著者

手塚 千鶴子 テズカ チズコ Chizuko TEZUKA

雑誌

異文化コミュニケーション研究

巻号頁・発行日

vol.14, pp.79-97, 2002-03

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This study attempts to examine the Japan-U. S. perception gap regarding the atomic bombing highlighted in the Enola Gay controversy, by exploring influences of meanings of silence and silencing on remembering and discussing the bombing in the two countries. It first describes the American perception as the victors' story and the Japanese one as the victims' story. Then the study claims that a major Japanese silence in terms of not expressing anger against the bombing coupled with not addressing the bombing responsibility to America in the overall framework of compliance to censorship indicates their desire to evade the war responsibility and aggression while the extensive Government information control and manipulation for preventing and suppressing criticism against the bombing have prevented Americans from listening to victims' stories. In so doing, cultural factors underlying or contributing to silences are discussed. It concludes that both countries have ended up being equally unbalanced and less comprehensive in their respective perceptions.