So Far from the Bamboo Grove Controversy
Posted in the Sherborn Forum
Melonbarmonster
Edison, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#1Jan 17, 2007
Judged:111
Read this on Korean media and I was shocked at the turn of events. It seems to me that people are not understanding the real issue here. This isn't about violence or Korean kids being bullied, etc.. This book is akin to a well-written, sypathetic story of an SS officer's daughter and her family fleeing Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland while horridly freed Jewish prisoners and angry Polish civilians are killing Nazi soldiers, Nazi administrators and their families. That should send chills up your spines of all you decent people out there! Manchuria where Yoko's father worked as a high official is where Japan's Unit 731 vivasected on men, women, pregnant women. It's also where Japan developed tested and developed bio weapons to be used on American west coast(as reported by nyt). Yoko's father was complicit (if not directly overseeing) taking away all the harvest of Korean farmers to be shipped to Japan, beheading Korean Christians who refused to bow to the Emperor of the "master race" or speak Korean or not adopt Japanese names etc., forcibly conscripting Koreans to work in death mining camps and factories in Japan, rounding up girls to be raped by the Japanese military, etc.. You can't just keep this about literature and bury our heads to the moral responsibilities we all have as decent human beings. Additionally, the historical "context" that's being thrown around is that modern Japan has taken a "conservative" turn some time ago and revisionism and even outright denial of Japanese war atrocities are openly and freely denied by academics and politicians. In fact, such academics and politicians enjoy immense popularity fueling a resurgence of old-time racism against Koreans and white-washing of Japan's wrongs while glorifying Imperial sentiments that saw Japan as being the "master race". In fact, Kofi Anan sent a UN humanitarian mission to Japan last year which concluded Japan still suffers from "deep and profound" racism! Can you imagine how convoluted and difficult Korea-Japan issues and history is??? There is no way that these historical and political issues can be dealt with in any "balanced" way in middle school. To add icing on the cake, this book is historically inaccurate and twists history in a very self-serving way so that a sympathetic tale could be spun. 1. There are more bamboo groves in Maine than Hamgyeong buk-do North Korea. 2. Korean communists party/army didn't exist until a few years after liberation 3. Vast majority of Japanese civilians repatrioted under heavy military protection since Japanese military didn't withdraw until US forces moved in. 4. Koreans were also killed by Japanese military during their withdrawal for celebrating or just out of retaliation. This should be a no-brainer decision for educated, intelligent people. Let them study this book in college. Making kids read this in JHS is an ignorant move.
Youna
Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#2Jan 22, 2007
Judged:111
I totally, totally agree!! I'm a Korean in Korea and I've been watching what's going on about the recent movement in U.S schools. Few korean students and their parents protested and tried to stop this book being used as a text book, and finally some of the schools decided to drop the book from their must-read list. It's today that I read the news about the schools' decision. And I googled the title of this book and there was no signle article or post about this controversy!! There were just hundreds of book reviews written by, obviously, school children saying 'this book was very impressive' or 'I learnt a lot about Asia'(!) How can this be?
Do you know what the author of this book, Yoko Kawashima, is doing? She visits the American schools in these Kimono and Keda, and persuades them to adopt her book, gives lectures! How blind are the school directors and teachers to give in to the culture+strategy..act? I may be too frustrated to be more rational. Anyone can correct me or comment. But please do some research or read neutral history books that are not written by Japanese. You will know the truth.
Ukishima-maru massacre
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#3Jan 22, 2007
Judged:111
We will never forget the monstrous massacres of Koreans committed by the Japanese imperialists, including the case of Ukishima-maru sunk down by explosion but settle accounts with Japan for its past crimes at any cost through generations. The Association of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting and Their Bereaved Families declared this in a statement Tuesday.
As well known, on August 24, 1945, the Japanese imperialists deliberately exploded Ukishima-maru, a transport ship of the imperial Japanese navy, in the sea off Maizuru Port in Kyoto Prefecture, leaving thousands of innocent Koreans, who were aboard for returning home with a joy at the liberation of the country, drowned.
The statement said:
Japan kidnapped and took away millions of Koreans and forced toilsome labor upon them, and even drowned thousands of them at once in retaliation of its defeat in the war. Nevertheless, it has persistently evaded its responsibility for the crimes and, on the contrary, is now hell-bent on the anti-DPRK moves while peddling the issue of the remains of "abducted Japanese" which had been already settled.
