Skip to main content

KAMIKAZE? NOT AGAIN!

Named after the typhoon that stopped Kublai Khan's invasion of Japan, the young warriors that were sent to slam their planes into American warships are being resurrected and hailed as heroes. A new movie written by Tokyo's Governor, the "Kamikaze" is once again being proclaimed as warriors worthy of emulation by today's Japanese youth.


Of course, when noticed and criticized by the foreign media, the Japanese "Nationalists" quickly attempts to soften their message. Despite that, a different message seems to come out when the film's director was asked about the Kamikaze and the war itself.

"While insisting to reporters that the movie's message is anti-war, director Taku Shinjo said Japan launched the war in Asia in self-defense, and that the decision to send young men on suicide missions was the only option left as the conflict neared its end.

"When you get to the roots of the Japanese soul, I think they are embodied in the kamikaze pilots," he said."

Self defense? I wonder if forcing thousands of young women (some of whom have not even had their first monthly periods) to become sex slaves can actually be considered as an act of self defense.

With that kind of statement from the movie's director, I am curious as to how he can accurately portray the war's and its real lessons in that movie. In addition, Japan's recent attempts to revise its war history makes this film something worth every protest that the war victims- the comfort women especially, can muster.

The film, at the very least, is very ill timed.

Digg!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

US PRESIDENTIAL CONVOYS

A columnist for a Philippine newspaper talks about the costs and massive preparations required by the US Secret Service whenever President Bush and other (US Presidents) travel outside of Washington DC. I remember watching a CNN report that showed how big a US presidential convoy is, compared to the two vehicle transport being used by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK.

Land Reform: Land of Bondage Land of the Free

One of the most moving speeches that I've read. During grade school, this was the most often recited elocution piece in my school. Here it is, the text of Raul Manglapus' Land of Bondage, Land of the Free. Land of Bondage, Land of the Free By Raul Manglapus And yet, ladies and gentlemen, the tao is constitutionally free! No wonder, then, that the tao being a slave has acquired the habits of a slave. No wonder that after three centuries in chains, without freedom, without hope, he should lose the erect and fearless posture of a freeman, and become the bent, misshapen, indolent, vicious, pitiful thing that he is! Who dares accuse him now? Who dares rise up in judgement against this man, reduced to this subhuman level by three centuries of oppession? Ladies and gentlemen the tao does not come here tonight to be judged -- but to judge! Hear then his accusation and his sentence: I indict the Spanish encomendero for inventing taxes impossible to pay! I indict the usurer for s

DOHA Round Updates & Preferential Tariffs in Practice

T he DOHA round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations intends to promote the opening of markets and promoting free trade. This April, the latest meeting failed to reach a conclusion. Director-General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization delivered a speech before the US Chamber of Commerce on April 23, 2007. Here are excerpts from his speech. "T oday we know that the Doha Development Round will not be concluded until and unless all these participants are ready to walk the extra mile and table additional contributions to the collective success of this multilateral enterprise. It is clear that the contributions will be linked to the degree of development and wealth of each participant, with the world poorest countries making the smallest contribution. It is also clear that no one will be asked to move first: countries will have to move in concert, like a big orchestra playing to the same tune. For the moment, a group of major actors — the EU, US, Brazil, India — d