Why it's hard for Abe to apologize for WWII

And because Abe et al doesn't tell the truth that is why it is hard for people to not to keep asking.

“I’m in favor of changing the entire framing of the conversation away from the realm of apologies and toward truth-telling,” she wrote in an email response. “If we want to focus on Japan, we should call upon it to tell the truth.”

Agree — acknowledgement, not necessarily apology.

An apology would be inappropriate at this stage, but recognition by Japan's leaders of Japan's past misdeeds is sorely needed, particularly in terms of the suffering those misdeeds caused among citizens of nations that were once part of Japan's empire.

Attempts by Japan's leaders at historical revisionism, whitewashing, denial and unwinding of past apologies are counterproductive and make the nation look weak. Japan's leaders and its people will appear much more courageous if leaders and educators specifically acknowledge the nation's past atrocities.

The problem is, in China and Korea there has been very little readiness to accept Japan’s efforts to promote reconciliation, and as a result, those efforts have tended to founder.

And above all else, I haven't seen an apology for the second atomic bomb the US dropped on Nagasaki. I can understand the unequivocal refusal to apologize for the first one, on Hiroshima, as it was intended as a final threat to annihilation, but the second one was unnecessary, a simply brutal exercise in killing.

Still, it was 70 years ago, in a world at war for too many excuses. I still say get over it.

And above all else, I haven't seen an apology for the second atomic bomb the US dropped on Nagasaki. I can understand the unequivocal refusal to apologize for the first one, on Hiroshima, as it was intended as a final threat to annihilation, but the second one was unnecessary, a simply brutal exercise in killing.

Japan didn't surrender after the first bomb, so a second one was dropped. Had Japan still not surrendered, more bombs would have been made and dropped. 60 million people were killed during a war in which Japan was one of the chief instigators. Japan was going to be forced to surrender unconditionally, regardless of the cost to life or property.

Many of Japan's actions during the war were simple brutal exercises in killing. More than 40% of prisoners captured by the Japanese died. Only 1% of prisoners captured by the nazis died in captivity. Among the slave labourers forced to work for the Japanese, more than 76%, or 230,000 died in captivity. Exactly how many people did the atomic bombs kill?

but the second one was unnecessary,

Maybe, but the Japanese government weren't about to stop, even after the first one.

Japan didn't surrender after the first bomb, so a second one was dropped. There was not time. There was only three days between the two bombings and only just enough time to be sure that the first one was atomic before another city full of women and children were vaporized. But then, Obama wanted to apologize but for reasons unknown, his apology was discouraged from the Japanese side http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-238759-Obama-wanted-to-say-sorry-for-Hiroshima-but-Tokyo-stopped-him

I love the wording in the first reason, where the right wing "counts Abe as one of its own," as if this is all out of his hands. Gosh, I'd sure love to apologize, but these guys keep kinda pulling me aside from it and darn it, they'd get awful mad if I did. Perhaps he counts himself as one of their own, and like them, he sincerely doesn't believe Japan did anything to apologize for, that Japan was in the right all along and then were victimized themselves unfairly. And that Japan needs to go back to those days complete with emperor-worship and the whole bit. The only reason he doesn't come out and say that is he still has to play at international diplomacy.

a revisionist view of history that Japanese leaders were unjustly convicted of war crimes by a one-sided international court, and that the country was forced into a war of self-defense after the U.S. blocked oil exports to Japan to try to check its expansion.

Both of these are valid points, not to mention that the U.S. also blocked the import of other vital raw materials such as iron and steel, while simultaneously massing a fleet at their nearest base to Japan, Pearl Harbour.

I'm not a nationalist supporter. I do think that both sides of the story should be told.

Nobody has a problem pointing out that the harsh conditions in the Treaty of Versailles created the economic conditions that led to WW2, which makes WW2 at least partially the fault of the European countries that greedily imposed that treaty.

Why should anyone have a problem pointing out that the U.S. was, at least in part, responsible for creating the conditions that led to the bombing of Pearl Harbour?

Demanding an more full apology while failing to accept responsibility for their part smacks of hypocrisy, and worse than that it perpetuates a modern U.S. myth where they are always the "White hats", which is possibly more dangerous given the U.S.'s inability to see just how unjust and destructive their recent wars have been.

Would it really cost the U.S. so much to make a gesture and acknowledge their own guilt in this matter?

But then, Obama wanted to apologize but for reasons unknown, his apology was discouraged from the Japanese side.

I agree that the bombs weren't necessary, let alone the second one. Japan was ready to surrender without them. The country was reeling from the Tokyo bombings and feared a Russian invasion more than anything. They didn't even have time to properly assess the true nature of the atomic bombs when they surrendered and figured it was similar to the Tokyo bombings. It was all to show off our new weapon to Russia and let them know who was going to lead the post-war era.

