Comments on: Introduction

By: peace

peace — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:35:12 +0000

War Crimes ??? NOT by Japan’s Standards

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006021644468

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, one of the strongest candidates for the next Japanese Prime Minister, and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso have claimed that Japanese Class-A war criminals are not actually criminals according to Japanese civil law…….

By: peace

peace — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:22:14 +0000

Apology for their war crimes:

German way of Apology Dec. 7, 1970

http://www2.facinghistory.org/Campus/Memorials.nsf/0/DC396F572BD4D99F85256FA80055E9B1

Japanese way of Apology Aug. 15, 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/16/world/asia/16japan.html

By: ricecake

ricecake — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:54:03 +0000

Adam Kaffers, I’ve never stated any facts on the history other than that Japan invaded China, so you needn’t correct any errors on my part. What Japan did during the early parts of the twentieth century is unjustifiable, but it baffles me that you label me as an ignorant Japanese; somehow I sense a rather strong conviction and a bias in your attitude.

Also, if you are a historian, then you are not doing a good job at that; Japan has given numerous apologies over the invasion of its Asian neighbors, and it is open about its past wrongdoings.

And your claim about most Japanese who “refuse to recognize the past crimes they committed” is stupid, because it’s not them who committed the crimes; it’s their ancestors. And you completely fail to back up your accusation against the Japanese people by providing no evidence whatsoever, contrarily to how you brought up the whole history of Japan’s past barbarism.

ed, I would point out that Yuan China, along with Korea, invaded Japan in the thirteenth century; and they even did it twice. Both of their attempts failed, though.

By: ed

ed — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:22:59 +0000

in addition to adam kaffers’ comment, it should be noted that japan has engaged in conquests of china and korea as early as the 1590’s, not just 1937. it should also be noted that at the end of these invasions that took place in the 1590’s, korea suffered the most loss including scholars, tradesmen, and scientists who were captured and taken to japan. much of korean culture and technology were assimilated by the japanese, these included pottery, textiles, medicine, and smelting.

By: Adam Kaffers

Adam Kaffers — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:28:01 +0000

Mr. Rodriguez, Steve, and Ricecake have made some fundamental errors in their comments and made remarks that make them evidently bias against China. As a historian, I feel a need to point out the need to keep the facts straight. The Empire of Japan waged a war of annihilation and conquest against its Asian neighbors, starting in 1937, in order to expand its borders and gather resources needed for sustaining its growing population. The Empire used a variety of methods to prop up its reasons for military aggression by using false pretenses like the bombing of a railway in Manchuria and the Dragon bridge near Beijing. These facades weren’t accepted as legitimate reasons by the League of Nations – thus the Japanese Government to withdraw due to the unsatisfactory results. Over the many years leading up to the end of WWII, the Japanese military treated their fellow Asians in the most inhumane way; a good example of Japanese brutality and the most infamous war crime is the Nanjing Massacre, where well over 250,000 Chinese civilians were senselessly murdered by Japanese troops, who had been given strong resistance during their campaign to conquer China. Japan committed similar crimes throughout Asia, including, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other places across the Pacific Rim. Therefore it’s not very surprising for Asian countries like China and South Korea to have strong fear and objections to remilitarizing Japan. It occurs to me that Japan could have gotten all the things that they set their eyes on without war and arms. The attitude of Ricecake and Steve (who are obviously Japanese) are misplaced and ignorant when they put any blame on their country’s victims – in addition they represent the attitude of most Japanese people whom refuse to recognize the past crimes they committed.

By: ricecake

ricecake — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:44:19 +0000

If China stepped forward and forgave Japan’s invasion, then the situation in Northeast Asia would improve greatly. It’s unfortunate that for such a large and powerful nation with a rich history, China has a heart of a chichken.

Japan sees an insecure neighbor who is arming up quickly. When the time comes for China to replace the US as the wealthiest and the strongest on Earth, will it start harassing Japan and chipping away on Japan’s territory? As the defense minister said, there has to be a deterrence.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:04:39 +0000

I recently spent a year in Japan teaching English. The debate over changing Article 9 of the Constitution was quite lively. However, I got the distinct impression that my students had no idea that Japan has the fifth largest defense budget in the world. I did not. Your program certainly helped me understand just how far the country has moved in its very real struggle with this issue. This is a real struggle for the Japanese young and old. They remember all to well how WWII ended. Since I taught in Hiroshima, my students were probably even more sensitive to this matter.

