Soul-Searching Necessary for U.S. and Japanese Governments in Wake of Maher’s Remarks
Minami-Nippon Shimbun, Japan
Translated By Andrew Gonzalez
10 March 2011
Edited by Rica Asuncion-Reed
Japan – Minami-Nippon Shimbun – Original Article (Japanese)
The director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Japan Affairs, Kevin Maher, made a string of derogatory remarks about the people of Okinawa, calling them “masters of manipulation and extortion” and “lazy.” We cannot help but feel deeply angry at hearing such bigoted and unforgivable remarks about the Okinawan people.
Maher made the troubling remarks during a lecture to a group of 14 students from American University as they prepared for a study trip to Okinawa. The remarks came to light through the students’ notes from the lecture.
Maher’s comments included, “Japanese culture is a culture of ‘wa’ [harmony] that is based on consensus. Consensus building is important in Japanese culture. While the Japanese would call this ‘consensus,’ they mean ‘extortion’ and use this culture of consensus as a means of extortion. … Okinawans are masters of manipulation and extortion of Tokyo.” He urged the students to mind the difference between “tatemae” [a person’s outward actions and words] and “honne” [a person’s true feelings]. His remark that, “Okinawans are too lazy to grow goya [Okinawan bitter melon]” shows nothing short of contempt for Okinawa.
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