Word: ayamachi
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...word for it in Japanese is ayamachi, diplomatic argot for a grave mistake, even a sin. Last week none other than Yasuhiro Nakasone, Prime Minister of Japan, committed a world-class ayamachi when he told a meeting of his Liberal Democratic Party, "So high is the level of education in our country that Japan's is an intelligent society. Our average score is much higher than those of countries like the U.S. There are many blacks, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in America. In consequence the average score over there is exceedingly...
...abashed Nakasone promptly tried to "explain it all" by praising the "great achievements" of the U.S. "But there are things the Americans have not been able to do because of multiple nationalities there," he continued, sinking deeper into the ayamachi even as he struggled to extricate himself. "On the contrary, things are easier in Japan because we are a monoracial society." These secondary remarks mollified no one. Declared Japanese-American Congressman Robert Matsui of California: "Mr. Nakasone's explanation is almost as outrageous . . . as his original statement." At this point, some Japanese also rang in. "Our Prime Minister," said Professor...
...heart of hearts Nakasone must have agreed. For in addition to the anger swirling around him, there was deep irony in his situation. Just last month the Prime Minister invoked the term ayamachi when he fired his Education Minister, Masayuki Fujio, for having infuriated half the Orient. In a magazine article Fujio claimed that Korea bore some responsibility for Japan's deeply resented 1910-45 occupation of the peninsula and, moreover, that Japanese atrocities in Nanking during 1937 were acceptable in the context of military conflict. Having fired his top educator for such a profound national and ethnic offense, Nakasone...
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