4 ms·

This is a good question. Let's make it more explicit: What do Japanese historians have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945?

by gruseom 13y ago

saraid216 13y ago
> What do Japanese historians have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945? Given Japan's current record on how they engage with World War 2 history, I honestly wouldn't trust any of their claims. Wikipedia has an overview of the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes#Debate_in_Japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes#Debate_in_J... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbook_controversies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbook_contr... I'm not saying that they would lie, but at this point I think the propaganda war is going to eclipse any useful qualitative data that could be gained.
- gruseom 13y ago
  One really has to be careful with this kind of reasoning. That Japan minimizes its war crimes (as other countries do) and engages in propaganda (as other countries do) does not render irrelevant what Japanese scholars have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945. Indeed, nearly all the important evidence on this is bound to be of Japanese origin (not to mention language), so it's the obvious place to start to learn about it.
  - saraid216 13y ago
    I absolutely agree; I'm not saying that it's irrelevant, but rather that there are still people alive and in power who have a demonstrated interest in lying on the matter. This is far less true in other countries. What confuses me about this debate is what purpose is serves. Minus patriotism, why does it matter? I've maintained a neutral stance on the matter precisely because I don't understand this. (But I'm also a relatively non-nationalistic person, and I also have seen people who still think we need to get revenge for Pearl Harbor (4srswtf), so maybe it's just me.)
    - mercurial 13y ago
      > What confuses me about this debate is what purpose is serves. To find out what motivated Japan to surrender? Whatever conclusion you draw from their actual motivation is up to you.

This is a good question. Let's make it more explicit: What do Japanese historians have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945?

by gruseom 13y ago

This is a good question. Let's make it more explicit: What do Japanese historians have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945?

saraid216 13y ago

> What do Japanese historians have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945? Given Japan's current record on how they engage with World War 2 history, I honestly wouldn't trust any of their claims. Wikipedia has an overview of the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes#Debate_in_Japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes#Debate_in_J... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbook_controversies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_history_textbook_contr... I'm not saying that they would lie, but at this point I think the propaganda war is going to eclipse any useful qualitative data that could be gained.

gruseom 13y ago
One really has to be careful with this kind of reasoning. That Japan minimizes its war crimes (as other countries do) and engages in propaganda (as other countries do) does not render irrelevant what Japanese scholars have to say about how and why Japan surrendered in 1945. Indeed, nearly all the important evidence on this is bound to be of Japanese origin (not to mention language), so it's the obvious place to start to learn about it.
- saraid216 13y ago
  I absolutely agree; I'm not saying that it's irrelevant, but rather that there are still people alive and in power who have a demonstrated interest in lying on the matter. This is far less true in other countries. What confuses me about this debate is what purpose is serves. Minus patriotism, why does it matter? I've maintained a neutral stance on the matter precisely because I don't understand this. (But I'm also a relatively non-nationalistic person, and I also have seen people who still think we need to get revenge for Pearl Harbor (4srswtf), so maybe it's just me.)
  - mercurial 13y ago
    > What confuses me about this debate is what purpose is serves. To find out what motivated Japan to surrender? Whatever conclusion you draw from their actual motivation is up to you.