politics

Kono criticizes S Korean assembly speaker's emperor remarks

28 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

28 Comments
Login to comment

Moon makes an excellent point. It really would go a long way to placate those who are still upset about the issue.

-19 ( +12 / -31 )

It's the Abe government that is mostly responsible for straining the Japan-Republic of Korea relations as we see today. Abe himself stopped short of saying there were no such facts as marching Korean people to serve as comfort women and forced laborers because no document had been found that showed these facts.

But document could have easily been destroyed to efface the untoward evidence.

-15 ( +12 / -27 )

This situation is the exact same as why you shouldn't pay money to release a hostage - once you do it the first time, it opens the door for it happening repeatedly as you are seen as an easy mark. Apologies and compensation has already been given over the matter. Has it done anything to close the issue? No. So the Emperor saying sorry will then be taken as admittance of guilt and you'll see an increase of these fake lawsuits.

19 ( +27 / -8 )

The Japanese head of state, who can officially represent a nation called Japan, has never apologized to Koreans regarding various atrocities committed during the WWII, not to mention the comfort women issue. I know nobody teaches or mentions this fact in Japanese schools.

His latest statement regarding the atrocities during the WWII was "痛惜の念" (deep sorrow) made while visiting S. Korea in 1990 just after his inauguration, which sounded to Koreans as a derision rather than an apology. Why is it so difficult for him to apologize straightforwardly? Because of the political pressure from the right-wing groups?

In the case of Japan, prime ministers can not represent Japan as a nation. Only the current head of state, Akihito, can represent Japan. Maybe, the burden will handed over to his son.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_heads_of_state_and_government

Just one sentence of sincere apology from the Japanese head of state will solve those problems that persisted for more than 70 years between the two countries all at once. It does not require even 1 yen. Why is it so difficult in Japan?

-16 ( +10 / -26 )

Why is it so difficult in Japan?

Pride goes before a fall.

All that Abe, Kono, Aso et al know is blind pride. Their idea of diplomacy is to shout. As voiceofokinawa says, they are the people most responsible for the difficulty in Korea-Japan relations. They have yet to learn that the 1930's went by long ago.

-17 ( +6 / -23 )

As you say, SJ-san; "Why is it so difficult for him to apologize straightforwardly? Because of the political pressure from the right-wing groups?"

I think you hit the nail on the head.

But I wonder why the South Koreans only go on about the "Comfort Women" issue. That is a tiny and relatively innocuous issue. There were far more serious atrocities committed by the Japanese military in and before WWII that really DO need to be addressed.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

Kono is right to protest. By making his demand public, Moon gave the Emperor a choice of lose face or lose face. Diplomatically speaking, a public insult.

If the Emperor apologizes (again), Moon can claim it was because he demanded it. If the Emperor does not apologize (again), he can say that the Emperor failed to take this once-in-a-life opportunity, etc. Win-win for the politician Moon, guaranteed loss of initiative and face for the Emperor.

Actually, even if the Emperor had been genuinely and naturally planning to say some words on the subject, he can hardly do it now, thanks to the Speaker of the SK National Assembly who has driven a stake into that.

If Hee Sang Moon had genuinely wanted the Emperor to make this gesture, he should have communicated with him privately.

14 ( +19 / -5 )

Keep it up and Japan will ensure that he is “corrected”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/526e2c48-3628-445a-bd12-52efb0c8179a

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The real reason Kono is worried is that while they can put a cage around the Emperor and his family and control what they say, they cannot control what other governments or what people from other nations say, and he KNOWS that in all likelihood, the Emperor being a very decent man, the Emperor likely would hold the hands of a former sex slave and apologize for the atrocities committed under his father. Kono and others could never, ever let this happen. To heck with peace and being proper, this would make Japan look bad, so their living god must remain with his lips zipped and hands tied.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Japanese politicians for the past 30 years have been continuously insulting Koreans by calling the victims of Japanese aggression - mere prostitutes, calling the Korean heroes who fought for their independence - war criminals, calling Koreans - filthy liars, insulting their entire nation, and now they have the nerve to tell them ''don't insult our emperor by asking him for apology''. This is just beyond words, unbelivable inpudence.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

I would take Korean's demand as a positive attitude toward a solution, at least it is a peaceful, and a respectful request, and recognizes Emperor's prominent role in Japan's society. Having said that, a lot of work need to be done at working levels between ministers before the Emperor deliver a final speech.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Holding hands of who? self-appointed victims? Hold on before gone crazy. None of them been through official fact-finding process with clear evidence at Japan's side without mysterious tutors aside.

It’s not the same as a mysterious elderly suddenly comes ad demands for hugging US president

11 ( +13 / -2 )

I hope future generations will have a better education in history and civilization: who we are, what we did, and where we are going ?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

They signed that agreement so which part of 'finally and irreversibly' don't the Koreans understand?

