World War II Aftermath: Japanese Views of the War


Figure 1.--

Most countries that played important roles in World War II have come to terms with the War. Japan and the Soviet Union are the principal country today which keeps the truth of the War from their school children. What Japanese children are told about the War is a widely debated subject in Japan. Most Japanese children today believe that their country was a victim of the War and not the primary agressor nation. The atmomic boming of Hiroshima and Nagasaki receive wide coverage every year leading children to view theur country as a victim of the War. Few Japanese children have any ide of the enormity of Japanese war crimes. Important Japanese politicians, especially officials with nationalist sympathies in the Liberal Democratic Party, persist in perpetrating a number of myths and historical lies. This has caused considerable problems for Japan in countries they occupied during the War and wear war crimes were committed. One of the most persistent myths is that Japan was "tricked" in attacking the United States by a wiley American President. The truth of course is that the decision to go to war was made by a series of Japanese government after a lengthy study of the evolving military situation in Europe and Asia. The Japanese decided to hitch their star to the Germans and the decesion to attack the United States was made at a time when the NAZI Panzers were ranpaging through the Soviet Union and the Soviet collapse seemed inevitable. The defense of being "tricked" is unworthy of a great nation. It is the kind of defense used by petty criminals caught up in a sting opetation.

Admitting War Crimes

Most countries that played important roles in World War II have come to terms with the War. Japan and the Soviet Union are the principal country today which keeps the full truth of the War from their school children.

Teaching

What Japanese children are told about the War is a widely debated subject in Japan. Most Japanese children today believe that their country was a victim of the War and not the primary agressor nation. The atmomic boming of Hiroshima and Nagasaki receive wide coverage every year leading children to view theur country as a victim of the War. Few Japanese children have any idea of the enormity of Japanese war crimes. Prime Minister Abe attempted to clense Japanese textbooks of references to war crimes (2006). In particular the Moinistry of Education ordered publishers to delete reference to the role that the Japanese military played in promoting suiside even among Japanese civilians on Okinawa. Japanese courts have firmly established that the mikitary played a central role in the mass suisides that oiccurred on Okinawa.

Nationalists

Important Japanese politicians, especially officials with nationalist sympathies in the Liberal Democratic Party LDP) , persist in perpetrating a number of myths and historical lies. This has caused considerable problems for Japan in countries they occupied during the War and wear war crimes were committed. One of the most persistent myths is that Japan was "tricked" in attacking the United States by a wiley American President. The truth of course is that the decision to go to war was made by a series of Japanese government after a lengthy study of the evolving military situation in Europe and Asia. The Japanese decided to hitch their star to the Germans and the decesion to attack the United States was made at a time when the NAZI Panzers were ranpaging through the Soviet Union and the Soviet collapse seemed inevitable. The defense of being "tricked" is unworthy of a great nation. It is the kind of defense used by petty criminals caught up in a sting opetation. These views are not helf by a right-wing fringe, but by many important officials. Japanse prime ministers have apolgized for Japanese war crimes, almost always without going into specifics. Prime-Minister Tomiichi Murayama appologized (1995). Despite this, there are important elements in the LDP that do not share this clearly stated policy. Taro Aso was appointed primeminister (Seotember 2008). He has made several controversial statemrnts. He insisted tht Japan had done maby good things in both North and South Korea, eliciting a storm of protests from both countries. When he was foreign minister, Aso suggested that the Emoeror should pay his respects at the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo where Japanese warriors, including convicted war criminals are honired along with 2.5 million war dead. The Chinese were outraged. One such official was Chief of Staff of the Japanese Air Force, Gen. Toshio Tamagami. Often such officials are descrete about expressing their views. Gen. Tamagami pursing his interest in history entered a "true modern history" essay contest and won the $30,000 prize. He was dismissed from office when his essay became public (October 31, 2008). He aserted that Japan only attacked Pearl Harbor because President REoosevelt set a trap. He also aserted the perposterous claim that "many Asian countries take a positive view" of Japan's conduct of the War. In addition, he claimed that the War had a positive tole in international relations. "If Japan had not fought the Great East Asia War at that time, it might have taken another 100 to 200 years before we would have experienced the world of racial equality that we have tiday." And at the end of his essay, the General aserts that "it is certainly a false accusationto say that our countrywas an aggresor nation."

War Crimes

Nationalists persist in deminishing or denying well-documente war crimes committed by the Japanese military, mostly the Army. Prime Minisyer Shinzo Abe question the charges that the Japanese abused the :comfort women"-- the 50,000-250,000 women that the Japanese forced into prositution to service Japanese soldiers. Abe claimed that the charges were not documented. The statement evoked protests in both China and Korea. The United States House of Representatives responded with a resolution which called on Japan to appologize for sexually enslaving women during the War. And the Japanse Givernment itself has thoroughly documented the nmilitary's building of brothelsand procurement of swomen.

Sources








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Created: 3:28 AM 11/8/2008
Last updated: 3:28 AM 11/8/2008