Posted on 08/15/2005 7:18:18 PM PDT by neverdem
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement on the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II on Monday, apologizing to the victims of Japan's past aggression and expressing willingness to join hands with Asian neighbors like China and South Korea to help maintain peace in the region.
The statement, which the Cabinet adopted earlier in the day, was the first of its kind issued by a prime minister on the anniversary since 1995.
While repeating the words of the apology he delivered in April in Jakarta, Koizumi directly referred to China and South Korea, in a gesture to seek better relations with the Asian neighbors in the wake of a sharp deterioration in ties over a series of history issues such as Japanese leaders' visits to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine.
"Our country has caused tremendous damage and pain to the peoples of many countries, especially Asian countries, through colonial rule and invasion. Humbly acknowledging such facts of history, I once again reflect most deeply and offer apologies from my heart as well as express my condolences to all the victims of the last major war both in and out of the country," Koizumi said in the statement.
"I believe it necessary to join hands, especially with those Asian countries just across the water such as China and South Korea, in maintaining peace and aiming at development in the region," he said.
In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama apologized for Japan's past wrongdoings for the first time as a Japanese premier.
Based on the so-called Murayama statement, Koizumi delivered a similar apology in a speech at the Asian-African summit in April in Jakarta, but has failed to make concrete actions to help improve ties with China and South Korea.
"I am determined to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world by not allowing the lessons from the tragic war to fade away and by never engaging in war," the prime minister reiterated in the statement.
Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura expressed confidence the same day that Japan can improve its relations with other Asian countries including China and South Korea.
The foreign minister underscored the importance for Japan and its Asian neighbors to strive to establish better relations after acknowledging differences over Yasukuni Shrine and overcoming problems stemming from these differences.
Last Friday, Koizumi indicated he would not visit the Yasukuni Shrine on or around Aug. 15. China and South Korea strongly protest Japanese leaders visiting the notorious shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals responsible for Japan's aggression war against its Asian neighbors.
Koizumi made his fourth annual visit to the shrine on Jan. 1, 2004 since taking office in April 2001.
His annual Yasukuni visits have sparked strong protests from China, South Korea and other Asian countries.
Source: Xinhua
I want the Japanese to move on and get the JSDF primed and ready for a more dangerous threat than the Imperial Japanese Army.
The war is over, Mr. Koizumi, we will need your help very soon.
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Hmm.
Not sure anything good will come about by dialogue with China.
But.. nothing good will come fromsnubbing them either.
Thanks for the ping!
I just saw, "The Great Raid". I wish it would have come just a little earlier, so that it coincided with the exact 60th Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. The Japanese have a lot to atone for.
I did read an article in Foreign Affairs titled, "Unleash Japan," which takes the point that because China poses such a threat, Japan should be equipped with nuclear weapons. I thought that was a pretty good idea, until I saw the movie.
Japan should be equipped with nukes or the threat of such to get the Chinese to sit on NK.
Thanks for the link.
Has the German government, either of them, ever apologized? Especially to the Russians, Poles and Jews?
I believe so. Political Apologies and Reparations
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