Suchergebnisse

In 1942, proletarian writer, Takeda Rintarō, was sent from Japan to the Dutch East-Indies (Indonesia) as part of the Sendenbu (propaganda squad), where he led the literature section in the Keimin Bunka Shidōshō (cultural center) in Jakarta. Jawa sarasa documents Takeda Rintaro's activities and cultural experiences in Java, Indonesia, after he returned to Japan in 1944. Most Japanese literature and cultural writings about Nanyō or Nanpō ("South Islands" - South Asia and the Pacific, including Indonesia) from this era reference the concept of Imperialism in Asia. In the pre-war period, stereotypes such as dojin (local primitive) and tōmin (islander) defined South Island people as being lesser than or "other" than the Japanese people. Japanese literary depictions of tropical Eden's and exotic "uncivilized people" reflect similar perceptions and writings by Western authors towards Asia in the 19th century. This paper explores Takeda Rintarō's perspectives of "otherness" in prewar discourses about Indonesia. Through the influence of "The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" propaganda concept, the ideology of "sameness" was becoming a hegemonic cultural idea in Takeda's writings about Indonesia. Conversely, however, Takeda's depiction of the double-occupation of Java, with the political rule of Holland and economic domination of daily life by Chinese immigrants, implied criticism of Japan's administrative policies regarding economic exploitation in Java. Takeda's criticisms of Japanese policy are bedded in his emotion for the nature, culture and people of Indonesia.

The conflict over Kashmir has been a core issue between India and Pakistan since their independence. It is not only just a territorial conflict but also the core issue of the region, which has been changing along with the regional and international environment. In particular, after the 1990's, the people of Kashmir committed to armed resistance, which has become the focus of the risk to regional and international security because both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. Resolution of this problem is quite difficult because it would require committing to the ideas of national integration of both countries. Specifically, for India, it is secularism; for Pakistan, it is the two-nation theory. However, the people of Kashmir want to choose their own destiny—integration with neither India nor Pakistan. India promised Kashmir a degree of freedom and democracy under article 370 of the Indian Constitution; however, for the time being, these right have been curtailed. To resolve this issue, two main plans have been presented by both countries; a referendum and the partition of Kashmir along the Line of Control. But, these ideas disregard the right of self-determination or the nationalist sentiment of the people of Kashmir. Recently a new idea emerged based on the notion of shared sovereignty. The history of discord between India and Pakistan has caused critical anxiety for regional peace and stability. However, there will is hope that a constructive solution to this problem can be found in the future through continuity of dialogue and negotiation between the two countries. We as an international society surrounding these nations, we should maintain a supportive stance for continued cordial dialogue.

Rintaro Takeda a Japanese writer who had been assigned and ordered by the Japanese army as a member of the propaganda unit in Java. The previous study on Rintaro Takeda and his interaction with Indonesian writers focuses on his relationship with Armijn Pane. Armijn Pane is a famous Indonesia writer who had been known as a founder of new Indonesian literary movement, "Pujangga Baroe". In Takeda's essay of "Jawa Sarasa" (1944), Armijn Pane was introduced by Takeda as the brother of the great poet Sanusi Pane. Sanusi Pane had the reputation of being the Indonesian writer who most actively collaborated with the Japanese military during the Second World War. The present study aims to reveal the relationship between Takeda and Sanusi Pane with respect to their ideas on Asian culture. Pane was the chief editor of the literature magazine Keboedajaan Timoer ("Oriental Culture") and head of the Central Cultural Office (Keimin Bunka Shidosho) during the Japanese occupation. In Pane's earlier works during the Dutch colonial period, he included aspects of his own experience in India, and the writings were strongly influenced by the famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. According to Pane, India was a representation of ancient Javanese culture (Hindu-Buddhist culture) and became an inspiration for his concept of ideal culture. From an analysis of Sanusi Pane's works, such as Kertadjaja and Sandyakalaning Majapahit, it is clear that his depiction of glorious Javanese empires of the past contains his ideas of nationalism and notions about the superiority of old Javanese culture. Sanusi's idea were similar to those of Kokuzo Okakura, who inspired most of the Japanese propagandists in Indonesia, including Rintaro Takeda.