Male, 50s, organization staff
There are a multitude of ties binding the Japan and the U.S.: corporate,
artistic, governmental, academic, via the nonprofit sector and on an
individual level.
An American acquaintance told me there's a new wave of interest in Japan
among young Americans. Matsui and Ichiro, films and anime, architecture
and art - these forms of new culture are defining the US-Japan connection.
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Sasaki Yoshinori 60s, retired
In a discussion of violence against America last night, participants said,
"fanaticism must be condemned," and "we must cooperate with the US because
of its overwhelming strength," statements of a simplistic bent. A new hard
look at how and why the US-Japan relationship got this way is needed.
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Satomi, 30s, company employee
When visiting the US my favorite place was New York, especially the wealth
of evening events.
Watching musicals, listening to jazz, going for a drink afterward... Then
there's going to a ballgame, or basketball; daytime there's art museums and
strolling in Central Park. It is really a stimulating city you never get
tired of. I love that about America. Next I'm planning a trip to Vegas
or the Miami area. Can't wait.
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"Mirage," 40s, company employee
Why don't the Japanese have any national pride, and why is it that Americans do?
While admiring Americans' unshakeable confidence in their own country, I also feel envy.
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Yoichi, 37 years old, Environmental Scientist
I have been living in the U.S. almost 10 years, and recently I become more and more interested in who
we, Japanese, are and why we feel and think the way we do in a context of international relations, or
even in individual multinational interaction levels.
Nationality should have never been used as an aggressiveness toward other countries, but somewhere
and sometime after World War II, we began to neglect or avoid focusing on a pride and identity of
Japanese. A face of Japanese became only known through an unhumanized big corporation technology face.
I think we need to understand our long history and how each events affect to shape who we are now,
so we will be in a better position to support or to be among international communities and people
as confident Japanese.
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Sue Acocks, Michigan, USA.
I am delighted to learn of this momentous anniversary. We in Marquette,
Michigan, have had a Sister City relationship with the city of Yokaichi, in Shiga
Prefecture, for 25 years and will be welcoming the 25th Anniversary
Delegation to Marquette in May. I was delighted to learn of the 150th America-Japan
observation.
Our Sister City relationship is a bit more complex than many such.
Every other year a delegation goes to Yokaichi and in alternate years, they come here.
Delegates stay in the homes of residents for ten days and participate in
both planned and unplanned (family) activities. Last October my friend came to
Marquette on a private visit. She had never been to the U.S. and I was so
flattered that she chose to visit our small, northern town in Michigan's Upper
Peninsula.
As a result of my first visit in 1999, I have fallen in love with Japan and
specifically with my host family, who are now like a real family to me.
I have returned three times since that first visit and plan to contine. My life has
been enriched immeasurably by this experience. I am even studying Japanese
now so that I can speak--haltingly--with my friends from Japan.
I have forwarded your home page to our committee with the suggestion that we
include reference to this 150th anniversary in or observations in May.
Sayonara,
Sue Acocks
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P.Hood (UK)
I find the Japanese love of American junk culture (disney etc) which
emerged in the late '40's/1950's extremely bizarre in view of the
nuclear destruction of Hiroshima & Nagasaki by US forces in W.W.2.
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Adam, 20, Writer
In an ideal world, all countries would be able to get on well together
without a need for military occupation. 150 is a poignant number,
because the number of American military personnel and dependants is
estimated at around 150,000.
The United States still has somewhere in
the region of 91 army bases in Japan and of the $7.6 billion that is
costs to keep them there, Japan pays $4.25 billion as 'sympathy funds'.
This arrangement is unprecedented around the world. This is remembering
that all occupation was to end following the 1952 peace treaty. The
chance an American soldier will commit a violent / sexual crime against
a local in Okinawa is 4.12 in every 1000 troops, four times as high as
many other bases back in the US.
While an international friendship is
something we all can be proud of, what kind of friendship is built on
fear, occupation and violence? Perhaps we should not be celebrating the
distorted past (Commodore Perry threatened to burn down Edo if they did
not let him in) and instead be looking toward making a new future for
these two nations, based purely on friendship and not security pressures.
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Peter Bolton, college student, Gettysburg, PA
Although I'm young(21), I went to Japan three years ago, when I was 18! I really
enjoyed my trip, such that I aspire to return to Japan! I wanna work for the UN,
so this is a distinct possibility! Furthermore, I'm taking a Japanese politics course,
at the moment, so I think I can safely say that Japan is one of my favorite countries!
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American Siblings Read Write and Speak Japanese
I enjoyed the New Orleans celebration of U.S. Japan 150 years. I am a retired U.S.
military mother of a son and daughter who were raised and educated in Japan. My family
just returned to the U.S. after more than 20 years in the wonderful country of Japan.
I am attaching my website
www.antja.net which chronicles our lives there. It would be
hard for me to explain the delights of sharing the Japanese culture in one email so
please peruse at your convenience. Japan and the U.S. are allies with a common bond
which will last forever.
Sincerely, Eudith Rodney
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Fred From Syracuse
A Great Example of Japanese ands American Ties is Baseball.I admire The
Japanese fan support.I wish Japanese games could be shown in U.S.
