session 8 -- 20th century Japan, Yamashita (7/30)

[Anonymous]

I read Sun and Steel as a teen and it greatly affected me. At the time I admired this idea that you could reinvent yourself through hard work and discipline. The emphasis on physical, on conditioning, on developing the mind through martial arts... It was only later that his philosophy and the nationalistic militarism... soured on me.

[Anonymous]

While reading the diary, I want my students to think about the following questions: How is nationalism and stoicism displayed? How do you feel about the conditions that the schoolchildren are subjected to? Those are just a few, but I will think of more when I work on my curriculum unit.

[Anonymous]

I did some research about cannibalism because I found it alarming that this actually happened. Reading Global Times news, an article by Yang Xianhui, Confessions of Death Camp Cannibals. He found that 2,500 people died in Gansu Province labor camp named Jiabiangou between 1957 - 1960, mostly of starvation. About 500 survived by cannibalism. They foraged for undigested potato chunks in human excrement or worked their way through the internal organs of corpses; most dead bodies proved so skeletal as to be inedible. This is published as "Woman from Shanghai: Tales of Survival from a Chinese Labor Camp."

[Anonymous]

I thought it was interesting to see how U.S. relations with Japan underwent such a transformation from during WWII to the post-war time period. I remember the propaganda campaign that occurred during the war here in the U.S. vilifying the Japanese through both images and words, and then post-war Japan became an important ally.

Propaganda has such an impact, and this could be a good way to discuss propaganda with students, ranging from WWII to current modern times. A good discussion could include the purpose of propaganda, what the creator wants you to think, their own position, and how to evaluate the value/validity of propaganda.

When I was growing up, I remember always hearing about how successful the Japanese were, how their products were so superior, and how they were to be emulated in many ways. We had two Japanese exchange students when I was young, and I remember nothing but admiration from my family and friends, however my Grandma's view was much different, as many of her memories stem from WWII. This could also lead to a conversation about how time frame and context impacts a person's personal views.

[Anonymous]

I noticed how Dr. Yamashita brought up how there is an idea that the Japanese people were part of the total war and part of the fault, instead of the belief they just went along with the program. I think this might have to do with the position of the U.S. needing to have the American people on the side of having Japanese as allies. Many people in the United States had family members who fought and died in the Pacific. Pearl Harbor was an unexpected and deliberate attack. Propaganda had been spread in the United States for the years of the War. To have Japan as an ally just a few years after the end of the war would be tricky and require a certain thought process. Also, there was the guilt of the internment camps and the horrors from the atomic bombs and their after effects.

[Anonymous]

I think that nationalism was the strongest force that unified Japan during the mid-late 1800's and that this movement definitely coincides with the European movement as well. Being imperialized and westernized by nations such as Britain and the US was very important in the transformation of Japans
's culture. Of the three regions in Asia that we have focused on, Japan was the one that seem most capable or willing to assimilate to outside cultures as well as hold on to the essence of traditionalism

[Anonymous]

We have all learned about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and our attack back on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And many debate on whether the U.S. was justified in the dropping the bombs on Japan, more so the second bomb. The second bomb many argue was not necessary, due to Japan not having enough time to surrender. Now Professor Yamashita said that August 9th Japan officials were having a meeting at 11:00am and three minutes later 11:03am the secretary came in to report that the second bomb had been dropped. Now, Professor Yamashita like some historians stated that if given more time, they would have probably been able to surrender. Now my question is this...

Would you agree with some historians that Japan did not have enough time to surrender? Or would you argue that they did have enough time to surrender? I'm interested in what you guys think and why

[Anonymous]

We don't have time at the continuation school to do the whole "Truman Trial" lesson, but we do watch clips of the BBC documentary and then discuss the morality of it. I have come to the conclusion that it was, in fact, the only decision Truman could make... given the time and the information he appears to have had.

[Anonymous]

It was fascinating to hear that Commodore Perry in 1853, anchored his ships some miles away from Japanese artillery. No Americans came ashore in 1853, but they did land later in 1854.

[Anonymous]

I find it very fascinating Dr. Yamashita explained all the formal procedures followed for how you lived in Japan. The first principle included Hierarchy. This integrated how you dressed, your salary, and how your house looked. The US similarity is trying to outdo the Jones’ by materialism. Who has the bigger house, the fancier cars? It is all about image. I think I can use this in my class. My 8th graders would be able to grasp onto this concept. The boys especially are peacocks dressing to impress, and by doing so, they are trying to enhance their Swagger, which is a term used and created in music. The realization in evaluating this principle would be their Swagger would be decided upon by a formal procedure and not based on what their parents buy them. I am also pondering how I would include the other two principles.

[Anonymous]

There is a great story in the “California Educator June/July 2012 Volume 16, Issue 9” on “Japanese American Internment: What have we learned?” I receive this issue in the mail, but you can go to http://www.cta.org and try to retrieve it. There is a personal story of an educator, Jenny Chomori. She teaches her sixth graders how her relatives were sent to Manzanar while her father fought in WWII. Other teachers’ stories are also included on what they do to teach this section in history.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed the diplomacy thing between USA and Japan. Making propoganda posters (oral presentations for those less able) along persuasive writing is yet another activity to get kids interested in Asian history.

[Anonymous]

Japan was able to become such a great power in a very short period of time due to the country's ability to accept and assimilate to western culture and politics; yet the country was still able to hold on to it's own culture. I feel that they, as a nation, truly grasped the concept of nationalism and the unity amongst the population that was pivotal concerning the international growth of the country. The government officials mastered the tool of propaganda and took advantage of the international economy of trade and was able to rapidly modernize their military. This modern military system was easily adopted by the people because it was replacing the ancient samurai class that had dominated for centuries, which had always been viewed with respect. In addition the only nation that would have been able to challenge the japanese was China and this country was having an internal breakdown concerning it's domestic policy. In the long run, American foreign policy failed since our country's government sold may of the military supplies and trained officers that in turn were used against us during WWII. That is why many people worry about the present foreign policy approach that is being implemented in Middle-Eastern nations. As representatives for China and Russia highlighted at a UN conference " we do not know who we are training and supplying" during these difficult times... Will the governmental(military) actions in Japan at the turn of the 20th century repeat it self?

[clay dube]

Please post your comments and questions relating to this discussion here.

How was Japan able to become such a power in a few decades?

What was the result of the Pacific War? How did it affect Japan? How has it shaped its relations with its neighbors?

What role did the US play in post-war Japan?

[Author]

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