Subject: Why is Pearl Harbor so important?
This might be the dumbest question I've ever asked,
but why is Pearl Harbor so important? I just don't get it.
Why do people keep on saying to remember Pearl Harbor when there are
other events in history where a bunch of people died? Aren't there
other times when more people died in America than at Pearl Harbor?
Conversation about Pearl Harbor makes me tense up, although I had
nothing to do with Pearl Harbor. I guess it's because it's an event
between Japan and the US. Why should I feel so defensive?
P.S. My classmate told me today, "Two American disasters happened today:
Pearl Harbor, and I was born." Ha, ha. I thought this was fu~nny. (^-^)
Subject: Pearl Harbor Day
I would like to know whether Dec. 7 is still referred to as "Pearl Harbor
Day" in the U.S. and is marked as such in most American calendars. (My only
American calendar here in Japan is an AMVETS (American Veterans of WWII)
calendar, which I picked up for its WWII-era advertisements and cheap price
of 25 cents at a flea market. Needless to say, Dec. 7 is marked
as Pearl Harbor Day in this calendar.)
If so, what are your opinions of continuing to refer to Dec. 7 as "Pearl
Harbor Day"?
Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor Day
> I would like to know whether Dec. 7 is still referred to as "Pearl Harbor
Day" in the U.S.
Thankfully, no. But the media dutifully writes the annual story
interviewing veterans who were there. I don't begrudge the vets their
memories or the media their need to rehash history. But I always get
tense around Dec. 7, somehow expecting some sort of heightened potential
for racism to raise its ugly head.
No problems today, though!
Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor Day
All day today the radio news station kept talking about veterans gathering to
"Remember Pearl Harbor Day". It seems this year's "remembrance"
(anti-Japanese sentiment) seems more low-key than usual, possibly
because of the recession in Japan.
Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor Day
Also of interest -- unless the state of Rhode Island has passed new
legislature within the last 4 years -- they are still celebrating VJ Day on
August 14 (Victory over Japan).
A young man Tyson Matsumoto, his father, Lloyd, and others have been
trying to get the name of the celebration changed. They don't want to get
rid of the holiday, but they have suggested something like Peace and
Remember Day. Apparently each year around August 14, racism rears its
ugly head again and there is a lot of Japan bashing accompanied by
harassment to any Asian.
Actually on a calendar I have Dec 7 is marked by recognizing a woman
named Margaret Fuller who spoke out for education of women in 1844!
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
Every year around "Pearl Harbor" time, it seems
like the issue comes up. I was wondering how others
on this list (as Japanese Americans) explain to people
our so-called responsibilities for the sins of our
ancestors or via our ethnicity.
The typical argument goes, "Sure, it's a shame that
Japanese Americans were interned in camps during WWII,
but Japan has never made reparations to victims of
its war atrocities, like the Rape of Nanking."
They are trying to say that the "camps" weren't such a big
deal and a trival matter when there have been worse war
crimes.
Of course, these people can't see into the deeper issues
of American citizenship and legal ideals. Anyway, I find
it hard to respond sometimes because in the mind of some
people "nationality = race/ethnicity" and it difficult
to break the mindset. I feel a bit frustrated at times
when trying to communicate that.
Subject: Re: JA's and Japan WWII History
People seem to still make the same mistake that put JAs into the
Internment camps in the first place -- Americans often equate us with
Japanese. I'm obviously proud of my Japanese roots and cultural heritage,
but I didn't bomb Pearl Harbor and yet I find myself every year trying to
defend the fact that it wasn't a "sneak attack," and then somehow
accepting some bit of blame for the deaths of U.S. soldiers and sailors.
And I think Americans expect us to somehow atone for the Rape of Nanking
and other horrors committed by Japan during and before WWII.
I haven't exactly been blamed directly for any of that, but I can
honestly say I feel a twinge of sadness for my heritage every time I
hear a report about how the Japanese government still refuses to outright
apologize for atrocoties. I hope in the generations to come, there can be
enough distance -- and courage -- for the Japanese to formally apologize.
I feel like I'm carrying some of their guilt with me.
(At the same time, I feel some sadness for being on the side that killed
70,000 people both on a March night in 1945 over Tokyo, and on an August
morning over Hiroshima, with two very different campaigns. And over
Nagaski a few days after Hiroshima.)
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
There's a slight difference in my mind between ordinary Japanese people
and the Japanese government. Further, the democratic-elected Japanese government
of today is a much different one from Imperial Japan. I question whether an apology
coming from today's Japanese government would be really meaningful,
though it would give recognition to history and help to bring closure.
I think the most Japanese (or all people) can do is give
adequate recognition that those terrible war atrocities did
happen, and are a lesson that it should never ever happen again.
Just as all Americans should know of the JA internment (and
there are many that still don't know or believe it),
or the war atrocities against the American Indians (Native
Americans). The thing that I don't like seeing is it
becoming another reason for people to hate in return --
rather than gaining an understanding for human nature's dark side.
