politics

China, S Korea criticize Abe as Japan marks anniversary of war's end

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By Minami Funakoshi and Antoni Slodkowski

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You know, if Abe had sent nothing or even spent the day in bed with a reibou-induced cold, they still would have whined about something. Beijing and Seoul have been sharpening their talons for weeks getting ready for today. This is an internal matter, and the external meddling is not much appreciated.

11 ( +23 / -12 )

Just like clock work.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Abe appeared to be trying not to worsen tensions with both nations while upholding a conservative ideology that takes a less apologetic tone towards Japan’s wartime past.

And there is the whole problem in one sentence!

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Tokyo hopes that if Abe stays away on the emotive anniversary it could send a signal to China of his desire to ease tensions and help pave the way for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jiping. Recent tentative moves to meet have yet to bear fruit. Commentary on Xinhua says: Such a show of "compromise and sincerity," as some put it, is hardly acceptable, particularly given the recent barrage of remarks and moves by Japan's rightist politicians which lay bare their unrepentant attitude toward the WWII.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

"Japan solves these matters in the proper way"

Here comes again a SKoean extortionist expression, which means "Gimme more money!"

0 ( +13 / -13 )

Ahh, it's Obon! Japan Today is teeming with sensational news about Yasukuni shrine.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

You know people.. Japan is commemorating the END of the war... not the Beginning or the moment when the Japan Empire was in its highest moment.

People that uses their head will understand... other... simply will do what the "angry internet people" do.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Tinawatanabe: Yeah, South Korea with booming Samsung and Hyundai really needs money from bankrupt and declining poor Japan...

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Samsung and Hyundai are were they are because of Japan.

And... if you can squeeze it... you will take every last drop even if you don't need it. Is part of human nature, and South Korea are very human.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

No surprises!

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Today is the day for Japan Gov't to appologize for the WW2 crime.

But look, anyone in the Japan Gov't did this? None.

They just show respect to the dead people in war, respect for what? for killing? murdering? slaughter? or comfort weman?

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Daniel: yes, they are very human, unlike Abe and politicians who still deny massacres and play down historical atrocities and human rights violations. Why you consider being LESS than human a plus is beyond me.

It's good that he didn't visit, but we know he will later, same as before. And not visiting with the addendum that he is conservative and 'less apologetic' about Japan's militaristic past, while trying to bring it back to boot, is spitting in the face of what you pretend to do. Fortunately, aside from the blind here, the world easily sees through Abe's fake smile and meaningless bows.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

@Daniel Neagari,

Please stop sophism.

Yes, they are commemorating the END of war, but by showing respect to the war criminal? why not by dilivering apology? and this action uncovers what kind of emotion?

Sarcasm is wrong normally, but it is right here for a lot of reasons to do so.

No stopping of sophism and no stopping of sarcasm.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

As Mandy Rice-Davies famously said ..................................

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I love sarcasm and I do not see the reason to stop.

Well, I will when humans reach peace...

And in Yasukuni are many people that are not war criminals (I do not support that move they did then).. there are many many others buried there. To who people are showing their respect?... I don't know, and unless you can go and read minds I think you (or anybody else) can.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@Daniel Neagari,

Yes, in Yasukuni are many people that are not war criminals. But this is still sophism.

Why today? Why dont remove the war criminals? Why dont exclude the war criminals at least orally when they are commemorating?

Why can't you stop sophism?

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

China, S Korea criticize Abe as Japan marks anniversary of war's end

OF COURSE THEY DID !!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

China and SK are never happy unless they are slagging off Japan. Its getting pretty old and boring now children.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I agree with Daniel... not everyone, in fact the vast majority of those honoured at Yasukuni are not war criminals. By slagging off anyone in the public eye for visiting that shrine as being a right wing nutjob you are insulting all of those people who go there to honour their ancestors who fought and died in the service of the Emperor.

As Daniel said... can you read the minds of those who visit?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

mgglifeAug. 15, 2014 - 04:38PM JST Today is the day for Japan Gov't to appologize for the WW2 crime. But look, anyone in the Japan Gov't did this? None.