Considering that, I think Japan deserves some apology, but I tend to agree with the article that genuine acknowledgement is the what really matters. It's interesting that Tokyo prevented Obama from apologizing though. As the article you linked says, fear of empowering the anti-nuclear groups is one possible reason. I think forcing Japan to respond with an apology of its own might be another. Either way, it's unfortunate that politics got in the way as usual.

As far as I am concerned when the Emperor signed the UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, He sign it on the behalf of all the Japanese people for all time. This subject is like a customer who warranty has run out but is demanding the item fixed. At the time of signing this document, one would assume that a Apology would of been written into this document, apologising for all wrongs committed during the ii world war.

part of that can be pride. it is a good thing to be proud of yourself, but it is another thing to put it over other things that matters, things that might affect your security and perhaps sustainable growth.

Maybe because Abe had nothing to do with WW2 and the guilty parties in Japan for atrocities and unjustified aggression are long gone!

Frungy, Your rationale of "The USA not supporting Japan in its nationalist expansion through Asia meant it was partly culpable for the attack on Pearl Harbor" is akin to saying a rape victim was asking for it by wearing a short skirt and flirting.

Yes, the USA (and Britain) held back oil from the Japanese, but where does it say they had to sell oil to them in the first place? I don't recall them having any obligation to do so, morally or otherwise. If anything they had a moral obligation not to do so given what Japan was already doing at the time to the countries it occupied.

Government officials are fond of saying Japan has apologized repeatedly for the war, why do we need to apologize again?

Because there has been a of denials or downplaying from the Japanese making the previous apologize null and void.

“I’m in favor of changing the entire framing of the conversation away from the realm of apologies and toward truth-telling,” she wrote in an email response. “If we want to focus on Japan, we should call upon it to tell the truth.”

Exactly. The issue of a Japanese apology would not exist if the nationalist view was also not being reflected in statements by Abe and other governmnet leaders on atrocities like the comfort women, as well as the white-washing that is continuing to creep into Japanese textbooks. Japan would have every right morally to say "enough, we stand by the previous apologies, so let it go", but only if they were in fact "truth-telling" and not "re-directing" and "re-studying" and other nonsense.

And above all else, I haven't seen an apology for the second atomic bomb the US dropped on Nagasaki. I can understand the unequivocal refusal to apologize for the first one, on Hiroshima, as it was intended as a final threat to annihilation, but the second one was unnecessary, a simply brutal exercise in killing.

And this has exactly what relevance to the issue of Japanese apologies to its neighbors? That's right -- none! But it is always a convenient red-herring in discussions like this to point the finger away from Japan and onto the big, bad U.S. Plus, it plays to the Japanese victim mentality.

Moldinow - The US had war boats near China and had quite recently been involved in invading China. Only someone completely ignorant of history (or indoctrinated in the biased US version) would claim that the US was defending China. The simpler explanation is they just didn't want competition.

It's quite simply because he's ignorant and wishes for the days when Japan was in power around Asia -- doesn't matter what that power cost others or the nation itself. His "beautiful Japan" means Japan above all others, and above anything else. It would only cost him his soul if he had one.

TrevorPeaceMay. 01, 2015 - 08:03AM JST

sangetsu03May. 01, 2015 - 08:41AM JST

timtakMay. 01, 2015 - 08:46AM JST

Japanese government or the Mayor of Hiroshima or Nagasaki has never demanded an apology for the A bombs. This fact is almost never reported by the Western press.

They gather on the anniversary every year to demand abolishment of nuclear weapons. I hope President Obama will attend it for the cause which earned him a Nobel Prize.

Maybe, but the Japanese government weren't about to stop, even after the first one.

Hence the reason Hirohito broke the deadlock. And even then, there were attempts to intercept the recording of his surrender speech before it was broadcast. I used to be a bit of an apologist for Japan, but after seeing how this country lives in ignorance and denial of its WW2 history - and has even made its "own version", I can say that is no longer the case. What Japan needs to do is start telling the truth. Throw all its "history" textbooks out the window, and create new ones with significant content devoted to 1931-45

@Sangetsu03

Only 1% of prisoners captured by the nazis died in captivity.

I'm assuming you mean POW's... allied soldiers? Or have you forgotten the 6 million Jews killed by the Germans? There were 9 million Jews in Europe at the time, 6 million were killed - that's already 66%. As for POWs, who knows... I can't find a reference to the numbers.

It is a fact that few POW died in the hands of Germany , except soldiers of Soviet Union... Japan on it side never respected the convention of Geneva ...

The irony is that POWs were protected by international laws, while civilians were killed en mass.

This imparity continues even today. When a drone kills tens of civilians, it is OK. When a POW is killed, it is a serious war crime.

At the hands of Russia 20 million POW,s die and some were Jews and that not counting Japanese soldiers that were capture. The fact is that were all went back to doing business. I think that it is astounding that today Germany is the best performing democracy in Europe and Japan in the best performing democracy in Asia and they both lost the War. I take my hat off to both nation and say well done.

Japan should NOT need to apologize -- and keep on apologizing! -- for its heinous war crimes, she says. What about Japan's partner's (Germany) constant apologizing for its WWII crimes toward the Jews? Well, THAT's different, she says...

