Scott Reynolds wrote:

> On 10/19/2004 6:55 PM, Eric Takabayashi wrote:
> > Scott Reynolds wrote:
> >
> >>The Japanese government has a serious public relations problem
> >>internationally, and this is certainly related to the prevailing
> >>domestic views on the war. My hope is that this issue will eventually go
> >>away of its own accord when younger generations, who have no personal
> >>experience of the war or its immediate aftermath, come to the fore. The
> >>way Japanese attitudes toward Korea (and vice versa) are changing is a
> >>case in point. I think there is definitely some cause for optimism.
> >
> > No, you are explaining how young Japanese may be so ignorant, and can't
> > understand why people in other countries might still be angry at Japan or
> > Japanese in general. They should know. It's not a simple matter of the Chinese
> > government promoting anti-Japanese propaganda or Chinese nationalism.
>
> No, I am saying that in another decade or two it may not matter much to
> people throughout Asia who was the aggressor in WW2.

Japanese will care perhaps even less than now.

Do you believe Chinese will forgive or forget? (Note to Ernest: not that I believe
they should, or that they are "too emotional".)

> You may call this historical ignorance

Yes.

> and a bad thing.

Not so much that it is "bad" (though it is), but on a more practical note, that the
Japanese will lack some understanding of why so many people in other countries may
have a negative image about Japan and Japanese now or in the future, if they are
ignorant. In extreme cases, Japanese may come to actual physical harm. They should be
warned about this.

> My point is that forgetting the past may have good aspects as well as bad ones.

Former enemies of Japan will also need to forget to some degree before looking
forward. The Japanese can't decide to "forget" by themselves, or encourage others to
"forget", which is why others get angry.

Negative feelings will last at least some decades after the last survivors are gone,
if not longer.

I do not know or understand the process by which the British and US became close
allies over two centuries, but it was probably a mutual effort.

> > It would also help if other Asian countries thought of Japan as an important
> > trading partner or possible political ally instead of a simple unrepentant former
> > enemy. I'm pleased to see the US has changed its view considerably since the
> > bubble economy.
>
> You mean since the Japanese economy has been in the toilet and Japan is
> no longer seen as any sort of threat?

Why, yes. And now the US also needs Japan as an ally, and the US focuses increasing
efforts and attention, economically and politically, on China instead. "Japan bashing"
gave way to "Japan passing" in one writer's words, during the Clinton era.

--
 "I'm on top of the world right now, because everyone's going to know that I can shove
more than three burgers in my mouth!"