Japan versus Korea - a response to the WSJ story of 2/17/2015

The rivalry between Japan and Korea goes back much further than this story indicates - at least back to the late 16th century.  The omission of the historic context might not be the fault of the writer but probably the editor.

During this span of over 500 years Japan bested Korea in numerous military and navel campaigns all but for a series of naval battles between 1592 and 1598. 

Beyond this someone in Japan who is even 1/16th Korean and 15/16th Japanese is not considered Japanese in most families.  

The ugly fact never mentioned is that the Japanese are the most racist of all people.  This belief in their racial superiority has survived being beaten in WWII and numerous "acts of God" rained down on this Island over the centuries the last of which was a tsunami that spread nuclear waste over the middle of the country and has certainly reduced the life span of many of the people.

This rivalry is never going to go away and the Chinese government will use this to their advantage to establish even closer relations with Korea.

Ask most Koreans and they will tell you that they would prefer the American military presence in their country to end.