Kamikaze's being glorified in new movie.

[Kanaric]

A movie written by a Japanese politician is going to glorify the "kamikaze spirit" says this governor.

For many, such words are redolent of the militarism that drove Japan to ruin in World War II. But for an increasingly bold cadre of conservatives, Uchida's words symbolize something else: just the kind of guts and commitment that Japanese youth need today.

Seems like there is an increasing movement of far-right groups in all countries these days. This movement is strange and dangerous in my opinion. The Japanese during and right before WW2 exploited the "samurai" history of the country for an ultra-right fascist groups propaganda and were probably the greatest example of an "evil" empire in the 20th century as they had not a care for ANY human life. Why would someone want to return to those ideals?

I think the fact that this country censors its war history is why something like this is tolerated.

Despite the pilots' reputation abroad as suicidal fanatics, Japanese hearts have always had a soft spot for the kamikazes. Long celebrated in movies, books and comic books, the pilots are seen as innocent young men forced by a desperate military into sacrificing their lives to protect their country.

Ishihara's film plays these tragic-hero sentiments to the hilt, with a strong dose of patriotism: Strapping young pilots proudly sing war songs and down cups of sake before taking off, while townspeople kneel in tearful gratitude as they fly overhead. Girls paint Rising Sun flags with their own blood.

Unlike previous kamikaze movies this one isn't anti-fascist, sounds like a Japanese WW2 propaganda film to me.

edit: heres AP news article that talks about it:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc....ap/index.html

This last quote is something that shows that history is not properly taught in this country:

director Taku Shinjo said Japan launched the war in Asia in self-defense, and that the decision to send young men on suicide missions was the only option left as the conflict neared its end.

Japan i guess had to start the war to defend its sovereignty against the various Chinese warlords and the US at the time.

[Marcus II]

Not again...

[danzig]

Honoring the spirit would be ok if it didnt go along side of "war in Asia in self-defense, and that the decision to send young men on suicide missions was the only option left as the conflict neared its end." nonsense. Japan for all its done still has never acknowledged its wrongness in the slaughter and evilness they brought to Asia during WW2 especially when compared to their Germany counterpart. How about before honoring something a bit of apologizing first.

[Kiljan Arslan]

How would the Japanese feel if we made a movie honouring the crew of the Enola Gaye?

[danzig]

How would the Japanese feel if we made a movie honouring the crew of the Enola Gaye?

Well thats PC for you a weird world we live in when some Japanese suggesting this despite the fact they were the aggressor and the source of so many millions dead but yet nukes dropped are viewed as worse

[Serious Spamurai]

How would the Japanese feel if we made a movie honouring the crew of the Enola Gaye?

I dunno, but after this movie I suspect their response would involve lots of planes.

[Kiljan Arslan]

This is just a bad as someone defending germany in world War 2.

[Erik]

Interesting fact about kamikaze pilots:
They had a higher survival rate than Japanese pilots who refused to "volunteer" for kamikaze missions.

[Gary88]

just the kind of guts and commitment that Japanese youth need today.

what do they need to cull a few teenagers or something?

[VALIS]

Takes alot of guts to do that stuff, flying into a ship knowing you're going to die.

That takes bravery no matter which way you slice it.

[Erik]

Takes alot of guts to do that stuff, flying into a ship knowing you're going to die.

It wasn't like they had any choice.

Those who didn't "volunteer" for kamikaze missions were dead already, because they had to do all the other dangerous missions.

And those who "volunteered" in advance, but refused in the end, were executed on the spot.

[The Super Pope]

There's also a recent trend among Japanes historians to deny the Rape of Nanking. I think without the holocaust overshadowing Japanese actions they would be regarded as barbarians today

[mightyfenrir]

There's also a recent trend among Japanes historians to deny the Rape of Nanking. I think without the holocaust overshadowing Japanese actions they would be regarded as barbarians today

There's also a trend among Americans to deny the pardoning of Unit 731 which conducted biological and chemical warfare tests on Chinese citizens. That's because American scientists took the info and continued the experiments and conducted some of their own on Japanese citizens after the war. Every country tries to deny or ignore their atrocities just like a rapist that was caught on camera can sit in a court and plead not guilty. There are also a lot of historians that deny the holocaust... people suck overall.

just the kind of guts and commitment that Japanese youth need today.

