The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.Aso retracts Hitler comment after criticism
TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.
58 Comments
Login to comment
Laguna
Amongst the stupidest things a human could utter, this ranks among the top.
Zed Phillips
Nazi Germany did profit economically from Hitler’s early leadership and that is a historical fact. He also restored national pride, gave the people unity and hope for a better future. Then went totally mad.
Kestrel
what does it say about the japanese that they consistently and for decades on end vote for such sub-par leadership?
viking68
There is a lot that can be said about Hitler and the rise of Germany. However, he used nationalism to focus on true Germans and made gains at the expense of others. It was a slow starting fascist movement that steamrolled into a nightmare.
Bintaro
With Hitler, from 1933, the economy of Germany improved. That's a fact.
Now, look in detail what policies were conducted around that. There is still NO reason to cite him as a good example.
Aso should have been gone long ago.
Hiro S Nobumasa
Gaffes? Apologize?
Aso has no need to apologize or even retract ( as though that's even possible) his Hitler statement because that's what he really feels and believes in his very heart.
fxgai
Public figures should just not mention the H-word for their own sake. Aso should have known better, by now. Another great professional from Abe's new cabinet.
WF motives of Hitler's was Aso talking about anyway?
Aly Rustom
With NK sending missiles up over Japan-this idiot decides to say this NOW??
Exactly. What a muppet!
Disillusioned
Heads up Japan! That's your deputy PM and next in line to take Abe's position. He's already had one short stint in the top job and he trucked it up immensely. Is there any wonder the Japanese economy has been floundering for nearly two decades with an endless procession of goons like these? What's the count so far? 17 PMs in twenty years? I doubt if any of these jokers could run a bath, better less a country.
Kobe White Bar Owner
weird photo of the day award?
Cricky
Not weird, if your in the government, this is the same man who said there was no link to tobacco and cancer. Has made many references to Nazis in a positive light, including changing the constitution as the Nazis did before anyone knew about it. Sound family! And as an aside the great pre war building projects attributed to Adolf had been planned and started before he came to power, the autoban did not take 18 months to plan and build? It was already underway Adolf just opened it. Any positives are far overshadowed by the negatives. Unless you are mentally challenged or suffer dementure...ooohhh.
Cricky
Hitler also stopped any funding for disabled, factories, work shops didn't the ministry of finance just do that?
nakanoguy01
you can see the man as a monster, but you can also see what a brilliant politcian hitler was. he was able to manipulate a whole country into believing, or at least following, his wild ideas. hitler was able to harness all the fear germans had at that time and turn it into a nationalist's wet dream. but i think you can celebrate hitler's genius without agreeing with his beliefs.
Luddite
The world looks at Japan and sees it being run by Nazi apologists.
How can an experienced politician think it's OK to come out with this offensive, tone deaf remarks?
goldorak
The 'guys, i really don't like Hitler' statements are always weird and cringeworthy.
Jimizo
The best Japanese minds don't go into politics, and people get on with their lives regardless of what these gibbering idiots do or say. It also tells me just how bad the opposition is.
Aso could come goose-stepping out on stage with a fake square moustache, call it 'regrettable' the next day, and then carry on in government with his head up his arse looking for an arrow without too much fuss.
A lost cause. I gave up taking Japanese politics seriously a long time ago. Vast numbers of Japanese people did too.
smithinjapan
It's quite clear that Aso indeed respects Hitler, and his "retractions" are not at all changes in heart, but simply a show of irritation at being in trouble at his foot-in-mouth disease again. There are few more disgusting cases of politicians who are completely out of touch in the world.
People here will just shrug, and probably a whole lot of them agree. After all, a good number of Abe's cabinet, former and maybe even present, have relationship with the Nationalist Socialist Japan Party, who absolutely revere Hitler and want Japan to come up with final solutions to Chinese and Koreans, etc.
FORTUNATELY, a "retraction" of a comment in Japan does not mean anything internationally, and this hopefully will not go away. Here's the saddest part, though -- you may well be looking at Japan's next Prime Minister beside Abe... again.
Raw Beer
Yeah, and the powers that be could not let that continue...
Mlodinow
After more than a few instances of Japanese politicians and that guy from the BOJ giving Hitler as an example of something which they admire, would a normal person not learn to simply avoid ANY reference to Hitler? It really is quite clear that a disturbing number of senior Japanese officials truly do admire him...why else would his name come up so often in these contexts?
Blattamexiguus
Not the first time Aso has made comments in praise of Nazi Germany!
His supposed retraction/regret is totally worthless.
He made a similar comment around two years ago suggesting the LDP could "learn" something from how Hitler legally took control of the Weimar Republic then changed the laws to strengthen his hold on power.
sound familiar?
smithinjapan
Ghost Rider: "This U.S.-based Jewish group has nothing else to do than checking who is telling something about Hitler and play the victim role."
Excuse me, but you are saying this in defense of Aso, in at least the second time he's praised Hitler and the Nazis in the past couple of years. How is pointing out fascism calling yourself a victim? But hey, you DO always defend Japan and Japanese atrocities and claim others are bullying Japan, so not really a surprise here.
