The Assassination Of Japanese Culture

Rossenfeld, Carrie. The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ed. Carrie Rossenfeld. 2015. Chris Griffith. 17 November 2015.

Kon'nichiwa! I’m Japan! You probably know me for my aesthetic cherry blossoms and splendid anime, but let me tell you, things weren’t always as kawaii as they seemed. For a loooong time, I was isolated from other countries by my own shoguns and daimyos, my militaristic dictators and their warrior landlords respectively. We got along fine at first, but my common people were becoming increasingly unhappy with their little political power and heavy taxes. Then, on a fateful day in July of 1853, I met… the West.

According to Okinawa survivor and native Kinya Taira, the Japanese, who controlled the island of Okinawa during World War II “lied to us about the fate that would be facing us if we surrendered to the Allies, so we were confused, utterly paranoid, and just wanted to survive and see our families. We were, essentially, being used by the Imperial Army as body shields, as puppets, forced to go into the most dangerous areas knowing we wouldn’t make it back alive.” (“Okinawans Remember”) Despite the effects of the Battle of Okinawa on the natives of the land and the Allied soldiers who fought in it, this battle was the most crucial in ending World War II efficiently, thus the claim that the Battle of Okinawa was the most important battle in the war against the Japanese during World War II.

In 1543, three Portuguese travelers aboard a Chinese ship accidentally drifted ashore on Tanegashima, a Japanese Island. Within a few short years, a myriad of Portuguese merchants, missionaries, and settlers began to arrive in the country and ushered in almost a century of Portuguese imperial presence in Japan. This time period was a unique era in the history of European imperialism, and it is important to evaluate it from multiple points of view. This comparison is easily done with records such as, Captain Alexander Hamilton’s A New Account of the East Indies: Descriptions of Japan and Engelbert Kaempfer’s History of Japan. These two works are both first-hand accounts of the European interactions with the Japanese people. Indeed, these two

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese Navy bombed and ultimately destroyed the United States Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This sneak attack by the Japanese bombers drug the United States into WWII. The attack caused panic and hysteria throughout the United States, because this was the first attack against Americans, and on their own soil. Following the attack, about 1,500 Japanese suspects were gathered by American security to be arrested. Pressure from anti-Japanese media propaganda, local patriotic groups, and politicians requested for removal of all Japanese Americans. On February 19, 1942, then President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, giving authorization to the military to designate “military areas” where “any or all persons may be excluded”. Any being from Japanese heritage was put in an internment camp in western inland United States. When being evacuated, humans of Japanese heritage lost all property and possessions to

During the late 18th century to the early 20th century, east Asia had been imperialized by western powers. Imperialism in east Asia during the period 1750-1945 was beneficial because of the economic growth, technological advancements, and political structure that progressed positively as a result of western imperialism. For example, Japan had been forcefully imperialized by the United States during the mid-19th century, however, the aftermath of this occasion was ultimately beneficial to the Japanese. Japan became imperialized because the U.S. needed a refueling and coaling base in order to trade with other east-Asian countries. Also, they needed a secure place to refuel in the east as Hawaii by itself wouldn’t be able to handle the trading

Next, I would like to talk about how the atomic bombs completely shattered Japanese view of their culture. I interviewed my grandmother who lived 50 miles away from Nagasaki. During this time, many Japanese people believed dying meant honor and devoting their lives to the Emperor. When she was young schoolgirl, her and other classmates were expected to recite the “Military Song” to instill the patriotic spirit of the Japanese. Every day, the neighbors continuously travel by boat to Nagasaki for work normally, until the day the world heard about the Hiroshima atomic bomb. People viewed Japan as indestructible and that was shattered after the bomb was released again, hitting Nagasaki. The information traveled from word of mouth. Although, she

In the early twentieth century Japan had reached its industrial revolution therefore, leading to an increase in Japanese nationalism and imperialism. Consequently, this led to Japanese military aggression against China. The Chinese suffered high mortality rates from the advanced Japanese troops that would simply raze and beleaguer Chinese cities. Japan managed to gain an advantage against the less industrialized Chinese who fell as if a deck of cards to the militarized Japanese and died as if infected with a pathogen. This would lead to an inevitable contact with the powerful U.S who proposed inhibiting sanctions against the U.S.A’s new nemesis, the Japanese.

