friday (8/2) morning readings

[Anonymous]

The Godzilla series provides a great metaphor for Japan's relationship with the United States during the postwar era. In the original Japan is portrayed as a victim of nuclear power. The monster Godzilla is a physical manifestation of the United States nuclear power. Godzilla is clearly the villain in the original film. During the early 1960s, the third film King Kong vs. Godzilla features the the character King Kong. While some argue that King Kong represents the United States and Godzilla represents Japan, this is actually quite false. Remember, Godzilla represents the United States nuclear power. King Kong, is from a pacific island who has considerably less resources (no nuclear breath) and yet somehow stands up to Godzilla and defeats him. This film shows a certain pride and defiance to control by the United States. As tensions between the two countries ease the later films change. In future films Godzilla becomes a protector of the Japan from other threats such as the monster King Ghidorah, which has a distinct Chinese design. I think using these Godzilla films would be a great way to show students how politics influence pop culture. Plus, children love Godzilla movies.

[Anonymous]

This would a great comparison for civil rights movements of the United States. A bigger question I would propose to the students is why such movements are necessary in the first place. Why do minorities need to fight for equality and why aren't they treated with respect across time and across national boundaries? Of course it all comes down to power, control, and notions of superiority.

[clay dube]

David - please ask Sam about this. The meaning in Japan may be different and this may be one reason the Chinese understanding of what some soldiers did in China is so much more critical. Decapitation in China is a worse punishment than some other forms of capital punishment. This is because of belief that one must meet one's ancestors with one's body intact. Your parents gave you that body - you're supposed to keep it that way. In Japan, ritual suicide often included having a second cut off your head to end your suffering after you stabbed yourself in the gut.

[Anonymous]

Prof. Yamashita's 1st handout last page....interesting excerpt from 1852..could one say that USA maybe doing that today with immigration....

[Anonymous]

enjoyed listening to the island boy and his knowledge on japan. so unaware of the movement of children prior to bombing of japan..i wonder what our country would do if we were in a similar situation...

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed reviewing the t.v. Commercials and looking at how both major parties in the United States use people's lack of stern position towards China as a target in political campaigns. Very interesting how both parties used the same strategy to gain personal support (showing their hard stance towards China)and to discredit their opposition (displaying their opponents lack of dis ordain of China taking "American" jobs).

Also it was eye opening about one, our freedom of Press not only to speak the "truth" but to choose what to report in comparison to the China's mandate on not only what to report but how to report it.

Thank you for lunch this has been a wonderful experience!
edited by mtarango on 8/2/2013

[Anonymous]

Samuel Yamashita's lecture was very helpful to me since this is one of my areas of weakness in history; the Pacific War. Understanding how Japan's break from isolation and the details involved (The Iwakura Embassy Tour) and its move to incorporate western forms of government and institutions clarified Japan's rise to power. The motives behind the need for Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings seemed to be forever couched in ongoing debate depending on who is presenting their argument. There is no justification for either of these actions other than the lack of reason which leads to war. A human dilemma we will never be able to fully comprehend.

[Anonymous]

I agree Rad, This was a great day of instruction. I had heard that everyone was involved in the war effort, but filtered through the eyes of America. Everyone in out country was involved in WW2 through rationing etc, but this brought citizen involvement in war to a whole new level for me. I am looking forward to more study on this aspect of the war. I enjoyed the history of China, but Japan's rapid rise to power is quite a lesson.

[Anonymous]

I am humbled and excited to learn more about modern Japanese history. Having taught twentieth century Chinese history for some years, I am glad to have a better sense of what was transpiring in and for Japan and to humanize those stories for my students. It's wonderful to have the voices of those in Japan during the war. I have lots of material from my own family's experience on the Home Front, and I will be comparing these primary sources with my students.

[Anonymous]

I love the influence and impact a game can have on history and culture. From "YMCA Baseball" to Prof. Yamashita's oral history experience. It's refreshing to find examples of how an overly marketed corporate driven sporting event is still basically a game to be enjoyed for it's simple pleasures. Talk about a common thread, you could teach a fascinating unit on baseball and it's significant impact on history. Particularly as related to East Asia.

[Anonymous]

I find some of your comments in regard to Ebrey interesting. You criticize the author for describing WWII as "the fifteen year war" yet you decided that it began with Pearl Harbor in 1941? Where does that leave the 1939 German invasion of Poland? You also describe the Monroe Doctrine as a policy to prevent European exploitation of the new world by colonial powers. Well you may want to ask Latin Americans for their spin on "the prevention of exploitation" by the Monroe Doctrine. It seems like the exploitation was just being reserved for the U.S. Furthermore, the Philippines as a protectorate... really you don't study semantics? Once again ask the Filipinos for their take on this "protectorate" issue. One final point, the U.S. government used the term Concentration Camp when referring to the Japanese Internment Camps. Look it up!

[cgao]

Readings for Professor Sam Yamashita's lecture on Japan.
edited by cgao on 8/1/2013

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[Anonymous]

Professor Yamashita's presentation was very organized. I enjoyed the idea of the circles. It really helps to better understand the relationship to the events. I plan on trying this method with I lecture to my students about events. I think the visual picture may help them. Also, there was a book mentioned, I think it was Perceptions of America. I couldn't find it but I think it would be interesting to have a class discussion of perceptions of countries. I teach British Literature and we could discuss British perceptions and Chinese perceptions to help the students engage in the topic.

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