Strolling home from
the office today, I noticed my neighbor had erected a new Japanese
flag - the fourth on the street. Passing the junior high school
on my block, I heard the muffled notes of a piano and a loud chorus
of kids belting out the national anthem. Both right and left-wing
politicians are now lobbying for constitutional reforms to alter
Japan's official pacifist position. My students echo Tokyo Governor
Ishihara, by moaning about "dangerous foreigners" making
our streets unsafe for their children.
In an apparent manipulation of Article #9 of the national Constitution,
which renounces "the threat or use of force as means of settling
international disputes", the government has successfully deployed
troops in Iraq. Prime Minister Koizumi provokes anxiety and fury
in those who once suffered from Japanese military aggression, by
making bi-annual visits to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo - a memorial
to the WWII leaders.
Aside from causing irreparable damage in bilateral relations with
other Asian nations, district courts in seven prefectures filed
lawsuits against the prime minister, arguing that visits by political
leaders violate the separation of state and religion. In defense,
he claims his visits were of a personal nature. Oddly, he signed
the shrine registry as "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi"
and traveled there in an official car.
Although reminiscent of wartime aggression and an outdated Imperial
government, strict regulations for using the national anthem and
flag in school assemblies were imposed in Tokyo metropolitan schools
in October 2003. Met with such resistance from uncooperative, liberal
teachers, the school board began doling out punishments on March
30th, 2004.
To date, almost 300 teachers, and other educators in the Tokyo
area have been reprimanded, and some have even been docked pay for
declining to sing the anthem. Principals have been penalized for
misbehaving children who remain seated during the singing of "kimigayo"
a trend that seems to be spreading to other school boards in Japan.
Fukuoka Prefecture authorities have begun to survey schools, scrutinizing
the volume levels during the performance of the anthem and issuing
warnings to the teachers of the quieter children.
It seems that social divisions are being created by controversial
rules, and old-fashioned symbolism is only effective in rousing
negative sentiments. Cohesive nationalism cannot be accomplished
in this setting. Why not write a new national anthem, praising the
cultural richness of Japan?
Why adhere to rules that do nothing to promote a positive learning
environment? Less emphasis needs to be placed on forcibly restoring
'pride' and 'patriotism', the preliminary steps of a potentially
dangerous path.
Comments to date: 11. This is page 1 of 2.
trevor00800900 ppppp
Posted at 8:33am on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
sweet
trevor00800900 holgate
Posted at 8:30am on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
cool
trevor 43527
Posted at 8:27am on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
cool
trevor00800900 pppppp
Posted at 8:21am on Friday, October 19th, 2007
cool
trevor00800900 pppppp
Posted at 8:24am on Thursday, October 18th, 2007
cool
Reader Location unknown
Posted at 4:03pm on Sunday, November 19th, 2006
i've always thought there was a difference between nationalism and patriotism. when the word nationalism comes to mind, I think of a country's people promoting their own views in conflict with others. if one can't see anything wrong with that, or how hugely, hugely (and laughably) oxymoronic it is to say that countries should work together in tandem with their own nationalistic sentimentalities, then i don't know what else to give you. incidentally, the "forgive and forget" argument has long been a stale, overly simplistic, and cliched argument. That argument really is not getting us in the right direction- in fact, it's taking us back several steps.
bill turner Location unknown
Posted at 4:03pm on Sunday, November 19th, 2006
why is there such concern over japanese nationalism. it is a good thing just as asian nationalism in all the nations of asia is good.. asia has been through a very turbulent period and is emerging triumphantly from western domination..though the actions of japan in it's colonial time were negative they did have the positive effect of contributing to expunging western colonialists.. i think the time has come for china the koreas and japan to recognize the tremendous benefits to be gained in the contemporary world working in tandum , and to let go of the past and not fear each others nationalism but instead promote it.. for the sake of peace and prosperity not just for asia but the world.. i mean flags fly across america and there is no problem with it, canadians dont complain about it.. nor mexicans (and tecnically mexicans have a right since most of whats considered the west in america was once theirs..)
Reader Location unknown
Posted at 4:02pm on Sunday, November 19th, 2006
The fundamental issue is whether Japanese militarism remerges and invades her neighbors when the right circumstances come. In history, especially Koreans have seen a number of cases of Japan's invasions into Korea, with ambitions even to conquor China. If this is the case, it is inevitable that the Japanese government's attempt to revise the constitution, especially Article 9, will surely provoke them. As a result, the current instability surrounding North Korea will further worsen if the Japanese government revises Article 9, making South Korea more militarize in the face of Japan's potential threat. This is also a psychological issue in both sides. The abuser, no matter how much s/he denies another possibility of abusing somebody, easily resorts his/her previous habit, while the abused, no matter how safe the abuse appears, reacts histerically to any tinge of rhetoric or behaviors that might remind the abused of the past traumatic colonial experience.
Michelle Torres Location unknown
Posted at 4:02pm on Sunday, November 19th, 2006
I am in 9th grade and my history teacher just gave us a research report assignment to complete on Nationalism in Japan. Do you know of any helpful sites I can visit that would help me find this information for my report? Thank you. I appreciate any information you could help me with.
James Graham Location unknown
Posted at 4:02pm on Sunday, November 19th, 2006
Today's instability in the Korean Peninsula, North Korea, presents a present danger to the security of Japan. There have been a number of "test missiles" fired over the Japanese islands, skirmishes at Sea as well as North Korean operatives within Japan. Given North Korea's nuclear ambitions, crumbling economy, starving population; the threat of force against Japan is credible enough to reward North Korea for just sitting down at the negotiation table where nothing is achieved. If Japan has the capability to defend itself without relying on the United States, the North Korean problem would not have been allowed to develop. All Japan can do is threaten or withold monetary aid. That is no leverage at all given Chinese monetary aid. Now is the time for Japan to stand and take some of the responsibility for security in Asia. The result will be a more peaceful region of the world.