WWII Japan has already been tried at the Tokyo Trials, as well as regional trials which took place in various places including China. No civilized person (or country) continues to harass a criminal who has already been tried convicted and served.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

8 ( +11 / -3 )

@Thunderbird2,

Ok, you are right.

And we are only criticizing the right wing. But we can't read the minds of those who visit and we can't know who is the right wing, so we can only use the word "Japanese".

Is the Japan gov't right wing, Can we criticize Japan Gov't?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

mgglife If Japan gov't were right wing (which is not the case), why do you have to criticize it? It's a Japanese public's choice. And your gov't is much more right wing, but Japanese are not criticizing about it.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

I see a problem which lingers within Japan. There is still a very powerful ruling class here who wants to be a military power again. They have been chipping away at the anti-War stance Japan has held for decades. Recently, they are having successes which are worrisome. Japan just has a lot more of it to be ashamed of than anybody else.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

China and Korea just exercising their freedom of speech. (eye roll)

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The amount of crimes they are behind I dont think they will be taken seriously. Stop killing your own people and others first and then we will know the world is a better place because of you and we will listen to your comments.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I have lived in Japan most of the time since 2008. My Sons are married to Japanese and my grandchildren are part Japanese. Japan is a great, prosperous country and a beautiful place too. Most folk are friendly and helpful even in these trying times. It is the handful of right wing politicians who drive around in their shiny black cars and flaunt their wealth and power,etc and who are directly descended from the war criminals who are the problem as I see it ! They are still trying Nazi war criminals but the vast majority of Japanese who committed horrendous, unspeakable atrocities upon their neighbors and tens of millions of people are still at large, confident, old as they may be, that they escaped justice scot free ! True Japan cannot forever apologize and kowtow to China and Korea but time past alone does NOT heal the war wounds and in many ways there exists a defiant arrogance among those in power towards the rest of the World ! Only those who are NOT Japanese but whose families and countries can !suffered during WW2 can !

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Japan is nowadays generally described as a democracy that elects her leadership who should reflect the intent of the majority of the nation. Yet the leader and his cohorts deny the atrocities Japan committed in WWII. Worst yet, there is constant effort by a faction of political force who is now in the leadership to rewrite the history so the Japanese “can be proud again”. I have no problem for the Japanese people wanting to be proud again only if they would be clear about what they want to be proud of. If they want to be the exemplary peace loving democracy in Asia, I am all for that. However, if they want to be led to believe and proud of Japanese people being the super race above all other people, that would be evil again. Do they want to trample over other people and nations like they did in WWII to glorify their Emperor as the God of Japanese people, ruler of the Japanese Empire? That is what the current Japanese leadership want to convince the Japanese people that Japan does not have a history to be ashamed of and that Japan is back. This would be evil. I sincerely hope that there is a mass of Japanese people who would stand up and win over the current leadership in a democratic process and become truly the peace loving nation as their current constitution advocates. On the other hand, if the mass of Japanese indeed believes they have nothing to be ashamed of, then, the current government can move forward merrily and ignore its neighbors.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Lots of interesting opinions . For me rightly or wrongly many people here feel and are taught that the two A-bombs brought closure to the war and it's events. Mr Abe obviously holds this point of view. Hence his actions he believes to be natural. I don't agree with his point of view. Those in power in S.Korea and China will forever react this way -As Will Japanese nationalist politicians .

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

The war of words will never end!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Tzu Fann Shao

I have no problem for the Japanese people wanting to be proud again only if they would be clear about what they want to be proud of. If they want to be the exemplary peace loving democracy in Asia, I am all for that. However, if they want to be led to believe and proud of Japanese people being the super race above all other people, that would be evil again.

I've never heard any Japanese people refer to themselves as some form of super race. You been reading the WW2 propaganda too?

Abe is PM... a transitory role. He will no doubt be voted out at the next election for someone else that China and SK will find fault with. Yes he can make changes, but further down the line a PM from a left wing party could reverse the changes to Article 9. Abe is one man in a temp job. If you want to be worried by a warmonger look to China or North Korea... those Muppet leaders are the ones people need to worry about.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

No civilized person (or country) continues to harass a criminal who has already been tried convicted and served.