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Imagine if the US had to apologize repeatedly and be sued for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Good for him.

I'm so sick of these Korean nationalists and their rabid fan base who continue to undermine and stir up hatreds towards Japan.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

It is understood that Emperor Akihito himself wants to make an in-person apology to comfort women before his abdication.

He is prevented by Abe san from doing so.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Samit Basu, why would Abe do that ? to interfere with Emporor's decision ? where is freedom of speech for the Emperor ? Down with Abe.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

@Akie

To Japanese conservatives, The emperor is the embodiment of the Japanese state.

The Emperor apologizing to comfort women is same as the Japanese state apologizing, hence Abe san cannot allow this.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

This is such a big disappointment. Now SK wants the emperor to apologize. Goes to show how disrespectful SK is. SK keeps on taunting Japan, this is what NK wants. SK will not continue to prosper if they keep on having this negative mindset. Within 10 years time, SK will be a puppet of NK. Rogue Korea if I were to describe. What a shame

8 ( +11 / -3 )

IloveCoffeeFeb. 11  10:28 pm JST

Japanese politicians for the past 30 years have been continuously insulting Koreans by calling the victims of Japanese aggression - mere prostitutes,

The US Army who interrogated them at the time found them to be military prostitutes.

" “a ‘comfort girl’ is nothing more than a prostitute or ‘professional camp follower’ attached to the Japanese military for the benefit of the soldiers” 

https://www.exordio.com/1939-1945/codex/Documentos/report-49-USA-orig.html

calling the Korean heroes who fought for their independence - war criminals,

Japan has never called any Koreans "war criminals" for the simple reason that Japan and Korea were never at war with each other. However, the US and other WWII Allied powers found some Koreans to be war criminals.

Hong Sa-ik (hangul 홍사익;hanja 洪思翊; 4 March 1889 – 26 September 1946)[1] was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, and the top-ranking ethnic Korean in Japanto be charged with war crimes relating to the conduct of the Empire of Japan in World War II.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Sa-ik

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/11220761/British-ex-POW-in-Japanese-camp-disgusted-by-guard-demands-for-compensation.html

"Following World War II, trials of Class-B/C Japanese war criminals, who were charged with abusing and torturing civilians and war prisoners, took place at 49 locations across Asia. In those courts, about 5,700 people were indicted and more than 900 were executed. Among the prosecuted were 148 Koreans, and 23 of them were executed."

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/?id=9597&pc_flag=ON

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Here we go again:

The South Korean government need to look up the meanings of the words 'final' and 'irreversible'

Various leaders in Japan have apologies many times over the years as listed in the following Wikipedia article"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan#1990s

Likewise the Emperor has made similar remarks as per the Guardian link below.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/15/japans-emperor-strikes-more-apologetic-tone-than-abe-over-second-world-war

This will never end. Elements in South Korea are using this as a political football to gain support.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

This reminds me of the medieval sport of bear baiting. As long as the bear is chained up securely, the crowds feel free to tease and bully the bear.

In this case Japan is bound by the restraints placed upon her at the end of WWII by the international community, and by internal restraints stemming from education.

China is more adult in the way she treats Japan.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

It's about time Japan reviews diplomatic ties with South Korea.

Tokyo should correct what is a totally flawed and misdirected foreign policy.

Seoul will never be satisfied in what the Abe government will be doin or not doin about the unfortunate 'Comfort Women' issue yet Nippon still have diplomatic ties with SK.

On the other hand Shinzo still adamantly refuses to have diplomatic relations with the ROC-TW which is undeniably the most Nippon friendly country in this universe.

The ROC even didn't ask for war reparations and freed all the Imperial Japanese troops yet Japan instead choose to embrace SK and discarded TW.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I'm so sick of these Korean nationalists and their rabid fan base who continue to undermine and stir up hatreds towards Japan.

I'm so sick of these Japanese nationalists and their rabid fan base who continue to undermine and stir up hatreds towards Korea.

Korean nationalists are no better, and no worse than Japanese nationalists.

It is understood that Emperor Akihito himself wants to make an in-person apology to comfort women before his abdication.

He is prevented by Abe san from doing so.

Since when is a Head of State prevented from doing something by the Prime Minister.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

The total number of readers who read my post (Feb. 11 | 04:56 am UTC) and actually checked either approval or disapproval was 39, of which my post got 12 approval or 30.8% as against 69% disapproval. But have these negative checkers read the following document that I had suugested to read on another thread before they checked the choice?

Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea

Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama "On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end" (15 August 1995)

Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono (current Foreign Minister's father) on the result of the study on the issue of "comfort women" August 4, 1993
0 ( +1 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites