Thats because the people who actually suffered and the people who knew them are mostly dead now. My Dads best friend survived Bataan Death March and my Mom who just died at 92 would never own a Japanese car or appliance in her life.
Your dad sounds a lot like mine. My dad served in the Army during WWII, Korean, and Vietnam. Absolutely hated Asians ( as we call them today). He forbid all of his kids from ever buying their cars.