Many modern day Chinese you’ll find, hate the associations that go with the word “Japan” rather than actual people of Japan. This sometimes, unfortunately, stretches over to the more beautiful aspects of the Japanese culture, such as sakura appreciation. But though the blossom on the tree is different to the blood bloom on the flag; for one of their own to delight in the culture of that once oppressive and inhuman force, is simply unforgiveable to many. Especially when living physical memories of those times still walk, talk and live among us. Perhaps to the Chinese, Koreans and others within the Asia region, the hatred may simply be a reactionary balance to the perceived indifference elsewhere. Here’s a news event from the US which, despite living in Australia, I cannot say I recall seeing until now:

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On 26 June 2007, the U.S. House of representatives Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution asking that Japan “should acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its military’s coercion of women into sexual slavery during the war”.[62] On 30 July 2007, the House of Representatives passed the resolution, while Shinzo Abe said this decision was “regrettable”.[63]
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Throughout the cities of Germany, you’ll find Jewish memorials everywhere. It is even a crime in Germany, Austria and many other European countries to deny the Holocaust. But where in Japan will you find memorials dedicated to the victims of their cruel campaign? At 92, my Grandfather is still alive to speak of witnessing a man being fried alive for entertainment on the streets of his town by the Japanese occupation forces. When you visualise that scene then perhaps you would tread more carefully where those issues lie.
I too like spring, sakura blossoms and watching the beauty of a world in birth. But until the day people come to know and understand the facts of that dark past, I and millions others like me will always be crusading for justice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing_massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Chang

I too hope that there will be day when for all people, the blossoms of the sakura will simply be that: a miracle of life.

I’m doing research on how American foreign policy affects popular support for terrorism. My theory is that America’s hegemonic activity fuels popular support for terrorism, but I need data to support that hypothesis. I plan to conduct a large international survey in order to collect that data. Before I conduct the survey, however, I need to devise a survey instrument that is non-biased (non-western, non-white). I strongly believe that the biggest reason that America is losing the war on terror is that we aren’t listening to the people that matter the most—everyone else. The same principal applies to my survey: it won’t do any good if I’m not asking the right questions.

So I’m asking for your help.

I’ve put together a pre-survey questionnaire to help fashion a survey that hopefully will ask the right questions― one that takes culture, race, religion, and gender issues into consideration rather than just making the same old geopolitical assumptions that political scientists in my field tend to make. I’m particularly interested in incorporating the views of women, non-whites, and people living outside of America and Western Europe. The final survey will go out once the pre-survey data has been collected and analyzed.

The survey can be accessed at

http://www.johnmaszka.com/SURVEY.html

Would you please post the link on your site and ask your readers to do the same? I’d really appreciate it if you shared the link with others. But most importantly, please take a moment and fill out the pre-survey yourself.

Thank you!
Take care,

John Maszka