Misrepresenting of Japanese War Memories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Misrepresenting of Japanese War Memories - Essay Example In this work called "Misrepresenting of Japanese War Memories ," the author gives full coverage to stereotypical images of Japanese collectively in negation about the crimes are confusing and fail to notice the more predominant opinion receiving wartime fault and favoring atonement.The author beginning with the expression of views/facts of the problem and then logically passes over to its possible solutions. Western media, as a rule, addressed this question in an â€Å"orthodox† manner as they criticize Japan and the Japanese for â€Å"addressing the past inadequately.† It claims that â€Å"non-acquaintance,†, "ignorance", â€Å"denial,† and â€Å"amnesia† were extensively referenced. But the views of the Japanese people were mainly based on family and personal experiences other than what was said by the media, politicians, or textbooks. As the survey of the Japanese (and to an extent also the international) media’s role in Japan’s ten sion with war memory, this article undoubtedly offers a refreshing, recreative and highly welcome contribution to this problem. Japan is often excoriated for not doing enough to apologize and make amends, but Seaton reminds us that other nations are identically guilty and blameworthy. It is hard to predict the course of events in future, but there is some evidence of the improvement of this situation. The author concludes by saying that the present-day generation of the Japanese civilization is not to blame for the â€Å"fresh† contested war memories. therefore the article is engrossing, significant, and of great value.... Expert observing the Japanese progress on the issue often declare the end of the post-war. But sooner or later, new controversies or revelations emerge and the painful memories and mutual accusations about the past come to life again (6). As a result, the story of war in Japan has not yet been committed to history. It still rests as a â€Å"current affairs† issue. The war is still fresh in the memories of the Japanese, and they apparently seem as if unable to let it go. Accusations of â€Å"Amnesia† against the Japanese Amnesia is a term used to refer to complete or partial loss of memory (according to the Oxford English Dictionary). The western world accuses Japan of â€Å"amnesia† due to the features in the majority of Japanese war memories and also the way the subject of history is being taught in Japanese schools. Nonetheless, the word â€Å"amnesia† is a blunt term that does not tell between the complex disparities in interpretation, ranking of partic ular issues in terms of their importance, approach procedure and the governmental uses of history that reinforce contending cultural reminiscences of the war (135). Recalling war history at the national level grants an uncomfortable contrast concerning what â€Å"Japan† did to others versus what others did to â€Å"Japan.† There are many war memorial sites in Japan that attract lots of local tourists and school children. The problem that the western world has with these sites are allegations that they kind of justify that Japan was merely protecting itself, and that it had no other option than to go to war. As such, these sites split into two kinds: sites exalting or commemorating the military such as Chiran, Tachiarai, and Yasukumi, and others commemorate Japanese victimhood such as Okinawa,