The association, on behalf of all the Korean victims of forcible drafting and their bereaved families, bitterly denounces such shameless behavior of the Japanese authorities, branding it as the most despicable inhumane crime. The Japanese authorities should have a clear understanding of the will of the Korean nation and make a thoroughgoing probe into the truth about all the inhuman crimes committed by Japan against the Korean people in the past. They should promptly take a practical step to make an honest apology and compensation to the victims and their bereaved families
Norton
Anyang, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#4Jan 22, 2007
Judged:11
from Amazon site.....
Historical facts, January 21, 2007
Reviewer: S. Yoon (NJ United States)- See all my reviews
----------
Author needs to explain many strange historical facts. My guess is that she probably can't. This makes this book a great fiction that duped so many in dumb westerners. She did it so well that this fiction and warped history became middle school reading material.
She says that her father spent 6 years in a prison, her family had reward on their heads, and came through Hamkyungdo from Manchuria. Well, only notorious unit 731 members were the ones that served sentences (many 6 years to be exact), who were excluded from both POW list and war criminals. Her recounts matches where the unit was stationed and how over two thousand family members of the unit evacuated. Not to mention many of the characters like Takeda Kazuzo and others are recorded member of the unit.
Okay may be she did not know that her daddy killed people for experiments to create WMD. As Japanese, I am sure she's quite good at hiding inconvenient truth. Let's dive into few historical inaccuracies in her book, where she demonstrates her talents.
She says that her train was bombed. No record of American bombers hitting Korean targets in July 1945 exists. That because B-29 could not reach the area she mentions in the book from the bases in Pacific. And Russia did not enter into the war until August. May be Japanese planes bombed her train?
She also mentions taking North Korean Communist army uniforms from a dead soldier and being chased by them. Sorry, People's Liberation Army was not formed until February of 1948. May be it was Japanese soldiers who were after them? The raping and murdering were consistent traits of Japanese army.
Japanese army did not disarm until American army took over much later, which makes them only armed force in the peninsula until months later after her escape.
In fact, many Koreans died even after Japan surrendered. So, poor Japanese women being hunted down and being raped may be good for western emotional appeal, but very far from the truth.
The title of the book mentions bamboo groves in Hamkyungdo. As anyone who lived in Seoul knows, even the capital, which is located in middle of the country, is too cold to grow bamboo. Hamkyungdo is at the very northern tip of Korea and known for its harsh winter. Even with warming earth, bamboo groves does not exists, except at the southern tip of the peninsula.
Bravo, amazing and warped imagination. I give it 5 stars for being hideously creative.
If you want history, then just watch the film "Nanking." And don't let your middle school children watch. Japanese army engaged in wholesale rape and murder. You may see images of head chopping contest, bayoneting infants, and burning/burying people alive.
Her message of love and peace is nice, but not if it's built on falsehood. Especially, this piece of warped history should not be taught to impressionable middle school children as historical truth
Jihye J
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#5Jan 22, 2007
Judged:111
I'm impressed by the people here! I'm a student in Korea. I became aware of this topic by internet recently, and found the truth shocking. I didn't read the book yet (thinking it's not worth reading however), but its outline which was introduced in newspapers was enough to enrage the Koreans. I was terrified after reading the outline also. This book 'So Far from the Bamboo Grove' is full of the facts which are distorted in eyes of Japanese. It may be true that Japanese people were incured Koreans' indignation after Korea was freed from Imperial Japan. However, it musn't be an indulgence covering all acts of barbarity up which Japanese rulers did to Koreans. It is sad that a single book can make many students misunderstand about the real history, and it is the most shabby thing to do so. I wish people of the United States to realize the truth, and confirm it formally.
Jihye J
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#6Jan 22, 2007
Judged:111
In fact, it is a natural result for Koreans of that time to have a hatred on Japanese rulers when Imperial Japan lost World War II. Even though Japanese people who were in Korea were bullied by Koreans, it is surely not a fact to publicize all over the world. In addition, Japanese people cannot claim like that when Korean sufferers didn't indemnified enough. Japanese government didn't paid enough for the victims in Korea and China, opposed to the German government which put much effort to reflect and indemnify their wartime crimes. No matter what author of the book meant, it can make American childrens to have wrong understandings about Korea and Japan by covering the bad things Japanese did and emphasizing Koreans' natural hatred. This is not a matter which can be solved to point out the false facts of bamboo grove, because nothing changes if the book was built on imagination. This can never be a book to deliver message of peace, when it delivers seriously distorted facts covering up one country's wartime crimes.
