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Shinzo Abe risks 'disgracing Japan's people' by glossing over war record Former Japanese PM tells Shinzo Abe to confront wartime atrocities in Asia
(about 2 hours later)
The two key architects of Japan’s official wartime apologies have urged the country’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to confront atrocities committed on mainland Asia or risk disgracing the honour of the Japanese people.The two key architects of Japan’s official wartime apologies have urged the country’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to confront atrocities committed on mainland Asia or risk disgracing the honour of the Japanese people.
Tomiichi Murayama, who as prime minister issued an official apology to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, said Abe should “honestly spell out” Japan’s wartime record when he releases a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war in August.Tomiichi Murayama, who as prime minister issued an official apology to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, said Abe should “honestly spell out” Japan’s wartime record when he releases a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war in August.
It is important to clear up any doubts that he has raised overseasIt is important to clear up any doubts that he has raised overseas
Concern is growing in Asia and the US that the nationalist leader will replace previous apologies with a “forward-looking” statement that omits key expressions of contrition and glosses over wartime atrocities.Concern is growing in Asia and the US that the nationalist leader will replace previous apologies with a “forward-looking” statement that omits key expressions of contrition and glosses over wartime atrocities.
“International society is watching what he is really thinking,” Murayama said. “It is important to clear up any doubts that he has raised overseas.”“International society is watching what he is really thinking,” Murayama said. “It is important to clear up any doubts that he has raised overseas.”
Murayama’s 1995 statement included recognition that Japan had “through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations”, as well as a “heartfelt apology” to victims of Japanese militarism.Murayama’s 1995 statement included recognition that Japan had “through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations”, as well as a “heartfelt apology” to victims of Japanese militarism.
In a TV interview earlier this year, Abe suggested he would drop those key phrases, a move that would anger China and South Korea, where the scars of Japanese occupation have yet to heal.In a TV interview earlier this year, Abe suggested he would drop those key phrases, a move that would anger China and South Korea, where the scars of Japanese occupation have yet to heal.
Abe has also refused to repeat an official apology to as many as 200,000 young women, most of them from the Korean peninsula, who were forced to work as sex slaves in Japanese military brothels.Abe has also refused to repeat an official apology to as many as 200,000 young women, most of them from the Korean peninsula, who were forced to work as sex slaves in Japanese military brothels.
Related: Shinzo Abe urged to confront Japan's colonial aggression and use of sex slavesRelated: Shinzo Abe urged to confront Japan's colonial aggression and use of sex slaves
Yohei Kono, who issued the original “comfort women” apology while chief cabinet secretary in 1993, warned that any attempt by Abe to whitewash history would damage the international reputation of the Japanese people.Yohei Kono, who issued the original “comfort women” apology while chief cabinet secretary in 1993, warned that any attempt by Abe to whitewash history would damage the international reputation of the Japanese people.
Appearing alongside Murayama at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Kono said it was “very unfortunate” that the comfort women controversy had soured relations between Japan and South Korea.Appearing alongside Murayama at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Kono said it was “very unfortunate” that the comfort women controversy had soured relations between Japan and South Korea.
He said of revisionists who claim Japan behaved no differently from other countries during the war: “They reject admitting the truth; they deny the truth based on some minor detail they found, when everyone else believes it with no doubt.He said of revisionists who claim Japan behaved no differently from other countries during the war: “They reject admitting the truth; they deny the truth based on some minor detail they found, when everyone else believes it with no doubt.
“They’re even saying, ‘Everyone else has done it, so what’s the problem?’. I deeply regret this because they don’t know how much they’re disgracing the honour of the Japanese people by doing such a thing.”“They’re even saying, ‘Everyone else has done it, so what’s the problem?’. I deeply regret this because they don’t know how much they’re disgracing the honour of the Japanese people by doing such a thing.”
The Kono and Murayama statements were welcomed by South Korea and China as evidence that Japan had come to terms with its past and wished to display genuine remorse.The Kono and Murayama statements were welcomed by South Korea and China as evidence that Japan had come to terms with its past and wished to display genuine remorse.
Abe, however, belongs to a new generation of conservative politicians who believe that Japan’s “masochistic” postwar culture of contrition should be replaced by a less critical assessment of its wartime actions.Abe, however, belongs to a new generation of conservative politicians who believe that Japan’s “masochistic” postwar culture of contrition should be replaced by a less critical assessment of its wartime actions.
He and other revisionists do not deny that comfort women existed, but insist there is no evidence that they were coerced by the Japanese military. He has also questioned whether Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula and part of China could be described as an “invasion”.He and other revisionists do not deny that comfort women existed, but insist there is no evidence that they were coerced by the Japanese military. He has also questioned whether Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula and part of China could be described as an “invasion”.
While Abe has said he “upholds” the thinking behind the apologies, speculation is mounting that he will resist pressure to include the terms ‘aggression’, ‘colonial rule’ and ‘atrocities’ when his statement is released on the anniversary of Japan’s defeat on 15 August.While Abe has said he “upholds” the thinking behind the apologies, speculation is mounting that he will resist pressure to include the terms ‘aggression’, ‘colonial rule’ and ‘atrocities’ when his statement is released on the anniversary of Japan’s defeat on 15 August.
The rising influence of the revisionist right in official Japanese views of the war has soured relations with China and South Korea. Although there have been signs of a rapprochement between Abe and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in recent months, he has not yet held bilateral talks with the South Korean president Park Geun-hye.The rising influence of the revisionist right in official Japanese views of the war has soured relations with China and South Korea. Although there have been signs of a rapprochement between Abe and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in recent months, he has not yet held bilateral talks with the South Korean president Park Geun-hye.