A Mimetic Reading of American Influence on Post War Japan: Iko Toraberingu 1948

Abstract

Eiko Kadono’s novel Iko Toraberingu 1948 depicts emulation environment of American lifestyle and socio-cultural change in the country that pentrated indirectedly through American General Head Quarters (GHQ) post war years in Japan. The most important ideological infrastructure that was created the consciousness of democracy between 1945 – 1952 years by GHQ. The United States of America has aimed to create a new system by using this democratic infrastructure, instead of “oppressive style of militarsim”. It is noteworthy that young people desire this lifestyle due to the mediating environment created by the American lifestyle in the novel. The American lifestyle that caused desire for Japanese people in the postwar period has been analyzed in the context of René Girard’s triangular desire theory in the study. Protagonist Iko is the micro mimetic model of Japanese youth under occupation. She desires the American lifestyle that has been the object for every person in Japan. The mediator of desire is the luxurious life in Tokyo where American soldiers’, represents a micro-model of American life. Iko becomes a follower of democracy that has been presented as a “consolation” of “implicit violence” environment of the American occupation. Many models of American life like speaking in English, women’s rights and educational opportunities in America attract Japanese youths’ desires. As a result, Iko understands that American life model just created an atmosphere of desire that must be left aside like the impermanence of youthful desires. It can be concluded that young people who will create new Japan become aware that Japan must be reborn from its ashes.

Keywords

• Iko Toraberingu 1948
• René Girard
• theory of triangular desire
• GHQ
• Americanization

Savaş Sonrası Japonya’sında Amerikan Etkisinin Mimetik Bir Okuması: Iko Toraberingu 1948

Abstract

Eiko Kadono’nun Iko Toraberingu 1948 (İko’nun Seyahati 1948) romanı savaş sonrası Japonya’sında Amerikan İşgal Kuvvetleri (GHQ) aracılığıyla Japonya’ya dolaylı olarak nüfuz eden Amerikan yaşam biçimine öykünme ortamını ve ülkedeki sosyo-kültürel değişimi tasvir eder. 1945 – 1952 yılları arasında demokrasi bilincini oluşturan en önemli ideolojik altyapı Amerikan İşgal Kuvvetleri tarafından oluşturulmuştur. ABD, “baskıcı militarizm tarzı” yerine, bu demokratik altyapıyı kullanarak yeni bir sistem yaratmayı hedeflemiştir. Romanda Amerikan yaşam tarzının yarattığı dolayımlayıcı ortam nedeniyle gençlerin bu yaşam tarzını arzuladığı dikkat çeker. Bu çalışmada savaş sonrası dönemde Japonlarda arzu uyandıran Amerikan tarzı yaşam biçimi René Girard’ın üçgen arzu teorisi bağlamında incelenmiştir. Baş kahraman İko, işgal altındaki Japon gençliğinin mikro mimetik örneğidir. Japonya’daki herkesin nesne modeli olan Amerikan yaşam tarzını arzular. Bu arzunun dolayımlayıcısı ise Amerikan hayatının mikro örneğini temsil eden Amerikan askerlerinin Tokyo’daki lüks yaşamıdır. İko, Amerikan işgalinin “örtük şiddet” ortamının bir “tesellisi” olarak sunulan demokrasinin takipçisi olur. İngilizce konuşmak, kadın hakları, Amerika’daki eğitim fırsatları gibi Amerikan yaşamına dair birçok örnek Japon gençlerin ilgisini çeker. Sonuç olarak İko, Amerikan yaşam modelinin gençlik arzularının geçiciliği gibi bir kenara bırakılması gereken bir arzu atmosferi yarattığını anlar. Yeni Japonya’yı inşa edecek gençlerin Japonya’nın küllerinden yeniden doğması gerektiği bilincine vardıkları sonucu çıkarılabilir.

Keywords

• Iko Toraberingu 1948
• René Girard
• üçgen arzu teorisi
• GHQ
• Amerikalılaşma

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