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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014.
Aging Japanese veterans voice concerns about military policy shift
By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
16 Comments
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NZ2011
If only the current bunch of politicians in Japan could listen to the few surviving peoples stories and feelings about being involved with war and how to conduct themselves rather than looking back at the past with rose coloured glasses to a time that never really existed.
Tamarama
There's some real gold in what these guys are saying here. I feel as though the veterans of the IJA like these men aren't heard enough - especially if they make wise and pertinent contributions like this.
That's gold.
Disillusioned
Does anybody actually believe this guff they keep spouting? The main reason they changed the constitution was so Japan could make money from arms sales. There is also the fact they are now able to blow any ship or plane up that comes into Japanese territory, whether it's a disputed territory or not. It's good to see the older generation making these claims and giving the people a voice, but the j-gov an military are not listening. Abe and his cronies first changed the regulations of how to change the constitution without a public referendum and introduced the secrecy act and then, they went ahead and changed the constitution without any public input. It's not a democracy! It's a fanciest regime.
CrazyJoe
A soldier is often more noble than the cause he fights for. Germans have generally confronted the painful horrors of their Nazi lapse. Japan for years equivocated, euphemized, alibied, telling itself it was more victim than instigator.The business of war is killing. If you don't like that, don't start one.
Disillusioned
Edit: Fasciest regime! Damn auto type!
Mr Japan
Abe is hopeless.
Alphaape
That is true, but if you don't you will get punched in the face. Interesting dynamic in seeing the difference between Japanese soldiers in WW2 and US. When you look back on some of the comments that US GI's make from their time in WW2, they do say war is not good for everyone, but at the same time, they are at the front of leading the cause for patroitism (i.e. American Legion, VFW, etc) and making sure that America had a strong military to protect itself. They have dissented in the various military entanglements the US has been in and not just a bunch of war mongerers, but at the same time, the recognizce the need for a country to be able to defend itself.
I guess that is the diffrence between a victor and a loser, not trying to make light of the subject but there is a difference in mentality.
Ali Khan
fds
the thing is the pacifist constitution hasn't changed. japan is still constitutionally prohibited from waging war. its just been reinterpreted to allow japanese forces to go to the aid of allies. and its ironic. the reason for reinterpretation is in response to the china's increasingly militant stance in the south china sea.
Douglas Macarthy
The ones that start the wars,,,,never go to war......
Tohka
Please listen to these people more. Before long, their wisdom in matters like these will be gone forever.
felguard
This guy should be the PM instead. Respect.
Ali Khan
peace and the constipation of peace is the best defender of Japan, the peace continuation was an admiration for the rest of the world,, for how long we will try to settle disputes through wars why not settle it through peace and negotiations,, peace is the only way forward for a peaceful world.
The Walrus
That is part of it. The reinterpretation, a complete lie and an act of treason actually, is also about giving the Japan the dubious ability to get sucked into a future American war, also for the purpose of arms sales, but to their own government. Both the foreign and domestic bases are covered. Profits loom. What do they care who dies so long as its not them.
I wish I had a name list for all responsible. They should pay pre-emptively.
FPSRussia
A future American war?
Pfft. Americans don't want war. We are good at it but that doesn't mean we want it.
"If you give em enough rope they'll hang themselves" I'm pretty confident that's what Japan is going to do. Japan is the only country since WWII that hasn't learned it's lesson yet. Germany obviously learned from it, corrected itself.
After 2 Atomic Bombs they still want to go back to it?
The answer is simple. The Emperor still exists! As long as he exists, things will remain the same. But things aren't the same, are they? Nope, not with satellites, stealth technology and nuclear weapons. Sneak attacks are a thing of the past. Cyber-warfare is also a new front. Economies can be destroyed with a brilliant key stroke.
Japan is ready for none of these things. When you pick up a gun....you are no longer a victim. You:re a combatant. You are now officially worthy of a targeting package.