Chinese scholar criticizes the ignorance of anti-Japanese nationalists

Interesting, it is good to see articles like this.

Asuka- have you considered that most of them will feel a strong feeling of disgust and hate even if there was ZERO anti-japanese propaganda? Because maybe a lot of things the japanese miltary did to their relatives was indeed THAT horrific. And on such a large scale.

Maybe it shouldnt really matter because its in the past? Its over 50 years ago? Well it would matter a lot less if it werent for an increasing amount of ignorance and/or denial in Japan- fact not propaganda. Or the former Prime Minister’s vists to the a certain shrine for example.

Some of the millions of Chinese may have the details wrong. But its better than the (millions?) of Japanese who are in denial of a fundamental historic truth, namely the vicious, disgusting, cruel + sadistic behaviour of many many Japanese troops and scientists two generations ago. THAT is the source of the fire, NOT random little stories. Modern Japan may not be to blame for its past atrocities, but denying and down-playing what your earlier generations did in cold blood only helps to fan the flames of your so-called ‘ignorant’ masses.

I have to agree – while the Chinese have a historic right to be annoyed with Japan because of the war, it’s simply not fair to claim that the Japanese deny all wrong-doing, or even a majority. Here’s a sample sentence from a middle-school textbook, concerning Japanese colonial rule in Indonesia etc:

“However, in the Japan-occupied areas, there was opposition to forced Japanese-language education and worshipping at shrines. Anti-Japanese guerilla activity, in collaboration with the Allies, took place, and the Japanese Army harshly suppressed them, leading to many casualties even among ordinary civilians”.

The actions of the Japanese Army against occupied areas is not ignored in schools. Here’s another quote, about life in Korea after the Japan-China War started:

“Towards the end of the war, conscription and forced labour (徴用) were also required of Koreans and Taiwanese, forcing various casualties and suffering upon local people. Also, many Koreans and Chinese were taken to Japanese mines, and made to work under harsh conditions.”

This is clearly not denial that Japan did some rather unpleasant things. These are taught to schoolchildren. Oh, and the textbook I quoted from is the 2005 “New History Textbook” – the infamous Tsukurukai one.

So while I have sympathy with Chinese who say that Japan was very very cruel and nasty 60 years ago, I am not impressed by statements, made either for political motives or from ignorance, that suggest there is this huge denial of wartime horrors in Japan. To think that is akin to thinking that all Americans think like Pat Robertson, simply as he is the only American voice you can hear. There are many people on both sides working for peaceful relations between Japan and China, and it they who should be supported, not the politically-motivated propagandists.

For every politician’s speech that admits wrong-doing, how many others play down the nature and numbers of murders (by your coutrymen – I presume?)

“You don’t seem to realize that there are people who have a —variety of thoughts—! and that is the way of most democratic nation-states.”

But oh I do, my prejudiced Mika. And I see a GREAT euphamism for holocaust denial when I see one i.e. the above. The tragedy in Japan is that denying the Asian Holocaust hasnt been made illegal unlike in Austria and Germany and so hearing such views in public and panderings to your ultra-conservatives is now not so abhorrent. [I bet you're going to challenge me on that one too!]

How many cases of countries doing what for what?!
Are you not ACUTELY aware that Imperial Japan is extremely special in recent history for their degree + extent of their cruelty to the countries it invaded. Imperial Japan is NOT typical of colonial powers with regards to their wartime conduct EVEN compared to the excesses of the Nazis against the Jews.

Seriously-get that into your head before calling me ignorant. To this day, we still don’t know whyyyy they were so needlessly brutal. At least the Nazis treated their POWs on their Western Front well.

And i will say this again to you slowly and clearly:
It is of my opinion…that…if the CCP did not exist…if the number of Chinese killed was not ‘inflated’- EVER… those ignorant masses as they have been called would still habour very very similar feelings as they do now.

Democratic South Korea hates your past history and your present apologists just as much as undemocractic PRC. As tempting as it may, try not to shift too much blame to the CCP (even for all their faults)

People should use freedom of speech to confront the denials, and to request the declassifications of remaining war records.

Problem is that trying to engage in debate with China is like trying to convince a 4 year old child that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist. Basically, to the Chinese mind, everything is boiled down simply to this:

- Whatever we Chinese say is the holy gospel because we Chinese are always right and always tell the truth. The reason is because we are a genetically superior people (master race) and every other country must bow down to us as they are trash compared to us.

- Whatever Japanese say is always lies so it is not even necessary to listen to them, let alone provide proof of what we claim. We are “above the law” because we are Chinese and therefore superior to Japanese. Such strange concepts as “providing evidence” and “proof” are stupid and unnecessary. As long as we are Chinese, the only thing we need to do is just scream and yell about how Japan is always wrong no matter what they proof or defense they have. Every Japanese person living today is guilty too no matter what because that is what we Chinese decide. It is not for Japanese to decide because we Chinese are masters of Japan and are in control of what is right and wrong, even in a country which is not even our own.

Chinese justice and logic…the best in the world.

“Imperial Japan is NOT typical of colonial powers with regards to their wartime conduct EVEN compared to the excesses of the Nazis against the Jews.”