I think it's because they want their children to learn to take a goal and own it and go into it 100% and I'm sure with the massive influx of punk and Western ideas into the country they're afraid their children are going to become more like some kids out our way that drop out of school and whatever else.

[crazyj]

Interesting. I don't mind that some elders think the youth need some "discipline", for lack of a better word, or should be reminded of some of the martial spirit necessary for some of a country's citizens to possess (well exemplified by the kamikazes).

However, the obvious historical distortions ARE troubling. I guess many feel they can't properly hold up the kamikazes as a model without re-writing history. A shame. They should be able to hold up SOME of the kamikaze spirit as an example while recognizing that it should be applied in "better" directions than wars of fascist aggression.

[wilpuri]

Seems like there is an increasing movement of far-right groups in all countries these days. This movement is strange and dangerous in my opinion. The Japanese during and right before WW2 exploited the "samurai" history of the country for an ultra-right fascist groups propaganda and were probably the greatest example of an "evil" empire in the 20th century as they had not a care for ANY human life. Why would someone want to return to those ideals?

The rise of the right is a European issue mostly. Yet, I suppose the pendulum swing has reached its apex and is now returning. The Japanese in general are perhaps starting to look at their past without the heavy implications of politics and the guilt of former generations - and perhaps finding something to be proud of there. It doesn't mean they wish to return to such a place and time.

I think the fact that this country censors its war history is why something like this is tolerated.

Tolerance, good or bad?

Unlike previous kamikaze movies this one isn't anti-fascist, sounds like a Japanese WW2 propaganda film to me.

Everybody makes movies about their wars, and yes, many of them tend to have patriotic themes. Shock horror.

edit: heres AP news article that talks about it:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc....ap/index.html

This last quote is something that shows that history is not properly taught in this country:

Japan i guess had to start the war to defend its sovereignty against the various Chinese warlords and the US at the time.

Are German holocaust revisionists the results of a lacking focus on the Holocaust in the German history curriculum? Perhaps they need to be beaten into guilty humiliation more readily? Or perhaps that revisionism is some form of reaction to the burden of guilt they are forced to carry, innocent of the crimes of their grandfathers.

Besides, I think the attack on Pearl Harbour is as justifiable as the invasion of Iraq, but no one here wants to deny pro-war opinions the right to be freely expressed. Why? Because history, especially WW II history, has become a standardized package of archetypal good guys and bad guys, winners and losers. There is less flexibility because of the time gap and the privilige of hindsight - yet I think it should be there.

[Kiljan Arslan]

YOu are somewhat right about WW2 not fully being evil vs good to me it was mostly good allied with quite evil fighting very evil

[wilpuri]

YOu are somewhat right about WW2 not fully being evil vs good to me it was mostly good allied with quite evil fighting very evil

Its great that we have people able to see the shades of gray...

[Cluny the Scourge]

The kamikaze were good soldiers. It was as straightforward a sacrifice of their lives for their cause as you can get. Japan was getting desperate and didn't have the weapons and resources to slow the US down - they had no idea about Manhattan, of course, so they still believed that if they could demonstrate a strong enough will and inflict enough casualties they could at least win a settlement that would save their home islands from conquest and occupation. The kamikaze were the ultimate embodiment of that spirit - that's what they died for.

The fact that US technology meant it had all been for nothing adds a tragic element to it.

[mrmouth]

The more we learn about this topic the more it comes to light that the Japanese were prepared to do anything to ensure their pilots didn't refuse to become Kamikaze. Everything from threatening pilots families, promising monetary rewards, and even drugging or providing massive amounts of Sake before their flights.

Just remember who was in the background pushing their buttons. Just remember the crap they were fed all their lives about a Emperor they never saw, until after after the war when he came out from his hole and told them himself, in no uncertain terms, that he was not a living god and that nobody should have died for one man.

[Tajir]

This is good. Very good.

This isn't equivalent to Enola Gaye, more like a typical American WW2 movie glorifying their troops running through foreign land. Let the Japs glorify their defense.