Jihye J
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#7Jan 23, 2007
Judged:111
As Korean citizen who knows Korean History on the time of Word War II, I am relatively less concerned about the fact of bamboo grove. I actually think it doesn't matter if the book was written on imagination. The fact I am concerned of is that the wrong understanding of history of the people in United States. Maybe it was written in order to prevent war and give a message of peace. However, the message of the author isn't everything of the book. Students in the United States can see Koreans as bad people and Japanese as an innocent sufferer, and people who knows or at least interested in the fact of Japan's wartime crimes must understand right about that!!!
It can be considered in Korea as a novel not worth to read, but nothing changes if the novel is bad. People can just ignore it, but because of that thousands of students can have wrong understanding about history. It can be a novel for some, but the story can be disguised as 'history' to the young in America. The impression they had when they were young has very strong effect on their life. The reason why the book 'So Far from the Bamboo Grove' is hot potato in Korea is this. Parents and teachers of the United States must be aware of the fact that the book written to give message of peace can cause ignorance of Japan's shameless policies!
Sharon
Henderson, NV
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#8Jan 25, 2007
Judged:1
I am a student in the US (Las Vegas, NV) When I heard about this book, I was obviously shocked. It made me sick that clueless people who embrace this "historical" book are only thinking of the black prints in paper. They don't realize that if they read between the lines, they could see that the author is a hater of Koreans (while talking of peace) and her purpose is to try to wipe away the dirty history of World War II.
Even sicker is how people are insulting Koreans at how they are posting 2 line entries so immaturally.
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NireDray
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#9Jan 28, 2007
Judged:211
I would like to think Koreans would one day quit the "victim" game. No one disagrees with the fact that the Japanese committed attrocities against the Koreans during their occupation. But books such as this often have inaccurate information. Does that mean that a story cannot be told that is powerful and illustrative? Forget your Korean pride. Forget your hatred and anger. This is a book about the horrors of war. It's about innocence lost. This is not meant to discount or downplay what happened to Koreans. If anything, this book will make people more aware of what happened to the Koreans and Chinese(and other Asian countries during Japan's quest for imperial reign). Koreans simply have a hard time letting go of history. A recent poll in Japan stated that over 50% of Japanese would be happy if Dokdo were blown up and neither country were given rights. Grow up Korea!! Should we bring up Ono and the Olympics? LOL!!
anti-yoko
Satellite Provider
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#10Jan 29, 2007
it is truely impressive of what you guys wrote about. i am a korean too and though i have not read the book of this racist, i felt this boiling hatred inside of me. not to be biased but US students have to read this book from two perspectives: one from the Japanese side and the other from the Korean side. we Koreans have commited several crimes but that doesnt mean the Japanese are innocent. i reccomend a book that opposes this yok's book. i might sound like a simpleton but non-koreans, please learn Korea's true history before you read Yoko's book!!!!!!!!!!
Anna
South Hadley, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#11Jan 31, 2007
About the recent poll in Japan, I think they are missing a huge point. Dokdo IS and HAS BEEN Korean territory. What do they mean by giving rights to neither country? To me, it looks like they are manipulating the fact as if they are not interested in Dokdo. If they really aren't, why don't they just acknowledge that Korea has the right?
Also, if you imagine yourself at the age of 11, reading Diary of Anne Frank, you would probably believed how "bad people" Nazis were.
This is the same. Those middle school kids who read this book in school, will probably have same feeling towards Koreans. We all know how experiences in early ages influence people's opinions. Obviously these kids will be more sympathetic toward Japanese and less sympathetic toward Koreans.
I would like to ask if you could say the same thing to Jewish people, to "get over" the holocaust. Do you think crimes are something that people can just "get over" with? Here's my suggestion. Grow up and start thinking before you post something on the internet.
lee
Auckland, New Zealand
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#12Feb 2, 2007
to NireDray:
Yes, we know that this story is about the innocence lost and horrors of war. But what you're forgetting is the fact that the book is totally fictionized and very much biased, which will give wrong impression of koreans on american kids and others who don't know the truth. I know this korean girl who got really upset when she read the book and was too scared to go to school because of what others thought of her. I really don't think this book is suitable for young kids and that they should read or study korean/japanese history first and THEN read the book later.
