Japan in the past: A Nation of 12 Year Olds (1)

GENERAL of the Army Douglas MacArthur, who reigned supreme in Japan for seven years during the American military occupation of Japan, is said to have remarked once to the effect that the mentality of Japanese is that of a 12 year old.

This statement attributed to the late General MacArthur understandably gave rise to widespread resentment among the Japanese people and has been criticized even to this day. The former Supreme Commander for Japan evidently made this somewhat derogatory remark to a group of Americans in an off-the-record interview, but the unfortunate leak to the Japanese did much to detract from the popularity of the General. The average Japanese had looked upon MacArthur more as a benefactor than a conqueror, because of a relatively benevolent occupation policy pursued by the United States vis-a-vis Japan.

Though the Japanese had suspected that General MacArthur was never very sanguine about the people over whom he ruled, judging by his deliberate effort at aloofness, the Japanese people felt quite chagrined and were flabbergasted when MacArthur made such an uncomplimentary remark about them. The Japanese people, however, never seem to have reflected why it is that a foreigner should make such an appraisal, or whether the Japanese deserved so scathing a verdict.

It is often the experience of a Westerner when he first goes to Japan to be bombarded with such questions as: "Have you seen Mt. Fuji ?" or "Have you been to Nikko ?" or "Have you seen a geisha ?" etc. I have seen many a foreigner being asked such stereotyped questions by Japanese and I have often wondered why the Japanese should ask a newcomer such childish questions. The answer is simple.

In the first place, the command of the English language by the average Japanese is so poor that he cannot engage the stranger in a more elaborate exchange of views and ideas. The fact that Japanese are not good at foreign languages makes them feel all the more self-conscious and awkward in their contacts with foreigners. I have seen many foreign dignitaries visibly disappointed when they met leading personalities of the country on their visit to Japan. I myself have often been present or even acted as interpreter when distinguished visitors from abroad called upon prime ministers and other important personages of the country.

On such occasions the Japanese more often than not ask the callers perfunctory and stereotyped questions which are not at all conducive to animated or meaningful conversation. The main reason for this seems to be the language barrier, coupled with self-consciousness. For these same Japanese, when talking among themselves, have no inhibitions and are quite at ease and as intelligent and as versatile as they could possibly be.

Excepting a very few Japanese whose command of English is good and who possess a cosmopolitan background, foreigners generally find Japanese boring, especially on the first encounter. It is difficult for a foreigner to disarm the reserve and self-consciousness of the average Japanese. It takes quite some time to break the ice, and perhaps an evening of hilarious drinking is necessary to bring about the desired results.