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© 2015 AFPRival Koreas united in anger at lack of Abe apology
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© 2015 AFP
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Yubaru
And like that is equivalent to an apology?
sfjp330
If Korea had agreed back in 1965 for Japan to handle individual compensation, as Japan had first suggested, Japan would have immediately publicized, and given claimants a deadline by which to submit claims with substantiating evidence. Japan would have honored the claim. But based on the treaty, it was up to the South Korean government to set up these measures. the South Korean government did not take sufficient interests in its people such as comfort women who actually suffered from the colonial times, but that was the responsibility of their own goverment. Japan made reparations in good faith to the Korean government instead of to individuals because that’s the way the Korean government wanted it. The Korean government was supposed to pay the individual reparations. Even if comfort women reparation was included in the 1965 treaty, the Korean goverment would've kept the money anyway. It was not Japan’s fault that Park Chung-hee used the money for infrastructure instead. Many Koreans for years didn’t even know that Japan paid reparations.
Kuribo1
Seriously any chance at all for the Koreas to whine they will take it. Until Japan is either economically impoverished or some other hazard happens to Japan they will find a way to complain.
Charlie Kinsman
LOL, as expected.
CrazyJoe
There's literally nothing else the Japanese can do (within reason) to appease those who will hate them no matter what they do.
kiyoshiMukai
I agree with Crazyjoe. They just use Japan for their political gain
YuriOtani
Still think Japan should drop diplomatic relations with Korea and prevent US Forces from using our bases to support them.
souka
the US pivot to Asia is in part because of this ongoing issue. japan can always choose to solve this once and for all (and that will require some humbling gestures with her neighbors) or to continually depend on US for protection.
Mocheake
I understand their anger but like many of the previous posters have noted, there is probably no appeasing them. Japan can seemingly do no right but it's also partly the fault of the ultranationalists in this country.
Mlodinow
@sfjp330
Why do you always bring money into the discussion? They're asking for an apology, not money!
jerseyboy
Agree. Abe had a chance to make the Koreas "put up or shut up" by taking advantage of this opportunity to make a full apology. But he did not -- for domestic political reasons. So now this seemingky endless game of "which came first, the chicken or the egg", will go on. And, importantly, if he had done so, he would have secured the unanimous support of the U.S. government, which wants Japan and Korea to bury the hatchet, so all three can focus on the collective concerns posed by China.
therougou
lol, as if USA really cares. Abe did the right thing. The speech was about Japan-US, not the Koreas. They can mind their own business and go on with their lives.
CGB Spender
It was to be expected that the Koreans are butthurt once again. Abe didn't need to say anything about the past errors of Japan at all but when he mentions he has deep remorse then Korea is pissed because it wasn't an apology. Once again, Japan has already apologized profusely. No need to repeat it every time Koreans think it suits them.
Christopher Glen
Mr Abe certainly missed a golden opportunity
szero25
Am i to gather that most people believe that Japan is not at fault here at all?
To this day Japan still refuses to accept its past transgressions, "The Nanking Massacre" for example is still a topic of much international dispute and anger, yet Japan is still intent on denying the extent of the events or even that they occurred at all, not to mention many of its past wartime atrocities sex slavery being one of them. Further more these events and atrocities seem to be lacking from historical education in Japan at all, instead an argument is made that the "society of today shouldn't be made to suffer for the sins of yesterday".
How on earth is a country supposed to move forward without first admitting its faults, no country is without its faults America for example is far from Idyllic in this respect, it is often portrayed as the victor of justice and freedom in the modern age, whilst at the same time causing extensive civilian casualties in many of its recent conflicts, not to mention not ratifying several aspects of the Geneva convention. If Japan wants to move forward on the worlds stage, it needs to become more transparent and accepting of its darker moments in history, before having any chance of creating better ties to its Asian neighbors. If Germany had denied all of its war crime atrocities to this day what sort of example would that have set with its neighbors? Can you really trust a country when they claim that their actions in the past never happened or that they are not fact responsible for them.
therougou
To what, shoot himself in the foot?
Cand1date
China and Korea weren't the only countries that were hurt by Jspan in the past. So Abe saying he feels remorse for the hurt caused to its Asian neighbors, he's talking about all of them. However, China and Korea, as usual, are all, me me me.
Sfjp330, thanks for that info on reparations paid in 1965 and how it was used. Also, japan tried setting up another fund for comfort women in the 90's and Korea once again said, no, we will just make our own. Seriously, there is no possible way forward with China and Kirea, because no matter what Japan does or what overtures they make, they are ultimately rejected. Japan should just tell them to go pound sand!
commanteer
Even if one believes Japan hasn't apologized enough to Korea (I think they have), the floor of the US senate is certainly not the place to do it. It's an issue between Korea and Japan. Abe is in the US to discuss the future of US-Japan relations, not US-Korea relations. Why should Abe use this golden moment to build US-Japan bridges to bring up a 70 year old problem with Korea? Wrong place, wrong time.
