Skip to main content

[Eng] Higher "Cultural Standard" ?

Why are there fewer corona deaths in Japan than in Western countries? When asked so, Japan's deputy prime minister Mr. Taro Aso replied that it was because the "cultural standard" is different.

"Cultural standard"? He said that the "cultural standard# of Japan is higher than other countries. This was the result of voluntary restraint of Japanese people, without the government taking any strong measures. As it say, Japanese people have higher "cultural standard" than other countries.

It is true that the number of corona deaths in Japan is much lower than in the West. However, it is actually one of the highest compared to other Asian countries. If compared with other Asian countries, we can say that Japan has lower "cultural standard".

I remember two things. First, the reason Japan started World War II was the idea of a superior Japan liberating a lagging Asia. It was said that civilized Japan had to teach and guide other Asia that had not been civilized yet. Even until now, not small number of Japanese people still believe that "cultural standard" of Japan is more advanced than that of Asia.

Mr. Aso is one of them. But not only Mr. Aso, but also many high-ranking officials think so, too. They recognize themselves as elite, as who are especially chosen and are different from other ordinary people.

Despiy are there fewer corona deaths in Japan than in Western countries? When asked so, Japan's deputy prime minister Mr. Taro Aso replied that it was because the "cultural standard" is different.

"Cultural standard"? He said that the "cultural standard# of Japan is higher than other countries. This was the result of voluntary restraint of Japanese people, without the government taking any strong measures. As it say, Japanese people have higher "cultural standard" than other countries.

It is true that the number of corona deaths in Japan is much lower than in the West. However, it is actually one of the highest compared to other Asian countries. If compared with other Asian countries, we can say that Japan has lower "cultural standard".

I remember two things. First, the reason Japan started World War II was the idea of a superior Japan liberating a lagging Asia. It was said that civilized Japan had to teach and guide other Asia that had not been civilized yet. Even until now, not small number of Japanese people still believe that "cultural standard" of Japan is more advanced than that of Asia.

Mr. Aso is one of them. But not only Mr. Aso, but also many high-ranking officials think so, too. They recognize themselves as elite, as who are especially chosen and are different from other ordinary people. Unfortunately, despising feeling to Asia by Japanese people is still existed.

Second, there is a question whether "cultural standard" can be calculated or not. That says standard but the standard is not clear. Maybe I imagine it related to civilization. But who civilized who? We can remember it as colonization. Some standard from the West had been introduced and trying to be as same as the West was regarded as the civilized. It looks like higher culture and lower one.

Who can evaluate the culture A is high and the culture B is low?

Using the term "cultural standard" becomes the source of discrimination. In this sense, not small number of Japanese including Mr. Aso still think that Japan or Japanese people is more civilized or has higher "cultural standard" than other countries.

It is the same sentiment as when Japan started the war.

I think many people will laugh at Mr. Aso who used the term "cultural standard". We should not use the term "cultural standard" without any clear standard. Yes, there is obviously no clear standard. But it is also usual that I often hear the using "cultural standard" when people talk about foreigners.

The root of discrimination in Japan is very deep.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Selamat Peluncuran JAIPONG, Tapi Belum Cukup untuk Menarik Investasi dari Jepang

Hari ini (14 Oktober 2020), setelah mengikuti rekaman WEBinar Indonesia-Japan Virtual Business Forum, situs JAIPONG juga diperkenalkan. Anda bisa mengikuti Indonesia-Japan Virtual Business Forum di dalam situs yang berikut: - Indonesia-Japan Virtual Business Forum  (YouTube) - JAIPONG (Bahasa Indonesia / Bahasa Jepang) Screen Shot dari Situs JAIPON Saat ini, Indonesia bekerja keras untuk menarik investasi dari luar negeri, terutama karena mendesak pemulihan perekonomian dari dampak Covid-19. Sebenarnya, upaya penarikan investasi PMA (Penanaman Modal Asing) terlihat serius setelah mengetahuinya banyak perusahaan Tiongkok relokasi ke Vietnam dan belum ada ke Indonesia. Indonesia tidak boleh kalah dari Vietnam dalam persaigan penarikan invesitasi PMA. Dalam rangka pembangunan jangka panjang sampai tahun 2045, Indonesia harus mengatasi middle income trap (kalah dari negara yang memiliki biaya tenaga kerjanya rendah, kalah juga dari negara yang memiliki teknologi dan produktivitas ting...
Post a Comment
Read more

[Ind] Mereka Percaya Indonesia Mencintai Jepang

Mungkin ini saya perlu memberitahukan kepada teman-teman orang Indonesia. Ini adalah refleksi pandangan sebagian masyarakat Jepang tentang Indonesia. Beberapa hari yang lalu, ada suatu posting twitter tentang sejarah Indonesia dan Jepang. Jika ada yang bisa baca bahasa Jepang, silahkan membacanya secaralangsung.     Posting Twitter tentang Sejarah Indonesia dan Jepang (bahasa Jepang) ********** Awalnya mulai dari persoalan ujian di suatu universitas swasta. Isinya mahasiswa/i diminta bikin kesimpulan dari tulisan tentang sejarah Indonesia-Jepang. Tulisan tersebut termasuk pendidikan sejarah di Indonesia yang mengatakan bahwa penjajahan tentara Jepang selama 3,5 tahun bisa dikatakan lebih berat daripada penjajahan Belanda. Ditambahnya, pendidikan sejarah di Jepang tidak begitu banyak mengajar apa yang Jepang melakukan di Asia Tenggara termasuk Indonesia pasa waktu Perang Dunia II. Tidak mengajar juga tentang penjajahan tentara Jepang terhadap wilayah Indonesia. Mestinya mahasis...
Post a Comment
Read more

[Ind] Cerita Ibu Kos: Ketakutan menjadi Kesayangan

Kali ini saya sedikit cerita waktu saya pertama kali mulai tinggal di Jakarta pada Agustus 1990. Saya tinggal di Jakarta selama dua tahun sampai Agustus 1992. Ini pertama kali berdomosili dengan KIMS (saat ini KITAS) di Indonesia. Saya tinggal di Jakarta sebagai overseas research fellow dari kantor saya, Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), Tokyo, Jepang. IDE menugaskan kepada staf peneliti untuk tinggal di negara sasaran penelitiannya. Sebagai staf peneliti Indonesia, saya memilih tinggal di Indonesia selama dua tahun. Waktu itu, status saya di Indonesia sebagai mahasiswa S-2 UI. Biasanya, overseas research fellow menyewa rumah sendiri dan mobil sendiri seperti diplomat atau staf-staf perusahaan Jepang yang dikirim dari kantor pusat di Jepang. Namun, sebagai  calon ahli Indonesia di kantor saya, saya merasa harus berusaha tahu dan mengerti secara dalam dan benar dengan penuh pergaulan dengan masyarakat Indonesia sehari-hari. Maka, saya sengaja mencari indikos di wilayah Jakart...
Post a Comment
Read more