Ossan -- except of course when that criminal continues to say "I"m innocent", or "But what I did wasn't really that bad", or "No reason future generations need to know how bad I am".

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

So you're quite happy for the people of Japan to be slagged off by their neighbours because their leaders haven't shown enough contrition (as their neighbours and some posters here believe)?

Oh and I see one of my posts was removed... thanks JT. Starting to think I wasn't being censored for speaking sense.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Paul Martinforeign correspondentAug. 15, 2014 - 08:15PM JST It is the handful of right wing politicians who drive around in their shiny black cars and flaunt their wealth and >power,etc and who are directly descended from the war criminals who are the problem as I see it !

So you advocate the persecution of descendants of criminals"? In what country is that accepted as the norm?

They are still trying Nazi war criminals but the vast majority of Japanese who committed horrendous, unspeakable >atrocities upon their neighbors and tens of millions of people are still at large, confident, old as they may be, that they >escaped justice scot free

So you feel that the International tribunal for the Far East didn't do anything? "Tens of millions" of war criminals who are running around is a pretty silly concept.

jerseyboyAug. 15, 2014 - 09:59PM JST "No civilized person (or country) continues to harass a criminal who has already been tried convicted and served." Ossan -- except of course when that criminal continues to say "I"m innocent", or "But what I did wasn't really that bad", >or "No reason future generations need to know how bad I am".

Wrong jerseyboy. A criminal who has been charged indicted tried convicted and has served sentence can not be charged or tried again regardless of whether he says he's innocent, he was framed, or he was receiving telepathic instructions from aliens, whatever. Harassing a former criminal who has already served for the same crime will bring charges against the harasser.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I don't think China and South Korea have any problems with the Japanese visiting any Shrines whatsoever - especially in their own Country.

This not at issue.

What is at issue is THIS Shrine in particular.

But I have to admit that when the Japanese snuck in those 13 War Criminals Names into the "Book of Souls" at Yasukuni (in the dead of night in the 1980's) - I think that is what set the pace for all the bitterness we see today between these Asian Giants.

Why did they have to do that? What was purpose of that?

Why mix PM Tojo's Name in with Sakamoto Ryoma's?

Ryoma a well Admired & Noted Hero to most Historians and Tojo a noted War Criminal - I just don't see the logic and that still baffles me today.

What's done is done and unfortunately and according to Shinto Law, once a name is entered into a Shrine it becomes 1 with that shrines Kami (God) and can never be removed.

Again, I just don't see the logic in it all.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Just like clock work.

Yep.

Fortunately, aside from the blind here, the world easily sees through Abe's fake smile and meaningless bows.

The rest of the 'world' has moved on.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Wrong jerseyboy. A criminal who has been charged indicted tried convicted and has served sentence can not be charged or tried again regardless of whether he says he's innocent, he was framed, or he was receiving telepathic instructions from aliens, whatever. Harassing a former criminal who has already served for the same crime will bring charges against the harasser.

Wrong Ossan. First off, comparing Japanese diplomatic relations to a criminal proceeding is ludicrous, but since you said it, I will again respond. In fact, there is absolutely the right to harrass -- not try to re-charge -- someone who continues to claim innocence after they have been punished. In fact, the press does it all the time. Because the obvious question, which you seem to want to ignore, as usual, is WHY? Why bring it up in the first place, because all it does is re-open the wounds of the victims in the first place. One element of justice is to give the victims closure. But if Japan keeps saying "Oh, we really didn't do anything bad", that element is lost. And whether you want to acknowledge it of not SK, China and the other countries Japan brutalized have that right.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Wrong Ossan. First off, comparing Japanese diplomatic relations to a criminal proceeding is ludicrous, but since you said it, I will again respond. In fact, there is absolutely the right to harrass -- not try to re-charge -- someone who continues to claim innocence after they have been punished. In fact, the press does it all the time. Because the obvious question, which you seem to want to ignore, as usual, is WHY? Why bring it up in the first place, because all it does is re-open the wounds of the victims in the first place. One element of justice is to give the victims closure. But if Japan keeps saying "Oh, we really didn't do anything bad", that element is lost. And whether you want to acknowledge it of not SK, China and the other countries Japan brutalized have that right.

