Volume 53, Number 14 · September 21, 2006
Why They Hate Japan
By Ian Buruma
The Making of the "Rape of Nanking": History and Memory in Japan, China, and the United States
by Takashi Yoshida
Oxford University Press, 265 pp., $55.00
Those who think that the Japanese are a little odd will have been confirmed in their prejudice by the behavior of Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro during his June visit to the United States. The social highlight was a trip to Graceland, home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, where the Japanese leader, with his arm around Elvis's only daughter, Lisa Marie, swiveled his hips and crooned a rendition of 'Love Me Tender.' The excursion was President Bush's gift to Koizumi for his staunch support of the Iraq war and 'the close friendship of our people.' This, and a jukebox stocked with Elvis hits. On their way south on the presidential aircraft, the two men listened to more Elvis while consuming grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches. 'It's a dream,' exclaimed Koizumi.[1]
Review, 4956 words
To read the full text of this piece, please choose one of the following options:
|
If you are already a subscriber to the Review's electronic edition, please sign in: |
To subscribe to the electronic edition, please press the button below. |
To purchase access to this article for $3, please press the button below. |