Japan's lower house of parliament has passed a bill encouraging teachers to instil patriotism and respect for tradition in their students.

The bill, which will now go to the upper house, would change the country's education law for the first time since it was enacted in 1947.

Opponents fear the move could help fan a resurgence of nationalism.

They are wary because Japan's military leaders used patriotism to justify the expansionism which led to World War II.

The bill calls on teachers to instil thinking among students "respecting tradition and culture and loving the nation and homeland."

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has strongly backed the bill.

In a weekly e-mail he said Japan's education system "has not sufficiently addressed ideas such as moral values, ethics and self-discipline".

He also mentioned a recent spate of bullying incidents which, he said, would leave parents concerned the education system needed reform.

Conservative groups have long argued for a revision of the current law, saying pupils should learn national pride as Japan assumes a more active diplomatic and military role on the international stage.

The bill passed after the opposition boycotted the vote. It now goes to the upper house, where the government hopes to win approval before the current parliamentary session ends on 15 December.

According to the BBC's Tokyo correspondent, Chris Hogg, Japan has become a lot less cautious about patriotism than it used to be.

Seven years ago a piece of music that honours the emperor became the national anthem and the rising sun flag became the emblem of the Japanese state.

But the government would argue that the country¿s pacifist constitution is pre-eminent and that no-one has anything to fear from a more patriotic Japan.



Teachers should foster 'love of the nation and homeland'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6153314.stm

strange..

Seems rather sad that you have to 'instill' patriotism in school, isn't it?

Right-wing politics + reactive/calculated nationalism + conservatism = ????

I'm gonna say facism, which Japan might politically be closer to than you would imagine.

what about foreign students ? are they gonna chant we love our homeland, we are proud of our country, we are proud of our japanese race lol

This is serious yoou guys its no joke. This bill basically gives japan the right in case of any military confrontation or emergency to use godzilla in any fashion or manner they deem necessary. Direct confrontation of any kind would result in japanese low life nerds immigrating in huge numbers to china to stalk unsuspecting women and pulling there panties down. The passing of this bill is a dark day for all chinese people.

Hasn't America been 'instilling' patriotism in schools for years?

not really...


there is just a pledge of allegiance every morning.

In United States, we american kids learn about slavery, genocide of indians, and the civil rights movement. We study our faults.

And your point is?

American history is extremly Euro and ethnocentric. The only things kids learned about slavery is that is what blacks were and whites were kind enough to free them. They learned $hit about the genocide of indians besides the fact they were here when Columbus arrived and gradually "migrated" and died as a result of certain diseases. They also ignore pretty much all the wars between whites and Native Americans as well even though they were as violent and costly as the Civil War and Revolutionary War. And the Civil rights is portrayed as nothing more than people finally coming together to help stop racism. The nadir period, effects of segregation and discrimination, as well as their effects on African-Americans to this day are consistently ignored. Which is why you have non-blacks saying the same old "segregation ended 50 years ago, stop b!tching". They say the same thing about slavery. No one in this country studies their faults. Faults are continuously omitted, white-washed, or completely distorted.

Its not perfect but its far from how japanese kids are taught history.

I really don't see how. Not that I'm excusing either one, but American history is nationalistic, ethnocentric, and pretty condescending towards ethnic minority groups. Especially African and Native Americans. The teachers might not go around blatantly saying whites are better than everyone and barely did any wrong, but they come pretty close to me.

O please, I don't know how you were taught but I learnt all about federick douglas, Harriet Tubman, Martin luther king etc. etc. The Chinese exclusion act was also covered. We also learned of sitting bull, sioux, and other native americans. US is a western country with a population of white people. Of course it is eurocentric. But when you ask americans if they know of what happened to blacks and native americans, they can tell you. They aren't proud of it either. Unless you go south and talk to conservative racists..

I also remembered in grade school, they also covered the japanese internment issue during WW2.

I think if they want to have nationalism comparable to China or Israel in Asia I say why not.

Seems a bit ironic how many people will bash japan for sucking up to foreigner and kissing white @$$ then do a 180 and complain about a bill to instill nationalistic values.



