Today is Japanese Memorial Day

[Mitch86]

Japan today remembers their terrible loss in WW 2 to the USA. They call it their Memorial Day. It coincides with their experience of becoming the only nation in history targeted by nuclear bombs. One demolished was Hiroshima and the other was Nagasaki. Thousands of Japanese died and many more thousands lived and died from radiation at later dates.

Of course the Japanese started that war with the USA by bombing Pearl Harbor and causing the USA to attack them all over the Pacific Ocean.

 

[feywon]

I frequently recommend that people watch Clint Eastwood's movies
Flags of Our Fathers-- About the battles leading up to the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima from American troops perspective.
And
Letters From Iwo Jima-- same period time from Perspective of Japanese soldiers
Best way is same day in that order. Intense but worth it.

He filmed most parts of them at same time. He also got recognition from Japanese government for the way he portrayed the soldiers, particularly not making all the Japanese as sub-Human.

 

[jujube]

My father spent almost a month in at the end of WWII with his U.S. Navy ship docked somewhere near Tokyo (probably closer to Yokohama, but I'm not sure). Surprisingly, the sailors were allowed to travel in the area, so he spent a lot of time going to Tokyo and wandering around.

He said that the Japanese people were friendly, considering the circumstances. He made some friends and was even invited on occasion into people's houses. He had become friendly with a businessman and went to meet his family several times. He took things to them when he went that they couldn't get, and they were very appreciative. Being a Corpsman, he was also able to get his hands on some medicines that were in short supply in Tokyo.

It left him with a great love for the Japanese people and culture.