[Asian Boss] Japanese React To The Japan-South Korea Trade War [Street Interview]

[Whisky23]

There are both gratifying and frustrating elements in this interview. Not surprisingly, a lot of younger Japanese who have no interest in politics don't have sufficient knowledge of the underlying issues nor sufficient interest in finding out. It's also clear that the efforts to muddy up Japan's war history with revisionist texts have worked to some degree, but at the same time a few individuals showed a surprisingly clear grasp of the underlying situation. This suggests that while information (lack there of, misinformation, etc.) can certainly influence views, so can civic consciousness and a general concern for the society around you.

I think the underlying disconnect is that for of the younger generation in Japan, Korean colonization, WWII and its accompanying issues are past events to be relegated to the history books, while for Koreans, they remain an essential subtext of the Korean psyche. Much in the way that in cases of marital infidelity, the "cheater" wants to apologize quickly and go back to being "normal", while the "victim" is unable to "forgive nor forget", continually bringing it up past transgressions.

IMHO, there's plenty of blame to be accorded on both sides. If either country wants to move forward, both sides have to give up something.

For reference, the other side of the story:

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[Pandaa]

twice + bts will create peace between japan and korean

 

[D.ana1]

 

[zai]

moon jae is attention whore.

 

[Whisky23]

moon jae is attention whore.

Please defend your position...

 

[abra]

It's stupid

 

[Kami]

South Korea under Moon Jaein's administration is a national security threat to other Asian countries. He is Fatty Kim's puppet who will be more than happy to reunify the Korean peninsula under communist dictatorship. Japan was right to kick South Korea off the white list.

 

[Whisky23]

South Korea under Moon Jaein's administration is a national security threat to other Asian countries. He is Fatty Kim's puppet who will be more than happy to reunify the Korean peninsula under communist dictatorship. Japan was right to kick South Korea off the white list.

LOL. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a puppet. But I can see him try to use NK to get back at JP, only for him to get outplayed when NK bites him in the ass. As for the white list, if a nation can't guarantee that your business assets won't get seized in a court action for historical transgressions, then you really can't call them a preferred trading partner. In any case, many other countries trade with Japan without being on the list, so I'm not sure if SKorean boycotts are acts of grandstanding or acts of entitlement.

 

[Joker]

South Korea under Moon Jaein's administration is a national security threat to other Asian countries. He is Fatty Kim's puppet who will be more than happy to reunify the Korean peninsula under communist dictatorship. Japan was right to kick South Korea off the white list.

What are your thoughts on asian countries being ruled by white colonialism? Would you fight white supremacy and white colonialism back like China is doing or kneel down for the rest of your life to whites as 2nd class citizens like Korea, Japan, most of Asia. The way you said it sounds like you want to kneel down to whites as your masters.

 

[emily]

the ignorance fucking pisses me off. that woman saying she's "not sure" about the "rumors" lmfao
certainly koreans have also committed war crimes, though

 

[Whisky23]

What are your thoughts on asian countries being ruled by white colonialism? Would you fight white supremacy and white colonialism back like China is doing or kneel down for the rest of your life to whites as 2nd class citizens like Korea, Japan, most of Asia. The way you said it sounds like you want to kneel down to whites as your masters.

LOL. Most of Asia ruled by white colonialism? And China fighting back white supremacy? I thought they closed down those opium dens, so I don't know what you're smoking. China can't seem to get enough of the white man's branded goods, the white man's houses over in Canada, or the white man's citizenship papers. China is less about fighting back white supremacy as it is about the Communists holding on their power and party perks, privileges they gain from exploiting their own fellow Chinese. White colonialists? Communist party hacks? It's still exploitation of the people. You should ask Hong Kong which they prefer.

 

[Dreamer95]

Well correct me if I am wrong but most of them know the history? You and the comment section are surely dramatizing it.

Also, I've seen again the same "Japan didn't apologize" comments all over the comment section which are absolutely far from the truth. Those who are concerned with Japan's history knowledge shouldn't make such mistakes themselves.

But that's not the biggest mistake people make. The biggest mistake of people is thinking that "Koreans can't forget, can't "heal their wounds"". That's an absolute bullshit. Under the right government Koreans would forgive and move on it in less that 10 years. Just like any other nations did. People don't realize how much work Korean government does in order to keep this fire burning. It becomes even more clear when you look at ages of people who hate Japan the most. Those aren't the eldest people, but relative young people. They didn't experience the pain but rather learned it.

For me the ball is obviously on Korea's side. If they wanna keep trading with Japan they can't keep hating them.

