“Japan as Savior, Japan as Invader”: Indonesian Youth Perceptions of Japan in the Pacific Wartime

Key Points

• This research aims to explore Indonesian youth perceptions of Japan's role during the Pacific Wartime and how these perceptions shape their national identity.
• Qualitative approach to examine student understandings of Japan's arrival in Indonesia during the Pacific Wartime.
• Analysis of official school narratives alongside family stories of suffering related to forced labor (romusha).
• Students perceive Japan as both a savior and an invader, reflecting conflicting narratives present in their education and family histories.
• The glorification of Japan in school narratives clashes with personal accounts of suffering, emphasizing the complexity of national identity.
• Findings suggest a need for curriculum reform to provide a more accurate and inclusive historical perspective.