Anti-Japanese sentiment Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Anti-Japanese sentiment is a tendency, common in parts of East Asia and found elsewhere in the world as well, to view Japan with suspicion or hostility. In its milder manifestations it is limited to a certain level of animosity towards Japanese policies or actions; it can also be more extremely manifested as disdain for Japanese culture as well as racism against the Japanese people.
Anti-Japanese sentiment is often believed to stem from Japanese military aggression in the early 20th century and the subsequent atrocities commited by the Imperial Japanese Army during and before World War II. In more recent times, such sentiments may have been exacerbated by subsequent failures of the Japanese government to apologize for these acts as well as percieved incidents of historical revisionism and nationalism by certain segments of the Japanese society. However, the Japanese believe it also to be caused by the ethnocentrism, propaganda campaigns, and economic jealousy of neighbouring countries towards Japan.
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2 Korea 3 US 4 Other Nations 5 Yasukuni Shrine 6 Derogatory Terms 7 External Links 8 See Also |
The origins of anti-Japanese sentiment in China is most directly traced to the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), which was one theatre of World War II. As a direct consequence of the war, China suffered a total of 3.22 million military casualties, plus 9.13 million civilians caught by crossfire, and 8.4 million civilians as non-military casualties. In addition, the war inflicted 383,301.3 million US dollars of damage on China, and created 95 million refugees. Manchuria was split off, starting from 1931, as a puppet regime by the name of Manchukuo; many major cities, including Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing came under occupation from 1937. Notable atrocities committed by the invading Japanese forces included the Nanjing Massacre, which refers to the first three months of the Japanese occupation of Nanjing during which 260,000 - 350,000 people died in the ensuing tide of looting, raping, torturing, and executing as well as the actions of Unit 731, a medical unit of the Japanese army that researched biological warfare by experimenting upon Chinese civilians.
The origins of anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea is most directly traced to the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, during which Japan mercilessly persecuted, killed, exploited, and oppressed the Korean people.
In addition, comfort women from many Asian countries, including China and Korea, forcibly served in military brothels under Japanese occupation.
China has been a regional superpower for thousands of years and has developed its own system of philosophy that influenced the development of East Asia. Because of this, China saw itself as the center of civilization, and its name for itself is, etymologically, "Middle Kingdom". In addition, many countries were tributary states to China, including Japan. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, Japan sent emissaries to China (遣唐使 literally "Messengers to Tang") and Korea to learn Chinese/Korean culture, technology, and Buddhism; much of subsequent Japanese culture was the result of imitation and expansion upon Chinese models.
The sinocentrism that characterized ancient China pitted her against other groups, as they were regarded as uncultivated people. This can be observed through China's referring of foreign cultures as barbarians throughout history. In the 19th and 20th century, this sentiment became magnified by Japan's aggressive conduct in China, and many Chinese regarded the Japanese invasions as her betrayal of Chinese tutelage.
Anti-Japanese sentiment in the Korean Peninsula is often attributed to Korean resentment of Japanese rule. In addition, most historians agree that anti-Japanese sentiments in Korea also exist due to the Japanese government's attempts to play down or even deny its alleged historical wrongdoings. Many Korean people believe that Japan has tried to conceal its` imperial past, which many feel can be contrasted with Germany`s policy of admitting to alleged atrocities such as the Holocaust, and believe that Korean people should play a key role in revealing the negative aspects of Japanese rule. Many Koreans believe that the only way that true reconciliation can be reached between Japan and Korea is for Japan to fully admit it`s alleged wrongdoing.
In the United States, anti-Japanese sentiment had its beginnings before World War II. In the early 20th Century many Americans regarded Japan as an enlightened country in the Far East that had success in emulating the West and exerting itself as a colonial power, much like many powerful European countries at the time. However, this perception began to change as more reports of Japanese brutalities in its conquered territories began to pour into the American press and helped change public opinion on Japan. Its invasion of China in 1931 and subsequent annexation of Manchuria certaintly did not do much to reverse this trend. In addition, efforts by the China Lobby to plea the United States to help strengthen China to push Japan out of China also played a role in shaping American foreign policy. As more and more unfavorable reports of Japan came to the attention of American government, embargoes on oil and other supplies were placed on Japan, partly out of genuine concern for the Chinese populace and partly of American interest in the Pacific. Furthermore, the American population became very pro-China and anti-Japan, an example being a grass-roots campaign for women to stop buying nylon stockings, because the material was procured from Japan through its colonies. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, American public opinion was decidely pro-China, with witness reports by Western journalists on various atrocities committed against Chinese civilians further strenghthening anti-Japanese emotion.