Also, regarding the Dokdo issue, Dokdo has alwasy been korean territory and the poll you wrote about japanese being happy blowing up Dokdo is preposterous, as japanese have no right to do that what so ever.
I read this book a few days ago and couldn't help wondering, if she(the author) had faced hardship, devastation and most of all, fear, like she depicted in her book AND if she KNEW the history of korea and japan, not to mention the fact that many many koreans were experimented, killed, raped and victimized by people like her father, would she have written this? Would she have the courage to write a story so compelling and disturbing as this?
Baedol
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#15Feb 5, 2007
I'm a Korean, living in Seoul, and I've received mostly negative information about this book through the media (which disparages it as Japanese propaganda and a bundle of lies). From the various reviews of the book that I've read in English, however,'So Far from the Bamboo Grove' seems to be a well-written, mature book (perhaps a little too mature for elementary schoolers, but that's a different matter) that describes the writer's experiences during WWII. What Koreans are wary about is that the book's content may be perceived without any context; that is, that elementary school students read this book without any knowledge of the Japanese occupation and the exact historical background of the book. Albeit, the part about the Koreans raping Japanese girls is only a small part of the book, and not all Koreans are portrayed in a negative light, but one cannot help feeling hurt and angry when American school kids receive the wrong impression about Korea. I'm sure that these kids' parents would feel much more comfortable if their children are given both Korean and Japanese views of the period. I think it will be a valuable lesson that perspective is a large part of history, and that it is important to acquire an unbiased, fair perception in evaluating it.
That said, I would like to question some of the inconsistencies within the book's content. Bamboo groves in North Korea? Nonexistent. They can't grow in North Korean climate. Um, North Korean militia in 1945? Highly unlikely, since the North Korean militia was formed in 1948.
CoCoa
Windsor, Canada
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#16Feb 5, 2007
Yes, I am a nationalist activists and I have not read the book yet. However, I can 100% sure the author perfectly distorted Korean history and that is why I am so upset about it. Yes, I know this is true story based on author¡¯s experience during ww2. But why Koreans are so upset about the book is, the author totally biased which will give wrong impression of Koreans to Americans. Yes, the most of Koreans did not even read the book and they are saying bad stuffs about it and It is true that it was thoughtless of Koreans. Also I should¡¯t even say bad things about the book before I read it. However, the reason why I lost my temper before I read a book is, this is not the first time Japan distorted Korean¡¯s history. Let¡¯s say millions of Canadians were killed and raped by Americans during ww2 and now they are saying they are the poor victims of the war. How would guys feel? Don¡¯t u guys want to smack their heads? And what if they are continuously trying to steal one of Canada¡¯s land and continuously distorting Canadian¡¯s history.. What if Americans published a book that distorts Canadian history,
Are u guy still saying it was thoughtless of Koreans? Are u guys still think Koreans should forget their hatred and anger? Since Korea is not powerful as China and Japan, our history has been distorted a lot in the west and the east throughout decades. That¡¯s why we are so upset about distorting our history even it¡¯s just a story. The author of this book actually apologized to all Koreans but if she knew about our uncomfortable relationships between Japan and Korea, she should¡¯t publish this book from the beginning. And also United States should not use this book as middle school English text book. One more thing, Japanese Government should stop distort Korean¡¯s history and if they feel shame about what they have done in the past, they must apologize to all Koreans. If Japanese made apologize on their crimes at least once, the relationships between these two countries would be so much better.
OP Kansas
Overland Park, KS
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#17Feb 7, 2007
Judged:211
I know this is dumb statement, but Yoko is the craziest women alive. do you even know what japanese did to Korean until 1945? Japanese murdered, slaughtered, drowned people who are Christians, and My grandfather has experience from Japanese imperialism. This YoKo may want to have sex with Korean man, but it doesn't mean that she has to do this. I know Yoko, you horny little biaotch
chris
Seoul, Korea
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#18Feb 15, 2007
Only thing I can think of as the reason behind Yoko's story is that it is a quiet propaganda by the Japanese government to neutralize tension between Korea and Japan,which obviously has backfired and now it's just a big old mess once again. But don't you worry, Japanese government had over 50 years of practice ignoring this tension so what is a few more years to them and who could blame them for trying. It's kind of like when a kid tells an obvious lie and the teacher just looks the other way because there is just no hope left for that kid. you know what I mean??
john
East Rutherford, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#19Feb 16, 2007
http://my.dreamwiz.com/lettertoyou/fuckjapan....
check it out !
