April 10, 2007
History's Top 100 Heroes
Japan Probe has posted a translation, with handy biographical links, of a recent Japanese TV network's national survey of historical heroes. Not surprisingly, the list is heavily tilted towards figures from Japanese history, but what caught my attention was the sheer number of famous warriors and military leaders. I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't see results like this if you surveyed Americans -- even those who are compulsive watchers of the History Channel. And though Europeans can draw on a much longer history, I wouldn't expect them to come up with results all that much different. Westerners, with a few notable exceptions, are just too thoroughly post-feudal. The invented heroes of Tolkein are far better known than their medieval models -- for better or for worse.
Posted by David on April 10, 2007 5:42 PM
As another Japanese American, I have to say...the Japanese are strange.
#52: Freddy Mercury.
Posted by: Kyle on April 10, 2007 7:46 PM
From your inclusion of this list on your blog, I assumed this was a serious list. But it's just another goofball list for tv, like so many in the US.
Any list of the 100 most influential people in the world that has Jean D'Arc as number 6 is goofy. Any list that even includes Bruce Lee, let alone as number 37 is just not serious at all.
And Audrey Hepburn as number 46 is just bizarre.
I suppose similar such silliness is why there are so many obscure Japanese names.
Listing Togo as number 32 is downright evil.
Posted by: Mike Rentner on April 11, 2007 8:49 AM
Any list that includes Diana, Princess of Wales, cannot be taken seriously. Babe Ruth above Newton?! Excuse me, please pass the bong now that you have voted.
Posted by: Charles on April 11, 2007 9:29 AM
At least some of the choices aren't quite so goofy as they first appear (Freddy Mercury definitely excepted), especially when you consider the difficulty of translating exactly what the criteria for inclusion are. They would seem to be a mix of qualities, including heroism, fame, and a combination of admirability and charisma. Note too that in Japan there is a long tradition of special admiration for doomed heros, so the selection of Joan of Arc is natural.
As for the selection of sports figures, that makes sense considering the overall slant towards heroism and fame (did I already mention that I still can't figure out Freddy Mercury?).
Anyway, the whole point of the post is not that the list is "serious" (a list drawn up by Japanese academics probably would not differ hugely from one drawn up by American or European academics), but that it reveals something about how in some ways vernacular culture in Japan differs dramatically -- and unexpectedly -- from vernacular culture in the West.
Posted by: David on April 11, 2007 10:05 AM
Poor FDR, Churchill, and Truman..don't think they'll be making the list anytime soon.
I have to admit. I started cracking up.
But where's Oprah!?!?
Posted by: Circe on April 13, 2007 3:35 PM
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