I'm assuming you mean POW's... allied soldiers? Or have you forgotten the 6 million Jews killed by the Germans? There were 9 million Jews in Europe at the time, 6 million were killed

That is true, and Germany has amply made amends for it. Both in compensation and teaching it in its history books.

Those people who are constantly asking for apologies should get a life. Really. What clueless stupidity asking for apologies, as if that's going to solve anything.

Now this woman is someone who finally gets it.

“I’m in favor of changing the entire framing of the conversation away from the realm of apologies and toward truth-telling,” she wrote in an email response. “If we want to focus on Japan, we should call upon it to tell the truth.”

Peoples and countries should stop demanding apologies from Japan, but insist Japan start telling the truth.

Usually these issues are complex but a responsible Leader would acknowledge the past and move on.

HotmailMay. 01, 2015 - 08:11PM JST

Now this woman is someone who finally gets it. Peoples and countries should stop demanding apologies from Japan, but insist Japan start telling the truth.

But as a U.S. professor from Dartmouth it is hypocritical of her to insist that Japan start telling the truth when she's living in a country that is infamous for telling the biggest whoppers in history.

Honesty begins at home, and until she apply her standards evenly to ALL countries, starting with the U.S. she's nothing but a hypocrite.

The United States does not have clean hands regarding the whitewashing of its history in textbooks...

What does any of your long post about America have to do with this article? It's a bunch of irrelevant information.

Japan in the best performing democracy in Asia

Really? By what definition? The Japanese economy is stagnant; Government debt is at 260% of GDP; The birth rate is declining; and, The same party has basically been in ppwer for over five decades. Oh, and it has numerous conflicts with almost all its neighbors. This is "best performing"? Sorry, I'd give the nod to SK at this point. Japan had its fifteen minutes of fame.

ensnaturae2 May. 02, 2015 - 03:16AM JST.I'll repeat...Truman Lied. He arranged for an atom bomb to fall on civilians including thousands of children. He claimed Hiroshima was a military target. He lied

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had two plants along the coast of Hiroshima City. One of them is in Ebaokimachi, part of Naka Ward, and was called “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hiroshima Shipyard” during the war. According to a report on the A-bomb damage in Hiroshima, the number of people working at the two plants, at the time of the bombing, was approximately 9,200. About 3,200 of them were mobilized students, while the others were young women and Korean workers. In 1944, the Hiroshima Shipyard completed its first ship, the Hisakawamaru, which then set sail. From April 1945, the plant began producing one-man torpedoes that made suicide attacks on U.S. ships.

And here you have it ladies and gentlemen, the horrifically distorted version of history taught in the USA.

sfjp330May. 02, 2015 - 05:12AM JST According to a report on the A-bomb damage in Hiroshima, the number of people working at the two plants, at the time of the bombing, was approximately 9,200.

And by 1945 140,000 people had died from radiation sickness from the A-bomb. But the U.S. version is 9,200. Why play down the number if they're not ashamed?

In 1944, the Hiroshima Shipyard completed its first ship, the Hisakawamaru, which then set sail. From April 1945, the plant began producing one-man torpedoes that made suicide attacks on U.S. ships.

... and the Kaiten Mk10 had a range of about 3.5 kilometers (far shorter than the previous versions as Japan was almost out of fuel and materials) while a U.S. destroyer's main guns could fire from more than 15 kilometers.

But instead of parking a couple of destroyers outside of Hiroshima and shelling the Hiroshima shipyard into the ground with a fair degree of precision and complete safety the US instead killed more than 100,000 civilians with an A-bomb, detonating their A-bomb right above a hospital.

This was the equivalent of going full-auto on a group of kids armed with sling-shots, and no serious historian gives any credence to the claim that the Japanese were any credible military threat by near the end of WW2.

FrungyMay. 02, 2015 - 10:03AM JST And by 1945 140,000 people had died from radiation sickness from the A-bomb. But the U.S. version is 9,200. Why play down the number if they're not ashamed? ... and the Kaiten Mk10 had a range of about 3.5 kilometers (far shorter than the previous versions as Japan was almost out of fuel and materials) while a U.S. destroyer's main guns could fire from more than 15 kilometers.

How did you get 140,000? Never said 9,200 were killed in atomic bomb blast. If you read carefully, I said Mitsubishi Heavy Industry had 9,200 people that were working in Hiroshima for the war effort of IJA. The 1946 U.S. figure of 90,000 dead seems about right. Deaths after Dec 1945 evidently were not very numerous. The survey found that approximately 75% had died by Dec. 1945, and that an additional 5-6% had died between then and 1950. Interestingly, the latter death rate is slightly above 1 percent a year, almost exactly the normal mortality rate for the Japanese population. Counting deaths as of the end of 1945 must have captured essentially all of them. By the way, the USS Underhill had been sunk by a Japanese kaiten in 1945 and killed many U.S. personnels.