Japs
Ryde, Australia
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#21Feb 18, 2007
The author made fictous story to appeal stupid Americans. Histrical evidences stand against her.
First of all Bamboo can't be found where the things took place she was talking.
I reckon she witnesessed Japanese service men (I hope his father never did it.) did raped, harrassed and killed young Chinese and Korean girls without any sympathy while she was so young. Now she made a story to cover up those Japanese wrong doings. Japs want several thousands whales for meat but they say for 'sientific research' to cover up the wrong doing. If Japs say 'yes', it could mean,'yes','no','piss off' or 'fxxk you'.
I stronly guess the things should be related to his father and Japs servicemen. In her story, I strongly belive the rapists are deserted Japanese soldiers.
Gary Milford MA
Scituate, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#22Feb 18, 2007
Response to NireDray...
What planet are you from????
Jay
Riverside, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#23Feb 23, 2007
Dear Korean/Japaness/Korean American/Japaness American,
I read the book recently and it reminds me of various things. The reason for enormous anger from Koreans about the book is coming from historical facts.
500 years ago, Japan invaded Korea killing 3 million innocent people. At that time, they took most of korean treasures/books/useful peoples.
90 years ago, Japan colonized Korea/part of China (manchuria). Numerous innocent peoples were killed by Japaness. Even they made experiment with live human being( called unit 731).
Based on this sad history, Korean and Chiness did not like Japaness/Japan.
The difference between german and Japan is that german governmant/people regret their wrong doings and appolgized with heart but on the other hands, Japan did not even they try to hide their wrong doings. That makes Korean/Chiness angry.
Back to the book,
In my view, if I am not biased to any side or just American who did no know the long hatered history, I will say the book is Ok to read and give some space for thought like good book.
If we know the history and the background of that time, we might think the contents of the book is absurd enough to throw it to the garbage can.
That is big difference.
As a reader,
The only problem we can pinpoint is the accuracy of her description for the claim of autobiography such as the bamboo groves at that coldest area, air-raid of american plane.....
As a american korean who knows the sad history, we should be systematic/organized/cool to reason the innocent readers not to read the book and expel the book from the shelf, especially from the list of recommended books from middle schooler.
Being emotional about this issue would not help anything.
Last but not least, if his father was a member of unit 731( in the book, there are some indication of that.), we should find that evidence.
Let's show our unified voice.
Jay
Jesus what a lie
Mount Prospect, IL
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#24Feb 24, 2007
I am furious and enraged by this book.
This book is not even worth to read.
When I heard from news that many schools in east coast make students read and discuss about this book, the fact that they even teach that book made me sick.
This book is a full of lies and deception.
What kind of author is Yoko?
She is just a 70-year-old women trying to be famous by making rediculous books and comments.
All my great grandparents suffer and died from Japanese.
From reading this book, all people in U.S. know is that Korean men raped Japanese women and all Koreans killed innocent Japanese.
We should do something about this!!!
We cannot let this issue go by.
moter
Baytown, TX
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#25May 20, 2007
Judged:1
NireDray wrote:
me too I would like to think Koreans would one day quit the "victim" game. No one disagrees with the fact that the Japanese committed attrocities against the Koreans during their occupation. But books such as this often have inaccurate information. Does that mean that a story cannot be told that is powerful and illustrative? Forget your Korean pride. Forget your hatred and anger. This is a book about the horrors of war. It's about innocence lost. This is not meant to discount or downplay what happened to Koreans. If anything, this book will make people more aware of what happened to the Koreans and Chinese(and other Asian countries during Japan's quest for imperial reign). Koreans simply have a hard time letting go of history. A recent poll in Japan stated that over 50% of Japanese would be happy if Dokdo were blown up and neither country were given rights. Grow up Korea!! Should we bring up Ono and the Olympics? LOL!!
me too
shanikabotona
Baytown, TX
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#26May 20, 2007
THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!!!!
melonbarmonster
Wayne, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#27Aug 16, 2007
Does this sound "apologetic" to you??? Can you imagine a German telling Jews to quit playing the victim game???
