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INTEREST: Miyazaki Speaks Out About His Political Views and Japanese Politics

Please, kind sir. I beg you to stop your baseless and biased assumptions. As someone who has actually live in China and Japan, I know how extremely complicated and utterly sensitive when it comes to relations between Japan, China and Korea. The emotional and historical burden that every Chinese and Japanese has to carry since their childhood is almost unthinkable. I realize it is tough for Western residents to fully understand how complex such issue is, since Media coverage most of times cannot accurately convey that atomsphere. But...please, at least do some research before writing such irresponsible remark, as you just directly insulted three countries without knowing the what exactly happened.

I understand that the tension between these countries gave you a false impression that they are overly-nationalistic and full of extremeism. I must say such view is hugely exaggerated, and at least think in their shoes and see why the tension started in the first place. Learning history is not trying to remind future generation about the past hatred, but rather, teaching them to never let such tragedy happen again. So before accusing either side, please at least know what happened and what they said.

I hate arguing with people and I always doing my best to avoid an online argument. But as someone who has experience that dreadful atomsphere from both sides, I just cannot let myself ignore such provocative post (maybe not to you, kind sir) . Asian politics is as complicated and sensitive as it can get. There is a reason most Chinese and Japanese (friends, relatives, classmates, etc) I know aren't very passionate when comes to such issues, because they know very well that things will become ugly when talking about them.

Best wishes. And if my tone gave you a rude impression, my apology in advance, as I try to keep my response as mild as possible.

Same. Although I thought a lot of the Japanese didn't agree with what the nation did during WWII? Other than maybe the older generation of extreme nationalists. Regardless of whether or not I personally agree with him all the time, I really do respect the man and his openness to discussing controversial topics despite the negative opinions he many garner. And as a filmmaker in general I have to love him for introducing me to the vast and expansive medium of anime. Still love most of his works the most. Plus, I kind of agree with him on that whole "modern anime producers are autistic" argument he has. Or was it Hideaki Anno who said that. Meh, pretty much the same people.

They might've once or twice.

Nothing I've seen of the TPP is any good, but at any rate free trade is a unilateral issue. Yes, you lose some leverage in opening foreign markets, but your countrymen immediately bennefit from the opening of their market.

"Old guy complains about the government." I don't know why everyone's so impressed and dripping with additional respect due to this. He's hardly blazing a trail.

Calling people autistic is a very western insult, and even then only among young people. 100% sure he made a snide remark at producers and it got adapt to modern and then autistic.

If you think they are the same people, then you clearly haven't seen much of Annos work.

I highly doubt any of them used the word "autistic". That's what westerners on the internet use to insult people.

"Politicians are short sited and create policies that reflect as such" yeah, sounds like most modern political heads.

Lycosyncer wrote:

I guess this comes to prove that not all Japanese people approve of what Japan has done during WWII and despite that I may not always agree with Miyazaki's opinions, I greatly respect him as a human being and hell, if only the Japanese government officials were more honest and stop sugarcoating their crimes, it would have improved their relations with China/Korea a little bit.

You know, the Japanese government has formally apologised for the comfort women and other crimes in World War 2. The did it back in the 90s if I'm not mistaken. And yet if you listened to other Asian countries you'd think Japan has always denied it.

I get the feeling that the animosity towards Japan from China and South Korea is a combination of diplomatic posturing, jealousy at Japanese post-war success and over-pumped nationalism on all three sides.

Surrender Artist wrote:

AAAAAAHHHH! A protectionist!

I'm from New Zealand - which is already pretty much the most open country in the western world - and I'm terrified of the TPP. If you actually look what is in it you'd crap your pants.

This might sound like a stupid question, but what's the TPP?

electricpatriot wrote:

This might sound like a stupid question, but what's the TPP?

TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership. Think of it like the East Asia/Pacific version of NAFTA.

Comparing Miyazaki to Anno is bizarre. Anno is a posterchild for otaku culture, while Miyazaki is hugely anti-otaku both in his views and what he makes. Anno's work is popular with otaku while Miyazaki's work is not. They're on opposite ends of the spectrum so mixing them up is very odd.

Well, Anno has explicitly said that he sees otaku lifestyle as "forced autism". Granted that was at the time he made Eva, so his opinion has likely evolved. As for Miyazaki, I don't think he would use such a provocative comparison, but they are probably on the same wavelength.