People no longer use the term “Japanese American” in today's society. Instead, they are no longer thought as a separate group and are incorrectly categorized as “Asian American”, along with Vietnamese American, Chinese American, etc. Japanese Americans have an extremely unique background in terms of their origins, history, and struggle with racialization. Like many ethnic groups, Japanese Americans have been subjected to many different portrayals throughout American history. Even though cultural separation and suspicion are deemed as immoral, such practices toward them were thought to be necessary by the American Government. For a good amount of time, they suffered from racial hostility and violence. Now, in an age where cultural diversity

Japan has a very rich and unique culture, unlike any other culture in the world. The Japanese are close and united, and willing to help each other, to the point that they would even risk their lives for one another. Their culture has certain aspects of it that every nation should have. In his book, John Hersey explores the effects that culture and environment have on an individual’s views and belief through analyzing a stereotypical Japanese man, an Americanized Japanese priest, and a widowed Japanese woman and how they react similarly to the bombing of Hiroshima. The influence of Japanese culture has an astounding impact on the reactions of Hersey’s characters.

From the myth of the Japanese Kappa Monster to the many Buddhist temples and shrines, some things just seem quite peculiar. The same could be said of any culture and it may come as a bit of a shock to individuals who first experience places they have never learned about in depth. A whole country, separated from its continent, which basically developed all of its own way of life in reference to neighbors, who do not face the same troubles or have the same triumphs as one another. Japan is like the England of Asia, however where the Japanese are more innovative. For example, Japanese music. The national instrument in this Pacific nation is the Koto, which looks like a sideways harp. This interests me because I can play the guitar and am very interested in the learning new variations of it, especially because my fingers already callused and

History depicts that Japan had gone through periods of rebuilding. By seeing into Japan’s culture, it seems like it is true in terms of Japan’s layered past and representation of new media. At the year 1945, Hiroshima and Nagazaki were levelled by the atomic bomb dropped by the United State, and this catastrophic event would have shape the nation over time. However, the Japanese has not simply forgotten about it, but the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagazaki seems to have given the Japanese a new meaning with the newer generation today. The word of atomic bomb to most of the people meant death and destruction, but at the same time it can also mean rebirth or hope for the future.

On August 6, 1945 the culmination of years of scientific research and testing was released on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The fiery explosion that discharged from the atomic bomb killed tens of thousands instantly. When no word of surrender was uttered by the Japanese leadership, another atomic weapon was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. Although less lethal than the first, thousands still perished in the Japanese city. “The Japanese leaders [understood] the utter hopelessness of their position” (Groves 319), and the next day they announced Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied forces. This capitulation finally saw the conclusion of almost four years of warring in the Pacific.

This research project is a detailing of Japan’s history and its relations with the U.S. The document is intended to explain the rising conflict between them during The Second Sino-Japanese War, U.S retaliation due to the attempted conquest of Asia and the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequent economical and environmental complications. In terms of value, the majority of the document is relevant to my research and

Japans history dates back almost 53,000 years and is filled with interesting and fascinating events. Most of Japans actions have left the major world powers in the world stunned. The base of this amazing country is astonishing just by itself. The base is a bunch of active and large under water volcanoes. Japans uniqueness from the rest of the world ranges from its culture to its very interesting history to the change in government every few hundred years and their trading dilemma with petroleum and their assortment of fish that they export. Japan as a country is so very appealing and kind compared to the rest of the world its no wonder that it’s geographically separate from the rest of the world.