It's good, old Japanese racism that undermines past atrocities and even glorifies Japan's WWII role. To spew such contempt when we're trying to discuss Japan and Korea's role in WWII history is just plain disgusting racist.
It's like talking about a violent crime and telling the victim side to "quit playing the victim game".
Absolute moral sewage. This book should not be taught in classrooms. Innocent children do not need to be exposed to such racist garbage.
NireDray wrote:
I would like to think Koreans would one day quit the "victim" game. No one disagrees with the fact that the Japanese committed attrocities against the Koreans during their occupation. But books such as this often have inaccurate information. Does that mean that a story cannot be told that is powerful and illustrative? Forget your Korean pride. Forget your hatred and anger. This is a book about the horrors of war. It's about innocence lost. This is not meant to discount or downplay what happened to Koreans. If anything, this book will make people more aware of what happened to the Koreans and Chinese(and other Asian countries during Japan's quest for imperial reign). Koreans simply have a hard time letting go of history. A recent poll in Japan stated that over 50% of Japanese would be happy if Dokdo were blown up and neither country were given rights. Grow up Korea!! Should we bring up Ono and the Olympics? LOL!!
melonbarmonster
Wayne, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#28Aug 16, 2007
Perhaps a little context is in order. Where does Japanese racism come from???
Japan's war ideology indoctrinated all Japanese with a nationalistic, religious belief that they were a chosen people and descendants of a god.
Japanese saw themselves as being a superior master race who had a divine right to rule over all other races.
That is why you have Japanese and Japanese American posters here bashing Koreans for being "victims", etc., while ignoring the historical issues of WWII history which is the topic of this discussion.
Unfortunately, the right wing political contingency identifies itself with a "conservative" interpretation of Japan's WWII atrocities. The right wing, racism enjoys mainstream popularity in politics and academia.
Can you imagine if a major party in Germany spoke glowingly of Nazi Germany, worshipped Hitler and other Nazi war criminals at a shrine on a yearly basis, telling Jews to stop playing the victim card, etc.??
Our children deserve more vigilance and intelligence from us. Come on people.
Baby Gurrl
Framingham, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#29Sep 4, 2007
dis book waz of da chain it was ieght in da begining but de end waz off da hizzous
Al Yang
Chelmsford, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#30Nov 13, 2007
I feel sorry for the families of those towns and schools that have recommended this book for their children. It is like suggesting their kids to read a story about how Germen escaped Paris or America invaded Iwo Jima, Philippine and bombed Hiroshima without defining “Who started that World War II”. The personal experience in this book and historical facts vastly contradict each other. Fortunately, students today are smart enough to use internet to find the truth. An embarrassment to the school!
Karen
Tarzana, CA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#31Dec 9, 2007
Judged:2
I think "So Far From The Bamboo Grove" is a very good book. I think this is one book that would teach a lot of young kids/teens many things about the past about some of there grandparents and what they had to go through.
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Melonbarmonster
Bloomfield, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#32Feb 4, 2008
Judged:1
Yeah, you think children should be taught sympathetic views about Nazi Germany and KKK clansman? What an irresponsible comment. At least attempt to give an account of how you deal with the troublesome context of this book. Good grief.
Karen wrote:
I think "So Far From The Bamboo Grove" is a very good book. I think this is one book that would teach a lot of young kids/teens many things about the past about some of there grandparents and what they had to go through.
Jon
Boston, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#33Mar 19, 2008
Judged:1
this book can teach kids what it was like in world war 2.+ it is a fun book to read.
melonbarmonster
Lakewood, NJ
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#34Apr 8, 2008
Judged:1
Jon you are morally retarded or ignorant. Learn a little history before teaching pro-nazi, pro-KKK, pro-Imperialist Japan perspectives to innocent kids.
Jon wrote:
this book can teach kids what it was like in world war 2.+ it is a fun book to read.
