UK veteran, 97, who fought against Japan in World War II visits Tokyo's national cemetery

Not Yasukuni Shrine!

Are you listening LDP?

It takes a 97 year old veteran to show you how to do it properly.

About 160,000 Japanese were killed during the battle, many from starvation and illnesses due to insufficient supplies and planning.

During that and many other campaigns, the IJA didn't set up supply lines for things like, um, food. The soldiers' directives were to steal food from the enemy and local people. When the Japanese first invaded, the locals welcomed them as liberators. After about a year, however, the locals turned very quickly against the Japanese after the true character of the Japanese showed itself.

Some 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops were also killed, nearly half of whom perished in brutal prison camps. 

The war's death toll numbers are clear testimony as to why Japan's imperial regime had to be destroyed, not just in Burma but throughout Asia.

Japan is very obsessed with world war 2 why not talk about all the Japanese war crimes and atrocities that happened during the era. Why they attacked Pearl Harbor etc

Cihdorigafuchi

Paragraph 2, incorrect spelling.

Moderator: Thanks. The typo has been fixed.

Let history not repeat

Japan was and is a great country and has lasted much longer than the US, as most countries have. Imperial Japan was little understood by the West. It is now democratic and even greater. War sucks. Always has. May we enjoy just a few more decades of peace before totalitarian countries unleash their aggression.

Wondering if Veterans from Japan's neighboring countries can be allowed the same press ?

Let’s learn from the history for our future.

According to my relatives here, those who fought in the last world war (Japanese) were not open to speaking about their experiences.

There are still many Japanese veterans of the last war alive in Japan.

I would suppose that being on the losing side and the atrocities witnessed put a stop to many a conversation.

"I would suppose that being on the losing side and the atrocities witnessed put a stop to many a conversation."

No, that's not it. Those who have been real battle do not talk about it.

A moving gesture of reconciliation from a veteran at the end of his life. It's a shame that he had to carry the memories of war's horrors since he was a teenager, “I was remembering the screams of people ... they were crying out after their mothers.” ,not knowing the reality of war: organized violence by old men who sacrifice their children on altars of hate and plunder. I only hope Mr Day acquired the wisdom he brought to Japan, “You can’t carry hate," otherwise you are not hating each other, you are hurting yourself.”, at an early age. May Mr Day have many more days living happily with good health before he finally rests in peace.

No, that's not it. Those who have been real battle do not talk about it.

No, that isn’t ‘it’

If it were then Richard Day wouldn’t be in Japan talking of reconciliation.

Neither would there be memorials in Germany reminding people and inviting discourse on the holocaust

How about counseling services for US veterans all over the US

I could go on but my point is evident

Let history not repeat

Peace is fragile. Never take tomorrow for granted.

Those who have been real battle do not talk about it.

Blanket statement is blanket.

I admire this wheelchair-bound 97-year old veteran for coming all the way for the opportunity of reconciliation. He should have visited Yasukuni too.

The Yokohama War Cemetery is a solemn and serene location; I have visited there several times. Open to the public, when you come in from the busy and packed streets of Hodogaya, you are witness to a wide, expansive green oval. On the edges of the oval are the various memorials and graves of Commonwealth and other nations' soldiers, who died on the Home Islands. Ceremonies to commemorate the war dead take place on days when Commonwealth nations commemorate their own World War One momorial days. For Australians and New Zealanders it's ANZAC Day (when I visited); for Canadians it's Vimy Day (I believe?); and of course there is Armistice Day on 11 November.

It's worth visiting if you have time in Yokohama.

Peace is the way forward. "Nonviolence requires more courage than the soldier of war" - Mahatma Gandhi

BigP

Not Yasukuni Shrine!

Are you listening LDP?

It takes a 97 year old veteran to show you how to do it properly.

Agree. If they went to Chidorigafuji, there would and should be no issue.

Meiyouwenti

He should have visited Yasukuni too.

...and pay respect to the war criminals enshrined there since 73? No he should not.

Those who have been real battle do not talk about it.

Nonsense

1738Kwaaa!!Today  08:37 am JST

Wondering if Veterans from Japan's neighboring countries can be allowed the same press ?

Like where? Taiwan and Korea were part of Japan then and their people fought on Japan's side. China (PRC) didn't even exist until 4 years after WWII ended. As for the Russians they still haven't even signed a peace treaty with Japan.

Because he understands that it wasn't the average Japanese citizen that was at fault for the war... as usual it was greedy power hungry politicians along with corporations which only sought profit and never though of the consequences.

You can't blame kids in uniform trained to kill the Other and sent into the meatgrinder of war: they are too young to realize they know not what they do. Some early societies had a custom of making scapegoats of their kings and leaders. We've lost that wisdom by letting our leaders start wars and sacrificing others to make mountains of corpses of their young.

OssanAmericaToday  04:03 pm JST

*Like where? Taiwan and Korea were part of Japan then and their people fought on Japan's side. China (PRC) didn't even exist until 4 years after WWII ended. As for the Russians they still haven't even signed a peace treaty with Japan.*

Still trying to pass off your right wing assumptions as truth. Taiwan and Korea were part of Japan as much as America was part of Britain and France in the 18th century. It was a colonial land grab through military aggression and pseudo-diplomacy. If they were part of Japan, why doesn't Japan have legal claim to both countries now. They don't.

Less than 7% of Koreans were part of Japan's military but in your right wing manipulated mind, that somehow mathematically equates to 'their people'.

There are plenty of places to commemorate Japan's war dead without including war criminals. But the right wing nut jobs going around in sound trucks disturbing everyone would have you believe that there's only once one place called Yasukuni.

I don't see medals,

Then open your eyes. They are HUGE! Those things are given for the sake of war promotion and worn for reasons of pride. The fact that people refuse to even consider such truths is a big reason why we still have these damned wars.

Neither would there be memorials in Germany reminding people and inviting discourse on the holocaust

The holocaust wasn't "in battle". It was the systematic slaughter of civilians, many of them German as well...let's not forget...by a despicable right-wing regime.

kurisupisu

Neither would there be memorials in Germany reminding people and inviting discourse on the holocaust

Are you serious?? You do not know about the giant holocaust memorial close the parliament building?

You are correct about not "inviting discourse" though. "Holocaust denial" is illegal in Germany.

Keepyer InternetpointsOct. 10  11:53 pm JST

I don't see medals,

Then open your eyes. They are HUGE! Those things are given for the sake of war promotion and worn for reasons of pride. The fact that people refuse to even consider such truths is a big reason why we still have these damned wars.

Metaphorically speaking "I don't" see medals. I see men and women who gave their all so some people can say things, worship things, and live a certain life freely. Medals are most certainly not there for war promotion but as recognition for their service. We have wars not because of medals, or toys, we have wars because a politician decides to invade another country. You know! Like Russia, invading Ukraine. Iraq invading Kuwait, Yugoslavia/Bosnia and genocide etc etc, and sometimes there are bullies on the block, that don't want to stop. and these men stood up against some of the worst bullies we have ever seen. Otherwise, the only option is to let the bully continue bullying. Yes, it's better to jaw-jaw than war-war, but some politicians just want to take something. I will wear my poppy with pride for the cook, the medic and the infantryman. It is not the soldiers who start wars, but politicians.