Page 2 of 2 | Back
The People Respond to Pearl Harbor (Arcives)

  • Translated Responses from Japanese: on the pink background (6~10)
  • English Responses: on the blue background (6~10)

Kaito 10: June 3, 2001, 9:06 PM
Name = Samugari
Gender = Male
Age = 61
Occupation = Self-employed
Nationality = Japanese
Country of Residence = Japan
  1. I recall the Yamato battleship and the kamikaze forces. At that time, Japan faced an economic blockade, so fuel and other important resources were unable to be imported from foreign countries. Japan was forced to resort to its last trick, as evidenced in the saying, “A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.” At that time, the upper-ranking officers in the Japanese military probably knew that, even if they successfully executed a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, they would not have enough strength to engage in further attacks (since they did not have weapons or fuel). Japanese soldiers at that time were taught to feel shame if they returned home alive, so those soldiers felt that it was better to die heroically in the attack on Pearl Harbor, as long as the Japanese army was going to lose anyway.

  2. I first heard of Pearl Harbor from my father and other people in my neighborhood when I was 5 or 6 years old. I heard more later on, when I spoke with elderly people about the war.

  3. Pearl Harbor was a major event that led to Japan's losing the war. I do not know what Americans think about Pearl Harbor.

Response 10: June 19, 2001 8:35 PM
Name = Itel
Gender = Male
Age = 39
Profession = Program Coordinator
Nationality = French
Country = Japan
  1. Beginning of the war between the American government and the Japanese government.

  2. At school, during a history class.

  3. As for what it could mean to Japanese people, I have no idea. May be that for many American who were young at the time of Pearl Harbor it would be the best definition of a what is a treacherous military attack.

Response 9: June 19, 2001 5:02 PM
Name = ryan burg
Gender = Male
Profession = attorney
Nationality = US
Country = US
  1. Sneak attack, US caught by surprise, overreaching by the Japanese

  2. As a child, probably through a movie.

  3. Changed both nations. The US through its industrial supremacy achieved superpower status. Japan suffered greatly but its people were freed from totalitarian rule by the militarist government and receive individual and equal rights for the first time.

Response 8: June 18, 2001 8:39 PM
Name = DDG
Gender = Male
Profession = Information Technology
Nationality = US citizen
Country = USA
  1. I think of the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor.

  2. When I was a kid I first heard of Pearl Harbor and it was in school.

  3. It began a history of relations between the US and Japan that has not always been friendly.

Response 7: June 4, 2001 9:08 AM
Name = Bob Schapiro
Gender = Male
Nationality = US
  1. Unpreparedness and surprise usually come to mind, not necessarily the specific attack in 1941. For example, if someone advocating a missile defense warns against "a nuclear Pearl Harbor," I don't necessarily think of World War Two.

  2. I was very young. I was learning about my cousins who died in the European Holocaust. When I wondered why America had not done something earlier, I was told that we did not enter the war until "after Pearl Harbor."

  3. To Americans, "Pearl Harbor" is a concept that has evolved beyond the Dec. 1941 attack. As noted above, defense against a "nuclear Pearl Harbor" has dominated our military thinking for decades. That concept has nothing to do with Japan.

    Of course, in other contexts, "Pearl Harbor" summons the specific historical event. It's one of the first things American children learn about Japan. I believe that it's first and foremost presented as a "sneak attack."

    I would not speak for its significance to Japanese people. It was certainly a great victory on a military level while a major blunder in its perception of the American psyche.

Response 6: June 3, 2001 1:07 PM
Name = K-boy
Gender = Male
Profession = sales mgr
Nationality = usa
Country = usa
  1. Japan's sneak attack to the USA. Hawaii's most biggest historical spot among the Japanese and American tourist to learn about the war.

  2. I don't exactly remember when was my first time to know about Pearl Harbor, but I think it was, when I was in elementary school during global history class and my teacher was explaining to the class about Japan attacking USA and the war began.

  3. To the Americans, I think that this Pearl Harbor issue is still considered as Japan's sneak attack and this attack eventually lead to ww2. Although, from the Japanese side of view, I think Japan had frustrations towards European communities and America being bossy because European countries had their colonies all over Asia and the world but when Japan tend to do so, the Americans or European communities (such as England, France) didn't let Japanese invading the Asian countries to let them controlling the Asian countries because the Europeans and the Americans were afraid that if japan took over China, it will effect on economy between China and the United States. When Japan felt it was such unfair deal among the Europeans and Americans because Japan wanted to be a part of the empire and leader of the world among Europeans, the United States didn't let Japan to control the dictator ship and colonization of China, finally Japan decided to attack the United States and the closest part of the US was happened to be Pearl Harbor.

Kaito 8: May 27, 2001 6:22 AM
Name: = Anonymous
Gender = Female
  1. A deep-seated grudge held by Americans

  2. I feel that Pearl Harbor was often used to portray Japan in a negative light when I lived in America.

  3. Pearl Harbor has been long forgotten by Japanese people. However I feel that the older generation of Americans still retain a strong image of the sneaky Japanese.

Kaito 7: May 26, 2001 8:03 PM
Name = YO
Gender = female
Age-=38
Profession = Translator/Writer
Nationality = Japan
Country= USA
  1. The World War II. The Ehime-Maru incident. Current right-wing backlash in Japan. Endless cycles of Anti-Japan propaganda in the U.S. and anti-U.S. propaganda in Japan.

  2. On a family vacation in Hawaii, when I was in elementary school. I don't remember learning about Pearl Harbor in school (I was probably napping In class).

  3. Different people have different opinions, but these are what I've heard from the Japanese:
    1) The successful attack of Pearl Harbor indicates excellence of the Imperial Japan military.
    2) It's futile to discuss about the war in the past.
    3) The Pearl Harbor incident has been used in the U.S. as an anti-Japan propaganda.
    4) Japan's reputation suffered because of the incompetent bureaucrats who did not promptly announce the date of the attack.
    5) Japan was conned by FDR.
    6) Pearl Harbor accelerated Japan's downward spiral, which had been initiated recklessly by its own military.

    I personally agree with 3 and 6.
    Opinions from Americans (some are listed below) seem to vary depending on race, as well as on the individuals.
    1) Japan shouldn't complain about Hiroshima because it acted cowardly at
    Pearl Harbor. (white)
    2) The Japanese are cruel and mean because of the lack of Christianity in their culture. (white)
    3) The unannounced attack of the U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor is different from Hiroshima bombing, which killed unarmed (and uninformed) civilians. (white)
    4) Since Japan had already ruined Asia, the Pearl Harbor attack wasn't that significant. (Chinese-American and Indian-American)
    5) Pearl Harbor should not be used as an excuse to glamorize the warfare. (African-American)

Kaito 6: May 25, 2001 4:52 AM
Name = Kuwa
Gender = Male
Age = 46
Profession = Company management
Nationality = Japanese
Country = Japan
  1. It is the start of the Pacific War. A surprise attack.

  2. I first heard about Pearl Harbor when I saw the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora" as a child.

  3. Japanese feel “a sense of guilt”, while Americans feel “hatred.”


Copyright 2001 ezipangu.org. All rights reserved.