My grandad and Japanese bikes/cars

[slackjaw44]

Just got back from visiting my grandad i haven't seen since i was six months old..he's 89 years old. Tough old guy. He spent 29 years in the Navy and 2 in the Army, retired as a Master Chief. Fought in WW2 and Vietnam, combat wounded twice. We were discussing Japanese made cars and motorcycles I quote "Son, I have too many of my friends in Hawaii in the hauls of those ships for me to ever buy one..the Japanese were inhumane and I can never forgive them for what they did to us"

That being said it really makes me rethink my bike choices from now on.

 

[Tech7]

His view is understandable, but his to make alone. It doesn't have anything to do with cars or motorcycles.

 

[Purplezinger]

War is hell no matter what side your on. All participates commit atrocity's, they did, we did, it's unfortunate but humans love to kill each other. Apparently your grandfather no longer remembers the war ended and we signed peace treaty's with all sides. And Tech 7 is correct this has nothing to do with motorcycles and more to the point Yamaha's.

 

[pyroman]

My Dad spent 33 days on Iwo Jima as a 17 year old Marine sniper, and never quit having night-mares. He was also at the War Crimes Trials at Chichi Jima, as an interpreter. He didnt want a Honda in the Garage, but He finally let me bring one home.He once told Me, I can forgive the Japanese, but I WILL NEVER FORGET.....Kawasaki built Zeros. We shot them down. The war is over, and the Japanese are some of Our finest Friends.

 

[highspeedhamish]

So I guess we should never buy Audi's, Porche's and VW's? How many people out there in the world think the British did no wrong? The Sun didnt set on the British Empire because they handed out free Tea and crumpets. Should I ever eat Spanish olives? Should I ask my government to kick out Vietnamese restaurant owners? How about East Indian ones too?

If we kept the fences up and didnt move ahead we might all be riding Harleys and V8 gas guzzlers. We would still have to haul the Curtis Mathis tv to the repair shop in the back of the truck, Pasta would be called Spaghetti in the dictionary, Tea would be a letter in the alphabet and curry would be someones last name.

My family history is full of military duty like many of yours. I even work for the DND (Department of National Defense) to this day. My grandfather died with the shrapnel he picked up in Italy during WW2.

 

[shotgunjoe]

That being said it really makes me rethink my bike choices from now on.

My dad was beat nearly to death when he was in the military... a group of individuals of different race than him picked a fight with him because he looked like an easy target. They put him in the hospital and was lucky to have survived. He used to tell me not to trust people of that race, I understood his feeling, and I felt empathy for him. However, I never made life choices based on HIS experiences. That would be ignorant.

 

[XSJoel]

I agree with your grandfather. You should sell me your bike.

 

[tadd442]

I agree with your grandfather. You should sell me your bike.

ya, grampa's right....hell, I'd take it off yer hands for free if you let me....that's how patriotic I am.

 

[tadd442]

My Dad spent 33 days on Iwo Jima as a 17 year old Marine sniper, and never quit having night-mares. He was also at the War Crimes Trials at Chichi Jima, as an interpreter. He didnt want a Honda in the Garage, but He finally let me bring one home.He once told Me, I can forgive the Japanese, but I WILL NEVER FORGET.....Kawasaki built Zeros. We shot them down. The war is over, and the Japanese are some of Our finest Friends.

I thought it was Mitsubishi?

 

[650Skull]

Just got back from visiting my grandad i haven't seen since i was six months old..he's 89 years old. Tough old guy. He spent 29 years in the Navy and 2 in the Army, retired as a Master Chief. Fought in WW2 and Vietnam, combat wounded twice. We were discussing Japanese made cars and motorcycles I quote "Son, I have too many of my friends in Hawaii in the hauls of those ships for me to ever buy one..the Japanese were inhumane and I can never forgive them for what they did to us"

That being said it really makes me rethink my bike choices from now on.

be yourself and make decisions based on how you find and are treated by others. If not you will end up a bigot and raciest based on someone else's opinion.

 

[bluebikerblan]

Just got back from visiting my grandad i haven't seen since i was six months old..he's 89 years old. Tough old guy. He spent 29 years in the Navy and 2 in the Army, retired as a Master Chief. Fought in WW2 and Vietnam, combat wounded twice. We were discussing Japanese made cars and motorcycles I quote "Son, I have too many of my friends in Hawaii in the hauls of those ships for me to ever buy one..the Japanese were inhumane and I can never forgive them for what they did to us"

That being said it really makes me rethink my bike choices from now on.

Then was then and now is now. Be whom you know you should....today.

 

[pyroman]

I thought it was Mitsubishi?

I believe Mitsubishi did also build Zeros. Kawasaki Aircraft did. Kawasaki Heavy industries builds/has built Bullit Trains, Submarines, Bulldozers and ships, among other things. Japan farmed out contracts to what ever company could turn out the needed product, as did the US. For instance, Here, the Singer Sewing Machine Co. turned out Thompson Sub-machine guns.

 

[twinsarehot]

The Japanese were extremely cruel in their occupation of China during WW2. Many in my family aren't alive to tell. Very underated and often looked over. I'm inclined to agree with my gpops, who hasn't ever in his life owned a Japanese product, but then again it's also 2011.

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[schpud]

...if you buy a 30 year old bike from some old white guy named Tim it's not as if the money is really supporting the Japanese?

 

[XSJoel]

LOL schpud. You make a valid point.

Also the fact that a lot of american bikes and automobiles use a ton of outsourced parts.

 

[Thumpower]

Actually, Kawasaki made flying boats; Mitsubishi made the Zero...

 

[pyroman]

Actually, Kawasaki made flying boats; Mitsubishi made the Zero...

I stand corrected, glad I didnt make a wager. Kawasaki built , among other Aircraft, the Ki65 Swallow, and the Ki45 Toryu. Supposedly, some Zero's had Kawasaki powerplants.

 

[Ton Up]

Those Japanese are all but gone now, just like the parents and grand parents from the greatest generation are here.

My Father also spent the duration of WWII island hopping with the Marines. He never got over the war.
My Mother always said how rough they had it during the war, until she met my wife, who is from there and her parents told her how rough it was living under Japanese rule.

Those were then, this is now. The Japanese people of today, are a lot different. The old Japan no longer exists. As those people fade from the earth, so shall the feelings for the Japanese.

 

[gggGary]

I am buying only Native American made motorcycles to atone for for the European invader's sins. Well that would be kind of hard, but my mom sure is trying to make up for things out at the casino! I don't think I have sinned in a major way but only because I wasn't tested. No surviving race is unstained. And there's an ugly lesson there somewhere.

 

[Hombre Verde]

The Japanese Americans that were here in the good old USA before December 7th, 1941 that we rounded up and put into camps along the west coast might disagree. While you are at it I am of German descent and we were responsible for 2 World Wars and thousands of lives but then again I am also Scottish & English. So, I am at odds with my self all the time. Every "race" or country has done something at some point in history.
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