The Japanese are a very hard working and pragmatic people and will determine what course will best serve their interests. They have a rich history and culture to draw upon. I hope they choose to create and maintain a strong military to counter the increasing power of some of their neighbors. However, I’m not sure they will choose that course.

In any case, your program was great!

Thank you.

By: DEE

DEE — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:42:41 +0000

I have read all your comments and I think all of you have some legitimate point or another. But I would like for us to look at Japan from this perspective that people even nations make mistakes and I think they can learn from it. If anyone denies that point I would like to point to the mistakes of the previous generations of Americans of wiping out the natives, enslaving people of other races and wiping Heroshima and Nagasaki off the face of the map. I believe these were mistakes made by the previous generations of American that is still hard for us, in this generation, to admit as mistakes. But has the USA been a force for good in recent times (specifically, after WWII)? I believe the answer is resoundingly YES. Though we uses some questionable means to achieve our ends of winning the cold-war. This is what I want any American to think about when looking back to the issue of Pearl Harbor, however painful the memories may be. I would also wish that other Asians will look at the big picture of the present stategic map of Asia.

1) Japan is a democratic country
2) China is a Communist country
3) Japan has substansial technological, industrial, and manufacturing capital
4) China has some but not as much as it wants.
5) China has shown that it would like to become a superpower one day (a communist country)
6) The USA is the only country providing Nuclear deterrance for its allies in Asia.
7) If for any reason the USA is no longer able to properly propect its allies, specifically Japan, S.Korea and Taiwan. Those countries can be blackmailed into a stategic alliance by either China, Russia or N.Korea

This would mean that their technological, industrial, manufacturing and monitary infrastructure will go to strenghtening a peer-competitor (Russia or China) which is not democratic and may be hostile to the USA, its other neighbors and the world.

Also, I think that many Japaneese haven’t truely considered the geopolitical picture and realized that their country may be in a precarious position not only visa-ve N.Korea, but with the issue of China and Russia.
Their country is also not a member of NATO, so the nuclear deterrence provided by the USA is not as strong as the one provided for Western Europe. Where there was a policy of Nuclear sharing (if a war occurs the USA will transfer Tactical weapons to NATO countires). Even still, the UK and France still opted to build their own minimal nuclear deterrance.

What I am saying is this, the Japanese people can not wish these problems away and the idea that if Japan remains peaceful it will not have enemies does not stand up to the test of history. Sweden, Norway and Finland were neutral at the onset of WWII and Hitler still attacked and occupies them because of their industrial infrastructure.

Japan and the other East Asian powers should not allow themselves to become a case study of what a wealthy, economically powerful country should not do.

I personally believe that the Democratic countries in Asia should be armed to the fullest extent, not just because of the shortterm problem that North korea poses, but the longer term problem posed by China and Russia.

By: primal convoy in Japan

primal convoy in Japan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:14:13 +0000

Hi,

I just watched this online and I will email the url of the video for some of my Japanese English students to watch. I wonder if a Japanese language version of this is available in some form in Japan?

By: KidB

KidB — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:47:04 +0000

Wayne Parker is correct – this constant berating that Japan has to take for its past is misplaced and counterproductive. Look at all the damage Britian, France, and the Dutch caused in East Asia, long before Japan ever sent a single soldier there, and no one’s telling those countries that they can’t have a military. If totalitarian states like China and North Korea are armed (and they are!), then free and democratic Japan certainly should be.

The “gene of militarism” can be found in all human societies. To suggest that it is unique to the Japanese is naive, and more than a little racist.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:34:37 +0000

I understand the feelings that some Chinese might feel towards Japan. But that was a LONG time ago. The government of Japan is not the ultranationalists of the 1930’s. Hence Japan will not have a war of aggression that they had during WW2. I think the real threat is the unchecked and under reported rise of China’s military. I think that Japan has every right to defend itself.

