Suchergebnisse

US portrayals of the German & Japanese enemy in WWII are explored, demonstrating that, while Germans were depicted as humans misled by evil Nazi leaders, Japanese were portrayed as subhumans who deserved to be exterminated by white men; no distinctions were made between Japanese leaders, soldiers, & civilians. Paradoxically, initial Japanese successes in the war also led to an image of Japanese soldiers as invincible. The US view of Japan is contrasted with the Japanese view of Westerners, it is argued that, while white racism focused on denigrating the Other, Japanese racism emphasized the elevation of the self. In addition, while Westerners relied on pseudoscience to bolster their racist claims, the Japanese turned to mythohistory to legitimate claims of their superiority. Ironically, the malleability of racial stereotypes may have contributed to the relatively benign relations between Americans & Japanese during the postwar occupation of Japan (1945-1952). 8 Figures. J. Ferrari

At the time of writing, Dower observed mounting tension in U.S.-Japan relations. He identified two factors as contributing to mutual fear: differences in capitalism on national and international levels, and stereotypical perceptions based on racial phobias. The author describes major characteristics inducing pessimism based on rational fears concerning economic well-being, national pride, and "cultural values." While densely intertwined economically, financially, militarily, and personally, both actors' abiding suspicion of one another has created a sense of impending crisis.