What does this sentence mean? That Japanese colonial policy is in some way similar to the Holocaust? I don’t recall reading about Tojo or Hirohito deciding to gas every Korean, but I guess my history books have been lying to me. Perhaps Japan doesn’t outlaw Holocaust denial as Japan never committed a holocaust.

It doesn’t outlaw Nanking Massacre denial either, but why would you think that the internet ravings of a few nutters who use relative anonymity to express extreme views are in any way representative of mainstream thought?

Is a formal apology by a prime minister then worth no more than some internet ravings? I guess that despite emancipation and civil rights, the KKK must still be right about blacks if that is the case….

Internet debates – make storms in teacups look like force ten cyclones….

Apologies and compensations are not the issue here. Chinese Government is not asking for those two things. Apologies were given, Compensations were given in the form of loans and a seat at the UN. Name any today’s British politican, who can deny the colonial history and not suffer severe political consenquences. What are the political consequences for those Japanese Parliament members who attended the opening ceremony of a film denying Nanking Massacre? Chinese will definitely complain about it, when some British start to deny history. But, they haven’t been denying, so what is there to complain about? People can not complain something out of nothing.

To Mika:

They seem to have no problem whatsoever with other colonialists?..No, i think what you perceive as ‘the Chinese’ just hating japan and no one else is due to the fact that what the Japanese did during the war, the way they did it, and the scale they did it on. This also happened in living memory vs. European colonists. I feel very tired repeating this point now.

And if you think the Chinese don’t mind the opium war or the pillagings of national treasures by the Europeans…i think you must have wrote that when your head wasnt screwed on.

I think everyone reading your messages on this subject can see that you are almost offended that Japan is being treated different from the other colonialists.
During the second world war- it was. Churchill may have ordered the gasing of Kurdish villages before he became PM, the French were very harsh in Vietnam even after their liberation etc etc…but

1) can this ever compare to what the Japanese did? (bar the Nazis?)

2) is it okay to do it just ‘because all the other kids are doing it?’ little Mika? Get real man and admit to yourself that you like the CCP because their hypocrisy is convenient for your attack on the Chinese population who suffered immeasurable under the Japanese.

3) Just to remind you incase you get angry about something else i said, any other nation behaving badly anywhere changes nothing about the extrodinary brutality of the Japanese invasion.

But deep down i suppose you know that already.

Ah, the attempt at personal insult. Always a good move in internet debate.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070302/ap_on_re_as/japan_sex_slaves_7;_ylt=AhlWxIKgqHhNqQBjwVV9fAX9xg8F

The Prime Minister of Japan himself, now denying another huge Japanese atrocity. What shame and pity this weak leader brings to his country…what a shame for the world that as time goes by, as eye-witnesses die of old age, people at the very height of Japanese politics try their best to turn tragic reality into myth.

Now, as a chinese, let me get some stuff straight:

1. The chinese KP do not actively promote anti-japanese feelings. They simply teach the kids about crimes commited by JP. Kids learn in history lesson more stuff about JP than just war crimes. They learn that JP built Infrastructure and industry in north china… AND war crimes. The war crimes commited by JP is so horrible that the kids eventually start hating JP. Did anybody here ever read a book about the crimes commited by JP in China? or do u Japanophile just cant bear ur beloved JP has not always been the cutest thing on earth? The KP heavily promote in school propaganda glorifying the bravery of the commie soldier and Mao and much less JP crap than u think.

2. The japanese apology is not really sincere. U dont know the fine nuance of the language. They didnt say we apologise..they said we regret., which has a totally different meaning in japanese. It means something like oh, u dont really mind, do U?
German president apologies EVERY FUCKING YEAR for their crimes. They organise school tours to KZ, they invite Jew into schools to speak about their sufferings in KZ. They do everything to let their kids learn the suffering of the victims. WHAT do Japan do? They celebrate themselves as the true war victims every year, they emphasise on THEIR loss and suffering, their kids learn how much Japan suffered, NOT THE OTHERS. Germany has become a peaceful nation because its aware of the immense sufferings it has done to the others. Japan becomes a peaceful? nation because its aware of ITS OWN suffering.

3. Anti-Japanese feelings are, in my observation, actually declining. Young chinese, born after 1980, who enjoyed a much more opened society and information flow, r much more japan friendlier. Actually common chinese and japanese get along quite well. I know at least 3 sino-jp couples. Anime/Manga/AV porns & pop culture r a much better peace bringer than any cheap apologies from JP.

4. There r 1 billion chinese and how any do u see on this picture? less than 0,00000001%.

5. I(born after 1980)dont hate the nowadays japanese, and none of the chinese youngster i know does it… I and a lot chinese are aware that guilt, no matter how bad, can not be inherited by the next generation. I dont like the jp gov, but gov ≠ ppl. I think jp ppl also dislike the cn commie gov., but i dont think they dislike chinese in general(?), or think that gov = ppl.

In cn net, there are a lot anti-japanese stuff. BUT, how many chinese are online? less than 5%. AND in those forums, there are always voices against racism and anti-japanese stuffs. One can also find a lot whites-are-superior-to-all-other-races shit in internet, does it makes all whites a 3K?