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Years ago, -— in the 80s-—I hosted 2 Japanese high school girls for a weekend. They had been in the country as exchange students for a year, and came to the NYC area for one last weekend before returning home.

As I usually do with guests is to take them on the Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan. The dock for the boat is located next to the WWII carrier The Intrepid. As is the routine, the guide mentions the role of the carrier during the war, and the Japanese kamikaze bombers, as the Circle Line boat passes by the carrier.

I told the girls to expect to hear what happened to The Intrepid, and it was just a fact of history. One of the girls said “Oh don’t worry about it. We’ve already forgiven you”! I was so astounded that I was speechless. Evidently that is what they were taught in school in Japan.

Pretty unbelievable, isn't it? And I think you are correct about this revisionist history being taught in Japanese schools. At the same time I was there, the Japanese economy was booming and they were very pleased with the belief that one single city block in Tokyo was worth more than most American cities. Yes, it was a bizarre time - they were even eating shaved gold on their sushi. Their booming economy, overvalued real estate, and gold plated sushi didn't last long.

I had many businessmen gleefully explain to me how amazing it was for them to do to us economically what they couldn't do militarily. More than few times I had some drunk interrupt a dinner to curse me out (the American) for killing some relative of theirs at Nagasaki, Hiroshima or Tokyo. I enjoyed my time there, but was happy to leave.