Grassroots Practice of Resolving Historical Issues
By Neinei Shirakawa • March 31, 2008 • Category: History, National Focus: JapanAbstract: In discussing the highly controversial issues regarding the WWII history of Japan and the rest of East Asia, one of the main arguments always brought up is that “Japanese kids don’t know the real history at all”. However, this notion of “Japanese ignorance” remains insubstantial and vague. In response, Haruka Ueno, a sophomore at Waseda University in Japan, established EASCHE (East Asian Student Conference of History Education) around October 2007 to address this notion and foster a common ground for students in East Asia.
In discussing the highly controversial issues regarding the WWII history of Japan and the rest of East Asia, one of the main arguments always brought up is that “Japanese kids don’t know the real history at all”.
Haruka Ueno, a sophomore at Waseda University in Japan, points out, “Whenever I get chance to speak with Chinese or South Korean students, they seem to be so upset about […] Japanese kids’ lack of historical awareness”. In these times, opportunities for students in East Asia to engage in multicultural interaction are increasing through student exchange programs and international business contests such as OVAL. Haruka, who participated in OVAL as a staff member herself, was surprised by this general notion of “Japanese’s ignorance of historical issues” that is widely shared among students in China and South Korea.
However, this notion of “Japanese ignorance”, now commonly shared among East Asians, remains insubstantial and vague. Interestingly and obviously enough, the average Japanese doesn’t really know “what he doesn’t know” about WWII history; in other words, he doesn’t know exactly what his ancestors did to continue to piss Japan’s neighbors off more than sixty years after the war.
“This situation is not only frustrating but potentially harmful for healthy East Asian relations,” claims Haruka. As a native born Japanese, facing this kind of criticism was quite shocking to her. “The more our neighbors complain about our ignorance, the more we Japanese would feel threatened about the ‘anti-Japanese stuff’ they have been taught,” Haruka argues. “The absence of shared knowledge about history is harmful for everybody.”
Indeed, this issue is not limited to the individual’s feelings about politics. The “unsettled matters” around WWII history have always been brought up in the UN, adversely affecting Japan’s chances of becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. The relationship between China and Japan has been best described as “hot in economy, freezing in politics” these years, and one of the most important reasons for this unhealthy tension is the history problem.
What we are missing here is not the common knowledge about East Asian history in early 20th century; it is, rather, the shared notion of how history is taught in each country. “We never really read Korean or Chinese history books,” Haruka says. “And I am pretty sure [they have never really read Japanese history books either]. That is the situation we can fix, right now at the grassroots level.”
Thus, EASCHE (East Asian Student Conference of History Education) was established in Tokyo around October 2007. EASCHE fosters intensive open-ended discussions about Asian history through shared reading of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean history textbooks by members who have backgrounds in all three of these countries. Members are encouraged to make provocative contributions to the discussions and to disagree upon controversial issues in history. As the founder and President of this unique international organization, Haruka envisions establishing a common ground for students in East Asia by promoting a shared understanding of historical issues and healthier, more constructive relationships between people of all different ethnic backgrounds.
“We cannot just ignore the past or mutual feelings and focus thoroughly on business,” Haruka believes. “Understanding and overcoming [these feelings about our history] should be the right vision for our generation to have for the future of East Asia.”
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Dear Writer,
Thank you for covering a very interesting and controversial subject. I am glad to know that the young Japanese academic are knowledgeable and sensitive to the historical backgrounds of the Japan of WWII era.
You have mentioned that “the average Japanese doesn’t really know “what he doesn’t know” about WWII history.” It would have been better if you included what they do know then. Are they really thoroughly aware of the history of Japanese empire? Or are they aware of only the stories that the Japanese legislators have approved of? Do they know about the existence of so called “Comfort Women,” a group of Korean, Chinese, and other foreign women ranigng from teenagers to mid-age who were forcefully separated from their dear families, children, and husbands to “comfort” Japanese militia? Do they know that that the they were raped, forced to house labor, and asked to entertain their kidnappers while the poor women suffered with crushed self-consciousness and humiliation?
What about the unrightful conscription of Korean and Chinese men to fight for the Japanese army? Do they know that these men were put into battles and at times were ordered to fire their rifles at their own brothers? How about the elimination of their national last names and forcing to use Japanese names? What about the PPE taken away by the Japanese militia? Were these resources ever re-paid for in full terms?
I believe these are just one of handful subjects that “[Haruka] doesn’t know exactly what his ancestors did to continue to piss Japan’s neighbors off more than sixty years after the war.”
I am not condemning the ones who are trying to find out more about these things. Instead, I applaud them and give them my due respect, for they care, and are not apathetic like their precedents.
But if we must go further on, and not stop there. There are more steps to take.
There is difference between just “knowing” and “acting.” If you do know about the crimes or mistakes last empire has made, you should not only stop from knowing, but further go ahead to enage in activities that will make differece and appease Japan’s neighbors.
Very sincere national-level apologies and clear descriptions of the war activities taken by the militia in the new Japanese textbook is a start. Rightful compensation to the victims of war crimes is another.
And if these steps are too politically sensitive, maybe banning the worship of the Yasukuni shrine which proudly hosts the war-heroes of Japanese Empire, or the international war criminals that overlooked torture, murder, and rape, is more practical and easier step to take first.
Constant meetings and talks about these steps will definitely lead to a mutually agreeable solution. These steps are very necessary and should not be delayed any further, because “understanding and overcoming [these feelings about our history] should be the right vision for our generation to have for the future of East Asia.”
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Sorry for offtopic