djones520
04-11-2010, 10:10 AM
DaveinJapan (770 posts) Sun Apr-11-10 08:48 AM
Original message
"War of Northern Aggression", meet "The Greater East Asian War", courtesy of Yasukuni War Museum
Well, I just had an eye opening experience today, visiting for the first time Tokyo's Yasukuni War Museum.
I had no idea the Japanese had the right idea all along, pleading with the Western Aggressors even during WWI to put a stop to racism and imperialism.
Not to mention the fact that the attack on Pearl Harbor was simply a retaliation towards the West who, through the oil embargo, had threatened Japan's very existence.
But the MOST interesting thing (and there was a LOT of interesting rhetoric there!) was the fact that through the entire Museum they referred to "The Greater East Asian War" and we couldn't quite figure out the reference. Only in the very last exhibit room was it explained. It refers to not ONLY WWII (the "early" stages), but to Korea and Vietnam as well where the imperial powers were finally defeated. And in that last exhibit was a quip insinuating that if ONLY the world had listened to wise Japan way back in WWI, all could have been avoided.
Again, a very eye opening place to say the least (not to mention the fact that their rhetoric reminds me STRONGLY of the right wing noise machine in America today...go figure!).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8129734
I love Japan. Lived there for 7 years, and would go back in a heartbeat. But this is just beyond stupid.
Original message
"War of Northern Aggression", meet "The Greater East Asian War", courtesy of Yasukuni War Museum
Well, I just had an eye opening experience today, visiting for the first time Tokyo's Yasukuni War Museum.
I had no idea the Japanese had the right idea all along, pleading with the Western Aggressors even during WWI to put a stop to racism and imperialism.
Not to mention the fact that the attack on Pearl Harbor was simply a retaliation towards the West who, through the oil embargo, had threatened Japan's very existence.
But the MOST interesting thing (and there was a LOT of interesting rhetoric there!) was the fact that through the entire Museum they referred to "The Greater East Asian War" and we couldn't quite figure out the reference. Only in the very last exhibit room was it explained. It refers to not ONLY WWII (the "early" stages), but to Korea and Vietnam as well where the imperial powers were finally defeated. And in that last exhibit was a quip insinuating that if ONLY the world had listened to wise Japan way back in WWI, all could have been avoided.
Again, a very eye opening place to say the least (not to mention the fact that their rhetoric reminds me STRONGLY of the right wing noise machine in America today...go figure!).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8129734
I love Japan. Lived there for 7 years, and would go back in a heartbeat. But this is just beyond stupid.