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Official: Mitsubishi may extend WWII apology to others

26 Comments
By KEN MORITSUGU

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26 Comments
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This was short lived unfortunately. They won't apologize to the Canadians forced by Imperial Japanese in Hong Kong because the records were destroyed in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So now we have a situation where the Japanese government says there were no forced labourers, but one Japanese company says there certainly were, under their company's control. What is the Japanese government going to do, continue to deny?

The government does not deny that forced labor happened and there have been extensive apologies given to POWs (and whole nations, with compensation) from the central government.

The Japanese government also sponsors a number of grassroots programs to invite surviving allied veterans and POWs (and their families) to Japan for cultural exchanges and other remembrance events - which include apologies for war crimes, visits to schools, meetings with Japanese veterans, etc.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Presto! Right on so many times. Often agree with your thoughts.

Big word here is Money! We will pay everyone off to shut up is basically what it comes down to.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yukio Okamoto is an impressive leader. Things just don't happen in this manner. I would not be surprise if the Japanese government declares a resolution to the comfort wives situation as well in a matter of weeks. Mr. Okamoto words are powerful because he is telling many different leaders in the region in a very soft tone that it is maybe time to resolve these painful historical issues and move on. Mr. Yukio Okamoto is a very honorable man.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ Yubaru

You said "this is not the government speaking" but this guy was special adviser to TWO japanaese PM's. The revolving door would make no difference if he was still officially working for the gov or not the lines a "gray" like so many things here and in life....

All my point is is that this guy is obviously not just speaking for Mitsubishi, imho.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ Yubaru

You said "this is not the government speaking" but this guy was special adviser to TWO japanaese PM's. The revolving door would make no difference if he was still officially working for the gov or not the lines a "gray" like so many things here and in life....

All my point is is that this guy is obviously not just speaking for Mitsubishi, imho.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@ Yubaru

You said "this is not the government speaking" but this guy was special adviser to TWO japanaese PM's. The revolving door would make no difference if he was still officially working for the gov or not the lines a "gray" like so many things here and in life....

All my point is is that this guy is obviously not just speaking for Mitsubishi, imho.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

One day earlier, China’s state news agency Xinhua called the apology to Americans “selective” and accused Japan of a “double standard on wartime atrocities.”

Who are they accusing? Does Mitsubishi equal Japan to them? Do they (Xinhua) have normal functioning brains. Their reporting is selective. Created for a selective well educated part of the Chinese population?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

PM Abe and his cohorts could learn a lot from this guy.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

In my experience, well made cars and electronics, and now, quality management. Well done Mitsubishi!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If the govn't gave an apology and stamped it to law, all these apologies from companies will not be very interesting to read.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So now we have a situation where the Japanese government says there were no forced labourers, but one Japanese company says there certainly were, under their company's control. What is the Japanese government going to do, continue to deny?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This is how it's done! Abe? Do you understand yet?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The legality aside, Okamoto minced no words about the annexation, describing it as the “greatest sin” Japan committed against Korea.

“The fundamental sin, as I said at the outset, was the annexation of Korea, obliterating their national identities,” he said. “We did not allow Koreans to use their own name, use their language. We even forced Shintoism on them to create second-class Japanese citizens.”

Nothing born from an original sin can become legal. Sometimes , some thieves keep stolen property so long they forget it was stolen in the first place, and start referring to it in possessive terms like " Korea was a Japanese territory ". It's good for Mitsubishi to ABSOLUTELY purge itself of its own sins, it's the beginning of a new day.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I agree with the sentiment completely but why is this all happening? Some type of political motive or a genuine show of regret. Or is it just trying to p@ss off the Chinese and Koreans more?......

This isnt the government so pray tell why would Mitsubushi want to piss them off? They have businesses there, and they want to do the same. It's the Chinese government that is blind to the fact that this is a private company trying to make amends, something the government has failed to properly do!

This guy has been special adviser to 2 PM's.

And neither PM had the cojones to do what he did, so that says one of two things, they werent listening and he didnt do a very good job of advising, or he is trying to put the government on the spot as Mitsubishi carry's quite a bit of weight in Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This guy has been special adviser to 2 PM's.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

One should think so! Why only apologize to American POWs and forced laborors? It was pretty silly to limit the apology, as great as the apology itself was in coming.

"Koreans were also forced to work, but Okamoto said he believes their legal situation is different. Japan colonized Korea in 1910, so Koreans were technically Japanese citizens ordered to work as were all Japanese under a 1938 general mobilization law."

So, forced labor is okay if it was your own nationality, which your nation stripped them of later? Why not just apologize to ALL POWs and forced laborors, non-Japanese or not?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If people like Abe and the like hadn’t kept this sordid story alive with their constant questioning of the validity of Imperial Japan’s reign of terror towards helpless people before and during the war, this whole issue might have fallen into obscurity long ago. Maybe they don’t realize it themselves, but we might have to thank their stubbornness or whatever it is, for people or companies like Mitsubishi now taking matters into their own hands and offering to come completely clean. It also could be good for their business in certain countries , although it is hoped they are sincere about it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I agree with the sentiment completely but why is this all happening? Some type of political motive or a genuine show of regret. Or is it just trying to p@ss off the Chinese and Koreans more?......

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

He's certainly ruled himself out of a position on the NHK board. I salute you, sir.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The wonderful ceremony of apology would not have happened without a year of hard work by Japanese journalist Kinue Tokudome. All praise to Ms. Tokudome. She is so modest that I have not seen her name in a single article about the ceremony. Hurray for Kinue. (Kinue Tokudome is the founder and director of the US-Japan Dialogue on POWs.)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Trick has been to wait so long that there are only a handful of these folks left to apologise to

2 ( +3 / -1 )

One day earlier, China’s state news agency Xinhua called the apology to Americans “selective” and accused Japan of a “double standard on wartime atrocities.”

it didn't take long for china to criticize japan. what a surprise.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

This guy is pretty impressive. I hope he adds a spark to this cause.

11 ( +10 / -0 )

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