Ya there would be a paragraph in a book regarding Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, and maybe an entire half-page for MLK. Whoopidy doo. While we'd spend a week learning about the French Revolution, the bubonic plague, or some other European nonsense.. And most people DON'T know what happened to Native Americans. Ask your average white guy or average American for that matter and I doubt they could tell you generally what lead to such a major decline in their population. Let alone get into specifics. And I couldn't care less whether whites are proud of slavery and segregation or not. I'd rather have an acknowledgement that both insitutions still have an effect on blacks today instead of the common "Oh it was so long ago what does it matter" mentality. Also we didnt' learn anything about the Chinese Exclusion Act or anything about Japan except they were allied with Germany during WW2 but are cool with us now. After the Civil Rights Movement history in this country might have been a BIT less biased but overall? Not really.

heh must be because of different school systems..

This country is 70% White what do you expect? It's not like it's in their best interest to allow a course to be taught thoroughly. And if they did they would say it happened and this is how it is today. Most History teachers I had were pretty conservative in discussions and would move around anything and there was 1 that was a White Supremacist and got in an argument with a black stundent and went about it like "Europeans dominated and that's in the past, let's just leave at that okay!" "End of discussion!!!" That's the teacher feeling uncomfortable. It's kinda metaphorical to how the white people on AsiaFinest are. Like how FunkyColdMedina does the round about in discussions because he feels uncomfortable. The thing is no matter if there is admittance or not, white people do feel superior and think they are entitled to every benefit of the doubt regardless of who stands in their way.

that is good. need more patriotism in japanese students so they can stand up to the chinese and korean bullying.

japanese are really pussies if they view chinese and korean protests over ww2 as bullying.

chinese and koreans should stop their bullying tactics. japanese are peace loving people. do not make japan revert to its rising sun mentality.

Yeah sure einstein were the bullies here, just by reading your response I can tell your not japanese your probably one of those anime freaks I was referring to in another thread.

does it matter what i am? injustice against one is injustice against all. i just think chinese and koreans need to stop their bullying tactics. why stir up the peace loving japanese people?

WTF you stupid troll get out my topic

how the hell can chinese and koreans be bullies when they are reactionary and not instigating?

did the chinese vandalize the japanese embassy in beijing? who is the instigators now?

hmmm that incident was probably reactionary to a yasukuni shrine incident coupled with mob mentality.

No doubt about it that was wrong but dont try to excuse japans behaviour by diverting attention away from the root of the problem. Why is it japanese and japanophiles seem to have this uncanny ability to make up excuses?

civilized people and countries do not go around finding excuses so they can vandalize other countries embassies.

Real civilized and honorable people dont deny past atrocities either or leave out critical information in the textbooks to save face in front of there family or loved ones. Real civilized people dont go about aggressively invading your neighbours and tossing little babies up in the air and catching them with swords real civilized people dont gang rape little children and then proceed to slaughter them finally real civilized and honorable people dont find excuses or divertions in other countries in the hopes of taking the attention away from there wrongdoing real civilized people who are truly remorseful are those that are able to look squarely at there past and ackowledged what they did was wrong. Real Civilized people dont equal Real Japan because none of them are real with themselves.

so what are you saying is chinese are not civilized people?

Your immaturity just further proves my point.

so now you resort to personal attack?

you sound like those trolls on youtube.com.

how is korea and china a "bully" to japan?

japan visits yasukuni.
korea/china protest.

how is this bullying. japan is an instigator, korea and china are just reacting to japan's actions.

Is it a specialty for you that everytime you have no factual arguments against me you make stupid jokes that highlight your true immaturity your hate and your ignorance and you start acting like a jacka**. Now i know your not japanese even the japanese cant be as stupid as you. You sound like an angry little boy whos upset at the world because they wouldnt let you into an anime convention.

It's a shame that it has come to this. However I think it is for the good of the country.

Yeah right Im pretty sure you feel badly about this.

I only feel bad that it's had to come to this. Atleast the government has enough sense to correct this lingering problem.

What lingering problem? From what Ive seen japanese students dont have any troubly displaying nationalism already this bill is just basically adding fuel to the fire.

Unfortunately there is a problem. American influence is at it's root. A significant number of japanese youth grow up with a lack of identity. This may help them embrace their identity in the long run and install a sense of national pride in these children. Only time will tell.

If you guys honestly feel that way then why dont you get some courage and tell them to stop stationing themselves in japan instead of suffering in silence?

Remilitarization must come before any of this can happen. If you have been paying attention the first steps are in motion.

