Japan Today -> Pearl Harbor?

[ryanjpn]

I currently got into an argument with someone about Pearl Harbor VS. Hiroshima & Nagasaki (in class)

I (being a Japanophile) defended Japan, but half way into the discussion.. I began wondering what Japanese people today think of Pearl Harbor (ie. do they think it was right/justified? etc.)

This thread isn't made to bring up any kind of "bad" emotions..
I'm just really curious and I don't have the guts to ask any of my Japanese friends in real life.. :/

Please help! And arigatou gozaimasu!

[waningmoons]

I do know that Japan up until several years ago apologized for the "surprise" attack on Pearl Harbor, and said they were wrong to have done so. The Japanese government also withheld info just letting the US story that it was a surprise attack dominate.

Not sure if you are aware of this, but there is actually hard evidence (both in the US and Japan) that the United States knew the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor and that Japan had already declared war on the US (the US government just let the attack happen). Whether it is "right" or "justified" depends on how you look at war. According to international law, what Japan did was perfectly alright as a country at war with the US. Others may say it was wrong no matter what.

Recently more Japanese are aware of the supressed info. The Japanese students I spoke to don't think the attack was "right", but they also don't view it as negatively since according to the laws of war it was legal.

Hope that helps~
Waningmoons

[ryanjpn]

That helps a lot!!!
Thanks so much!

[Spiros]

Originally Posted by ryanjpn

I (being a Japanophile) defended Japan,

Two questions;why,just because you like Japan,did you defend this evil act and on what grounds did you defend Japan?
Don`t let your Japanophilia cloud your common sense.

[Spiros]

Originally Posted by waningmoons

Not sure if you are aware of this, but there is actually hard evidence (both in the US and Japan) that the United States knew the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor and that Japan had already declared war on the US (the US government just let the attack happen).

Where is your proof of this?If you want to make suck outrageous comments you had better provide this hard eveidence you speak of.
I understand this board is for lovers of Japan and that is fine but get it out of your heads that Japan is so righteuos and holy and it is some kind of utopian paradise.
Previously someone here claimed that Japan surrendered before the bombs were dropped.Again no supporting evidence was produced.
CREDIBILITY PEOPLE!!!

[bleedingboy]

those nations knew their consequence of action, america knew the consequences of their action. all of these wars are consequences of effects of some cause. world war 2 rooted out from world war 1. and so on and so forth.
here's what you should keep in mind, that to keep the minds of their [nation's] people, they'll tell the story from a their perspective that they've won.

an example
i once saw a documentary on how things were justifiable when they colonized our country or bought it off from another, and how they establish a sentence that seems to claim, "if it wasn't for us..." that's their perspective, the justify their works. but then from our side...."they were wrong, the enemy and the invaders."

[Spiros]

Originally Posted by bleedingboy

here's what you should keep in mind, that to keep the minds of their [nation's] people, they'll tell the story from a their perspective that they've won.

Have you even looked at a Japanese high school history book?They are so heavily censored and controlled (by the government) with so many facts blatantly distorted and even left out.Therefore the perspective/opinion of the average Japanese on the street is not even worth a pinch of goats fat because they honestly have very little idea of even the most basic of facts surrounding WW2 except for what they are misinformed about.
Academics around the world,including some in Japan who haven`t been blinded by the nationalistic rhetoric that is shoved down the populations throats,all agree that Japan was wrong and it was not justified.
Having lived in Japan for just over half my life and graduating from uni in Japan I think I can say I know what I`m talking about.
Leave personal opinions out of these kinds of arguements unless you know all the facts.

[Tenchu]

LOL, Spiros is not clever. United States are cowards. I would back Japan because they are not. The US seems powerful, and that it defeated War Machine Germany way back when. But they are not. It is all an illusion. The men they call their soldiers have no fortitude. The US came into the German war when it was half over. Germany was broken half. US knew Germany would take the three continents in a blitz without them. But they were too afraid to face the blunt of Germany. So they waited till Europe was crippled, Africa was worsened and West Asia was dry, Germany could have kep going, but was half dead, then a fresh superpower comes into the war half way and takes the gold. Anyone can beat a champion if they fight him after several thousand other wars. The US claims the nukes stopped hundreds of thousands of deaths. But so what, they were soldiers deaths. They were too afraid to close with Japanese soldiers so they bombed and murdered thousands of civilians! I have not seen a US war been fairly won to date. They use coward tactics, and like again in Vietnam, whenever there is a chance of loosing they use their money to set the world on fire. Funny now in Iraq that is not an option. They have a real fight where they have to close with men, and a bunch of untrained soldier rabble they cant beat. Now they will lose, should they nuke Baghdad they will loose even harder in this day. If you try and argue me that Japan tried to conquer my country just because it felt like it I will tell you to piss off. That is not a dishonorable thing. There is nothing wrong with trying to stop them either, but the US do not fight with honor. They are cowards and they fight like girls. The US marines can not stand on their own two feet for the worth of their boots. Just some time ago my Army fought them in a training exersize. Not much happened. And no one was winning. I sought permission from my Corporal, stole me some US cams and then loaded me up with dummy claymores and grenades and more blank ammo for my minimi than you would ever beleive. I snuck on the back of their patrol and walked right into their base. Planted all my mines, and got me the highest ground then just threw grenades and blew claymores and then fire fire fire on the machine gun so much. LOL, I took out an entire Platoon myself. The rest of my section gave me cover fire, but I blasted them. If this was a real war, I would have been able to do it all the same. The only effectiveness US has in battle is with the equpitment money buys, their men have nothing and their tactics are coward. I would not say Japan was doing anything wrong. I would say the murder of all those civilians was worse...

[IamKira]

I think both sides are justified. Japan attacked us because of their current situation with us and the global power struggle. When they attacked us, It was justified for us to attack back. We used the Fat Man and Little Boy bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to bring our fight over there to a quick end. Casualtie on our side would have escalated had we opted for the full scale invasion. In the end, I do not feel the need to assign blame to anyone. I feel that everyone was in the right as well as the wrong.

[Tenchu]

Originally Posted by IamKira

I think both sides are justified.

I mean every word when I say i could not care less about justice and right and wrong. All I care for is a mans ability to stand tall in confidence and strength and face everything that is coming toward him. That is all, and US can not, does not.