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Emperor, empress arrive in Palau for 2-day visit

25 Comments
By Linda Sieg

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Most Japanese do not want the constitution changed

Maybe not, but if you look at the people of 60 years old or younger, maybe the most. The Japanese media is not spineless, Scrote. Many of them are very anti-Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan wants Constitution chnage to better defend the country from other countries like China so Japan can avoid wars

Most Japanese do not want the constitution changed, only Abe and his nutty mates. If the spineless media would explain the LDPs constiutional revisions in detail most people would be horrified.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sending someone who is entirely unaccountable for any of these affairs to do a controversial politician's job.

If you thought this visit ended at attending a commemorative event, think again. Why have the remains of many soldiers, who fought and died for their country, not been repatriated and reunited with their loved ones in Japan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's nothing to do with changing of the Constitution.

Are you denying that the Emperor refuses to pay respect to war criminals at Yasukuni?

It's nothing to do with changing of the Constitution. Japan wants Constitution chnage to better defend the country from other countries like China so Japan can avoid wars.

So the way to avoid wars is the ability wage wars? Is that what you mean? Absurd. Japan already has the right and ability to defend itself.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wish they'd also visit places like Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Indonesia.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived Wednesday afternoon in the island nation of Palau where they will visit a World War Two battlefield, the latest journey in the emperor’s efforts to soothe the wounds of a conflict that haunts Asia 70 years after its end.

The Emperor should be the one to make the speech on August 15th - not Abe. After all, the Pacific War was waged in his father's name

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Hirohito refused to visit Yasukuni after they enshrined the war criminals there?

It's nothing to do with changing of the Constitution. Japan wants Constitution chnage to better defend the country from other countries like China so Japan can avoid wars.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

. . . Hirohito refused to visit Yasukuni Shrine after they enshrined the war criminals there

That's food for thought and thank you for that interesting little tid-bit.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I read a book. "The Devil's Anvil: The Assault on Peleliu" by a US Marine who fought that battle, James H. Hallas. Quite a battle. It was a good learning as a Japanese looking at the battle from US side.

Both sides really suffered a lot. I'm glad the Emperor, regardless of his age, actually go there and pay respect to the fallen of both side.

I hope someday it actually happens that Japan's Emperor visits Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona memorial, and US President visits Hiroshima and Nagasaki, not for any political purpose or implication but just to remember the lost. That exchange of remembrance should put US Japan relationship on even higher level.

Anyway, my Emperor and Empress. I'm so honored.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They never said those. English translation changed them. If it's true, why no J news made them headlines? They are not in postition to speak political issue and will never break the rule.

I guess you missed the part where Hirohito refused to visit Yasukuni after they enshrined the war criminals there?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

globalwatcher, The Japanese couldn't care less about Abe's Congress speech. Many Japanese want changing of the Constitution because they're too much tired of being constantly criticized by China/SK/US. The changing of Constitution is internal issue, and other countries media shouldn't criticize about it.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

I just do not feel very comfortable to see what has been going on for future of Japan. I think present Emperor sees it like I do..

Nobody are strong enough to speak up against Abe. What does Abe want to promise in front of the US Congress on April 29th? Okinawa? Changing the Constitution of Japan? Or am I borrowing too much worry? Peace be with Japan!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@liarsnfools

Emperor Akihito and the Crown Prince represent the decent side of the history discussion encouraging....

@globalwatcher

Emperor Hirohito is sending a strong warning to them changing a constitution is a bad idea.

They never said those. English translation changed them. If it's true, why no J news made them headlines? They are not in postition to speak political issue and will never break the rule.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Emperor Akihito and the Crown Prince represent the decent side of the history discussion encouraging the Japanese to remember vividly the enormous human cost of waging wars of aggression in extraordinarily cruel and vicious ways and to use those remembrances to shape the culture of Japan with its stellar record of peace, prosperity, respect for human rights since August 1945. Peleliu was a bitterly fought battle, with horrific casualties on both sides.

In complete contrast, Shindo, and Abe, and Shimomura, and Takaichi, and other right wing revisionists want to erase what they call a masochistic history and "restore the honor" of militarists, impetialists, aggressors, mass murderers, gang rapists, and plunderers who are guilty of nothing more than losing the war.

Revere the Emperor, expel the right wing nutsoes in the Kantei!!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I agree. She is a very classic Japanese beauty.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@smith

"... Japan is the nation that visited all the atrocities on its neighbours...."

England did a pretty appalling job on the Scots and the Irish. Not that we were ever taught about either case properly at school....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Reformed Basher: "To be fair, it's not just Japanese history books that should be questioned."

We agree for a change, though I'm not sure what I agree with is what you intended. I agree that non only the books, but other mediums in regard to how they portray history need to be questioned. For example, with the new history texts introducing language like "incident" instead of "massacre" when it was absolutely a massacre, and changing wording and facts otherwise, and especially on the even of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, you're going to have a lot of propaganda, and NHK is definitely NOT an exception. May as well be the Yomiuri.

And if you were merely suggesting that it is not Japan alone but also other countries, I agree with that, too, of course. All of the nations around Japan as well as Japan (and others, but since we're talking mostly about areas Japan was engaged in fighting/colonization) have their own bias when it comes to history and the facts, but one key difference is Japan is the nation that visited all the atrocities on its neighbours, and even its own people in Okinawa.

It"S ME: Who is Doctor Ikeda in relation to any of the article here and the Imperial Family visiting these sights?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm always stunned when I see pictures of the Empress. She's such a beautiful woman.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

i really have to commend what the royal family is doing this year. they seem to be out in full force to pressure abe not to say anything stupid commemorating the end of WWII. let's just hope their effort is not wasted.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

The Emperor did a good Speech.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The islanders of Peleliu island were evacuated from the island before the actual battle started even though some insisted on staying to fight along with the IJA.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

"Rankle" - I had to look that one up. Sounds nicer than saying "causes bitter resentment".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I saw part of that too. Interesting, though it was limited to Palau. Despite some of the wanton cruelty shown by elements of the IJA, animosity towards the regime was not uniform. Not to lessen any of the excesses that did occur.

To be fair, it's not just Japanese history books that should be questioned. We can get a much better idea if we make a serious and unbiased attempt to investigate ourselves.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Last night and this afternoon, NHK news showed old Palau natives who were saying how great it was under Japanese rule. They were singing Japanese songs and speaking Japanese. One person talked about Palau people who fought along with the Japanese against the Americans. Seems very topsy-tervy. I wonder if this is supposed to be a thorn in the side of China.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Safe journey for a noble cause.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

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