• Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 month ago

    Their Navy flag predates the rise of State Shinto and Imperial Japan. It’s not really the same thing

    • Cowbee@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      1 month ago

      The swastika predates Nazi Germany, but is forever tarnished by it. In Asia, the flag of Imperial Japan is often seen as a symbol of fascism, Imperialism, and war crimes.

      • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 month ago

        There are actually efforts to reclaim the swastika for cultural reasons predating the Nazis. It’s not hard to tell a Nazi swastika from a Hindu one

        Behind the Bastards did a two part episode on the history of it.

        I know what the Rising Sun flag means in Asia. I’m just saying that they’re not quite the same thing.

        • Cowbee@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 month ago

          More power to them for trying to reclaim it! It was stolen anyways.

          The difference with Imperial Japan is that the flag is still being used by the same group that committed war crimes. The Rising Sun can’t simply be reclaimed, unlike the Swastika.

          • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 month ago

            Point being is that there’s a reasonable reason for the Japanese Naval flag to be in a Japanese Naval meme. If you want at reason to think the meme wasn’t made in good faith, I’d be more worried about how the Japanese guy is holding a machete to the other guy’s throat. That actually does conjure up ideas about WWII war crimes.