Japan

[Towi Wakka]

What does the Japanese people feel about Americans as a majority? From what I've heard they hate us! (I don't believe that its true)

[ShiroiHikari]

Well, it's hard to speak for the entire population, I think. Probably some of them hate us and some of them don't. Although I've heard that it's really hard to get started there if you're a gaijin (foreigner).

I think somebody posted a link to a very informative FAQ page about Japan once, I'll try and see if I can find it again and link to it.

Yep, here it is! djnoz originally posted it :]

http://www.thejapanfaq.com/FAQ-Primer.html

[Technomancer]

As with any time this question is asked, the answer is much more complex than a simple yes or no. The Japanese are a very insulular and ethnocentric people to begin with, which probably accounts for some of this perception. There is also the same dislike for various aspects of American policies that exists elsewhere in the world, plus a rememberance of the destruction wreaked by American air raids (to say nothing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). On the other hand, there is often much admiration of Western freedoms and diversity which provide a tremendous contrast to some aspects of Japanese culture.

The Ryuukans (Okinawans) have particular reasons for their dislike, given the siting of American military bases in their islands. As a result of some highly publicized crimes commited by military personnell and behaviour that is generally regarded as boorish by the locals, American servicemen are not regarded with great favour there. Some of this also stems from the fact that the Ryuukans had (and continue to have) no say in the matter of the bases' existance; the question is wholly determined by Tokyo. It is worth noting that the native Ryuukans are linguistically distinct from the Japanese, and the central government has also tried to eliminate their native culture in order to promote the myth of national homogenaity (see David Suzuki's "The Japan we Never Knew" for more).

[Towi Wakka]

I understand what you are saying Technomancer. We did however help rebuild them and in a way we are allies. I was playing PSO a few days ago and I talked with several Japanese online (man it was hard!) It was cool because they seemed pretty nice.

[Shao Feng-Li]

Well, back in ww2... maybe they's be a lil sore at us after what we did to them.. and i'm not talking about the combat IN japan... the japanese american's were put in prison while Nazi's paraede through New York... and most of the japanese considered themselves AMERICAN and alot of them had to fight against theor own country men...
I really can't say i blame them for hating us... maybe we earned it? But I'm sure some of them do like us....