However, the most immediate cause of anti-Japanese sentiment had its beginning in the Attack on Pearl Harbor, which propelled the country into World War II. Many Americans to this day regard the surprise attack as a cowardly act of aggression and the Japanese government's refusal to apologize for the attack itself certaintly continues to exacerbate the problem, and many see Japan's apology for "delayed" declaration of war before the attack as utterly inexcusable and insecere and only serves to enforce this negative feeling. In addition, many U.S. veterans who fought in the Pacific theater have witnessed the brutalities of the Japanese army and have profound memories of the experience. In addition, this can be extremely harrowing for those who survived Japanese POW camps and other incidences such as the Death March of Bataan.
More recently, anti-Japanese sentiment have focused on Japan's economic growth and its dominance over several industries, particularly in the late 70s and 80s. Many feel aversion towards America's policy of strengthening Japanese economy and exporting American technology at the expense of American domestic industries, and the increasing presence of Japanese economic power on American soil. Prominent examples include the listing of SONY on the US stock markets and the buying of famous American commerical and cultural symbols such as Columbia Records, Columbia Pictures, and the Rockefeller Center building. Most importantly, many Americans grew resentful of losing their jobs to Japanese companies, particularly in the automobile industry. Because American companies needed to compete with lower-priced Japanese products, many of these companies moved its factories abroad to find cheaper labor, laying off workers within the country. This resentment culminated in several public smashings of Japanese cars in the 80s.
In Europe, countries like United Kingdom and Netherland have a strong anti-Japanese sentiment from having been "stripped" of their Asian colonies and due to persistent racism. Several hundred POWs have been demanding personal compensations for being imprisoned. In Russia, "Tanaka Memorial" is still considered by many to be a genuine document. Stalin ordered enslavement of over 600,000 Japanese male POWs and massacre of Japanese in Manchuria to avenge the Russo-Japanese War. After World War One, in Germany Japanese were a target of discrimination along with Jews, as many Germans resented the seizure by of its` its colonies in the Pacific. In Mein Kampf, Japanese are treated as a second grade populace. "The White Australia policy" in Australia was perhaps inspired by wartime fears of Australians that Japan might attempt an invasion of Austrailia itself. Charles Lindbergh wrote in his memoir that he saw Japanese prisoners dropped from a cargo plane by Australian troops.
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The Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan. It is the resting of place of thousands of Japanese soldiers killed in various wars, including war criminals such as Hideki Tojo and Hirota Koki, who were convicted for their roles in the Japanese invasion of China and other parts of East Asia.
In recent years the Yasukuni Shrine has become a sticking point in the relations of Japan and her neighbours. The very enshrinement of war criminals as martyrs has greatly angered the people of various invaded countries; in addition, the shrine published a pamphlet stating that "[war] was necessary in order for us to protect the independence of Japan and to prosper together with Asian neighbors" and that the war criminals were "cruelly and unjustly tried as war criminals by a sham-like tribunal of the Allied forces". The current prime minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, has visited the shrine 4 times; every visit causes an uproar in China and Korea.
Japanese politicians have responded by saying that the shrine, as well as visits to it, are protected by the constitutional right of freedom of religion.
China and Korea have a variety of derogatory terms referring to Japan. Japanese people view these terms as racist. However, these terms do not necessarily refer to the Japanese race as a whole; they can also refer to specific policies, or specific time periods in history.
This is an Article on Anti-Japanese sentiment. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Anti-Japanese sentiment China
Traditional Role of China in East Asia
Asian Cup 2004
During the Asian Cup 2004, the Japanese team had to endure booing from Chinese audiences during the playing of the Japanese national anthem not only during the game with China, but with Bahrain and Thailand. Except for the match against Bahrain, supporters of the Japanese team were ordered by the local police not to use "banners, flags, musical instruments, or wear team uniforms" and were asked to refrain from cheering. The person responsible for organizing the practice field for the Japanese team claimed, "I was ordered to not let the Japanese team to use the practice field, the changing room, or even the toilet." When asked to give the reason for this order, he quizically claimed "I won't be working tommorow." The flight to Beijing, the place of the final match against China, was delayed by two hours due to complications caused by Chinese protesters in Beijing's international airport. After the final match with China, the Japanese ambassador's car was severely damaged.
(to be completed)Korea
US
Other Nations
Yasukuni Shrine
Derogatory Terms
China
External Links
Reporters without Borders - Reports on the freedom of press in Asia.See Also