tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post6902434802063066172..comments2023-10-09T00:45:55.603+09:00Comments on Shisaku: Two Space Cadets TalkingMTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-47889444487807742902013-01-05T05:26:19.560+09:002013-01-05T05:26:19.560+09:00I've found a short summary of the article here...I've found a short summary of the article here:<br />http://d.hatena.ne.jp/emiyosiki/20121213/1355415686<br /><br />I didn't really see anything bordering on racism...<br /><br />Nevertheless, it did seem to take a "Why we lost the war, and how not to lose the next one" view towards the Sino-Japan war. I wouldn't go so far as to say denying Japan's role as an aggressor in WWII, as it seems to make clear that the 陸軍 was pretty much responsible for dragging Japan into war.<br /><br />(I'm Anonymous #4)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-18753615428401143762013-01-03T07:55:34.497+09:002013-01-03T07:55:34.497+09:00Anonymous> Any chance of getting a scan of that...Anonymous> Any chance of getting a scan of that 文芸春秋 article? I can't seem to find a copy online...<br /><br />I'm very interested in seeing what the level of discourse is in the non-2ch/space cadet world, especially after all the friction with China and Korea in 2012.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-71674163343148579852013-01-03T06:23:03.880+09:002013-01-03T06:23:03.880+09:00I haven't seen the article on Japan-China rela...I haven't seen the article on Japan-China relations that you mention. Do you know the month of the issue? In any case, I'm not sure I agree with you about the "prevalence" of nationalism in Japan. Part of the political elite has always had strange ideas about history, but even now, with the most nationalistic government Japan has had in years, there are plenty of alternative views out there in the mainstream discourse. On China, these can often be found in the Japanese business community, on whose support the LDP relies. The problem for me is that when one of these nationalist dialogues is "uncovered" by the English language media, it is treated as though such discussions are usually conducted only in secret, that there are no or few countervailing opinions, and that revisionist nationalism in Japan is monolithic and therefore a unified force. But, of course, none of these suppositions is true. I suspect even (and, perhaps especially) many within the expanded caucus of the LDP will cause trouble for Abe if he emphasizes his particular blend of historical revisionism and geo-political hawkishness too much. It's not as if any of the incoming LDP members actually owe Abe for their seats in the Diet. It was Noda Yoshihiko who got them elected, after all.Brycenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-67884887328698471422013-01-02T00:01:48.684+09:002013-01-02T00:01:48.684+09:00I understand that Japan often comes in for critici...I understand that Japan often comes in for criticism from the Western press on issues surrounding WWII. But even so, I find myself reluctantly agreeing with your point of view here. Furthermore, I think such attitudes (conservatism, denial, a kind of veiled nationalism and even aggression) are far more prevalent in Japanese society than your article makes clear. 文芸春秋 (bungei-shunju - for those not familiar with it, it is a highly respected, mainstream monthly publication) recently published a discussion (between high-level academics) entitled 「対中外交」はなぜ失敗するのか (Why do diplomatic relations with China fail?). In my opinion, this discussion denied Japan's role as an aggressor in WWII, and made statements about China and Chinese politics that, to be frank, were bordering on racism. I would dearly love to see the issue of Japan's attitude towards its neighbours in Asia debated in the national press with compassion and balance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-3655920245251910112013-01-01T07:00:39.402+09:002013-01-01T07:00:39.402+09:00Reading the article, what is most interesting for ...Reading the article, what is most interesting for me is feeling Shimomura squirm every time Motoya outlines his conspiracy theories about the United States. <br /><br />However, what is most interesting about the legs that this seems to be getting on Facebook, Japan email lists, and now the WSJ is that it should be considered news. Over the years, a number of similar "dialogues" have been published in Japanese, some even in book form, where prominent right-wingers, including the current prime minister, outline their feelings about historical issues and their disdain towards the "Tokyo Trials view of history." Surely if this translated interview is important, the WSJ's journalists should have been busy dredging up the other stuff in Japanese. Unless, of course, it is not considered news unless it is in English.Brycenoreply@blogger.com