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AnonymousThis post is written to inquire if anyone knows of funding sources for Japanese studies by graduate students.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my research at CGU in Education and Political Science, has explored issues of immigration, diversity, and education in Japan.
AnonymousI have had the opportunity to visit Japan, twice, once on my own in February 2003, and once in October 2003, as part of a team of US educators. I would like to like to share one observation about the role of conformity of life in Japan based upon the juxtaposition of two images that stay in my memory. One memory I have is of Shinjuku station on a Monday morning. I was walking down the street towards the busy station as a sea of men in blue suits and white shirts were walking away from the station towards the office buildings in West Shinjuku
I remember feeling lost among this sea of people. Another image in my memory is that of Harajuku. It was in Harajuku where young Japanese men and women were able to assert their individuality in their fashion and style. The clothing and accessories chosen were a statement against the conformity I had seen in Shinjuku earlier.
AnonymousThis post is a response to the post by jgonzalez.
jgonzalez wrote:
Yes many thanks to Professor Pitelka, I was unaware that The 1947 Constitution enfranchised women, outlawed racism, guaranteed fundamental human rights, and encouraged land reform. It is also ironic that the human rights guarantees promoted in Occupied Japan during that time, where not practiced in the US, where Blacks and other minorities were facing racism and discrimination back home. I also enjoyed that Professor Pitelka’s lecture included Japanese authors Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima and a discussion on anime and manga.
I think you made a very good point about the irony of the 1947 Japanese Constitution in regards to what was happening in the United States. Unfortunately, in Japan, there does exist a fair amount of discrimination and oppression of minorities in Japan, including Koreans, Brazilians, and other groups still today.
AnonymousSo true, I walked over to the same major train station in Tokyo in the early A.M to get a Starbucks (I know, tacky but I really needed it) and I felt similar. Prof Pitelka was interesting, enlightening, and offered me an opportunity to revisiit my visit to Japn plus offering a broader perspective.
AnonymousIn our session on Japan we spoke about the success of Japanese car industry. The Los Angeles Times reports today, however, that "news that the preeminent icon of Japanese industry, Toyota, has halted U.S. sales of eight popular models because of a design defect -- after issuing recalls of 7.6 million cars and trucks in the U.S. in the last few months -- has had a sickening effect on the national psyche." This news may have a negative effect on the Japanese economy which is already reeling.
clay dubeRobert asked about migrants/funding and many other issues. Here, I just want to suggest looking at the work of one of our USC colleagues, Apichai Shipper. Apichai has recently published a book looking at immigration and Japanese democracy. He's now looking to compare migration politics in Japan, the US, and Sweden.
http://college.usc.edu/sir/faculty/faculty_display.cfm?person_ID=1003701
Anonymous"A Policy for the Unification of the Faith"
In the view of some Japanese, polytheism gives their faith depth, unifies Japan,
and pays reverence to the Emperor.
I have nor considered polytheism as a unifying force, but according to Holtam
"Japan and Shinto Nationalism," polytheism cemeted Japan's national faith.
It explains Japan's persecution and execution of some Christians and Catholics during
WWI. However, I do not know if Japan is more tolerant of Christians today.
AnonymousIt seems as though Japan's autocratic governing style prompted writers such as
Tokutomi Soho to write, "That Westerners, with [their] wealth, literature, military,
and legal systems, predominate inthe universe and are the leaders of the world is because
Western people have put freedom into practice. That Orientals are losing their rights
to independence, are regarded as barbarians, are ridiculed, hang their heads
in one corner of the earth...and are cowed into silence is because Oriental people
have neglected freedom."
Tokulomi continues, "I say, give [us] freedom. Give [the people] freedom quickly. Then the nation will instantly prosper... And morality will be encouraged... I am not satisfied with gaining just political liberties. I want to protect our civil liberties, protect our personages and protect our rights..."
Tokulomi is unaware of the persecution of citizens within the borders of Western free countries. Had he known about the discrimination of African-Americans, Jews, and other
ethnicities, perhaps he would not be as critical of Orientals. And, if Westerners look down
upon Orientals, it is due to Western ignorance of the culture. However, I will whole heartedly agree that freedom in a society releases creativity and inspires success.
If he were alive today, I wonder how he would comment about Japan's, South Korea,
China's success?
AnonymousI was amused how advance Japan is with their technology. I had a cousin go to Japan and the family he lived with put in a toilet just for him. I am not sure where he stayed but I am guessing it was not in the city. I also wish I could get one of those washer and dryer in one for my condo!
AnonymousMany thanks to Prof. Pitelka for his fabulous lecture on Japan. I learned a lot about their cultural ways which served as impetus for Japan to achieve their brilliant economic success. I also found Japan’s “culture of victimization” very interesting. When we teach about the Holocaust, we all are aware of the horrors of the Nazi medical experimentation on humans. But when it comes to Japan, not too many are aware of such, like Unit 731. It was kept a secret almost 40 years! It is true what Professor Pitelka said, because of the atomic bombing, Japan developed a “culture of victimization” and the world felt sorry for them and that gave an easy way out for Japan for their crimes against their Asian neighbors. Unless Japan gets their stories straight in their history textbooks, the hostility toward Japan will continue in Asia and affect many levels of political relationships.
AnonymousI found the entire discussion about "a culture of victimization," very informative, as well, but I have also seen that many Japanese people feel incredible shame for events that happened, as well. When I went to Japan in 2003, and met a survivor (who has since died) of the Hiroshima bombing, he began his address to a group of American educators with a tear-filled apology to us for Pearl Harbor. Likewise, I think that it would be a big step in improving relations with China and Korea if Japan could acknowledge and apologize for its conduct during WWII.
AnonymousAnother excellent presentation. Professor Pitelka has an excellent delivery; I would definitely like to sign up for one of his classes some time.
Concerning modern Japan, it is truly amazing that a country the size of California, with no natural resources to speak of, has become such an industrial giant. Living here in Southern California, we have the privilege of seeing the success of the Japanese economy. We can see the many ships in the port of Long Beach, which are full of crushed automobiles which sail across the Pacific and then are recycled, and come back to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as brand new Toyotas, Hondas, Mitzubishis, etc. Their economy thrives, not because they are blessed with industrial resources, but because they are blessed with people who use their abilities and their will.
AnonymousProfessor Pitelka shares a wealth of knowledge of Contemporary Japan. I was surprised to learn about how Japanese from Japan view Japan-Americans. It was quite disappointing to learn of this ethnocentrism attitude. Ironically, Japanese women are very much interested in meeting American men...When I go to my "Japanese" hairdresser, there are these little hapa boys having their haircut...
Japan has always had a such a wonderful relationship with America...If the current Japanese have this attitude of superiority over Japanese-American I wonder how this will play out in the long run...
Ironically, the quality of Japanese product surpasses all...so... China? Korea?
AnonymousI was impressed by the Manga,Professor Pitelka mentioned which had female heroines and also was about helping the environment. This is something I could use in my Life Skills class when I am teaching the unit on Social Responsibility and Respect for our environment. To also show them how animation is used in another country to teach Social Responsibility.