Those people who are calling for justice from Japan should know
that there was a war crimes trial (Tokyo international tribunal),
which led to the death sentence and appropriate hanging of
the Japanese military leaders, including General/prime minister Hideki Tojo
and others. But of course, that won't satisfy everyone,
just as many feel Germany was not adequately punished for their WWII deeds ...
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> > Don't hold your breath in regards to an outright apology coming
> > soon from the Japanese Gov't for past misdeeds.
>
> I think the most Japanese (or all people) can do is give
> adequate recognition that those terrible war atrocities did
> happen, and are a lesson that it should never ever happen again.
The Japanese government apparently DID pay some kind of compensation
in the 1950s to POWs who were used as slave labor. In Canada,
the government of the time failed to notify veterans that money was
available or negotiate on their behalf, and so present-day Canadian
taxpayers ended up footing the bill for a Made in (and Paid by) Canada
compensation package that was announced just last week.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> The Japanese government apparently DID pay some kind of compensation
> in the 1950s to POWs who were used as slave labor.
Yes, the Japanese Gov't paid compensation on a _nation-to-nation_ basis
in the early 1950s to the signer nations of the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
For several years, individual victims, such as the comfort woman and former POWs
have been trying in the Japanese courts to get the Japanese Gov't to pay
additional _individual_ compensation for what they went through during that time.
The latest court ruling (most likely timed to coincide with the official visit
of the China's leader to Japan) ruled against the plaintiffs by saying that
_all_ compensation was settled according to the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
It is a sensitive issue and I hope this will eventually be settled in an
amicable manner.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> In regards to how one should feel as JAs, I think you just have to
> remember that you are American and not Japanese.
I know that I'm American, but the difficulty is that one
is considered by mainstream American society to be "Japanese".
How do other JA's feel ... or am I the only one who has some frustration?
It's a difficult position to hold, since in some ways I become
the target of resentment (as in the case of Japan bashing), being
the closest thing to Japan for most people. And sometimes I have to
agree with or defend Japan when I feel there are inaccuracies,
since there is no one here to take that side.
It's is very hard to take when people talk about how evil, racist,
sexist, immoral, sneaky, Japanese people (or for that matter all Asians)
are -- and yet knowing that my family ancestry originates from that
same country of sneaky evil people. But, then you say,
"Hey, my mom is Japanese, my grandparents are Japanese,
and they aren't like that" (whatever negative stereotypes).
As a kid, it was really hard to take. Later in life, one
learns about ignorance and prejudices, and a how the reality of
what people say is so fuzzy and unclear, and how people are people.
I could easily say "I'm American" (and white American culturally),
all superior and good, but hate my Japanese ethnicity, ancestry,
and culture -- the reason why it is a sensitive issue at times.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> I know that I'm American, but the difficulty is that one
> is considered by mainstream American society to be "Japanese".
Without trying to sound harsh, that is part of life living in the States
or anywhere for that matter. Wherever you go (not just in the States but
in the entire world), you will have to correct people about your nationality.
Be patient ... you will be doing it for the rest of your life. It is a sad but true
fact of life that many people judge other people by how they appear (look in the mirror).
It is the same thing here in Japan. Even though both my parents are of
Japanese descent (nisei), when meeting or being introduced to some
Japanese people for the first time as a sansei or Nikkei-jin,
they stare very hard at me trying to find any caucasian features in my face
and treat me accordingly, e.g. "Can you use chopsticks?", etc.
Because I am able to speak both Japanese and English fluently, I'm often mistaken for
a Korean, Singaporean, or any other nationality BUT American.
On business trips or vacations to countries in SE Asia, I'm constantly being mistaken for
anything but American.
In regards to people who like to degrade or talk ill of other people,
you meet them wherever you go in this world. They even exist in Japan,
the land of our ancestors! I have found that it isn't worth my time
to lower myself to their level and try to talk to them.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> Because I am able to speak both Japanese and English fluently,
> I'm often mistaken for a Korean, Singaporean, or any other
> nationality BUT American.
I wonder how JA's deal with the assumptions people make about the equivalence
of nationality and race/ethnicity in one's identity. I think it is important
because the rationalization of the JA internment was based on this mindset --
that "a Jap is a Jap" (quote). I still encounter non-JA's who think this way.
Is it a hopeless battle to change them?
The prejudice is more subtle today, and people might say,
"I really respect Japanese culture, and your people's traditions --
and you make good cars and TV's too." Should I take that as a compliment?
But then it can easily flip around to Japan bashing on issue of Pearl Harbor,
American POW's, Nanking Massacre, and JA's having to answer to that too.
From some people, there is true anger directed at me with no understanding
(or misunderstanding) of what "Japanese American" means.
Someone once told me, "if you (Japanese Americans) are going to take
all the good things about your heritage (from Japan), then you have to
be responsible for all the bad things you people have done (meaning WWII)."
