Information Gaps in Interviews
My interviews with local Jodo priests thus far largely fall into two somewhat opposing categories. Fujioka san (October 20, 2006 post) has done much of his own research on religious involvement during the war and offers the dismal position that nearly all Jodo priests in Kumamoto heavily espoused the war from the pulpit (so to speak) as well as through congregational donations to the military. However, several other priests who grew up or participated in the war were not even aware if their fathers (the priests at the time) supported the war or not. One priest could not recall his father ever taking a position on the war, but clearly remembered his family struggling after their temple was decimated in an American air raid.
While these interviews do not directly contradict Fujioka san's claim, they add a more nuanced perspective. On either side, several factors cloud the picture. While the literature Fujioka san is citing documents widespread support from local temples, this research is published from Kyoto and more relevant to nationwide trends. Furthermore, sermons were rarely recorded or pre-written so it remains difficult to determine the extent to which Jodo priests in the Kumamoto area openly supported the war.
However, one cannot easily dismiss Fujioka's assertion. Hearing from other priests who know little of their fathers' personal attitudes to the war, it remains unclear to me whether or not their fathers may have supported the war despite their children being aware of it. Often personal feelings are not talked about openly in Japanese culture, even within families. Therefore, it is possible that priests may have been endorsing the war without their children knowing. Another insight revealed through these interviews is that the war was seldom discussed once it ended. Either due to shame or simply defeat, Japanese know very little of their war history, even from their own family members who lived through it. That being the case, little information has been passed down orally concerning the war.
With more interviews in the spring, I hope to clarify some of these points of information.
While these interviews do not directly contradict Fujioka san's claim, they add a more nuanced perspective. On either side, several factors cloud the picture. While the literature Fujioka san is citing documents widespread support from local temples, this research is published from Kyoto and more relevant to nationwide trends. Furthermore, sermons were rarely recorded or pre-written so it remains difficult to determine the extent to which Jodo priests in the Kumamoto area openly supported the war.
However, one cannot easily dismiss Fujioka's assertion. Hearing from other priests who know little of their fathers' personal attitudes to the war, it remains unclear to me whether or not their fathers may have supported the war despite their children being aware of it. Often personal feelings are not talked about openly in Japanese culture, even within families. Therefore, it is possible that priests may have been endorsing the war without their children knowing. Another insight revealed through these interviews is that the war was seldom discussed once it ended. Either due to shame or simply defeat, Japanese know very little of their war history, even from their own family members who lived through it. That being the case, little information has been passed down orally concerning the war.
With more interviews in the spring, I hope to clarify some of these points of information.
posted by Caleb Swift Carter at
8:31 PM
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