YongYang
Well, he does come from a mine owning company that was shown to use slave labor during WWII. I guess it’s a learnt thing. Sister in the Imperial Family and thinks only wining and dining at exclusive restraunts is the only way to feed: Doesn’t want to disturb customers are ‘ordinary’ eateries, you see. What an arrogant fool.
Laguna
"Then went totally mad" - the man was mad from his first day in office as many understood - some proactively fled, others stayed for futile resistance. How did his rule turn out for the economy, national pride, unity, and hope for a better future, by the way?
borscht
How stupid is this Aso? I mean is he the stupidest human Japanese have ever voted for? Again and again and again?
Dango bong
this is his fourth time publicly praising Hitler, and getting reprimanded for it. At this point he has to be doing it on purpose knowing people will get mad
Rik314
Aso is a fool. He has been saying derogatory and clearly unschooled things on a variety of issues for years and years and years. It both is and isn't astounding that he is still in public office let alone holding a cabinet position, and to think, he used to be Prime Minister!!
borscht
I realize this isn’t Germany, (or any democratic country) but is Abe going to get rid of his Nazi-loving friend or not? Probably not. After all, Aso apologized, right. What a complete friggin‘ moron. (Both of them).
Tom Denk
it just proves, Better not to wake up the usual snorring Aso, or replace him with a bag of potatoes chips ( = more useful)
clamenza
I will never understand how this pathetic excuse of a human continues to be involved in Japanese leadership positions year after year. I used to think Mori was the worst, but Aso is taking a late lead.
A sad reflection on Japanese voters
Goodlucktoyou
everybody knows the senile guy is an idiot. met him once. he also said old people should hurry up and die cause they don't contribute to society, and 1200yen is an OK price for coffee. his purported hobbies are manga, hostess bars.
Jimizo
I think 'should' would be better than 'can' at the beginning of that sentence,
Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but I found that 'can' a bit disturbing.
wtfjapan
Nazi Germany did profit economically from Hitler’s early leadership and that is a historical fact. He also restored national pride, gave the people unity and hope for a better future. Then went totally mad. actually he was mad long before he even invaded Poland, he killed off his political rivals in 1934 "Night of the Long Knives" to solidify his power, then used economic might to build a huge military, then played on national pride & unity to brainwash the German public into thinking his invasion of Poland and world domination was justified. similar to what the IJA did in Japan to justify its invasion of China and attack on Pearl Harbor. Any positives/praises that Hitler may have got were completely erased when he started his genocidal rampage across Europe killing millions in the process. Saying otherwise is just insulting to those that suffered and died at the hand of Hitlers brainwashed Nazis.
OssanAmerica
Japanese politicians, some more than others, need to understand that ANY comment involving HITLER can and will be construed in the most negative way possible regardless of intent. Any comment that praises any aspect of Hitler's policies, rightly or wrongly, will be construed as praising the individual. After several such incidents in the past it's mindboggling that the LDP and other parties haven't simply made use of the word "Hitler" in ANY context a taboo. Surely whatever idea needs to be conveyed can be done without it.
Except he was 5 years old the war ended. I doubt he was running his family's company policies.
gogogo
Aso is a moron, worse than Abe
clamenza
But you can bet he was influenced by them.
mataka
I wonder, if Aso had basic intelligence or if he had received a proper education or if members of his own family had been murdered, gassed, persecuted or shot in their homes by Hitler's troops. Or if his family or friends had been murdered as more than 10 million Asians were by the Japanese imperial army. I wonder then if he would be making such comments. This is a man who said old people should "Hurry up and die" as they were a burden on society.
He is 77 years old in 3 weeks. His political career is a record of failures. He was so hated by Japanese in his failed term as PM, that lifelong LDP voters actually voted for the DPJ.
What is he, if not old and a burden and embarrassment to all Japanese?
In 20 years in Japan I have never ever heard a single Japanese person say anything positive about him.
Why does he not follow his own advice and die? Do it tomorrow. Japan needs leaders who are competent, intelligent and not a burden on society like this cancer.
I wish I were a journalist. I would hold him to task and demand he apologise and shout at him until one of us would be forced to leave the room.
Abey
Where is Abe's voice on this? Asso wouldn't say it if he knows that he will be fired immediately by Abe by doing so.
Kobe White Bar Owner
@Kestrel
what does it say about the japanese that they consistently and for decades on end vote for such sub-par leadership?
my grandad used to say. "you get what you settle for son". such is life love and politics.
smithinjapan
Hiro S. Nobumasa: "Aso has no need to apologize or even retract ( as though that's even possible) his Hitler statement because that's what he really feels and believes in his very heart."
You're right, but if he truly feels that way, and we know he does, he should be kicked out of office and stripped of his politician status immediately. NO ONE who says such garbage and hateful remarks should even have any place in the decision-making of a nation. I wonder how you'd feel about politicians in the US or elsewhere saying how great the atomic bombings were as examples of effectivefor "population control" or some such remark. Probably wouldn't care for anyone who said it seriously -- retracting it because it gets them in hot water or not. Even though Aso once again "took back" his remarks and claims he is the misunderstood victim here, the man really needs to quit his job. He has no place being in politics, and is a senile old men who should, if he believes old people should die to solve the pension problem, should in his own beliefs heed his own advice already.