I don't really see it quite the same way. JA's pull out positive aspects
of Japanese culture to raise our own self-esteem, but we understand that
we are very much "American" -- or rather uniquely "Japanese American",
without feeling shame about our ethnic ancestry but rather
celebrating ethnic American identity.
> In regards to people who like to degrade or talk ill of other
> people, you meet them wherever you go in this world. They even
> exist in Japan, the land of our ancestors!
> I have found that it isn't worth my time to lower myself to their
> level and try to talk to them.
It happens more than I'd like to, but when I'm confronted, I don't think
I can stay silent and feel good about it. Sometimes, when a person is silent,
they assume you're guilty. (Is "silence" a Japanese/Asian cultural thing?)
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> "A Jap is a Jap" (quote). I still encounter non-JA's who think this way.
> Is it a hopeless battle to change them?
Perhaps it is. You are always going to meet people like this wherever you go in
this world.
Look in the mirror or at your name printed on any ID you may have in your
wallet ... many people you meet are going to automatically equate your physical
features or name with being Japanese.
> From some people, there is true anger directed at me with no understanding
> (or misunderstanding) of what "Japanese American" means.
> ... we understand that we are very much "American" -- or rather uniquely
> "Japanese American", without feeling shame for our ethnic ancestry but
> rather celebrating ethnic American identity.
If possible, JAs and other Nikkei-jin should come to Japan, not as a tourist, but to live
and work. This will help them find out who they really are ... Japanese or Americans,
or whatever. Then perhaps, these identity questions will sort themselves out.
In regards to Japanese culture, just like the US, Japan also has a rather dark
side which many of us were never told about.
> Is "silence" a Japanese/Asian cultural thing?
I don't really know if "silence" is a Japanese/Asian cultural thing. Perhaps I am maturing
(read that as "getting older"), but many times I have found that people like that are just
trying to provoke you.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
I don't have a real identity problem being JA, but I get a bit frustrated
when other people don't see "eye-to-eye" with my definition and vision of being
"(Japanese) American". Obnoxious people E-mailing me on the WWII Japan issue
push one of my sensitive buttons.
A story from my past:
I'm a quiet and easy going person, and the people who know me know that
I'm a man of peace. But the closest I've ever come to a physical fight
(in my recent memory) was when I was in grad school, when another student
(a PhD candidate believe it or not) was "Japan bashing" JA's for collecting
redress $ for their WWII internment experience. He said, "you Japs
didn't deserve it, since Japan never compensated American POWs."
I learned something scary about myself that day -- that I could get so
emotional to the point of violence on that one issue. It goes deep.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> You've got to really realize who you are ... American, Japanese, or whatever.
Aren't we all on this list because we think we can be both Japanese AND
American? The unfortunate part, and I think the part that frustrates me,
is that all too often we can end up playing one side of our heritage against the other.
I for one would love to be able to declare to Americans and Japanese both
that I am distinctly Japanese American. Whatever THAT is ...
That's my search.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
> Aren't we all on this list because we think we can be
> both Japanese AND American?
Everybody has different ideas and/or purposes for being on this list.
I, for one, thought that this being a list of persons of Japanese ancestry,
it was a place for an exchange of ideas and thoughts between people who had
similar experiences and thoughts.
Thinking we can be both Japanese AND American is a very romantic idea,
but I think pretty near impossible. By trying to play both sides of the fence,
you are going to satisfy nobody, especially yourself.
The experiences of many of the kibei-nisei illustrate a group of people
who may have been torn between two sides. The Japanese author, Yamazaki Toyoko,
in her book "Sanga Moyu" touches on this theme of trying to be both Japanese
and American. Even in families, where the husband tries to both a good husband
to his wife and a good son to his mother, conflicts will occur.
Subject: JA's and Japan WWII History
All countries in war commit atrocities on different levels. Look at
Kosovo -- and this is almost the 21st century! America, with its history of
slavery, is no better.
Should I apologize for Japan? I don't feel I have to. Just explain to the ignorant
the difference between Americans of Asian descent and foreign Asians.
If they don't want to listen, you cannot change them. Work on the upcoming generations
to teach what really happened and tolerance.
My mother's family is from Hiroshima and was interned, and my dad's family
worked for the FBI that stamped internment papers. We are a perfect example
of forgiveness and education.
Bad situations can happen in your life because you and family members are "Japanese".
I am sure that we have all been beaten up, physically or emotionally, for being
what we are. When I was 21, a boyfriend broke up with me because his dad had fought
in the Pacific against "the Japs" and hated them. I do not look Japanese,
but my mother does.
Being "Nisei, the Quiet American", is not what we need.
We are the future, and we can and must be outspoken.
Get on panels: Martin Luther King Day panels, hate crime panels, anti-racism,
Anti-Defamation League, work with other groups: NAACP, Rainbow, MALDEF, LULAC,
whatever. They sometimes need to be educated too. They need to know that we are here.
Last updated 28 February 1999