Telling friend from foe

• Source: Global Times
• [22:52 September 14 2009]
• Comments

Part of a 67-year-old US Army 75-page booklet, "A Pocket Guide to China" for American troops that includes a cartoon section called "How to Spot a Jap" purporting to illustrate differences between Chinese and Japanese during World War II has caused a nationalistic and racist buzz among some Chinese online users about the differences between the two historic enemies.

A Chinese artist, Dajuin Yao, who describes himself on his blog as a "sound artist, media artist, art historian and visiting professor at the New Media Art Department" posted a translation of the 10-page "Jap" section on his website, apparently only out of wry amusement.

The cartoons were drawn by one of America's best-known comic book artists, Milton Caniff, whose serial cartoon adventure, Terry and the Pirates, was hugely popular at the time.

Terry of "Pirates" fame gives GIs new to China a very crude eugenics lesson using a Chinese man, named "C" and a Japanese fellow, "J." Supposed physical appearances – eyes, height, feet, teeth, stride and smile – are noted, with C invariably favorably described as more attractive and "American" looking, while J is described in less complimentary terms, i.e. Chinese have "evenly set choppers" while Japanese have "buck teeth"; C "smiles easily," J "looks very unhappy."

Japanese have more trouble with L and R sounds than America's more linguistically gifted Chinese allies, according to the booklet.

Many Chinese websites had included comment spaces for the "Spot a Jap" topic, but after a slew of anti-Japanese comments they closed the comments.

A Chinese Internet user "lyshi188" left a message at pop.pcpop.com that said "it was very funny for American soldiers to think about this idea" while another user "hbshbs1" said it wasn't good to vilify other people.

However, some comments from Chinese Internet users said it is true that "Japanese have short legs."

Global Times