| Japanese Apologies for World War II: A Rhetorical Study Contributor(s): Yamazaki, Jane (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415355656 ISBN-13: 9780415355650 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $161.50 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2005 Annotation: How far Japan should apologise for World War II continues to be a major issue. Japan has issued a number of apologies, sometimes not as fulsomely as critics would like, and has confronted contentious issues such as that of 'comfort women'. This book explores Japanese apologies, focusing in particular on the period from 1985 to the present, examining the nature of the apologies, and relating apologies to morality, politics and political communication. The author concludes that general feeling continues to prevail that Japan has not apologised, despite the numerous instances of apologies. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Asia - Japan - Political Science | International Relations - General |
| Dewey: 327.520 |
| Series: Routledge Contemporary Japan |
| Physical Information: 0.68" H x 6.43" W x 9.2" (0.97 lbs) 208 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1950-1999 - Chronological Period - 1940's - Cultural Region - Japanese |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Post-war Japan offers a compelling case study of national apologies for past wrongdoings. Actions of the Japanese Army and government during the Second World War caused enormous suffering and distress throughout Asia, leaving a legacy of resentment and distrust. Beginning in the mid-1980s, apology for wartime actions became a recurring issue for Japan. Repeated calls for apology from various quarters as well as repeated apologies by Japanese officials provide a rich source for the study of national apology and how public apology discourse develops over time. Unlike most rhetorical studies that focus on apologia in the broad sense, this study concentrates on the strategy of the 'true apology.' The study combines rhetorical, sociological and historical approaches to address multiple examples of Japanese apology during the period 1984 to 1995. The author suggests that motive is more complex than the 'image restoration' theory that is prevalent in rhetorical theory. More specifically, this study emphasizes repair of relationships, self-reflection leading to a 'new' improved identity and affirmation of moral principle as reasons for apology. |