Why do you feel like you have to remilitarize before you can have the right to tell a foreign power to get out of your country? Please explain your logic to me

I would be glad to. As you know japan's military capabilities are limited on it's own. The country relies heavily on america for defense. A disadvantage position. In order for us to be rid of the U.S. occupation. Japan must remilitarize to stand on it's own. Or risk being at the mercy of our neighbors. Rearm, become strong and there is no reason for americans to be there.

Why do you think were such a threat? Not speaking on koreas behalf but I can tell you that the average chinese is more concerned about getting a good education, a fulfilling career, and food on the table then starting a war with its neighbours. No offense but you guys are not that important.

When you have a giant neighbor such as china with people in the billions. Nuclear weapons and a tremendous army. Where in comparison you are limited in your ability to counter it is understandable why one would become paranoid. Push come to shove japan will be at china's mercy if things continue the way they are with japanese society. We don't know what the future holds. If you were on the other side you would agree. As for korea the dprk has threatened japan in the past. I feel the fact that japan is weakened encourages this type of national behavior.

The huge army and nuclear weapons is purely defence motivated. There has to be an intent before you can use them and there isnt. And dont forget also that our huge army the worlds biggest still spends less on its army then both japan and koreas? Considering that the U.S army and its country is alot smaller then China and yet they spend half a trillion each year on there army is something that should worry you more then the chinese army. I would think that for a country of chinas size with its borders and land being so vast that a measely 32 billion a year miliatary budget would be pretty modest. Honestly I feel it would be justified if we spent just as much on our military annually as the U.S do.

Despite the chinese saying it is defense oriented and all this about a peaceful rise it is still intimidating. That is the truth. Japan spends more money by pure numbers. Not to mention weapons are purchased from americans at jacked up prices. Even so what we have is still limited. In anycase the chinese spend a much greater percentage of their economy on defense. While japan spends 1% or less. Even so the PLA is a more capable body and with more experience. Japanese are just militarily starting to get back on our feet. However I'll agree with you on some level. China is threat in japanese eyes. I agree with this completely. However China is not our primary threat at this moment. What you have said is much rooted in fact. I agree with your comparison about china and america. If japanese ever get the U.S. out nuclear weapons will be needed to deter china and defend against possible american reinvasion. To me this is not a simple Japan China issue. That is only a part of it. The big issue is japan defending itself from any threat. The origin of it doesn't matter as much.

Japanese denial of it's wartime history is hardly making the situation any better.

See this is what Im trying to understand what are we a threat to you on. Your land? Soverignty? Identity? I mean what is it? I dont understand how a country could be intimidated by a neighbour that has never invaded you or harmed you in any way and yet you have a foreign power on japanese soil who I personally feel is 10 times more itimidating then we are occupying parts of your country and excusing that to protecting you while they see fit to implement military bases anywhere they want. Whos the real threat here? Could it be possible that you guys are either paranoid, brainwashed by american propaganda, or just buying to much into the numbers game? I dont understand how you can label us as a bigger threat to your countrys longevity then the americans.

That's completely insane. If I were Japanese I wouldn't mind the "patriotism" as long as WW2 isn't glossed over. Doing something wrong doesn't mean you should be ashamed to exist.. however jacking up military spending seems kind of pointless.

Whether you like it or not China is one of Japan's biggest trading partners and each obnoxious statement by high-level politicians is going to cause some economic whiplash against Japan's favor. Even if it's a few million lost, the freedom for a couple snide remarks don't cover the loss.

A threat to japanese territory and sovereignty are the primary threats that china poses. You talk to me as though I do not realize or view the U.S. as a threat. You never will hear me say it is not. Just because china has not done so in the past does not rule out the future. Indeed america does have too much control in japan. Both to me are threatening outside powers. As for paranoia we are no more paranoid than anyone else in the region. The numbers game is a factor. However the main thing is that in recent years the government is starting to realize just how vulnerable japan is. All of this isnt coming out of now where.


moobie:



Not when you are a small country surrounded by some of the largest powers on the planet. Again Japan boosting defense is no crazier than china or korea boosting defense.




This is today. Who knows what tommorow will bring? I would rather the country be prepared for a worse case scenerio than caught off guard completely.

Eh if it flies with the people, I suppose it can't hurt. But as long as more of it is dumped into developing cutting-edge technology that can be adjusted for use elsewhere and sold..

But I don't think any of the East Asian nations should really be spending that much money on defense, maybe just point a few nukes at North Korea or something. Or enter some dialogues for defense cooperation and korean reunification if their pledge to self defense only is sincere.