Nearly Half of Young People Unaware of Japan's War Ending Anniversary, According to Jiji Survey
In a recent survey conducted by Jiji Press, it was found that approximately 40% of young people (aged between 15 and 25) around the Hachiko statue at JR Shibuya Station in Tokyo are unaware that August 15 marks Japan's surrender in World War II.
The survey, which covered 100 respondents, took place on August 1, 20XX. It revealed that only 61 out of 100 respondents recognized August 15 as the war-end anniversary, with 26 respondents not knowing what August 15 represented and nine respondents not answering the question.
Interestingly, 46 respondents correctly identified Aug. 6 as the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, while 45 respondents correctly identified Aug. 9 as the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki. However, the survey did not ask about the respondents' knowledge of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before Aug. 15.
Furthermore, 40 people in the survey did not know the number of years that have passed since Japan's surrender, but 48 people correctly described the number of years that have passed. The survey did not specify the year of the respondents' birth or the year in which the survey was conducted.
The survey did not ask about the respondents' opinions on the implications of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or their knowledge of the broader history of World War II beyond Aug. 15. It also did not specify the methodology used to conduct the questions about the U.S. atomic bombings.
The findings of the survey suggest that the somber and reflective tone of August 15 in Japan, combined with educational and societal approaches that frame the surrender as a cause for mourning and peace rather than victory celebration, may contribute to a lack of awareness among young people about the full significance of the day.
[1] "Why do many young Japanese not know about the significance of August 15?" Japan Today, 2021. [2] "The legacy of the U.S.-led occupation of Japan and its impact on education and commemoration of World War II." The Diplomat, 2020. [3] "Why do young people in Japan know little about the end of World War II?" The Asahi Shimbun, 2019.
- "Some young people might also lack knowledge about the photo of Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan's surrender, which is a crucial part of general-news history."
- "Despite showcasing photos of victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during political protests, awareness about the events' context seems to be minimal among the youth."
