Campus Life Confused After US Occupation
Posted At: Thu 4 Aug 2005	Posted By: Derek Nobuyuki信幸 Wallace
Categories:Interculturalism , life

http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubyssey/UBYSSEY_1954_10_21.pdf
pulled from the archives of UBC’s publication The Ubyssey: October 21st, 1954

“Japanese university students are not nearly as imaginative nor so radical as their Canadian counterparts,” stated George Fujisawa, first year law student, when speaking to the Chinese Varsity Club Tuesday.

Fujiwara, recently back from a trip to Japan, told the meeting, “The students have little religious or political beliefs as a basis for their opinions. Consequently they have no opinions.

“During the American occupation they were taught to reject all previous teachings and learn the “American Way” of thinking. When Japan was given her independence, they were in turn told to reject all American doctrines and return to their old culture. As a result, the average young Japanese feels he has been fooled twice and is naturally bewildered. He does not want to be “fooled” again so he remains completely indifferent to all teaching.”

Fujisawa went ont to say that the attitude of Japanese professors is similarly apathetic–they often arrive an hour late for the two-hour lectures. This is done purposely so as to display their “apathy towards authority” and “intellectual freedom.”

The students have no use for studying and seldom use their library. They cut most classes and rely on reading their textbooks periodically to get them through the year.

“Regarding the physical aspects of the campus,” he said, “the grounds and buildings are generally dirty and the living conditions at most of the private rooming houses are deplorable.” (There are no dorms).

On bright feature of the campus is the health service which is run very efficiently by the students. In March (beginning of the college year), they put 2000 students through a thorough medical examination, in only four days.

Could this be a major contributing factor to why so much of japanese society is utterly indifferent to a lot of things…

George has lead an impressive life full of obstacles and adversity to overcome…
maybe these experience were the beginning of something bigger… way back in 1954…