[Sargon of Akkad]

Quote:

The hate Japan thing is in 90% of them.

That's a bit exagerated, I think. While the people who foam at the mouths at Japan aren't uncommon, most Chinese I've talked to on the subject were more only on the neutral to slightly negative side.

I've also encountered quite a few Chinese japanophiles. For example, I dated a girl in Beijing who had majored in Japanese and was definitely a fan of the language (her email address even featured the Japanese pronunciation of her name instread of the Chinese one). Even the crazy ex mentioned above would listen to J-pop.

Last year, I also attended a lecture on Sino-Japanese Relations by a guest professor from Peking University. I don't know where to verify this, but he showed us a servey on Chinese popular opinion on Japan by age. Supposedly, among Chinese people in their teens (can't remember exactly which ages, something like 15-19?, or 15-25??) there was a generally positive view of Japan (supposedly due to the influence of manga and other forms of Japanese pop-culture), while negative views toward Japan tended to flourish among middle aged people (something like 30s).

I've also encountered a guy who said he disliked Japan, but liked Japanese women. It seems the Chinese impression of Japanese women is dictated almost entirely by gravure idols and porn-stars. Some people think literally all Japanese women look like this...


Granted, Japanese women do tend to have a MUCH better sense of fashion than Chinese women, but then again that's not really difficult, considering what the average Chinese chic considers to be fashionable. There are also naive stereotypes about all Japanese women appeared in porn or how they all enjoyed being groped on subways.

Based on what I've seen and heard, Chinese sentiments toward Japan seem to be more mixed, especially among younger people. Still, the anti-Japan thing is there. Media, propaganda and education are mainly at fault. You can't turn on a TV in China and flip through the channels without coming across some sappy WWII drama featuring a Japanese officer twirling his mustache and cackling before shooting a group of Chinese women, children and old people in the face. Not saying that didn't happen, but shit, after 75 fucking years, it's time to calm the fuck down. Hardly anyone from either of those countries was even born when that happened.