Today on TV, as part of the Obon Festival observances, they had a program about the Pacific War (i.e. the Pacific Theater of WW II). They interviewed Japanese survivors of Guadalcanal, and it was all very gloomy. I couldn't help but notice that the Pearl Harbor attack went unmentioned, and the whole tone of the program hearkened back to the late 80s, when Japanese historical textbooks tended to imply WW II started with the Battle of Midway in 1942, with Japan being on the defensive.
Ironic that today's newspaper mentioned that Japan's government intends to invite American and Filipino survivors of the Bataang Death March to Japan for an official apology.
Even more ironic that today a very drunk, old (Japanese) man told me that Japan was going to defeat the USA and said that we "weak, ignorant" American soldiers didn't stand a chance if we dared land on Japan's beaches. His unit stood poised and ready to kick our asses right back across the ocean. He was pretty excited; he'd probably never had an opportunity to say that to a real, live American before. I didn't burst his bubble.
3 comments:
You're so smart RC!
I agree Teresa...
Today on TV, as part of the Obon Festival observances, they had a program about the Pacific War (i.e. the Pacific Theater of WW II). They interviewed Japanese survivors of Guadalcanal, and it was all very gloomy. I couldn't help but notice that the Pearl Harbor attack went unmentioned, and the whole tone of the program hearkened back to the late 80s, when Japanese historical textbooks tended to imply WW II started with the Battle of Midway in 1942, with Japan being on the defensive.
Ironic that today's newspaper mentioned that Japan's government intends to invite American and Filipino survivors of the Bataang Death March to Japan for an official apology.
Even more ironic that today a very drunk, old (Japanese) man told me that Japan was going to defeat the USA and said that we "weak, ignorant" American soldiers didn't stand a chance if we dared land on Japan's beaches. His unit stood poised and ready to kick our asses right back across the ocean. He was pretty excited; he'd probably never had an opportunity to say that to a real, live American before. I didn't burst his bubble.
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