Group protests to NHK over tweets considered prejudiced against Koreans

If these were based on actual diaries from people who lived during that time, then what's the point in censoring the truth? This was war, I'm sure many people of all races and ethnicities did bad things based on desperation, even Japanese people of course.

Are we supposed to not mention anything about what happened in the past because it might offend some, or because it goes against the prevailing narrative that only Japanese citizens were hateful against other races/ethnicities? I'm sure these people would not have cared one bit if it was an anecdote about ethnic Koreans being terrorized by Japanese locals in Japan/post-war Japan.

It's funny how the same group that demands censorship of these sort of things, then turn a blind eye when other countries do the same thing towards Japan. This is not a case of someone or something saying downright racist things against ethnic Koreans, if that was the case then I am all for getting rid of such inflammatory posts.

Building statues with shady historical truth has no problems bt publishing something with evidence hurts their ego nhk should only remove it once all the statues r gone

A lot of nasty things were done around that time. This was hardly the worst of it.

This actually happened, so we should not rewrite history to appease modern sensitivities.

However, incidents such as these need to be properly contextualised and be proportionate. It is possible to create an entirely slanted view of history purely by selective reporting of actual events. Not saying that this is what happened here, but history needs to be presented in a balanced way.

They're still complaining about this!? They need to find a hobby (other than this

According to my dictionary, hypothetical means, "based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones."

Why would NHK invent this bizarre story of Koreans throwing "people" out of a train window for any other reason than to provoke anti-Korean feeling? I find this story disturbing. If NHK are inventing stories like this what else are they lying about?

N dont know when will this “sate konya watashi itadaku ha” fever will end here everytime open youtube this flares up

Well let’s say that NHK isn’t new about discriminatory and racial profiled gaffes.

hypothetical means, "based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones."

The events actually happened, as were documented in people’s diaries at the time. The “Hypothetical” part is NHK reformatting the old diaries into twitter tweets in an attempt to stir interest in the younger generation.

"Why would NHK invent this bizarre story of Koreans throwing "people" out of a train window for any other reason than to provoke anti-Korean feeling?"

It didn't invent this "bizarre story". It is based on dairies from the Japanese people.

"Why would NHK invent this bizarre story of Koreans throwing "people" out of a train window for any other reason than to provoke anti-Korean feeling?"

Why would Korean invent a bizarre story about comfort women?

How it was even considered a discrimination is beyond me.

NHK did nothing wrong. This is based on an actual diary, written by a 13 year old boy in Hiroshima during the war. It portrays the fear normal Japanese had that post-war that their enemy nations - in this case Koreans - would kill Japanese civilians after the war.

Of course, in reality no Japanese were thrown from trains by Koreans, this is simply the fearful imagination of the survivors that they would be targeted by the enemy. Another common fear, that of course was unfounded, was that US troops post war would slaughter ever Japanese man, woman and child.

Combining this horrible period and the lives of the victims with twitter helps bring this to life for modern readers. The call for censorship and protests against NHK are regrettable.

Koreans complain about everything regarding Japan but at the same time having been in Japan for 30 years, NHK is notorious for producing/broadcasting programs that far to often portray foreigners as bad, evil, villains, etc...

If their are and foreign characters in an NHK program, chances are they will be the bad guy.

I remember the most blatant when NHK had a program based after the war during occupation, with the occupation soldiers going are doing all sorts of unspeakable act, it was so bad no English speakers would take the roles and all the American soldiers spoke with heavy eastern European accents.

BeerDeliveryGuyToday 08:30 am JST

The events actually happened, as were documented in people’s diaries at the time.

NihonviewToday 08:36 am JST

It didn't invent this "bizarre story". It is based on dairies from the Japanese people.

Fighto!Today 08:44 am JST

Of course, in reality no Japanese were thrown from trains by Koreans

Alfie NoakesToday 08:12 am JST

According to my dictionary, hypothetical means, "based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones."

we have to whitewash historical accounts to stay politically correct? jeeeezus people

I would probably want to read it and conceptually think anout whats written.

