Anti-Japan sentiment

Last week i received a QQ group message: "From now on, we have to name our toilets: Yasukuni Shrine and our pisses: Koizumi (small streams). You have to forward this message to three group e-mails or group chats, or you have ill-lucks all your life."

The anti-Japan feelings has been accumulating since Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine; last weekend there were rumour saying that an anti-Japan demonstration were to take place in Shenzhen, this time the China government took action to "cool down" the angry public sentiment. But repression without public discussion usually results in dispersion, such as in the form of QQ messages.

The anti-Japan sentiment not only happens in China, but also in South Korea. Today i came across another blog post showing South Korea protest photos against Japan government. The photos are rather terrifying. It seems that the debate on history and territories in East Asia will be reviving, yet we can't get any access to local analysis on the political background and implication of Koizumi right wing politics in Japan.

Remember during the anti WTO protest, a Japanese friend from a homeless organization in Osaka cried out "Down down Koizumi" slogan. I feel pity that there were no further discussion about Koizumi politics to explore how we can go beyond historical debate and look into the present politic that shapes our common past.

Besides, I am also concerned about the anti-Japan and anti-Amercia sentiment in South Korea. The imperial history / collective memories of course are very powerful weapon in political mobilization. However, if we only see Japan or America as external entities rather than integral part of Korea society, political structure, culture and history, political action will easily lose its reflective dimension. I wonder if the social movement circle in South Korea has any discussion on this.

photos taken from Occidentalism