Citizen2012
This idiot pro-nazi is also damaging Japanese businesses abroad, he should step down and if not Abe should fire him. The only reason he can be PM is because Japanese do not vote directly for their PM.
sf2k
again with these oyaji morons? Yeesh
Abey
Aso clearly demonstrated his elementary education of histry was problematic. In fact, he didn't have a certificate at all. It is therefore very important for next generation Japanese to have a very factual and truth teaching of history at elementary level. Unfortunately, Abe is strongly against such education.
JeffLee
These revisionists take a denial view of Japan's wartime atrocities, so it's not surprising why they would be sympathetic or defensive toward the Nazis. Peas in a pod.
OssanAmerica
Ridiculous and factually erroneous. Nazis believed in the superiority of the White race. Japanese aren't "White". In the 1930s and during WWII the Nazis persecuted Jews even in China where the Japanese obstructed them allowing them to to escape. Apart from a strategical alliance against the US-UK bloc there wasn't much similarity at all.
kurisupisu
I am sure, as Germany was a wartime ally, that German culture and history are admired by many Japanese.
In fact, German knowledge and learning, shared by the Germans, were invaluable for Japan's progress.
Without doubt,
Aso,Abe and others certainly have more than a keen interest in how Germany became a great nation.
They also might compare Hitler's time period to present day Japan.
No doubt their interest has been been more than cursory.
Why?
Japan is stuck in an economic malaise as Germany was in the 1930s.North Korea and China are perceived threats, the US was so perceived..
There are legal constraints on the use of power.Hitler also found himself imprisoned due to legal checks.
There are historical similarities to be sure.
These similarities are not lost on the politicians of today.
We all know, as they do that history repeats .....
gogogo
Look at the photo, he's mansplaining
OssanAmerica
That's REALLY stretching it. Hitler was able to come to power because Germany could not get up off it's feet after WWI. Japan got off it's feet within 25 years of being defeated in WWII. The econmoic malaise of present day Japan is NOTHING like what Germany went through during the Weimar Republic. Germany did not become a US ally after WWI, whereas Japan did after WWII. There are far more differences than similarities.
You want similarities, look at China. A nation founded on the promise of democracy and free elections that has become an authoritarian un-elected one-party dictatorship that uses nationalism to control the masses, engages in a huge military buildup the biggest in Asia in fact, and has open aspirations of territorial expansion. Doesn't take a history major to see some similarities, no?
Toasted Heretic
Sounds alarmingly similar to another big nation I know.
Aso is like the embarassing elderly uncle in the room who's views most find offensive but everyone is too polite to ask him to leave, as it would be considered disrespectful.
rainyday
Its worth mentioning (other articles on Aso's comments have mentioned it but not this one) that Katsuya Takasu is also under fire this week for pro-Nazi comments. If you watch TV here you have probably seen those creepy commercials for Takasu plastic surgery clinics (the ones where the guy snaps his fingers and a girl sprouts angel wings and starts flying....weird). Yeah, that guy. He is on record as a holocaust denier and open admirer of the Nazis, the Simon Wiesenthal Center which issued the comment on Aso also issued a statement on this lunatic a few days ago, seeking his removal from an American association of plastic surgeons that he is a member of. His comments are even worse than Aso's (though at least he isn't the deputy PM).
The Japanese alt-right is just as disturbing as its American counterpart.
Mocheake
I really think a lot of the hawks here have a feeling for Hitler. They see the Chinese and Koreans the same way he saw the Jews.
Mocheake
What Hitler really did was lead Germany into a war that devastated the country and Europe not too long after they came out of a war that devastated the coutry and Europe. Give credit where it's really due.
clamenza
Wow! What an incredibly slanted view on the reality.
"Japanese didn't (and couldn't) believe in superiority because they weren't white"
I think 10s of millions of Asians that were subjugated, murdered, raped, beaten, and looked down upon with scorn by the Japanese Empire would disagree with you,
Jimizo
What the hell has China got to do with this?
wtfjapan
Apart from a strategical alliance against the US-UK bloc there wasn't much similarity at all. except for the IJA genocidal rampage across Asia killing millions, even before Hitler started rounding up all the Jews. you forgot that similarity
Ricky Kaminski
A few weeks ago I noticed a dude in a pale magnificent blue suit at the entrance to the Shinkansen gate at Tokyo station with an outrageous hat on, dark sunglasses, surrounded by a team of bodyguards. Blinged up! Walked right passed them and realized it was the man himself, Aso! He looked like a gangster and walked like one too. Couldn't believe my luck, and now stories like this make a lot more sense. Was quite a spectacle.
Kestrel
Ricky K, theres the reality. The country is run by these low-lowlifes.
mmwkdw
Ahhh so...le ?