it also. Three countries, all claiming to be the victim.

It seems like just an excuse to squeeze trade concessions or other forms of reparations out of Japan.

Assuming that these countries are looking for apologies, and assuming that Japan hadn't already given them... what would an apology do anyway really? What difference could it possibly make now? And reparations are a horrible concept... WWI reparations are at least partly responsible for there being a WWII in the first place.

Maybe, but by being different cultures, their values are different. Both asian countries honour the values of Honour and Tradition. Both countries want to keep their honour.
Generally I do support a certain relativism, but there are certain things that stand above individual cultures, and rationality is one of those.