Who is this former "criminal" who "continues to claim innocence after they have been punished. "???

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Oh China. So much talk. So little concern by anybody.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Think this would be a GREAT time to break diplomatic relations with both the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. Am tired of my country being used as a "punching bag" so these two counties politicians can get support at home. As for the war criminals there are 14 of them and millions of others including my ancestors. As for the war criminals Shinto (if I am not mistaken) believes souls are forgiven the sins of their mortal lives. Should they be there? Well probably not since they did not die in battle but as a result of their crimes. However I am Catholic and do not feel the right to dictate to another religion what is and what is not acceptable. However Christians believe in forgiveness and redemption. These criminals paid for their crimes with their lives. Where does the hatred end? They were found guilty in court, hanged by their necks until dead and their ashes dumped into Tokyo bay.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yuri, I agree but it's not practical. Too bad.... The Chinese and Koreans have enough issues of their own to fix, stirring up ill will against Japan is just a convenient way of diverting attention. China and SK should be ashamed of their own behavior.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Who is this former "criminal" who "continues to claim innocence after they have been punished. "???

nigelboy -- atually, a question that silly does not really deserve an answer. But let's start with the recent "special committee" that magically decided that there was no proof of J-government involvement in the comfort women issue.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

The press comments and critics were written anyway a few days before, and would have been released both in China and Korea regardless of Abe's actions this day.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

nigelboy -- atually, a question that silly does not really deserve an answer. But let's start with the recent "special committee" that magically decided that there was no proof of J-government involvement in the comfort women issue.

???? There was no decision. They simply reviewed the process which resulted in the issuance of Kono Statement. My guess is that you haven't read the report so I believe it's you who's being "silly".

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

jerseyboyAug. 16, 2014 - 12:32AM JST Wrong Ossan. First off, comparing Japanese diplomatic relations to a criminal proceeding is ludicrous, but since you >said it, I will again respond. In fact, there is absolutely the right to harrass -- not try to re-charge -- someone who continues to claim innocence after they have been punished.

Good go ahead. You wil have harassment charges brought against you,

One element of justice is to give the victims closure. But if Japan keeps saying "Oh, we really didn't do anything bad", >that element is lost. And whether you want to acknowledge it of not SK, China and the other countries Japan >brutalized have that right.

Really? You believe that Japan feels they didn't do anything bad? Please tell me which of the apologies Japan has given has been retracted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

2 ( +3 / -1 )

the symbol of Japan’s colonial atrocity

Is the Rising Sun flag, not Yasukuni Shrine. The Shrine is only there as a memorial to those who died in the war. Is the Arlington Memorial a symbol of atrocity? What about the Cenotaph? No, neither are. So why is Yasukuni different? Because the butt-hurt immature politicians of China and South Korea say so. Both China and South Korea need to either a) shut up and grow up, or b) blow up. I'm tired of their crap, as I'm sure thousands, if not millions of others are.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

zichiAug. 16, 2014 - 09:27AM JST There weren't many apologies in the first 40 years after Japan surrendered

Oh it's not good enough that Japan apologized. Now it wasn't soon enough.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

zichiAug. 16, 2014 - 11:40PM JST OssanAmerica The fact that Japan waited 37 years after its defeat and surrender before it gave any kind of apology

To the biased, no apology is soon, sufficient or sincere enough. The persistent demand for an apology is the motive, constantly rejecting all apologies so that it is never resolved.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

More China and S Korea complain about Japan, Abe gets stronger and stronger to militarize Japan. We don;t know what kind of re-interpretation of Constitution Abe will add. Abe must be glad S Korea and China helping him creating real military forces in Japan. He already got USA and France backing up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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