Smileymiles
Charleston, SC
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#35Apr 30, 2008
Baby Gurrl wrote:
dis book waz of da chain it was ieght in da begining but de end waz off da hizzous
what the hell u 'tard ,can u not speak frakin english..where the hell did u come from..oh let me guess .."DA HIZZOUSE"...FREAKIN JEW....:)
Smileymiles
Charleston, SC
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#36Apr 30, 2008
i thought this book was beautiful.it talked about their struggles and what they had to deal with.it's not so much as to turn a freakin page but to also understand it....all u haterz....really need 2get over urselves cuz if this a frakin crappy american novel.u all probably would have been all over and around it...So leave misses Yoko Kawashima Watkinsalone...plus i didn't even need the book to remember her name...she rox...plus i like gum....:)
Smileymiles
Charleston, SC
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#37Apr 30, 2008
Jon wrote:
this book can teach kids what it was like in world war 2.+ it is a fun book to read.
john u freakin rock..dude ur so on the ...like point..plus i like lioke freakin lots of gum :)
Smileymiles
Charleston, SC
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#38Apr 30, 2008
Karen wrote:
I think "So Far From The Bamboo Grove" is a very good book. I think this is one book that would teach a lot of young kids/teens many things about the past about some of there grandparents and what they had to go through.
go karen it's ya birthday.....ya gonna party like it's brithday.and somethin else.some crap o nother........ur right karen.halloluj...ireallydon't know how 2 spell that..well on the upside ...i like totally freakin like gum:)
ladybug love t-ball
Twin Lake, MI
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#39May 12, 2008
I love this book it is a tradjic yet thrilling book
I love t-dog
Lindsay
Marlborough, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#40May 17, 2008
in school we had to read her book and at the end of the year she comes to our school and we get to meet her.
joseline
Amherst, MA
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#41Jan 25, 2009
i need help with the most important part for my project and i don't know the most important part of the book is.and this project is due 2 morrow
Duke
Brooklyn, NY
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#42Mar 24, 2009
We should nuke all the Japanese soldiers who killed my white brothers. Rise up my fellow Americans.
amanda
Staten Island, NY
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#43Jul 7, 2009
Judged:1
This book is a very controversial topic. People ave said that it favors Japanese, making Koreans look like bad people. However, this is just from the point of view of a little girl who wasn't sure of the other side of the war. It is not meant to be stated as a summary of the war, it is a memoir of 1 person's experience.
NeutralTerritory
Orlando, FL
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#44Jun 4, 2010
Ok I have read this book last year as a ninth grader. There may have been some concepts that I have not understood at the time, but what I see is you! Yes I am talking about you Koreans out there commenting on this book So Far From the Bamboo Grove. First of all you must understand this is from her perspective of the War as a CHILD!!!! Not as an adult. Why does every single Korean that commented on this said she distorts History. She even stated that this is her memoirs as a child she has nothing against Koreans in general at all. So just leave her alone. What's done is done the book is published and millions of people have read the book. What can you do now? Nothing, all you can do is just talk about how a fake she is. If you just sit over a nice cup of tea with her and actually talk to her you might get a better persepective on why she wrote the book. Obviously Yoko did not expect to have this much controversy over this one book when she first published this. As my name says No Man's Land I am not taking sides on this delicate matter I am just stating the facts and staying neutral. You know there is this saying that teachers always say don't judge a book by its cover. I was like books in general or something else? Then I realized that they meant people. So you can't really judge Yoko Watkins can you? If you don't know her then do NOT I repeat DO NOT JUDGE HER! She is just a regular author who just wanted to write. As I conclude this post I just want to say I am No Man's Land on nobody's side neutral as water on the pH scale. So long for now.
Savannah
Demopolis, AL
Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#45Mar 22, 2011
Jihye J wrote:
I'm impressed by the people here! I'm a student in Korea. I became aware of this topic by internet recently, and found the truth shocking. I didn't read the book yet (thinking it's not worth reading however), but its outline which was introduced in newspapers was enough to enrage the Koreans. I was terrified after reading the outline also. This book 'So Far from the Bamboo Grove' is full of the facts which are distorted in eyes of Japanese. It may be true that Japanese people were incured Koreans' indignation after Korea was freed from Imperial Japan. However, it musn't be an indulgence covering all acts of barbarity up which Japanese rulers did to Koreans. It is sad that a single book can make many students misunderstand about the real history, and it is the most shabby thing to do so. I wish people of the United States to realize the truth, and confirm it formally.
Keep in mind the fact that Yoko was 11 or so at the time that this happened to her and she wrote the book so many years later FROM MEMORY!
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