Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
Vietnam
Chapter 2
New Home
in Kofu
Chapter 3
Hong Kong
China,
&
Korea
Chapter 4
Yamanashi
Chapter 5
Society
Chapter 6
Hospital
Chapter 7
Nikko
Chapter 8
Holiday
Greetings
Chapter 9
Culture
Chapter 10
Holiday
Trip:
Kansai
&
Kyushu
Chapter 11
Mores
Chapter 12
Hankos
& Brush-
writing
Chapter13
Friends
Chapter 14
Festivities
Chapter 15
Okinawa
&
Nagasaki
Chapter 16
Hong Kong
&
Australia
Chapter 17
Special
People
&
Events
Chapter 18
Coming
to
Japan
Chapter 19
Letter to
Editor
Chapter 20
Teaching
English
Chapter 21 Hamamatsu
Chapter 22
Women's
Relation-
ships
Chapter 23
Reflections
on
Education
Chapter 24
Nephews'
Visit
Chapter 25
Thailand,
Korea
&
Home
Chapter 26
Taking
Stock
Chapter 19
Letter to the Japan Times
We wrote the following letter to the Japan Times in response to articles and editorials that we had been reading in the paper. We understand that it was printed but didn't have the opportunity to see it, so we have no idea how it was edited.The accompanying picture was taken at the Takeda Shingen parade. The jacket was worn by a young man who was assisting a person with a disability. We had seen the graphic on clothing frequently, but were taken aback by the juxtaposition.
_____________________________
April 20, 1996
Dear Editor:
We are an American couple living in Japan. We have a 22-year relationship with Japan, and presently we are in the 9th month of a one-year stay. We have a great love for Japan and count some of our Japanese friends among our extended family.
Both of us are social scientists, and we have each dedicated our professional and personal lives to helping people better understand each other and to bridging gaps in relationships. One of us is a psychologist, the other a political scientist/educator. One of our proudest accomplishments is the founding of two exchange programs between U.S. and Japanese schools, both of which are more than twenty years old. We have traveled to Vietnam, China, South Korea, India, Europe, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, but have the most intimate relationship with this country. It is from this perspective that we read the Japan Times daily
Can you imagine our chagrin when we came across Mr. Kobayashi's letter of 4/15? Likewise, the concern expressed in Ms. Hansen's letter struck an uncomfortable cord.
It is silly to suggest that the U.S. really wants "world conquest" as stated by Mr. Kobayashi, and it is not worth rebuttal.
However, his sentiment is another matter.
Our immediate concern is about xenophobia that encourages fear, distrust, misunderstanding, hate, and ongoing strife among people and among nations. Not only does Mr. Kobayashi's letter blatantly promote xenophobia, but the clothing apparel described by Ms. Hansen, perhaps more subtly, does the same.
We are appalled when we see that popular shirt. It obviously presents a violent and misogynist message. Even if one does not understand what the word bitch means, the graphic is very clear.
How many ways can one interpret a man holding a gun to a woman's head? We are confused about why anyone would wear clothing bearing such a message? Why is there a market for this clothing in Japan? Who is promoting it? It is rather frightening that a market exists for it.
However, it is only one example of many negative representations of Westerners, and specifically Americans, that we have seen or experienced during our present stay.... in the media, in advertising, and expressed in day to day life.
One beauty of being American is that we feel free to criticize ourselves, to state honestly that we have many problems in our society....violence, discrimination against minorities, and economic inequities. We are aware of our problems and talk about them openly. That is part of a functioning democracy. However, we have observed these same problems in every country we have visited, including Japan.
When others take advantage of our openness and point fingers at us, with the implication that their nation is superior, or without similar domestic problems, it promotes divisiveness among people and nations, as well as perpetuating their country's domestic problems.
For example, why did Health Ministry officials and medical professionals wish the people to believe that AIDS first came to Japan via the U.S., rather than telling the truth? Why were so many, including the media, so willing to believe that explanation, without looking further into the issue? Honest self-examination with a willingness to learn from that, and then make the necessary changes, (not just lip service) goes a long way in promoting health, peace and harmony both at home and among nations.
We think that we need to learn from each other, study each other's culture and history, communicate with each other, rather than try to find someone outside ourselves to blame for our problems.
Perhaps, better self-awareness and treating each other with dignity and respect, rather than name-calling, will help us inch our way toward international peace.
Sincerely,
Tom and Marie Grant
Update 1999:
While in Japan we read the Japan Times daily, as we mentioned above.
