Japanese Prisoners: Why do Japanese view their hostages as "shameful" rather then honored
Why do Japanese view their hostages as "shameful" rather then honored' Whencompared to the US -if these hostages were US citizens, they would becelebrated for their bravery and good deed. What makes us different' Whatmakes our countries react differently to these hostages' According to a recent article from The New York Times on the formerJapanese hostages' situation, the reason these individuals are seen as"Japan's shame" rather than brave heroes is because they committed atransgression against their society, ignoring a government advisory agains
(Nikkei Net News, 2004) Causing worry to their family and financial expense to the collectiveis deemed to be a negative thing, rather than something positive in Japan. Evena more collectivist country such as Britain, expressed the assumption thatthey would be greeted with jubilation at home. Becausethey incurred a financial expense to their government, and thus to thenation and fellow Japanese nationals, they are ostracized. Even the PrimeMinister stressed that Japanese travelers are responsible for their ownsafety abroad, rather than the government. Rather than helping their own people and immediatefamilies and communities, they caused them expense, inconvenience andinjury-the only help they gave was to the Iraqis. (The New York Times, 2004) This is despite the fact thatall of the hostages traveled to Japan for humanitarian reasons. Moreover, in Japan, personal motivations to help others are lessimportant than obedience to the collective, unlike the United States. Although the former hostages were engaged in acts of good, these moralactions were not directed towards their fellow Japanese individuals, butIraqi children. (BBC News, 2004) However,in a nation where the tall 'peg' or the irregular 'nail' of a boot issupposed to be hammered down for the good of the collective or the sole ofthe shoe, to quote a popular metaphor regarding Japanese attitudes towardsindividualism, even such humanitarian efforts as the former hostagesexhibited are seen as the kind of ostentatious individualism that meritspraise in the United States, in particular.
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