By: Kaz Takahashi

Kaz Takahashi — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:31:44 +0000

“An illegitimate child.” Many Japanese share this sentiment over our own Self Defense Force. We use the term to describe a child living in shadow, or shame.

Given the quality and quantity level of their equipments, there is no doubt that our SDF is a military force that our current constitution prohibits with its 9th article, no matter how we put it with legal technicality.

We, however, feel that we, realistically, need it to secure our independence, to protect our national interests over our territory and the business interests of fishing industry.

Historically we have been having numerous number of disputes over the border, especially with Russia. Normally our Coast Guard intervenes those situations, but when the disputes heat up to volatile confrontation, bigger armed muscle speaks, unfortunately.

The best, most, and perhaps only welcome works done by SDF are its rescue operations. Their well-organized and highly trained collective efforts, though it is almost nothing to do with their military capability or high-tech weapons, their manpower is invaluable for rescue missions, nationally, and now internationally. The roughly 70% of nation’s land is mountainous with its can-be unstable monsoon climate, and is infamously earthquake prone. Natural disasters are inevitable. The SDF are far more frequently deployed for the rescue missions in natural disasters, than its armed ones. It is our useful and helpful child.

Some wants things to straight up as it should be, by changing our constitution. Many are reluctant to legitimate the illegitimate child even though we feel like cheating. We choose to live with the dilemma because the memories of our empirical military haunt us like a ghost. We know that having a military is not the answer to solve international disputes, but probably the prelude of never-ending arm race, which satisfy only the merchants of death.

The program was an excellent report on SDF, but failed to address the real driving forces advocating to change our pacifist constitution are.

Thank you for make us, an almost invisible nation, more visible, at least in the US. Please keep up with your good work.

By: wheresbeef

wheresbeef — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:04:34 +0000

If most Japanese and some of Americans think it is OK to let Japan have a full scale military without before cleansing Japan’s ultranationalism elements as Germany did and they do not care the unpredictable consequences, I would say bring it on. The 5000-year old Chinese civilization has survived all kinds of brutal conquers by including Huns, Mongols, Tartars, Japanese…I do not think Chinese people do not have the wisdom and will power to survive, if not triumph another time. As a matter of fact, it may be a good opportunity to make things straight (like Britain firebombed Dresden for German bombing of London, Russia conquered and split Germany, or America firebombed Tokyo and nuked its two cities) and true peace between China and Japan will eventually come (like true peace between Britain and German, Russia and German, US and Japan).
Unfortunately both sides and probably all the world may have to pay a heavy price. Well, if it is unavoidable, I guess it is just another price history asks we the human-being to pay before we learn to be smarter.
Bring it on.

By: Wayne Parker

Wayne Parker — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:15:43 +0000

Wheresbeef’s comments and attitudes are good examples of why the historical issues play such an important role in the debate within Japan about rearming and how they are affecting the policy debate in Japan. It all comes down to perceptions of past wrongs and future threats. Many mainland Chinese still harbor fears that a resurgent and armed Japan will become a threat, or at least a rival, to China. No one at this point can really say whether those fears are justified or not. Even if one accepts that Japan could do a better job at handling the issue of wartime atrocities (and I for one think they could do a much better job of it), it’s very clear to any objective person that the repeated criticisms by the Chinese government is nothing more than attempts to shame the Japanese government and people and to affect policy decision making in Japan. That there are elements within Japanese society that hold extreme right-wing views of Japan’s conduct during WWII is undeniable. But such extreme right-wing sentiment is currently held only by a small, noisy fringe element with little political power and varying degrees of empathy by a slightly larger constituency within the Japanese political mainstream. Japan has apologized or expressed regret several times for its wartime atrocities. Repeated Chinese complaints of Japan’s perceived unwillingness to acknowledge wartime atrocities and related issues, however, have had the affect of making the Japanese government and many Japanese citizens less willing to accept criticism for events that occurred over sixty years ago. Most Japanese today weren’t even alive during the war and repeated criticism has had the effect of hardening some Japanese attitudes on a host of issues. That shift in some Japanese citizens’ attitude has had the unintended consequence of many Japanese implicitly – and in some cases tacitly – supporting a larger role for the Japanese military in the region.