Korea is a tiresome neighbor. Maybe they should clean up their own country and come back when they have grown up.
Christopher Glen
Exactly
Ronald Hassem
what a sorry bunch. does japan have centrifuges?
commanteer
Perhaps not, but we all have to deal with the USA one way or another. Or were you talking about the UK, Korea, or China?
Nessie
How lovely to see SK in such esteemed company.
Daniel Neagari
"We are family I got all my sisters with me We are family Get up everybody and sing..."
Thunderbird2
Sounds like an apology to me.
Patrick Kimura-Macke
"The spokesman accused Abe of working with right-wing Japanese groups to try to negate Japan’s war crimes record and avoid responsibility for abuses." This is true. A group is called NIPPON KAIGI (日本会議) And most of Abe's cabinet are also members as well as many LDP diet members.
Mitsuo Matsuyama
Here we go again with this story.
commanteer
As others have suggested, there is great irony that South Korea is teamed up with the north on this. And hideous crimes are being perpetrated against Korean woman and children today in the north. Apparently this bothers South Korea less than crimes committed 70 years ago by Japan.
jerseyboy
Talk about missing the point. Have you missed the numerous times in the past couple of years where the U.S. has strongly sugggested that Japan and Korea find a way past their historical differences? So Korea's position does have a bearing on Japan -US, and only a closed-minded SK-hater would say otherwise. Abe missed a golden opportunity.
therougou
we are talking about the people that sent (send?) constant death threats to a 17 year old figure skater. and they are the better of the 2 Koreas!
Wc626
Scary headline. Imagine if the communist regime controlled the whole (united) Korean Peninsula?
badsey3
Is it nice to see the 2 Koreas finally getting along: -They could utilize their omnipotent powers of their dear leaders to raise the Sewol by mental force alone it seems.
Gate Satoru
Where are the Zaitokukai when you need them?
Fadamor
LOL If Japan stopped talking to S.K. and told the U.S. they couldn't use the bases that the U.S. leased from Japan to support S.K., the U.S. would likely ignore Japan's prohibition. If Japan didn't like it, they could always terminate the agreement with the U.S. regarding defending Japan. Then the American bases would disappear within a year. Well, the bases wouldn't DISAPPEAR, they would simply be occupied by JSDF units instead of American ones. Regardless, Just as the U.S. cannot demand that Japan apologize for ANYTHING, Japan cannot demand that the U.S. not help another ally.
YuriOtani
Maybe it is time for Korea reunification and watch how fast the USA gets kicked out! They can be allies of the Peoples Republic of China. Then what will be the position of the USA? So Abe's apology falls on deaf ears. What you must understand is they need Japan to be the evil foe to beat and bet the farm that soon the USA will join Japan as their foe.
toshiko
Tell honestlu JAPAN CREATED SEX SLAVE SYSTEM and apology sincerely. Other apologys include other Japan's atrocity. Separate and apology sincerely.
Never mind what Korea and USA will be. Just apology
Korea reunification is none of Japan's business, @Yuri. .
4649Julian
Korea, Grow up!!! It has been done 50 years ago. President Park stated and sign in 1965 as All issues between 1910 to 1945 has been resolved completely and forever. Then Japan gave $800,000,000 in cash. Japan's national reserve was only $170,000 then. Almost the half of we had then. That became issue in the diet but many Japanese did not complain. If this would be the foundation and our noble cause for future for the two nations,it was reasonable. But the result is so disappointing. In 1965, the average collage graduate's monthly salary was $62 then.( $1 was 360Yen) And gave all asset such as infrastructure unconditionally that was $5,300.000.000. Unfortunately, president Park did not let the people know this fact in Korea and did not give money that Japan paid as an individual compensation. Even so many Koreans I have spoken did not know this fact.
This situation makes everything more difficult for Japan to accommodate Korea's unreasonable demands. While Japan is looking at the future, Korea only could see the past. That why Japan gave $50,000 for each former comfort women under the name of Asian women foundation instead of under the name of government with a letter of sympathy from Prime Minister Murayama at that time. Some women received it, but some women were working with anti Japan groups, they refused it because it is from Japan but not from our government. Japan can not do as a government because the treaty in 1965. Bust actual cost for that, over 50% came from the government. If they refuse to accept that, it will be impossible to fix the issue. Japan has made a lot of effort already.
Peter Payne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan
Japan has apologized like 42 times officially. 70 years have passed, let it go.