Japan Premier Apologizes at WWII Ceremony

WSJ/AP ^ | 16 August 2010 | WSJ/AP

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan Premier Apologizes at WWII Ceremony TOKYO—Japan's new liberal prime minister shunned a visit to a shrine that has outraged Asian neighbors for honoring war criminals, breaking from past governments' tradition and instead apologizing Sunday for the suffering World War II caused. Members of the now-opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which ruled Japan nearly continuously since the end of the war, made a point by carrying out their own trip to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan bowed to offer prayers for the war dead at Budokan martial arts hall in Tokyo. The Shinto shrine—a spectacular building with sweeping roofs and a museum in its grounds that glorifies kamikaze pilots—has set off controversy by honoring the 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including Class A war criminals such as Hideki Tojo, Japan's war-time prime minister who was executed in 1948.

[AmericanInTokyo]

What is this?

Something like Apology Number 24?

I've lost track.

I should clarify the above article:

Budokan: Large public arena in central Tokyo, where many foreign rock stars have performed, as well as state funerals for Japanese leaders took place (I myself attended Prime Minister Nobosuke Kishi's state funeral). Neutral location, nothing necessarily political or war-mongering about it.

Yasukuni Jinja (Shrine): (Just up the street from Budokan). Large, pro-war Japanese Shinto shrine visited by opposition LDP party members, bowing and praying to the "enshrined" spirits of Japanese war dead, including fascist Class A War Criminals like Hideki Tojo, Imperal Army Generals ordering Bataan Death March, etc. etc., almost universally despised by most Asians, particularly those over 60 years old or so.

Two entirely different locations, venues and sentiments in Tokyo yesterday.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

[vetvetdoug]

Will there be plans for a Japanese cultural center at Pearl Harbor now?

[DTogo]

What is this? Something like Apology Number 24? I've lost track.

Indeed, enough already. We're all friends, allies, and then some now.

日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[Army Air Corps]

Only if it is funded by pro-fascist, anti-American “community leaders.”

[Vietnam Vet From New Mexico]

While I would be one of the first to condemn the Japs for their actions during WWII (my uncle still has jap shrapnel in him from the Philippines), what is wrong with honoring their war dead? The Japanese soldier did fight with courage, even if their leaders took them into a dishonorable war.

[RobbyS]

Saw article claiming that Japan surrendered because the Red Army overran Manchuria, thereby making the Japanese realize that they could not long hold out. It asserted that the a-bombing was therefore unnecessary. The fact is, however, that Stalin declared war on Japan BECAUSE through his spies he knew that we had the bomb and that we would use it to force Japan to surrender. He declared war BECAUSE he knew our possession of the bomb made it impossible for the USSR to serve as middle man and extort concession from both us and the Japs.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“Will there be plans for a Japanese cultural center at Pearl Harbor now?”

Equivalent of a Jap mosque...

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“We’re all friends, allies, and then some now.”

But for some of us old enough to remember, they are still Japs.

[yarddog]

Nothing wrong with honoring their war dead. In fact they should. There is something wrong with honoring the ones like Tojo who were executed as war criminals.

[Tzimisce]

This guy has nothing to apologize for.

He probably wasn’t even alive during WW2

[2harddrive]

There are many that TO THIS DAY will still not ride in a Mitsubishi automobile - those guys made the Zeroes of World War 2!

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Some of them are old enough to remember that we are still ‘Yankee Devils’. Me, I am still waiting for Sweden to apologize for conquering Finland in 1249 AD.

[dragnet2]

Will there be plans for a Japanese cultural center at Pearl Harbor now?

Maybe at the Arizona memorial?

Next up the Alamo is converted to a medical clinic and prenatal care center for illegal Mexicans.

[agrace]

My brother-in-law, a former Navy Lt-Commander, met and married a Japanese woman while stationed there 20 years ago. When my in-laws met their son’s new in-laws, through the translation of their now shared grandson (my sister-in-law came to the marriage with an 8 year old son), the two men determined that they would have fought on opposite sides had the war continued. But with the dropping of the bombs, my father-in-law’s Navy ship never made it all the way across the Pacific and my SIL’s father, in training at the time, never saw combat.

They discussed that day that it was a very good thing that they could sit across a table as family rather than shoot across a battlefield as enemies. And today as a result, I have a beautiful niece and two wonderful nephews who are Japanese-American.

I have the utmost respect for your greatest of generations. My grandfather earned a Philippine Liberation Medal for fighting the Japanese there. But the Japanese have turned their very culture around and today deserve our respect as well, imho.

[wastedyears]

Many very well-known rock bands have played at Budokan.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I actually saw “Wham!” there once. Well, at least I can admit it, eh?

[NeverForgetBataan]

The Japanese are an important ally to be sure. And with China on the rise they better stick with us if they know whats good for them. However, the Japanese Government has never showed adequate contrition through it’s actions - “official apologies” notwithstanding - for the atrocities it committed during the war.

The Japanese have always acted like a criminal that is sorry for having been caught and punished..... instead of being sorry for committing the act. Basically, they feel sorry for themselves.

Hardcore Japanese nationalists believe they fought a war of “defense”. They even believe Pearl Harbor was a “defensive” move. I their mind it was, because to achieve their aim to dominate the western pacific rim, they had to take us out to “defend” their ability to dominate.

It’s a peculiar Asian type of “bully” mindset. In order for me to be able to dominate my class I need to eliminate the only other guy who might stop me. Only thing is, they didn’t heed the warnings of Yamamoto, who said: “hey the Americans are gonna fight”. The Warlords said: “oh no, we’ll bloody their noses and they won’t have the stomach for it”.

Well.. They were wrong and the rest is history.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“I am still waiting for Sweden to apologize for conquering Finland in 1249 AD.”

Being the half-Swede that I am, do not hold your breath for that apology /s

Actually, I believe my ‘Swedish’ great grandmother was born in Finland. Other than that one ‘question’, my mother’s father and her four grandparents were born in Sweden.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

You are generally correct about the Japanese turning their culture around. And btw, do not be so humble about your opinion :)