How about Korea also tone down the hatred rhetoric towards Japan?

Japan

Rank: 66 in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index

Journalists have been complaining of a climate of mistrust toward them ever since Shinzo Abe became prime minister again in 2012. The system of “kisha clubs” (reporters’ clubs) continues to discriminate against freelancers and foreign reporters. On social networks, nationalist groups harass journalists who are critical of the government or cover “antipatriotic” subjects such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster or the US military presence in Okinawa. The government continues to refuse any debate about a law protecting “Specially Designated Secrets,” under which whistleblowers, journalists and bloggers face up to ten years in prison if convicted of publishing information obtained “illegally.”

From https://rsf.org/en/japan

FYI, 2020 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

42: South Korea

43: Taiwan

45: United States

66: Japan

73: Mongolia

from https://rsf.org/en/ranking

Most of us know NHK is a LDP mouthpiece so why is this news?

how about people move on from last century and face the reality of 2020? Wars, viruses, overpopulation, pollution, climate change etc HAPPENING now!

Poor communication from a supposedly public broadcaster/communicator.

The tweets in question were part of the 1945 Hiroshima Timeline, a "what-if" social media project the station launched in March to help younger generations understand the lives of citizens in the atomic-bombed city during and after World War II.

The hypothetical tweets, based on diaries of citizens kept 75 years ago, included those by a 13-year-old boy who wrote about how a crowd of Koreans forced their way into a packed train and threw other passengers through a window.

The event happened, the hypothesis is the what-if situation that this happed to a modern 13 year old, and what his twitter would say.

The hypothetical tweets, based on diaries of citizens kept 75 years ago, included those by a 13-year-old boy who wrote about how a crowd of Koreans forced their way into a packed train and threw other passengers through a window.

They are based on several reliable sources and first-hand accounts. Hardly "hypothetical", though I know think it could have been better or more sensible to present the originals as they are with a reminder/disclaimer.

Note that at that time there also must have been ethnic Koreans who were more civil and contributing to Japan's post war reconstruction. Better put things in perspective, and avoid nitpicking.

NHK is a rotting corps, it's only survivable source is tax payers without that income it would be off air.

There is history then there is Japans version of history...

yeah right, go tell that to the American Indian.

There is history then there is the West's version of history.

The first time it can be said they did not consider properly how the tweets were going to be considered, and the reaction took them by surprise.

But keeping them with small notes as if that would stop people considering them negative is frankly very difficult to understand. Is like they are taunting on purpose the people to react against them.

oldman_13: "If these were based on actual diaries from people who lived during that time, then what's the point in censoring the truth?"

Well, no surprise you rushed on stand up for the anti-Korean side. The point in taking the Tweets down, or better yet not putting them up at all, is that they are picking and choosing which ones to show, and they had no trouble posting anti-Korean nonsense. I sure don't see them posting anti-government recollections. But hey, let's take your thoughts on it over the thought of the actual bomb survivors in protests, right oldman? Or, let's listen to a company renowned for pushing propaganda and demanding you pay for it, but is completely corrupt.

LOL. People saying Koreans are behind this didn't even bother to read the article.

The protest by the Peace Philosophy Center, based in Vancouver, Canada

Satoko Norimatsu, who heads the peace advocacy group

LOL. People saying Koreans are behind this didn't even bother to read the article.

The protest by the Peace Philosophy Center, based in Vancouver, Canada

Satoko Norimatsu, who heads the peace advocacy group

Forgive these people. Nothing seems to be going well for their country, so they need an easy punching bag to vent their angers.

LOL. People saying Koreans are behind this didn't even bother to read the article.

LOL, it was a Korean group based in Hiroshima who complained first. The Vancover group is just joining the bandwagon.

Here is the article:

Korean group in Japan files petition against NHK's controversial Hiroshima Twitter project

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200924/p2a/00m/0dm/007000c

Wasn't NHK in trouble for tweeting other stuff earlier this year? Why are they even tweeting anything?

Aren't they too busy harassing citizens and forcing them to pay unnecessary fees?

