War Without Mercy "The Pure Self"

War Without Mercy "The Pure Self" Yusuke Takahata & Adam Rod

Japan's perception of itself and racial issue • In 1914 Adachi comes to conclusion that as a whole is inferior nor superior to other race • Kiyono racial colour not a subject of discrimination, each race different advantages and handicaps • Japan calls itself as Shidou Minzoku - the leading race • 6 main points in matters of idea “Self and Other”: “moral righteousness, mythical legitimization, global vision, and “shining history”

Within propaganda use of old Japanese to emphasize cultural superiority • Western countries saw them as inferior race (LON, USA immigration law) • Struggle with finding what it really means to be Japanese and what is Yamato? • Resenting Western racism, Japan came up with thesis that they are superior, not based on colour of skin, but because royal family were descendants of gods • Japanese commanders liked Charlie Chaplins The Great Dictator

Purpose of War for Japan • Fighting for the liberation of Asia, and ultimately for the construction of a new global order. • The image of higher moral society • Kiyono's portrayal of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere • "Proper place" and "suitable work" • Discriminating term to categorize nations and races. • Japanese = one of absolute leadership • Japan's destiny as the "leading race" in the world

A Citizen's Reader for Certain Victory • Written by the famous writer Tokutomi lichiro • "The country exists for the two billion people of the world." • "The model, the pattern, the standard for the world." • Bringing all races and nations of the world under "one roof" (八紘一宇) • Germans admired and despised Japan as ally. • Japanese officers saw Germany as temporary ally.

Purification 1. Expunging foreign influences • Western thought = Preoccupation with the self 2. Living austerely 3. Fighting loyally, if need be dying for the emperor • Purge of Western ideas by many cartoons • Ex. "Osaka Puck" • Creating a "new world order"

Extravagance is the enemy

Color - Red & White • "Whiteness" as symbol of purity and cleanliness in both West and Japan • White skin in Japan was considered as sign of social status • Japan itself looked down on other countries and also Japan has its own “whiteness” as a symbol of purity • White as symbol of purity, and cleanliness also an element in West

Japanese saw themselves as the whitest nation in Asian and opposed themselves against darker nations in Asia (Chinese etc.) • Who didn't have the white skin colour, colour of heart was important, Red • Red as colour of truth, faithful mind • Red as colour of blood = colour of life

"Mythological" War • Very strong meaning of Japanese flag and country symbols in general • Japanese used names of mountains, mythical creatures, poetic weather names as names for battleships • Sacrifice, bloodbath becoming the supreme form of spiritual cleansing

Self-sacrifice • The ultimate purification = self-sacrifice • The battle of Atta • 2,500 Japanese vs. 12,500 Americans • "Japanese drink blood like wine!" • "I will become a deity with a smile in the heavy fog. I am only waiting for the day of death." • Japanese fanaticism • "Attu Gyokusai"

Tokkotai • "Ichioku Tokko" • The supreme sacrifice and ultimate state of purification

Summary • Japanese did not see war in pacific as a racial war, but more as a war between different cultures • Japan has saw themselves as better nation and culture, than other cultures and nations in the world • War was very ideological for Japan, also in a different way than for West • Japan used sophisticated propaganda

Summary • Fighting for the liberation of Asia, and ultimately for the construction of a new global order. • Purification of Japan, Asia, and eventually the world. • "Extravagance is the enemy" • Purification of themselves by overcoming hardships, to live austerely. • The ultimate purification = self-sacrifice • "Ichioku Tokko"

Opinion about the Chapter • Interesting chapter, because we finally could see not only Western and US propaganda, but compare it with Japanese style of propaganda • Interesting to know how actually Japanese propaganda worked

Opinion about the Chapter • Tokko - Stupidity of the Japanese commanders • Humanitarian problem • Were the young willing to join it? • The drop of its success rate • Technological progress of the US weapons

THE END Thank you for your attention!

War Without Mercy "The Pure Self"