Japan Adopts History Textbook That Justifies Its Invasion of Asia (China, Korea)

Donga.com ^ | August 26, 2004 | Hun-Joo Cho Hyong-gwon Pu

[Fishing-guy]

On August 26, the Tokyo Education Board adopted a new public school history textbook filled with nationalistic bias involving distortions of historical facts and exoneration of the Japanese invasion of Asian countries and the rounding-up of women in occupied areas for use as sex slaves for its military personnel.

[BigBobber]

This may be OK. They're programing their youth to kick butt in the upcoming rematch with Red Korea and China.

[Fishing-guy]

That's that adage, people who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

If one can rationalize crimes against humanity, then what's going to stop them from repeating it. They may decide to give some paybacks to US next time.

[thoughtomator]

There's far, far more chance of Europe going on a massive Jew-killing spree than Japan invading Manchuria again. Being worried about the Japs when they are surrounded by so many nuclear powers is simply not realistic.

[section9]

You think this is a problem? Wait until they rebuild their carrier fleet.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Quix]

Dear Poohbah,

I realize that you construe such things as worse than tinfoil . . . however . . . on a hypothetical logical level . . .

Couldn't this be construed as Japan moving toward the possibility of joining China in attacking against the USA as some have seen in dreams and visions?

I realize many Chinese have fierce hostilities toward Japan. But ever practical, I could easily imagine the Chinese using the Japanese against the USA if given the chance.

Hope you and family are all well and growing in The Lord.

[Fishing-guy]

That's true today, but you can never predict the future.

Approximately fifteen years ago, when they allowed NBA players to join the Olympics basketball team, I thought we would never lose another Olympics basketball game within my lifetime. Am I a monkey's uncle today.

It's a lot easier to be watchful.

[Fast1]

Did they mention that they butchered more people leaving Manila than died in those two cities that were had an Atomic bomb dropped on them??

[luvbach1]

I could have sworn Hiroshima and Nagasaki taught them a permanent lesson. Perhaps not.

[luvbach1]

Hiroshima and Nagsaki: "They had it coming."

[Truthsearcher]

You missed out the most important difference, we didn't massacre people and commit brutal atrocities. Theree is no equivalency between the Mexican War and what the Japanese did in WWII.

[sushiman]

" Glossing over negative aspects of Japanese past actions gives reason to suspect that they still haven't learned. As I recall, Shinto holds that the Japanese people are the Divinely Chosen People of the Pacific -- demi-gods among ordinary men. I wondered how much of it is still believed by the Japanese."

I would say very few Japanese find in Shinto any real focus for their lives , or even for their social activities . Most Japanese are not " believers " in any religion . No doubt there are a handful or extreme-right wingers who still believe that nonsense about being the chosen people , but they are a teeny weeny minority .

" Any potential Japanese offensive military capability -- especially a navy -- is still greatly opposed in the Pacific Rim. "

They are forging ahead , albeit slowly , with the build-up of their Navy despite grumblings from their Asian neighbors while still enjoying its position under the American umbrella .

[Strategerist]

I have long advocated that they Japanese pay for, and man thier own self-defense, including building a small navy [so that we can be spared the cost].

Huh? The Japanese Navy is currently arguably the second-best in the world, leaving aside nuclear weapons (though the British are still likely better, due to their carriers and plans for replacing them, making the Japanese third.) They have AEGIS destroyers, the best Air Defense ships outside of the US Navy, good quality diesel subs, a lot of fairly modern frigates, and are working on a pseudo-helicopter carrier.

It's remarkable how the fiction of the Japanese calling their forces "Self-Defense Forces" has actually fooled people into thinking Japan doesn't have a military. The Japanese have been spending large amounts of money on their Navy for decades.

The Japanese Navy would, by itself, ANNIHILATE the Red Chinese Navy right now.

[elfman2]

" Chapter 3: "Rape of Nanking: They had it coming". "

I dated a very sharp, professional but outspoken Shanghai girl who absolutely despised all Japanese for how they raped her city,… 35 years before she was born.

This dog don't hunt.

[walford]

Thank you both for your input. I guess that I'm guilty of making an assumption that the necessity of a significant American naval presence is evidence that the major Democratic nations in the region must be militarily lacking in some way.

Perhaps it is resolve. It would seem that Japan and S Korea have the necessary economic power to build a military strong enough to allow them to completely take over the job of opposing the main military regional threats -- the PRC and N Korea.

I understand that there has been a US force reduction, but maybe our military commanders don't want us to completely withdraw. It would seem that part of the reason is that the Japanese and South Koreans may take for granted that we will continue to take up the job of defending Taiwan. They must be aware of the negative consequences to them if that island should fall.

Very complicated place over there. I had the privilege of interviewing Gen. Singlaub last year after a talk he gave about 20th century Korean history. I highly recommend taking a look at what he had to say. Learned quite a bit. Apparently there's much more to learn.

[sushiman]

You might find the book " The Coming War With Japan " of interest .

[mrsmith]

True, the Indian wars were the ones we conducted in that manner.

And I (1/4 Pamunkey) say "so what if we did?".

[Dan Evans]

The Japanese Navy would, by itself, ANNIHILATE the Red Chinese Navy right now.

You mean, could. But would they get involved if, say, China attacked Taiwan?

[Truthsearcher]

And I would be the first one to condemn any US textbook that tried to downplay or deny what we did to the American Indians.

What we did was wrong, and we acknowledge it, and learn from it, so we won't do something similar again to some other people. Japan, it seems, refuses to learn. Which makes them a threat to make the same mistake again.

[Truthsearcher]

I think it would be wiser strategically for Japan to stay out of the fighting, too many bitterness between them and China that if they got involved it could seriously escalate beyond a battle in the straits.