 

[Dreamer95]

This guy lives in Korea and he basically confirms my thoughts. Here is the quote:

"
That points to the need in Korea for a public debate about national identity and Japan. When I first came to Korea, I interviewed many people who had lived during the Japanese colonial occupation. I was surprised to find that while all, of course, saw the occupation as a bad thing, the people who were most passionately against it were those who had never experienced it.
What this means is that modern anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea is based not on experience but is learned. People always tell me that this deep emotional issue about Japan cannot be changed but if it was learned rather than experienced, it can be"

South Korea and Japan should bury the historical hatchet

Countries are natural allies against assertive China

asia.nikkei.com

 

[Zweig]

Japanese citizens level of brainwashing is really terryfying. They don't know any facts about their recent history

 

[Pyron]

This guy lives in Korea and he basically confirms my thoughts. Here is the quote:

"
That points to the need in Korea for a public debate about national identity and Japan. When I first came to Korea, I interviewed many people who had lived during the Japanese colonial occupation. I was surprised to find that while all, of course, saw the occupation as a bad thing, the people who were most passionately against it were those who had never experienced it.
What this means is that modern anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea is based not on experience but is learned. People always tell me that this deep emotional issue about Japan cannot be changed but if it was learned rather than experienced, it can be"

South Korea and Japan should bury the historical hatchet

Countries are natural allies against assertive China

asia.nikkei.com

I always wish Korea and Japan could follow Germany and France example. I kinda look the geopolitics of the other countries with similarly ugly pasts and sadly I don't see that many examples of reconciliation around the world. Divisiveness is the norm sadly. Sometimes people even forget why they hate each other like some really ancient grudges in Middle East (like hatred toward Assyrians). People who didn't even suffered directly in historic terms still participate in such hatred. They just learn to feel anger and hate as part of their national identity as this point.

An example of good reconciliation is Rwanda. The country was basically devastated, but true reconciliation is bringing prosperity and hope back to the region. This gives me hope, but at the same time it makes me think this may not be the norm. There are other regions in Africa with similar hopeless pasts and situation trying to find common ground, but dunno if they can get past their past grudge stage. Hopefully they will and maybe I can see more examples of these.

Right now I don't see much hope for Korea and Japan as the circumstance in both countries don't favor it. It's not even in consideration the political interests of the powers governing both countries. For such reconciliation to be possible both have to be willing for such a chance and for these we need a struck of luck and have both countries have leaders who push for such ideal reconciliation.

I mean, Japan and SK can clearly see that cooperation brought prosperity to both countries and it's safer for them to cooperate, but at the same time, saving face and holding grudges seem to be still culturally acceptable and very exploitable by irrational nationalism.

 

[Dreamer95]

I always wish Korea and Japan could follow Germany and France example. I kinda look the geopolitics of the other countries with similarly ugly pasts and sadly I don't see that many examples of reconciliation around the world. Divisiveness is the norm sadly. Sometimes people even forget why they hate each other like some really ancient grudges in Middle East (like hatred toward Assyrians). People who didn't even suffered directly in historic terms still participate in such hatred. They just learn to feel anger and hate as part of their national identity as this point.

An example of good reconciliation is Rwanda. The country was basically devastated, but true reconciliation is bringing prosperity and hope back to the region. This gives me hope, but at the same time it makes me think this may not be the norm. There are other regions in Africa with similar hopeless pasts and situation trying to find common ground, but dunno if they can get past their past grudge stage. Hopefully they will and maybe I can see more examples of these.

Right now I don't see much hope for Korea and Japan as the circumstance in both countries don't favor it. It's not even in consideration the political interests of the powers governing both countries. For such reconciliation to be possible both have to be willing for such a chance and for these we need a struck of luck and have both countries have leaders who push for such ideal reconciliation.

I mean, Japan and SK can clearly see that cooperation brought prosperity to both countries and it's safer for them to cooperate, but at the same time, saving face and holding grudges seem to be still culturally acceptable and very exploitable by irrational nationalism.

Yesp. As I said, it is up to leaders. People like to talk about Japan and Korea's negative public opinion towards each other but it is up to government to solve it. They don't even need to do anything, they actually need to not do anything, aka not fuel the hate and people will forget the hate. People are forgeting easily. It is governments who keep reminding them.

 

[Misa]

mess

 

[Some]

Please let it be over with

 

[Whisky23]

Please let it be over with

Sadly, I don't see it resolving anytime this year. We've yet to see SK's retaliations for being dropped from the trade list, and there will surely be reports tracking SK's manufacturing outputs and how they may have been affected - both will surely stir up sentiment in SK.

 

[tickleme]

japanese there were literally the epitome of "y'all hear something?"

worst than Americans when is comes to politics.