American Perceptions of Japan

Any Google search of “Japan” today will return countless articles and links to information about the March earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant meltdown.  But how much did we know about Japan before these disasters shook-up the world?  I spoke with three generations of Americans, and all returned fairly similar responses in terms of knowledge and awareness of social events in the Pacific Island nation.

Everyone I spoke with was able to identify the capitol, Tokyo, and the location of Japan as a country in the region of the continent of Asia.  The consensus among interviewees about a past event within this century was the recognition of the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. 

US and Japanese military leaders work together to agree to a surrender of Japan, which ends WWII.

My Papa, who is 79 years old, went to Japan with the Navy less than a decade after WWII ended.  While he reminisced, he told me, “I was there only 9 yrs after WWII and there was absolutely zero animosity.  They [the Japanese] recognized their error in starting the war.”  He explained he and his fellow sailors were told not to worry at all about trusting the Japanese workers aboard their ship and that “they were incredibly honest people.”

His wife, my grandma, voiced some of the same ideas about how our country views Japan.  She has traveled to Japan and says the most interesting part of the country is the “beautiful art… their talents are unbelievable.” She also told me about an experience she had at a tourist spot.  As she looked around for a towel to dry her hands, an old Japanese woman approached her with a handkerchief from her purse and lent it to her so my grandma could wipe her hands.  She described her sincere generosity as something that’s hard to come by in the United States. 

Dennis Louie, a 57 year old from the Bay Area, told me when he was growing up he faced people who were prejudiced against his family, even though they are Chinese, because people thought they were Japanese.  I found this interesting, since it is contrary to what my Papa told me about the lack of animosity in Japan immediately following WWII. 

One Cal Poly student, Nadia Nosrati, said her “dad brought her back a kimono from a business trip he had in Japan.” She told me she “hated it at first, until she matured and appreciated the culture behind the gift.” 

Kimonos are more than just an item of clothing, they represent part of Japanese art, showcasing the intricacies and attention to detail that is so common in other forms of Japanese art.

Another student, Kela Driggs, said when she thinks of Japan, a documentary about capturing dolphins for meat comes to mind.  She says the horrific images and ideas in the movie stand out as part of a culture she does not agree with. 

A fifty-year-old fire captain I spoke with said he thinks of the recent Toyota recalls.  He says most Americans see Japan as a leader in the technology and auto-manufacturing business. 

Once we got past the initial reaction about the earthquake as the number one topic for discussion, the array of answers from word association with “Japan” led to an interesting mix of responses.  From kimonos to cars, everyone had a different idea of what American’s of being part of Japanese culture.  It seems like Americans have a pretty good understanding of Japanese culture, and certainly of the current events of today.