"Nuclear Samurai"

In the wake of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis the repetitive message resounding in the news has been the incredibly stoic response of its citizens. The BBC, Reuters, the National Post for example have applauded the Japanese people’s “sense of duty, the bravery and endurance”. While the world has watched Japan struggle with containing these three successive disasters, many references has been made to Japanese history of stoicism, including samurai and agrarian communal lifestyles.
In the readings for this week, specific mention is made to East Asian resentment towards Japanese history. The legacy of the Second World War, historical animosity, and political rivalries has led to a distrust of Japan in East Asia. Thus, Japan has had to try to transcend these obstacles in its attempts to export its culture abroad. However, the horrors that Japan has recently been forced to endure, has led to a myriad of positive media stories about the strength and honor of Japanese culture, which Japan could use to its advantage.
These tragedies have depicted the Japanese “stoicism” in a positive light, as opposed to the well know kamikaze pilots of WWII for example. Likewise, the historical slate may be wiped cleaner by focusing on Japan’s response to this nuclear crisis, as opposed to the causes of Japan’s last nuclear disaster. These stories overcome the tint of self serving, traditional, public relations strategies, and are perpetuated by foreign new agencies abroad. The tragedies that have befallen Japan are horrific, but the gold lining could be the reframing of Japanese stoicism, in terms of endurance and humility, as opposed to arrogance and imperialism. We have watch and empathized with Japan’s struggles, and we just may never view Japan the same.