Japan-bashing is slowly becoming recognized for its hurtful impact on the lives of thousands of Americans--Japanese Americans. A recent report by the Federal Civil Rights Commission called on presidential candidates to stop using "race-baiting" tactics and "talking talk tough on trade" when such appeals are made in the subtle language of racism.

But the mandate from our political and business leaders to bash and blame the Japanese has already created grave problems for Americans of Japanese descent.

In Los Angeles last month, Yasuo Kato, a recent immigrant from Japan, was found stabbed to death in his garage. A few weeks prior to the murder, Kato had been threatened in his home by two men who told him, "I know you're Japanese and I think we have a right to take money from you because our economy is hurting from your people."

And recently in Boston, Iwao Matsuda, the president of a Japanese university, was found murdered in his Back Bay hotel room. He had been visiting the country to formalize a "sister school" relationship with the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Was this just another random murder? The timing, at least, was perfect: a day before the internment's Day of Rememberance on February 19, when President Roosevelt handed down the order to begin internment of the Japanese.

And these irrationally motivated hate crimes extend beyond attacks against Japanese. Anti-Japanese sentiment becomes hate against Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipinos and other ethnic groups. "Whatever animosity they have towards Asia affects all of us. The can't tell us apart," said Kimura, who is the president of the New York chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League.

THE HARVARD community itself is far from immune from these senseless hate crimes. Recently, a slur against Chinese Americans was found on the Lamont Poetry Board, and prank callers have attacked non-Asians and Asians alike, hurling racial slurs like "Korean bitch."

For the victims of these assaults, the insinuation of a Japanese conspiracy begs the question: Who is conspiring against whom? Are the conspirators deceitful Japanese businessmen in suits? Or are the people who propagate these stereotypes and misconceptions--who insist that "they," whoever "they" might be, are the reason for "our" problems--the true culprits?

Many other incidents of racial prejudice and harrassment go unreported. Perhaps victims have faith that things will eventually get better--the attitude expressed in shyoganai. This way of thinking did allow many Japanese Americans to assuage their anguish when discrimination took the form of barbed wire and loyalty tests.

But shyogania, as before, cannot purge the fear and resentment many Asian Americans feel today over this recurring pattern of racial blame. This time, many are saying they won't tolerate such crimes.

For the Japanese internment survivors, and for the victims of recent anti-Asian hate crimes, the usual explanations for racial violence and discrimination ring hollow. The standard refrain--that racial scapegoating happens when our economy goes sour--seems like just another glib justification for pain and injustice.

For these survivors, the essential questions remain unaswered: Why the Japanese? Why Asians? Who is next?

These are the questions that Lillian Kimura, the families of Iwao Matsuda and Yasuo Kato and countless other Asian Americans are still asking themselves today.