@Wobot

We don't actually know it happened because there's no corroborating evidence but diaries are usually pretty good sources of info as nobody expects them to be used as historical artifacts so are more honest. 

Not necessarily.

I have read several diaries of former Imperial Army soldiers describing the same events.

One goes on about the glorious battle and triumph, honor and cowardice if the enemy, etc...

The other tells about how the enemy fought hard, describes the things his fellow soldiers did to both combatants and civilians, all non flattering to Japan and his fellow soldiers.

The difference in the 2 is that the first was the set narrative promoted by the then government.

The second if he was caught would have probably been arrested for treason.

We have to remember the time at which these diaries were written.

Anything even considered slightly negative towards the official view was possible treason, children were encouraged to write positive things about Japan and the Japanese people and negative things about non Japanese.

This was the atmosphere of that time, so no, any diary written then was in all probability written with the expectation that the authorities may read it and the more pro Japan the diary was the better.

My children's grandfather had 2 diaries one that towed the government line and another secret he kept well hidden away from his home with no name, this was his real diary and he was a young adult and knew full well had it been found and traced back to him, it would have meant his end.

I find it amazing how especially during certain times, a massive anti-Japanese downvoting is happening here, when it comes to Koreans involved. Then suddenly newer comments get upvotied when later during a short period of time, a massive downvoting happens. Honi soit qui mal y pense.

The fact, that still until today activist groups from abroad continue the well intended and fact based (those diaries exist!) NHK work to discredit ist shameful. Well, they probably modelled on the last years anti-Japan rages in SK. Always woth a press release when it is anti-Japan. Regrettable, so sad.

The protest by the Peace Philosophy Center, based in Vancouver, Canada,

A NPO based in Canada should have nothing to say about what is on Japanese TV.

@Nihonview

It is based in Vancouver and Vancouver is about as representative of Canada as Quebec city (note the city not the province). Both have very unique demographics with little in common with eachother or the rest of the country.

So I take what happens in both these cities with a very large grain of salt and skepticism that it has any support in the rest of the country.

Is this not the same outfit that did the racist caricatures of black people a few months ago? Can the NHK avoid being racist or is that impossible?

In a mainichi article, it explains that Japan lost and Koreans were (rightly) pissed. It seems there may have been some Japanese soldiers on the train who were shoving other Japanese out of the way, perhaps to escape? While this may be historical record, it's not likely helpful. The Japanese citizens were pissed at the Koreans for being pissed... sheesh. "We (Japanese) invaded your country, and we lost so why are you so mad (to Koreans)?!" And that is a fact Japan went and invaded other countries. Japan has no right to complain if people hate them. Even though the war is long over, it won't stop generational hate, not yet anyways. But an angry mob smashing windows and throwing former-oppressors out windows? In any other country this is par for the course. But in Japan, it paints Koreans as savages in contrast to the "woeful, honorable, civilized" superior race of Japanese (sarcasm alert for those who need it). (sigh) The Japanese account this is based on was mad that the victors were "gloating" and dared to be so enthused. Did you none of you see what Connor McGregor did to a bus for an upcoming UFC match? For a UFC match - let that sink in. What the Koreans "did" was understandable.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200824/p2a/00m/0na/021000c

NHK produces too many fictional dramas!

If facts are toe made known then print the ‘actual’ letters NOT fiction....

Astonishing experiment... left vs. left results in accusations of being right. I’ll think about this thesis over a bottle of reishuu or Jinro, if I find some time , a glass and ice cubes. lol

When people do not respect and learn from past history but make issues of past events that cannot be changed but by ourselves to be better (not necessarily to atone or even apologize), there will always be unwanted conflict such as this. We with all our ideals could not live their lives in the past and they could not live ours as they are not here.

We can still be made aware and point to the errors we see from our perspective today. However, it is most important to drop and stop the blame game. Especially of events that occurred in the past during what we call wars. We should concentrate on any ills that are happening today.

It's true that the Koreans were running amok after the war.

Japan's largest yakuza organization, Yamaguchigumi, was also created during that period as a right-wing vigilante group.